The rest is just noise

June 16, 1997

The fourth game day of the NBA Finals.

After the Celtics fell behind 3-0, the suspense of this series disappeared.

Even Celtic fans just hope that they can end the season with dignity, at least win one game, right?

If they are swept, it will truly be what Sports Illustrated said: "The nightmare started by Leader Lu will now be ended by Leader Lu."

The nightmare mentioned in the pictorial refers to the 1984 Finals when Louis led his team to sweep the Lakers, who were quite popular at the time and were considered to be on par with the Celtics.

Since that year, the dynasty established by the Lakers when they won two championships in the early 1980s was completely cut off.

What awaits them is failure year after year. Even if Boston falls, there are New Yorkers. Even if the New Yorkers are still dominating, the Portlanders in the same division are rising.

The Lakers went from being the biggest loser to being the biggest supporting player year after year.

Now, this nightmare is about to end.

For tonight's game, Louis picked out a dark blue suit and bright red tie.

This is the outfit he often wore when he coached the dream team - of course, the clothes are not the original clothes, because the original size is no longer suitable - and at the same time, this is also Lorraine's favorite outfit. She thinks,

No matter how sloppy a man is, he will look very decent in this outfit.

Zhao Yuanzheng came to report the situation.

Dejan Bodilloga and his agent Lorenzo Sanz have come to Boston and accepted free tickets.

"Did you reveal your identity?"

Louis was worried that Bodiroga would not be able to accept the truth when he knew it.

Zhao Yuanzheng smiled and said: "No, I asked a friend. In Deyang's eyes, he is the one who scolded him on the 'Serious Basketball' forum for several months."

Louis is relieved that Zhao Yuanzheng is doing things.

This guy is good at everything except coaching.

"When will Jerry and the others arrive?"

The Lakers may win the championship tonight, and considering the opponent is the Celtics, this is a sacred moment in team history.

Even if you defeat normal opponents and win the championship, the boss and key members of the management team will still be present.

But the significance of defeating the Celtics is extraordinary.

This is Jerry West's nightmare and the team Jerry Buss hates the most.

So, even if they climb, they will climb to Boston.

"They'll come over on Dr. Bass's private jet."

Then Louis had nothing more to ask.

In the afternoon, the Lakers had the easiest training session this season.

Since there was a game in the evening, Louis didn't want to take any additional risks.

As soon as the training was over, Kobe took the ball and challenged Benj.

"Let's go 1 on 1!"

This has become Kobe's daily mission.

"I fight every day and I never see you win."

Everyone is tired of the "Benj High School Boy" drama.

"Today's training volume was not enough. I was helping Benjamin find his condition!" Kobe said murmuringly.

Just as Barkley was about to say a few more words, Dumas interrupted him: "Come on, at least one-on-one is fun to watch. How boring would it be if the high school boys were like Jiang Duo?"

What happened to Liu Yuqing?

It didn't matter. In other words, he very much agreed with what Kobe said that the amount of training today was not enough, so after the training session, he called the trainer to choose the opposite field to continue training.

Extra training is not unusual for Liu Yuqing. He does this every day. No matter whether the Lakers' training is intense enough or not, he will stay for an additional 40-60 minutes of catch-and-shoot training.

Even on game days, if he doesn't have much playing time, he will stay in the gym to practice shooting.

His involution naturally caused dissatisfaction among many veterans. At first, everyone thought he was trying to please the coaching staff, but when he did this every day, everyone could only stay away from him even if they didn't like it.

"That's right, it's better to fight alone!"

Buckley thought Dumas was right and nodded repeatedly.

Wilson accepted Kobe's challenge, and the two used long-range shots to decide who would kick off first.

In the end, Kobe, who was more skilled at this, won the chance to kick off the ball.

"Ha, is this the reason for practicing hundreds of long three-pointers every day?" Ben exposed Kobe's weakness on the spot.

Kobe had nothing to say to this "traitor" and immediately used a drastic change of direction to tear apart Benj's defense.

His confidence was built in Game 3 of the Finals.

Wilson did not go all out, but Kobe broke through the defense and scored a layup.

"You are destined to lose!"

Kobe shouted trash.

Wilson's interest was slowly aroused and he said, "Come again."

Then, Kobe made another unreasonable but very "scientific" pull-up fadeaway shot.

"2 to 0!"

Kobe shouted excitedly.

Ellis didn't believe Wilson would lose to Kobe.

"Benj, stop being so cool!"

Wilson was helpless. On the first ball, he could be said to have let off the ball, but on the second ball, he put his hand on Kobe's face. He just scored.

On the third ball, Wilson began to increase his intensity.

This is also the biggest obstacle for Kobe to challenge Benj.

No matter how good his touch is, as long as Benj increases his intensity, his shooting percentage will inevitably decline.

Kobe began to tear apart the defense through dribbling.

In bullfighting, some physical contact that would be called a foul in the arena will be ignored.

Participants have the right to call a foul, but in the United States, few people will call a foul.

Because no one wants to be treated like a pussy.

Is the opponent's action too harsh? Then you should be more ruthless than him.

Kobe couldn't withstand Benj's confrontation, so he made mistakes while dribbling continuously and was intercepted on the spot.

"You worry too much. If you follow the pure street rules, you have already violated the rules."

Wilson was referring to the number of dribbles Bryant took.

"According to the standards of the game, you would have left the field with six offenses long ago!"

Regardless of winning or losing, you can't lose with your talk.

"This kid is too arrogant, Benj, teach him a lesson!"

Benj's offense was very simple. He tried to shoot and hit Kobe, then went to the basket and dunked.

Take a strong step to the right, dribble twice, collect the ball, step back and make an emergency stop.

After the test step, pull up three points.

After swaying, dribble to the free throw line, collect the ball, turn around and step back to shoot.

Because Wilson's shooting threat was too high, Kobe was no longer able to make correct judgments on the defensive end. He was up and flying in a flash.

From the moment Benj got the ball, he didn't miss a single shot.

Kobe was directly beaten by Benj for 11 points.

On the offensive end, Kobe could still say that Benj used his body to bully him, but when he defended, although the opponent also used his body to push him away to complete the turn, more often than not, he used rhythm and triple threats in various ways.

The unparalleled "Benj Step" shattered his defense.

"Are you coming again?"

Wilson rarely wanted to play one-on-one for a while today, but Kobe shook his head and refused.

"Hey, do you realize the difference?" Buckley asked jokingly.

"Yes, there is no point in continuing to play until I learn the 'Benj Step'." Kobe's way of solving problems is always surprising.

Wilson said enthusiastically: "I can teach you."

"No, I can learn it by watching videos." Kobe said with eyes high, "Besides, copying your moves will not improve me at all. I just want to learn from your skills and then I can go my own way. One day

, I will have my own 'Benj Step', no, by then, people will call him 'Superstar Step'!"

Should he be called arrogant, or should he be praised for his ambition?

Wilson asked with interest: "Okay, how long will it take you to do it?"

"One summer is enough!" Kobe said confidently, "When the preseason training camp starts next season, I will use my 'Superstar Step' to defeat you!"

When Kobe Bryant said that he would one day have his own "Benj Step", everyone thought he was talking about many years in the future. As a result, this kid will practice it next season?

"Then let's go practice." Wilson said, grabbing the ball and looking at the others, "Does anyone else want to play one-on-one?"

Everyone can see that Benj is in a high mood today, but considering how important tonight's game is to him, this is normal.

However, besides Kobe, who dares to challenge him?

"Chuck, do you want to try it?"

Someone wants to see Benj kill a pig.

Barkley glared at Dumas who proposed this bad idea: "I am a 1.5-year-old who has been riding for Benj wholeheartedly. How can I beat him?"

Then, Kevin Garnett stood up and said, "Ben, let me try it!"

Okay, I just beat away a high school student, and now here comes another one.

Surprisingly, the gap between Garnett and Wilson is smaller than expected.

After 11 shots, the score was 11-7. Garnett seemed to be far more competitive than Kobe.

"Not bad, Jasmine."

Wilson praised it lightly, but he was very shocked in his heart.

Garnett is seven feet tall, but his ball-handling ability is enough to launch an offense from beyond the three-point line. His sudden stop shot height is beyond human reach. Once he completes his arsenal, perhaps "Mr. Fuji"

This nickname is no longer a joke.

"Sure enough, I'm no match for you!"

The better thing about Garnett than Kobe is that he doesn't speak harshly when he loses.

Wilson looked at the others, "Is there anything else you want to fight?"

"I can try."

Everyone looked at them, "Hey guys, do all the young people want to rebel today?" Nash also came to join in the fun.

As expected, Nash's head was shaved, and it can be said that he had no power to resist.

In the evening, Louis met Old Bass, West and others at the hotel.

Old Bass wanted to make a wisecrack to inspire Louis.

Louis said bluntly: "Are you ready to give your championship speech?"

"It's been ready a long time ago!" Old Bass said through gritted teeth, "I was ready 15 years ago!"

Louis looked at the LOGO man, "What about you, Jerry?"

West said pragmatically: "As long as we win the championship."

Looking at the look on his face, Louis believed that Jerry West was the only Lakers supporter on the planet who was worried about them being beaten three times by the Celtics.

No one has ever been more traumatized by this.

"Will you be there to watch the game?" Louis asked.

West said seriously: "No."

Louis said: "Our probability of winning the championship tonight is more than 95%. Don't you want to witness that moment with your own eyes? I mean, don't you want to witness the Celtics lose the championship at home?"

"I guess, but"

"Then come and watch the game." Louis said without hesitation, "You must come."