The awards ceremony concluded, and the game officially began.
He Xi Meng saw the Pacers on the opposing side looking utterly dejected and suddenly realized that the Spurs' opponents in the Finals were the Pacers! It was the Spurs who had defeated the Pacers to win that championship ring.
The league arranging for the Pacers to witness the Spurs receiving their championship rings was truly brutal...
It was understandable why the Pacers players looked as if they had lost a loved one. Losing the championship trophy to an opponent was one thing, but to witness the opponent celebrate a championship ring ceremony was bad enough. Now, at the start of the new season, they had to witness the opponent receive championship rings again... it was too much!
Thus, from the opening tip-off, the Pacers displayed a ferocious offensive intent.
Miller immediately launched a three-pointer, but unfortunately, he put a little too much force into it, and the ball rimmed out.
He Xi Meng turned, passed to Duncan, who then posted up against Jermaine O'Neal. After drawing a double-team, he passed the ball back to He Xi Meng in the corner. He Xi Meng caught the ball and shot, his shot clean and swift, scoring the first basket of the game!
The Pacers were bewildered. The script wasn't supposed to be like this. As the victims, the losers of last season, shouldn't they have thrashed their opponents after witnessing the enemy's swagger?
So, Miller continued to hold the ball, trying to take on his man, but Bowen defended well, sticking to Miller like glue. Miller was forced to pass the ball to Jermaine O'Neal.
Jermaine O'Neal had been poached from the Trail Blazers during the offseason. Strictly speaking, he didn't harbor much "hatred" towards the Spurs. Since Jermaine O'Neal hadn't participated in last year's Finals, he naturally hadn't experienced the pain of the Pacers being eliminated by the Spurs. However, as a newcomer to the team, and after four years as a bench player who couldn't even crack the starting lineup for the Trail Blazers, Jermaine O'Neal cherished the opportunity the Pacers had given him. He wanted to prove himself in Indiana, to become an All-Star!
Therefore, when Miller passed the ball to him, Jermaine O'Neal's first instinct was to challenge Duncan! This was because Duncan was already being hailed as the league's best power forward. If he could defeat Duncan, Jermaine O'Neal might not become the league's best power forward, but at least he would become famous overnight and solidify his starting power forward position on his new team...
Of course, Jermaine O'Neal was being a bit naive. Jermaine O'Neal's potential was undoubtedly excellent, but there were reasons why he had spent four years on the bench for the Trail Blazers. He wasn't strong enough, and he hadn't found his true place. If he wanted to dominate Duncan in the post, wasn't he just asking to be schooled?
As a result, on this play, after Jermaine O'Neal's attempt to force his way in, his turnaround fadeaway was swatted down by Duncan with overwhelming force!
Elliott grabbed the rebound and immediately passed it to He Xi Meng. He Xi Meng dribbled the ball up the court for a fast break. The Pacers' defense was incredibly fast. The smaller guard, Best, immediately closed in, denying He Xi Meng the opportunity to shoot a fast-break three-pointer from beyond the arc. He Xi Meng bent down, attempting to push past Best, but unexpectedly, Best's core strength was quite good, holding He Xi Meng back and preventing him from directly driving to the basket.
Seeing this, He Xi Meng faked a drive and then circled back to the three-point line, intending to run a set play.
Duncan caught up from behind. Jermaine O'Neal tried to establish position against him, but Duncan spun around him and got behind Jermaine O'Neal. Duncan used his left arm to pin Jermaine O'Neal, and with his right hand, reached out for the ball. He Xi Meng, without hesitation, immediately lobbed the ball into the paint. Duncan caught the ball, took a dribble, and made a slight pump fake. Jermaine O'Neal, a bit flustered, fell for it. Duncan then used this time difference to elevate for a second jump and slammed the ball down hard over Jermaine O'Neal!
One block and one dunk! Duncan let Jermaine O'Neal know the strength of the league's new top power forward.
Jermaine O'Neal trudged back on defense, but he was not discouraged! He extended his hand again from the high post, receiving the ball from Best. This time, Jermaine O'Neal prepared to go one-on-one against Duncan from the front, trying to use his agility to overpower Duncan. However, before Jermaine O'Neal could even make a move, He Xi Meng suddenly darted out from the side and, taking advantage of Jermaine O'Neal's low dribble, snatched the ball away!
With a steal, He Xi Meng sprinted down the court, giving Best no chance to stop him, and drove all the way to the Pacers' basket!
Just as all the Spurs fans were speculating whether He Xi Meng would end this possession with a spectacular dunk, He Xi Meng leaped high and executed a delicate scoop layup, scoring the basket with seemingly effortless precision!
"Oooooh..." the crowd erupted in a chorus of "just as expected," interspersed with a few disappointed chuckles.
"Co/
The Spurs were jubilant, while the Pacers were in despair.
They were already the aggrieved party, having been thoroughly beaten in last season's Finals. They had hoped to challenge the Spurs anew this season with their new recruit, the promising power forward Jermaine O'Neal poached from the Trail Blazers, only to be beaten again at the start of the season!
Miller missed a three-pointer, Jermaine O'Neal was first emphatically blocked by Duncan and then had the ball stolen by He Xi Meng. Their start was a complete disaster.
On their third possession, Jermaine O'Neal dared not ask for the ball. Sam Perkins took the ball from Best and post-upped against David Robinson. His turnaround fadeaway missed. However, Jermaine O'Neal was very active on the offensive boards and, before Duncan could get into position, successfully grabbed the offensive rebound. He then went up for a second shot, attempting a bank shot.
Duncan, leaping for a second time, almost delivered another resounding block to Jermaine O'Neal.
Fortunately, having learned from the experience of the first block, Jermaine O'Neal was more cautious this time. He made a sudden mid-air adjustment, a slight retraction and dodge, narrowly avoiding Duncan's massive swat. Although the shot ultimately missed, it successfully drew a shooting foul on Duncan.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Jermaine O'Neal stepped to the free-throw line and made both shots, finally ending the Pacers' scoring drought in the game and registering their first points...