Chapter 4 The evening of the 4th, Staples Center

As the ten starting players from the home team Lakers and the visiting team Warriors successively stepped onto the court...

At this moment, even through the screen, people could feel the distinctly different auras of the two sides in this battle.

This...

Is this really just a regular season game?

In front of the television, holding their breath, watching the starting players of both teams with perseverance and grimness in their eyes... many fans couldn't help but ask themselves this question.

This.

Of course, it's just a regular season game.

However, for the Lakers and Warriors, whose records were also 45 wins and 2 losses before the start of this game...

This regular season game, whether in terms of strategic significance or strategic value, far exceeded a regular season game.

Warriors' starting five: Yao Ming, James, Jiba, Klay, Curry.

Lakers' starting five: Gasol Jr., Su Feng, Green, Kobe, Rondo.

In the center of the court, the game began with a jump ball between Gasol Jr. and Yao Ming.

Before the game, Gasol Jr., who had specifically studied Yao Ming's jump ball weaknesses, successfully won the opening attack for the Lakers.

As everyone knows.

Limited by his bounce speed and wingspan, Xiao Yao's jump ball performance is actually not ideal among centers.

This ball, Gasol Jr., who reacted half a beat faster than Xiao Yao, preemptively used his bear paw to slap the basketball into Rondo's arms.

Coach Rondo was responsible for dribbling past half-court, and the other Lakers quickly took their positions, preparing to execute the Lakers' classic tactic:

--"Little Zen Master" Tyronn Lue's version of the triangle offense.

In this life, anyone who knows a little about basketball should know that in the NBA, apart from the "pirated Zen Master" Phil Jackson's triangle offense being unworthy of mention, in recent years, various versions of the triangle offense have blossomed.

In the restricted area, Su Feng, who had sunk to the low post, took the lead in leaning against James with his upturned butt.

As the saying goes, whether a post-up is wonderful depends entirely on whether the butt is upturned.

At the high post, seeing Su Feng successfully in position, Gasol Jr., who received the pass from Coach Rondo, immediately put the basketball into Su Feng's hands.

In today's NBA, why do they all say that you can't learn Su Feng's post-up even if you watch it?

Because, at the moment of receiving the ball, Su Feng immediately grabbed the basketball on his side with his right hand.

Learn?

Don't be silly.

For most people, wanting to grab a ball with one hand, and still hold it steady under high resistance... is simply impossible.

On the wing, watching Su Feng's attention all focused on competing with James, Jiba decisively shrunk back, preparing to complete the double-teaming of Su Feng with James on the left and right.

However, at the moment Jiba pounced on Su Feng, Su Feng's right hand, which had been grabbing the ball with one hand, suddenly flung the basketball behind Jiba.

This...

Is the legendary one-handed triple threat!

Because the concealment of a one-handed pass is far greater than that of a two-handed pass, even if Jiba sensed that Su Feng was likely to pass the ball, he couldn't predict the timing and path of Su Feng's pass.

Outside, Green, who received the pass from Su Feng, raised his knife and dropped it, scoring a delicate three-pointer for the Lakers!

0 to 3!

On the court, just as Yao Ming was preparing to quickly inbound the baseline ball, the Lakers players on the court, led by Su Feng and Kobe, quickly formed a full-court zone press defense.

Defending the entire court from the start!

Obviously, facing the Lakers' sudden big move, the Warriors players, who were still planning to use small skills to test the Lakers, were not prepared.

In a hurry, Curry, who received the pass from Yao Ming, instantly fell into the pockets of these two strange uncles, Su Feng and Kobe.

Because the Warriors' other players didn't respond in time, Curry, who couldn't move, had to watch Su Feng take the basketball from his hand.

Immediately afterwards, Green, who followed up, fired from the outside again after receiving Su Feng's pass!

Swish!

"Wow, the Lakers had a really smooth start tonight, Green made two three-pointers as soon as he came up!" Zhang Zhidao explained on CCTV.

"It looks like the Lakers are still going to defend the entire court!" Yu Jia, who was on the side and found the Lakers players posing for a full-court zone press defense after Green hit a three-pointer, said with a look of astonishment.

"The Lakers are trying to seize the opening tonight!

No matter whether these three axes see blood or not.

Anyway, just swing them first!" Zhang Zhidao said with a smile.

Staples Center, as Zhang Zhidao said, the Lakers, who carefully designed the opening tonight, wanted to create momentum in the opening stage of this game!

On the court, facing the Lakers, who were unforgiving, the Warriors made another mistake due to insufficient tightness in the opening stage!

Three axes at the start!

How ruthless...

Sure enough, it depends on...

Liverpool!

Uh...

Sorry, wrong scene!

In the Warriors' half-court, after intercepting Curry's pass to James halfway, watching the figure that had already rushed into the Warriors' basket, Su Feng quickly passed the basketball to that black shadow with a bounce pass!

After getting the ball, Kobe quickly jumped up and bravely entered Yao Ming's defense zone, who hadn't had time to run to the opponent's half-court because of Curry's quick mistake!

The will to fight to the death!

What is a man's romance?

I don't know!

Anyway, the romance between Su Feng and Kobe is...

Going forward!

Kobe rushed very recklessly with this ball!

Yao Ming's block was also very refreshing!

However, Green, who followed up, scored another point for the Lakers with a layup after grabbing the second landing point!

Danny Green...

Scored 8 points in a row at the start tonight!

Who said that the Lakers, apart from Su and Kobe, are all CBA players?

On the sidelines, on the Warriors' bench, Jeff Van Gundy was ready to request a timeout from the technical desk at any time.

Fortunately, the Warriors players on the court also knew the principle that things should not happen more than three times.

With the support of James and Jiba, the Warriors successfully broke the Lakers' full-court zone press.

Unfortunately.

If Klay was the one responsible for answering Curry just now.

Then it is very likely that he would pass the ball to the Lakers himself without Su Feng and other Lakers players going up to force him.

This ball, after breaking the Lakers' full-court zone press, James, who had been rampaging all the way, dispelled Van Gundy's idea of calling a timeout with an aggressive dunk.

However...

Before Little Zhan Zhan, who scored the first point for the Warriors, could pose for a celebration, Coach Rondo passed the baseline ball to Kobe on the Lakers' side.

James, who was extremely heartbroken, had to turn around and immediately return to defense.

In the frontcourt, Kobe, who cut into the Warriors' inside line, noticed Xiao Yao's movement route and threw the ball backhand to the top of the arc without thinking. (Note 1)

Although a real man has to be tough to the end.

But there is also a saying on the road...

Being able to bend and stretch is the mark of a true man!

Swish!

At the top of the arc, Marc Gasol raised his hand and dropped it.

What a "high-spirited" fast-break three-pointer!

As a polar bear who can only tremble in front of a Tyrannosaurus rex.

Of course, Xiao Jia knows that even the most powerful polar bear cannot defeat a Tyrannosaurus rex.

But...

Who said that...

Polar bears must face Tyrannosaurus rex head-on?

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yao!

Today, he, Marc Gasol, is the Lakers' "scoring guard"!

On the court, while retreating, Kobe patted Xiao Jia on the back, who obediently stayed on the outside according to the pre-match strategy, and smiled, "Just play like this!

As long as Yao doesn't come out, you stay outside."

On the sidelines, after hesitating for a moment, Van Gundy still did not call a timeout, watching the Warriors players on the court who were still calm.

On the Lakers' side, Su Feng, who knew that the Lakers could not defend the entire court all the time, waved to his teammates and issued an instruction to "withdraw the troops".

The Warriors crossed half-court, and James circled out to receive the ball at the high post.

Because Su Feng was delayed by Xiao Yao while following up, Green, who was on the wing, quickly switched defenses with Su Feng.

As Yao Ming pulled to the other 45-degree angle, James also very decisively revved his engine throttle.

Facts have proved.

Feints are purely redundant technical movements for Little Zhan Zhan.

Because of the strength he bursts out with...

Who can stop him?

Who dares to stop him?

At the high post, Green, who was chased into the three-point line by James, couldn't resist at all! (Note 2)

After reaching a distance where he could directly threaten the basket...

To use the usual words of CCTV commentators...

With this ball, LeBron James threw himself into the sky.

There is one black and one.

Regardless of whether you like James' playing style or not.

When he leaps into the air, he is definitely worthy of the word "domineering".

But...

You want to look down on the world and overlook this beautiful landscape...

Have you forgotten...

The owner of this land.

His name is Su Feng?

On the court, at the moment when James was ignoring everything and was about to complete a tomahawk dunk, a big hand suddenly pressed down on the basketball in his hand from the side!

This land!

I won't give it to you!

Don't even think about taking it!

Bang!

On the sidelines, the baseline referee did not blow his whistle.

The sideline referee did not blow his whistle either!

Therefore...

This is a good block from Su Feng!

Bang!

On the court, James, who was blocked by Su Feng, fell heavily on the floor.

As the most durable player in the league besides Su Feng, James was fine with this ball.

However, looking at Su Feng's incomparably domineering expression...

At this moment, the scenes of his childhood appeared in James' mind like a revolving lantern.

Domineering?

That's right to be domineering.

Because Su Feng's basketball has always been the most domineering basketball!

As the NBA's chief trophy king after Bird.

Except when learning English with Britney...

Su Feng's dominance can be said to be ubiquitous!

On the sidelines, watching Su Feng call James' dunk out of bounds, this time, Van Gundy had to call a timeout even if he didn't want to.

Because compared to being behind in the score...

At this moment, what Van Gundy was worried about was...

James' mentality would be affected.

However...

Van Gundy was obviously thinking too much.

Because James, who had suffered countless beatings from Su Feng...

How could he be affected by a mere block?

In fact, at that moment just now...

James, who was sitting on the floor and unwilling to get up, was just thinking...

If he had really believed Duncan's words to him that "the future is yours"...

Then at this moment, he might be hiding somewhere crying!

Damn the future!

Just looking at this performance...

Can you believe that Su Feng will be 35 years old in two months?

On the court, the Warriors requested a timeout.

After the timeout, the Warriors inbounded the baseline ball.

Curry, using Xiao Yao, this "big pillar," to perform a "Qin King encircles the pillar" maneuver with Rondo, sneaked to the right wing 45-degree angle to receive the ball.

Swish!

Although Curry's three-point performance at Staples has not been ideal in the past.

But this kind of wide-open opportunity given to him...

Is basically no different from giving it away for free.

Back on the other end, the Lakers attacked.

After calling a timeout to ease the situation, the Warriors' defensive level has obviously increased by another level in an instant.

Kobe shot wide after continuously dribbling between his legs on the outside.

Yao Ming happily got a board.

Warriors' possession.

James pulled up to the high post to organize, while the other Warriors players were constantly trying to find opportunities for Curry, who was jumping back and forth, through crossover runs.

In Su Feng's previous life, in his 22 career encounters with Curry, in addition to playing a masterpiece of 30-0, Coach Rondo, who only allowed Curry to score 19 points per game and limited his shooting percentage to 43.1% and three-point percentage to 35.5%, was definitely one of the opponents Curry least liked to play against.

But...

There are always exceptions.

Because theoretically, with more outstanding teammates around him, Curry's off-ball power will increase geometrically.

Therefore, on the court, when Curry used Yao Ming, this big pillar, to start running around the pillar again...

Coach Rondo's head also grew bigger.

Because unlike my Pao's silly pick-and-roll (this is Rondo's inner voice, not what I said)...

In most cases, the pick-and-roll between Curry and his teammates is completed off-ball...

Therefore, once Rondo misjudges Curry's movement, then you are not so much saying that he is one-on-one with Curry...

You might as well say that he is one-on-two.

Huh?

You said Curry has teammates, and Rondo also has teammates?

Emmm.

From a theoretical point of view, that is indeed the case.

However, because Xiao Jia's moving speed cannot guarantee that he can help Rondo delay the defense far away from the basket...

So even if Xiao Jia has been standing behind Rondo...

At this moment, he can only encourage Coach Rondo with his eyes.

In Su Feng's original timeline, many Yao haters believed that Yao Ming could not play small ball.

However...

Since Bogut, who is slower than Yao Ming, can play small ball...

Then why do you dare to hate Yao Ming for not being able to play small ball?

You must know that compared to pick-and-roll, Xiao Yao's deterrent power is much greater than Bogut's.

Because Yao Ming not only has a model far superior to Bogut's.

Moreover, his offensive methods are also much more than Bogut's.

On the court, Curry made another three-pointer!

This time, it was the Lakers' turn to call a timeout.

On the Lakers' bench, Coach Lue, with a confident look on his face, replaced Coach Rondo with Seth Curry after this timeout.

This substitution has nothing to do with Coach Rondo's poor defense.

Because if Curry was still surrounded by the people Su Feng remembered in this life, Rondo could entangle Curry to death tonight.

"Tonight, we will grab the offense first, and then talk about defense!" On the sidelines, Coach Lue, who knew that Rondo would definitely understand what he said, explained the substitution to him.

Hearing this, Rondo nodded and said, "I understand, coach."

In fact, compared to not being able to defend well...

As the Warriors' defensive level began to improve, Coach Lue knew very well that playing good offense was the key to whether the Lakers could win tonight.

As the most accurate shooter on this Lakers team...

Coach Lue's purpose in bringing in Seth was to use his 51.5% three-point shooting percentage to further widen the court width for Su Feng and Kobe.

On the court, Coach Lue's substitution had an immediate effect.

Because after replacing Seth, the Lakers' most iron player on the outside became Kobe, who averaged 11 three-point attempts per game this season with a three-point percentage of 37.4%...

So even if the Warriors' two wing players, Klay and Jiba, both have very high defensive IQs...

They can no longer go to double-team Su Feng and Kobe like before.

Outside, a three-point isolation from Kobe Bryant.

How decisive was Kobe's shot with this ball?

Just like he said to Su Feng when he taught him how to pick up girls in his early years...

Men must be fast, accurate, and ruthless!

Swish!

Like Battier...

Because Klay's wingspan determined that he could only increase Kobe's shooting cost and could not completely prevent Kobe from shooting...

So this ball...

Watching Kobe drift and pull up for a three-pointer in front of him...

Klay was quite desperate.

No offense.

At this moment, it's really not Klay hating his old man.

Because compared to Kobe, Su Feng, and other Lakers legends...

The theories his old man said when teaching him how to play basketball...

In Klay's view, are complete nonsense!

Reasonable?

If you talk about reason in basketball, then what basketball are you playing!

The fake Lakers legends pass more, rotate more, and choose the most correct offensive method to complete the end.

The real Lakers legends can play however they want as long as they are handsome enough.

On the court, it was the Warriors' turn to attack.

Yao Ming took the initiative to sink to the low post.

In the NBA.

If a team has one or two unsolvable offensive methods.

Then they can be called a strong team.

And if they can achieve multiple points of attack.

Then they are a championship-level team.

As for teams like the Warriors who...

Any tactic they pull out is a royal flush?

Sorry...

Never mind!

In the low post, under James' dispatch, Xiao Yao posted up Xiao Jia in the low post.

Xiao Jia defended very hard with this ball.

But the effect...

Was very Howard-like.

The Lakers players, who were pulled to the outside by the Warriors players, could not help Xiao Jia with the defense.

So after Yao Ming wiped past Xiao Jia and dunked successfully, everyone could only encourage Xiao Jia:

"Come on! Believe in yourself, Mark, you can do it!"

Xiao Jia: "..."

I...

Okay!

I can do it!

On the court, watching Yao Ming, who didn't forget to give him a wry smile after scoring, Xiao Jia immediately perked up!

The Lakers' offensive possession.

At the high post, watching Su Feng, who sank into the low post according to the triangle offensive route, Xiao Jia fully demonstrated the "deterrent" and "dominance" of the center position at this moment!

On the basketball court.

Who said that centers can only fight in the low post?

From the point of view of face, Xiao Jia should have returned a ball to Xiao Yao in the low post this time.

But if Xiao Jia really did that...

Then what is the difference between him and a certain iron idiot whose jersey is not even worthy of being hung on the Staples ceiling? (Note 3)

In Xiao Jia's view.

There are many ways to Answer.Ball.

For example...

Passing the ball to the low-post king of today's NBA...

Su Feng!

Bro!

That Tyrannosaurus rex just beat me!

Quick!

Help me beat him back!

In the Warriors' restricted area, leaning against James, after successfully getting the ball from Xiao Jia, Su Feng made a gesture to smear to the left, and then turned smoothly in the opposite direction, instantly showing James' scalp all over the ground!

What a smear and turn!

In the real world, Qiankun Great Shift does not exist.

However, Su Feng's smear, while reversing the universe, also wiped out unlimited vitality!

No one could help James defend with this ball either.

Because before they could move, Su Feng had already elegantly put the basketball into the basket.

"The Lakers' start tonight is really aggressive!

Yao Ming just scored one, and Su Feng immediately returned one to the Warriors in the low post!" On CCTV, because both the palm and back of his hand were flesh, tonight was definitely the most "objective" time for Zhang Zhidao to commentate on the Lakers' game...

However...

Zhang Zhidao...

Do you know...

If the Lakers don't force the issue tonight...

Then next, it will be the Warriors "forcing to death"!

……