As soon as the buzzer sounded to signal the start of the second half, the 20,000 fans at Staples Center chanted "Defense! Defense!" in unison, the deafening roar echoing throughout the arena.
The Lakers ' first attack was very decisive.
Kidd dribbled past half-court, stopped at the top of the arc, and gestured. The Lakers quickly spread out, clearing one side to give O'Neal space for a one-on-one play.
O'Neal boxed out Ben Wallace in the low post and reached for the ball. Kidd's bounce pass bypassed the defense and landed comfortably in his hands.
Catch the ball, lower your shoulder, and forcefully bump it inward.
"Bang!"
With a dull thud of muscles colliding, Big Ben was forced back half a step by the force.
In that tiny space, O'Neal leaped up, grabbed the ball with both hands, and slammed it down onto the basket!
"Bang--!"
The basketball hoop shook violently, and the entire stadium erupted in deafening cheers.
Under the basket, just like in the first half, Garnett grabbed the ball the moment it fell, stepped out of bounds with his heel, and raised his arm to throw it to Gary Payton for a fast break.
But this time, the Lakers were prepared.
Just as Gary Payton was about to start moving, Odom abandoned his marker, took a step to the side, and blocked Gary Payton's path. He lowered his shoulder and rammed into Gary Payton head-on.
He was walking on the edge of a blocking foul, but the referee didn't blow the whistle. Gary Payton's starting balance was disrupted, and he stumbled.
In that brief pause of just over a second, Marion closely marked Pierce, who was trying to receive a pass. Kidd then took the opportunity to retreat to his own half and establish a defensive line.
The Celtics' smooth first pass and quick attack were completely shut down.
"A very clever tactical delay," said Marv Albert on the NBC commentary desk. " The Lakers changed their strategy in the second half. They were very aggressive in using physical play to stop Boston from speeding up the game."
Garnett could only hold the ball steady. By the time Gary Payton brought the ball across half-court, O'Neal was already standing in the center of the paint.
The game devolved into positional warfare.
In the TNT studio, Barkley pointed out the key. "This is Phil Jackson's adjustment. He knows very well that as long as the game is dragged into a half-court set, Shaq is unstoppable in the paint."
"Look at the Lakers ' frontcourt," Kenny Smith pointed to the broadcast screen, "Delaying on the spot. Using physical Crash to disrupt Boston's first pass. The Lakers are willing to pay the price of fouls to slow them down."
In the next few minutes, the Lakers repeated the same tactic.
Whenever the Celtics grabbed a defensive rebound, Odom and Marion wouldn't immediately retreat on defense. Instead, they used their shoulders to Crash Gary Payton and Billups, stopping the Celtics ' fast break in the first three seconds.
Forced into a half-court game, the Celtics ' offense stalled. The ball dribbled around the perimeter, but they struggled to break through the Lakers ' defense, and their shooting percentage began to decline.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the court, O'Neal, well-positioned, began to dominate in the paint.
Backstab, forced turn, "Bang!"
He received the ball, and despite Big Ben's block attempt, he powerfully dunked, "Bang!"
Even when he was pulled down to draw fouls and missed free throws, his dominance in the paint was fully displayed. The point difference was gradually narrowed in the half-court offense.
10 points.
8 points.
6 points.
The atmosphere at Staples Center grew increasingly frenzied.
Just when the score was about to be tied, Chris Paul Pierce stepped up.
Possession changed hands. Big Ben managed to grab a defensive rebound despite being pressured by O'Neal.
This time, Pierce retreated to the free-throw line and grabbed the ball. Without hesitation, Pierce used his weight to push aside Marion, who was trying to delay him, and then dribbled the ball to launch a fast break.
"Stop him!" The Zen Master on the sidelines stood up.
Pierce dribbled into the three-point line, heading straight for the basket. He wasn't particularly fast, but his rhythm was unique, driving directly into the paint.
The player who came to help defend was Lakers veteran Horace Grant.
Facing Pierce's aerial layup attempt, Grant extended an arm the instant he jumped, blocking Pierce's path like a clothesline pole.
This wasn't a move aimed at the ball; Grant didn't hold back at all.
Pierce, who was in mid-air, was struck in the neck, instantly lost his balance, and fell flat on the floor along with the ball.
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, the basketball slipped from his grasp and rolled out of bounds.
The gasps from the audience paused for a second.
"Beep!!!" The referee blew his whistle, crossed his arms, and called a flagrant foul.
Garnett immediately rushed over and shoved Grant aside. "What are you doing?! Is this a game of basketball or a fight?!"
Big Ben also ran over. The field immediately descended into chaos, with players from both sides shoving each other.
This is clearly not a basketball move; it's a malicious foul designed to stifle a fast break and psychologically pressure the opponent.
" The Lakers are desperate," Barkley said at the commentary booth. "They'd rather take a flagrant foul than let Pierce score easily on the fast break."
NBC's cameras played a slow-motion replay: Grant's arm was around Pierce's neck, and he was roughly dragged to the wooden floor.
The chaos on the field lasted for a minute before it was broken up.
All eyes turned to the floor near the free-throw line. Pierce was lying there, and the team doctor immediately ran over.
Lin Qi frowned on the sidelines. He knew very well that if this foul disrupted Pierce's offensive rhythm or made him fearful, then the Lakers would have gotten away with it.
But under the watchful eyes of the entire stadium, Pierce pushed away the team doctor's outstretched hand.
He got up from the floor expressionlessly. He didn't go looking for trouble with Grant, nor did he complain to the referee; he just frowned and rubbed his backside.
Pierce then stepped up to the free-throw line alone.
The home fans booed loudly and made a lot of noise.
Pierce took the ball from the referee and took a deep breath.
"Whoosh."
The first free throw went in. The basketball swished through the Nets.
He caught the ball thrown back by the referee and shot again.
"Whoosh."
The second free throw was successful.
Pierce turned to Grant. His expression was flat, and his tone was indifferent. "Next time, foul harder, old man. That's only enough to loosen my bones."
Grant's expression changed.
Hearing this from a distance, O'Neal watched Pierce retreat on defense. O'Neal felt that this man possessed an indomitable will.