Chapter 3 The King's Road

After the first two games of the Finals, even the most devout Lakers fans believed the Lakers were finished this year.

Bill Simmons, an ESPN columnist, wrote in his "Post-Jordan Era NBA" column:

Although Kobe has become an All-NBA player this year, he still has a long way to go compared to that Chinese the.king who has been assisting him since high school.

In the original column, Simmons wrote: "If you carefully observe this Finals, you will find that, except for Shaq, the Lakers are at a disadvantage at every other position compared to the Raptors.

As for Kobe, who was highly anticipated before the game...

In front of the superstar Su Feng, his performance can only be described as struggling.

This is destined to be a heartbreaking series for Lakers fans.

Because after the first two Finals games, I didn't see any chance for the Lakers to turn the tables."

On the 11th, another ESPN columnist, Arash Markazi, also said in his post-game analysis:

The era of the NBA being dominated by inside players is long gone.

"Before the Finals started, almost every Lakers fan was bragging to their friends about how strong Shaq was.

But through this year's and last year's Finals, you can see that even if Shaq can score 30 or 40 points against the Raptors, the Lakers have never beaten the Raptors."

In addition, at the end of this article, Markazi also expressed a similar view to Simmons.

That is, if Kobe wants to surpass his high school classmate, who has been leading the way since high school, he still has to put in more effort.

"I have to say, even the best talent scout can make mistakes.

Back then, Jerry West believed before the draft that Kobe's organizational skills would be more compatible with Shaq.

But now we find that Shaq actually needs a scorer like Su more.

However, compared to the 76ers' confusing operations, I don't think the Lakers are completely hopeless yet.

Because they can at least look forward to Kobe's future."

You have to say, after reading the various post-game reports, Su Feng felt that there were indeed some smart people in the US.

Because based on the two teams' lineups this season, the Raptors were inherently a counter to this Lakers team.

Moreover, Su Feng, with his experience from two lifetimes, was originally building this Raptors team with Davis...

Who else could be their imaginary enemy besides the Lakers?

So...

No matter how resourceful Phil Jackson is, or how powerful O'Neal is, this time they can only admit defeat.

Of course, Su Feng never expected that people would be successfully brainwashed by him.

You might not believe it...

Now, even the most stubborn Kobe fans have defaulted to the fact that Kobe was crushed by Su Feng in high school...

"Sincerity can move mountains and crack rocks; the ancients never deceive me!"

Looking at the various reports on the internet praising him, Su Feng sighed silently that day.

You know, in order to create the image that Kobe had never defeated him in high school, Heaven knows how much effort Su Feng had put in behind the scenes?

Even in order to solidify this image...

Two years ago, when he and Kobe returned to their alma mater to reminisce about their youth, Su Feng even coaxed Kobe into wearing Lower Merion's jersey and fighting him for three hundred rounds.

Then, he filmed the video to use as evidence.

And in this way, even if Kobe jumped into the Atlantic Ocean now, he would not be able to wash away this distorted history.

Get beaten?

Heh...

When has Su ever been beaten?

Getting beaten is something only low-end warrior players would do.

And top assassins like Su Feng are always the ones doing the beating.

...

According to the schedule, Game 3 of the Raptors vs. Lakers Finals will begin on the 13th.

It is worth mentioning that before Game 3, Kobe was triggered by his own media during an interview.

At the time, after hearing that Kobe had been training for more than ten hours, a local Los Angeles reporter said to his colleagues with great emotion: "Maybe one day, we will all stop fighting.

Because even Kobe, who is so diligent, has not been able to rewrite his fate of always being behind Su since high school.

But I think that's not today.

Maybe one day, we will lose faith in basketball because the Lakers have repeatedly failed in the Finals.

But I think that's not today either.

Today, Kobe and the Lakers are still working hard for their last hope!

This is the Lakers.

This is Kobe Bryant!"

To be fair, from a general linguistic theory, what this reporter said was indeed quite inspiring.

But...

After this passage was relayed to Kobe by another reporter...

Kobe almost vomited out the overnight food he had eaten last night.

What a joke, what do you mean he has always been behind Su Feng since high school?

Damn it!

Su Feng had only won against me a handful of times in high school, okay?

Kobe threw up.

He really threw up.

Because he never expected that these stupid media would actually take the joke that Su Feng and he had made back then as the truth.

And...

You know, after Kobe expressed his dissatisfaction to this group of reporters with agitated words...

This group of stupid media actually turned around and comforted him, telling him to maintain this "original intention".

"Can't they understand human language?"

In the Lakers' training gym, looking at Fisher, whom he had dragged along to train with him, Kobe said with a question mark on his face.

Hearing this, after letting out a long sigh, Fisher said with emotion: "Kobe, do you know why you have always been the player I admire most on the team?"

Kobe shook his head.

"Because this spirit of never giving up is what I lack.

Yes, so what if you can't beat him?

Does that mean you shouldn't even try?" Fisher looked up at Kobe with a solemn expression.

Perhaps feeling that what he had just said was not respectful enough to Kobe, after a pause, Fisher added: "I've decided, Kobe, from now on, I have to learn from you.

Because although many people think that I am not as good as Steve (Nash), in the future, I will definitely use Steve as my goal and strive to surpass him."

Kobe: "..."

Dude, do you really know what I'm trying to express?

Seriously, is there something wrong with your reading comprehension ability?

"Derek, I..."

"Okay, Kobe, don't say any more, I understand you!"

In the training gym, just as Kobe was preparing to reorganize his words to explain to Fisher, Fisher suddenly gave Kobe a thumbs up.

Kobe: "..."

At this moment, Kobe felt that this day could not continue.

Because even if what he said was the truth...

In the eyes of others, it became him being stubborn.

"Honey, you know what, today a bunch of ridiculous reporters actually said that I've been behind Su since high school..."

In the evening, after returning home, hugging Vanessa's slender waist, Kobe said with some depression.

Hearing this, Vanessa, who didn't know how to answer, decided to patiently be a listener for a while.

As a result, after listening to Kobe pouring out his bitterness...

Blinking her eyes, Vanessa said to Kobe, "Honey, I don't think you need to care too much about what others think.

Because before, when I was chatting with Su, he told me...

Although he often won against you in high school, you also won against him quite a bit, didn't you?"

Kobe: "???"

Damn it!

Do you really understand what I'm trying to express?

I'm so damn...

If Su won against me once in high school, then I've won against him ten thousand times, a million times!

Seriously, for a moment...

Kobe himself almost had the illusion that he had never won against Su Feng in high school...

"Why doesn't anyone believe what I'm saying is true?"

That day, Kobe asked angrily in his heart.

...

The 13th, Staples Center.

Because the Lakers were already behind 0-2 in the series, this game was a game that the Lakers could not lose no matter what.

On the court, both sides used the same starting lineups as in Game 2.

From the start, Tracy McGrady, who was responsible for guarding Kobe, noticed something was wrong.

After O'Neal won the tip-off for the Lakers, Kobe's desire to attack was far greater than in the previous two games.

This possession, O'Neal had already posted up in the low post, and the Raptors were ready to hack-a-Shaq, but Kobe surprisingly chose to take it himself.

However...

After someone shouted "My youth is over!" in his heart...

Kobe's three-step layup at the start was blocked on the backboard by that someone.

On TNT, Smith exclaimed after seeing this scene: "This is Su's terrifying help defense ability!"

Derek on the side retorted: "I remember ESPN did a statistic before, that is, as of now, the player who has blocked Kobe the most times in the NBA is Su."

"There's no way around it, Su and Kobe know each other too well. You know, they have been honing their skills since high school," Smith said with a smile.

"So, Su has developed a habit of blocking Kobe, right?" Derek continued to retort.

On the court, after being blocked by Su Feng, Kobe's expression was particularly wonderful.

However, for Su Feng, who was already used to Kobe's Jay Chou-style glare...

Such a look could not kill him.

On the court, the Raptors' counterattack failed, and they transitioned to a set offense.

On the wing, after receiving a pass from Nash, Su Feng first feinted with the ball in one hand, and then pulled up for a beautiful jump shot.

Originally...

Kobe had already seen through Su Feng's offensive intentions.

But unfortunately...

Su Feng's hands were not only long, but also had big palms.

Swish!

2-0.

Facing Kobe, Su Feng once again showed his ability to shoot in his opponent's face, no less than Jordan's back then.

"Wake up, Kobe, you didn't really think you could block me, did you?" After scoring, Su Feng did not forget to mock Kobe.

Kobe: "???"

"If I remember correctly, you haven't blocked my shot since high school, so if you want to defeat me, you have to keep working hard!" Spreading his hands, Su Feng said with a proud look.

And this time, Kobe really exploded.

Because he could tolerate others mocking him in any way.

But he couldn't accept Su Feng saying that to him!

So, at the Staples Center, in the first quarter of Game 3 between the two teams, the basket became Kobe's outlet for venting his anger.

What a joke...

It's already 2000, wouldn't some people still think Tracy McGrady is a weakling?

The reason why McGrady's defense against Stephon Marbury in the Eastern Conference Finals was average was because his center of gravity was too high.

But tonight, after Kobe completely lost his mind, McGrady's long arms and legs were simply a nightmare for this Kobe.

In addition, there was Su Feng's careful attention...

Yeah...

Mm-hm!

In the first quarter, with Kobe's help, the Raptors, playing as visitors, led 27-18 into the second quarter.

O'Neal didn't have many shots in the first quarter, but the good news was that O'Neal's energy consumption wasn't very high tonight either.

However, in the second quarter, just as O'Neal was preparing to step up and take over the game...

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Kobe, who rarely passed the ball, was completely out of control.

In addition, his touch wasn't favoring this young Black Mamba tonight, so if you only watched this game tonight, you would definitely feel that Kobe was far worse than Su Feng.

But in fact, only Su Feng could personally feel how angry Kobe was tonight.

But...

Swish!

Swish!

Swish!

Su Feng, who was blessed by Lady Luck, was really being unreasonable.

On CCTV, Zhang指导 (Zhang Zhidao, expert commentator) commented: "Kobe is not playing very reasonably tonight, but for the Raptors, this is a good thing."

On the side, Sun指导 (Sun Zhidao, expert commentator) echoed: "Kobe is trying too hard to compete with Su Feng, and as a result, he has lost himself in the game."

On the court, with the rise and fall of momentum, the Raptors' lead quickly expanded to 15 points.

And this time...

It was O'Neal's turn to get anxious.

With 4 minutes and 21 seconds left in the second quarter, during a dead ball, O'Neal took the initiative to find Kobe, wanting to communicate with Kobe.

But...

Because Kobe had turned on mute mode, O'Neal's communication ultimately ended in failure.

At the critical moment, the "Zen Master" had to step up.

After reasoning with Kobe, appealing to his emotions...

And coaxing and deceiving him, Jackson finally persuaded Kobe, who was already out of control.

But in this way, Kobe couldn't understand this world even more.

Because in the previous two games, people were saying that he didn't have enough strong attacks and couldn't give O'Neal more help.

But now...

After taking out the pass button, people want him to put the pass button back.

What the hell does he have to do to satisfy everyone?

At the end of the half, the Raptors, playing as visitors, led 59-43 into the second half.

At this time, in front of the TV, many fans believed that this year's Finals might once again have a 4-0 sweep...

During the halftime break, Jackson, who had always thought he was resourceful, didn't know what to do.

Look...

On one side was a deeply anxious, fat-headed fish who was afraid of being swept 0-4 again, and on the other side was Kobe, who was caught in a mental entanglement and started to delve into things...

Who do you think the "Zen Master" should comfort first?

But then again...

No matter how uncomfortable O'Neal and Kobe are, there will always be someone to comfort them.

However...

Who can come to comfort Phil Jackson?

...

ps: Hmph! Want to hear me squeal like a pig? Then you should show some sincerity! Give me some monthly tickets and recommendation tickets!