out of 35 shots, 5 out of 10 three-pointers, 13 out of 14 free throws, 60 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, that’s the stats Hansen put up in front of the Celtics fans.
Almost, if it weren’t for the outcome being decided a minute before the end, and Stevens replacing the starters early, with Hansen also coming off with the substitutes, the new playoff scoring record might have returned to Boston.
This is also the first time since Jordan in 1986 that someone has scored 60 or more points at the North Shore Garden Arena.
"I think Danny Angie could consider emulating Pat Riley and hanging Han’s No. 77 jersey in the arena." O’Neal couldn’t help but tease as Hansen left the court.
"He’d rather die than do that." Barkley knew Angie was not that kind of person.
Before the game ended, the book "Unlocking Hansen" had become a complete hit.
Because a series of Hansen’s behaviors in the game proved he was a jerk.
Especially when Pierce was asked by reporters after the game what he and Hansen talked about during the game, he kept silent.
But then fans lip-read from the game footage that he told Hansen, "You’re really a jerk."
However, what happened next was somewhat unexpected.
Because with Hansen’s explosive performance, the word "jerk" turned into a compliment.
For players, showing performance on the court is always the most effective way to eliminate doubts.
You know, Jordan off the court was a real jerk, but there are always more people praising him than criticizing him.
Or as some fans corrected on social media, compared to "jerk," actually the word "tyrant" suits them better.
Misfortunes never come singly, just after G3, the Celtics encountered another bad news: Little Thomas suffered a hip injury after G3 and is out for the season.
Sources said that Little Thomas had already suffered a hip injury during the second round against the Raptors, but the Celtics’ medical team did not give him a warning, leading him to push too hard in the higher-intensity Conference Finals, which worsened the injury.
"We can look forward to Cavaliers Warriors showdown 2.0!"
Fans on social media had already started celebrating in advance, and this is not just Cavaliers Warriors 2.0, it’s also James vs Cavaliers 2.0, and the clash between good buddies Wade and James.
You thought last year’s Cavaliers vs Lakers was explosive enough, but this year will only be more explosive.
Amid the fans’ anticipation, Game 4 between the Cavaliers and the Celtics continued in Boston.
The outcome of this game was unexpected, with Little Thomas absent, the Celtics clawed back with a 114 to 103 win.
Durant scored 43 points, Horford had 20 points and 11 rebounds, for the first time since the Eastern Finals began, five Celtics players scored in double figures.
Stevens utilized more passing and cutting plays in the game, which instead made their play smoother.
Actually, in the previous few games, it could be clearly felt that: Little Thomas on the court is a double-edged sword.
Because he needs to hold the ball a lot, when he is in a shooting groove, he can constantly tear the opponent’s defense apart; but once he is off that groove, he becomes a burden on the court.
Perhaps due to the impact of the back injury, or the high intensity of this round’s Eastern Finals, Little Thomas was unable to get into that groove most of the time.
Of course, besides the Celtics’ performance, there’s also the point that Hansen’s performance in this game significantly dropped, scoring only 28 points.
The previous game was a blast, but the physical toll was also apparent. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱
After 4 games, it’s 2-2, and both sides will face the King Mountain Battle in Cleveland.
Just before this game started, over in the Western Conference Finals, it officially ended, with the Warriors sweeping the Spurs, advancing to the Finals with a strong 16-0 unbeaten record.
With the end of the Western Conference Finals, all external attention focused here on the Eastern Finals.
In the King Mountain Battle, Stevens deployed a killing move, doubling Hansen at halftime, forcing him to pass the ball.
However, this move was abandoned by Stevens himself in no time.
Because instead of being restricted, Hansen played even more freely than before.
This wasn’t because Hansen could easily break the double team, as Stevens arranged Smart and Bradley, both fast and agile outfielders.
The key to the problem lies in Jokic.
Jokic is still evolving, but passing is something he maxed out at the start.
He pulled to the three-point line or high position as a support for Hansen and acted as a relay point, which he was very adept at.
Hansen lost the double team off the ball, received Jokic’s pass, and attacked the basket directly, which the Celtics couldn’t stop at all.
Moreover, in G3, it wasn’t just Hansen who was overly consumed; other players also had huge energy expenditures on defense.
After resting for two days back in Cleveland, their physical energies gradually recovered.
Adding to the previous game, where Barkley and O’Neal talked about the "daddy" issue in the commentary booth, Cleveland fans started mimicking the scene this game too.
Once the Cavaliers took the lead, they began shouting the old "daddy" chant in unison under the DJ’s guidance.
Or, more accurately, an advanced version.
This is the live real-time footage:
DJ: who is your daddy?
Fans: I am your daddy!
This scene didn’t just disrupt the mental state of the Celtics players; it completely shattered it.
The Cavaliers finally secured a solid 118 to 98 victory over the Celtics at home, comfortably winning the King Mountain Battle.