I’m Really Playing Basketball

June 3, 2010, Charlotte Bobcats Arena, Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Bobcats and the Los Angeles Lakers.

This night, all the viewers across the United States are staring at the four key players in this game.

Chen Xiao, O'Neal, Kidd and Kobe.

"The four of them were the four protagonists of the 2003 NBA Finals. Seven years later, the four of them once again stood on the same field in the Finals. Time, on them at this moment, seemed to have completed a reincarnation. !”

The Game 1 of the Finals between the Bobcats and the Lakers is still going on, but as the on-site commentators for this game, Barkley and Kenny Smith rarely mentioned the content of this game, except for Kobe, Kidd, Chen Xiao, O'Neal and four others. When players play against each other, apart from talking, the rest of the time they are basically looking back on past feelings.

The game was exciting, but since the 2003 NBA Finals, these four people have reunited again. There are really too many words, too many grievances, and too many things to talk about.

Compared with these things, no matter how exciting the game is, it can't cover up this point.

Of course, not all viewers are looking back on the feelings of the four. When the four got together in the 2003 Finals, Chen Xiao, the youngest at the time, is now almost 28 years old. These seven years can be said to be an era in the NBA. .

For viewers here in the United States, this is indeed the case.

But for the Chinese audience, sorry, their youth was Chen Xiao and Yao Ming. When the Bobcats beat the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, this game was the time when they felt the most.

As for the Bobcats playing the Lakers, they are now concerned about the outcome of this game, the outcome of this series and Chen Xiao's performance.

Of course, the ten players on the court thought so too.

Back to this game.

In this game, the Bobcats' starting players are O'Neal, Aldridge, Chen Xiao, Roy and Kidd.

The starting lineup for the opposite Lakers is Gasol, Gasol, Artest, Kobe and Billups.

It can be seen that the Lakers did not change their starting lineup in this game because there was nothing to change.

As for the Bobcats, it is obvious that Jordan has made adjustments to the Lakers' starting lineup.

The Bobcats did not continue to use the tactics of Chen Xiao playing power forward in the Eastern Conference Finals with one freshman and four juniors.

There is a reason for this, because Gasol and Gasol cannot stretch out as far as Yao Ming and Bosh. The offensive areas of these two brothers are still relatively close.

In this case, there is no need for the power forward position to help defend too much. Aldridge is beside O'Neal and guarding the basket, which is enough.

On the contrary, putting Chen Xiao at the small forward position can make Chen Xiao's influence more on the outside.

In the game against the Lakers, Chen Xiao does not need to worry about the inside line. What Chen Xiao needs to worry about is the Lakers' outside line.

I have to say that Jordan's judgment of this game is still very accurate.

In this finals match between the Bobcats and the Lakers, the Bobcats have no intention of double-teaming Kobe, but whether Kidd or Roy, it is difficult to defend Kobe alone. In this case, Chen Xiao's help defense is very important.

This is Jordan borrowing the Timberwolves' defensive strategy against Kobe.

Pierce defended alone, McGrady helped defend, and then let go of Artest's three-pointers and long-range shots.

The final result is that Artest shot only 36% from the field in the last round against the Timberwolves, 34% from three-point range, and averaged just over 10 points per game.

With Artest's offensive performance, it's difficult for the Bobcats to change their defense against the Lakers.

Artest's performance against the Timberwolves wasn't even due to his poor form. He has been in this offensive state throughout his career in the playoffs.

He has played in the playoffs for so many years in his career, and his field goal percentage is less than 39% per game, and his three-point shooting percentage is less than 31% per game.

His defense is very good, and his offensive methods are also very rich. If you really want to defend against him, you may not be able to guard against him. After all, he can do everything and is difficult to guard. But if you don't care about him, focus on your defensive strength. If you guard against his teammates, you will be surprised.

I have to say that McHale's defensive strategy against the Lakers and Artest really inspired Jordan and the Bobcats.

Even if Billups comes, the Lakers' problem of poor three-point stability still cannot be solved.

In this case, as long as the Timberwolves use a player who is excellent in single defense to mark Kobe, and then use a player who is excellent in outside defense and fast to help defend Kobe, then the Lakers' outside offense will not be able to open a three-pointer. In this situation, Kobe is also restricted, which is equivalent to being half paralyzed.

As for the Lakers' interior offense, the Gasol brothers are not easy to beat Rasheed and Garnett. As long as they shrink their defense, it will be difficult for the Gasol brothers to explode. Gasol can get good data, but he is definitely not there. To the extent of killing people.

And compared to shrinking defense, O'Neal is much easier to use than Garnett and Rasheed.

And this is why many experts believed before the finals that the Lakers had no chance of defeating the Bobcats.

Because as long as the Bobcats copy the Timberwolves' style of play, the Lakers really have no chance.

Because the Bobcats only need to copy the Timberwolves' style of play, the Bobcats' staffing is even better than the Timberwolves, and they can restrain the Lakers.

Therefore, seeing that Jordan did not show off his skills in this game, but honestly copied McHale's style of play against the Lakers, Barkley lost interest in the outcome of this game. I started to play with emotions and feelings crazily.

According to Barkley's idea, there is no suspense in this game and this series.

Even if Kobe wants to win very much and Kobe has a very strong desire to attack, it is difficult for him to create miracles in this series.

Just like Barkley's judgment of this game, after the first half, the Bobcats already led 60-46 at home by 14 points.

The game was over at halftime. Not to mention that the suspense was completely lost, but there was basically no other possibility.

Although at the end of the first quarter, the Lakers were still 1 point ahead 22 to 21, that was because the Bobcats shot only 39% in this quarter, while the Lakers shot 53%.

You shot 53% from the field and scored 22 points in the entire quarter. This is not an advantage. This is your huge disadvantage. In the entire quarter of the game, you did not hit a single three-pointer or a single free throw. This means that you There is basically no threat from the outside and basically no damage at the basket.

So at the end of the fierce game in the first quarter, the Lakers seemed to be leading, but many people had already sentenced the Lakers to death at this time.

It really can't be beat.

In the second quarter, after the Bobcats players regained their offensive status, they beat the Lakers 39-24 with their backhand.

Facing the Bobcats, the Lakers' offense had no explosive power at all. If they couldn't suppress the Bobcats' scoring, it would be impossible to win.

The Lakers' only hope of winning is to drag the Bobcats into a defensive quagmire and play a defensive series like the Timberwolves.

But is a bobcat a timberwolf?

This is a team with O'Neal under the basket and Chen Xiao outside the free throw line!

Falling behind by 14 points at half-time, this is something that the Section boss who wants to win is definitely not willing to accept.

Under his 'motivation', the Lakers players worked harder in the second half.

Gasol even grabbed 4 offensive rebounds in the third quarter. Aldridge really couldn't grab Gasol.

After Gasol desperately blocked O'Neal, Gasol suppressed Aldridge tightly.

However, Gasol, who grabbed four offensive rebounds in a single quarter, shot only 2 of 6 in this quarter, which was completely different from his performance against the Timberwolves.

Because the offensive rebound that Gasol grabbed against the Bobcats was not an offensive rebound under the basket. It was not taken directly from O'Neal. O'Neal did not lose his position and was still nailed to the basket. Gasol grabbed it. It was Aldridge. After grabbing the offensive rebound, he wanted to dunk or lay up, but he still had to face O'Neal's defense under the basket.

Go to the basket to challenge O'Neal?

This was not a good decision. In the end, Gasol could only choose slightly longer throws and jumpers. Under Aldridge's interference, he achieved such a completely different efficiency.

The Lakers players played really hard in this game, but facing the Bobcats, their offensive flaws were too great.

Therefore, in the four quarters of this game, when their hands did not explode and they did not appear possessed by God, they almost scored around 22 points in each quarter.

22 points in the first quarter, 24 points in the second quarter, 21 points in the third quarter, and 23 points in the fourth quarter. The game scored 90 points.

The Lakers' shooting percentage in this game is actually not low, with a field goal percentage of 44% and a three-point shooting percentage of 44%, which are already higher than their average against the Timberwolves, and much higher.

It can be seen from this that the Lakers are playing very hard. Logically speaking, they should play worse when facing the enhanced version of the Timberwolves.

But they did play better than the Timberwolves.

But obviously, this is better, but not enough.

Let's just say that their 44% three-point shooting rate, which only hit 7 three-pointers in one game, has no meaning and cannot change the Bobcats' defense at all.

Although you can't change anything, you really can't ignore the efforts of the players.

Contrary to the Lakers, the Bobcats' three-point shooting percentage was not 44%, but only 41%. However, in this game, the Bobcats threw 17 three-pointers!

In this game, the Bobcats scored 119 points, which can be said to have shattered the Lakers' defense.

The Timberwolves' three-pointers were not that stable under the Lakers' defense, so the two teams in the Western Conference Finals played like novices pecking each other offensively.

But the Bobcats are not a rookie team with an equally unstable offense like the Timberwolves.

Chen Xiao, who played the role of Tracy McGrady in this game, faced Artest's struggle throughout the game. He made 11 of 19 shots, 4 of 8 three-pointers, and 6 of 6 free throws. He scored 32 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals in the game. 4 blocks.

This kind of offensive efficiency is actually average for Chen Xiao, but for Maizi, it is already excellent. At least, in the seven games of the Western Conference Finals, Maizi did not have such efficiency.

However, this is Chen Xiao. No matter how strong Artest is, he can't stop Chen Xiao from scoring 30 points in the game. Artest can stop Maizi, but he can't stop Chen Xiao.

No matter who the defender is, this point must be given to Chen Xiao, as long as you dare to defend alone.

In addition, Roy also scored 25 points in this game, and Rose, who came off the bench, scored 27 points.

Chen Xiao, Roy and Rose scored 84 points together.

In this game, the three offenses played really well. Although the others did not score so many points, they were very efficient.

For example, O'Neal made 3 of 3 in this game, 2 of 8 free throws, and scored 8 points.

For example, Granger, who came on the bench in this game, made 3 of 4, 2 of 3 three-pointers, and scored 8 points.

In short, the Lakers' defensive efforts in this game did not show their defensive strength under the attack of the Bobcat players.

Mainly, the Bobcats' offensive talent is really too strong.

Therefore, after the game, Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said very helplessly in an interview: "We don't want the Bobcats to score so many points, but there is no way. We can't guard against their ubiquitous attacks at the basket. The free throw line, the three-point line, their offense is so three-dimensional.”

After the first game of the Finals between the Bobcats and the Lakers, American fans did not pay attention to the result of this game.

Most people are paying attention to the interaction between Kobe and O'Neal, the interaction between Kobe and Chen Xiao, the interaction between Kobe and Kidd, or other moments on the court.

For example, all four of Chen Xiao's blocks in this game were for Ke Lao, which made Ke Lao score 8 of 25 in this game. Chen Xiao's single defense against Ke Lao was often beaten by Ke Lao, but Letting Chen Xiao help Roy and Kidd to assist the defense boss had excellent results.

For another example, O'Neal missed 6 of the 8 free throws in this game, and the 6 missed free throws were all caused by Kobe's fouls on him.

For another example, Keith hit two three-pointers in this game, and these two three-pointers were made by Kobe Bryant two meters away. Other Lakers players released three-pointers from Keith, and Keith hit 4 of them. 0.

I have to say that in this game, there was indeed a lot of interaction between Chen Xiao, O'Neal and Ke and Ke.

On June 6, G2 between the Bobcats and Lakers will continue to play at the Charlotte Bobcat Arena.

Because of the loss in G1 and the fact that they couldn't win with their regular style of play, the Lakers adopted a winger style of play in this game.

Even if they knew O'Neal was guarding the basket, everyone from Kobe Bryant to Gasol would rush towards O'Neal.

I have to say that the Lakers' style of play is indeed useful.

The Lakers were so crazy about killing the inside that the Bobcats' four inside players, O'Neal, Roy Hibbert, Lopez and Aldridge, received a total of 18 fouls in this game.

Among them, O'Neal 5 times, Hibbert 5 times, Lopez and Aldridge 4 times.

Not only that, the Lakers took 42 free throw opportunities in this game, of which Kobe made 18 of 18 by himself.

Of course, there are advantages to such a crazy attack on the basket, but there are also disadvantages. If you challenge O'Neal to the basket, even though O'Neal may cause a foul and damage the Bobcats' inside line, the two big centers of the Bobcats, O'Neal and Luo Isibert is not short, and he is not a small center. It is difficult to guarantee your shooting percentage at the basket.

Therefore, in this game, Ko's boss went to the basket after a pick-and-roll. Although he got rid of Chen Xiao's help, his shooting percentage in this game was still only 9 of 25, and he only made 1 three-pointer. This iron was almost all shot in the basket. Inside the free throw line.

In addition, although the Gasol brothers also scored 16 free throws in this game, their shooting percentage was only 6 of 21.

Using possible inefficiencies to try to knock O'Neal down in order to change the situation of the game is an attempt that the Lakers and Phil Jackson have no choice but to make.

The final result was a failure, because the young center Roy Hibbert, who came in to replace O'Neal, successfully blocked many knives for O'Neal on the defensive end, which gave the Bobcats an unexpected surprise and also gave the Lakers a bolt from the blue.

In the end, O'Neal was not beaten, and the game still played for 31 minutes, although he had five fouls.

In the end, the Bobcats defeated the Lakers 106-99 again at home.

In this game, Chen Xiao made 12 of 23, 2 of 5 three-pointers, and 6 of 6 free throws. He once again scored 32 points in the game.

It can be seen that Artest's defense is still good, and Chen Xiao did not explode in this game.

At the same time, the Lakers' self-destructive play is still effective. Although they lost this game, the loss was much more beautiful.

Therefore, on June 8, the Los Angeles Lakers, who returned to their home court, continued to use this style of play, trying to push O'Neal into a foul crisis.

However, it is regrettable that this time, O'Neal did almost get beaten, but it was still just a little bit. O'Neal was fouled five times in this game, got 5 blocks, and scored 14 points in the game. points, but he just wasn't beaten.

By the way, Ko, who scored 38 points in this game, once again made 17 free throws.

These free throws are really not star whistles given by the league to take care of Boss Ke.

These free throws were really made by Kobe who tried his best to kill O'Neal and relied on falling down again and again.

In order to defeat O'Neal and change the situation inside the team, Boss Ke really worked hard.

However, even if this game was so desperate, since O'Neal was still standing on the court in the end, it naturally meant failure.

And the final result was indeed like this. The Bobcats defeated the Lakers again 110-103 on the road, but this time it was at Staples in Los Angeles.

In this game, Chen Xiao made 11 of 20 shots, 3 of 5 three-pointers, and 8 of 8 free throws. He scored 31 points.

In all three games of the finals, Chen Xiao scored 30+ points.

It can be seen that Chen Xiao was pestered by Artest. He did not try to take crazy shots. Instead, he was very restrained in every game and attacked when he could. If he couldn't, he left it to others. He never took the lead with Artest. Extremely desperate, Chen Xiao's style of play made Artest itchy and made Phil Jackson despair.

"The biggest difference between the Bobcats and the Timberwolves is not Shaq, but that the Bobcats have always had a player like Chen who can stably score 30 points in every game efficiently. He reminds me of Jordan and the player at the beginning of the century. Shaq, players like them are always so desperate, and their opponents are always so scary."

When everyone is very good and scoring is not easy, you can always score 30+ efficiently with a 50% shooting rate. This will indeed put a lot of pressure on people.

Until now in the finals, although Kobe is very unwilling to accept defeat, he does not want to admit defeat.

But anyone who knows the Los Angeles Lakers knows that 0-3 means there is no next game for the financial aristocrats.

It is impossible for the purple and gold nobles to wallow in the mud for the slightest possibility like the lower-class people.

O'Neal knows this best.

Therefore, after the third game, the Bobcats center was already preparing for the coronation ceremony at Staples Arena.

Most of the Bobcats players hope to win the championship at home, but for O'Neal, he is probably one of the few players who hopes to win his fourth championship in Los Angeles and Staples.

After all, for O'Neal, the reason why he stayed in the league and the reason why he was so obedient around Jordan and Chen Xiao this season was not for anything else but for the next game, in the Buss family, in Los Angeles, In front of Kobe, they achieved the success they had not achieved.

"This is their desperate moment!

This is also my moment of revenge! "

Before the game even started, the fat man was already so excited that he couldn't control himself.