"Substitution!"
With Phil Jackson's command, the Lakers ' starting lineup was forced to return to the court early with just over seven minutes remaining in the second quarter.
Michael Jordan visibly frowned as he stood up. He hadn't recovered at all during the few minutes he rested on the bench. On the other side, Charles Barkley braced himself on his knees before managing to stand up from the bench.
They were hastily brought in to "put out the fire" after Grant Hill's relentless bombardment.
On the Boston side, Rick Carlisle glanced at Hill on the court, then at Garnett and Pierce on the bench, and unusually did not immediately switch back to the starting lineup.
"Let Grant play a little longer," Rick Carlisle said to his assistant coach. "We need to see how far he can go against Michael."
The game restarted.
The Lakers were on offense. Jordan received the ball with difficulty at the free-throw line. Facing Artest's relentless defense, he used a very experienced foul-drawing move to finally earn two free throw opportunities.
The Lakers made both free throws, stabilizing the situation slightly.
Switching between offense and defense. Boston on offense.
Grant Hill had the ball at the top of the key, ready to orchestrate an attack. He was initially guarded by Sean Marion, but just as Hill was about to call for a screen, a figure wearing a purple and gold jersey with the number 23 walked over.
Michael Jordan waved, signaling Marion to leave.
He wanted to personally take over the defense of Grant Hill.
A low gasp rippled through the New Garden, and even Lin Qi, sitting on the sidelines, straightened up slightly.
This is the most direct dialogue between two generations of star wing players.
Jordan bent down, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, staring at Hill in front of him. Although his physical condition was nearing its limit, his inherent pride would not allow anyone to slaughter his team as they had just done.
Hill looked at the man who had once dominated the entire 1990s.
Memories were instantly transported back to 1996. At that time, Hill at his peak, full of vigor and ambition, carrying the aura of " Jordan's successor," and attempting to challenge the authority of the Chicago Bulls dynasty.
That year, he used a sharp crossover dribble to get past Scottie Pippen and drive into the paint for a powerful dunk. In the next possession, he was guarded by Michael Jordan, who used his powerful core strength and defensive anticipation to force Hill's offense to a halt.
That was the first time the young Hill truly felt what insurmountable "dominance" meant; the gap between him and Jordan was simply too vast.
And now, this scene seems to be repeating itself.
Hill lowered his center of gravity, dribbled between his legs several times, and then suddenly accelerated, attempting to break through from the right side.
Jordan's judgment remained accurate. He moved laterally in advance, using his chest to block Hill's driving path. The two engaged in fierce physical contact, forcing Hill to stop the ball and ultimately forcing him to hastily pass it to Rasheed in the paint.
Rasheed's shot missed, Lakers grabbed the rebound.
"Great shot, Michael!" The Lakers ' bench erupted in cheers.
On the sidelines, assistant coach Casey looked at Rick Carlisle with some concern. " Rick, take Grant out. He still has a psychological aversion to playing against Michael; he clearly hesitated in that last possession."
Rick Carlisle crossed his arms, stared at Hill was retreating, and shook his head.
On the court, Hill was on his way back to defense, but the previous play kept replaying in his mind.
He was indeed contained, just like back then. However, he keenly sensed something different.
Back then, when Jordan blocked his path to the basket, the power and explosiveness of his lateral movement were like a solid iron wall. Just now, although Jordan still anticipated his move correctly, at the moment of physical contact, Hill clearly felt that Jordan's lateral movement was not as fast, and the force of the confrontation was not as unshakeable.
That person who once suffocated him, who seemed insurmountable, now seemed within reach. That iron wall that instilled despair seemed to be showing cracks.
After two rounds.
Boston is on offense, Hill is once again facing Jordan at the top of the key.
This time, Hill didn't call for screens; he waved to his teammates to create space.
All eyes in the room were once again focused on the two of them.
Hill took a deep breath and dribbled the basketball rapidly between his hands. His eyes were fixed on Jordan's center of gravity.
Suddenly, Hill's right shoulder slumped slightly.
It was a convincing fake move. Jordan's body instinctively shifted half a step to the left.
In that instant, Hill's right hand, as if by Magic, pulled the ball back sharply and passed it to his left hand!
A crossover step with an exaggerated amplitude and extreme speed!
This was almost a replica of the shot he made to get past Pippen years ago.
This time, Jordan tried to forcefully shift his center of gravity to block Hill's left flank. His brain had already given the order, but his knees, which had endured countless injuries and high-intensity confrontations, silently protested at this moment.
His steps slowed by half a beat.
This time, Hill didn't hesitate at all. He pushed off the ground even harder, accelerating at full speed, and swept past Jordan.
In the instant he passed Jordan, Hill could even feel as if there was some transparent barrier in the air, which made a crisp cracking sound.
The restricted area in front of Hill was like a wide highway.
He strode into the paint, facing O'Neal who was trying to help defend, jumped on one foot, stretched his body in the air, and then slammed the ball into the basket!
"Boom!"
The New Garden erupted in cheers. The commentator was so excited he was incoherent, and the fans' cheers almost lifted the roof off.
After Hill landed, he turned around and glanced at Jordan, who was still standing in the same spot.
The figure that once suffocated him, the one he felt he could never defeat, now rested on his knees, his chest heaving, watching the basketball fall from the hoop, a fleeting look of desolation in his eyes.
This step not only overcame Jordan's defense, but also Hill overcame the mental demon that had plagued him for a long time.
As Hill completed his dunk, Rick Carlisle immediately substituted Garnett, Gary Payton, and Ben Wallace.