69novels Chapter 60 Big Event
Chapter 60 Big Event
In this world, some people and some things always surpass human imagination. (I only saw this news at noon; even a novel wouldn't dare write something like this.)
Just like Wang Kai, who is enjoying both boos and cheers at TD Garden, his performance today is exceeding the limits of fans' imagination in this era.
From 1978 to 2005, many star players emerged and many legends came to an end, with one record after another being born and then surpassed by those who came after.
Throughout the league's history, some records have been constantly broken, while others are still waiting to be surpassed.
In the era when the record was set, people couldn't imagine how later generations would surpass it. Just like fans in 2005, it was hard to imagine that a player who had surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's total scoring record would have to test whether his retirement tour would be welcomed by everyone.
The Celtics' final possession of the first quarter was bewildering; they knew they were being recorded, serving as a backdrop for a new record.
With 34 points in a single quarter, Wang Kai's record is unique and will be pursued by those who come after him and even those who came before him. It will also become a part of the league's history and be recorded.
Wang Kai knew that Kobe must know who would surpass his record in the future, but at this moment he didn't want to think about those things. He just wanted to enjoy the frustration of his opponents and the anger of his home fans in the TD Garden.
In the first quarter, thanks to Wang Kai's record-breaking 34 points, the Warriors led the Celtics 42-30 by 12 points.
Wang Kai returned to the bench and was congratulated by all the team members. This rookie has won over everyone on the Warriors team, and no one will question the importance and exceptional treatment he receives from the team.
For the Warriors, who had been struggling for years, the first quarter of this game seemed to bring them their savior and most important core player.
"Dude, you're so accurate! It feels like you're shooting every shot into the ocean."
When it comes to praising someone, Fisher is second to none. Of course, besides him, Monta Ellis also fawns over Wang Kai in various ways.
Temperament and personality are reserved for successful people; before success, these are all sources of trouble.
After a brief break, the game resumed, and both teams regained their composure. The Warriors wanted to capitalize on the new record and secure a resounding victory, while the Celtics aimed to keep the win at TD Garden.
After the start of the second quarter, the Warriors played more aggressively on offense, but the Celtics began to intensify their defense, and their hand movements became increasingly aggressive.
As the game became increasingly heated, the Warriors' offensive success rate began to decline, and they started to get a little impatient.
Monta Ellis repeatedly attacked the basket but missed, and he was blocked by both Perkins and Al Jefferson.
Jason Richardson missed his three-pointers in a row, and Fisher also missed his open mid-range shot.
With a little over four minutes left in the second quarter, the Celtics narrowed the gap to just two points.
Warriors interim head coach Tom Jackson had to bring Wang Kai into the game, as the team needed a reliable scoring option.
After Wang Kai entered the game, he dribbled the ball up the court and once again used his skillful dribbling to get rid of the defense before shooting a three-pointer, which missed.
After resting on the bench for a while, Wang Kai was no longer in the same form as in the first quarter.
The Celtics capitalized on Al Jefferson's low-post advantage to score two points, bringing the score back to a tie.
As the game progressed, the key players from both sides gradually returned to the field.
Wang Kai began to reduce his shot attempts, using assists to help the Warriors stabilize the situation.
Troy Murphy, who picked up two fouls in the first quarter, finally made his mark in the second quarter, receiving a brilliant pass from Wang Kai and hitting two consecutive three-pointers from the top of the arc.
The Celtics do have an advantage in the paint, but neither of their big men is very fast and can defend beyond the three-point line.
On the Warriors' side, Wang Kai used screens and his personal skills to keep driving to the basket. If the Celtics didn't help defend, he would attack the basket himself. If they did help defend, there would definitely be open shots on the perimeter.
Troy Murphy was able to secure a mid-level contract with the Warriors not because of his unreliable defense, but because of his consistent three-point shooting with good height.
As the game entered a stalemate, the Warriors players gradually calmed down. This is where Wang Kai is better than Byron. Byron often gets carried away with the ball and can control the rhythm of his aggressive play, but when the team needs him to score consistently, Byron disappears.
With Wang Kai's rise to prominence, Byron Davis, who is good at listening to others' advice, is also adjusting his mindset. He doesn't think he's handing over the position of the team's leader, but rather that he believes Wang Kai can take control of the game, and that he, Byron Davis, as the team's leader, only needs to play a role in crucial moments.
Wang Kai may lack game experience, but he learned how to control the rhythm of the game in high school. While going too fast can certainly disrupt the opponent's defense to some extent, it can also disrupt the rhythm of his own team.
After the chaotic style of play at the beginning of the season, the Warriors now need to gradually find a style and rhythm that suits them in the midst of such chaos.
With less than two minutes left in the second quarter, Byron first hit a three-pointer during a fast break, and then Wang Kai cleverly intercepted the pass from Marcus Banks to Pierce and scored on another fast break.
The Warriors scored five consecutive points, extending their lead to six, prompting another round of boos from the crowd.
The Celtics continued to try to dominate inside, but the Warriors decisively double-teamed the Celtics' interior defense. Pierce and Ricky Davis missed their outside shots, and their mentality had already been affected by Wang Kai in the first quarter.
With a 6-point lead, the Warriors finished the first half. Wang Kai had 39 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists in the first half. He didn't score much in the second quarter, but assisted his teammates more.
"Kid, do you want to surpass my 81 points? There's still a month left. If you can get back to the form you had in the first quarter, you'll have a chance to make history before me."
During halftime, Kobe kept "guiding" Wang Kai, but it's hard to say how much Kobe genuinely hoped Wang Kai would surpass him. Although Kobe still hoped Wang Kai could achieve greater success so that he could save himself and his daughter in the future.
"Old Kobe, it's not a matter of one month. I still have many years to go. Let you get 81 points next month, and then I'll get 82 or 83 points. That's when I'll surpass you. You've got the timeline wrong."
Wang Kai was indeed very excited to break the legendary single-quarter scoring record, but he also knew that it would be difficult for him to encounter such a magical state as in the first quarter again.
When the game returned in the third quarter, Wang Kai immediately hit a three-pointer using Murphy's screen. Although he couldn't play like he did in the first quarter, Wang Kai's three-point shooting was still very reliable.
The Celtics gradually changed their playing style in the second half. They did have an advantage in the paint, but their scoring efficiency was too low. Paul Pierce and Ricky Davis didn't want to be completely relegated to supporting roles, especially Ricky Davis, who wanted to be the protagonist more than anyone else.
The Warriors' defense had indeed been quite compact in previous games, and in the third quarter, the Celtics capitalized on these opportunities to frequently score from beyond the arc.
Wang Kai continued his playing style from the first quarter into the third, combining ball control with off-ball movement, making his moves more frequent and unpredictable for the Celtics.
The Celtics continued to intensify their physical play in the third quarter, where they had an advantage, except that Marcus Banks was at a disadvantage against Byron.
Other Warriors players gradually found their rhythm in the third quarter. Dunleavy made several consecutive shots in the middle of the third quarter, and Monta Ellis, who came off the bench, also earned free throws while attacking the basket.
The score difference between the two sides remained around 6 to 8 points.
Wang Kai was substituted with three minutes left in the third quarter, as the team needed him to end the suspense of the game in the fourth quarter.
The Celtics used the Warriors' rotation to narrow the gap to 1 point at one point, but on the last possession of the third quarter, Jason Richardson made a three-point play, giving the Warriors 4 points and maintaining a 5-point lead going into the fourth quarter.
Wang Kai scored another 8 points in the third quarter, bringing his total score to 47 points.
After the start of the fourth quarter, Wang Kai brought the Warriors' rotation players onto the court.
After dribbling the ball to the frontcourt, Fisher immediately passed it to Wang Kai, a move he performed with practiced ease, a habitual action.
After receiving the ball, Wang Kai faced Pierce's triple threat defense and attempted a probing step. Pierce's defensive positioning was accurate, blocking Wang Kai's pivot foot and preventing him from easily breaking through and shooting.
Without hesitation, Wang Kai dribbled, switched his pivot foot, and dribbled between his legs repeatedly. Pierce remained unmoved and resolutely refused to make a move.
Warriors backup center Biedrins set a screen for Wang Kai, and Pierce tried to get around the screen, but Wang Kai immediately changed direction and avoided Pierce from the other side.
Perkins switched positions in an attempt to delay Wang Kai's breakthrough, but he was too slow and Wang Kai dribbled past him in one step.
With their inside players spread out, the Celtics' paint area was exposed, and Wang Kai swiftly drove into the paint and slammed it home.
Pierce, not to be outdone, received the ball in the low post, shoved Wang Kai aside, and made a fadeaway shot, keeping the score difference at five points.
During the Warriors' offensive possession, Wang Kai once again drove to the basket, but the Celtics immediately double-teamed him, and Wang Kai drew a foul on his layup attempt.
After making one of two free throws, Wang Kai reached 50 points, tying Allen Iverson's rookie season scoring record and becoming the seventh player in league history to score 50 points in his rookie season.
The Celtics missed their next shot, but the Warriors missed an opportunity to extend their lead. Wang Kai made a brilliant pass to Jason Richardson in the corner, whose three-point attempt bounced off the rim.
The Celtics managed a rare fast break, with Ricky Davis scoring with a powerful dunk.
Baron Davis outmaneuvered Marcus Banks for a three-point play, and the Warriors maintained their lead above 5 points once again.
The two sides entered another stalemate, and neither side managed to score within two minutes.
With seven minutes remaining in the game, Wang Kai finally broke free of his defender and received the ball after a run in the attacking third. He turned and took a shot decisively, adding a slight backward angle to avoid Pierce's defense.
The basketball swished precisely into the net, giving Wang Kai his 53rd point, surpassing Allen Iverson's 50 points and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 51 points.
The Warriors extended their lead to 8 points, and the balance of victory gradually tilted in their favor.
At the crucial moment, it was Pierce who stepped up for the Celtics. He first responded to Wang Kai's three-pointer, using Perkins' solid screen to get rid of the defense and then hit a three-pointer. He then blocked Wang Kai's layup, helping the Celtics stabilize the situation and keep their chances of winning alive.
However, no one on the Warriors team wanted to lose this game. They wanted to win for the team and, more importantly, wanted to ensure that Wang Kai would not have any regrets.
During the Warriors' offensive rotation, they executed an extremely impressive team play, with the ball moving continuously, all players moving, cutting and running, and setting screens and picks.
The ball's passing completely stretched the Celtics' defense, and Murphy, under the basket, threw the ball towards the rim, where Wang Kai cut in and slammed it home with an alley-oop dunk for two points.
The Celtics were outmaneuvered by the Warriors' brilliant teamwork, and the players' mentality gradually became unstable. They had experienced too much in this game, and even Pierce was getting a little impatient.
Their haste resulted in missed shots on offense, and Jason Richardson grabbed the rebound and threw it forward.
As soon as Wang Kai saw Ricky Davis shoot, he turned and ran towards the opponent's half of the court. He anticipated that Ricky Davis would miss and believed that his teammates could secure the rebound. (This is my job, really my job—LeBron)
Wang Kai rushed to the frontcourt and easily dunked, scoring his 57th point in the game.
At this point, Wang Kai had surpassed Elgin Baylor and Earl Monroe, tying Rick Barry for second place on the NBA rookie single-game scoring record. Above him was only Wilt Chamberlain's 58 points. (58 again, is that a lucky number? —Paul)
The Warriors' lead is about to extend to double digits again, with just over four minutes remaining in the game.
The Celtics still have time and a chance to turn things around.
Ricky Davis made a mid-range jumper on the next possession, narrowing the gap to 7 points.
For the Warriors, after Wang Kai was double-teamed, he passed the ball to Byron, who then broke through and passed to Jason Richardson. Richardson received the ball, faked out Ricky Davis, and then drove into the paint again.
Wang Kai used Murphy's screen to get to the corner, Jason decisively passed the ball, and Wang Kai caught the ball and shot a three-pointer without hesitation. The basketball went in cleanly, 60 points.
After breaking the single-quarter scoring record in the first quarter, Wang Kai also broke the NBA rookie single-game scoring record.
The boos from the TD Garden arena couldn't drown out the cheers from the Warriors' bench. Although the fans here were loyal, they simply couldn't muster the energy to continue provoking Wang Kai. This rookie reminded them of that "Ludan" from back then, who was also surrounded by boos and was just as omnipotent.
The Celtics were unwilling to give up so easily, and they scored a three-point play in the paint, but unfortunately Perkins missed the free throw.
Wang Kai grabbed the rebound and advanced the ball to the frontcourt. Facing Pierce's defense, he jumped up and shot a three-pointer without hesitation.
Pierce tried to stop Wang Kai's frantic shooting by fouling him, but he was a little too slow. By the time he grabbed Wang Kai's arm, Wang Kai had already released the ball.
The whistle blew, the basketball went in, and Wang Kai finally roared, venting all his anger.