The Way of the Center

"What do you think of the first half of the game?" During the intermission, the players rested, but the commentator didn't get that kind of treatment. The t.nt trio, who commented on the game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, said they had a rest and couldn't even go to the toilet.

"Excellent, both sides played what they wanted. In the first quarter, Van Gundy was still a little afraid, so the Lakers took advantage of the victory to pursue. In the second quarter, Van Gundy decided to let Ann loose, and the Thunder counterattacked violently. In the second half, the tit-for-tat sides both It's not going to relax. Both teams will give everything they have at the same time, and then you will feel that the first half of the game is nothing more than that." Reggie Miller was full of praise for the first half of the game, Oklaho It seems that Macheng's trip was not in vain.

"In the second half, the confrontation between Kobe and Anjie is the key. There is no doubt that Coach Van Gundy is using Anjie as the core of his tactics today. Even Durant, the scoring leader, is just a secondary player. Although Kobe's personal ability is stronger, but I think the overall integrity of the Thunder team is better. I really can't tell the final result, please don't change the channel, in a few minutes, we will bring you the live broadcast of the second half of the game between the two sides!" Finally, the experienced Kenny. Smith put an end to the entire first half.

These three commentators have watched so many games that they can't be counted. Who told them that watching games is the job of these guys? Sometimes, the predictions or suggestions of the three of them are actually very professional, no worse than the real team coach.

Now all three of them agree that the second half will be more exciting, so most of them didn't run. For the fans, the first-half competition between the Thunder and the Lakers was good enough, but can the second half be even more exciting? This is definitely a fatal temptation. Many neutral fans just take advantage of the current advertisement to watch other games. The attraction of the Thunder and the Lakers is unmatched by the other three games.

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"Kobe Bryant has the ball again! Did you see the look on Jeff Van Gundy's face? He's so nervous, whenever Kobe has the ball, he's going to be nervous!"

"This is also normal. Kobe's performance in the third quarter was really perfect. Now the Lakers seem to have been twisted into a rope. Except for Kobe, everyone else is also full of fighting spirit. Now Kobe can not only score by himself, but also Can connect other people to the offense. Maybe Kobe got angry in the locker room at halftime." Reggie Miller knows that sometimes the person players fear the most in the locker room may not be Not a coach, but a certain player.

Although Kobe didn't get angry in the locker room, the rest of the Lakers didn't dare to be disobedient when they saw Kobe's serious expression when he spoke. This Lakers team was Kobe's Lakers, and everyone else was recruited entirely around Kobe. As long as Kobe said a word, they would lose their jobs immediately.

Therefore, no one dared not follow Kobe's wishes. And Kobe's starting point is also for the team to win, as long as the team can win, it is good for everyone.

then,

In the second half of the game, all the Lakers gave Kobe unconditional support, even if this kind of support would make their physical strength exhausted, they would not hesitate.

Bynum ran desperately, just so that he could put up the pick-and-roll for Kobe in time. "Old Fish" Fisher desperately went to bear the impact of Westbrook, just to reduce the pressure on Kobe on the defensive end.

Everyone is helping each other in different ways, and when the Lakers get to that point, it's hard for the Thunder as an opponent.

An Jie's experience is the most intuitive. In the first half and even the first two games, An Jie did not encounter any major obstacles that were difficult to break through, although it was not easy for him inside.

But now, Gasol and Bynum saw their prey like a pack of wolves, restricting Anjie very uncomfortable.

They don't think too much now, the coach tells us to be tough, so we will be tough. Kobe wants us to win, we win!

The entanglement of Bynum and Gasol made Anjie gasp for breath after a while. Anjie can still assist, can still organize, and can still score. But every time he does it, he spends twice as much effort as he did in the first half.

Bynum's physical advantage has finally been highlighted. The later the game, the greater the pressure on Anjie. The nickname "Little Shark" is not groundless. Although Bynum suffered serious knee injuries, his upper body strength is one of the best in the NBA. It is very difficult for An Jie to stand on the spot and support with his back. Bynum will not wait for An Jie to make moves now, he will just keep pushing An Jie out, even if An Jie is in the mid-to-long distance position On Bynum will not stop.

Although this will consume the physical strength of Bynum and Gasol at the same time, the effect is very obvious. Anjie's autonomous offense became less, and he also made two turnovers in his passing. In the beginning, Zen Master wanted to strangle the Thunder's support point, but now, he directly strangled the Thunder's offensive starting point.

Paying a Bynum to limit the opponent's core, this deal is a good deal for Zen Master.

Even if Anjie is iron, Van Gundy has to plan for the efficiency of the team. Halfway through the third quarter, he had to send Nick Collison in as a substitute to let Angie go off the field. No matter how tight the game was, it was a decision Van Gundy had to make. Never use up your vitality in advance casually, because you don't know when you will need him to stand up!

After An Jie left the field, the Thunder suddenly lacked a highly efficient command tower. Ricard watched this game as if he was watching the Cyclones game back then. Once the command tower is taken away, the team will be in danger at any time!

Seeing the Thunder becoming more and more like the Cyclone, Ricard knew that Anjie was becoming more and more like a core in the NBA.

After Anjie came off the field, the Zen master immediately took Gasol and Bynum. The two of them are completely tailor-made for An Jie now. As soon as An Jie stepped on them, they went on, relentlessly draining An Jie's strength. When An Jie got off, they also got off, because the twin towers didn't intend to waste their energy on others.

Morris and Ibaka might hit a good shot or two now and then, but offense has never been their forte. Relying on Odom and Powell is enough to complete the current defensive task.

Without Anjie, the third quarter became Kobe's personal show. If Bryant hadn't been replaced with four minutes to go in the third quarter, God knows if his show would have lasted.

12 points and 5 assists, this is the data Kobe scored in the third quarter. Watching Kobe's wanton performance on the field, Anjie's clenched fists made his joints turn white. But there was a fact that An Jie himself felt exhausted. Rest, he must rest.

After the third quarter, the two sides took the lead alternately again. 77 to 70, Durant and Westbrook tried their best, they can only do so. If it weren't for Livingston's still hot state at the end of the third quarter, the point difference would be even bigger!

"Boss, I can fight for a whole quarter!" During the intermission, before Van Gundy could speak, An Jie volunteered to fight.

"A whole quarter? Are you sure you can play a whole quarter under the entanglement of Bynum and Gasol? Now Jackson uses the twin towers for nothing but to watch you! Even O'Neal at his peak , It is impossible to play a whole quarter in this situation! You give me a good rest, so that when the team needs you, you will not be soft!" Van Gundy vetoed An Jie's request, and then looked after himself to lay out tactics for others.

An Jie sat back on the bench unwillingly, he was afraid that it would be too late by the time he got on the field and exerted his strength.

Sure enough, at the start of the fourth quarter, Anjie still didn't appear on the court. However, Giardina could indeed clearly see that the frequency of Anjie's chest rising and falling was still very fast.

Do you think Van Gundy doesn't want Angie on? He can't beat the Thunder's three young masters and can play for a full 48 minutes! But is that possible? impossible! He had to make trade-offs, he had to take risks. He would rather keep the cards until the end than give up the initiative first.

Although Durant's defensive pressure today is not as great as that of Anjie, it is a lie to say that he is not tired until now. Durant's shooting percentage began to decline. Fortunately, Artest sent a few fouls, so that Durant could continue to score.

Westbrook's impact is not as strong as before, and now even Fisher can barely carry it.

In contrast to Kobe, with the help of his teammates, the only thing he needs to consider is how to throw the ball into the unguarded basket.

Until 5 minutes into the fourth quarter, when Kobe went off the court, the Lakers had already led the Thunder by a full ten points!

The fans at Chesapeake Energy Arena are chanting Anjie's name. They need a guy to break the ice now, and Anjie is undoubtedly the most likely to do it.

"Coach Van Gundy's old habit of being rigid again? He should have replaced him a long time ago! When to make a substitution should be determined according to the situation on the court. Tactics are alive, not dead! Now it will be difficult for him to replace Anjie. Chasing points." Kenny Smith was anxious for the Thunder, in his opinion, when the Thunder trailed by five points, it was time for Van Gundy to make a substitution.

But from the camera, Van Gundy doesn't seem to be in a hurry. He talked about tactics unhurriedly, as if it was the Lakers who were very behind.

"Next you are the only focus." After playing for so long in the fourth quarter, the Lakers have never changed players. Next, Zen Master must let Kobe rest, even if it is a minute or two. In short, Kobe will stay later It will definitely end!

At this time, Anjie will take over the game. He believes that, facing the Lakers' substitute players, Anjie can restore the decline. The only problem now is the twin towers!

"I've been resting for a long time, Boss, I'm full of energy now!" An Jie gritted his teeth, and waited for a long time, finally this moment came!

"Very good, from now on you don't have to worry about being replaced. The rest of the game is under your control!" Van Gundy also gave Anjie the highest power. The life and death of the Thunder rests entirely on his core shoulders.

After the timeout, Kobe was put on the bench by Zen Master as Van Gundy expected. The twin towers of the Lakers are also exercising their muscles and bones, preparing to play.

Without Kobe, the Lakers' offense will be very difficult. Because Kobe has always been attacking the city, there are not many opportunities for others to attack independently.

Now, as long as Anjie can score, Van Gundy doesn't worry about the Lakers' offense at all. An Jie was replaced by ten points behind. It seemed very late, but only by replacing him at this time can An Jie be guaranteed to have enough time to fight, without worrying that he will not be able to persist until the end.

The Lakers Twin Towers have prepared for the worst, because the Chinese center who has caused enough trouble has an unfriendly expression.

A substitution that will determine the outcome of the game. Now, the adjustments that can be made have been made. Everything depends on whether An Jie can shoulder the important task.

The time to fight to the death has finally arrived!