My Name is Kobe Bryant

In May 2003, the NBA playoffs entered the second round.

Judging from the situation in the first round, the best performing teams are the Kings, 76ers, Heat, and Pacers. They all took away their opponents easily and encountered little resistance.

The best player was Shaquille O'Neal.

When Kobe's data declined due to physical reasons and Yao Ming's outstanding performance. Shaq O'Neal brutally killed the young Spanish hope Pau Gasol in the first round.

Perhaps in the future era, Gasol's physical fitness will have no problem playing center. But now his strength is at best the average level of the league's power forward. Going against O'Neal is like hitting an egg against a stone.

"It's the Lakers again! Guys, you know what this means." Popovich's solemn expression made every Spurs player become serious.

Lakers VS Spurs.

It's happening again!

This matchup takes place almost every year in the playoffs.

From beginning to end, it was the Lakers who won.

The mad scientist risked being fired this season by moving LaGabell and Michael Finley to San Antonio, and for what purpose?

The purpose is to help Popovich defeat the Lakers!

Without that deal, the current Spurs may not even be able to enter the top four in the Western Conference. They were all eliminated in the first round.

But because of the teacher's amazing assists, Popovich finally has a team that leads the league!

This team has always been the team with the best record in the league during the off-duty schedule.

Won the Kings, the Celtics, the Heat, and the Timberwolves in the series.

Like a champion!

This is the Spurs' most championship-like year in recent years.

Today's general is old, and Popovich is not sure how many more years his disciple can play.

Before he retires, only winning a championship can be considered complete.

Defeat the old rival Lakers! Win the championship!

This is the biggest expectation of everyone at the Spurs this season.

"Coach, we are ready." The general gave Popovich a military salute.

"Yes, it's time to get to know each other." Stockton took a deep breath. This was the day he came to the Spurs.

Duncan said nothing, but his teammates saw him clenching his fists.

This time, all grudges will be settled!

"Kobe's condition is worrying." D'Antoni frowned as he and Harris were discussing.

"Kobe will adjust his condition on his own, don't worry." Harris said to relax. He has seen this scene many times. Kobe never lets up when he's needed.

In this round of the series, Kobe is probably almost done with his physical fitness.

Harris even felt that Kobe was hiding his clumsiness just to surprise the Spurs.

Kobe has done this kind of thing many times.

Especially for the sake of his old rival Popovich, it is not surprising at all that Kobe Bryant hides his clumsiness.

"So who's going to guard Tim Duncan?" D'Antoni asked a very pointed question.

Although the Lakers won the last series, Stephen Jackson was run over by a German tank just as easily as Germany ran over France in World War II.

In this round, if he continues to defend significantly better than Nowitzki, and is a comprehensive Duncan, the situation may be even more ugly.

When Stephen Jackson faced Duncan in the regular season, his defense was non-existent. What kind of situation will it be like facing Shi Buddha who showed great power in the playoffs and suppressed the Wolf King?

In four games with the Spurs during the regular season, Duncan averaged 33.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.7 blocks per game, and shot 61.5% from the field.

If Duncan performs like this in the playoffs, the Lakers will be able to accept it.

But obviously not.

In the playoffs, Duncan averaged 31.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 3.6 blocks, 1.1 steals and 2.1 turnovers per game against the Wolves.

If this performance is compared to Stephen Jackson, I am afraid he will average 40+15 per game!

An epoch-making giant like Duncan, just like Kobe and O'Neal, their performance in the playoffs will rise to a higher level.

"Let Yao try it, don't have too high hopes."

"Well, it's not a good idea to let Stephen defend David Robinson, but the general is old after all. He can only score 20 points at most, which won't hurt us."

"Yes, let's deal with it this way first. Don't place all your hopes on defense. We must try our best to create offensive opportunities for Kobe and Yao."

"If Yao's performance can maintain the level of the last round, then why can't he win against the Spurs?"

May 3, 2003, Staples.

"Yao, Tim leaves it to you." Stephen Jackson patted Yao Ming on the shoulder.

"I'll try."

Yao Ming clenched his fists.

This task is very difficult, but he is the only one among the Lakers who can top it.

Although Yao Ming is not sure that he can guard Duncan, he will do his best to help this team!

"Old Fox, let's see what other tricks you have in this series." Popovich shook hands with Harris with a smile on his face.

"Greg, you're getting old." Harris noticed that Popovich's hair was thinning and starting to turn gray.

Popovich's expression changed.

really.

He has been worried about the Spurs these past few seasons.

At 54 years old, he is no longer the energetic young man he once was.

"Del, stop talking about me." Popovich said sarcastically.

Harris is 66 years old this year, making him the oldest coach in active duty in the NBA.

"Yeah, I'm old. I'm ready to retire." Harris looked calm.

At the end of this season, regardless of the Lakers' final results, he plans to leave the Lakers.

He has no way to work like a championship-level coach with the Lakers.

Time leaves no one behind.

Most of the work now goes to D'Antoni.

Since there was no way to help the Lakers, even if West and Kobe tried to stay many times, he was ready to leave.

He has no plans to leave basketball.

But I hope to change to a less competitive environment and continue to fight for the basketball career.

Popovich was stunned for a moment when he heard the decision.

"retire?"

Are the old rivals who have been entangled with each other in the past few years really going to leave this time?

Then know everything about this series.

"Tim! It's that Chinese guy who's guarding you!" Stockton's eyes lit up.

The Admirals won the jump ball and Stockton advanced with the ball.

The moment he saw the Lakers' defensive arrangement, Stockton's eyes lit up.

"Understood." Duncan and Stockton have been working together for a season. For these top players, one season can bring their tacit understanding to its peak.

Pull out, pick and roll.

Stockton + Duncan VS Kobe + Yao Ming.

If Stephen Jackson was guarding Duncan, Stockton would not choose a pick-and-roll, but would let Duncan play directly from behind.

But now, Stockton wants to sneak away the Lakers' tall man.

Everyone knows that big men have a high center of gravity and slow lateral movement.

Duncan and Stockton's pick-and-roll was smooth.

Kobe quickly got in front of Stockton to prevent him from shooting a three-pointer.

Duncan received the ball easily and in an extremely comfortable position.

Feint, click on Yao Ming's center of gravity, and press the face frame directly in.

"boom!"

Taking three long steps to get to the basket, the Flying Devil made a one-handed dunk!

Staples was filled with exclamations for a moment.

This ball is so beautiful!

decisive!

Smooth!

Duncan's actions are simply a textbook for inside offense.

"That kid is like a wooden stake in front of Duncan!" Barkley mocked.

"It's not necessarily a good choice for the Lakers to let Yao defend Tim." David Thompson was also a little worried.

Yao Ming was stunned.

So strong

When Stephen Jackson defended Duncan, Yao Ming had not yet experienced it.

Only when he defended himself did he understand how powerful Duncan was.

Duncan's actions are an ordinary inside standard technical package.

Unpretentious.

But the smooth flow he used made Yao Ming involuntarily follow Duncan's rhythm.

"Is this the number one power forward in the league?"

Yao Ming gritted his teeth.

"Don't mind, Yao. He is Duncan, Tim Duncan." Stephen Jackson shook his head. It seemed that it was impossible for Yao Ming to guard Duncan.

"Just let him shoot from mid-range. Don't let him go inside." Xiaoyu suggested that letting him shoot without letting go. With Yao Ming's height, it might have some effect.

Yao Ming nodded.

He needs to recognize the gap between himself and Duncan now.

If you want to completely block Duncan, Yao Ming's current strength is impossible.

He could only hold on to the inside as much as possible.

"As I expected, the Lakers' defense was completely unable to restrain us."

"And there was a problem with Kobe's condition. He only had 10 offenses in the entire first half! This is simply too few for Kobe."

"Leading by 17 points at halftime! With such an advantage, why should we lose!"

Popovich was excited.

The game between the Lakers and Spurs ended at halftime.

Spurs 59:42 Lakers.

This is a score difference that is just one step away from collapse!

Duncan scored 17 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks and 2 steals at halftime!

overlord!

Duncan is the overlord of this game!

Under Yao Ming's defense, Duncan played a pick-and-roll with Stockton in the mid-range.

Using his footsteps and mid-range shots, Duncan cannibalized Yao Ming's defense step by step.

Although the domineering dunk like that at the beginning of the game did not appear again, Duncan was too stable in the mid-range today!

It's the middle distance, I'll kill you!

Once Yao Ming couldn't help it and stepped forward to defend, Duncan took another lunge and reached the basket to force a score.

There is no way!

Yao Ming's defense had nothing to do with Duncan.

On the offensive end, Yao Ming was also a little confused.

The general's defense is not easy to deal with. Yao Ming had mental problems, missed consecutive shots and made passing mistakes.

The Lakers' offensive and defensive system almost collapsed.

He was defeated by Duncan alone.

"So strong."

At halftime, the Lakers locker room was a little quiet.

They have also seen how powerful Duncan is.

For such an unsolvable Duncan, the OK Dynasty suppressed him for 5 years.

Are the Spurs really going to be unable to hold back this year?

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault." Yao Ming blushed and explained something to his teammates.

Yao Ming blamed himself very much. If he hadn't performed so poorly on both offense and defense, the Lakers wouldn't have fallen behind by so many points at halftime.

"BULLSHIT!" Stephen Jackson yelled directly. He couldn't understand the Eastern people's approach of taking the responsibility on themselves.

"Nonsense! Don't blame yourself, this is the team's arrangement." Xiaoyu comforted.

"Hey! Listen up, kid! The first time I played in the playoffs, my performance was ten times worse than yours." Ewing stepped forward and hugged Yao Ming.

"Have you seen Duncan? In the first playoffs, he was beaten by Kobe Bryant and made his life doubtful. Then he became the number one power forward in the league."

"Failure. Growth. Transformation. This is something every player has to go through."

"Remember the failure that Duncan brought to you today. Next season, pay it back a hundredfold."

"Patrick is right." Kobe suddenly smiled.

This Lakers, this warm Lakers, is the team atmosphere he wants.

family.

Whether they are players from the OK Dynasty era or new ones joining this season.

Players understand, help and support each other.

Only such a team can grow into the strongest team in history.

"I understand, but we haven't lost yet!" Yao Ming raised his head.

17 points?

It's not the end.

"In the third quarter, the Lakers blew the horn for counterattack!!!"

"Kobe and Yao Ming! The two started playing an infinite pick-and-roll!"

"Yao Ming made three-pointers against Duncan and the General in a row!"

"It's so accurate! Yao Ming's three-pointers simply put the league's defenders to shame! Michael, you should see Yao Ming's three-pointers! If you could shoot like this, you wouldn't only have five championships!"

When Yao Ming hit his first three-pointer, he knew what he was going to do next.

It's useless to put all your energy into struggling with Duncan's defensive end.

Then on the offensive end, make up for Duncan's points!

You made a mid-range shot?

Then I'll throw a three-pointer!

Three points is one more than two points!

"The adjustment was so fast." Popovich's eyes flickered on the sidelines.

Yao Ming, a rookie, clearly played himself as Duncan's background in the first half. How could he adjust his mentality so quickly in the second half?

He is obviously just a rookie!

Wouldn't a normal rookie jump all the way to the bottom in the playoffs?

Popovich is ready to use Yao Ming as a breakthrough in this series.

As a result, he became the Lakers' savior?

Duncan and the General's ability to defend three-pointers is indeed too weak.

But it is incredible that a rookie can seize such a defensive loophole!

"Kobe went strong! Yao Ming attracted Duncan's defense! Kobe went in!"

"Since you don't feel good, then hit the basket!"

"Toss!"

"European step!"

"Arrow on horseback!"

"The Lakers are chasing points like crazy!!! Kobe and Yao Ming's cooperation in the third quarter dominated this game!!"

Kobe keeps getting in range and uses little tricks to score!

Kobe, Yao Ming, one inside and one outside!

One sudden, one throw!

They played a completely different kind of basketball from the previous OK era!

And this kind of basketball makes people seem to see the shadow of a new dynasty team!