Chapter 124: Things Of Emotion
Eli Xu! He’s practically a naturally cold-blooded human!”
Xu Ling’s arrogant move of turning early and pointing at the scoreboard was like pouring a barrel of gasoline on the already raging Bostonians’ anger.
The boos and curses at Boston Garden instantly rose dozens of decibels.
Jeff Van Gundy’s tone sounded a bit worried: “This is an extremely dangerous provocation! Mark, have you seen this kind of thing during your playing days? This will completely ignite the Celtics’ fury!”
Mark Jackson said in a deep voice: “I’ve seen it, but it usually happens to those superstars who have been famous for a long time. For a rookie, this requires tremendous courage, or rather a kind of near-mad confidence.”
Kevin Garnett growled low at Paul Pierce: “Enough! P.P! Calm down! Don’t let that rookie lead you by the nose!”
Celtics’ offensive possession.
Rajon Rondo steadily dribbled across half-court. He ignored Paul Pierce’s gesture asking for the ball again and instead lobbed the ball to Kevin Garnett in the low post.
This was the Celtics’ most stable and efficient opening move this season.
Kevin Garnett backed down against Hakim Warrick. Though he was an explosive spring man in terms of athleticism, he seemed a bit immature in front of the Wolf King.
Kevin Garnett leaned into his body, felt the strength behind him, then immediately spun right to face the basket.
Warrick reacted too slowly. Kevin Garnett didn’t hesitate, gathered the ball, jumped, and shot.
“Swish!”
4 to 5
After scoring, Kevin Garnett didn’t celebrate at all. Instead, he immediately roared at his teammates: “Defense! Stick to your man! Don’t let that kid shoot easily again!”
Grizzlies’ offense. Kidd observed the Green team’s defense.
Kidd didn’t force a pass to Xu Ling. Instead, he signaled for Darko Milicic to come up for a pick and roll. Using the solid screen, Kidd shook Rondo free, forcing Kendrick Perkins to switch. Kidd didn’t go for glory, instead firing a bounce pass to the cutting Milicic.
Milicic caught the ball, faced the basket, and was about to jump for a dunk when a green figure arrived for help defense like a shadow—Kevin Garnett! His help defense speed was terrifying, his long arms completely covering Milicic’s shooting space.
Milicic was forced to pass the ball outside, but the rhythm was disrupted. Josh Howard’s catch-and-shoot three was knocked off by Paul Pierce’s contest.
The long rebound was grabbed by Rondo. The Celtics immediately pushed for a fast break.
Rondo charged down the middle like a wild horse unleashed. The Grizzlies retreated quickly, preventing a numbers advantage.
Rondo read the floor and suddenly threw a no-look behind-the-back pass, perfectly finding Ray Allen who had slipped quietly to the corner.
Ray Allen caught the ball and shot quickly.
“Swish!”
7 to 5, Celtics take the lead.
“Great defense! Gorgeous transition offense! Ray Allen! This is Celtics basketball!” Breen shouted.
Then, Xu Ling got free of Ray Allen, caught the ball, and drove into the paint. It seemed like an easy bucket, but Kevin Garnett, the monster who had just been sweeping the high post, suddenly descended on the paint like the wings of death.
Xu Ling’s layup was heavily contested and missed.
Rondo controlled the tempo, running a high pick and roll with Kevin Garnett.
Rondo used his speed to shake Kidd, drew help defense, then bounced a pass to the cutting Garnett. Garnett caught the ball, took a long stride, and powered through Warrick’s help defense for a one-handed slam dunk, also drawing a foul.
After landing, Kevin Garnett excitedly pounded his chest and let out his signature roar toward the crowd.
In an instant, the frenzied atmosphere at the arena felt like a tangible pressure covering the court.
Kevin Garnett made the free throw, 10 to 5.
This was the terrifying part of the Celtics. They didn’t just have Paul Pierce; they had Kevin Garnett, an offense and defense core at top-five level in the league today, Ray Allen, a historic shooter, and Rondo, a maturing commander.
Next, the game clearly entered the Celtics’ rhythm.
Xu Ling tried a pull-up jump shot after a drive, but it clanged off the rim.
Paul Pierce tried to iso Xu Ling with footwork, but his spin floater was affected by Howard’s defense and missed as well.
Ray Allen got free off the ball, caught and shot a mid-range jumper, hitting it.
12 to 5.
Kidd and Milicic pick and roll, swung it back to the cutting Milicic, who hit a hook shot in the paint.
12 to 7.
The balance of the game was broken in the middle of the first quarter by an unexpected matchup.
Rondo used speed to blow by Kidd, forcing Howard to shrink from the weak side for help. Rondo nicely kicked it to Paul Pierce open in the corner.
Paul Pierce had a wide-open look and drained a three.
15 to 7.
This was a dangerous sign.
The Grizzlies’ defensive rotations started showing cracks under the Celtics’ multi-pronged offensive push.
Mark Iavaroni had no choice but to call timeout.
Though less than six minutes into the game, the Green team had already shown their powerful foundation.
Just two words: balance.
They were the league’s top defense team and sixth in offense. Their starting five’s intensity was unmatched by few teams, and their bench had plenty of quality players to sustain it for the whole game.
Though the team’s core was three guys over thirty, no one could deny they were the prototype of a modern NBA superteam.
During the timeout, Iavaroni emphasized defensive communication and rebound protection. He didn’t think the team’s offense had issues, because nearly every possession was the best opportunity available. It just looked so tough because the Celtics had Kevin Garnett, that BUG, on the floor.
This monster, before coming to Boston, consistently posted 20+11+5 stats. Now for the team, he willingly gave up possessions and rebound numbers, tirelessly defending pick and rolls, sweeping the high post, then dropping back to the paint, covering over half the area inside the three-point line with his defense. To maintain this terrifying defense, he averaged just 18 points and 9 rebounds per game.
What kind of defensive-obsessed freak species was this?
This year’s Celtics easily reminded Kidd of the early-2000s Spurs. Kevin Garnett was like a variant of Duncan, but that Duncan didn’t have helpers like Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.
Kidd, who always liked to control games, knew that if the Grizzlies faced the Celtics in the playoffs, they might not even win a single game. But with Xu Ling’s hot start, properly utilizing his offensive push might allow an upset against the Green team.
However, the Grizzlies’ situation didn’t improve after the timeout.
Because Iavaroni essentially just reiterated the pre-game plan without any real strategy. He didn’t even make substitutions, unsure who to bring in for an impact.
Compared to those renowned coaches who always knew how to adjust and create game-changing variables, Iavaroni was undoubtedly a mediocre coach, and now he had no excuses left.
Early in the season, they lacked a good point guard and couldn’t run the SSOL system. Now with Kidd, they still couldn’t run that offense because the Grizzlies had developed their own style. After Kidd arrived, he continued that style. As for SSOL? Might as well pretend it doesn’t exist.
The Celtics came out daring Kidd to shoot.
As everyone knew, the biggest difference between Kidd and those who can’t shoot was that he’d gladly accept the challenge.
You dare me to shoot? Then I’ll shoot. What if I make it and you implode?
Great idea, but reality was harsher. Kidd’s open three clanged off, and Josh Howard had to commit a tactical foul on Kevin Garnett grabbing the defensive rebound to prevent the Green team from pushing transition.
In the frontcourt, Kevin Garnett decisively came to the free-throw line for the pass. Facing Warrick’s defense, a shooting fake sent his opponent flying. He dribbled one step into the paint, drew Milicic’s help, and shoveled a close-range pass to Kendrick Perkins.
This future media person known for hot takes was now just a silent big man. He caught the pass from the team leader and slammed it home.
17 to 7
The lead reached double digits.
Kevin Garnett kept pounding his chest, roaring toward where Xu Ling was. Boston Garden mixed boos and screams. That loveless arena vibe evoked the Celtics’ peak years, where opponents left dazed yet still claimed evil spirits protected the place, cursing all who entered.
How terrifying was that?
This might be Kevin Garnett’s greatest value to the Celtics, as he truly brought back old-school Celtics swagger. Every game, he’d pound his chest and roar on a whim, as if beating opponents wasn’t enough—he wanted to slaughter, to dismember them. Like a forest savage overexcited on set stepping on Xiang Xi Xie’s head without prior agreement. But this was the NBA; even if Garnett stepped on your head, he’d get at most a suspension and fine.
Now down by double digits, facing the Celtics’ airtight offense and defense, the Grizzlies needed a breakthrough.
No doubt, this time Kidd ignored the open shot dared by the defense and passed to Xu Ling on the left wing beyond the three-point line.
Facing the mismatched Paul Pierce guarding him, Xu Ling didn’t call for a screen. Instead, he signaled for everyone to clear out. He wanted to go one-on-one again.
This incensed the Bostonians. How dare this little yellow-skinned guy provoke the truth repeatedly?
“Chopstick boy, you’re done for!”
“P.P can guard your trash ass easy!”
“If you miss, will you forget how to play, China man!?”
Then the crowd chanted in unison: “C-H-O-K-E!” They thought Xu Ling would choke under pressure.
Terrifying pressure, like the eye of a tornado, enough to crush most people’s will. But Grizzlies No. 1 started dribbling, his expression normal, as if this moment was just childhood street ball bullfighting with the neighbors. All the noise outside the court became fuel for his self-drive.
Facing Paul Pierce’s tight defense, Xu Ling kept his center of gravity extremely low, the basketball weaving rapidly between his legs like a living thing, rhythm switching deceptively between pauses and bursts.
Paul Pierce clenched his teeth, muscles tensed, not daring to lose focus for a moment.
Just as Paul Pierce tried to anticipate the next rhythm, Xu Ling moved—a sharp body feint stepped right to start, forcing Paul Pierce’s gravity to shift right instinctively.
But it was a fake. Xu Ling’s wrist flicked cleverly, the ball arcing strangely behind his back to the left.
That instant! Paul Pierce’s balance was completely shaken. Half a step of space was plenty in a top matchup.
Xu Ling didn’t hesitate, using the behind-the-back dribble momentum to rise up, body stretching perfectly in the air.
Boston Garden went silent for maybe 0.1 seconds. He shot.
“Swish!”
17 to 9!
“Great bucket! Eli Xu hits a tough jumper in front of Paul Pierce!” Mike Breen called out loudly.
Paul Pierce’s face turned ashen. He spat at Xu Ling: “Lucky shot, rookie!”
Xu Ling backpedaled on defense while responding: “Just like how you’re still alive after 11 stab wounds—all luck?”
If Paul Pierce’s night taught the world one lesson, it was never let your opponent know your weakness.
Paul Pierce’s eyes looked furious and vicious, anger boiling inside.
“What the fuck did you say?!”
Xu Ling ignored him, fully focused on defense.
Completely enraged, Paul Pierce didn’t wait for the Grizzlies to set their defense in the half-court set and immediately went at Xu Ling, but his movements were a bit rushed.
He used strength to back down two steps inside, then spun violently with a big motion, elbow subtly rising to create space.
But Xu Ling had studied elbow science under Kobe. Paul Pierce couldn’t get it done.
Xu Ling smartly stepped back half a step, avoiding the potential foul while keeping his arm over Paul Pierce’s shooting line.
Paul Pierce’s forced fadeaway jumper, under anger and heavy contest, turned into a wild airball.
The ball fell right to Milicic.
“FUCK!” Paul Pierce cursed loudly in frustration.
Kidd took Milicic’s pass and immediately pushed transition, forming a numbers advantage up front. Eyes everywhere, he dished to the trailing Xu Ling.
Xu Ling caught the ball with only retreating Rondo in front. He executed a slow but highly deceptive Eurostep, then leaped high, slamming it home over Rondo with one hand!
Rondo tried to draw an offensive foul, but Xu Ling’s footwork was too confusing, like he could jump anytime, making Rondo shift a small step instinctively. He got bumped as the whistle blew—Celtics fouling on defense!
Xu Ling hung on the rim for a moment to absorb the impact, then landed steadily.
The arena fell into brief dead silence, then drowned in even louder boos.
Kidd walked up, murmuring like inspecting a supernatural phenomenon: “I guess these stupid mortals can’t faze you because there’s no such thing as emotions in your head?”
“No, Jason. I have emotions.”
Xu Ling high-fived Kidd and calmly walked to the free-throw line.
He did have rich emotions, just knew not all should be shown publicly.
But if someone said he truly had no emotions—
How could a truly indifferent person make the most emotional gesture under the spotlight? Cleveland skies still echoed that finger-wag ghost.
If anyone still doubted Xu Ling lacked human emotions, LeBron James surely had plenty to say.
