Reborn as Kobe - Chapter 108
In the second round of the playoffs, the Rockets VS Jazz became the focus of the Western Conference. The two teams are similar in strength and the Jazz wins in experience. At the same time, this game is also a duel of the old and new point guards Stockton and Nash.
The Eastern Bulls played against the Heat. Even if he was insidious, Pat Riley would not dare to use extraterrestrial tricks on Lianmei’s signature Jordan. It was a blow to everyone’s job. Therefore, in this round of duel, experts think that the Heat can win the next game even if they win. Up. The focus of the East is the ultimate duel between the Pacers and Celtics. The strength of the two teams looks almost equal. Who can stand out depends on the performance.
David Stern asked his subordinates to strictly focus on the Lakers and Bulls related games. He wanted to let the two teams meet in the final as much as possible. With the current popularity of Kobe and Jordan, he might create a miracle in league ratings.
Before the war, the Lakers and the Sonics were very low-key, and the media’s instigation did not cause the two teams to spat.
The Lakers are quite confident in the victory over the Sonics. O’Neal said in an interview: “I will try my best to help the team win this series like the last round.”
Kobe: “Gary Payton is the best perimeter defensive player in the league. We must be extremely distracted. He is a man who can guard against God.”
The supersonic Wenbeck said confidently: “As long as we play our own characteristics, I think I still have a great chance to beat the opponent.”
Gary Payton laughed: “Bryant called me before the game and he had prepared a cruise ship for me, but I told him that I even prepared his fishing rod for him.”
On May 2nd, the old Nelson gathered all the Lakers to discuss the countermeasures against the Supersonics. Entering the second round, how to play the game requires a practical and effective countermeasure.
The supersonic strength does not threaten the Lakers, mainly because the Lakers aspire to the championship, so it is necessary to ensure a smooth promotion, but also to hide the killer.
Kobe: “It’s not difficult for me to beat the Supersonics, just like dealing with the Timberwolves. Wenbei is no better than Garnett, mainly because of Payton. Marbury is his son in front of him. But Payton also has weaknesses. He is weak offensively and strong defensively. I can trade with him, but in this way, Shaquille has to rely on offensively.”
O’Neal was very happy to hear that. He cares about the data now. Now the regular season MVP should be almost won by him. This makes O’Neal more ambitious, and he wants to get the finals MVP.
Old Nelson thought for a while and asked, “Shaquille, do you have anything to add?”
O’Neal stood up confidently: “Everyone, give me the ball, I will beat them.”
O’Neal’s words make many people’s faces a little unsightly. Listen to him, the Lakers’ current results are his reasons, and others are just holding thighs at best. There are already some media outlets that believe that any team can achieve good results as long as they have the Sharks. Most of these media are local to Chicago. O’Neal’s strength is obvious to all, but you have to put all the credit on yourself, how can you make your teammates feel so embarrassed, so the fall of the OK combination in the last life is not accidental, but a necessity.
Kobe smiled and looked around, nothing more.
“Shaquille is good, you should have this confidence.” Old Nelson nodded and smiled.
As the saying goes, because of Weber, old Nelson has understood that top stars cannot be easily controlled by others. He is now coaxing O’Neal and stimulating him with his results from time to time. After a certain period of time, O’Neal will never again. If you don’t eat this set, then there will only be one result, either O’Neal will leave or the old Nelson will leave.
The Sonics also met to study how to play, similar to the regular season, let Gary Payton defend Kobe alone, and pay attention to O’Neal’s envelope.
The only position where George Carr has a headache is the center. Jim McIlvain is just a blue-collar and can’t prevent O’Neal at all. Others who can play at the fifth position are even better.
He studied the Lakers’ game against the Timberwolves and found that if O’Neal can’t be strangled, everything is vain.
George Carr feels that the SuperSonics lack a strong inside line. If there is an inside line like O’Neal, he would dare to take his disciples and the Bulls.
The Pistons are the last chance to win this year. Both Sanders and Joe Dumars understand that if this lineup fails to win, it will have to be rebuilt next season.
On the 4th, the first battle between the two sides started at Staples.
When the players came out, Gary Payton greeted Kobe specifically. Although the two faced off many times and spammed out trash talk to each other, the friendship between men and Rao was so unpredictable. Maybe Kobe and Payton could become Friends, maybe because they are not convinced by Jordan.
The starters of the two sides stood in the field, and Chick Hearn was surprised: “Today the lake has set up the lineup, Van Exel did not start, and Kobe directly appeared in the first position. This is a **** for tat.”
Magician analysis: “Van Exel is short, Gary Payton is very deprived of him, and Kobe is used to match up, at least in terms of height and strength.”
The Lakers started with Kobe, O’Neal, Horry, Rick Fox and Eddie Jones.
The supersonic starting lineup still uses the last round of lineup: Gary Payton, Vin Baker, Jose Hawkins, Jim McIlwain, Detrev Schramf.
O’Neal and Jim McIlvain jumped the ball. The two are the same height, but from the perspective of an onlooker, McIlvain is one lap more than O’Neill.
O’Neal jumped slowly, McIlvain won the ball and the Sonics took the lead.
O’Neal withdrew to the basket, Horry followed Wenbeck.
Detrev Schramf helped Payton pick-and-roll to get rid of Kobe’s defense, Rick Fox immediately changed defense, and Kobe defended Schramf.
The Lakers are man-to-man in the opening game, and insider O’Neal sits under the basket to help defend Wenbeck at any time. After all, he is not an offseason alcoholic and needs to be covered
Payton passed the ball to Jose Hawkins, Eddie Jones did not lose his position, Hawkins took two steps without getting rid of Jones, handed the ball back to Payton, Payton scored the ball to Vin Baker who put it on the middle.
Fox immediately let go of Schramf’s rapid traverse, forming an envelope on Wembeck.
Wenbeck immediately passed the ball to Schramf, who was in the open. Schramf was very guilty after receiving the ball. His mid-range shooting rate was average, but when he had a chance, he gritted his teeth and threw the ball.
Maybe it was because the starter was still cold, the ball was hit without accident, and the rebound was easily picked up by O’Neal.
The Lakers opened, Kobe broke through with the ball in the middle, Jones and Fox ran back to give Kobe a screen.
Kobe opened a gap in two consecutive changes and quickly passed the ball to O’Neal.
O’Neal squeezed McIlvain from the penalty area and dunked Zheng 0-2 with one hand.
Before the game, the SuperSonics had considered that the Lakers would look for O’Neal. Unfortunately, there were no players who could defend, and it was too late to double-team, so they could only watch.
Kobe’s pass was also very timely. As soon as O’Neal pulled out of the penalty area, his ball was in place, which even the opponent Payton admired.
Supersonic offense, Kobe changed defense after Payton and Vinbecan were removed. This time Fox did not come to double-team, and followed Payton with the ball.
This dislocation is obvious. Payton has more flexible footsteps than Fox. He chose to play Fox in singles. He dribbled down the hip and broke through the left flank, and made a jumper. 2:2.
Although Fox was shaken away, Old Neal slapped his face encouragingly. I have analyzed it before the game, and no matter how much pay will be given to Payton, the Lakers will not die. He is not Jordan and does not have such a sustained and stable offense.
Fox took a deep breath, his attention more concentrated, not wanting to be thrown away easily.
The Lakers attacked. Kobe crossed the screen with Jones on the left. After getting rid of Payton, Kobe shook Hawkins and dropped the ball to O’Neal on the right.
O’Neal took the ball and turned to break through the basket, smashing the Sonics inside and dunking, 2:4.
O’Neal couldn’t stop him now, like a dragon without his shackles, running rampant.
The Supersonics are completely unable to do so now, unless they always put two defensive players next to O’Neal, in which case other Lakers players will be open again. Hurao outside players have baskets.
With a supersonic attack, Payton and Vembekan struck Fox again after the split, stopping a jump shot. 4:4.
Although the goal was scored, it was not an open opportunity. Fox’s defense is already in place. Payton is not a superstar who is good at scoring, he can’t shoot the whole game endlessly.
The Lakers attacked, after Kobe and Fox made a pick and roll, Schramf and Wenbeck moved to the center to prevent Kobe from passing the ball to O’Neal.
Kobe passed the ball to the left corner before Payton doubled, and Horry had been waiting for a long time to catch the ball and take a three-pointer, hollowing into the net. 4:7.
The Sonics’ defensive lineup has been completely disrupted, and now the league does not allow zone defenses, Kobe and O’Neal’s holding power is too strong, and other Lakers players are very prone to open opportunities.
The Sonics also started offensive moves, both revolving around Payton and Vembeck.
Payton made Kobe unsuccessful and scored the ball to Vin Baker. Vin Baker shook off Fox’s mid-range jumper.
Horry’s lateral movement interfered for a moment, disrupting the rhythm of Wenbei’s shot, and the ball was missed.
O’Neal took the rebound to Kobe, and Kobe dribbled the ball to the top of the arc and was blocked by Payton. Kobe hit the ball directly to Jones who rushed into the basket left.
After receiving the ball, Jones jumped high and dunked the ball with both hands. 4:9.
With a supersonic offense, the Lakers expanded their formation to the outside and continued to be man-to-man. Payton turned and broke through, Kobe followed very tightly, and when O’Neal stepped forward to double-team, Jim McIlvain was emptied.
McIlvain doesn’t have a basket, and the Lakers don’t worry about missing people. As long as he gets stuck outside the penalty area, they don’t worry about shooting.
McIlvain has not averaged four points per game this season. This is a pure defensive blue-collar.
Gary Payton passed the ball to the perimeter, Hawkins singles Eddie Jones, turned and missed a jumper.
The Sonics players returned to defense very quickly. Kobe dribbled the ball into the three-point line and again dropped the ball to O’Neal. O’Neal turned to the basket and McIlvain directly grabbed his arm and fouled O’Neal with a free throw. O’Neal missed two free throws, this time the Sonics earned it.
Supersonic attack, Hawkins ran back to receive Payton’s pass, stepped back and avoided Jones’s shot, Kobe suddenly let go of Payton’s defense, and gave Hawkins a big cap on the side.
The basketball was snatched by the alert Fox and passed directly to Kobe.
Kobe dribbled to the frontcourt ~www.mtlnovel.com~ for two consecutive changes of direction and successfully passed Payton.
Vin Baker ran out of the penalty area to help defend, Kobe jumped up and transferred the ball to the center. O’Neal received the ball without making adjustments, and directly put the ball into the basket. 4:11.
Seeing that he couldn’t prevent the handicap from the lake, and he couldn’t open it, George Carr could only request a timeout.
The Supersonics does not seem to be much better than the Timberwolves. Now as long as the opponent’s lineup is flawed, especially inside, the Lakers can rub their opponents on the ground.
After the timeout, the Sonics began to shrink the basket, leaving only Payton to defend Kobe and let others shoot.
Fox missed two consecutive mid-range shots. Kobe immediately adjusted the direction of his assists. Horry and Jones made mid-range shots, but Payton also hit a three-pointer.
In the first quarter, the Lakers temporarily led 28 to 19. Kobe Bryant had 4 points, 5 assists and 1 block. Payton can be regarded as limiting Kobe’s offense.
Reborn as Kobe