November 2, 1999, Boston.
Outside the New Garden, the autumn rain was chilly, but inside the arena, the atmosphere was electric, with nearly 20,000 fans in green jerseys packing the stands to capacity.
Tonight is the opening game of the 1999-2000 NBA season, and also the coronation night for the Boston Celtics.
As the lights in the arena suddenly went out, a montage of the team's championship run from last season began playing on the giant screen in the center of the stadium. When the image froze on the O'Brien Trophy, the entire arena erupted in deafening cheers.
Under the dazzling spotlight, the team owner, coaching staff, and every player on the championship roster took to the stage one by one, donning the championship rings adorned with diamonds and emeralds. Then, as the entire arena counted down in unison, a brand-new, giant green banner bearing the inscription "1998-1999 Season Champions" slowly rose amidst countless flashes of light, finally hanging securely in the arena's dome-shaped gallery of honor, standing shoulder to shoulder with the banners of countless legendary predecessors in the team's history.
In the live broadcast booth, veteran commentator Marv Albert passionately launched into the broadcast. "Welcome to the New Garden! Tonight's focus is undoubtedly on the Boston Celtics, the defending champions, and their opponent is none other than the New York Knicks, who were swept out of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics last season!"
Former NBA player and renowned coach Doc Collins, who was also commentating, chuckled and chimed in, " Marv, that's true, being swept by the eventual champions last season isn't shameful. However, Jeff Van Gundy's team is known throughout the league as a 'half-court meat grinder,' relying entirely on physical defense. I'm curious to see what kind of trouble those newly introduced, strict rules will cause this Knicks tonight."
Beside the VIP seats, the director of the documentary team hired by Lin Qi made a gesture. The cameraman, wearing a Steadicam vest, steadily controlled the stabilizer and pointed the camera at the sidelines.
The entire Celtics team formed a circle.
Dikembe Mutombo, Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, Gary Payton, Eddie Jones...
The entire team's dozen or so giant hands were stacked high together.
A few months ago, during the team's Europe, head coach Doc Rivers gathered everyone together to help the players deeply understand the ancient Africa philosophy of "Ubuntu" (I exist because of us, team first) and establish it as the team's core culture.
At that moment, Garnett's eyes widened, and he growled in a deep voice, "Ubuntu on three!"
Everyone's palms swung downwards in unison, erupting in a shout...
"1, 2, 3, Ubuntu!"
In the original timeline, the Knicks should have made it all the way to the NBA Finals last season. But Lin Qi changed the Celtics ' fate and the outcome of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Knicks, who should have reached the Finals, were swept by the Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference NBA Finals.
Jeff Van Gundy's teams dominated the game for a time with their extreme physicality, impenetrable half-court defense, and positional tactics that dragged the game into a quagmire.
In their basketball philosophy, defense is physical combat, and confrontation is everything.
However, during this offseason, with Lin Qi's intervention leading to the early modification of the rules, the underlying offensive and defensive logic of the entire league has been completely rewritten.
The league has completely eliminated illegal defense, allowed zone defense, introduced the defensive three-second rule, and tightened restrictions on hand contact in perimeter defense.
This means that any instances of pulling, thrusting, or blocking with outstretched arms that referees have tacitly tolerated in the past will inevitably result in fouls if they occur tonight.
Before the game started, near the Knicks ' bench, Van Gundy gave his players one last emphasis on defensive discipline.
"Keep your hands clean and keep your footing." He tapped the clipboard with the tip of his pen. "They'll actively create contact, don't give the referee a chance. When Gary Payton moves to the right, push him towards Patrick Ewing. Pierce receives the ball, stick with him immediately, but absolutely no touching!"
Van Gundy looked up, his gloomy gaze sweeping over all the players. "The rules have changed, but our intensity cannot. Drag them into our own half and force them to make every set attack."
However, less than three minutes into the game, he was hit hard on the head.
Gary Payton received the ball at the top of the arc, made two quick changes of direction, and then suddenly accelerated, breaking through to the right.
Charlie Ward followed sideways, his forearm instinctively bracing against Gary Payton's side, his hand habitually resting on his hip, trying to use the contact to force him toward the sideline.
"Beep--!"
The referee on the wing promptly blew his whistle: Defensive foul.
On the sidelines, commentator Marv Albert immediately raised his voice. "Oh! Charlie Ward got caught with his habitual hand contact! Under tonight's new rules, there's no room for negotiation!"
Ward stood there, stunned, and looked down at his hands.
As Gary Payton passed by him, he grinned coldly. "What's wrong, Charlie? Can't let go of my hand? Want me to teach you how to walk on your own two feet?"
Van Gundy on the sidelines suddenly stood up, spreading his hands at the referee. "You called a foul for this level of contact?"
The referee did not respond, but simply waved to signal that the game should continue.
In the next possession, Sprewell chased down Eddie Jones, who was making an off-the-ball run. He placed his hand on Jones' shoulder, slowing down Eddie 'Jones acceleration.
The whistle blew again.
Commentator Doc Collins looked at the Knicks players on the court and shook his head.
" The Knicks ' two perimeter defenders each picked up a foul. It's not exactly a foul crisis, but the real problem is that they're afraid to make the close-marking moves they used to be so familiar with."
Van Gundy's face darkened completely. He finally realized that the Knicks could no longer rely on their forearms to hold their opponents' sides and push the ball handlers towards the sideline, just like they used to.
Without the aid of his hands and forearms, Ward struggled to stop Gary Payton using only lateral movement. Gary Payton broke through the first line of defense on two consecutive possessions, once with a pull-up jumper near the free-throw line, and the other time drawing Patrick Ewing's help defense before passing the ball to Eddie Jones on the right.
Eddie Jones catches the ball and hits a mid-range shot.
Van Gundy immediately called a timeout.
"Change to a 2-3 zone defense." He quickly drew out the positions on the whiteboard. "Cover the passing lanes at the top, don't chase after people. Gary Payton can shoot, Pierce can't receive the ball comfortably. Patrick, move around below the free-throw line, pay attention to the three-second rule, don't stand in the paint all the time. Collapse the weak side early, protect the basket first."
After the timeout, the Knicks ' defensive formation indeed changed.
Instead of relentlessly guarding the Celtics ' perimeter players, they stepped back half a step, deliberately leaving Gary Payton open for mid-range and long-range shots. Patrick Ewing constantly moved between the free-throw line and the basket. Whenever the defensive three-second rule was about to expire, he would take a step out of the paint and then quickly retreat back to the center of the restricted area.
This zone defense did not immediately fail.
In the first possession, Garnett received the ball near the free-throw line. Patrick Ewing didn't blindly rush out; instead, Sprewell quickly double-teamed him from the wing. Garnett's pass was a fraction of a second too late.
Pierce received the pass on the left side just as the shot clock was about to expire. He forced a shot over Houston's interference, the ball bounced off the front of the rim, Patrick Ewing grabbed the rebound. A round of applause immediately erupted from the Knicks ' bench.
On the sidelines, assistant coach David Blatt immediately stood up and gestured towards the court. " Kevin, set a back screen for Chris Paul first, then move to the free-throw line!"
In the next possession, Garnett first dropped to the left low post to screen for Sprewell for Pierce, who was starting from the corner. Pierce moved along the baseline, drawing the Knicks ' attention away from the wing. Garnett then quickly moved up, settling comfortably near the free-throw line to receive the ball facing the basket.
Mutombo had already landed in the right short corner.
Gary Payton placed the ball high up the pitch.
Patrick Ewing had to move up from under the basket, reaching out to obstruct Garnett's view. Just as he shifted his weight forward, Mutombo took two steps along the baseline.
His movement wasn't fast, but the gap Patrick Ewing left was large enough.
Garnett didn't force the ball up; he simply flicked his wrist, delivering a low, bounce pass. The basketball skimmed the floor from Patrick Ewing's feet and landed precisely in Mutombo's hands.
"Boom--!"
Mutombo slammed the ball into the basket with both hands.
On the television broadcast, Marv Albert couldn't help but exclaim, "What a beautiful bounce pass! Kevin Garnett displayed guard-like vision from the high post above the free-throw line; Patrick Ewing simply couldn't get back to the basket in time!"
After landing, Mutombo turned to the stands and wagged his signature finger.
The stadium erupted in thunderous cheers.
Immediately afterwards, the same high position was established. This time, Patrick Ewing, wary of Mutombo's baseline movement, subconsciously took a half step back.
Garnett received the ball and jumped directly from the free-throw line, the basketball swishing through the net.
As Garnett retreated on defense, he deliberately jogged slowly close to Patrick Ewing's shoulder, his eyes gleaming with a manic excitement. As he ran backward, he shouted a countdown into Patrick Ewing's ear, "One... two... three... one... two... three...! Remember to come out, Patrick!"
Patrick Ewing gritted his teeth, suppressing his surging anger, and remained silent.
In the next possession, the Knicks ' defense further tightened towards the middle.
Mutombo moved from the short corner towards the basket, blocking Houston's pursuit. Pierce used a screen to circle from the baseline to the left 45-degree angle. Garnett turned at the high post and passed the ball diagonally to the weak side.
Pierce catches the ball and raises his hand to shoot.
"Swish!" A three-pointer.
Using the same high pivot point, the Celtics executed three different penalty methods in succession.
Patrick Ewing moved up, and Mutombo then cut in along the baseline.
Patrick Ewing retreated to defense, Garnett immediately took a mid-range shot.
The Knicks collapsed towards the middle, and Pierce used a screen to pop out to the outside.
Van Gundy stood on the sidelines, watching the defensive positioning on the court, his expression growing increasingly grim. The Celtics ' advantage wasn't just their passing speed; the real problem was that they consistently forced the Knicks ' defenders to make choices, and each choice could potentially expose another opening.
However, the Knicks did not sit idly by. Van Gundy quickly made adjustments on the offensive end, frequently moving Patrick Ewing to the high post to set screens for Sprewell, while also preparing to receive the ball and facilitate when the Celtics collapsed the defense.
Patrick Ewing first approached the free-throw line, he solidly blocked Gary Payton Sprewell's drive to the right using the screen. Mutombo retreated to the basket, and Garnett had to collapse from the weak side, blocking Sprewell's driving route in advance.
Sprewell quickly flicked the ball to the left corner, where Allan Houston caught it and hit a long two-pointer.
In the next possession, Patrick Ewing set another screen. This time, Mutombo moved out a step too slowly, and Sprewell capitalized on the opening, cutting into the elbow area and scoring a layup after receiving a bounce pass from Patrick Ewing. The Knicks then used the same tactic to create a mismatch, with Patrick Ewing hitting a jump shot near the free-throw line.
After scoring on three consecutive possessions, the Knicks quickly closed the gap. The stands erupted in a unified chant of "Defense! Defense!"
Thibodeau stood on the sidelines, making a downward pressing gesture to his players. The Celtics didn't call a timeout, but instead changed their defensive approach on the next possession.
When faced with Patrick Ewing's high screen again, Gary Payton didn't go around under the screen, but instead squeezed past Patrick Ewing's body. Mutombo took a step outward to slow Sprewell's drive, but didn't completely leave the basket. Eddie Jones no longer blindly collapsed, but stayed close to Houston on the weak side. Garnett stood below the free-throw line, ready to help defend Sprewell at any time.
Just as Sprewell was about to flick the ball towards the short corner, Garnett, who had been waiting in the middle, suddenly moved to the side, his long arms blocking the passing window. Houston didn't get open, and Gary Payton had already caught up from behind.
Sprewell had no choice but to stop abruptly near the free-throw line and hastily launch a floater over Mutombo's outstretched arm.
"Bang!"
The basketball hit the front edge of the rim hard.
Mutombo boxed out Patrick Ewing, secured the rebound, and then passed the ball to Gary Payton had already started his run.
Gary Payton received the ball, turned, and sprinted down the right sideline. Eddie Jones and Pierce charged forward on the left and right respectively, forcing the Knicks ' defense to collapse towards the middle. Gary Payton didn't slow down, and before Patrick Ewing could help defend, he suddenly bounced the ball off the ground and sent it to the left.
Pierce received the ball, took a step, and leaped into the air towards the basket.
"Boom--!"
Two-handed slam dunk!!!
The entire New Garden erupted in cheers, and Marv Albert's voice was almost drowned out by the jubilation. "From weak-side help defense to rebounding, to fast breaks! The Celtics have shown not only adaptation to the new rules, but also an amazing overall defensive performance!"
The Knicks' newly found rhythm to close the gap was disrupted again by the Celtics ' defensive adjustments.
On the sidelines, Van Gundy gripped his clipboard tightly, staring intently at Garnett as he retreated to the backcourt. He had realized that the real challenge tonight wasn't dealing with any one Celtics star, but rather with the team's ability to cover almost every inch of the court when all five players moved simultaneously, covered each other's positions, and made the right choices at the same time.
In front of the bench, Thibodeau clapped his hands twice and shouted to the players who were retreating on defense.
"Keep communicating! One person fills in, everyone else rotates!"
Garnett waved his arms vigorously at his teammates, then patted his chest.
"Ubuntu!"
His response was met with four simultaneous roars.
"Ubuntu!"