Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, United Center.
After the series was tied 2-2, the United Center was completely transformed into a sea of red tonight. More than 20,000 Chicago fans wearing red T-shirts chanted wildly, unleashing their fervor and hostility in defending the dynasty upon the young Celtics team.
From the highest point of the stands, countless flyers rained down like a blizzard. This was a collective mockery orchestrated by 20,000 Chicago fans at their home stadium. Each flyer bore the declaration Kevin Garnett made at his Boston press conference, only now marked with a giant red X, next to which was crudely written, "[This is Chicago, you're not leaving here unscathed.]"
Large wads of paper were thrown into the visiting team's tunnel, rustling underfoot. The atmosphere at the home stadium was overwhelming, as if they were determined to completely defeat the Celtics here tonight.
In the away team's locker room, head coach Rick Adelman was surprisingly calm. He unfolded his tactical board, looked at Kevin Garnett and Sam Cassell, and made minor adjustments to a few offensive and defensive details.
Lin Qi stood at the locker room door, casually twisted up the crumpled paper he had picked up from the corridor, and threw it into the trash can next to him.
He walked up to Garnett and patted him twice on the chest.
The whistle blew, and the battle began.
From the very first minute, the game entered a completely different rhythm. Instead of erecting a high wall in the half-court as they had in previous games, Boston actively increased the pace of their offense and defense. Mutombo frequently moved to the high post to set screens, Sam Cassell used the screens to quickly pass the ball, and Garnett and Eddie Jones made cross-cutting runs on both sides, constantly stretching the Chicago Bulls ' defense.
Phil Jackson's high-intensity double-teaming from the home team's bench failed to find its mark in the early stages of the game.
8:8
14:14
22:20
At the end of the first quarter, the Celtics led the Chicago Bulls by 2 points amidst deafening boos from the away crowd. Phil Jackson returned to the bench, his chewing of gum noticeably slowing down, and his expression becoming serious.
Returning in the second quarter, the Chicago Bulls began to display the true patience of a dynasty team. Instead of blindly increasing the pace, they steadily passed the ball to Michael Jordan time and time again.
Jordan started calling for the ball frequently in the low post. Tonight, he didn't use any unnecessary probing or fancy moves. Every back-to-the-basket move, every shoulder drop to contest a shot, and every turn to release the ball was extremely solid, as if he was telling the Celtics directly with textbook moves: The defensive tactics are good, but I can still make shots.
Eddie Jones was sweating profusely, Horry stretched out his long arm from the strong side to block the passing lane, and Garnett was ready to rush in from the weak side to help defend. But Jordan managed to make tough shots time and time again in this high-intensity defensive gap.
After drawing a foul on Jones and converting it into a 2+1 play, Jordan calmly stepped to the free-throw line. He received the referee's pass, chewing gum as he glanced indifferently at Garnett on the edge of the paint.
"Next."
Jordan's eyes seemed to ask: Who's next to guard me?
The young Boston players didn't back down. Whenever Jordan dared to charge in, Mutombo would meet him head-on; when Pippen tried to accelerate on the fast break, Garnett would block his path like a shadow; Dennis Rodman tried to grab an offensive rebound, P.J. Brown would simply shove him out of the paint with his chest.
At halftime, the score was 46-45. The Chicago Bulls had rallied to take the lead before halftime, but only by one point.
Both teams' jerseys were completely soaked with sweat, and each player had obvious red marks on their body when they pulled up their collars to wipe away the sweat. The intensity of the competition was too high, and both sides were extremely exhausted.
In the second half, Dennis Rodman completely swayed the rhythm of the game in the third quarter. This guy with dyed hair started to go completely crazy on the court. Every time he was boxing out for the basket, he would grab Garnett's jersey tightly, and even used his knee to bump Garnett's lower back in a blind spot of the referee's view.
During a defensive rebound scramble, Dennis Rodman deliberately slammed his entire body weight onto Garnett's calves the moment his feet touched the ground.
"Little brat, this is what the playoffs feel like." Dennis Rodman licked the sweat from his lips, revealing a mouthful of crooked teeth, his smile both roguish and disgusting.
Garnett's eyes instantly reddened, and his chest heaved violently. If it had been two weeks ago against the Heat, this 20-year-old would have already thrown a punch. But now, Garnett simply closed his eyes, took a couple of deep breaths, and then looked up again. He didn't speak, didn't even glance at Dennis Rodman again, and silently moved back to his next defensive position.
In the next possession, Dennis Rodman attempted to use Luc Longley's body to sneak in from the baseline for an offensive rebound. Garnett took a large step to the side the instant Rodman started his run, forcefully blocking Dennis Rodman's path with his right shoulder. After the dull thud of the impact, the basketball bounced to the right, and Mutombo easily secured the rebound.
In the next possession, Pippen attempted a strong drive from the top of the key after a screen. Garnett took a long stride around the screen, his right arm flashing across the side, slicing the ball out of bounds before Pippen could fully accelerate.
Throughout the entire game, Garnett didn't exchange a single word with Dennis Rodman. He simply used the most aggressive positioning, the most decisive blocks, and countless defensive rebounds to gradually push this Chicago Bulls ' scoundrel away from the core of the game.
After three quarters, the score was tied at 72-72. At this point, it had completely turned into a war of attrition.