The second half of the game began.
Zeng Xingyang carried the ball forward.
Little Thomas diligently came to defend.
Little Thomas shouted, "Rookie, I know you’re strong, but that doesn’t mean you can win the game on your own. Let me teach you how to lead a team to victory!"
Little Thomas still appeared very arrogant.
Zeng Xingyang retorted, "I hope you can maintain such a tough attitude throughout."
As he moved to the frontcourt, Zeng Xingyang showed no intention of passing, and Jokic wanted to come up for a hand-off.
Zeng Xingyang directly waved Jokic away, wanting to go one-on-one with Little Thomas.
The Nuggets’ offense leaned heavily on the right side, then Zeng Xingyang dribbled past to the left, starting a post-up against Little Thomas from outside the three-point line.
Little Thomas, frustrated, used both hands against Zeng Xingyang’s waist.
Is this rookie just bullying people with his height and weight?
Zeng Xingyang’s height and weight often allowed him to overpower opponents at the 1 position.
Zeng Xingyang pushed Little Thomas step by step towards the basket.
When they were less than two meters from the hoop, Zeng Xingyang turned and bumped Little Thomas while gathering the ball.
Little Thomas, suppressed, couldn’t resist, and Crowder from the other side came to assist, lunging in, but Zeng Xingyang easily made a close-range layup.
Zeng Xingyang not only drew a foul from Crowder’s slap but also got the opportunity to take a free throw.
That’s just brutally overpowering Little Thomas here.
Zeng Xingyang thought to use a different approach to solve the problem on the court. If the Celtics players are in good form, then take down their engine and see if they can still keep scoring.
The cheers on-site quickly quieted down.
In the VIP box, Angie’s eyes flickered; he had doubts about Little Thomas’s talent before, and now he felt even more doubtful.
If they are so easily overpowered in the playoffs, the Celtics won’t go far.
Zeng Xingyang made the free throw steadily.
The Celtics’ offense.
Little Thomas dribbled to the frontcourt and quickly initiated a pick-and-roll.
Amir Johnson came up, and Zeng Xingyang was blocked, unable to get around.
Jokic switched to defend Little Thomas.
Little Thomas, with a change of pace, went past Jokic on the right side, and Pope came over to help.
Little Thomas, on the move, passed the ball to Crowder who was cutting in behind for the finish.
Crowder, upon receiving the ball, stepped directly for a layup, ready to complete the play.
Zeng Xingyang was closely following in front of Crowder, but Crowder didn’t care, not knowing how strong Zeng Xingyang’s defense was.
The first half lead made Crowder careless.
After Crowder’s jump, he realized there was trouble, as Zeng Xingyang’s long arms covered him firmly.
Zeng Xingyang’s wingspan was even more exaggerated than their center’s.
Crowder kept trying to maneuver the ball around to avoid the block.
He barely dodged it, but the layup was way off, not even hitting the rim, and Jokic grabbed the rebound.
The fans on-site all felt Crowder’s despair.
At 1.98 meters, Crowder couldn’t find any opportunity in front of Zeng Xingyang.
This defense was terrifyingly strong; an average smaller player simply couldn’t avoid such defense.
It was like a death grip.
And going the other way.
Jokic passed the ball to Zeng Xingyang on the outside.
This time, Crowder came to defend.
Zeng Xingyang glanced at Little Thomas’s position, who was currently defending Pope.
Zeng Xingyang signaled for Pope to come for a screen.
Pope quickly understood Zeng Xingyang’s intention, bringing Little Thomas over and blocking Crowder.
Crowder and Little Thomas quickly switched; Zeng Xingyang dribbled sideways to the right.
Again, bodying in sideways relentlessly.
Little Thomas was pushed back step by step without much resistance.
As they entered the space between the free-throw line and the three-second area, Zeng Xingyang delivered another hit to Little Thomas.
After creating space, Zeng Xingyang took a drifting close shot.
Little Thomas simply couldn’t contest this shot.
He could only watch as the basketball swished through the net.
Barkley said, "Haha, Zeng is starting to call plays for solo actions; now whoever Isaiah is guarding, he wants their screen. This playstyle is extremely efficient."
Smith said, "Isaiah will get frustrated; Zeng’s playstyle is a huge mental blow to him."
The Celtics’ head coach Stevens frowned. The Celtics were also switching on defense, and with such a style, Little Thomas would become a big liability.
But to sub out Little Thomas, he couldn’t make that decision yet.
Little Thomas was very important for the Celtics’ offense on the court. They could only hope Little Thomas’s offense could offset his defensive disadvantages.
The Celtics’ offense.
Little Thomas dribbled to the frontcourt and started circulating the ball.
The Nuggets used infinite switching, and even Galinarli was subbed out for Faried to strengthen defense intensity.
The Celtics couldn’t find any opportunities with continuous ball movement, and finally, Little Thomas took a forced jumper from outside against Zeng Xingyang’s defense.
It didn’t go in either.
The rebound was controlled by Faried.
Faried passed the ball to Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang quickly pushed the ball forward.
Little Thomas, with faster speed, caught up.
Great, now no need for a pick-and-roll; Zeng Xingyang waved for his teammates to move to the other side.
Zeng Xingyang started a slow post-up from the halfway line.
The spectators were stunned by this sight.
"This guy really knows how to exploit his height advantage."
"Isaiah is being targeted, there’s no choice; the height and weight differences are too great."
"Isaiah struggles against a guard with such height and shooting accuracy."
Celtics fans all saw Little Thomas’s predicament.
Little Thomas, being tough, had opportunities to foul, but he didn’t; he just stubbornly resisted Zeng Xingyang, unwilling to compromise.
Seeing the back violation time running out, Zeng Xingyang pushed to the left outside the three-point line.
With a sudden stop, turn, and fake, Little Thomas did not fall for it this time and stood his ground to contest Zeng Xingyang.
While Little Thomas was glad to have finally held his ground, Zeng Xingyang passed the ball to Jokic at the arc.
Jokic, without a pause, sent the ball back to Zeng Xingyang.
This was just to adjust the rhythm; Zeng Xingyang got the ball again and resumed his sideways battering.
The spectators and Celtics players were speechless.
Zeng Xingyang was clearly bullying Little Thomas.
This time, after two steps of inside bumping, Zeng Xingyang backed out of the three-point line while colliding with Little Thomas.
Zeng Xingyang made a quick step-back jump shot.
Little Thomas grittingly tried to block it.
Knocked down Zeng Xingyang after the shot.
The basketball traced a beautiful arc.
The on-site voices were completely silenced.
Coach Stevens couldn’t take it anymore and promptly called a timeout during this dead ball.
Not counting the upcoming free throw, Little Thomas had already been overpowered by Zeng Xingyang for three possessions, resulting in two fouls.
Little Thomas looked to the referee, wanting to argue but unable to say anything.
He indeed fouled this time.
"Little Thomas has been silenced."
"Haha, awesome, Zeng Xingyang has fully exposed Little Thomas’s shortcomings."
"So cruel, calling out Little Thomas."
"If the Nuggets manage to make a comeback tonight, Little Thomas will be the main cause."
"The core is too short; the Celtics won’t go far."
The domestic fans expressed their excitement one by one.