When the Boston Celtics team emerged from the player tunnel again, the boos at the United Center were noticeably weaker than they had been half an hour earlier. The absurd "laser pointer scare" had dispelled most of the aggression of the extreme fans in attendance, replacing it with a sense of oppressive tension.
With the referee's whistle, the game that had captured the attention of the entire United States officially began.
The Chicago Bulls won the jump ball. Point guard Antonio Daniels had just advanced the ball up the court and hadn't even finished his tactical hand signals when Kobe Brian was already waving for the ball on the right wing.
Tonight, Kobe's eyes gleamed with a stubborn ferocity. Lin Qi's comments on television had deeply wounded his pride. He was eager to use a series of points to shatter Boston's system.
Daniels passed the ball over.
Almost the instant Kobe received the ball, Ron Artest immediately closed in.
During this period, many opposing players used terms like "heavyweight boxer" or "football linebacker" to describe Artest's defense. At 2.01 meters tall, Artest's weight and frame were standard for a power forward. When he lowered his center of gravity to defend the shooting guard position, his pure static strength advantage was overwhelming.
Brian Grant tried to step up to set a screen, but Kobe waved him away.
Kobe lowered his center of gravity and made two realistic probing steps in succession, trying to shift Artest's center of gravity. But Artest was not affected by the fakes at all. He didn't even need to guess Kobe's next move. He simply used his broad chest and core strength to block Kobe's path of attack.
With only six seconds left on the shot clock, Jalen Rose was open in the left corner, arms outstretched, calling for the ball. But Kobe's eyes were only on the basket. He forced his way to the baseline, took two steps, and, despite Artest's rough physical contact, jumped and pulled up for a jump shot.
Because his lower body was subjected to continuous Crash, Kobe's axis of motion for this jump was completely disrupted. There was a noticeable disconnect when the power from his legs was transferred to his arms.
The basketball flew through the air, a little short, and slammed heavily against the front of the rim. Ben Wallace easily caught the defensive rebound.
Looking back, let's look at Boston's offensive possession.
Billups dribbles past half-court. Kevin Garnett, on the left side of the mid-range, blocks Chicago Bulls power forward Donyell Marshall and reaches out for the ball.
Garnett rarely displays such a strong individual offensive drive at the start of a game.
Receive the ball, turn around.
Garnett's 2.11-meter height and long limbs gave him a clear advantage over Marshall. Garnett executed a clean step-back feint, forcing Marshall to instinctively take a step back. He then pulled up and released the ball at the highest point of his jump.
The basketball went through the net cleanly.
This was just the beginning. For the next ten minutes, the Chicago Bulls ' interior defense was virtually non-existent against Garnett.
In the next possession, the Chicago Bulls learned their lesson. When Garnett received the ball at the free-throw line again, Brian Grant immediately left Ben Wallace alone and double-teamed Marshall.
But this is precisely the core of the Boston tactical system. Garnett used his height and vision to flick his wrist and precisely pass the ball to Chris Paul Pierce, who was cutting in from the baseline, the moment the double team was formed. Pierce received the ball and easily scored a layup.
Not only can he score, but he can also use his offensive threat to create easy scoring opportunities for his teammates. In the first quarter, Garnett perfectly demonstrated what a true cornerstone of a team is.
On the other hand, almost every offensive play by the Chicago Bulls devolved into a physical battle between Kobe and Artest.
Kobe called for the ball beyond the three-point line, ignoring Grant, who was well-positioned inside, and Jalen Rose, who was waving from the wing. He stubbornly tried to finish the game himself, but Artest's strength was too great. Every time Kobe tried to break free, he was met with intense physical contact, which greatly increased his energy consumption and made his shot very inconsistent.
Either the ball slammed too hard against the backboard, or it was deflected off the rim due to interference. The dull thud of the basketball hitting the rim echoed throughout the United Center.
When the final buzzer sounded at the end of the first quarter, the score on the big screen was 32-15. Boston led by 17 points in the quarter on the road.
Garnett scored 10 points and had 4 assists in the quarter, completely energizing the entire team. Kobe Brian, on the other hand, only managed a paltry 5 points on 2-of-11 shooting. The other Chicago Bulls players barely even got the ball.
As the second quarter began, the atmosphere in the United Center had shifted from the initial tension to an unsettling silence.
Chicago Bulls head coach Beal Cartwright attempted to adjust the tactics during the break, drawing up several catch-and-play plays for Jalen Rose and the big men on the whiteboard. But as soon as the players returned to the court, all the tactical runs would instantly come to a standstill once the ball was in Kobe's hands.
The scenario Lin Qi predicted in the TNT studio is now unfolding before the eyes of Chicago.
The second quarter has reached the sixth minute.
Kobe received the ball at the right 45-degree angle. This time, not only was Artest closely guarding him, but Ben Wallace had also quietly moved towards the free-throw line, forming a hidden pocket defense.
Chicago Bulls power forward Marshall was now completely open, standing at the top of the key with no defender within three meters of him. Marshall clapped his hands loudly, signaling Kobe to pass the ball. But Kobe's vision was blocked by Artest, who seemed determined to get revenge in this defensive duel.
Kobe forced his way in, jumped over Artest's defense, and attempted to throw the ball toward the basket while losing his balance and with his vision completely obstructed.
This was a very difficult shot selection. The basketball didn't even touch the rim; it bounced off the bottom edge of the backboard.
In that instant, Marshall, standing at the top of the arc, slammed his hands on his thighs in frustration, shook his head, and lost all desire to even try for the offensive rebound. Jalen Rose, standing near the center circle, watched helplessly as Garnett grabbed the defensive rebound.
Garnett grabbed the rebound, dribbled up the court, and the Chicago Bulls ' defense appeared sluggish and inefficient. Garnett drove into the paint, faced the hastily retreating Daniels, and delivered a deft bounce pass to Artest, who caught the ball and completed a powerful two-handed dunk.
The score difference widened to 26 points, 48 to 22.
Cartwright was forced to call a timeout, but this still couldn't resolve the collapsing chemistry in the Chicago Bulls' locker room.
Back on the court, Boston brought in their rotation players. Rick Carlisle replaced Artest with Raja Bell. Although Raja Bell wasn't as strong as Artest, he was like a persistent leech, relentlessly harassing Kobe's receiving routes and constantly wearing down Kobe's stamina.
Garnett's all-around performance continued. After drawing double teams in the low post twice, he accurately found Wade and Billups lurking on the perimeter, helping the team hit consecutive three-pointers.
Time ticked by, and it was the final attack before halftime.
Kobe dribbled the ball in the backcourt, running down the clock. The entire Chicago crowd watched silently as the lone number 24 stood on the court. Facing Raja Bell's tight defense, Kobe forced a three-pointer with one second left on the clock.
The decline in physical fitness, coupled with the constant physical contact, made the ball's trajectory terrifyingly flat.
"Bang."
Another dull thud as the basket slammed against the ground.
With that muffled thud, the red light signaling halftime came on, and a piercing buzzer sounded throughout the stadium.
The numbers on the scoreboard stung the eyes of every Chicago.
65 to 35.
After overcoming pre-game turmoil, the Boston Celtics, with their tightest defense and efficient teamwork, led the Chicago Bulls by a full 30 points at halftime.
Kobe Brian took 22 shots in the first half, making only 6 for 15 points. Kevin Garnett, on the other hand, made 8 of 11 shots, scoring 18 points and dishing out 7 assists.
As the players from both teams headed towards the player tunnel, the broadcast cameras captured a stark contrast: the Chicago Bulls players walked quickly back to the locker room in twos and threes, heads down, with not a single one going to talk to Kobe. Kobe walked alone at the back, covered in sweat, looking completely out of place.