June 4, 2000, Boston, Celtics training facility.
The Celtics ' ultimate opponent won't be truly determined until this afternoon's Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.
At 8:00 AM, everyone had assembled.
Lin Qi stood at the edge of the court, handing the court over to head coach Doc Rivers and two assistant coaches with very different styles— Tom Thibodeau and David Blatt.
"Today's schedule is simple." Doc Rivers clapped his hands, his voice echoing in the empty arena. "Two hours of high-intensity practice this morning, targeting the Lakers and Trail Blazers' two completely different systems, practicing our offensive and defensive strategies. At 4:30 PM, Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals begins. Everyone will watch the live broadcast and review the practice results."
The morning training session began, and its intensity was breathtaking.
In the first hour, defensive assistant coach Thibodeau took over the court. This workaholic, known for squeezing out defensive potential, had a voice that sounded as if it had been sanded.
"Let's say the opponent is the Lakers..." Thibodeau slammed his hand on the whiteboard, " Shaq is the eye O'Neal the storm. Mutombo, Garnett, Rasheed, Ben, the four of you take turns! Practice fronting, double-teaming, and the extreme rotation on the weak side after a double-team!"
Four big men battled it out in the paint like a meat grinder. Thibodeau's demands were extremely strict: the timing of double-teams, the angle of the double-teams, and the routes for perimeter rotations and help defense were repeated over and over until these tedious defensive principles became muscle memory.
In the second hour, offensive assistant coach Blatt took over.
"No matter who the opponent is, we can't lose our core strengths." Blatt tapped the whiteboard. " Chris Paul's low-post isolation plays, Kevin and Chris Paul's high pick-and-roll, and Gary's speed in transition—that's our three-pronged attack."
On the court, Pierce practiced his post-up game repeatedly on the right wing, employing techniques like shoulder drop, physical contact, half-turn fakes, and fadeaway jumpers—his movements were solid and ruthless. On the other side, Garnett and Gary Payton constantly practiced dismantling pick-and-rolls, either cutting to the basket or popping out. Rasheed led the second unit in analyzing transition offense and defense.
Blatt kept blowing his whistle to stop the game from the sidelines, meticulously scrutinizing every angle of the screen and the lead time of the pass.
At 11 a. m., the grueling training session ended. The players lay sprawled on the floor, their chests heaving.
Doc Rivers announced a break, with everyone to gather promptly at 4 PM.
4 PM, video recording room.
The staff had already set up a huge projection screen, with a tactical board next to it. Lin Qi sat in the front row, holding a remote control in his hand. The players took their seats one after another, and the air was filled with the tense atmosphere before the big battle.
"Coming," Gary Payton said, chewing his gum.
On the screen, the NBC broadcast signal switched in. Staples Center was engulfed in a sea of purple and gold fervor.
Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals officially began.
The first three quarters were almost a carbon copy of Game 6. The Trail Blazers resolutely implemented their strategy of "fronting, double-teaming, and rotating players" to keep O'Neal under control.
The Trail Blazers ' veterans seemed to be divinely inspired tonight. At the end of the third quarter, the scoreboard displayed a number that made everyone gasp: 71-56, with the visiting Trail Blazers leading by 15 points!
" The Trail Blazers have the Lakers cornered," Doc Rivers said, arms crossed.
"The game isn't over yet." Lin Qi crossed his arms. "Keep an eye on the fourth quarter. Let's see just how deadly this Lakers comeback can be."
Section Four: A Sudden Change in the Situation.
The Lakers ' defensive intensity suddenly increased to a suffocating level. Veteran Brian Shaw hit consecutive unreasonable three-pointers in dire straits, single-handedly pulling the Lakers back from the brink of defeat.
Then, Kobe Brian took over the game. With drives, pull-up jumpers, and no-look passes, the 22-year-old guard was like a killer in the final quarter, scoring 14 points.
On the other hand, the Trail Blazers' 34-year-old Pippen was completely exhausted, unable to maintain a high level of defense and committing consecutive turnovers on offense. In the final, disheartening 6 and a half minutes, the Trail Blazers went 0-for-13 from the field, scoring zero points!
Kobe suddenly executed a highly deceptive crossover, blew past the heavy-footed Pippen, and plunged into the paint like a sharp knife. The Trail Blazers ' defense instantly collapsed, forcing two interior players to help defend.
Just when everyone thought Kobe was going to force a layup, he stretched the ball high into the air with incredible grace...
In the baseline corner, O'Neal grabbed the basketball with one hand and slammed it into the hoop!
"Boom!"
Even through a screen, you can feel the madness of Staples Center as it rips off its dome.
The game was no longer in doubt. The final buzzer sounded, 89-84, the Lakers completed a 15-point comeback.
In the video, 22-year-old Kobe clenched his fists, looked up to the sky, and roared, scoring 25 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 blocks. O'Neal raised his arms, enjoying the worship of the Los Angeles. On the other end of the court, Scottie Pippen hung his head, covering his face in anguish with his hands.
The video recording room was deathly silent.
This was a game capable of shattering anyone's mental defenses. Trailing by 15 points in the third quarter, they managed to strangle their opponent in the final quarter.
Lin Qi stood up, turned around, and his sharp gaze swept across the face of every Celtics player.
"This is our opponent." Lin Qi's voice was deep and penetrating.
Down by 15 points in the third quarter, they didn't collapse. In the crucial moments of the fourth quarter, they held the Trail Blazers to just 9 points. Kobe didn't falter in the clutch, and Shaq was unstoppable in the paint.
" The Trail Blazers ' failure taught us the most costly lesson: at this level of competition, you absolutely cannot expect to fill the gaps in the entire system with one person's physical abilities!"
Lin Qi looked around, his eyes sharp. "When Pippen can't run anymore, no one on the Trail Blazers can step up. But we're different!"
"We have Gary Payton! We have Kevin Garnett! We have Chris Paul Pierce! We have Dikembe, Rasheed, Ben Affleck, Eddie..."
Lin Qi's speech quickened, his emotions building to a fever pitch. "Our depth is enough to drag the Lakers into the mire! But..."
He paused for a moment, allowing everyone's breathing to calm down slightly.
"We're facing Phil Jackson, a master of psychological warfare who won't even call a timeout when down by 15 points. We're facing O'Neal and Kobe, both on the verge of their prime. So, put away your wishful thinking."
On the other side of the whiteboard, Lin Qi wrote down Boston's winning creed.
" The NBA Finals date is set for June 7th. We have a little time left, let's not waste it."
"We still have time to make final tactical adjustments based on the Lakers ' film. This is a luxury, so don't let your guard down."
Lin Qi placed his hands on the table and leaned forward.
"We're one step away from the championship. Let's win Game 1! Are you ready?"
The players slowly stood up.
"Ready."
"Ready."
"Ready."
A low, menacing echo reverberated through the video recording room.
The Celtics are fully prepared for the upcoming battle of the century.
The 2000 NBA Finals are about to begin!