boyutpedia Chapter 261 The Eight Cavalry of Indiana! Lin Tian's New Fighting Style!
Chapter 261 The Eight Cavalry of Indiana! Lin Tian's New Fighting Style!
Chapter 261 The Eight Tiger Generals of Indiana! Lin Tian's New Fighting Style!
The team doctor walked over to Bird's side, and Lin Tian and the others also walked anxiously to the Pacers' bench, wanting to hear what the team doctor had to say about Carter's injury.
"He landed hard on his back! Combined with the fatigue and strain from playing too much recently, his back is constantly throbbing – a symptom of back spasms! Unless he gets a painkiller injection, he definitely won't be able to play this game!"
"Screw the injection! There's no such thing on my team, and I don't want to hear that word! Just tell me when he's coming back!" Bird waved his hand impatiently; he was really losing patience.
"As for when he'll return..." The team doctor couldn't finish his sentence, and shook his head, saying, "It depends on luck."
The phrase "it depends on luck" isn't just irresponsible nonsense from the team doctor.
However, back spasms are an injury that can indeed be either serious or minor.
95% of back spasms only last about a week. As long as you relax your body, get plenty of rest, and supplement with medication and massage, you can recover almost completely in 3-5 days.
The disgusting thing about this thing is that it can easily cause recurrent spasms in a short period of time! That is, if you rush back to play and engage in high-intensity, long-duration matches and confrontations without fully recovering after the first injury, there is a very high chance of recurrence! And the symptoms of recurrence are likely to be more severe than the first time.
Therefore, after suffering a back spasm injury, what many players need to do most is not to rush into training and come back to play, but to completely relax and recover properly!
Although this injury is not considered a major one, there are a very small number of players who, due to neglecting recovery, forcing a comeback, or rushing training, allow this back spasm to become a permanent part of their career, making it impossible to cure completely! As a result, this injury causes their competitive performance to decline rapidly and they eventually retire.
Yes, I'm talking about Pacers head coach Larry Bird.
When he was young, Bird took advantage of his good health and didn't pay attention to recovery. He thought that a few back pains were nothing. So, despite the pain and spasms in his back, he forced his elderly mother to build a road in front of their house so that she could go out more easily.
He had fulfilled his filial duty, but the result was severe back spasms. Bird was tormented by this injury for the rest of his career and was never fully recovered!
The final result was that Bird, who could still put up impressive numbers of 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in the last year of his career and had All-Star level ability, had to leave the NBA court early and choose to retire because he could not bear the intense back pain and constant pain!
It can only be said that the two giants of the league in the 80s, one black and one white, both failed to control their youth, resulting in some completely unnecessary injuries that forced them to retire early.
Magic Johnson couldn't control his lower body, while Larry Bird couldn't control his desire to show off!
He could have easily had a professional fix a beautiful path for just a few thousand dollars, but he didn't!
The magician could have bought a reliable protective suit for just a few cents, but he didn't!
All I can say is that these two heroes, one in black and one in white, are truly from the same era; they both have a penchant for saving money!
Besides Bird, players like Tracy McGrady and Ben Simmons also suffered severe back injuries that caused their careers to plummet, almost precipitously, and they never returned to their peak.
Well... Besides his serious back injury, Simmons may also have significant brain problems. The sharp decline in his career is mainly due to his brain injury, in addition to his back injury.
In any case, even though the final test results haven't come out yet, Bird, a veteran plagued by back injuries, had already made a decision for Carter in his mind.
Regardless of how serious it is, Carter should be out for the rest of the season!
It's not worth risking your entire career for such a bizarre season!
If Carter were to make a hasty comeback, causing his back spasms to become an incurable ailment like his own, Bird would probably feel incredibly guilty for the rest of his life!
He knew better than anyone how awful it felt to be plagued by this back spasm pain!
He won't let Carter take any risks.
But don't let Carter take risks...
Bird looked at the remaining eight Pacers players and sighed helplessly.
If we don't let Carter take risks, then we'll just have to fuck the rest of the people to death!
Bird opened his mouth several times, as if he wanted to say, "Let's just give up this season," but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to say it.
Lin Tian patted Bird on the shoulder and looked at the rest of the team, saying, "We're not in dire straits yet! We're leading in the game, and we're leading in the series! The pace and the initiative are in our hands!"
"Guys, let's fight this game! Like I said: if our guys come back, we can't let them be without a game!"
"Unless they're all confirmed out for the season, we have to keep fighting for our guys!"
"We may be down a roster, but after this, we will earn the respect of the entire league! We won't give up, we won't tank! We will still give it our all to fight the Heat!"
"Think about it, 30 years from now, when you're lounging in your rocking chair, what glorious stories will you tell your grandchildren? Will you tell them you once surrendered in a series, or that you beat the Miami Heat with only eight players available?"
Lin Tian paused for a moment, then extended his hand and said, "The Walker!"
"champion!"
Everyone else also reached out their hands and roared along with Lin Tian!
The Pacers are back on the court!
Perhaps out of sympathy for the Pacers' unfortunate situation, or perhaps out of embarrassment at having to call another technical foul on the Pacers, in any case, Lin Tian's flying kick on the basketball was not penalized by the referee, who did not give Lin Tian a technical foul.
On the next possession, the Heat once again passed the ball to Mashburn, but this time when Mashburn drove into the paint, he was surprised to find that Christie's defense was even tougher than before!
Christie, who is technically skilled but not particularly strong, successfully held off Mashburn. Then, taking advantage of Mashburn's momentary lapse in concentration, Christie suddenly intercepted the ball and slapped it into Hoiberg's hands. Hoiberg immediately lowered his head and sprinted forward at high speed!
Everyone knows that if the Pacers want to win tonight, they must set the pace and push the speed of the game!
After driving all the way to the three-point line, Hoiberg suddenly stopped and immediately found Lin Tian, who had run to the top of the arc and was outside the three-point line. He passed the ball directly to Lin Tian, who received the basketball and turned around to leave Hardaway behind. Then he took off and rushed towards the basket!
The Heat players quickly retreated to defend the basket and prevent Lin Tian from attacking it, but Lin Tian suddenly stopped outside the three-second zone and then pulled up and shot!
"Whoosh!"
After a close-range jump shot that found the net, the Pacers' lead widened once again!
"Oh my god! They haven't given up! I knew the Pacers wouldn't give up so easily!" Barkley shouted excitedly. "They're still playing defense like crazy! They're still launching fast-paced attacks! The Pacers are fearless! So what if they're down seven players? So what if they only have eight? The Pacers are not afraid!"
Su Qun, speaking on the China Sports Channel, said, "Regardless of the outcome, I think I'll add this game to my list of favorite games and recommend it to everyone who's just starting out in basketball! Never give up! Never admit defeat! Always give it your all!"
"Sometimes, there are things on the basketball court that are more important than winning or losing!"
On the field, the battle between the two sides continued.
The Pacers maintained a slight lead over the Heat throughout the game.
And the Pacers still had a 3-point lead until the last 2 minutes of the game!
Then, at this point, the Pacers encountered another problem.
Christie, who played the full 46 minutes and constantly battled against Mashburn, Mourning, and others, suddenly fell to the floor while running. Fortunately, he called a timeout in time when he fell, which prevented him from losing possession of the ball.
The team doctor quickly stepped forward to examine the patient, then turned around and waved to the rest of the team.
"It's nothing, just a cramp! It's nothing!"
After hearing this, the entire Pacers team breathed a sigh of relief. If Christie were to leave, it wouldn't just be a question of how they would play next; they wouldn't even be able to meet the NBA's requirement of having at least eight players registered for each game.
The team doctor quickly helped Christie by bending his leg and massaging it to relieve his cramps.
"Can you fight?" Bird looked at Christie with some concern.
"No problem, I was just a little too rough just now, it's nothing serious. I'll be more careful from now on." Christie nodded, indicating that she was fine.
"From now on, try not to participate in fast breaks. After you get the ball, hand it over to Lin to handle and let him take care of the ball progression and offense." Bird patted Christie on the shoulder. To be honest, if he had a choice, Bird really wanted to substitute Christie.
But looking at the players on the bench, he really wasn't at ease.
With two minutes left and a three-point lead, Bird really didn't want to give up this victory!
On the other side, Riley clapped his hands and said, "Their stamina is at its limit! They can't hold on! Attack the paint! Jamal, keep shutting down that Christie! Wear him down, take him off the court! Alonzo, that Davis is definitely out of energy too! I need you to step up your offensive rebounding!"
"Use offensive rebounds to stop their fast break momentum!"
"Come on, let's get this win! We'll go back to Miami and have a party!" After Riley finished speaking, he reached out and cheered everyone on again. The Heat players were already preparing to walk towards the court.
For them, the intensity of tonight's game was much greater than they had imagined. They really didn't expect the Pacers to be able to dominate them under these circumstances!
What if there's one more of them? Would we be unable to stop them?
This thought irresistibly surfaced in the minds of every member of the Heat team.
Soon, the timeout ended, and the five Pacers players returned to the court.
Three of them haven't rested for a single second tonight: Lin Tian, Christie, and Davis.
Christie's cramps were definitely not an accident; they were caused by playing for too long and reaching a physical plateau.
Christie was exhausted, and the others were certainly not in much better shape. By now, everyone on the Pacers court was completely worn out!
They could experience cramps or other problems at any time.
Bird's task now is no longer even coaching the team; his most important task now is to pray.
I pray that no one else gets hurt.
The battle continues in the final two minutes!
The Pacers' offense once again found Lin Tian.
Lin Tian was also covered in sweat at this moment, and his physical strength had long since reached its limit!
Even this is only because of Lin Tian. If it were anyone else, with Lin Tian's style of play tonight, where he was at full strength on both offense and defense, constantly facing double teams and still launching a crazy attack without a second of rest, they would have been exhausted by now.
The last two minutes will definitely feel incredibly long.
At this moment, the Heat once again chose to double-team Lin Tian!
The rest of the Pacers were almost at their physical limit. The Heat believed that at this point in the game, the only one who still posed a threat to them was Lin Tian! Leonard and Hardaway rushed to Lin Tian's side immediately, standing on either side of him.
Facing a double-team, Lin Tian suddenly accelerated and charged forward again!
He chose to continue his attack on Hardaway, whom he had once again utterly crushed that night.
Poor Hardaway, once known as the fastest man in the league, is now being chased and beaten up by Lin Tian!
Lin Tian knew that he was currently lacking in physical strength and had to conserve his energy as much as possible. At the same time, he thought of the most energy-efficient fighting method!
A school of thought that Lin Tian despises, but which he must now bring out.
This time, Lin Tian dribbled the ball two steps toward the three-point line and then suddenly stopped. He then raised his hand sharply and faked a shot, causing Hardaway, who was already on high alert, to jump up immediately.
And then, of course, I fell for it again!
Lin Tian leaned against Hardaway, then casually waved his hands towards the sky, and the referee's whistle blew again!
Lin Tian didn't even intend to score that basket. Right now, he really didn't have the energy to control his body, aim at the basket, and then do a 2+1.
When Lin Tian did this before, he was aiming for an additional penalty.
But Lin Tian is doing this now because his goal is those two free throws!
Scammers!
Lin Tian needed to repeatedly step to the free-throw line to pause the game, recover his stamina as much as possible, and at the same time, keep increasing the team's score.
Lin Tiancai kept adjusting his breathing at the free throw line, trying to use up the 15 seconds of free throw time as much as possible, so that he and his teammates could rest for a few more seconds on the court. Then he raised his hand and made the free throw.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
Lin Tian made both of his consecutive free throws, and also made the most of the 15-second free throw time, which essentially bought himself and his teammates about 3-40 seconds to rest on the court.
87: 92!
The gap between the two sides has reached 5 points!
The Heat's offense once again brought the ball inside. Although Perkins only played 39 minutes tonight, it's really impressive that he hasn't cramped up yet, considering his age!
As for expecting him to defend against Mourning's powerful attacks?
That's really too difficult!
Mourning knew very well that the old man opposite him was completely out of breath and could only use his outstretched arms to interfere with his shot. So he easily exerted his strength, turned and laid the ball, scoring 2 points for the team!
Although the Heat are behind, they are really not in a hurry!
Because the Pacers are completely unstoppable and undefendable.
Apart from Lin Tian, who can still gain some advantage on the offensive end, the other four are on the verge of physical collapse!
It wasn't that Bird was conservative in his player selection; Bohannon, Pope, and Lewis all got playing time on the bench tonight.
But their performance can only be described as disastrous!
Not only were they completely outmatched by the Heat's intensity, but the Heat players, once they saw these three guys on the court, would immediately go on a rampage, playing like they were on steroids!
The Heat know all too well who are easy targets and who are tough opponents!
As soon as those three are on the court, they will immediately become the Heat's weak point, and the Heat will give them a good beating!
Therefore, Bird would rather let his exhausted starters hold on for another 2 minutes than let those three guys go on the court and get beaten up again.
This time, the Pacers didn't force a push on the ball. Lin Tian slowed down the pace, letting his teammates go to the frontcourt first, and then he slowly dribbled the ball over.
These are precious rest times for the Pacers on the court!
After arriving at the frontcourt, Lin Tian was once again double-teamed by Hardaway and Mashburn!
This time, Lin Tian didn't force the shot. Instead, he called for two screens in a row, allowing Davis and Perkins to come out from the inside and set a high double screen for him at the top of the arc!
Then, while the four people at the top of the arc were entangled, Lin Tian suddenly accelerated, passed through the crowd, and once again killed his way to the wide area at mid-range!
Barkley exclaimed in disbelief, "Lin's stamina is terrifying! After going all out on both ends of the court for so long, carrying the team's system single-handedly, and being double-teamed by the Heat for almost the entire game, Lin can still unleash this kind of speed?"
"Unbelievable!" Kenny shook his head. "Just looking at Lin, I felt like he could collapse on the court at any moment, but he just kept going! He kept punishing the Heat! And I have to say, Lin wasn't just on offense tonight!"
"Hardaway, who is matched up against him, is 0-for-8 so far and hasn't scored a single point! This is Hardaway's second consecutive game without a score! Keep in mind that Hardaway averaged 17 points per game in the regular season! In the first round of the playoffs, he averaged 20 points and 8 assists, making him a key contributor to the team's victory over the Pistons!"
"But now, he's facing the predicament of scoring zero points in two consecutive games! Lin's mental fortitude is truly terrifying! But this play by Lin is so obviously exposed! Does he no longer have the strength to protect the ball?"
Kenny questioned this because Lin Tian suddenly stretched out his arms during the breakthrough, completely exposing the ball to everyone! This is a very basic way of breaking through. Even a junior high school student who has taken two basketball lessons will know that when going for a layup, you must keep the ball close to your body to protect it.
Otherwise, your opponent will cut you off!
But at this moment, Lin Tian completely exposed the ball!
Brown, who was coming over to help defend, couldn't resist the temptation and immediately stole the ball, slapping it towards Lin Tian's hand!
But just as he made his move, Lin Tian's hands suddenly shifted slightly, so Brown didn't hit the basketball, but instead slapped Lin Tian's hands instead!
Lin Tian let out a scream, then made an exaggerated shooting motion to turn the shot into a shooting foul instead of a regular foul.
The referees were very lenient; given the obvious foul and the Pacers' home court, they immediately blew their whistle and awarded Lin Tian two free throws.
After this breakthrough, Lin Tian was so exhausted that he could hardly breathe.
He had truly reached his limit.
Even though he used a very cunning and effortless "bumping into" style of fighting, which spared Lin Tian from physical contact and physical exertion when making a move, he still needed to use tremendous willpower to accelerate when breaking through.
After exchanging high-fives with his teammates, the Pacers didn't say much. They stood silently in their positions, while Lin Tian stepped up to the free-throw line.
"Sam, Dell, don't bother with the rebounds, go back to our own half and get ready to defend. I can make the free throws." Before the free throws, Lin Tian waved his hand, sending Davis and Perkins away so they could get a few more seconds of rest.
And if the Heat launch a fast break, they won't have to run themselves ragged back on defense!
After making both free throws, the score difference between the two sides remained at 5 points!
Next, the Heat passed the ball to Mashburn, who once again attacked Christie in the low post. This time, he not only scored but also drew a foul from Christie, completing a 2+1 play!
"Whoosh!"
Mashburn did not disappoint his teammates, successfully completing a 2+1 play to narrow the gap to 2 points!
There are only 50 seconds left in the game!
It's still Lin Tian!
This time, Hardaway started harassing Lin Tian from the backcourt, trying to wear him down, while Mashburn kept watch nearby to prevent Lin Tian from suddenly accelerating past Hardaway.
But Lin Tian had clearly lost the strength to sprint at full speed from the backcourt at this moment, and he had to save his energy!
After a series of confrontations and a slow advance, by the time Lin Tian reached the three-point line, there were less than 12 seconds left on the shot clock!
Then, Lin Tian kept his time on hold, kept his center of gravity low, and waited for his opportunity.
With only 6 seconds left on the attack timer, Lin Tian finally launched his attack!
Hardaway was extremely sensitive; he had already slipped one hand between Lin Tian's hands, practically grabbing Lin Tian's jersey while defending!
At this moment, Lin Tian did not break through, but suddenly rose up from the ground!
At the same time, Lin Tian's ball-handling hand struck Hardaway's hand, which was gripping his jersey!
"Snap!" A crisp sound that everyone could hear rang out!
Lin Tian practically leaped up, clinging to Hardaway's arm, and then forcefully threw the ball out!
Of course, it was impossible for this shot to go in. Lin Tian no longer had the strength to make a three-pointer while hanging on someone, but he had already gotten what he wanted!
"Beep beep! Hand foul! 3 free throws!" The referee quickly issued the ruling!
This play was also very obvious; everyone could see that Hardaway was holding Lin Tian's arm down, preventing him from jumping to complete the shot!
Hardaway, incredulous, clutched his head and jumped up, shouting, "I didn't! I didn't hit him, he hit my arm! I didn't!"
Whether it exists or not, whether it's subjective or objective.
It is obviously not important.
What the fans and referees saw was Hardaway hanging on Lin Tian's arm, obstructing his shot.
Lin Tian stepped up to the free-throw line once again.
Meanwhile, this foul was Hardaway's sixth foul, and he left the court dejectedly with a record of 0 points, 7 assists, and 5 turnovers.
"Coach, I really didn't mean to touch him!" Hardaway protested, spreading his hands as he sat on the sidelines.
He didn't understand why he had committed a foul.
He didn't understand that it was right.
Lin Tian's "Big Loop" move is a killer move that many stars in the league will use 20 years from now. It's shameless, simple, and easy to use, and it's at least two versions ahead of the current league. It would be a miracle if Hardaway could understand it!
It remains to be seen whether Lin Tian's actions will lead to the early arrival of the "free throw golden age" and "rule masters" in this league, ushering in a completely different style of play.
Well, that's not important right now, at least not. What's important is that Lin Tian made all three of his free throws in a row!
He has scored 7 consecutive points from free throws!
The score difference between the two sides remains at 5 point!
With only 30 seconds left in the game, it's the Heat's turn to panic!
They originally thought that the Pacers had reached their limit and were completely exhausted. They believed that as long as they continued to attack the paint, they could quickly catch up in the score.
Yes, they did manage to keep attacking the paint and easily make one shot after another.
But the Heat never expected that Lin Tian could suddenly play like this, going to the free-throw line seven times in a row and making all seven!
All their schemes became a joke because of Lin Tian's domineering presence!
This time, the attack was once again entrusted to Mourning!
After repeatedly nudging Perkins in the low post, Mourning jumped again to attempt a shot!
But this time, Perkins, who had been bullied by him for the entire match and was almost powerless to fight back, suddenly stood up!
"Gotcha! Go to hell!" Perkins roared, slapping the ball Mourning had just thrown. The basketball flew rapidly toward the three-point line.
As the Pacers' most energetic player right now, Hoiberg charged straight for the basketball without hesitation!
Seeing the basketball about to go out of bounds, this guy made a diving leap, sliding a full 3 meters on the floor before grabbing the ball. Then, before the Heat could close in, he found Lin Tian and passed the ball out.
Upon receiving the ball, Lin Tian once again unleashed incredible speed and power! He accelerated suddenly, shaking off the Heat's defense in the blink of an eye! He charged to the frontcourt at a speed that was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people, and then completed a thunderous dunk!
This was his first dunk of the night!
That was also his 55th point tonight!
After Lin Tian's dunk, there were less than 15 seconds left in the game. With a 7-point lead, the Pacers could celebrate early!
The Pacers managed to hold on for the game with only five and a half players, protecting their home court!
On the sidelines, a grim-faced Riley called a timeout and devised a quick three-point play.
But he also knew very well that this pause was just doing his best!
15 seconds, 7 points. With the Pacers' free throw percentage, there's no way they can catch up!
In particular, the Pacers have two timeouts left!
To turn things around under these circumstances, an absolute miracle would be necessary!
With the timeout ending, Leonard's three-point attempt bounced off the rim, Davis grabbed the rebound, and Brown sent him to the free-throw line, officially ending the game.
The miracle didn't happen, or rather, the entire game tonight was a miracle for the Pacers!
Davis's two missed free throws were no longer important. After Mourning grabbed the rebound, he didn't attack again. Instead, he dribbled the ball twice in place. After the game ended, he put the ball on the floor, walked over, patted Davis on the shoulder, and said, "You played really well. I admire you guys."
Then, Mourning turned around and left the field!
92: 99!
The Pacers won this game with great difficulty!
The moment the final whistle blew, the fans erupted into a frenzy of celebration!
They won! They took the game!
The team's hero, in dire straits, with many players sidelined due to injury, withstood the Heat's comeback and won the game!
Some of the more emotional fans were even wiping away tears!
In stark contrast to the fans' wild cheers and boundless excitement were the Pacers players!
Lin Tian, Christie, Hoiberg, Perkins, and Davis collapsed onto the floor the moment the final whistle blew!
Five men, five burly men, lay sprawled out in five different spots on the court.
He lay down on the floor without any regard for his image!
They were really exhausted; they had given up everything tonight!
Bird, who was sitting on the sidelines, also stood up and applauded his disciples from the bottom of his heart. There was even a little bit of redness in Bird's eyes.
这场比赛，太让他骄傲了，不仅仅是林天的48分钟爆砍55分12助攻16篮板5抢断的数据让他骄傲！
He is proud of every player on the Pacers!
打满48分钟，拿下16分4篮板3助攻的克里斯蒂和拿下5分17个篮板的戴维斯。
There's also Sam Perkins, who played 40 minutes, is 38 years old, and scored 4 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks, including an incredibly crucial block that sealed the victory for his team!
Of course, there's also Carter, who played 23 minutes before leaving the game due to injury, scoring 12 points.
Hoiberg played 25 minutes and scored 7 points.
Of course, there are also Pope, Lewis, and Bohannon, who played a total of 8 minutes but scored no points, contributing only 3 rebounds and 1 assist!
The Pacers truly gave it their all in this game, showcasing their absolute best.
They defended their home court and preserved their hope of continuing the series.
With home-court advantage, holding onto their home court means the series is not over yet!
After the game, Bird attended the post-game press conference with Lewis and Pope. He looked at the reporters and said, "I know you'd rather interview Lin, Doug, or Sam, but they're really tired. Let them rest. I can answer your questions."
Remarkably, Bird was not met with grumbling and protests, but with heartfelt applause from the reporters.
The Pacers completely dominated them in this game, winning under such dire circumstances. They just didn't want to attend the press conference, what's wrong with that? Absolutely nothing!
Get some rest!
The Pacers now have a total of 7 injured players, leaving them with only 8 available to play!
Lin Tian scores another 55 points for a triple-double! He plays the entire game to keep his team's hopes of advancing alive!
Three players played the entire game, one was injured and left the game at halftime. How much energy do the Pacers have left in this desperate situation?
A true leader! Lin scored 9 points in the final two minutes, single-handedly securing the victory for his team!
38-year-old veteran delivers a stunning block! Perkins roars, "I'm not old yet!"
Mourning's 34 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 blocks weren't enough to save the Heat; their loss wasn't due to ability, but rather their mental fortitude!
Hardaway scores two consecutive goals; once a "Beetle," now a "Dung Beetle"?
The Pacers regain hope after defending their home court! Can they welcome back their injured players after returning to Indiana for Game 5?
"The Pacers seem cursed, plagued by non-contact, accidental injuries!"
Two players confirmed out for the season, one player on day-to-day observation: Who is most likely to return among the Pacers' seven injured players?
Scoring a whopping 55 points, including a 9-point run at the end, who didn't vote for MVP Lin Tian?
After this battle, no one in the alliance can compare to Lin Tian!
How far can the Indiana Miracle go? Can they take another victory in Miami?
The team needs you guys to do more! If Lewis and Pope can put on a strong performance, the Pacers might be able to sweep the Heat!
A terrifying mental attribute! The Pacers have won everything!
……
Almost all media outlets across the United States gave the Pacers the highest and best praise after the game, all commending the energy the Pacers unleashed in the face of adversity and calling them the new generation of American icons.
After this game, the Pacers have completely turned the Heat into villains. Now everyone is hoping that the Pacers can rely on this momentum to defeat the Heat and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals!
Bird will certainly let his players see these accolades and encouragements from the outside world, hoping they can maintain their resilience and strength and continue to prepare for the games after the series.
Between the second and third games, there was a three-day, two-night rest period. The Pacers arrived in Miami early on the second day and then stayed in the hotel for the next two days!
Bird canceled all team practices and temporarily recruited several top physical therapists and massage therapists in Miami. In the past few days, all the team's players have been recovering and getting back into shape in the hotel.
At the same time, Bird also needs to think about it and make some choices.
The question is whether to risk letting the players fight for another win with that momentum, or to simply give up on these two away games, let the players rest well, and then go all out against the Heat at home to settle the score.
Besides Bird being caught in a dilemma, Lin Tian was also struggling with it for two days.
Lin Tian was very hesitant about whether or not to use the Jordan trial card.
Lin Tian had a good talk with the team's medical staff, asking about the condition of the injured players. Among them, apart from Carter and Harrington, who might return before the Eastern Conference Finals or even in the last two games of this series, the rest are likely to be out for the season.
The remaining time of the season is simply not enough for them to recover from their injuries, regain their form, find their rhythm, and then return to the court to contribute.
There's too much time, there's absolutely no way to make it!
But aside from Harrington, whose return makes little difference, if only Carter returns, with the Pacers' current roster, even if they get past the Heat, what will happen next?
With the Pacers' current roster, can they beat the Knicks led by Jordan and Ewing? Do they have a chance against the Spurs' twin towers or the Lakers' Shaq-Kobe duo?
Can the team hold up by relying on just a few key players and rotating six players to play a full 48 minutes every game?
Even if Lin Tian can handle it himself, he has one chance for injury exemption and can risk gaining weight to increase his stamina a few more times, but what about his teammates?
Christie cramped up in the last game, and Perkins played so hard he could barely walk. Can they keep up in the next game?
Human mental strength has its limits! Their physical strength will eventually be completely exhausted, and they will eventually be unable to fight anymore and will be completely unable to keep up with their opponents.
Lin Tian felt that the team really had no chance of winning the championship this season. If it were already the finals, Lin Tian would definitely spend all his resources without hesitation and do his best to win the championship.
But now, the team's situation is clearly different.
Basketball, after all, is a team sport!
There are still two and a half rounds of the series to play, at least another 13-4 games. If they play every game the full time, Lin Tian knows that even if his teammates try their best and don't say anything, they definitely won't be able to hold on!
With that in mind, Lin Tian silently made a decision.
Unless he can really beat the Heat and Knicks all the way to the Finals, he won't use that Jordan experience card.
In other words, Lin Tian will still give it his all this season, but he won't choose to push himself to the limit!
(End of this chapter)