Chapter 3 Third Game

The Pelicans flew back to New Orleans the day after the game to prepare for the next two home games.

During the team's training session, the players were very positive and often had smiles on their faces.

Winning the second game had a big impact on their mindset.

That's the way competitive sports are sometimes; the outcome of one game can affect an entire series, or even a season.

During the training session, Stevens also announced that Carter would be starting.

The players were surprised but not shocked.

After all, Robinson had started in the game against the Spurs, which was even more unexpected.

Because he had already communicated with Green and Carter privately, their emotional changes were not significant.

However, if you looked closely, you could still see a strong sense of fighting spirit in Carter's eyes.

As the oldest active player in the NBA, he had been playing since 1999.

In his 20-year career, although he had gone from being a superstar to a role player,

at the age of 42, playing in the Western Conference Finals and starting in the playoffs was a miracle in itself.

As one of the former four great shooting guards, his ambition had always been there.

Time flew by quickly, and in the blink of an eye, two days had passed. The Pelicans and the Lakers moved to New Orleans to usher in the third game of the Western Conference Finals.

The two teams had tied the past two games at 1-1, and this game was crucial for both sides.

If the Lakers won, they would regain home-court advantage; if the Pelicans won, they would have a great chance of getting the match point in the next game.

During the opening ceremony, the starting lineups of both teams were announced one after another.

The Lakers continued with the starting lineup from the previous two games, with Wade still serving as the team's starting point guard.

If it weren't for Tang Tian's stroke of genius at the last moment of the previous game, this lineup would have already helped them achieve a 2-0 lead.

The Pelicans had a change in their starting lineup, with Tang Tian shifting from the shooting guard position to the small forward position, and Carter becoming the starting shooting guard.

The Pelicans' pre-game secrecy was still excellent, and the Lakers were taken aback when this lineup came out.

Vogel immediately turned to communicate with Kidd, which was obviously something they hadn't expected before the game.

Stevens saw the Lakers' reaction and his face became more confident.

Regardless of Carter's performance, this unexpected approach had already gained a psychological advantage.

The reaction from the fans at the scene was also great.

Although Carter was old, as one of the four great shooting guards, his popularity was still there.

He was starting at this time, and although they didn't know the reason, the fans were really excited.

At 42 years old, he was at the age of some rookies' fathers.

They also had high expectations for Old Carter's performance.

Over there, Vogel and Kidd hurriedly pulled the players to explain, but before they could finish, the short whistle sounded from the sidelines, and the game was about to begin.

The Pelicans' change of formation was really too sudden, and the Lakers' coaching staff was obviously a little flustered.

The starting lineups of both sides took the field one after another, with Tang Tian still the last one to appear.

Before taking the court, he touched his head and walked straight to the technical table, throwing a handful of magnesium powder to the audience.

The cheers at the scene were even louder.

The Lakers had a good chance of starting a dynasty if they won the championship this season, but if they failed, no one could guarantee that Durant would stay.

Not to mention that Simmons and Middleton's contracts were also about to expire.

So if the Pelicans won, what they would get might be more than just a four-peat.

In other words, James might never be able to take back his signature move.

Amid the cheers, Gasol jumped high and flicked the ball back to the Pelicans' half, officially kicking off the third game.

Tang Tian asked for the ball to attack in the frontcourt.

His actions before throwing the magnesium powder had already shown that he was going all out for the game.

So, unlike the last game, his plan tonight was to start exerting his strength from the beginning.

The Lakers' defensive strategy at the beginning of the game was to double-team, and Vogel also wanted to see how Tang Tian felt tonight.

Tang Tian made an emergency stop jump shot in the double team.

"Swish!"

The basketball went into the hoop hollow.

Tang Tian was steady, and scored the first point for the Pelicans.

However, the Lakers were also in good shape, and Middleton's catch-and-shoot also hit.

Both teams showed very good competitive form at the beginning of the game.

After playing for more than three minutes, the score on the field was tied at 8-8.

Tang Tian was in a hot state, scoring all 8 points.

When he held the ball to the frontcourt again, the Lakers started to triple-team him.

In addition to Lopez under the basket, the fourth person was also ready to double-team at any time.

Vogel was very confident in the team's help defense rotation, and was not afraid of other people cutting in.

As for the three-pointers, the Pelicans' outside feel had not been accurate in this series.

Tang Tian passed the ball to Brogdon.

"Clang!"

Sure enough, the Pelicans' first three-point attempt tonight hit the rim and bounced out.

Lopez protected the defensive rebound, and the Lakers directly launched a fast break, with Wade receiving a pass from James in the frontcourt and scoring 2 points.

The Lakers took the lead again, 10-8.

There was a commotion on the sidelines.

The Lakers were now heavily defending Tang Tian, and the Pelicans needed someone to put the ball in from the outside.

Tang Tian continued to hold the ball in the frontcourt. Middleton defended very far out. He didn't shoot from long range, and continued to break through inside.

However, he specifically observed Carter's position before the breakthrough.

Like Green, Carter's psychological quality was definitely not a problem.

Green's feel was not online because of his injury, so now it depended on Carter.

As long as the Pelicans could make shots from the outside, he could wait until the second half to exert his strength.

Tang Tian's breakthrough was very lethal, and the Lakers were still forced to shrink on both wings.

Just before the double team formed, Tang Tian made a signature back pass, and the ball went directly to Carter in the right corner.

Carter shot a three-pointer directly after receiving the ball.

As a veteran who had fought for 20 years, his tactical execution was really excellent.

The ball was released, in the expectant eyes of the fans at the scene.

"Swish!"

The ball went into the net!

Carter's three-pointer went in!

The Pelicans took the lead 11-10!

The cheers at the scene erupted instantly.

Stevens also waved his fist excitedly.

The significance of this three-pointer was not only the 3 points, but if the Pelicans could make shots from the outside, the Lakers' defense against Tang Tian would definitely weaken!

"A very crucial three-pointer, Carter is still sharp!"

In the domestic commentary booth, Yang Yi also sighed with emotion at this time.

As a senior commentator, he knew Carter very well and had a lot of feelings for him.

This three-pointer also boosted the Pelicans' morale. In the return, they successfully defended a wave of the Lakers' offense.

Tang Tian held the ball to the frontcourt again to play position.

The Lakers did not change their defensive strategy, and Tang Tian continued to break through and pass.

He passed to Carter again, but this time Carter was positioned by running, and was one meter away from the three-point line. The opportunity was not as good as the previous corner one.

But he still chose to shoot, and before Middleton's chase defense was in place.

It was really decisive.

In the expectant eyes of the fans, the ball swirled through a high arc.

"Boom!"

In Yang Yi's excited commentary, Carter's second three-pointer, and a super long three-pointer, went in again!

"Old Huang Zhong! Hundred steps through Yang!"

Yang Yi then used a very appropriate word to describe Carter's performance.