stonecrandall Chapter 190 Mismatch Showdown! Scoring King Lin and Assist King Mai
Chapter 190 Mismatch Showdown! Scoring King Lin and Assist King Mai
Chapter 190 Mismatch Showdown! Scoring King Lin and Assist King Michael!
In the studio of China Sports Media, Su Qun, who came as a guest, was equally amazed by the play: "It was imaginative and full of creativity. Lin Tian is a modern poet, Li Bai on the basketball court."
"Romantic! The ultimate in romance, coupled with unparalleled confidence and an indescribable imagination, these elements combined have created Lin Tian's amazing playing style and imagination."
"Just as there was the poet Li Bai in ancient times, today on the basketball court, there is the basketball prodigy Lin Tian!"
Fortunately, Lin Tian didn't hear this narration; if he had, he would have gotten goosebumps.
The nickname "Ball Fairy" is rather awkward.
But now, the game has been paused.
Jackson's timing for calling timeouts was always perfect; he knew exactly what kind of chain reaction this incredibly exciting play would have on both teams.
The Pacers could very well get a huge morale boost and go on a scoring run to widen the gap!
In particular, Lin Tian made this play while facing Jordan's defense, so the impact on the morale of both sides is immeasurable!
Jackson wouldn't give his opponents that kind of opportunity!
During the timeout, Jackson didn't really have much to do. He was actually very satisfied with the team's performance. This timeout was purely to stop the Pacers' momentum!
Two minutes later, the players returned to the court, but before going on, Jackson pulled Jordan aside and whispered in his ear, "Don't go up against Lin! At least not until the last few minutes of the fourth quarter."
After Jackson finished speaking, he patted Jordan on the shoulder.
He knew that there were some things he didn't need to say too much; Jordan would understand.
If Lin Tian were to launch a few more of those amazing offensive plays against Jordan, the Bulls' morale might just collapse!
Jackson didn't want to take that risk. After all, the impact on the team from beating up Hubble was worlds apart from beating up Jordan!
Regardless of the state of others, Jordan's offense was not affected at all. He was still facing Rose in the low post. The difference was that this time Jordan did not use a simple and effortless shot to deal with Rose. Instead, he turned around and drove straight to the inside!
His thinking was very straightforward: If you, Lin Tian, used a magic ball to boost morale, then I won't be any worse than you!
After driving into the paint, Jordan leaped up and raised his hands high in the face of Schmitz's help defense. His fierce move made it seem like he was going to dunk Schmitz on the ground!
At this moment, Rose, who was behind him, had also caught up by gritting his teeth. He jumped up without caring about anything else and then swung down!
His goal was simple: he knew Jordan was going to make a strong move to counteract the chain reaction caused by Lin Tian's previous shot, so he had to do everything he could to stop Jordan from scoring!
Even if it means fouling Jordan and sending him to the free-throw line, we absolutely will not let him make any spectacular offensive plays!
"puff!"
After a muffled thud, Rose was almost pressed against Jordan's body, and at the same time his arm slammed down, hitting Jordan's right hand.
With Schmitz guarding him, Rose was certain that even if Jordan were truly the God of basketball, this play couldn't possibly be a 2+!
But... Rose still underestimated Jordan!
As Jordan was almost completely tackled by Rose, Rose switched the basketball from his two hands to his left. Although he had lost his balance, Rose's large hand helped Jordan at that moment.
Jordan held the basketball with his left hand, keeping it under control. At the same time, he made a huge pull-up in the air to avoid Schmitz's help defense. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the basketball bypassed the double team and obediently went into the basket!
"Jalen Rose, foul for hitting a hand!"
Crawford blew his whistle again decisively, calling Rose's fourth foul!
"MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP!"
"Michael! Michael! Michael! Michael!"
"When it comes to amazing shots, neither of us will lose!"
"Michael is the best at this in the league!"
"It's just an alley-oop! Michael taking on two opponents at once, that's way more difficult!"
The atmosphere at the United Center erupted instantly, with fans cheering wildly and chanting Jordan's name!
The fans, who had been somewhat bewildered by Lin Tian's shot, instantly regained their confidence and momentum!
This is the king of the United Center!
"Perfect response! Perfect!" Smith roared excitedly. "What could be more exciting or thrilling than Michael's response? Nothing! There's no better response than this!"
Marcus slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Jordan has once again proven that he is the king of the United Center! No matter who you are, no matter what kind of ball you're on, he can respond to you!"
"I think from this point onwards, both sides will enter decisive mode! The morale of both teams has been ignited by their respective leaders; now, it's a matter of seeing who performs better!"
Jordan stepped up to the free-throw line once again. He took a deep breath, glanced at Barkley and the others beside him, and said nothing. At this moment, Jordan entered his most terrifying mode, a killing mode that could tear apart and crush all opponents!
He's completely in the zone!
Part of the reason was because he was provoked by Lin Tian's magic ball.
But the bigger reason is that Jackson just prevented Jordan from playing against Lin Tian!
This greatly hurt Jordan's pride!
He didn't care why Jackson wouldn't let him face off against Lin Tian, nor did he care about any deeper reasons. He just felt that he had been humiliated by Jackson!
Then fight back!
Then teach the Pacers a lesson, teach Lin Tian a lesson, and let Jackson and everyone else know that I, Jordan, can match up against anyone!
Jackson's lips unconsciously curled upwards as he sat comfortably in his chair. Clemens, who was closest to him, could even hear faint whistles.
What made Jackson so happy?
Clemens's intuition wasn't as sharp as Jackson's; he hadn't yet realized the change in Jordan. But soon, in the remainder of the third quarter, Jordan showed Clemens why Jackson was so happy.
Unstoppable!
There was absolutely nothing that could stop it!
Jordan not only quickly forced Rose to his fifth foul and leave the game early, but also changed his defender to rookie Croshere. Facing the inexperienced and inexperienced Croshere, Jordan scored repeatedly at will!
Bird, unable to stand it any longer, risked being bombarded by the Bulls' shooters and began to double-team Jordan.
When double-teamed, Jordan once again demonstrated his ability as one of the league's top ball-handlers. He didn't hold onto the ball at all, nor did he get carried away. He didn't force any shots when he was supposed to pass the ball, and every pass was perfectly timed!
What's even more amazing is that his passes don't aim for direct, perfect assists. Many times, when Jordan passed the ball out, it wasn't the best opportunity, but as long as the receiving player passed it one or two more times, it could completely tear apart the Pacers' defense and create an absolutely open shot!
The latter half of this quarter became a concentrated display of Jordan's individual ability and the Bulls' teamwork and tactical awareness. Whether it was Jordan's strong attacks, his teammates' positioning, cuts, shooting, or ball sharing, everything was impeccable and absolutely perfect!
Even though the Bulls played almost perfectly in this quarter, they still couldn't take the lead!
Because the Pacers played equally well!
Under Lin Tian's leadership, the Pacers were firing on all cylinders tonight, with Barkley, Miller, Schmitz, Dumars and others all putting on a stellar performance in this quarter!
Although both teams rely on the collective effort of the entire team, the Pacers and the Bulls have completely different playing styles, with Jordan as the absolute core and the sole tactical initiator, from which the entire team then contributes.
Although the Pacers have Lin Tian, one of the league's top initiators, many of their players also possess extraordinary individual abilities. Whether it's Barkley, Miller, or Dumars who came off the bench, they all have a history of dominating their respective teams.
Therefore, during the game, they were not only able to receive the ball from Lin Tian and launch an attack immediately, but also to quickly use their individual abilities to find new opportunities when the Bulls' defense came up!
In contrast, the Pacers' style of play is more individualistic and relies more on individual ability!
Smith and Marcus, in the CBS studio, were full of praise for the performance of the Pacers and the Bulls.
At the end of the third quarter, Smith commented on the game: "I think this game, in terms of both hype and content, is the best game of the season so far! The individual skills, the star power, the teamwork, and the tactical battle between the two coaches were all breathtaking!"
"The two sides are evenly matched, locked in a tight battle all the way to this point! I'm really looking forward to seeing how this game ends. I believe the final quarter will be even more exciting than the first three!"
"At the end of the third quarter, the score was 71-72! The Bulls were still down by one point! They narrowed the gap to three points in the third quarter! But honestly, that one-point difference was practically negligible! I don't think anyone can predict how the final 12 minutes will turn out!"
Marcus glanced at the game statistics and continued, "Jordan has already racked up an incredible stat line of 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists in just three quarters. Tonight, he truly single-handedly carried the team on both ends of the court! Kukoc scored 12 points, and Burrell became the Bulls' surprise weapon tonight, hitting three three-pointers for 9 points!"
"In addition, Cole has 7 points and Hubble has 6 points. They both have a good chance of getting double digits tonight."
"For the Pacers, the player with the best stats is definitely Lin. He already had a double-double of 23 points and 15 assists by the end of the third quarter! Tonight, Lin might just get another monstrous 30+20 stat line. Besides Lin, Barkley scored the second-highest 19 points, Miller scored 15 points, and Dumars also scored 8 points."
"The Pacers played well as a whole tonight. Well, of course, except for Rose, who was completely dominated by Jordan. Rose was definitely the most miserable player on the court tonight. He not only had five fouls before the end of the third quarter, but he also went 0-for-6 on the field and only scored 3 points from free throws."
"Furthermore, he completely failed to contain Jordan's performance. Tonight, he was utterly exposed. Let's see if Rose can redeem himself and give Jordan a proper response tonight!"
As the two commentators analyzed the situation, Jackson made final tactical adjustments on the bench: "Michael, in the current situation, the team simply can't function without you. Can you hold on?"
Jordan, who had only rested for one minute in the first three quarters, nodded without hesitation and said, "I have more energy than I can use, I don't need to rest. Phil, just go ahead and set up the tactics."
"Alright, Michael, Burrell, Dennis, Tony, and Steve, the five of you will go up and play!"
"Our strategy for the fourth quarter is very simple: offense! Non-stop offense! With the Pacers' offensive capabilities, it's almost impossible for our current defense to stop them. Our best approach is to keep attacking and use our firepower to win this game!"
"Dennis, you're the only one in this lineup who isn't good at offense, but you're also the only one who can grab rebounds and protect our paint. So, although our strategy is offense, you're actually the most important person for our team in the fourth quarter! Your rebounding, defense, and protection of the paint are our only hope!"
"Dennis, to be honest, we're counting on you in the fourth quarter! Any questions?"
"Leave it to me!" Dennis nodded with unusual determination, his fighting spirit also ignited by Jackson.
On the Pacers' side, Bird stood tall and said confidently, "They have no choice in the fourth quarter. They can't rest Michael, they can't rest Kukoc. They'll definitely put those two in. Knowing Jackson as I do, he won't go out there to fight us defensively in the fourth quarter."
"Offense! He'll definitely go all out on offense against us! So they'll most likely play a big man and four small men, with only Rodman as their pure big man for rebounding and defense!"
"Lin, Reggie, I don't care who Michael is matched up against, I want you two to wear him down and torture him as much as possible! He's already played for 35 minutes, and he'll probably play for another 12 minutes! Don't let him rest, don't give him a chance to catch his breath."
"Drain all his strength!"
"Charles, you're in charge of Rodman! I don't want him to grab even a single defensive rebound; I want to control all the defensive rebounds! Are you confident you can take him down?"
"Don't worry, Larry," Barkley nodded. "Forget about Rodman averaging 4 points a game, even if it were him 6 years ago, I'd still crush him!"
"That's the spirit! In the fourth quarter, everyone except Charles, who needs to watch out for rebounds, get moving! Get charging! Since they want to compete with us offensively, let them have their way!"
"Beat them! Smash them! Show them what we're made of! Lin, Reggie, Joe, Charles, Rick, go for it, guys! Let's do it!"
After Bird finished giving his instructions, the five men he had just called up stood up and walked toward the court.
This lineup is also the strongest offensive lineup the Pacers can field right now! All five players have a scoring weapon and are very strong in ball handling. When these five players are on the court together, they can definitely produce one of the league's top super offenses!
"Coach, why aren't you letting me play?" Rose couldn't help but ask as the game started. "I can do it! I won't get destroyed by Jordan again! I'm confident!"
Don't you know why we won't let you go?
You've already been bombarded with criticism, and you're going to go again? Are you trying to get Jordan to score 60 points?
Bird glanced at Rose, opened his mouth, but didn't say the most hurtful thing. Instead, he patted Rose on the shoulder and said, "You're the secret weapon. I need you to guard Jordan for the last five minutes!"
Bird's words were very nice, but Ross didn't listen to them at all.
He was a very perceptive man; just now, he had caught a glimpse of disdain and impatience in Bird's eyes.
He didn't speak, nor did he expose Bird. Instead, he sat down on the spot, leaned back in his chair, and seemed to be thinking about something.
On the court, the Bulls, who had possession of the ball in the first wave of offense, simply let Jordan dribble the ball directly up the court. He dribbled all the way to the three-point line, did not call for a screen, but turned around and used his back to block his old rival Miller.
"Give it your all, Reggie! Didn't you eat dinner tonight?" Jordan braced his back against Miller and pushed hard towards the inside. The two were more than 10 kilograms apart in weight. One was a standard heavy guard, while the other was one of the thinnest players in the league. Their contest was a foregone conclusion!
Miller was pushed all the way to the area below the free-throw line by Jordan. It wasn't until they got there that Schmitz finally couldn't hold back and stepped in to double-team Jordan.
This time, Jordan didn't pass the ball. Instead, he had already observed Schmitz's approaching direction, and then suddenly turned around with the ball, going around to the other side where Schmitz was coming from, making the Pacers' double-team a pipe dream.
After turning around, Jordan took a step into the paint and scored a layup before Barkley could rush over, making it 2 points!
73: 72!
The Bulls have taken a one-point lead!
"Charles!"
After Jordan scored, Lin Tian suddenly let out a loud roar!
At the same time, he sprinted forward at full speed, charging towards the front of the field.
Barkley immediately understood, quickly moved to the baseline, and threw the ball out with one hand!
"Whoosh!"
With a whooshing sound, the basketball transformed into an orange lightning bolt, streaking across the sky and flying directly into Lin Tian's hands!
This was the first time the Pacers had used this fast break tactic today. Firstly, the Bulls' defense was very targeted, making it difficult for Lin Tian's first pass and quick attack tactics to be executed. Secondly, the Pacers wanted to play it safe in the first three quarters of the game, to play slowly against the Bulls and make use of their advantage in positional play.
This allowed Lin Tian to finally launch a fast break in the fourth quarter!
After receiving the ball near midfield, Lin Tian did not disappoint Barkley. Facing Steve Kerr, the only Bulls player who had caught up with the defense, Lin Tian simply ignored him and didn't bother to change direction. He shifted his weight, bent his upper body, and accelerated. The two didn't even meet before Lin Tian flashed past Kerr!
In the blink of an eye, there was no one in front of Lin Tian. Cole could do nothing but stand behind Lin Tian in a daze!
Lin Tian dribbled all the way into the three-second zone, pulled up and slammed it home with a one-handed dunk, scoring 2 points and taking the lead again!
The opening attacks by both sides set the tone for the style of the game in this quarter.
Attack! Attack!
Next, the Bulls' Kukoc drove into the paint and scored 2 points. Then the Pacers' Smits received a pass from Lin Tian and made a 2-point jump shot. Then it was Kukoc again. He received a pass from Jordan after he was double-teamed but did not shoot. Instead, he passed the ball back to Jordan in the paint the moment he got it!
This inside-outside combination caught the Pacers' defense off guard. Jordan received the ball, turned around, and easily banked in a two-pointer!
Then Miller received a pass from Lin Tian outside the three-point line and took a shot decisively. Although he missed, Lin Tian took advantage of the gap between Barkley and Rodman playing desperately, rushed out from the side, and grabbed the rebound directly over Kukoc's head. Then, while he was still in the air, he passed the ball back to Miller, who was still in the corner!
"Whoosh!"
A top-tier shooter will never miss the same spot twice in a row!
In the fourth quarter, the rhythm and style of play of both sides suddenly changed dramatically, and the two teams started to play a crazy offensive game!
Both their offensive efficiency and pace have improved dramatically! The fans in the stadium were overwhelmed and screamed with excitement!
The event was filled with exciting moments, one after another.
The score was very close; if you scored, I would definitely respond, and if I missed, I would fight tooth and nail to defend against your attack and never give the opponent any chance to widen the gap!
The score was neck and neck, with both sides chasing and rising rapidly. Jordan and Lin Tian became the leading figures in this offensive wave, and almost all the attacks were initiated from the two of them.
Besides Jordan, Toni Kukoc's performance during this period was also amazing. He fully displayed his European King style. During this time, whether it was scoring or passing and organizing, he played very well. At least for the first half of the fourth quarter, he made the fans in the United Center forget about Pippen's presence.
Unlike the Bulls, who transitioned from a single-core to a two-star system, the Pacers continued to play an offense that combined teamwork with individual ability. With Lin Tian as the initiator, the other players were only responsible for operating and appearing in their most familiar and favorite areas, and immediately launching attacks and shots after receiving the ball!
Under Lin Tian's overall strategic vision, whether it was Barkley, Miller, or Dumars, each of them received the ball at the best possible time. They were either open or mismatched when they received the ball, which were all excellent offensive opportunities.
This is the biggest reason why the Pacers were able to maintain their high efficiency in the fourth quarter!
The intense game went on until the last three minutes of the fourth quarter, with neither side able to gain the upper hand.
105: 104!
With three minutes remaining, the Pacers maintained a one-point lead.
Although both coaches called several timeouts in the fourth quarter, they did not make any substitutions. At this point in the game, they had more faith in the players who were performing well on the court and dared not make any substitutions.
Barkley inbounded the ball from the baseline, while Lin Tian let the basketball roll on the floor, spreading his arms wide and shouting out tactics to ensure his teammates were in their most comfortable positions.
The decisive battle has officially begun!
The basketball rolled on the floor until it reached the mid-court line, but none of the Bulls players made a move to steal it. At this point, no one would completely abandon their defensive position for a possible steal!
Lin Tian bent down and picked up the ball unhurriedly, and only then did the 24-second timer finally start running!
Hubble quickly stepped forward and stood in front of Lin Tian, ready to face him with his most focused defensive attitude.
Hubble was Lin Tian's teammate for two years. He had watched Lin Tian's spectacular performances up close from the bench during those two years, and he knew better than more than 95% of the people in the league how terrifying Lin Tian was!
Facing Hubble, Lin Tian didn't hesitate and dribbled between his legs repeatedly to find his rhythm.
Then came an attack step that was completely different from the crossover dribbling and change of direction style he had used before this game. He took the ball, took a small hop, and pretended to break through to the left. Then, the moment Hubble shifted his center of gravity, Lin Tian suddenly made a huge change of direction. The basketball went from left to right, and Lin Tian flashed past Hubble like lightning!
No longer the Hardaway crossover that was most popular in the 90s, but the "Answer crossover" that has swept across American baseball courts in the last two years with the emergence of Allen Iverson!
Lin Tian's style instantly changed from a delicate and fast-paced style with many variations to a bold and unrestrained style with unparalleled strength!
Faced with this sudden change in style, Hubble had no time to make any correct reaction. His mind was still trying to keep up with Lin Tian, but his body couldn't do it at all. As a result, he stumbled back two steps and sat down on the ground with a thud!
With a crossover dribble that shook Hubble, Lin Tian suddenly stopped, took a step back, dribbled back to the three-point line, slowly gathered the ball, aimed, and even took a moment to glance down at Hubble lying on the ground before calmly and unhurriedly shooting the ball.
"Whoosh!"
With a crisp sound, Lin Tian extended the lead to 4 points!
After scoring, Lin Tian tapped three fingers on his temples several times, letting out several roars with a blank expression, while clapping his hands and shouting, "Hold on to this wave! Let's widen the gap and crush them!"
"And leave Michael to me!"
"yes!"
Whether it was Schmitz, Dumars, or the unruly Barkley and Miller, at this moment they all forgot that Lin Tian was just a third-year rookie guard. They all accepted Lin Tian's leadership and were all eager to go all out to defeat the Bulls!
At this point in the game, Lin Tian no longer needed to hold back, because his two perimeter teammates were Dumars and Miller. So, in the last two minutes, Lin Tian finally stood on the opposite side of Jordan.
"Come on, Michael, let me see just how good your low-post skills really are!" Lin Tian, eager to get started, also displayed a rare top-level defensive attitude, showing no fear in the face of Jordan.
Jordan didn't say anything, but his actions spoke volumes. Lin Tian and Jordan began a relentless entanglement from the center line. Lin Tian constantly adjusted his defensive position, not giving Jordan any chance to receive the ball, while also firmly blocking Jordan's path forward, making every step he took towards the frontcourt extremely difficult!
The entire United Center crowd remained silent; they neither booed Lin Tian nor cheered wildly for Jordan.
These two men were once the pride of Chicago, but now they have to fight to the death. Chicago fans believe that, at the very least, they should be given a fair chance to win!
Therefore, everyone tacitly kept quiet, not giving the two any interference, and quietly watched their duel!
By the time Jordan finally managed to get to the 45-degree angle despite Lin Tian's defense, 10 seconds of the shot clock had already passed. And just as Jordan stepped into the three-point line, Harper's pass arrived.
Despite facing Lin Tian, Jordan remained silent. Instead, he suddenly lowered his center of gravity and accelerated past Lin Tian from his left side!
Lin Tian was not afraid of this pure speed and strength duel. He quickly adjusted his footwork to keep Jordan in front of him and prevent him from getting close to the basket as much as possible. However, Jordan only dribbled for two steps before suddenly turning around and cutting into the paint from the middle.
Just as Jordan made his move past him, Schmitz hesitated for a long time before abandoning his own defender and instead moving inward to block Jordan's path.
Then, the basketball appeared in Kukoc's hands. This guy had completely gained confidence in the fourth quarter. After receiving the ball, he dribbled backward to step out of the three-point line. Then, when Schmitz, who was desperately trying to chase back, was still more than 2 meters away from him, he had already pulled up!
"Whoosh!"
With a crisp sound, the Bulls narrowed the gap to just one point once again!
"It's okay, Rick, it's my fault." After the Bulls scored, Lin Tian immediately comforted Schmitz, saying, "I didn't set up our defensive strategy properly! Everyone remember, just defend your own positions, no need to help or assist your teammates!"
"If you really need help, communicate promptly and shout to your teammates. Be sure to rotate and provide support, and don't leave anyone unattended! Any questions?"
"no problem!"
Bird, sitting on the sidelines, couldn't help but nod. What makes a qualified leader?
It's at crucial moments that we take the blame!
Regardless of whether the blame is good or bad, or whether it is related to him, as the leader and as the one who receives the most money in the team, he should take on these responsibilities!
After patting Schmitz on the backside to comfort him, Lin Tian took the ball from the baseline again and started advancing!
This time, it was Jordan's turn to take on the responsibility of leadership. He patted Hubble on the shoulder and told Hubble to guard Dumars, while he himself stood in front of Lin Tian.
"Come on, Lin, let me see what makes you qualified to challenge me, and what makes you think you can surpass us and become the champion!"
"I will grant your wish."
As Lin Tian spoke, he dribbled the ball, and then unleashed that striking, aggressive attacking step!
After taking a step forward, Jordan maintained his body and center of gravity much better than Hubble. Even though Lin Tian immediately changed direction sharply to the other side, Jordan still quickly moved his feet and moved sideways in front of Lin Tian.
"With this outdated skill, you won't get past that..."
Just as Jordan was about to make a sarcastic remark, Lin Tian suddenly did a 360-degree dribble turn and swept past Jordan at super speed, like a rolling washing machine!
As he turned around, Lin Tian raised his arm.
The ball hit Jordan's shoulder, preventing him from quickly turning around to chase Lin Tian.
Crawford decisively chose to ignore Lin Tian's little trick!
At this point in the game, it's time to hand it over to the players!
The referee would absolutely not call a foul of this magnitude!
Jordan also understood this principle, and throughout his career, he benefited countless times from this refereeing rule!
Therefore, he turned around as fast as he could and chased after Lin Tian.
With Lin Tian's speed, how could Jordan possibly catch up?
He quickly drove into the paint, and then, over Longley, completed a high-arc bank shot layup with one hand!
"Whoosh!"
The Pacers have once again extended their lead to 3 points!
"You're too slow, Michael. How about I wait for you next time?" After scoring, Lin Tian didn't go back to defend but stood directly next to Jordan.
At this point in the game, there's no need to hold back; it's all about full-court press! Use every method to cut off Jordan's connection with his teammates and hinder his advance!
Kukoc immediately passed the ball to Jordan. After receiving the ball, Jordan immediately pushed forward against Lin Tian. Facing Lin Tian's fast footwork and his hands constantly reaching out to try to steal the ball, Jordan's advance was not fast. He barely made it across half-court, almost on the verge of an 8-second violation.
Then, the moment he crossed half-court, Jordan changed his previous steady and calm dribbling style and suddenly accelerated, rushing towards the basket!
Lin Tian naturally did his best to stand beside Jordan!
Ultimately, although Lin Tian has a huge advantage in speed, he is indeed not as good as Jordan in terms of height, weight, and strength.
He could hold his defensive position, but Jordan could also push past Lin Tian and drive all the way to the paint!
After Jordan drove past Lin Tian into the paint, he suddenly jumped up, seemingly intending to force a shot over Lin Tian.
Barkley lunged forward again, spreading his arms to stop Jordan from making the layup.
But this time Jordan also used a high-arcing shot, and the arc of the basketball was very high!
The ball was so tall that Lin Tian and Barkley couldn't reach it at all; they could only watch it fly towards the backboard and then leap over the rim!
Yes, he jumped over the rim, was grabbed by Rodman on the other side of the rim, and then slammed the ball down with both hands and dunked it into the basket!
Still 1 points!
There are less than 2 minutes left in the game!
"Lin, I..." Barkley was about to apologize for his mistake that led to the team losing points, but Lin Tian stopped him.
"Charles, the timing for the help defense was perfect. If you hadn't come, Michael would have scored two points on me!" Lin Tian patted Barkley's butt. He wasn't being polite to Barkley; he knew that the difference in height and strength between himself and Jordan made it very difficult for him to defend Jordan.
If Barkley hadn't come, Jordan's layup would have been much easier.
After all, he is the greatest scorer in league history!
none of them!
Lin Tian took a deep breath. This was his first time officially facing Jordan on the court, and he didn't want to lose!
Seeing Jordan preparing to apply full-court pressure on him, Lin Tian launched another attack!
In the next minute, Lin Tian put the ball into the basket twice more, scoring 5 points for the Pacers!
Jordan then found Kerr and Longley, assisting his teammates to make two shots!
115: 114!
With 40 seconds left in the game, the gap between the two teams was still only 1 point, and the Pacers were still in the lead!
Just after Longley scored two points under the basket, Bird promptly called a timeout.
In theory, with 40 seconds left, the Pacers can attack twice more, while the Bulls can only attack once more!
Of course, if both sides choose to compress the time to the limit, then each side only has one chance to attack! But if both sides increase the pace, then no one can really say how many rounds are left in the game.
But one thing is certain... every second and every event that happens in the next part of the match will affect the outcome!
"That was amazing! That was an absolutely fantastic game!" Marcus exclaimed again during the timeout. "I've never seen a game this good in my entire life! This is definitely the best Christmas present I've ever received!"
Smith nodded in agreement.
"Excellent! This game had so many elements! So many memorable moments and things we wanted to highlight! But the timeout was only two minutes long, Marcus, how about we talk about those thrilling two minutes?"
"Of course!" Marcus exclaimed. "The last two minutes were a head-to-head battle between the two teams' star players, with both sides pulling out all the stops! But to everyone's surprise, Lin, who is better at passing and has a high probability of winning the assist title this season, made four consecutive shots and scored 10 points!"
"And Jordan, who has already won nine scoring titles and is very likely to win another one this season, just delivered four assists in that short period of time!"
"It was as if they were determined to defeat each other using their most powerful and signature moves. Their performance in those last two minutes was absolutely perfect! It even created a confusing feeling: between Lin and Michael, who is better at scoring? Who is better at passing? Which one is the point guard and which one is the shooting guard?"
"But that doesn't matter! Compared to such a fantastic match, none of these things matter!"
(End of this chapter)