June 12, evening, Staples Center.
Los Angeles fans are never short of creativity and a touch of morbid humor. During the players' warm-up, there were even quite a few Lakers fans in the front row holding up signs that read "fire siren" and snorting jeers at the Celtics ' half of the court.
But in stark contrast to the home fans' jubilation was the Celtics' suffocating silence.
From stepping off the team bus to entering the stadium to warm up, not a single Boston player gave a pre-game interview to the media, nor did anyone chat with acquaintances on the sidelines. Garnett didn't even toss magnesium powder in front of the scorer's table as usual, but instead stretched with a blank expression.
They took Lin Qi's words at the breakfast table to heart and saved all their anger for the game.
At 8 PM, the referee blew his whistle, and the fourth game of the NBA Finals officially began.
The first round of the match set the tone for the entire first half.
The Los Angeles Lakers took the first possession. Jason Kidd had just received the ball in the backcourt when Gary Payton, like a leech, immediately began his full-court defense near the baseline.
Kidd didn't pay much attention. He protected the ball, preparing to call for a screen to cross half-court as usual. But just as he was about to speed up, Gary Payton suddenly took a half-step forward aggressively, using his extremely strong chest to force Kidd to a stop outside the three-point line.
" Jason, I didn't sleep well last night, and I'm in a really bad mood today," Gary Payton said coldly as he used a quick slide to block Kidd's passing lane. "You're in trouble."
Kidd was forced to stop the ball and could only barely pass it to Quentin Richardson, who was coming to receive it on the wing.
Richardson had just received the ball and hadn't even had a chance to turn and face the basket when Ron Artest was already closing in aggressively.
Artest's defense was devoid of any unnecessary tricks; it was pure power and a deadly grip. He used his strong body to firmly block Richardson's lower body, and his long arms acted like iron clamps, constantly disrupting the opponent's vision.
"I heard you Los Angeles folks like to party at 3:30 in the morning?" Artest whispered in Richardson's ear, his eyes revealing undisguised ruthlessness. "In return for your kindness, I've decided to make sure you don't even have a chance to make a move tonight."
Richardson was forced to retreat repeatedly, and finally, with the shot clock about to expire, he could only hastily throw the ball towards the basket.
The basketball didn't even touch the rim; it was an airball.
24-second violation!
On the very first possession, Boston's suffocating defense forced Lakers turnover.
The noise at Staples Center subsided slightly. Los Angeles fans had expected to see a sleep-deprived and sluggish visiting team, but the Celtics on the other side were rotating their defense even faster than in the previous three games!
Turning back, Boston's offense was extremely determined.
Chris Paul Pierce got into position at the left 45-degree angle, with his back to Sean Marion. After receiving the ball, he immediately lowered his center of gravity and assumed a back-to-the-basket stance.
"Bang! Bang!"
After two intense physical confrontations, Pierce used his broad shoulders to force Marion's defensive balance aside. Just as Marion tried to step back to regain his footing, Pierce smoothly executed a spin move and launched a fadeaway jumper from the free-throw line.
"Whoosh!"
Hollow core into the net.
After scoring, Pierce didn't even glance at Marion, quickly turning and retreating to defend, his eyes frighteningly focused.
This is just a microcosm of Boston's massive counterattack.
That damn fire alarm, instead of destroying their physical strength, acted like a powerful focus potion, completely waking up the players from their fatigue and exhaustion.
In the paint, Ben Wallace displayed an astonishing level of focus today. Facing Shaquille O'Neal O'Neal's aggressive low-post play, Big Ben planted his lower body firmly on the floor. He remembered Rick Carlisle's instructions, never reaching out unnecessarily, using only his chest and lower limbs to withstand O'Neal's terrifying impacts.
In the eighth minute of the first quarter, O'Neal attempted a signature shoulder-drop spin move to overpower Big Ben. However, Big Ben's judgment was extremely accurate; he not only maintained his defensive position but also moved his feet in advance, blocking O'Neal's spin path. O'Neal hastily released the ball, which bounced off the rim.
Big Ben leaped high to secure the rebound, then roared as he passed the ball to Chauncey Billups Billups, who was making a run down the court.
Billups received the ball and advanced to the frontcourt. Facing the Lakers' defensive formation that was not yet settled, he did not hesitate to chase down and fire a three-pointer.
Three point hit!
With this three-pointer, Boston established a 9-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 28-19.
In the second quarter, Phil Jackson tried to change the pace by bringing in the bench players, but he was dismayed to find that Boston's seemingly bottomless rotation, when playing with fury, was a nightmare for all opponents.
Brad Miller's solid pick-and-roll and playmaking in the paint completely outmaneuvered the Lakers ' bench big men. On the defensive end, Bruce Bowen's presence on the court completely cut off all passing lanes for the Lakers' perimeter players.
This team displayed absolute dominance on both offense and defense, like a cold and precise machine, crushing the opponent's defense without any emotion.
One minute before the end of the first half.
Garnett received the ball on the right low post, facing Lamar Odom's defense. He used a convincing fake to lose Odom's balance, then jumped forcefully, and after making contact with Odom in the air, gently flicked the ball toward the basket with his fingertips.
"Drop--!"
The referee blew the whistle; a defensive foul was committed.
The basketball spun around the rim in mid-air before finally falling obediently into the net.
2+1!
After landing, Garnett didn't pound his chest and roar as usual. He just coldly looked at the Lakers players standing to the side, then walked to the free-throw line and calmly made the free throw.
When the whistle blew to end the first half, the scoreboard showed a score of 54 to 41.
With a commanding 13-point lead, the Celtics walked back to the locker room with their heads held high.
For the entire first half, the 20,000 fans at Staples Center were rendered speechless by Boston's unreasonable and aggressive approach. Those fans who had mocked the game beforehand with "Fire Alarm" signs were now staring at the scoreboard in disbelief, as if they had been choked.
"Incredible!" Beal Walton exclaimed from the commentary booth. "I thought last night's off-court incident would destroy Boston's energy and mentality. But the opposite is true. They played the most perfect and focused first half of the series so far! The Lakers were completely dominated!"
Lin Qi sat in the back row of the away team's bench and calmly stood up.
He glanced at the score on the big screen, then at Phil Jackson, who was hurrying toward the referee's table, seemingly protesting something.
Lin Qi's eyes narrowed slightly, a deep, cold light flashing in them.
The Celtics were indeed impeccable in the first half, but Lin Qi knew very well that David Stern and the league office would absolutely not allow the NBA Finals to lose its suspense in Game 4.
The real test has only just begun after this halftime break.