At the end of the regular season, there was a two-day truce. The teams that missed the playoffs happily went fishing and took a vacation, while the playoff teams began intense preparations.
The Warriors have also begun preparation mode.
Although there is not much to prepare tactically, you still need to prepare in terms of attitude.
No matter who the opponent is, underestimating the enemy is always the biggest enemy!
Not surprisingly, the Lakers general manager found Deng Fang immediately.
Nothing else, just treat Kobe!
In fact, the Lakers approached Deng Fang during the regular season and wanted Deng Fang to treat Nash, but Deng Fang refused.
The Lakers knew Deng Fang's rule, which was not to treat players other than the Warriors during the regular season. They were just trying it out.
But it's the playoffs now, and Deng Fang should be able to treat Kobe's illness.
Although the Lakers are the Warriors' opponents in the first round, based on past experience, Deng Fang will not refuse the fat in his mouth!
Of course, Deng Fang values money on the one hand, and more importantly, Deng Fang has strong confidence in the Warriors.
No matter if you are my opponent or not, I don't care at all!
No one can beat us!
In this case, why not make more money!
Not surprisingly, Deng Fang did not refuse the Lakers' request and quickly cured Kobe.
20 million will arrive immediately!
This rate of making money is quite good!
This is a win-win deal. Deng Fang is satisfied and so are the Lakers.
Although the possibility of defeating the Warriors is slim, as long as Kobe Bryant fully recovers, no one dares to say it is impossible.
Even if it’s just to sell more tickets for two home games, it’s worth it!
If Deng Fang doesn't take action, Kobe is likely to be reimbursed for the season next season. How many people will buy Lakers season tickets?
Now Kobe can not only play in the playoffs, but he can also sell tickets next season. This deal will definitely not be a loss!
Even if it is to let other players see how well the Lakers treat their own players, it is worth it!
…
At 8pm on April 20, 2013, the game between the Warriors and the Lakers officially started at Oracle Arena.
The Warriors' starting lineup remains unchanged, with Curry, Klay, Barnes, Hayward and Yao Ming.
The Splash Brothers will definitely not be separated as long as they can play together. Barnes is the Warriors' only candidate for the small forward position in the next few years and must start. Hayward has three-pointers, defense, and support, so there is no problem in starting. As for Yao Ming, starting
There is no doubt about the center position.
The Lakers' starting five are Nash, Kobe Bryant, Artest, Gasol and Howard.
The Four Heavenly Kings all appear!
Nash suffered a lot of injuries this season and only played 50 games in the regular season. He was recuperating from his injuries before the end of the season. Now that the playoffs are starting, he finally made a comeback.
Of course, no matter how many injuries he suffered before, it is a good thing to come back now!
The same goes for Kobe.
Originally, Kobe was reimbursed for the season and the Lakers' playoff prospects were completely bleak. But now Deng Fang has cured him. Kobe has fully recovered and returned with full blood. The Lakers' morale has been greatly boosted!
Nash and Kobe are fine. Artest, Gasol and Howard were already fine. Now the four kings are all at full health, and they can finally compete with the universe!
This is the Western Conference Finals matchup that was hyped by the media at the beginning of the season, but now it has been moved to the first round!
The Lakers did not play well this season. Howard and Kobe were not getting along, and Nash missed many games due to injury, so that they ranked eighth in the Western Conference. However, no matter how you say it, the Lakers are still a lineup of the four kings. No matter how you say it, they are now.
Full health status!
The regular season is an encounter. Each team has to play 82 games, which requires a lot of physical strength from the players. It is a world dominated by young people, and teams with mostly veterans often do not perform very well.
But when it comes to the playoffs, experience is the most important thing. Teams with mostly veterans are often more trustworthy!
Although there are rumors that Kobe and Howard are at odds, when the playoffs are crucial, the two can always put aside their differences and work together, right?
As long as the Lakers perform at a normal level, it will be enough for the Warriors to drink!
Why?
Because even if you just look at the paper strength, the Lakers are the strongest!
The playoffs are a stage for superstars. The Warriors have only one Curry, the Heat have three in James, Wade, and Bosh, and the Lakers have four in Kobe, Nash, Howard, and Gasol!
Even if you look at the number of MVPs, the Lakers are the best!
Only Curry has won the MVP in the Warriors, only James has the MVP trophy in the Heat, and the Lakers have two regular season MVP winners in Nash and Kobe!
Although it is difficult for the Lakers veterans to defeat the Warriors, Thunder, and Heat in a row and reach the finals, it should be okay to try their best to stop the Warriors, right?
It is precisely because of this idea that many media and experts are optimistic about the Lakers and say that Deng Fang is careless!
That's Kobe!
Those are the Lakers of the Four Heavenly Kings!
Deng Fang actually dared to treat Kobe Bryant. This was too money-oriented!
If you are careless and lose Jingzhou, young people are still not good at it. They are too arrogant!
Deng Fang will pay for the 20 million that arrived!
In fact, it’s not just the media experts who think so, but also several members of the Lakers team!
Players like Kobe, Nash, and Howard no longer pursue much in terms of money, and the remaining pursuit is honor!
Defeating Chaoyong and winning a championship is the greatest honor!
Nash, Howard thought so, Kobe Bryant, and Gasol thought the same way!
The game was very intense from the beginning, and the two teams started to attack.
It’s not how fierce the Lakers’ firepower is, it’s not that the Lakers don’t want to defend, it’s that they really can’t defend!
Of course, when your home team's head coach is D'Antoni, you shouldn't pin your hopes of winning on defense.
D'Antoni's philosophy is offense!
Attack, attack, attack!
Nash and Howard set a pick-and-roll, Kobe and Gasol set a pick-and-roll, and shot when the opportunity came from the outside. Gasol hit Hayward alone when he had the chance. The Lakers were very involved in the offensive end and used up 100% of their energy!
The Lakers are also very lucky. Nash and Kobe feel very good, and even Artest is very focused, throwing three three-pointers in half a quarter!
However, the Warriors have more firepower!
No one is more afraid of than the Shooting Warriors!
What's the Warriors' favorite rhythm?
That’s it now!
No one is on defense, either fast break or throwing three-pointers!
Anyway, we are more accurate than you!
We are younger than you anyway!
Gasol is a strong point against Hayward. As long as he wants to play alone, the Warriors will resolutely attack him.
If you can, surrender to me!
If Artest and Kobe are allowed to surrender to me, then I will admit it!
If Howard beats Yao Ming to death in a single, I'll admit it!
The Lakers felt incredible in the first five minutes of the first quarter, but they only led by 3 points.
As soon as the Lakers felt a little cold, the Warriors overtook the score!
Kobe missed a three-pointer, Yao Ming got the rebound and threw it directly into the frontcourt, and Curry caught the ball and shot!
Gasol singled out Hayward, Barnes came over to attack, Gasol made a pass error, Clay stole the ball and went straight for a fast break layup and a dunk!
D'Antoni called two timeouts in a row to no avail.
Soon, at the end of the first quarter, the score between the two teams became 39:31, with the Warriors leading by 8 points!
