848: 282: There are no small roles here, everyone is a big figure!
(Requesting monthly tickets!)_3 848: 282: There are no small roles here, everyone is a big figure!
(Requesting monthly tickets!)_3 But Kobe didn’t shy away; he faced the journalist who deliberately wanted to make him look bad: “Family conflict?
Man, not even the end of the world can stop us from crushing the Hawks tonight!
You and every other Atlanta resident better be ready!”
Both sides continued to stoke the flames, the blaze already raging fiercely, making the whole of Georgia feel the heat.
An hour later, finally, the two sides met on the finals stage.
Roger looked at the group of Purple Gold Knights stepping onto his territory, his brow furrowed.
Big3 gazed at the championship banners hanging from the ceiling of Philips Arena, revealing their undisguisable ambition.
The referee signaled for the starting players to gather; the game was about to begin.
O’Neal won the jump ball, and the Lakers initiated the attack.
In the first round, Grant Hill assisted Kobe, who scored easily with a mid-range shot.
Kobe used his superb off-ball movement to create a receiving opportunity, and shot immediately upon receiving the ball.
Pierce Knight didn’t entirely shake off Kobe; when Kobe shot, Pierce still provided rather tight interference, which wasn’t a great shot opportunity for Kobe.
Clearly, Kobe’s desire to score tonight is extremely high.
As soon as he gets the ball, he is sure to shoot.
During an interview yesterday, Kobe said: “Many people want me to play like I did last season, but that wouldn’t be me.
You see, I have two ways: one is to play simple basketball, as most say, scoring 20 points and 7 assists per game.
Or, I can be aggressive and push myself to the limit.”
Obviously, Kobe is very aggressive.
However, Shaq won’t be angry about this, because it’s an away game.
In away games, Kobe is the Lakers’ first choice.
What’s more, Kobe made the shot.
O’Neal has become accustomed to Kobe’s shots that make one’s blood pressure soar, but who cares, as long as the shots go in.
2-0, Kobe opened the scoring for the Lakers.
After scoring, Kobe bared his teeth and swung his fist, indicating that his slaughter had just begun, and that off-court matters truly didn’t affect him at all.
On the contrary, off-court issues only added to Kobe’s fighting spirit.
Kobe Bryant is someone who knows how to transform pain into strength; many players are affected on the court by off-court affairs.
But Kobe is different; just look at his “schedule rule” later, and you’ll know that when he steps onto the court, he can vent all his displeasure on his opponents.
For Kobe, he divides his off-court self and on-court self into two distinct individuals.
The person off the court is Kobe, while the one on the court, Kobe prefers to call him Black Mamba.
The Lakers’ first attack was strong, but the Hawks immediately responded.
In the subsequent round, Roger passed the ball out between two players while being double-teamed, assisting Pierce to easily hit a three-pointer.
The Lakers’ defensive strategy today is very extreme, which is to relentlessly double-team Roger right from the first second.
Even if Roger is holding the ball outside the three-point line, he must be trapped.
In Phil Jackson’s view, no one in the league can defend Roger one-on-one.
So, the double-team is treatment Roger deserves, a form of respect for him.
Limiting Roger’s shots, they would rather give other players the chance.
Phil Jackson firmly believes his big3 can suppress the Hawks’ other players.
However, Pierce’s three-pointer fiercely slapped the Zen Master’s face.
This season, Pierce’s presence isn’t as high as last season, not because he isn’t good, but because everyone is used to his prowess.
What was Pierce’s situation last season?
He had just played a disastrous key moment game in the ’99 season, and had been stabbed 13 times off-court.
So when he performed excellently in the finals, people were surprised and felt amazed.
This season, Paul Pierce is very stable and remains outstanding.
This sustained excellence no longer surprises people, but in fact, he is now the most formidable sword-bearer beside Roger.
In the games that followed, Roger didn’t forcefully attack in the double-team but was happy to share the ball with his teammates.
Since teammates are feeling good now, let them shoot more.
Anyway, it’s not time to take over the game yet.
Pierce frequently hit jump shots, Marion, with his peculiar posture, made two three-pointers, and even Pippen found his shooting touch, scoring two mid-range shots.
In the transitional phase, Bowen and Hornacek also added to the score.
Roger only scored 5 points in the first quarter but dished out 5 assists, leading the Hawks to a 29-24 lead over the Lakers!
At that moment, all the Hawks fans at the venue were cheering.
Magic was so excited that he was sweating all over: “End of the first quarter, the lead belongs to the Atlanta Hawks!
The first team this season to crush the Lakers in the playoffs may be born, don’t forget, last season it was also the Hawks who ended the Lakers’ seemingly invincible 16-game winning streak at the start!
When the whole league is at a loss against the Lakers, the Hawks always solve this problem!”
Although Magic is a Lakers legend and minor shareholder, he doesn’t show favoritism towards the Lakers in commentary; whoever gives him goosebumps, he praises them.
Phil Jackson’s strategy didn’t work in the first quarter, but he decided to persist.
The Lakers absolutely won’t be killed by anyone other than Roger!
In the second quarter, Pippen and Marion’s touch began to diminish, missing several open jumper opportunities.
Fortunately, Pierce remained strong, and because Roger didn’t need to force attacks on offense, he saved a lot of energy, keeping it all for the defensive end.