When the Lakers attacked, Zhang Zhiyuan continued to play normally without rushing to use props.
We are only 7 points behind. Maybe we can catch up with our own strength.
After halftime, the rest of the Lakers moved and Zhang Zhiyuan broke through with the ball.
Smith stopped in front of Zhang Zhiyuan, and Zhang Zhiyuan changed direction and passed Smith.
Anthony made a cover, Zhang Zhiyuan threw the ball, and Odom missed it and scored.
7 to 2.
In the transition between offense and defense, Anthony singled out Ariza, leaned directly into the paint with his body, and then turned around and made a jump shot, and the ball went in.
9 to 2.
"It's too difficult. The Lakers can't guard against the Nuggets' double guns."
Smith sighed.
Even if Kobe is not absent, it will not be easy for the Lakers to beat the Nuggets. Without Kobe, it will be even harder for the Lakers.
The two positions of point guard and small forward are too disadvantaged.
The Lakers counterattacked, and everyone's eyes turned to Zhang Zhiyuan.
At this time, we can only count on Zhang Zhiyuan.
Zhang Zhiyuan lived up to their expectations and finally hit a three-pointer against Smith.
9 to 5.
The situation was alleviated.
The Nuggets counterattacked, and Iverson struck.
However, the Lakers did not seize the opportunity and followed suit.
Both teams played two irons each.
In the next round, the Nuggets took the lead to break the deadlock. Anthony singled out Ariza, squeezed Ariza away and then went straight to the basket for a layup.
It was the Lakers' turn, Zhang Zhiyuan was heavily guarded, Fisher passed the ball to Ariza who was free, and Ariza missed.
"This number 0 is really not good."
Sun Zhengping said with emotion.
"After all, he is a small substitute. It is normal for his shooting to be unstable. If he is asked to face Anthony, he will probably be under a lot of pressure."
Zhang Lili said.
"Xiao Zhang still has to take more action on his own."
Sun Zhengping.
On the court, the Nuggets attack and their firepower continues.
Iverson used the cover of his teammates to bypass the defender, then went directly to the penalty area and scored with a throw.
Ariza wanted to keep an eye on Anthony and didn't dare to go up to cover the defense.
13 to 5.
Fortunately, the Nuggets only shot two-pointers. Although they scored many more goals than the Lakers, the point difference didn't seem too outrageous.
During the transition between offense and defense, Zhang Zhiyuan used the cover of his teammates to get rid of Smith, and then caught the ball and shot a three-pointer.
The ball goes in.
13 to 8.
Lakers fans were immediately excited. This ball was a bit like Zhang Zhiyuan in an explosive state.
However, they soon discovered that they had thought too much.
In the following rounds, Zhang Zhiyuan seemed to have returned to mediocrity. He scored 2 points on 1 of 3 shots, which was a poor performance.
But the Nuggets scored 8 points together and went on a 10-4 run.
Halfway through the first quarter, 23 to 12, the official timeout was taken.
It was a full 11 points behind, but the fans at the scene did not feel too dissatisfied.
Because fans know very well that no player can continue to explode.
They have also experienced a lot of losing games, especially in the past three years, the team has mostly lost.
The Lakers' record this season is already good enough, so fans can accept the occasional lag or even an occasional loss.
"Hahaha, Kenny, you will definitely lose this time."
Seeing the Lakers falling behind, Barkley was gloating.
"Charles, don't be too happy. We're only 11 points behind. Four goals. Isn't this difficult for Zhang?"
Smith said.
The timeout ended, the Lakers replaced Ariza with Walton, and the game continued.
The Lakers attacked, Zhang Zhiyuan attracted double-teams from Smith and Anthony, and Walton got a chance to take action.
Fisher passed the ball and Walton hit the ball 1.
Returning to the defensive end, Anthony hit another 2-pointer over Walton's head.
Only then did the fans realize that they had wrongly blamed Ariza. It was not that Ariza was not good, but that Anthony was too good.
It is somewhat unreasonable to ask a person with an annual salary of 3 million to guard a person with an annual salary of 1,300.
In the transition between offense and defense, Smith also couldn't guard Zhang Zhiyuan.
After Zhang Zhiyuan broke through and reached the inside, Kenyon Martin made up the defense. Zhang Zhiyuan threw the ball to Odom, who scored a jumper from the basket.
Apart from Zhang Zhiyuan, only Odom can contribute points stably.
25 to 14, the Nuggets attack.
Iverson broke through, Zhang Zhiyuan ran to help defend, Iverson passed to Smith, and Smith missed a three-pointer.
Zhang Zhiyuan was lucky and won a round of gambling.
During the transition between offense and defense, Zhang Zhiyuan and others did not have a good chance.
Fisher had no choice but to play Iverson alone.
Relying on his strength, he carried the ball to the basket, and then scored 2 points with a jump shot.
He actually has a slight advantage against Iverson, but this advantage is not big, and his efficiency against Iverson alone is average.
25 to 16, the point difference returned to single digits, giving Lakers fans some hope.
The Nuggets attacked, and this time Iverson still broke through and scored the ball, but Smith did not cross the ball again, but hit a three-pointer.
This is the price of shorting the opponent. Zhang Zhiyuan is also helpless. Lakers fans can't blame him, but more blame Fisher.
If Laoyu can prevent Iverson's breakthrough, there is no need to force Zhang Zhiyuan to help defend.
During the transition between offense and defense, Zhang Zhiyuan broke through and laid up. Camby jumped to defend and was called for a foul by the referee.
Camby jumped up with both feet and argued with the referee, saying that he did not commit a foul.
This penalty was indeed controversial, but the referee ignored Camby and insisted on the original decision.
Made both free throws.
28 to 18.
Camby retreated angrily. He knew he was being bullied, but there was nothing he could do.
This is the unspoken rule of the league, star whistle and home whistle.
As a qualified player, Camby is used to this kind of thing.
In the next round, Zhang Zhiyuan continued to attack the basket to cause damage.
The advantage of the home whistle is not used in vain.
A humble gentleman is not fit to survive in this alliance.
Zhang Zhiyuan fouled Martin again and made two free throws.
George Karl roared and protested in the audience, as if he had been greatly wronged.
But in fact, the Nuggets rank first in the league in free throws per game this season, with 30.7. The average of the other 29 teams is 24.
The home of the Denver Nuggets is also one of the most famous Devils' home stadiums in the league.
As the game continued, the Nuggets' defensive actions restrained somewhat.
However, they still have a huge advantage on the offensive end, and the Lakers only maintained a 50-50 situation.
After the first quarter, the Nuggets led 37 to 29 by 8 points.
Zhang Zhiyuan made 4 of 9 in the first quarter, 2 of 5 three-pointers, and 4 of 4 free throws, scoring 14 points.
His statistics are also somewhat James-style. Regardless of whether the team is playing well or not, his statistics will always look better.
"14 in a single quarter, 56 in four quarters, that's enough."
The fan who asked Zhang Zhiyuan if he could score 50 points said.
He no longer cares whether the team wins or loses, as long as Zhang Zhiyuan can score 50 points.
"If we lose this game, we are still number one in the league, so don't worry."
Another fan chimed in.
In the second quarter, Zhang Zhiyuan did not play immediately, but chose to rest for a while.
Without the use of props, his physical strength would not have lasted 48 minutes.
Regarding Zhang Zhiyuan's behavior of sometimes asking to play the entire game and sometimes asking for a break, Jackson simply attributed it to Zhang Zhiyuan knowing how to mediate and control his own state, and didn't think too much about it.
The most important thing about using a star is to make the star play comfortably.
The Lakers are on the bench, while the Nuggets are a bit ungrateful.
Theirs is a half-substitute, half-main lineup, led by Iverson and Camby, who took a break in the first quarter.
However, what is surprising is that Farmar was not beaten by Iverson.
Although he wasn't very defensive, he limited Iverson's scoring efficiency. Overall, he did better than Fisher on the defensive end.
The Nuggets didn't score many points during this period, but the point difference still widened because the Lakers' offense was even worse.
Farmar, Vujacic, Ariza, Turiaf, Kwame Brown, none of them have an advantage.
Their offense is basically that after you throw, I throw, and after I throw, you throw.
As for tactics, they also have some tactics.
However, without sufficient ability, even if the tactics are successful, it will be difficult for them to break in.
After only two minutes of play, Jackson replaced Odom.
In the third minute, Zhang Zhiyuan also chose to play.
As they came on the court, the Nuggets' Anthony and Martin also followed, and the two sides turned into a contest between the main players.
The Lakers attacked, Zhang Zhiyuan broke through and scored, and Ariza finally threw one in.
47 to 36.
In the transition from offense to defense, Anthony made a jumper from the corner and scored.
49 to 36.
"How about a 13-point challenge?"
When the Lakers attacked, Smith followed Zhang Zhiyuan and talked trash.
"It's not challenging enough. You'd better be 20 points ahead before I'm interested in chasing you."
Zhang Zhiyuan said.
Then Zhang Zhiyuan caught the ball and broke through but was blocked, and quickly took two steps back with the ball.
Unable to find a breakthrough space, and his teammates' chances weren't very good, he simply threw one from outside the three-point line.
The ball didn't go in.
The Nuggets attacked and Iverson scored a layup.
51 to 36.
"Except for those explosive games, Zhang Zhiyuan's level is actually that of an ordinary star. Without Kobe, he has revealed his true colors."
The Lakers were already 15 points behind, and the ESPN commentator finally had the courage to speak ill of Zhang Zhiyuan.
"Excluding those explosive games, his scoring average is just over 20 per game, and his rebounds are pitiful."
The guests echoed.
Zhang Zhiyuan's anti-fans were very happy to hear this and believed it to be true.
The Lakers attack, Ariza helps cover, Zhang Zhiyuan breaks through, and Anthony makes up the defense.
However, Anthony's lateral movement speed was far inferior to Zhang Zhiyuan's. Zhang Zhiyuan changed direction and Anthony stopped chasing after he lost his position.
Anyway, the team is already far ahead, so there is no need to fight so hard.
Zhang Zhiyuan went to the basket and scored.
51 to 38.
"With Kobe Bryant gone, the Lakers' offense relies entirely on Zhang Zhiyuan. He has already scored 16 points, and he can score at least 30 points in this game."
ABC TV's commentator commented.
"Zhang alone can't compete with the Nuggets' two guns, but he has already played very well."
The guests echoed.
The Nuggets attacked, Anthony ran to the corner, and Odom was forced to run to help defend, otherwise Ariza couldn't defend him.
As a result, Iverson passed the ball to Martin again, and Martin caught the ball and dunked, scoring two points.
53 to 38.
The Nuggets have too many scoring points.
When the Lakers attacked, Zhang Zhiyuan encountered a double-team and Ariza got an open opportunity, but Farmar failed to pass the ball in time.
Passing the ball sounds very simple, just throw the ball to the opponent, it seems that any middle school student can complete it.
But in fact, in a fierce game, it is very difficult to accurately detect every opportunity of teammates. Farmar's game experience is not rich enough and he cannot do this.
In the next round, Jackson replaced him with Fisher.
Although Fisher struggled to defend Iverson, he could at least organize the offense on the offensive end.
The Lakers attacked, Zhang Zhiyuan rushed to the basket and fouled again, making two free throws.
During the transition between offense and defense, Iverson also rushed to the basket, causing Bynum to foul and made two free throws.
The Lakers failed to counterattack and failed to score, but the Nuggets were full of momentum. Anthony dangled Bynum under the basket and caused Bynum to foul.
Anthony made two free throws.
After scoring consecutively, the Nuggets suddenly gained momentum and beat the Lakers 8-4.
61 to 42, the point difference has reached 19 points.
Jackson's substitution seems like it would be better not to make a substitution at all.
Of course, this does not mean that Fisher is inferior to Farmar.
The main reason was that Fisher was unlucky and encountered a double-gun attack from the Nuggets as soon as he came up.
The Lakers attacked, and Zhang Zhiyuan finally hit a three-pointer to stop the bleeding.
61 to 45.
"This three-pointer is too important, allowing the Lakers to retain hope of a comeback."
Smith said.
"Kenny, wake up. Which eye of yours sees the hope of a comeback?"
Buckley said.
"I saw both my left eye and my right eye."
Smith.
On the court, the game continues.
Jackson and George Karl made some more substitutions, but they had little impact on the situation.
The protagonists on the scene are always Shuangqiang and Zhang Zhiyuan.
Zhang Zhiyuan's two fists are hard to beat with four hands, and the firepower of one person cannot compete with two guns.
Slowly, the point difference between the two teams widened again.
With 30 seconds left in the second quarter, the score was 68-48, and the point difference reached 20 points for the first time.
This point difference is a watershed. Under normal circumstances, being behind by 20 points at halftime can be regarded as the game has been spent.
The Lakers attacked, and Zhang Zhiyuan ran wildly in an attempt to narrow the point difference.
However, Jr. Smith played very excitedly and chased very closely, not giving Zhang Zhiyuan a chance.
Fisher had no choice but to take the shot himself and the ball missed.
The Nuggets attack, Iverson breaks through, and Zhang Zhiyuan makes up the defense.
Then Iverson scored the ball, Smith made a three-pointer and scored again.
71 to 48.
"We are already 23 points ahead. You must be very interested now."
Smith mocked.
"You're right, you did successfully arouse my interest."
Zhang Zhiyuan smiled.
It's not a good feeling to be ridiculed by a rookie. He was already preparing to use props in the second half and would never allow Jr. Smith to have a chance to succeed.
"snort."
Smith snorted disdainfully. He felt that Zhang Zhiyuan was just being tough.
As long as you play the second half patiently, you can laugh as much as you want.
On the Lakers' last attack of the first half, Zhang Zhiyuan missed the ball.
At the end of the first half, Smith smiled even more proudly.
Lakers fans became more and more frustrated. They were 23 points behind at halftime, and the opponent was still so strong. The game was basically gone.
