Mike Brown looked at Lin Yu in great surprise. He glanced at the score. 49:65, the Cavaliers were now 16 points behind.
There were more than 7 minutes left in the third quarter, and Mike Brown felt it was impossible to chase down an 11-point deficit in 7 minutes.
Lin Yu, who interfered with the team's formation, was also a little uneasy. He soon discovered that his worries were unnecessary.
Because next, when Mike Brown hesitated, James directly made the decision on behalf of Mike Brown.
"That's it, Mike, let's move on to a flexible group of one senior and four juniors, and we'll play defensive counterattack."
Hearing James' words, Mike Brown nodded simply: "Then, for the next game, our lineup will be Anderson, LeBron, Lin, Ila and Daniel."
"But LeBron, with this lineup, you will be under a lot of pressure."
Mike Brown looked at James, but James shook his head and asked: "When did I need you to worry about me, Mike?"
As soon as the timeout expired and the timer buzzed, the Cavaliers replaced two players. Varejao replaced Big Z, and Ira Newbell replaced Drew Gooden.
After re-appearing, James stood in front of Kevin Garnett.
This is why Mike Brown said that the pressure on James may be great, because James, who is at the power forward position, needs to face the impact of Garnett.
This is different from facing ordinary outside players. Garnett's inside play requires James to come up with completely different defensive strategies.
So far in the game, Garnett has scored 16 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks, which is the highest score in the game.
Judging from the state of this game, James is indeed facing tremendous pressure.
But on the other side, Lin Yu whispered to Ira Newbell before he came on the court: "Ira, you will guard against Ray Allen later. Just follow him closely and don't let him run away without the ball and miss the opportunity."
Ira Nubell nodded. The Celtics are still in the early stages of allocating the ball. Most of the ball rights that Ray Allen can distribute are catching and shooting, and only a few singles with the ball.
After patting Ira Newbell on the shoulder, Lin Yu stood in front of Paul Pierce.
"Paul, are you ready for my defense? It's going to be a completely different feeling for you."
Pierce smiled: "Your memory is a bit poor. Didn't I play against you too many times in the training matches last season?"
Lin Yu also smiled: "No, I am different this season."
He seemed to mean something, but the first offensive possession after the timeout belonged to the Cavaliers, and Daniel Gibson, who was in control of the ball, had already advanced to the frontcourt.
The focus of defensive counterattack is defense, so in the opening offensive round, the Cavaliers still have to look for good opportunities in positional offense.
Daniel Gibson handed the ball to James, using a regular breakthrough and distribution play. Pierce, who was defending James, took a step and seemed to give up a little space.
When James rushed to the basket at full speed, Garnett came over from the weak side and suddenly stretched out his hand.
Snapped!
The basketball flew straight out, and Garnett squeezed past James, accelerated, and grabbed the basketball.
Almost instantly, the ball was transferred, and the Celtics' outside players began to run towards the frontcourt. Garnett's long pass also found Ray Allen who was rushing at the front.
The North Shore Garden Arena began to erupt with cheers. Amidst the cheers of the entire stadium, LeBron James completed the overtaking and quickly caught up behind Ray Allen.
Stepping on the inner circle of the free throw line, Ray Allen jumped up, aiming to put the ball into the basket with a light layup.
Because of Lin Yu's defense, his score in this game has not yet broken double, and this goal is his chance to break double.
In the Cavaliers' frontcourt, Lin Yu, who was unable to defend himself in time, gradually stopped in the center circle.
But in the Celtics' frontcourt, the scene of LeBron James leaping high directly slowed down in his eyes, and even Ray Allen's layup speed also slowed down.
He clearly saw James stretching out a big black hand from behind Ray Allen and slapping the rising basketball hard.
Snapped!
There was a bang and exclamations of surprise.
After a moment of silence, a clear voice of explanation came to Lin Yu's ears: "Oh my God! LeBron James has completed his redemption!"
"He rushed to the backcourt, passed countless offensive players rushing in front of him in a few seconds, and then made a big block to prevent the Celtics from scoring!"
Not only did he block it, after completing the big block, James also got the basketball first.
Lin Yu's eyes lit up in the middle circle, and he reacted quickly. He raised his right hand high, turned around, and rushed towards the frontcourt.
LeBron James didn't hesitate and threw a long pass across the court!
Lin Yu took two steps forward and easily got the basketball. He knew that the characteristics of Lin X's connection had come into play. Otherwise, he would not have been able to easily adjust a direct pursuit of two bodies while winning the basketball.
Shooting posture for splitting the ball.
With a swish sound, the basketball went into the basket!
"Wonderful offense and defense, Kevin Garnett's steal was already very surprising, and then LeBron James staged a successful return to defense after running thousands of miles away from the block, and finally made a super long pass.
, China Lin hit a chasing mid-range shot!"
"51:65, the score difference has narrowed to 14 points!"
Lin Yu retreated to the backcourt. He and James high-fived to celebrate the goal, and reminded him: "Next, we must defend the opponent's offense on the offensive end!"
LeBron James nodded and quickly stood behind Garnett.
Defending the inside from the outside are two completely different areas, but James felt excited because he thought of Magic Johnson.
"When Magic was able to play center when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was absent, of course I could also play power forward!"
What James doesn't know is that he will not only play as a power forward in the future, but he will even gain weight and then play as a power forward.
In the defensive round, Lin Yu faced Pierce.
Before James felt the pressure, Lin Yu was already facing huge pressure. Perhaps after seeing Lin Yu's goal, Pierce's desire to attack was extremely strong.
Controlling the ball at the top of the arc, Pierce took two steps inside the three-point line against Lin Yu's defense.
Then he suddenly turned around and started beating him from behind.
This is Pierce's signature singles action. Lin Yu seems to have returned to last season. In every training game of the Celtics, he would face Pierce who played from the back.
After playing behind the back, Pierce will have two changes, one is a breakthrough after a tentative step, and the other is a turnaround jump shot with his back turned.
Lin Yu allowed a little space for this ball to prevent Pierce from breaking through.
Because in the lineup of one large and four small, the Cavaliers could not find more manpower to supplement and assist defense, so Lin Yu had to face Pierce's impact alone.
He has to guard against Pierce's breakthrough and force Pierce to shoot.
Pierce did not disappoint Lin Yu. He turned around at 45 degrees and tried twice, then suddenly pulled up and shot a jumper.
Lin Yu also jumped up high, and his long arms interfered with Pierce's shot.
After landing, there was a muffled sound of basketball hitting iron.
"Rebound!"
Defensive counterattacks and rebounds are also very important. The protection of rebounds in a lineup with one large and four small players will test the ability of small outside players to grab rebounds.
Inside, James and Garnett were fighting together. Physically, James still had the advantage and quickly trapped Garnett behind him.
Daniel Gibson rushed to the basket and picked up the rebound.
He soon heard Lin Yu shouting: "Pass the ball!"
Gibson passed the ball without hesitation. Lin Yu, who received the ball, had already crossed the center circle, and a 4v3 situation immediately formed in the frontcourt.
"With more and less, China Lin's ball control..."
Lin Yu, who rushed to the frontcourt, immediately attracted all the Celtics' retreating troops as soon as he reached the three-point line.
He passed the ball directly towards the wing. Daniel Gibson, who came from behind, brushed the three-point line on the right side, faced the huge unguarded space, jumped up and shot a three-pointer.
Whoosh!
The Cavaliers' bench suddenly boiled!
"Daniel Gibson hit a three-pointer in the counterattack, 54:65, and the point difference was quickly reduced to 11 points!"