allendalepharm Chapter 257 Old Friends Reunite in Indiana! MVP Awards Ceremony
Chapter 257 Old Friends Reunite in Indiana! MVP Awards Ceremony
Chapter 257 Old Friends Reunite in Indiana! MVP Award Ceremony!
The 76ers couldn't close the gap much in the fourth quarter, even though they were facing the Pacers' second unit. The score difference hovered around 20 points. After five minutes of play in the fourth quarter, Carter hit a three-pointer that extended the lead to 25 points, and Bird immediately called for a substitution!
Without waiting for even one round, they immediately substituted Carter, Ben Wallace, and Schmitz, allowing the role players to continue playing the remaining minutes.
Long nights can bring many unforeseen events! Bird now truly understands this phrase deeply.
In the end, in the final game of this series, the Pacers, after a very close first half, easily defeated and crushed the 76ers thanks to Lin Tian's strong performance in the third quarter, successfully sweeping their opponents 3-0 and advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals!
Although the team lost Mullin in the first game, the Pacers did not face too much of a tough battle in this series overall, and they won very easily.
Meanwhile, Lin Tian, who is making the playoffs for the fourth time, has not lost a single game in the first round in the first four years of his professional career! He has achieved an incredible record of 12 wins and 0 losses in the first round of the playoffs so far!
People have already started calling Lin Tian the "King of the First Round"!
In response, Lin Tian said he prefers to be called the King of the Finals!
Because Lin Tian also won all three finals he participated in, and won three championship rings!
This year marks Lin Tian's fourth consecutive attempt to win the championship!
After the game, Lin Tian, who once again recorded a triple-double with 39 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists in three quarters, hugged Iverson. Iverson said, "Beautiful win, Lin! I accept my defeat wholeheartedly! See you next year!"
"See you next year!" Lin Tian waved to Iverson without making a sound, indicating that things were going well. Then, completely bewildered, he turned around and went to hug someone else.
Is this Iverson real or fake? And you're convinced?
Iverson still hasn't realized that he's been thoroughly fooled. Did they think he was an idiot?
Well, after recalling Iverson's foolish yet clear eyes, Lin Tian was certain that he really hadn't noticed.
Then Lin Tian heard Iverson's wailing: "What? Training resumes in July?! But I still need to go on vacation! I object! I don't want to train!! Impossible, that's too long! What? Scoring title? Can I even win the scoring title next year?"
"Alright, then July it is!"
With Iverson's lamentations and his visions for next season, this series between the Pacers and the 76ers has officially come to an end!
In addition, although the league announced all the awards for this season, Lin Tian did not choose to receive his MVP trophy in Philadelphia. He wanted to save this honor for when he returned to his home court in the second round!
Such an exciting moment should definitely be celebrated at home with 2 fans!
In addition, on the same night that the Pacers eliminated the 76ers, the Spurs also eliminated the Timberwolves!
The Spurs' twin towers dominated the Timberwolves' Garnett and Sprewell duo, playing with ease and dominating the game. Although they didn't win as many games as the Pacers, the point difference in all three games exceeded 15, making it a series with very little suspense.
In this series, Duncan averaged 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game, with a field goal percentage of 54%!
加内特场均拿下18分11篮板2盖帽2抢断，命中率49%！
And with a score of 3-0!
The first playoff matchup between the greatest number 21s ended with Duncan winning decisively and completely dominating Garnett!
The twin towers duo of Duncan and David Robinson led their team to the Western Conference semifinals once again, and their goal, of course, is this year's championship trophy!
The third and final team in the league to sweep their opponent was the New York Knicks, who easily defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 3-0.
In their first year as a team, the Bucks' Big Three failed to create a miracle or pose much of a challenge to the powerful New York Knicks, and their first playoff run came to an abrupt end.
However, the powerful attack they displayed and their insane firepower still left a deep impression on many people.
In this series, Sam Cassell, nicknamed "The Alien," averaged 15 points and 9 assists per game, while Glenn Robinson, nicknamed "Big Dog," averaged 20 points and 8 rebounds per game. Both of them delivered impressive performances, showing no fear in the face of the Knicks, one of the league's top teams.
But the most impressive player on the entire Bucks team is still Ray Allen, the youngest of the three!
这轮系列赛中，他场均供献23分7篮板3助攻，在每场命中3个三分球的情况下，他的3分命中率仍旧高达47.3%！妥妥的有质又有量！
Especially in his matchup against Jordan, unlike his previous challengers who were completely outmatched, he put up a good fight and the game was quite exciting!
Although he was swept in his first playoff run, this top shooter from the 96 draft class has begun to move toward becoming an elite scorer!
Apart from these three sweeping series, the Lakers, led by their star duo of Kobe and Shaq, were just one step behind in advancing!
Facing the Phoenix Suns led by Kidd, the Lakers only relaxed slightly and lost one game in the third game, but won the other three games easily. In particular, Kobe, who was promoted to the starting lineup this year, delivered a surprising performance!
If Shaquille O'Neal's average of 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game was considered a normal performance for him, then Kobe's average of 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists per game was absolutely exciting. This year, Kobe became a starter for the first time and was selected to the All-NBA Third Team, finally beginning to shed the label of "idol".
Of course, no one knows yet how the Kobe and Shaq duo will sweep through the league in the future!
In addition, the Portland Trail Blazers, the emerging force in the Western Conference ranked second, also easily won against the veteran powerhouse, the Seattle SuperSonics. They only lost one game in the third game, and won the other three games without much trouble.
虽然佩顿在这轮系列赛中场均能够供献超过25分和7次助攻，命中率更是高达51%，47%和89%！
But his teammates were simply too disappointing, and the lone "Glove" could only manage to win one game despite his best efforts!
The third-ranked Miami Heat in the East faced off against Grant Hill's Detroit Pistons, and Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA First Team member Alonzo Mourning gave Hill and his Pistons no chance.
Apart from Hill's outburst in Game 2 of the series, where he racked up a near triple-double of 39 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists to lead his team to victory, the Pistons were completely dominated by the Heat in the remaining three games. Their blazing fire melted the cold Motor City!
It was after this series that Grant Hill became completely disillusioned with the Pistons' poor management. After playing for so many years, he had never even made it past the first round, and the team hadn't found him a single reliable teammate.
So, although he hasn't officially submitted a trade request yet, he's already determined to leave the team this offseason!
Coincidentally, Motor City lost patience with this mild-mannered, sunny young man who barely swore. They didn't like Hill! They disliked Hill from the very beginning; this pampered young master was simply not a good match for Motor City!
The Pistons and Hill have reached the point where they dislike and despise each other, and are just waiting for an opportunity to officially split up!
The fourth and fifth seed in the East, the matchup between the Hawks and the Magic, is the only game in the East that goes to a Game 5. These two teams have very similar team-building styles. Although they have some very good star players, they are essentially playing team basketball!
Neither of these two teams had a player averaging more than 19 points per game during the regular season. The Hawks had five players averaging double figures, and the Magic had three players averaging double figures, with two players averaging more than 9 points per game.
This data alone shows that both teams play classic team basketball!
The two teams were evenly matched, each winning a game, from 1-0 to 1-1 and then to 2-2. In the decisive Game 5, almost everyone expected Anfernee Hardaway, the only player on either team who had ever come close to being a top star, to break out and save his team.
After all, the playoffs are where a star player is tested and the best time for them to save their team!
But no one expected that even though the Magic were playing at home, and even though there were more than 18000 fans cheering for Hardaway and his team, the final result was a huge surprise!
哈达威全场比赛17投只有5中，只拿下14分3篮板6助攻，同时还被逼出了6个失误！
With their star player performing so poorly, the Magic naturally struggled to win! They were outplayed throughout the game and ultimately lost the crucial match 89-70, a 19-point deficit!
This game truly saddened and disappointed countless Magic fans. They felt that the team had made a mistake. If they had kept O'Neal instead of Hardaway back then, and if the team hadn't been so brain-dead, their team would definitely not be in this mess now.
Of course, fans have probably forgotten that it was they who voted that O'Neal wasn't worth a multi-million dollar salary, which forced O'Neal out. They've also forgotten that it was they who pressured Hardaway through various means to force him to return to the court early after his several injuries, which led to Hardaway's rapid decline.
Following the game, the Orlando Sentinel immediately published an article fiercely criticizing Hardaway, dedicating almost the entire page to condemning his mistakes.
As the official mouthpiece of the Magic, the Sentinel's angry outburst essentially signals that the relationship between the Magic and Hardaway has reached a freezing point. The Magic's management was so arrogant when they told O'Neal, "We can't give you too much money because Anfernee will be angry," and now they regret it so much!
Who knew that fat guy who didn't like training and didn't care about his physique could play so well!
But regardless of who is right or wrong, the Magic and Hardaway are on the verge of breaking up. Like Hill, they just need a catalyst!
The Eastern Conference's Game 5 was incredibly disappointing because the match ended early, but the Western Conference's Game 5 was fiercely contested and bloody!
Jazz vs. Rockets!
In the first four games, both teams successfully defended their home courts.
Although they managed to win at home, this round of matches felt more like a battle of the weak!
火箭双星的奥拉朱旺前四场场均18分9篮板2盖帽，皮蓬场均13分6篮板4助攻。
犹他双煞的马龙前四场场均20分7篮板3助攻，斯托克顿场均8分5助攻2抢断。
Neither team's key players delivered performances commensurate with their market value; it was practically a contest of who was worse and more incompetent!
Regardless of who these four people are, they have lost their former charm and dominance! They have truly grown old!
But when it came to the fifth do-or-die battle, everything was different!
Malone and Olajuwon, these old rivals and bitter enemies in the West, played their best tonight. Perhaps they both knew that this might be the last time they would show themselves in this kind of game, so they both gave it their all!
奥拉朱旺全场33分16篮板4盖帽！马龙拿下了39分11篮板6助攻！
Both of them were impeccable tonight!
The score remained close until the very last moment of the game!
With 30 seconds left, the Rockets were still leading by 1 point!
But then, Stockton, who hadn't scored a single point all night, suddenly found his rhythm, calmly shooting a three-pointer to score his first goal of the night and take the lead!
Pippen's layup attempt was blocked by Malone, and although Olajuwon got the offensive rebound, his close-range putback attempt failed to go in!
This time, the rebound fell into Malone's hands.
Left with no other option, Olajuwon had to foul Malone, sending him to the free-throw line. However, Malone, who boasts an 85% free-throw percentage, managed to stabilize the situation tonight. After making both free throws, the Jazz took a 4-point lead at home, essentially securing the victory!
With three seconds left, Mario Elie attempted a desperate three-pointer but missed, ending the Rockets' season in the making!
Hakeem Olajuwon may have already played the last game of his career, a truly glorious game!
With this, all eight teams for the Eastern and Western Conference semifinals have been determined!
The eight teams will be divided into four groups and will engage in a brand new round of fierce competition in a best-of-seven series!
Knicks vs. Hawks!
Pacers vs. Heat!
Spurs vs. Jazz!
Lakers vs. Trail Blazers!
Four matches, all starting at once!
Because the Pacers are ranked second in the Eastern Conference, the semifinals of the playoffs will still start at their home court!
In the first game of the series, City Square Arena was once again packed with people inside and outside. Large numbers of fans gathered both inside the arena and in the plaza outside, and they were already shouting various slogans loudly!
The fans are so happy, of course, not because the Pacers made it to the second round of the playoffs!
They are the defending champions; they won't be happy about something so trivial.
They are happy because Lin Tian is about to receive the team's first-ever regular season MVP trophy tonight!
Since the Pacers joined the NBA, no Pacers player has ever been able to lift the MVP trophy here!
This is the first time in over 20 years!
Not to mention that this MVP is considered the most prestigious and closest to a unanimous MVP in NBA history!
In addition, Lin Tian specifically rejected the league's suggestion that he lift the trophy in Philadelphia, and insisted on holding this historic moment at the Pacers' home court!
That's why Pacers fans are so crazy and excited!
They felt once again that it was a really good thing the team signed Lin Tian!
This guy really knows how to make fans feel valued and respected in every way!
An hour before the game started, the entire Pacers team was still in the locker room, but even though they weren't playing, they were all incredibly excited! Everyone knew that their leader was about to receive his first MVP award, and the first in Pacers history!
Bird sat at his desk and smiled, "How's it going, Lin? Need any advice? You know I'm the only player in NBA history to win MVP three years in a row, so I have a lot of experience with this."
"I'm just a little worried, and I really want to call Isaiah," Lin Tian said with a smile. "After you won your third MVP, Isaiah said that if you were a black person, you would at most be an ordinary All-Star. Your skin color helped you reach a level you shouldn't have."
"I wonder if Isaiah would say the same thing to me?"
"Don't worry, it won't happen." Miller, chewing gum and with his arm splinted back on, said, "Isaiah dared to say that back then because he had those two trash, Mahone and Lambiel, by his side, and Larry didn't have a single capable teammate."
"But right now, you're the best fighter in this league, and nobody dares to say a word about your award! Unless they want to end up in the hospital!"
"Is that so? I thought they liked me because I'm strong, handsome, and have a flashy playing style. Turns out it's just because I can play?" Lin Tian's words drew a burst of laughter from everyone present. The worry of Miller and Mullin being absent due to injury was finally eased a little by Lin Tian winning the MVP.
Standing next to Miller, Mullin took out a bottle of wine, took a deep sniff, and squinted his eyes, saying, "Just remember to thank everyone you should thank, and don't worry about anything else."
"Have you quit drinking or not?" Miller asked, very curious as he watched Mullin's attempt to quench his thirst with a mirage.
"You piece of trash, you don't know what dedication means!" Mulin said with a sneer. "I never drink when I'm injured! I want my body to recover as quickly as possible."
"Whether I get injured or not, I won't drink excessively!" Miller said irritably. "You damn drunkard, how dare you say I'm unprofessional?"
"If you were dedicated, you wouldn't have trained recklessly and ended up missing the entire season." After his season was cut short, Mullin seemed much more cheerful. He took over from Barkley and became Miller's number one target for banter.
"Hey guys, long time no see." A group of people were chatting happily in the locker room when the locker room door opened, and Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumas, whom they hadn't seen in a while, walked in with smiles on their faces. "I think I heard someone mention my name when I was at the door?"
"Larry is still angry about what you said back then—that he didn't deserve three consecutive MVPs!" Lin Tian pointed at Bird and immediately started fanning the flames.
"That old idiot, didn't he also say he wouldn't let me join the Dream Team? I thought that whole mess was over!" Thomas cursed. "That damn country bumpkin, he's so annoying!"
"I'm still here!" Bird glared and yelled, "You dare insult me on my turf? Believe me, I'll kill you, fill your tank with cement, and sink you in the Mississippi River!"
"You really scared me to death." Thomas shrugged, clearly not afraid at all. "But if you can give me back our two future draft picks, I'll formally apologize to you, how about a public apology!"
"No way, I'll apologize to you publicly, okay? You give me your team's first-round pick this year too. Forget about a public apology, I'll even call you 'Dad'!" Bird rolled his eyes, looking completely nonchalant.
"Isaiah, you can't win an argument with Larry," Dumas, who had been silent until now, chuckled and patted his old friend on the shoulder. "Have you forgotten how many people he's driven to the brink of collapse?"
"Joe! I heard you're getting promoted this summer to be the president of our Detroit team?" Thomas suddenly put his arm around Dumar, looking like a close buddy. "Didn't you guys get rid of Grant? Give him to me! Name your price, and take any of the guys from our team you fancy!"
"I want your first-round draft picks next year and three years from now." Dumars grinned, offering a condition that Thomas could not possibly agree to, revealing the wicked side of this 'gentleman' at heart.
"You guys are really going to trade Hill? This is big news!" Barkley, who looked noticeably heavier than at the beginning of the season, poked his head out from outside the door and said excitedly, "Isaiah, if Joe asks for Jalen Rose and Tracy McGrady, are you going to trade?"
"You bastard, you don't have any recording equipment on you, do you?" Thomas reached out and touched Barkley with a distrustful look, wanting to see if Barkley was carrying any recording equipment. If Barkley were to reveal the joke they just made, it would set the league on fire in no time!
"Get lost, where are you touching me?" Barkley snapped, giving him the middle finger. "I'm here for my buddy's MVP award ceremony, not to argue with you bunch of bastards! I took a day off and got a ton of pay docked!"
Seeing that if they didn't leave soon, these old guys would start haggling and making deals right there in the locker room, or turn the place into a tea party, Lin Tian was the first to stand up and say, "Let's go! Let's hurry up and go! Let's go to the court; I can't wait to see my MVP trophy!"
"There's nothing to see, just a worthless little golden statuette!" Barkley muttered nonchalantly.
"There's really nothing to see here. I usually only have one at home, and I put the other two in the warehouse. I don't even know if I can find them," Bird followed up, expressing his disdain.
Thomas opened his mouth, but found he had nothing to say. If it were just Barkley, he could claim he had the Finals MVP, but with Bird there, his Finals MVP wasn't worth much. So, Thomas could only mutter, "A fat pig and a country bumpkin, I'm not going to bother with you!"
A few minutes later, when the Pacers players walked onto the court, the fans at City Square immediately erupted in a huge cheer!
It wasn't just because they saw Lin Tian, but also because they saw the team's "legends"!
Although Barkley and the Detroit duo only played for Indiana for one year, fans still have a strong affection for them because they both won championships with their teams and played for the teams last season!
What's more, this is Indiana's first regular season MVP in history. Even if the fans have no feelings for them, as long as they come to support them today, then you are Indiana's guests!
The stadium erupted in cheers and shouts, with fans chanting everyone's name and welcoming each newcomer!
The climax of the cheers came the moment David Stern walked into the arena with the MVP trophy!
This is exactly what the fans have been waiting for!
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
"Lin! Lin! Lin! Lin!"
The fans were chanting wildly, filled with anticipation; they couldn't wait for the ceremony to begin.
At this moment, the entire Heat team, led by Riley, also walked out of the locker room with great poise to watch Lin Tian's award ceremony.
Mourning and Lin Tian have a good relationship, and Riley is also thinking about whether he can poach Lin Tian to Miami when Lin Tian's contract expires in 6 years. So he has never given up on building a good relationship with Lin Tian.
What if?
Even if Lin Tian doesn't come back in 6 years or his condition deteriorates drastically, having more friends is not a bad thing!
Amidst the cheers of the fans, the lights suddenly dimmed, with the only spotlight pointing at David Stern on the makeshift podium.
Stern, holding the microphone, laughed and said, "I guess nobody wants to listen to this old man's nonsense right now. You all want me to just read out the names and get out of here, right?"
The fans in the stadium immediately responded to Stern's joke with a long string of boos!
Stern smiled and continued:
"But I choose not to! I'm going to deliver my lines long and slow."
Amidst even louder boos from the fans, Stern continued, "The 98-99 season was an incredibly difficult year for the league, a year full of uncertainty and turmoil. I'm not afraid to tell you all that I once thought our league would be canceled entirely this year!"
"But thankfully, thanks to everyone's efforts and expectations, we have had a season that, while not perfect, has been quite exciting! Many players have delivered outstanding performances this season! But I think everyone here tonight shares the same thought as me."
"That's right, the most outstanding, most perfect, most excellent, and most valuable player this season. Without a doubt, it's that person. Let's all shout his name!"
"Lin...Tian!!!"
The 18000 spectators on site erupted, shouting, roaring, and celebrating wildly. The meaningless screams were overwhelming, almost tearing the 37-year-old stadium apart!
Outside the arena, tens of thousands of spectators who had gathered early were jumping and cheering wildly, as if they wanted to send their voices into the arena. Inside and outside the arena, tens of thousands of crazy fans echoed each other and celebrated together!
Amid cheers, Lin Tian strode onto the stage, took the microphone, and said to everyone, "Thank you, thank you everyone! I'm very happy, and I also want to thank everyone here today, and all the friends who support me but couldn't be here because of the stadium's capacity."
"Of course, I also want to express my special thanks to several good friends who came all the way from elsewhere to witness this historic moment with me! I know many people wanted to come, but couldn't for various reasons, but I hope you believe that I can receive your blessings! Really!"
"I didn't prepare any lame jokes or humor tonight. I just want to say that I will continue to prove I deserve all of this, and I will lead the team to keep winning! We will continue to win championships! For Reggie and Chris, for everyone! We will continue to win, and more than one championship!"
After saying this, Lin Tian took the MVP trophy from Stern's hand, then held it high and showed it to everyone present!
The big screen suddenly lit up at this moment and began playing Lin Tian's highlights of this season!
Game-winning shot, score, dunk, shot, pass, defense...
After the tribute video, which lasted for more than two minutes, ended, the big screen went dark again. Then, less than two seconds later, the big screen lit up again, but this time, there was only one line of text on it.
"Dedicated to the eternal King of Indiana: Lynn!"
At this point, the atmosphere at the scene reached its climax!
The fans were shouting and roaring wildly, as if they wanted to exhaust all their energy and passion before the game even started.
As for the competition?
We'll see!
Let's have fun first and worry about the consequences!
The cheers from the fans lasted for about five minutes before finally subsiding. By then, the stadium lights had already come on, and both teams' players had begun warming up. The first game of the Eastern Conference semifinals was about to officially begin!
The ten-minute warm-up time passed in the blink of an eye. In order to allow the players to calm down and not be affected by Lin Tian's MVP award, Bird called everyone back to the bench 10 minutes early and asked them to keep quiet and slowly calm down so that the excitement would dissipate.
"Alright, everyone, I think you've all calmed down now. So, let's take a good look back at the training we've done over the past few days, and the key points we've been emphasizing!"
"The Heat's style, their key players, their tactics, and how to counter them."
After saying this, Bird paused for several seconds, as if to let the players recall the tactics he had explained to them over the past few days. Then, Bird continued slowly, speaking at a much slower pace than usual.
This was a method he found after secretly asking Lin Tian before the game: using a calm and gentle tone of voice to help the players quickly return to calm and avoid getting too excited during the game!
"The Heat's number one core player is Alonzo Mourning, who is averaging 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game this season. He is the most important player on both ends of the court for the Heat, and his defense and shot-blocking abilities are among the best in the league! He is even considered by many to be the toughest player in the league!"
"His offense is also not to be ignored. He has a wide shooting range, and although his footwork in the paint is not top-notch, it is definitely not to be underestimated. He has plenty of ways to put the ball in the basket! But his free throw shooting is only average. When necessary, you can send him to the free throw line."
"And then there's Tim Hardaway, the Heat's core perimeter player and playmaker, averaging 17 points and 7 assists this season. Due to injuries and age, Hardaway's performance has declined significantly this season, and his shooting consistency has also noticeably decreased. Lin, you need to handle him!"
"As for the other players on the Heat, they shouldn't be overlooked either. First of all, they also suffered a lot of injury problems during the regular season. Mashburn only played 24 games, and Leonard only played 12 games! These two were the Heat's third and fourth leading scorers in the past few seasons!"
"Although they missed a long time due to injury during the regular season, these two guys actually played quite well in the playoffs! Mashburn averaged 14 points per game in the first round with a 43% three-point shooting percentage, while Leonard, although averaging only 9 points per game, had a 54% field goal percentage and an astonishing 64% three-point shooting percentage!"
"Vince, Doug, you two need to be careful of their shots when you're facing them! Doug, especially you, you'll be dealing with Mashburn, and that guy is the type you're least suited to handle! He's strong, aggressive, and likes to bully people with his physique and strength!"
"Be very careful when dealing with him!"
"Essentially, the Heat are a shooting-oriented team. Although they have Mourning, they rely heavily on three-pointers and love to shoot them! But conversely, besides Mourning, they don't have a reliable mid-range shooter!"
"So when dealing with them, the strategy is to block three-pointers, allow mid-range shots, and focus on the paint! Understand?"
"clear!"
"As for offense, Rick, you need to shoot boldly! Draw Mourning out of the paint so the others have room to drive! Lin and Vince, you two need to be careful when you drive! Alonzo is the best in the league this season in both shot-blocking efficiency and limiting opponents' shooting percentage under the basket!"
"He's completely different from Ratliff, who's all about blocking shots! His defensive instincts, positioning, and toughness are top-tier in the league! In short, if he stays in the paint, there's no need to rush to challenge him! We'll have plenty of opportunities!"
"clear!"
With another shout from the players, Bird clapped, then pointed to the court and said, "Well then, go for it!"
The Pacers' five starters are back on the court!
Bird didn't change his starting lineup as usual; he wasn't in a hurry! He wanted to see how his five players could compete with the Heat!
Riley didn't try anything fancy either; he just fielded his usual five starters.
Alonzo Mourning! PJ Brown! Jamal Mashburn! Worshan Leonard! Tim Hardaway!
Looking at the five people opposite him, Lin Tian felt quite familiar with them!
Back when he was with the Bulls, he eliminated the Heat once!
Back then, the Heat also started with these five players!
It has to be said that Riley's ability to build a team is indeed top-notch in the league. He can not only quickly assemble an excellent lineup, but also make that lineup play steadily and quietly!
No wonder many people consider Riley to be one of the best managers in the league!
The referee had already walked to the center circle, gave everyone on the court a threatening look, and then blew his whistle, sending the basketball flying into the air!
Mourning roared and slapped the ball to Hardaway!
Heat, begin your attack!
(End of this chapter)