NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 397 The First Guard in the East

"Teacher Ma, Jia Fei is really amazing! Absolutely incredible! Teacher Ma, what adjustments do you think Isaiah Thomas, currently the best point guard in the East, needs to make on the offensive end?" Wang Meng's smile was almost identical to Isaiah Thomas's!

"If only he could pass the ball a little faster after a pick-and-roll. No, Isaiah Thomas is the best point guard in the East? Who agrees on that?" Ma Jian questioned.

Wang Meng was a little embarrassed. Why was Coach Ma so serious? Isaiah Thomas's performance this season really deserves to be the best point guard in the East!

The timeout has ended, and the game has resumed.

Isaiah Thomas dribbled over and continued to face Beverley's defense.

Horford moves up, and Thomas passes the ball.

Horford orchestrates from the high post, and DeAndre Jordan also moves up. An off-ball screen, and Crowder cuts to the basket!

Horford made a precise through pass, and Crowder received the ball under the basket and scored with a reverse layup!

At 42:48, the Celtics scored after a timeout, temporarily stabilizing the situation.

Watching his former teammate Horford's performance, Jia Fei was truly envious. A center who can facilitate from the high post, handle the ball on the roll, stretch the floor for three-pointers, attack in transition, and occasionally isolate for one-on-one plays; defensively, he can guard big men, switch on perimeter ball handlers, excel in help defense and one-on-one defense, and possesses high basketball IQ. Whether playing power forward in a big lineup or center in a small lineup, he can handle it all. A true power forward/center, he's one of the best in the entire league.

In contrast, DeAndre Jordan can only score on offense and is limited to drop shooting on defense, making him a poor fit for the team. Why couldn't the Clippers improve before? Their players lacked versatility, often failing to match up against opponents like the Thunder and Warriors. Previously, the Clippers had players like 58 who could only play point guard, Jordan only center, Blake Griffin unable to play center or wing and only power forward, Redick unable to play small forward or handle the ball at point guard, and Lee in the second unit with poor shooting and limited to point guard, while Klay Thompson was too skinny to play small forward… Modern basketball requires a 3-and-D player, and the Clippers lacked even one…

Beverley dribbled the ball over, passed it to Jia Fei, and then set a screen for Jia Fei.

Clearly, the Clippers had Jia Fei specifically target Isaiah Thomas. This idea didn't come from Coach Li, but from Jia Fei.

Old Li is known for his "open-ended management" approach. Before Jia Fei left the Clippers, 58 was the team's tactical decision-maker. Old Li was only responsible for sending players onto the court.

This time, the Celtics don't plan to let Jia Fei guard Isaiah Thomas one-on-one. It would be too much to ask Thomas to guard the current league scoring champion one-on-one.

Jaylen Brown and Isaiah Thomas chose to double-team Jia Fei.

Jia Fei's pass was incredibly fast; a behind-the-back bounce accurately found Beverley!

Even if Horford's rotation speed is fast, it's too late in this situation, and Beverley gets an excellent shooting opportunity!

Beverley's reckless personality can sometimes be an advantage. Even if he misses his first few shots, he'll still take the shot when the opportunity arises. In this respect, Jeremy Lin back then wasn't as confident as him.

Beverley takes a three-pointer—and it goes in!

45:48, a difference of 3 points!

The Celtics were on offense when Isaiah Thomas drove hard to Beverley, trying to draw a foul, but Beverley hesitated!

The ball missed, and DeAndre Jordan grabbed the rebound and passed it to Jia Fei!

Jia Fei came over and continued to call out Isaiah Thomas' name!

The Celtics continue their double-teaming attack on Jia Fei!

Jia Fei passed the ball to Beverley, who then launched another three-pointer!

Good!

48-48, Beverley hit two consecutive three-pointers to help the Clippers tie the game!

Beverly got excited and took the initiative to give Jia Fei a high five.

Jia Fei was very satisfied with Beverley's performance. When it comes to the courage to shoot, Beverley really isn't afraid of anyone. So, people need to know their own limitations. Beverley clearly understands his role. As a point guard, who says he has to be the initiator of the team's offense? A point guard can also be the team's primary perimeter defender and the one responsible for the dirty work. A point guard can also be a 3-and-D player. Who says a 3-and-D player has to be a wing player?

On defense, he relentlessly attacks, doing the dirty work and trading blows to the opponent's key players. On offense, he plays off-ball, receiving the ball and shooting decisively, relentlessly fighting for offensive rebounds. He also comes with a skill set to provoke opponents and disrupt their mentality—he's practically a point guard version of Draymond Green.

Every team needs a tough defensive player like that, and the Clippers acquiring Beverley is arguably the more valuable part of the 58 trade than Lou Williams and Harrell.

"My God, Jia Fei has been assisting Beverley in a row, and Beverley has lived up to Jia Fei's trust by hitting two three-pointers in a row! Good heavens, the top point guard in the East, Thomas, has been targeted by Jia Fei. It's too bad for him!" Wang Meng said excitedly.

"Another top point guard in the East? Who agrees on that?" Ma Jian was almost going crazy!

On the sidelines, Celtics head coach Stevens was deep in thought with a blank expression. He hadn't expected Jia Fei to single out Thomas. Their plan was to double-team on the strong side to force Jia Fei to pass the ball, and then rotate the ball around. The situation was going in the direction he had planned, but he didn't expect Jia Fei to suddenly start calling out Thomas.

Isaiah Thomas was also angry. He was repeatedly called out by the opponent, and he had his pride. If he couldn't make up for it on the defensive end, he would make up for it on the offensive end!

Facing Beverley's defense, he forced his way through, drawing a foul from the latter!

After inbounding the ball, Isaiah Thomas continued his aggressive drive, penetrating the lane and lobbing a layup...

A figure suddenly appeared from the side, blocking his layup out of bounds with lightning speed...

Wow! Thomas looked closely and saw a familiar smile and a familiar figure. It was him again!

This person was naturally Jia Fei. Jia Fei correctly guessed that Thomas wouldn't pass the ball from this position anymore. No matter how good a short player's passing vision is, there is a natural disadvantage: his height. After diving into the penalty area, his passing vision narrows, and he can't pass the ball as freely as he can from the top of the arc.

Isaiah Thomas was absolutely furious. What was wrong with him today? Why was this guy so persistent? He was being completely shut down on both ends of the court! Ughhhhhh!

"Teacher Ma, I feel like little Thomas will be followed by Jia Fei even when he sleeps tonight. It's really too miserable!" Wang Meng exclaimed.

Ma Jian nodded: "Isaiah Thomas is still not tall enough, and the gap is evident when he talks to real superstars. I don't think he's the best point guard in the East. He is an All-Star point guard, that's true, but he's not quite at the level of the best point guard in the East!"

Wang Meng looked at Ma Jian with a grin, thinking to himself, "Are you never going to stop?"

The Celtics fans in the stands felt a pang of bitterness watching their star player, Isaiah Thomas, get blocked by Jia Fei's volleyball. The countless championship banners hanging above TD Garden had always filled the fans with pride; they simply couldn't believe their team could return to its former glory with a 175cm tall man.