At 7:30 p. m. that evening, the Memphis Pyramid Arena was packed to capacity.
Just as the coaching staff had anticipated, the Grizzlies adopted a full-court press from the tip-off. Jason Williams and LeBron James Posey began double-teaming the ball handler as soon as they crossed half-court, while Drew Gooden frequently attacked the basket in the paint, utilizing his height and wingspan.
In the first six minutes of the first quarter, both sides engaged in a high-speed offensive battle, with the score fluctuating back and forth, eventually tying the score at 16-16.
With five and a half minutes left in the first quarter, Grizzlies head coach Hubie Brown made a bold move, immediately bringing on a second lineup led by Mike Miller and Stromile Swift, attempting to break down Boston's defense with fresh blood.
Rick Carlisle immediately responded by substituting Ben Wallace and Raja Bell into Mehmet Okur and Ron Artest, with Garnett leading Okur in the frontcourt.
As Okur ran onto the court, Grizzlies backup center Swift, who was guarding him, revealed a smug smile.
During the pre-game scouting video conference, the Grizzlies assistant coach specifically mentioned Okur, saying that the Turkey white center was slow on his feet and couldn't keep up with pick-and-rolls. He added that on offense, simply sticking close to his shooting hand would limit him.
The Grizzlies were on offense. Backup point guard Earl Watson called for a screen at the top of the key. Swift stepped up to set the screen and quickly cut to the basket, ready to receive a lob pass and dunk.
The moment Watson made his breakthrough with the ball, Okur's quick reaction surprised Watson.
Okur didn't stand still. He moved to the side ahead of time, raising his arms to block Watson's passing angle, forcing Watson to stop the ball. By the time Watson managed to lob the ball towards the basket, Garnett had already rotated into position from the weak side and swatted the ball down in mid-air with one hand.
Garnett landed and passed the ball to Wade, Celtics launched a half-break counter-attack.
The instant Okur grabbed the rebound, he pushed off the ground with both legs and sprinted at full speed down the middle towards the frontcourt.
Swift initially thought he could easily shake off the white center with his jumping ability and explosiveness, but when he ran past the mid-court line, he saw that Okur had already positioned himself a step ahead of him at the top of the arc three-point line!
Wade drove to the free-throw line, drawing Battier's help defense. He then spotted Okur following up in the middle and flicked the ball back to the top of the key.
Swift rushed out from the free-throw line to block the shot.
Okur's movements—receiving the ball, sinking his waist, and jumping off the ground—were executed flawlessly, without a single second of hesitation.
The basketball flew out before Swift could reach it with his fingertips, swishing cleanly into the net!
19 to 16.
Ben Wallace, standing on the sidelines, jumped up from the bench and clenched his fist.
In the next possession, the Grizzlies missed a fast break, Okur used his back to block the high-jumping Swift under the basket, securing the rebound. He then made a long pass across half-court to Pierce in the frontcourt, helping Pierce draw a foul and make both free throws.
Then, with one and a half minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Celtics moved into their own half.
Wade had the ball at the top of the key, Garnett set a screen. As Garnett cut down to draw the Grizzlies' interior attention, Pierce, who was originally standing in the right corner, suddenly slipped to the free-throw line and set a solid back screen for Swift.
Okur then bounced out to the right 45-degree angle three-point line from the other side of Pierce's screen.
Swift was trapped behind Pierce and watched helplessly as Garnett received the ball at the free-throw line, didn't even look at the basket, and casually passed it to Okur on the outside.
There was no one within three meters of Okur. He adjusted his breathing, then steadily jumped and launched his attack.
"Whoosh!"
The crisp sound of the net swishing through the air rang out, and another three-pointer went in!
24 to 16.
After scoring, Okur retreated to his own half, and Garnett ran towards him, leaping high to collide with Okur's chest in mid-air, yelling, "Well done, Mehmet ( Okur )! Keep shooting tonight!"
In the second quarter, Rick Carlisle pulled Garnett and put Rasheed Wallace and Okur together in the frontcourt.
The scene on the field immediately filled the Memphis home fans with despair.
Rasheed and Okur, the inside duo who had just racked up over a hundred three-pointers on the sidelines that morning, were positioned at the top of the key and the three-point line at a 45-degree angle as soon as they crossed half-court.
Hubie Brown's prized ten-man rotation failed. Whether it was the starters Gooden and Wright or the substitute Swift, they were completely caught in a dilemma when facing Boston's two big men who were both shooting from 25 feet beyond the three-point line.
With three minutes left in the second quarter, Okur set a screen for Tyronn Lue at the top of the arc and bounced outwards, drawing Gooden's defense. Okur then made a sideways pass to Rasheed Wallace, who was open on the left. Rasheed caught the ball, jumped, and swished a three-pointer into the net.
After scoring, Rasheed patted Okur on the back as he retreated to defend. "Good pass, kid. I'll treat you to some barbecue!"
Two minutes later, Rasheed drew a double team in the low post and flicked the ball back to Okur at the top of the key. Lorenzen Wright jumped up to try to block, but Okur calmly made a shooting fake, shook off Wright, dribbled a step inside, and then pulled up for a floater at the free-throw line, the ball swishing off the backboard and into the basket.
In just twelve minutes of playing time, Okur made three of four three-pointers and added a mid-range jumper, scoring 11 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. Rasheed also hit two three-pointers for 8 points. The two combined to help the Celtics extend their lead to nineteen points before halftime.
Standing on the sidelines, Grizzlies head coach Hubie Brown looked at the scoreboard, helplessly taking off his glasses to wipe them. He had prepared a ten-man rotation for two whole days, but before he could even wear down Boston's starters, his own paint was breached by two second-team big Boston hitting three-pointers.
Boston took control of the second half. With four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Celtics secured a 103-88 victory, winning their third game of a four-game road trip.
After the game, in the away team's locker room, Okur had just finished showering and getting dressed when Ben Wallace came over and threw a black plastic bag into his lap.
Okur looked down and opened the box. Inside was the blue four-wheel-drive remote-controlled race car. The steering lever that had been knocked askew had been repaired by Big Ben with a screwdriver, and a brand new set of anti-skid tires had been installed.
"Here you go," Big Ben said in a muffled voice as he pulled the headband over his head. "If you can't resist cravings for sweets when you get back to Boston, just take this out and run around the hallway a couple of times."
Okur held the remote-controlled car, watched Big Ben turn and walk towards the door, and grinned.