The spotlights in the stadium went out instantly, leaving only a pale beam of light shining on the center circle.
The roar of the 12,000 fans subsided briefly at that moment.
The Celtics' starting lineup.
Point Guard: Chauncey Billups Billups
Shooting Guard: Doc Doug Christie
Small Forward: Chris Paul Pierce
Power Forward: Rasheed Wallace
Center: Ben Wallace
Olympia Milan's starting lineup.
Point Guard: Luka Dončić Basile
Shooting Guard: Raja Bell
Small Forward: Stephen Jackson
Power Forward: Sio Oberto
Center: Dino Radja
Ben Wallace and Olympia Milan's starting center forward, former Celtics player Dino Radja, stood in the center circle, ready for the jump ball.
Radja looked at Ben Wallace, who was considerably shorter than him, with a hint of instinctive disdain in his eyes.
The referee tossed the ball high into the dome.
Almost at the same moment the basketball reached its highest point, Ben Wallace's calf muscles swelled instantly, propelling him into the air. His terrifying speed and explosiveness slowed Radja's reaction by a full half-beat.
"Smack!"
The basketball was powerfully deflected by Big Ben's thick arm into the Celtics ' half of the court. Billups caught the ball steadily and advanced it forward.
The stadium erupted in cheers as red cold fireworks lit up the stands.
Billups stopped at the top of the key, didn't look at the coaching bench, but simply raised his left hand and made a tactical gesture.
The Celtics ' formation instantly broke apart. Rasheed and Big Ben immediately moved up to the double corners, Pierce and Doug Christie dropped to the bottom corner.
Rick Carlisle stood on the sidelines with his arms crossed, lips tightly pressed together, saying nothing.
Milan's point guard Basile was closely marking Billups. Just then, Rasheed on the right flank suddenly moved up to set a screen. Basile, experienced as he was, decisively chose to go around the screen, while Oberto, who was defending Rasheed, stepped back to protect the penalty area.
The standard Europe defensive strategy: go around screens to prevent drives, and collapse the paint to protect the restricted area.
Billups' mind flashed through Rick Carlisle's head. "Read the defense!"
He saw Basile's positioning and Oberto's hesitation. Billups didn't break through; instead, he flicked his wrist and passed the ball back to Rasheed was still outside the three-point line.
At that moment, Rasheed had no one in front of him for two meters. He received the ball, bent his knees slightly, and launched his signature straight-arm shot from the top of the free-throw line.
The basketball traced a perfect, towering parabola.
"Whoosh!"
Hollow entry into the net.
Rick Carlisle clenched his fist tightly on the sidelines.
That three-pointer was merely the prelude to a one-sided massacre.
Twelve thousand Italy fans sat in the stands, quietly watching the enormous chasm between Europe powerhouses and NBA champions being laid bare time and again.
Milan's starting center Radja attempted to back down Ben Wallace in the low post. He used all the fine footwork and fakes typical of Europe big men, but when he tried to create space with his shoulder, Big Ben stood firm. Radja managed a weak floater, but the ball didn't even touch the rim before Big Ben caught it in mid-air with one hand.
Stephen Jackson, wearing the Milan jersey, received the ball on the wing. Facing his former teammate Doug Christie, Jackson attempted to drive to the basket with his signature strong crossover. However, Doug Christie's lateral movement was quick, cutting off the offensive route. With the shot clock running out, Milan's point guard Basile hastily pulled up for a three-pointer, which missed, and the Celtics immediately launched a fast break.
Billups made a brilliant no-look bounce pass while moving, Rasheed followed up in the middle and delivered a behind-the-back pass, Ben Wallace finished with a brutal dunk over Radja!
Raja Bell was guarding Pierce.
Bell honed his defensive skills in EuroLeague for a year, making him undeniably fierce. However, against Pierce, this defensive approach proved utterly ineffective.
Beyond the three-point line in the corner, Pierce dribbled between his legs twice in a row, then suddenly made a sharp crossover. Bell tried his best to defend, but Pierce made a clean step-back and shot the ball just inches above Bell's fingertips.
"Whoosh!"
The basketball went through the net cleanly.
Another possession. Pierce had the ball at the high post, and with a probing step, he knocked Oberto away, drove into the paint, and faced Radja, who was helping to defend. Incredibly, he paused in mid-air, folded, and pulled up for a layup, the ball swishing off the backboard and going in, while also drawing a foul.
As the score gap widened, the fighting spirit that Milan players displayed at the start of the game was gradually replaced by a deep sense of powerlessness.
Raja Bell and Stephen Jackson, standing on the court, exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with deep helplessness and shock.
This is not a tactical failure; it is a complete breakdown in speed, strength, muscle memory, and fundamental skills.
First section 28:14.
Second quarter 58:32.
By the end of the third quarter, the score had reached a devastating 85-56.
But this brutal 29-point deficit didn't silence the arena. On the contrary, whenever the Celtics executed fluid, seamless passing plays, and whenever Pierce hit those incredible shots, the stands erupted in pure cheers.
In Europe, fans idolize true champions.
Tonight, Boston's absolute dominance earned the awe of the Apennine Peninsula.
Inside the VIP boxes on the top floor of the stadium, soundproof glass filtered the noise from the stands into a muffled background noise.
Lin Qi sat in a single sofa, his Tuscany red wine untouched. Sitting opposite him was Gabriele Albertini, the mayor of Milan, who had been invited to watch the game.
This pragmatic politician, with a background in the business world, looked down at the field where the halftime match was taking place and leaned back in his chair. "Mr. Lin, although Olympia Milan is now an asset under your name, as the mayor, seeing the team representing this city beaten like this is certainly not a pleasant experience."
"Mr. Albertini, let's set aside the match for now," Lin Qi said calmly, as if discussing the weather. "I invited you here tonight to discuss a deal that will make the Milan City Hall very happy."
Albertini withdrew his gaze and looked at Lin Qi, waiting for him to continue.
"I'm going to establish a new basketball league (EBA) in Europe to replace the current inefficient system. Thirteen top Europe clubs will join, with Olympia Milan as a founding member." Lin Qi's description was extremely concise. "To coincide with the league's launch, I will fully invest in and build 13 sports commercial complexes in 13 core Europe cities, comparable to the Staples Center Los Angeles."
The mayor's eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice remained steady. "So, what role does Milan play in this blueprint?"
"The first stop," Lin Qi looked at him, "Is also the stop with the largest investment."
Albertini picked up his water glass, using the act of drinking as a way to weigh the pros and cons.
"A super stadium including luxury suites, a top-tier commercial area, and surrounding real estate..." The mayor put down his water glass and cut to the chase, "Where will the funding come from? How long is it expected to be completed?"
"I will provide the funding; it won't take up a single penny of Milan's budget. As long as the land is approved, construction will begin within three months."
Lin Qi pulled a "Memorandum of Intent on the Development and Tax Exemption of the Milan New Stadium Site" from his briefcase and pushed it across the table.
"I know you've been pushing for Milan's urban revitalization plan." Lin Qi's fingertip tapped lightly on the document cover. "I need the best vacant land in the city center, and to get rid of those lengthy administrative approval processes."
Albertini opened the memo, his gaze sweeping over the clearly defined investment figures and the number of jobs expected to be created.
For a politician desperate for achievements, this document means at least five thousand stable jobs, a surge in surrounding land prices, and a stellar performance report that can be presented directly in the next election.
The private room was silent for almost a minute.
" The Milan City Hall welcomes all capital that can bring vitality to the city." Albertini closed the document and put it into his briefcase. "Mr. Lin, I will personally put this project through the special channel at next week's city council meeting."
The mayor proactively extended his hand.
"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Lin."
"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Mayor."
The whistle for halftime blew just then, penetrating the glass. The two men's hands briefly clasped in mid-air before parting.
The fourth quarter completely became garbage time.
Rick Carlisle substituted in a player from the bench. Andrei Kirilenko, only 19 years old, also took to the court wearing jersey number 47, igniting the entire arena with a putback and a precise steal and fast break.
With one minute remaining in the game, the score was 108-80.
The final whistle blows.
On the final possession, Kirilenko hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer from the corner.
Final score: 111-82, the Celtics won by a margin of 29 points.
The entire arena of 12,000 spectators rose to their feet and erupted in applause. Pierce scored 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, Rasheed had 22 points and 7 rebounds, and Ben Wallace added 10 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
Pierce walked to the Milan bench and hugged Bell tightly.
" Raja, you defended very well tonight." Pierce patted him on the back.
"Come on, you scored 34 points against me and you call that good defense?" Bell laughed helplessly.
"That's because I'm better than you," Pierce grinned. "But to be honest, your defensive awareness has definitely improved. That year in Milan wasn't wasted."
Inside the press conference hall, the sound of camera shutters clicking incessantly.
Seated at the very center of the stage, controlling the pace of the entire discussion, was Maurizio Gherardini, the newly appointed first CEO of the EBA ( Europe Basketball Association ).
This former manager of Benetton Treviso, who had been secretly managing Lin Qi's Europe affairs for over a year, has now finally taken the stage.
To Gherardini's left sat Tony Cappellari, the legendary general manager of Olimpia Club Milan.
This legendary Italy manager, who single-handedly created Milan's "golden dynasty" in the 1980s, was already in a semi-retired state, but Lin Qi invited him back into the game with an irresistible check and the grand blueprint of EBA.
Having this highly respected basketball legend from the Apennine Peninsula announce the team's major shift is more likely to silence the traditional Europe media than having Gherardini speak.
A reporter from Milan Sports Gazette stood up, his tone complex. "Mr. Gherardini, does tonight's 29-point margin of victory represent an insurmountable gap between the NBA and Europe basketball?"
Gherardini adjusted the microphone and calmly responded in fluent Italy.
"I don't think tonight's score represents any so-called 'gap.' Europe has never lacked top-tier basketball IQ and tactical awareness, but we must admit one thing..."
He paused, his tone turning cold. "The current league system and lack of commercial development in Europe basketball are dragging down our players. Without top-tier venues and highly commercialized broadcasting revenue sharing, we cannot provide a competitive environment on par with the NBA. This isn't a difference in talent, but a generational gap in business models and systems."
A brief silence fell over the room as reporters quickly took notes.
"Therefore, the EBA will officially launch in October 2001." Gherardini dropped the real bombshell of the evening, "This is a brand new independent league jointly initiated by 13 top Europe clubs."
The reporters below the stage immediately stirred.
"Regarding funding," Gherardini offered an even bigger lure before reporters could ask questions, "EBA has reached a strategic partnership with a well-established multinational sports investment fund. This fund will provide an initial credit line of several billion euros, specifically for investing in and building world-class sports commercial complexes comparable to the Staples Center Los Angeles, located in 13 key Europe cities."
A collective gasp filled the room.
Billions of euros? A multinational sports fund? Every reporter's mind was racing... Was it a deep-pocketed North America conglomerate? A Middle Eastern oil tycoon? Or some secretive Europe family trust?
Tony Cappellari, sitting next to him, turned on his microphone at the opportune moment.
The elderly man, with a full head of silver hair and immense prestige in Milan, read out the historic statement in his steady and official voice.
" Olimpia Club Milan officially announces that, in order to bring basketball back to the top of Europe in this city, we will join the EBA as the first-choice founding member. Meanwhile, we have made substantial progress with the city council regarding the land approval for our new Milan arena."
This news was like a bombshell, completely igniting the press conference room. Everyone knew that Cappellari's personal announcement of Olympia Milan's entry into the EBA meant that the first domino had fallen.
A reporter from the Spain Marca eagerly raised his hand and asked loudly, "President Gherardini! Will Royal Madrid and Barcelona also join this new alliance?"
Gherardini smiled slightly, stood up, and buttoned his suit jacket. "You will get the Answer you want after the Real Madrid vs. Barça match soon."
11 Late Night., Bulgari Hotel Milan, penthouse suite.
After taking a shower, Lin Qi sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window wearing a bathrobe. He picked up a glass of ice water and opened an email on his laptop.
This is a summary report for the day that my assistant just sent me.
The first half of the email was a summary of Europe public opinion following Gherardini's press conference: "Transnational investment fund," "A complex to rival Staples," and " Olympia Milan confirmed to join the EBA." Just two hours later, Italy's three major sports newspapers had already revised their headlines for the following day, and news of the EBA League was sweeping across major Europe sports portals at a viral speed.
Everything is progressing perfectly according to the script.
Lin Qi scrolled down the mouse without expression. The second half of the email contained a player tracking report from the scouting department, sent from the Sydney Olympics front lines. " Garnett and Gary Payton are in red-hot form on the international stage, and the Dream Team is currently on a three-game winning streak. Türkoğlu has led the team into the quarterfinals. Wang Zhizhi's stats are also quite impressive, averaging close to a double-double."
"Very good." Lin Qi closed his laptop with satisfaction.
He stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, and looked down at the fashionable city sleeping in the night.
Lin Qi gazed at the dazzling lights outside the window and murmured to himself.
Next stop, Rome.