It is impossible for a scorer of Kobe Bryant's level to be completely locked down. For a player of his level, he may not perform well in a game or for a period of time due to hand problems.
If he is too good, he may be trapped in a defensive trap for a period of time and find it difficult to perform, but whether it is a game or a short period of time, he will always burst into scoring.
With his poor performance in the first quarter and even the first half of the second quarter, Kobe gradually faded out of the Rockets' defensive vision, scoring very few points and taking even fewer shots. Just when everyone thought he would be like this in this game.
When he was in a downturn, the silent Kobe suddenly took action.
He first shot a three-pointer from the three-point line. He missed it due to Battier's interference, but the rebounded basketball was grabbed by Gasol first. Gasol, who grabbed the offensive rebound, did not rush to attack the inside.
Instead, he waited for a moment and suddenly shot the basketball to the right. Kobe, who entered the paint from the three-point line, received the pass from Gasol just in time. After receiving the pass, Kobe stepped forward and crossed the free throw line two meters away.
He soars into the sky and hangs directly on the basket.
This dunk set off the clarion call for Kobe to score points. After the Lakers players were in position for the next ball, he directly asked Derek Fisher for the ball at the three-point line, and then motioned for everyone to pull away and let him
Singles Ron Artest.
Kobe Bryant followed Ron Artest and broke through to the right side of the basket to near the free throw line. Then he suddenly stopped and then quickly turned around. Ron Artest kept up with Kobe's turn and raised one hand high.
He was ready to block shots or interfere with Kobe's shots at any time, but this turnaround jump shot was just a cover. Kobe turned around and tapped the toe of his non-supporting foot lightly on the ground. He turned around in the opposite direction extremely quickly and completely swung away.
Defended by Ron Artest, he jumped up and shot.
Ron Artest did not choose to give up defense, but waved his hand and hit Kobe Bryant's arm hard. Although Kobe had already shot at this time, in addition to giving himself a defensive foul, Ron Artest did not
You can't stop Kobe from shooting and scoring.
Sure enough, the basketball simply fell into the hoop, and the referee blew the whistle without hesitation, signaling Ron Artest's defensive foul. Kobe Bryant added a free throw.
But a foul like Ron Artest's is particularly meaningful. I secretly glanced at the bright red palm print on Kobe Bryant's arm and watched Kobe Bryant keep waving it while taking free throws.
As if trying to drive away the pain, Artest knew that he was at least half successful.
As a top defensive player, Artest knows that there are some players who are unstoppable at certain times. Generally speaking, most people call this moment a burst of touch. At this time, those players will
No matter how you shoot, you can hit the basket accurately even from the three-point line with your eyes closed.
Things like feel seem illusory, and there is no scientific method to predict it. But it is real. Training can affect it, but there is no way to determine it. General defense methods cannot prevent this state.
Even if it is a foul, it may not be possible for the player who is playing. But if you can interrupt the opponent's touch before it explodes with power, you can make the opponent fall into a continuous fight.
Artest is very good at doing this kind of thing. He even summed up a set of experiences on how to interrupt the opponent's touch when the opponent's touch is hot. A fierce and painful common foul is one of the most effective.
A defensive method, because pain will deform the player's shooting posture, and the deformed posture will also affect the player's shooting feeling.
However, the success rate is still not guaranteed.
Like this time, it failed.
Although there were bursts of stinging pain in his right arm, Kobe kept a cool face and still hit the extra free throws steadily. On the next shot, he was defended by Artest who almost inserted his fingers into his eyes.
Before that, he hit another jump shot. Continuous scoring proved that Kobe's touch has been completely ignited.
Artest also feels quite helpless. He can guard most of the swingmen in the league, but sometimes, these superstars can always undermine the defensive confidence of opposing players. He knows that today he will be very weak.
Unfortunately it happened once.
The next game went very quickly, and there were not many fouls on both sides. The Lakers' offensive firepower was full after Kobe and Gasol woke up one after another. On the Rockets' side, although the Rockets' scoring was somewhat intermittent, it was
It can't be completely interrupted. When the Lakers think they have blocked the Rockets' offensive, McGrady or Yao Ming or even Artest will suddenly stand up and play a wave of singles. Although it is not beautiful, it is a very effective offense.
Wave.
Under such circumstances, the game remained stalemate. Although the Lakers gained the lead through continuous attacks, they were never able to expand their lead to more than five points.
Adrian has not appeared since being substituted in the second quarter and has been sitting on the bench until the second half of the third quarter. The Lakers lead the Rockets by 4 points 74:70. Both sides began to replace the bench lineup at the same time.
, to save energy for the main lineup’s fight in the fourth quarter.
"Ed, get ready to play." Phil Jackson said: "The Rockets will probably keep Artest on the court. Because of Sean Battier, he won't have much playing time today. At this time,
He stayed on the court and led the bench to play a wave, which is what I would choose if I were Adelman. Ed, are you confident in breaking that guy's defense?"
"It's not the first time." Adrian responded with a smile: "Yes, his defense won't have any effect on me."
Adrian has already figured out Artest's defensive mode.
Artest's defense is very tough, with not many small moves, but constant physical contact. His strong physical condition determines his defensive method, and it is difficult for most forwards and swingmen to compete with him in terms of strength.
Generally speaking, as long as there is physical contact, he can take advantage. This is also an important reason why Kobe has difficulty dealing with Artest. Under the pressure of Artest's strength, it is difficult for him to maintain a complete shooting posture and
Shooting rhythm.
Yes, Artest's defense is not for steals or blocks. Although his steals and blocks are not bad, his real strength in defense is that he is good at interrupting the opponent's shooting rhythm. This seems to be the top outside line.
The defensive players are all the same. Battier uses cover to defend, Bruce Bowen uses his own small moves, and Artest directly uses force to press.
Battier's blindfold depends on luck, and is completely useless when the opponent's touch explodes. Bruce Bowen's small moves and threat of injury are very effective for high-flying players, but not so good when encountering a floor flow.
Yes. As for Artest, there are really not many people who can compete with him in terms of strength.
However, this does not apply to Adrian, especially after this summer's shooting training under Jordan's constant interference, Adrian feels that this kind of defense has little impact on him.
But at the same time, Artest's defense does not rely solely on his body. If it relied purely on his body, he would not be the best defensive player. His judgment of footsteps is very accurate and quick, and his reaction is very fast. Perhaps because it is better than in history.
Because Adrian understood him a year earlier, Artest's movements at this time were faster than in history. However, this also gave Adrian something he could use to break through Artest's defense.
, pure speed or pure strength is useless, it must be assisted by complex changes.
The Lakers immediately made substitutions, four up and four down, but Andrew Bynum was left on the court. He didn't play much time in the first half today due to foul problems, so there is no need to worry about physical strength. The same goes for the Rockets
The substitute lineup was replaced, and just as Phil Jackson guessed, only one Ron Artest was left on the court.
Andrew Bynum served from the baseline and unexpectedly passed the basketball directly to Adrian.
Steadily catching the serve, Adrian turned around and advanced steadily toward the center line step by step. The familiar feeling seemed to be back in his hands. Artest pounced from the inside, and he
He was not assigned to guard Adrian specifically, but he could tell that among the Lakers players currently on the court, Adrian was the most threatening one.
Looking at Ron Artest who was defending him from the inside, Adrian did not panic. With a sudden ground pass, the basketball was handed to Vujacic on the bottom line on the left side of the basket. Vujacic immediately made a three-pointer.
Although the shot missed, Andrew Bynum, who was stuck in a favorable position, pressed Carl Landry to get the rebound.
After getting the rebound, Andrew Bynum immediately jumped up and dunked, but without warning, Carl Landry jumped up very fast beside him, and swiped the ball with his big hand, sending the basketball flying for a three-pointer.
Outside the line.
Artest was the first to grab the ownerless basketball, but Luke Walton clicked on the basketball. The basketball suddenly lost control. Artest pounced on the basketball again, while Adrian also pounced from another direction.
Moving toward the basketball, four broad palms grabbed the basketball at the same time, as if two wild bulls had collided fiercely!
"Beep..." The referee immediately blew the whistle to signal the two sides to fight for the ball.
"Rookie, I will lock you up, don't think you can have fun as you like!" Staring at Adrian, Artest said fiercely.
"Then let's give it a try!" Adrian didn't care. His eyes glanced at the angry look on Artest's face: I can get any score I want from you." (To be continued...)
ps: I know some people like to read pure basketball articles. But... Slam Dunk is pure basketball, domestic college basketball is pure basketball, and the NCAA is also pure basketball. The Olympics and the Men's Basketball Championship are contaminated.
Basketball has political overtones, and the NBA is professional. No matter what it is, once it becomes professional, it will never be pure. Because in the final analysis, NBA players are commodities, not pure basketball players.
