After hearing Barkley's shout, Smith on the side also hurriedly looked down at the starting lists submitted by the two teams.

After repeated confirmation, Smith was also very puzzled and said: "It's true!" ”

"Da Yao didn't even start!"

"Not only that, but Kurt Thomas didn't start either!"

"Why is that?! I didn't hear any news about the two of them being unwell before the game?! ”

Barkley on the side frowned, and after thinking for a long time, he said slowly: "Isn't it, the Knicks and Han Ning think that today's opponent is not too strong, so there is no need to let Da Yao and Kurt Thomas start?!" ”

"But although the Celtics are not a top team, they are not a weak team after all, right?!"

Smith picked up on Barkley's words and said, "Or are the Knicks trying to experiment with some new tactics?!" ”

"But their bet with the Spurs isn't over yet! The Spurs' recent record has been pretty good. If they experiment with any new tactics now, it won't be a good thing for them to bet on the Spurs, right?! ”

After thinking about it for a long time, Smith's eyes suddenly lit up, and he hurriedly said: "Could it be that there is some contradiction in the Knicks team?!" ”

"I really can't figure out why Yao and Kurt Thomas weren't in the starting line-up for this game."

"You know, the back-to-back fixtures are over! Even if it is for rotation and to ensure the physical strength of the players, it should not be rotated in this game! The Celtics aren't soft persimmons! ”

Barkley and Smith at this time.

Or the vast majority of fans don't think the Celtics will be a weak team.

After all, they reached the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2001-2002 season!

Only Han Ning knows that it was the last glory of the Celtics team in recent years.

Since that season, the Celtics have fallen quite quickly.

This season, the Celtics will finish eighth in the East and break into the playoffs, where they were defeated by the Pacers and completed the first round of the playoffs.

In the original historical process, the Celtics' points ranking is not as good as the original Knicks!

The original Knicks were all ranked seventh!

And two years later, the Celtics couldn't even make the playoffs.

Directly became the bottom team in the East!

Such a falling speed is also very unexpected.

But now, no one knows all this.

It's not just Barkley and Smith who are surprised by this.

Even Zhang Weiping and Su Dong in the Huaxia broadcast room, as well as Huaxia fans, were very puzzled.

"Director Zhang, Da Yao didn't start this game, could it be that he was unwell?! Or maybe Han Ning has some new tactical arrangement?! Su Dong asked softly.

Zhang Weiping frowned, and he couldn't come up with a reason after thinking about it.

I had to say in a deep voice: "I don't understand Han Ning's arrangement. The Celtics are not a weak team. Let's hope this move doesn't affect the result of today's game! ”

At this time, the thoughts of Huaxia fans are simpler.

"Da Yao is not on it?! I'm just here to see Da Yao! ”

"Alas! I said early that Da Yao didn't start! I'm not going to sneak over the wall to watch the game! ”

"Let's go, let's go watch the Rockets' game, Dazhi is the starter in the Rockets!"

"Alas! I really don't know what Brother Ning thinks, why didn't Da Yao start?! ”

"Originally, I was still struggling with whether to watch the Knicks or the Rockets. Don't worry about it this time! Let's go watch the Rockets game first! ”

..........

"Toot!"

Under everyone's doubts, the whistle blew and the game officially began.

Mutombo fell to the back foot when he jumped the ball with Celtics' starting center Mark Blunt.

The ball was snatched up by Mark Blunt and then passed the basketball directly to the Celtics' starting point guard Mike James.

Mike James slowly dribbled to the frontcourt, and then passed the basketball directly to the Celtics' current star in the hands of Paul Pearce.

Speaking of which, the current Celtics' tactics are actually quite simple.

When Paul Pearce was on the court, he gave him the basketball and let him play singles.

With Paul Pearce's extremely strong singles ability to score.

After Paul Pierce received the basketball, he launched the attack directly outside the three-point line, from a 45° angle on the right.

In charge of defending him is the Knicks' starting small forward, Kyle Korver.

It's no secret that Kyle Korver in the early stages of his career was a disadvantage when he was a strong defender.

Even with Han Ning's help and blessing, it was not possible to change this weakness all at once.

On the contrary, Paul Pearce's back-to-back singles are among the top small forwards in the league.

So in the face of Kyle Korver's defense, Paul Pierce unceremoniously chose to play with his back to the single.

One, two, three.

Forced Kyle Korver into the three-point line.

Suddenly, he pushed Kyle Korver, who was defending him, straight out of the distance.

Then Paul Pierce spun around quickly, turned to the low post and rushed towards the basket.

Seeing this, Mutombo and Zach Randolph wanted to rush over to make up for it.

But before the two could make a move, Paul Pierce stopped directly.

A dry pull, direct jump shot.

"Huh!"

The basketball flew cleanly into the hoop.

The Celtics took the lead with two points.

The TD North Shore Garden Arena was suddenly boiling.

Countless Celtics fans began cheering on their home players.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! ”

Listening to the shouts around him, Barkley couldn't help but shake his head and said in a deep voice: "Alas! Kyle Korver's defensive ability is still a little worse. ”

"Against a top small forward like Paul Pearce, it's a bit of a struggle for this rookie to be in charge of marking."

"But I still want to say that if Da Yao, who was just standing on the inside, maybe this goal would not have been so easy for Paul Pearce to score."

"In terms of dominance on the inside line and the ability to assist and supplement defense, Da Yao is still much better than Zach Randolph and Mutombo!"

Han Ning stood not far away and heard Barkley's words.

But he didn't care.

What about Paul Pierce scoring a goal?!

If he has the ability, he will always enter!

As far as the Celtics group of players is concerned, who else is worth caring about for his offensive ability other than Paul Pearce?!

Is it alcoholics addicted former All-Star Vin Baker?!

Or in the second half of this season, Mike James, a sticky ball master who ran to the Pistons to mix up a championship?!

Or is it Mark Blunt, the starting center who is not introduced on Baidu Encyclopedia?!