basketball swingman

Shaquille O'Neal scored 31 points, 12 rebounds, 6 of 12 free throws, and 2 blocks.

Kobe finished the game with 33 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block.

Except for the "ok" combination.

"Mickey Mouse" David Wesley scored 14 points and Larry Hughes scored 10 points.

Even so, they still lost the game.

And he lost by 12 points!

But for this team, it doesn't matter how many points they lose. The most urgent thing for them now is how to solve the problem of Shaquille O'Neal's unreasonable consumption of physical fitness.

If this problem can really be solved, then even though they lost by 12 points in this game, they can still recover.

Not to mention anything else, Kobe finally ranked third on the regular season MVP list this season, not far behind Tim Duncan and Jiang Dalin who eventually won the award, only two or three percentage points at most.

This proves that Kobe's ability has reached the regular season MVP level.

Not to mention Shaquille O'Neal.

You can't say that a person who has won back-to-back Finals MVPs and is the first player in the "post-Jordan era" loses in last year's Finals and doesn't have the strength to be a regular season MVP.

Any team that has two regular season MVP-level players, especially if they have a harmonious relationship, can theoretically not lose against any opponent!

No one can refute this.

However, the problem of Shaquille O'Neal is really not that easy to solve.

When Phil Jackson left the field, his entire expression was calm.

He really didn't expect that in this league, besides the "shark-killing tactic", there would be such a way to restrict Shaquille O'Neal.

It’s really a long time since we’ve seen each other, no, it’s been a hell!

If the Wizards' "senior group" cannot be solved, it can be believed that Shaquille O'Neal will only become more and more irritable in the next period of time.

The Wizards fans in the audience were waving their hands enthusiastically and twisting their bodies to the live music to celebrate the Wizards winning the first game of the Finals.

The media in Washington have already reported it.

The team that wins the first game in the finals has a winning rate of 70%!

Washington is now among the 70% probability.

Speaking of which, there is an interesting record about the first win in the finals. If the away team wins the first game in the finals, the winning rate is less than 50%.

In other words, the team that plays away from home for the first time in the finals is best not to win the first game.

However, if the team playing at home wins the first game, it has a 70% probability of winning...

Therefore, for the away team, whether to win the first game of the finals or not is really a question!

Everyone in the "senior group" sat on the bench and gasped for air.

After this game, they really felt that they were really old.

Even when they took turns playing against Shaquille O'Neal for five minutes, their bodies were really overwhelmed.

At this moment, they are like cattle that are tired from plowing the fields.

At this moment, they have to admit that there is indeed a reason why this shark can defend the title after Jordan.

Karl Malone expressed his feelings: "To be honest, if I am still with the Jazz this season, I will definitely go to the Lakers next season. This guy is so powerful!"

Even Karl Malone was shocked by Shaquille O'Neal's destructive power around the basket.

Their superstars who came through the storm of the 1990s can be considered to have gained experience again. This "big shark" who was known as the "four major centers" with them in the 1990s had not yet reached his peak at that time.

In other words, it is the pinnacle of the two styles of play.

When he was young, "Shark" could fly and dunk well, and he was simply the plus version of "Admiral".

Now he is in a league of his own. His strong physical fitness and terrifying strength allow him to take his hard play at the basket to a new level.

Jiang Dalin's final score in this game was fixed at 29 points, with a shooting percentage of 70%!

When Michael Jordan accidentally saw this data, he once again cursed in his heart: Abnormal.

If Michael Jordan's field goal percentage of over 52% at the peak of his morale can be regarded as the king among outside players, then Jiang Dalin's 70% field goal percentage is enough to occupy a "place" among inside players.

Even Michael Jordan could feel that Jiang Dalin did not use his full strength.

Even Michael Jordan can't estimate what kind of potential this guy can unleash when he gets serious.

But he can be sure that if Jiang Dalin goes all out to attack, the shock he will cause will not be less than the difference he made on the defensive end against the Pacers after losing the regular season MVP.

However, it seems difficult for the current Lakers to push the Wizards to that point.

Everyone has to admit that Jiang Dalin has less responsibilities on the current Wizards team than before.

Not only did they win the championship last year, they also gained an All-Star-level outside shooter.

Then Michael Jordan changed his position and began to play outside support, coupled with the arrival of Billups.

It is really not an exaggeration to say that the Wizards have the most luxurious perimeter group in the league currently.

There is such a group of people supporting Jiang Dalin on the offensive end, not to mention the defensive end. Whoever the "senior group" really meets, they can tear off a piece of skin from their bodies!

Including the "Shark" also made them feel uncomfortable in the first game of the just-concluded finals, and entered the visiting team's locker room with an ugly expression.

"There's nothing much to say, guys, let's win the next game and change the score to 2-0!"

Scott shouted before the start of Game 2 of the Finals.

As long as they can cleanly defeat the Lakers at home, they can still return to their home court even if they lose all three away games.

This season, including the regular season and the playoffs, the Wizards have lost less than 6 games at their home court. They are the absolute "home dragon".

Therefore, on their home court, Scott believed they were invincible.

Perhaps it was for this reason that he dared to think that it would be okay even if he lost the next three away games.

From the beginning of this game, the Lakers' entire style of play didn't seem to have changed much. From the beginning, Kobe was still the main attacker, and Shaquille O'Neal stepped up to score in more critical situations where scoring was necessary.

Just playing like this is definitely what the Wizards want to see. What they want is for Shaquille O'Neal's physical energy to be wasted in vain.

The plan went well. At the end of the first half, the Wizards led by 6 points.

If we continue to play like this, I'm afraid we will definitely take away the Lakers with a double-digit point difference.

Kobe, who scored 12 points in the first half, shook his head and walked to the locker room.

He didn't know what to say, because when he opened the technical statistics column, he could see that for all of Shaquille O'Neal's statistics, he had already scored 10 points, and his contribution on the offensive end was no less than him...

The atmosphere in the Lakers locker room was obviously much duller.

Phil Jackson took the coaching staff to discuss outside for a long time, but did not enter the room for a long time.

Shaquille O'Neal glanced at Kobe, who was sitting next to him, wearing headphones and closing his eyes. He recalled how this guy did not fall behind against Michael Jordan in the first half.

"Kobe..."

He shouted and patted. Kobe took off his headphones and cast a questioning look at him.

"Man, if we reversed roles, would we be able to make the Wizards suffer?"

Kobe: "????"

He still didn't understand it for a while.

But the more Shaquille O'Neal thought about it, the more he thought it was feasible.

Since the opponent wants to consume his strength, he will not play at the critical moment, but will be responsible for the first wave of firepower output. This way, even if he has no physical strength later, Kobe can continue to play.

The only question is whether Kobe can stand up like him at critical moments.

No, no need to doubt, it will definitely work!

He did this in the Western Conference Finals, and he didn't suffer much against Michael Jordan in the Finals. It can be done, it must be possible!

He repeated in his mind, while his eyes became more and more determined.

Since losing in the finals last season, his only thought was to regain his place in the finals and let him and the Lakers lift the championship trophy again. This was also to prove last season's defeat, but it was the Wizards who relied on

It's just a victory stolen by "Dui Zi".

And when he gradually realized that the Lakers' current style of play could not win the championship this season, his first thought was not to be discouraged. Maybe he had such thoughts, but his more thought was how to win the game back.

Kobe understood what Shaquille O'Neal said, with a burning look in his eyes.

Because he knows that this means that he will become the absolute core of the entire team...

And that's what he needs.

Now Shaquille O'Neal is actually willing to trade positions with him in order to win the Wizards.

His respect for this big brother suddenly rose to more than a hundred levels.

At this time, he realized that he had misunderstood his big brother. It was not that he had lost his fighting spirit, but...

Anyone who is invincible will always feel a little slack, right?

This is actually quite normal!

Kobe felt guilty for his past usurping thoughts.

The way he apologized was also very simple, that is, to win the game that Shaquille O'Neal desperately wanted to win. He knew very well that Shaq had done this just for the sake of winning!

Phil Jackson and his assistant coaching staff pushed the door open and walked in lonely.

They still haven't thought of a good way, and there's nothing they can do about it. Compared to outside players, inside players do tend to consume more energy.

What's more, the Wizards' energy-consuming reserve army is really no joke!

"I decided to switch positions with Kobe. I will be responsible for the Lakers' offense at the beginning of the second half, and Kobe will be responsible for the offense in the second half."

When Shaquille O'Neal said this, not only Phil Jackson was a little stunned, but also everyone in the locker room was stunned. No one expected that Shaquille O'Neal would propose such a method.

What does it mean to win? This is just to win!

The team's status is not even considered.

"Can it be done?"

Phil Jackson looked at them and asked.

It seems like he’s asking everyone, but he’s actually asking Kobe.

Kobe nodded: "I will work hard!"

"Oh well!"

Phil Jackson agreed. Kobe and Shaquille O'Neal high-fived and held their hands tightly. Both of them were full of passion.

To be honest, what "Zen Master" doesn't want to see is the harmony of the "ok" combination. He knows very well that if there are no problems with the "ok" combination, then the Lakers will not decline for at least the next four years.

If that were the case, how could Kupchak be replaced if he made no mistake?

So how can he become the general manager?

Originally, there were two of them, one was a bit "small-minded and would not allow his younger brother to seize power", and the other was paranoid. As long as he created a slight estrangement, he could gradually create a gap between them.

In fact, in 2001, everything was happening as he expected. Then Michael Jordan announced his comeback and Jiang Dalin joined the Wizards.

Originally, Phil Jackson didn't care about these things.

Because in his opinion, the power of the "OK" group cannot be blocked by a young boy and a 38-year-old "old man".

But it was this combination of an old man and a young man that turned the entire league upside down. Now even O'Neal has regained the fighting spirit that had gradually begun to disappear.

It can only be said that God’s calculations are better than those of people.

The second half of the game officially begins.

Shaquille O'Neal's active running attracted the attention of the Wizards, but after getting the ball, Shaquille O'Neal still succeeded in attacking the frame.

Even Jiang Dalin is not that easy to guard against the "shark" in its full state.

"It's okay, it's okay, we just have to fight back and fight back!"

Scott shouted next to him.

Shaquille O'Neal's offense didn't attract any of his attention.

But soon, Shaquille O'Neal scored again with the ball. After scoring 4 points at the beginning of the second half, he had to think about the current situation: Are the Lakers going to advance the decisive battle?

But they are the lagging side now. If they really want to widen the point difference enough to determine the outcome in this situation, it is not something Shaquille O'Neal can do with his physical strength.

He was full of doubts.

Of course, soon, he no longer had any doubts.

Because he also understood what the Lakers were thinking.

This is to let Kobe bear the goal at the critical moment!

I have to say, it’s very thoughtful.

Relying on Shaquille O'Neal's powerful lethality in the paint, the Lakers stabilized the point difference between 2 and 4 points at around 8:17 of the third quarter.

Jiang Dalin held the ball at this time to strengthen his attack.

It was also when he started attacking that the Lakers' ball began to move towards Kobe Bryant's hands.

Michael Jordan's expression darkened.

The Lakers changed their core style of play, letting Shaquille O'Neal take on the early game and letting Kobe Bryant play key shots, so that Shaquille O'Neal's energy would not be wasted for no reason.

But the problem is...

Are you so confident that Kobe can break through my defense?

There is no doubt that under such circumstances, Michael Jordan's competitive spirit was aroused!