NBA: This Center Is So Stable

The first time, the second time.

Chapter 287 The Big Shark with cramps

It is said that O’Neal is one of the few centers in the league who can handle it, but under this premise, the Lakers did not consider the backup center position too much when strengthening the bench.

In their view, the European center will replace O’Neal for a short time until the latter returns, and his mission will be successfully completed.

But the current situation is that the backup center can hold up and there will be no physical problems.

It’s just that the Lakers’ score will be the first to fail!

In desperation, the Zen Master called a precious short timeout in the last quarter to communicate with O’Neal again to confirm the other party’s physical recovery.

···

“In this situation, even if O’Neal returns, it will be useless!”

“Yes! Physical strength is the biggest problem for all veterans. For a legendary center who is nearly 35 years old, I think the Zen Master should not ask for more.”

“To put it bluntly, in the current situation, even if O’Neal returns, it will not have a particularly big impact on the situation.”

“Coach Zhang’s analysis is correct. The defense of the white center replaced by the Lakers in the last quarter was certainly not good, but the offense also did not open up the situation. Kobe, who exploded in the third quarter, is still looking for a touch!”

“Sure enough, the big shark in his prime is the soul of this Lakers team. If Kobe can help the Lakers to delay O’Neal’s return on the offensive end, I think physical strength will not be a problem!”

With the professional analysis of the CCTV commentator, the break ended and returned to the game.

O’Neal returned to the court despite his fatigue.

Even Kobe, who disliked him the most, had to admit that even when the big shark was in poor condition, he was far better than the team’s white center.

With the support of the home fans, the strong Shark returned to the court and performed well.

But it was a flash in the pan.

Not only did O’Neal’s already exhausted body make it harder for him to keep up with the pace of the game, but he was always led by Wang Song.

The Asian kid on the opposite side was like he had just started the game, full of infinite energy.

In addition to being young and light, Wang Song, who has the “Perpetual Motion Defender”, is more durable than most people in the league in terms of physical consumption.

Finally, under constant pressure, the Lakers flag collapsed.

With four minutes left before the end of the game, O’Neal had a calf cramp.

After the official timeout, O’Neal, who was carried off, did not return to the court.

Although the Lakers’ score gap with the Knicks is not big at the moment, for O’Neal, who is suffering from injuries, the gap between the court and the court is like an insurmountable chasm.

Helplessly, the Zen Master can only pin all his hopes on No. 8.

After O’Neal left the court, Kobe did have unlimited firepower, but compared to his competitive spirit, data is obviously not the most important thing for Kobe.

Especially in the current situation, no matter how many points he scored for the Lakers with mid-range, three-pointers, and fadeaways, the Knicks can always complete the counterattack in the fastest way.

O’Neal’s absence constantly caused the Lakers to lose defensive rebounds, and the Knicks achieved a very terrifying situation just by relying on the second attack opportunity.

Every attack can be successfully hit!

The crushing of rebounds became the last straw that broke the camel’s back for the Lakers.

Until the final whistle sounded, the game ended, and the Knicks won G3 with 109:101.

After losing the home court in G2, the Knicks, who came to the away game, successfully tied the score to 2:1 and regained the initiative in the series.

Wang Song scored 41 points, 16 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 5 assists in the whole game, and got a super mini quadruple-double, becoming the youngest 40+15+5+5 man in history.

This is a milestone night for Wang Song, Chinese players, and the Knicks!

Wang Song, who had just passed the milestone, ushered in the highlight of his playoff career.

In the Staples Center, the depressed atmosphere was a bit depressing.

Kobe could not find the arrogant mood he once had on the faces of Lakers fans, and was more impressed by the cruel reality.

Although he scored 28 points in this game, the highest score of the Lakers team.

But the score between the teams on the scoreboard still hurt him deeply.

The situation of the big shark on the side was not much better. O’Neal’s cramps had been resolved. After diagnosis by the team doctor, it was confirmed that the cramps were caused by excessive fatigue.

This may be the only thing for the Lakers in the whole game

Good news.

O’Neal scored a double-double of 27 points and 13 rebounds in the whole game. If it weren’t for the Zen Master’s redistribution of tasks in the second half, this Shark who scored 16 points in a single quarter and returned to his peak would not have ended up like this.

But the current situation is that even if O’Neal has made sacrifices, he still hasn’t achieved the desired effect.

The Zen Master looked at the OK combination who scored 55 points together with a complicated expression.

Now on the surface, the two of them seem calm, but secretly, the storm has long been surging.

For O’Neal, making sacrifices and still losing the game is undoubtedly a challenge to the Zen Master’s authority, but Phil Jackson knows O’Neal. This honest big man can’t and will never transfer his anger to himself.

He has a better target to vent!

The Zen Master looked at Kobe, who also looked unhappy.

This game can be said to be Kobe’s culmination after the summary of the first two games. He didn’t just miss shots blindly, whether it was the choice of shots or the tolerance for a brief peace.

Kobe believes that he has done a very good job.

O’Neal’s 16 points in the first quarter are the best proof.

In the first quarter, Kobe saw that O’Neal’s touch and offensive desire were online, so he did not compete with the opponent, and even honestly followed the arrangement of the Zen Master, sitting on the bench in the second quarter to leave space for O’Neal.

Did the Big Shark sacrifice? So did my Little Feiman!

If it weren’t for seeing O’Neal fighting for the team until he was cramped and left the court in the last quarter, the Big Shark would have become the only scapegoat in Kobe’s mouth.

The authorities are confused, but the bystanders are clear.

The Zen Master understands the current psychological state of the two people the most. To put it bluntly, all this is closely related to him as the Lakers coach.

In essence, it was his arrangement and attempt, but seeing the two core players of the team being angry and silent after the game, he dared not and could not blame himself.

The Zen Master still felt a little guilty!

But for the future prestige of the Lakers coach and even the legendary coach, the Zen Master could not choose to bow his head at this time.

“Don’t lose heart, Kobe. The balance of victory is not completely tilted. This game is just an accident.”

“Take a good rest in the next two days, Shaq. We need you in G4!”

The Zen Master did not forget the comforting words, but he returned to the locker room without chatting for too long.

The game is not only about the game on the court, but also the post-game interview that follows.

On the other side.

The Knicks’ carnival came to an abrupt end with the urging of the media.

The intervention of the media also awakened this New York team. This is Los Angeles, the Staples Center, and an away game.

D’Antoni took Wang Song to attend the post-game interview.

(End of this chapter)