My Name is Kobe Bryant

The game between the New York Knicks and the Lakers was also broadcast live across the United States. After O'Neal came to the Lakers, the Lakers' number of live broadcasts in the United States was second only to the Bulls and the Knicks.

This is the collision of two highly popular teams. The strong matchup between the 34-year-old Patrick Ewing and the 24-year-old Shaq O'Neal is also worth looking forward to. In this era when the inside is king and the four major centers rule the league's inside. The confrontation between the old and new big four centers always attracts great attention.

Ewing has spent 11 years in the league. Although he can be selected to the All-Star or the best team every year, he has always been suppressed by dynastic teams. When they first debuted, the Celtics dominated the East, then the Pistons' Bad Boys, and then Jordan's Bulls dynasty. As a result, he has not been able to touch the beauty of the O'Brien Cup so far.

This year's Knicks are strong and strong, aiming for the championship. Their staffing is indeed enough to fight for the glory of the championship.

Ewing knew that this was the end of his peak. If he can't win the championship this year, then his deteriorating physical condition may never have a chance to win the championship again.

Although Ewing is an iron man in the NBA, he averaged 75 games in 11 seasons, and played almost all games in every season. But Ewing could feel the decline of his body, but he might not feel it normally. But at the critical moment of the game, he no longer has the physical strength to kill the game. At his peak, Ewing averaged 28.6 points per game with a 55% field goal percentage. Last season, Ewing only scored 22.5 points when the team didn't have many scorers.

The game kicked off with Ewing and O'Neal fighting inside. It is hard for fans of this era to imagine the ferocity of inside fighting in this era. It is the norm in this era that prehistoric behemoth-level giants fight each other in the paint.

O'Neal first received Kobe's pass and dunked under the basket. Ewing returned the favor by turning over and scoring a jumper. The two top centers fought inextricably in the first quarter, you come and go. Other players have become supporting roles around them.

The score in the first quarter was very close, the Lakers 25:22 Knicks. The Lakers' bench has a slight upper hand, under Kobe's defense. It was difficult for Starks on the Knicks bench to perform. O'Neal scored 8 points in 4 of 8 in the first quarter. Without free throws, Ewing's defensive scale is very well grasped, allowing O'Neal to play awkwardly while not winning free throws.

Ewing scored 3 of 6 and also scored 8 points. Ewing couldn't force O'Neal under the basket. I had to use jumpers in the middle distance, and jumpers are very difficult for players. Ewing's touch was very good today. Even though O'Neal gave a strong physical confrontation, Ewing still kept his hit rate and made a mid-range shot.

Kobe still acts as an organizer and defender in the starting lineup, but when he leads the bench. He handed over the organizational power to Fisher, and he acted as an offensive and defensive arrow at the same time.

Under the guidance of Van Gundy, the Knicks played steadily and did not give Kobe a chance to switch offense and defense.

After the first quarter, Kobe and O'Neal went off to rest at the same time.

Harris tentatively used the lineup of PG Derek Fisher, SG Van Exel, SF Ceballos, PF Ben Wallace, C Tyrese. Harris is considering taking both Van Exel and Ceballos out of the starting lineup and wants to see how they perform.

Unexpectedly, this lineup was penetrated by Starks, and Starks made a sudden outside shot. He scored consecutive offensive points, and Ceballos was still very hot on the offensive end. Harris had no choice but to switch to the starting lineup. At this time, the point difference has been overtaken.

The Lakers 32:36 Knicks, and the second quarter has passed halfway. This is the score gap when Kobe played again, and the situation has come to the Knicks.

Seeing that there was no sticking to the ball, Ewing played a tactic of dividing the ball inside and outside. Alan Houston actually made two consecutive three-pointers under the defense of Eddie Jones.

Seeing that the momentum was wrong, Kobe called O'Neill to mention it. With the help of the pick-and-roll, the three-point hit returned the color.

Bryant's defensive task in this game is very light, and his Charlie Ward is just a dribbling guard. The so-called dribbling guard is the guard who dribbles the ball across the half court and then hands it over to the team leader to organize the offense.

This kind of guard's ball-handling ability and three-point ability are not bad. Charlie Ward can make 1.4 three-pointers per game with a 38.6% shooting rate.

Kobe couldn't steal the ball from Charlie Ward, who was only 1.88 meters tall, and had to stare at him all the time, afraid of his three-pointers and dare not help defend.

So Kobe began to work hard on the offensive end, and Charlie Ward's defense was still good. The point guard of the New York Jagged Gang could not be a defensive loophole. But Kobe can easily take points from him. Kobe only needs to use O'Neal's pick-and-roll, or run to a suitable position by himself, and jump up and shoot. Charlie Ward can't interfere with Kobe's jumper.

The score stabilized after Kobe made an effort, and the halftime ended. Lakers 49:52 Knicks. O'Neal and Ewing were the protagonists of this half. O'Neal scored 14 points and 8 rebounds, while Ewing scored 11 points and 4 rebounds.

It can be seen that the old Ewing has been at a slight disadvantage in front of O'Neal. Although both sides scored a lot of balls in exchange for higher shots, O'Neal's scoring efficiency and rebound protection are more than better than Ewing.

The lag occurred during the period when Kobe was off the field. Without Kobe's defense, Alan Houston and John Starks hit the Lakers' weakness with fiery touches.

Alan Houston scored 5 of 9 and 2 of 3 three-pointers with 12 points in the half. Under the defense of Van Exel, Starks scored 8 points and 4 assists in a short period of time.

In 13 minutes of playing time, Kobe scored 11 points and 4 assists efficiently, but the plus-minus value of +8 still made the Lakers lose slightly.

The Lakers in midfield were a little depressed. They fell behind at halftime for the first time in the season. The luxurious lineup of the New York Knicks can seize every loophole in the Lakers' defensive end, and Ceballos and Van Exel have completely become breakthroughs.

O'Neal had a small advantage in the confrontation with Ewing, but he couldn't dominate the penalty area like he did in the previous game. When O'Neal can't dominate the penalty area, the question of how the team should adjust is placed in front of Harris.

There are many teams that have the ability to limit O'Neal, let alone the other four major centers. The mainstream teams in the league have at least hoarded a large and heavy tank on the inside. Coupled with flanking and double-teaming, O'Neal tends to struggle. This is also a problem that O'Neal has faced in his four years in Orlando. He was swept several times because O'Neal's inability to dominate the penalty area caused the team to fall into chaos.

The New York Knicks with Ewing and Oakley taught the Lakers players and coaches a lesson. O'Neal is not invincible.