No matter what Kobe is thinking now, the most important thing at the moment is still the last quarter of the game.
Are the Lakers going to admit defeat, or do they want to continue to struggle?
After the game started in the fourth quarter, people discovered that Byron Scott did not play any of the Big Three.
Obviously, he didn't want to waste the physical energy of the three old guys when the game was no longer improving.
He surrendered!
To be precise, the Lakers surrendered!
Before this game, "Lakers championship" has always been a hotly discussed topic.
But today, this topic seems to have come to an end.
The arrival of Chris Paul will not bring much transformation to the aging Lakers team system. At best, he is just an offensively enhanced version of Rondo. If he wants to truly change the situation of the Lakers, Paul's strength is obviously not enough.
He couldn't change anything during his time with the Clippers, let alone the Lakers?
People suddenly discovered that the strength of the Los Angeles Lakers was not as strong as everyone thought. They could only make it to the second round at most, because the top of the Western Conference this season was destined to belong to the Trail Blazers and Warriors, the only teams in the Western Conference.
Team.
…
At the end of the game, 120:99, the Portland Trail Blazers easily defeated the Lakers in Los Angeles, with a point difference of 21 points.
The Lakers' longest three-game winning streak of the season was ended, while the Trail Blazers celebrated their 19th consecutive victory and continued to remain undefeated!
At the end of the game, the camera turned to Kobe again. This time, what he saw on the face of the Black Mamba was no longer unwillingness, but a touch of loneliness.
Before the game, everyone thought that the Lakers, who had the most luxurious backcourt duo currently in service, might get an upset if they competed with the Trail Blazers.
What's more, they also have All-Star power forward Pau Gasol who scored 18-11-3 last season and 16-11-4 this season.
To take a step back, even if the Lakers can't beat the Trail Blazers, according to everyone's expectations, at least tonight should be a battle between the dragons and the tigers. No matter what the Blazers want to win, the Lakers will have to pull out a few teeth.
But the truth is cruel. The outside firepower of Paul and Kobe is not enough to cause trouble for the Trail Blazers. Dajja, who is one year older inside, even lacks the ability to exchange blows with Aldridge.
The Lakers, who were extremely powerful on paper, were dealt a terrible blow by the Trail Blazers.
Nowitzki, who was far away in Dallas, couldn't help but feel a little sad when he saw Kobe's expression on TV.
Nowitzki, who entered the league two years later than Kobe in 1998, is actually more than two months older than Kobe. He is now 37 years old.
Therefore, when I saw Kobe, who was also 37 years old, surrendering in the third quarter against the Trail Blazers led by Wang Zelin, I couldn't help but think of the night when they lost to the Trail Blazers by 3 points.
The night he lost the game, Nowitzki couldn't sleep. He spent the whole night thinking about the missed shot.
If he were two or three years younger, he would definitely not miss...
It's a pity that people can't defeat time after all!
"Old man, the world is dominated by young people now! We can't accept the old age!"
Watching Lakers No. 24 leaving the game hastily on the TV, he felt a little depressed for no reason.
…
On TNT TV station, Barkley roared passionately:
"Oh, 27 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal! It's hard to imagine that these are the statistics scored by a 37-year-old guy. Let us give the applause to Kobe Bryant! But...
Please give warmer applause to Wang Zelin, who scored 46 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks and 1 steal in three quarters! Oh, my God, Wang seems to be telling us, let you see what it means to be the number one active player!"
Kenny Smith echoed: "Wang is too scary, he is a truly dominant center! As long as he is here, the Trail Blazers' championship strength will be second to none in the league!"
Barkley said with a smile: "Yes, Kenny, a player with Wang's height and weight can not only have a public perspective, but also can defend beyond the three-point line, and is not afraid of the opponent's mismatch. It's really incredible."
."
Kenny Smith nodded: "That's right, Charles, this is what has always amazed us the most about Wang. The last super center who could maintain offense and defense throughout the court, I have only seen it in Hakeem! And I have only seen it in Hakeem!
Wang is taller, stronger, and faster, and he has surpassed our understanding of basketball."
The two kings played and sang in harmony, making O'Neal on the side completely unable to interrupt.
Have you forgotten that I am the real Wang Chui!
The arrogant Ao Pang wanted to speak, but to save face, he simply continued to sit on the chair with an attitude.
Suddenly, he rolled his eyes, left his seat, and quietly left the studio.
Come on, no matter how powerful you guys are, you might as well go to the scene and do the first interview.
…
After the game, when Wang Zelin was interviewed, reporters first asked him what he thought of Kobe's performance today.
"There is no doubt that the Black Mamba is still one of the strongest athletes on the planet. I believe that under his leadership, the Lakers are still expected to win the championship!"
Wang Zelin said nonsense seriously.
Journalists definitely don’t buy into such a statement.
We really think we are blind. If the Lakers resist a little longer today, you will definitely get another 50 tonight, and the Lakers may lose by 3 or 40 points.
Seeing that there was not much room for speculation about the topic of this game, the reporters' focus shifted to the Trail Blazers' next game.
Now the Trail Blazers have won 19 consecutive games. If they win another game, they will become the second 20-win team this season.
However, their opponent in the next game is not easy to mess with, because the opponent is the Warriors with 20 wins.
No, considering that the Warriors' next opponent is the Bucks, and the Bucks are just a twelfth-ranked team in the Eastern Conference, it can basically be regarded as the Warriors winning their 21st victory in advance.
Facing such a warrior, no team dares to take it lightly.
A beautiful reporter came forward and asked: "Wang, are you confident of winning the 20th consecutive victory against the Warriors in the next game?"
The question was very straightforward, but it touched the hearts of everyone present.
In addition to this reporter, the Lakers players on the other side who were exiting also stopped subconsciously and wanted to hear how Wang Zelin, the number one active player in the game, would answer this question?
"I have always emphasized that the Trail Blazers aim to win three consecutive championships this season! No one can stop us from building a dynasty, whether it is the Lakers tonight or the Warriors two days later."
Wang Zelin's answer was more straightforward, and his words revealed a strong sense of confidence, which could even be said to be domineering.
…
After defeating the Lakers, the game was not popular, but Wang Zelin's post-game interview became popular.
His words can be seen as a declaration of war against the Warriors before the game. They are nothing less than adding fuel to the fire, making the already high-profile game two days later soaring in popularity.
Countless people are looking forward to the day when the great battle begins!