At the start of the fourth quarter, Boston, leading by 23 points, did not bring in their starters, instead keeping their rotation players on the court. On the other side, the Lakers also substituted their reserves.
But the atmosphere inside the New Garden was even more suffocating than in the first quarter.
Lakers guard Derrick Fisher has the ball at the top of the key, attempting to initiate an attack. He is being guarded by Chauncey Billups Billups.
Billups didn't relax for a second despite the huge lead. He stuck close to Fisher, his chest almost colliding with Fisher's nose. Fisher tried to create space with a crossover dribble, but Billups accurately judged the ball's trajectory and swiftly reached out to steal it.
The basketball was poked away.
Fisher immediately turned around to grab it, and Billups didn't hesitate at all, pouncing like Hupu.
"Bang!"
The two bodies slammed heavily onto the floor with a dull thud.
For a potentially insignificant possession of the ball, the two men became entangled in a frantic struggle on the floor. Billups held the ball tightly in his arms, refusing to let go no matter how Fisher pulled or even when Billups ' elbow accidentally hit his chin during the struggle.
"Beep--!" The referee blew the whistle for the jump ball.
Billups then released his grip and got up from the floor. His chin was slightly scraped, and a trace of blood seeped out, but he didn't care at all. He simply wiped it with the back of his hand and then stared coldly at Fisher.
"Want to finish this game comfortably? Dream on," Billups retorted without holding back.
This is just a glimpse into the fourth section.
In the following minutes, this almost frantic scramble for the ball was a common sight. Stephen Jackson was faked out on defense, but he still managed to twist his body in mid-air and swatted the shot away, crashing heavily onto the baseline. The next second, in an attempt to save a ball that was about to go out of bounds, he threw himself into the front row of the stands.
Even with a 20-point lead, this group of Boston's reserves maintained 100% focus and a terrifying defensive intensity. Each of them didn't play for long, but once on the court, they never allowed themselves a second to relax.
On the Lakers ' bench, the seasoned veterans finally began to reveal a hint of undisguised shock in their eyes.
Michael Jordan, with a towel draped over his shoulders, stared at Stephen Jackson, who had just darted into the stands while trying to save a ball.
"Are these guys... insane?" Jordan turned to Phil Jackson, his tone unusually grave. "The game is already decided, why are they still playing so hard? This guy... reminds me of someone."
" Dennis ( Dennis Rodman )." Phil Jackson followed Jordan's gaze and quietly added the name.
Back in the Chicago Bulls dynasty, only that multicolored defensive stalwart would, with a 20-point lead and garbage time, still act like a madman guarding his food, smashing himself into the camera's box for a ball about to go out of bounds. But now, there's more than just Dennis Rodman on the court in Boston.
The game continued, Boston's defense, instead of loosening as time went on, tightened even more.
Lakers ' Lamar Odom finally got into position in the paint and received a pass from Fisher. Just as he was about to turn and power up, Rasheed Wallace's long arms blocked his way.
"Smack!"
A solid volleyball block sent the basketball flying into the third row of the stands.
"With me here, you won't get away with this! You coward! This is my restricted area!" Rasheed Wallace roared furiously at Odom, his eyes wide open, spitting almost onto the other's face. The referee immediately blew his whistle, giving Rasheed a technical foul.
But Rasheed didn't care. He raised his hands to incite the home fans, and the New Garden erupted in thunderous cheers.
On the perimeter, substitute Raja Bell was like an unyielding leech, relentlessly clung to Lakers veteran Brian Shaw. Bell made no unnecessary moves, tirelessly circling screens, staying close to him, and blocking his passing lanes. Brian Shaw, a veteran guard who had won a championship with the Lakers, didn't even touch the ball for four consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter, shaking his head in frustration.
Even Wang Zhizhi, the big man from Asia in Boston, showed remarkable toughness on the court.
When the Lakers finally managed to defend against a long-range shot from Boston and were preparing to grab the rebound and launch a fast break, Wang Zhizhi didn't choose to retreat immediately. Instead, he strode from beyond the three-point line towards the paint, leaping high among a group of muscular players, and deftly tapped the offensive rebound with his fingertips, accurately passing the ball to Billups on the perimeter. Billups caught the ball and drained a three-pointer.
Looking at this team on the court, whose depth seemed bottomless and whose every rotation player played as if they were carrying a deep-seated grudge, Jordan fell silent.
Jordan's basketball philosophy was "winner takes all." He understood the struggle in the playoffs, but he couldn't understand this almost self-destructive stubbornness. During his time with the Chicago Bulls, if they were leading by 20 points going into the fourth quarter, the substitutes would usually come on with a relaxed attitude of enjoying the game.
But this group in Boston had no idea what "relaxation" meant.
As Phil Jackson watched the players tangled up again over a loose ball, a deep weariness finally appeared on his usually composed face.
The Celtics' bench not far away.
Rick Carlisle looked at the tireless young players on the field and nodded in satisfaction.
"Well done, lads," Rick Carlisle said, turning to his assistant coaches behind him. "That's the intensity we need. Tell every player on the court that they're not allowed to let their guard down on defense until the final whistle blows."
Assistant coach Casey swallowed hard. " Rick, that's too ruthless. This is only the first game."
"We must set the tone in the first game," Rick Carlisle replied coldly. " The Lakers' veterans rely on experience and sheer willpower. Once they realize they can't even catch their breath during garbage time against Boston, that will completely dissipate."
The buzzer finally sounded to signal the end of the match.
110 to 85.
The Boston Celtics dominated the Los Angeles Lakers by a massive 25-point margin at home, securing a decisive victory in the NBA Finals.
At the post-match press conference.
Phil Jackson was no longer as composed and arrogant as before. Facing the barrage of cameras and microphones from the reporters, he remained silent for a good ten seconds before slowly speaking.
"We underestimated their defensive discipline, and we underestimated Ben Wallace's power in the low post," Phil said with a hint of frustration. " Boston showed us a completely new way of playing. This indiscriminate physical exertion really caused us a lot of trouble."
When a reporter asked why the Lakers completely collapsed in the fourth quarter...
Phil Jackson gave a wry smile, the image of Chauncey Billups Billups clinging to the ball despite his bleeding chin flashing through his mind.
"Because our bench is resting, while their bench is playing like crazy."