The Celtics, after concluding their battle with the Knicks, continued their road trip with a three-game winning streak, flying to Washington to challenge the Wizards!
Before the game, Michael Jordan, from Boston, specifically called to instruct the entire team: "Play hard, everyone! I'll be watching on TV, with you from the first second to the last! Don't disappoint me..."
After pumping them up, Michael Jordan still felt uneasy, fearing they wouldn't fully grasp his spirit. He called He Xi Meng alone again: "Remember to play like your life depends on it! Get some revenge for me..."
Michael Jordan rarely used the word "revenge" when speaking! It seemed Michael Jordan was still holding a grudge against Arenas for his past actions.
Even gods remember grudges!
The Wizards' core lineup this season consisted of Jamison, Arenas, and Larry Hughes!
"Back with the Spurs, you thought Tony was good, but not me! So what? Now he's replaced me!"
Arenas, perhaps out of his mind, came to He Xi Meng before the game, seeking attention.
"First, I never looked down on you back then. You were the one who always caused trouble and upset the old man."
"Second, I wasn't replaced by Parker. I left San Antonio voluntarily!"
He Xi Meng initially intended to have a calm conversation with Agent Zero, but Agent Zero was completely lost in his own world.
"You still call that old man 'the old man'? We've both left the Spurs, no need to show him that much respect!"
"I'm not like you!"
"What's different? We're both outcasts from San Antonio! Back with the Spurs, you had so many helpers, I couldn't beat you. Now in Boston, you only have that fellow countryman, Yao Ming, right? What do you say, want to have a shootout to see who the league's number one point guard is now?"
He Xi Meng couldn't stand Arenas' arrogance any longer, covered his face, turned, and walked away.
They were truly not of the same path; they couldn't find common ground.
He Xi Meng acknowledged Arenas' abilities, but he couldn't accept his way of handling things.
Let the last bit of connection fade away.
Choosing you was my mistake! I admit it, alright?
The game began, Yao Ming won the tip-off. He Xi Meng brought the ball past half-court, directing his teammates' movements, feigning a pass to Yao Ming.
Arenas was eager to make a big play.
Instead, He Xi Meng pulled up from two steps beyond the three-point line and shot, catching Arenas completely off guard!
Arenas couldn't react in time, only watching the ball fly over his head and go straight into the basket!
Within 10 seconds of the opening, He Xi Meng hit a three-pointer!
"Shit! You're not playing by the rules!"
"What rules? Did I tell you I was going to shoot?"
He Xi Meng retorted immediately, leaving Agent Zero speechless.
Arenas brought the ball past half-court, ignoring Jamison's call for the ball, and drove against He Xi Meng. He faked a drive, then suddenly stopped and pulled up for a fadeaway three-pointer!
Arenas wanted to make a strong statement back at He Xi Meng, but unfortunately, his shooting touch wasn't there.
He Xi Meng pressed up on the shot, and while he couldn't block it, he provided significant interference, causing Arenas' shot to bounce off the rim.
Yao Ming grabbed the defensive rebound, controlled the tempo, and passed it back to He Xi Meng.
This was He Xi Meng's request!
The Wizards' strongest positions were their two guards and small forward, so the Celtics' overall strategy for this game was to play steadily and grind out possessions, as much as possible, against their opponents.
After bringing the ball past half-court, He Xi Meng directed his teammates to pass the ball on the perimeter before looking for opportunities to feed it to Yao Ming in the post.
Yao Ming backed down Mohammed, moved laterally with the ball, drawing a double-team from the Wizards. He gathered the ball and didn't force a shot, instead passing it back out to the perimeter!
At some point, He Xi Meng had moved from the right corner to the left corner, his movement perfectly coordinated with Yao Ming's pass!
By the time the Wizards reacted, Yao Ming had already passed the ball to He Xi Meng!
He Xi Meng, with almost no defender in sight, calmly took the shot and easily made a corner three-pointer!
On the Wizards' side, Arenas and Jamison started complaining to each other.
Arenas blamed Jamison for not rotating quickly enough, while Jamison retorted that Arenas had left his man open first...
Well, it was only two three-pointers, why get so agitated?
On the Wizards' second possession, Arenas brought the ball past half-court and started dribbling excessively again, his obsession with scoring reignited, wanting to single-handedly take on He Xi Meng again.
But Larry Hughes and Jamison both stepped up to demand the ball, putting pressure on Arenas simultaneously, forcing him to pass to Larry Hughes.
Larry Hughes then took on Tony Allen, completing a mid-range jump shot.
However, Tony Allen's defensive tenacity exceeded Larry Hughes' expectations, and this shot also bounced off the rim!
Brendan Haywood fought hard for position and grabbed the offensive rebound. He faked out Yao Ming and jumped with force, attempting a put-back.
But Yao Ming, having trained against David Robinson and Tim Duncan for years, was already immune to such childish fakes.
Brendan Haywood thought it would be too simple to complete a second-chance opportunity under Yao Ming's nose with such a feeble move.
Brendan Haywood shot, Yao Ming blocked, and the two were "intimate" in their cooperation.
He Xi Meng reacted the fastest, immediately running to the sideline and retrieving the ball that Yao Ming had nearly swatted out of bounds.
Facing Arenas, who suddenly appeared behind him, He Xi Meng spun around, evaded Arenas' steal, and began a quick drive along the left sideline!
He Xi Meng didn't initially want to run a fast break because the Celtics had an advantage in half-court offense against the Wizards.
But Arenas' wild steal left the path wide open for He Xi Meng. It would be a shame not to push the break with such an opportunity given by Arenas!
So, He Xi Meng sped past half-court.
Arenas chased behind He Xi Meng, while Larry Hughes ran a curve from the middle, preparing to intercept He Xi Meng near the three-point line!
He Xi Meng suddenly remembered Michael Jordan's instructions, and a surge of aggression hit him. Not even two steps past half-court, he pulled up from near the left logo line and shot!
To the bewildered eyes of all the Wizards fans, He Xi Meng's nearly half-court three-pointer was good again!
He Xi Meng hit three shots in a row, leading the Celtics to an opening 9-0 run against the Wizards!