Chapter 363 The battle is coming today, ah ah ah ah~
Los Angeles is in a mess, Mike D'Antoni fears being fired! - Los Angeles Times.
6 consecutive losses! Do the Lakers still have a chance this season? - Bleachers.
Getting deeper and deeper! The top eight in the Western Conference is nowhere in sight! --- Lakers Nation.
Didn't Kobe say that the Lakers would definitely make the playoffs? It seems like he has no choice but to go back on his word. - ESPN expert Henry Abbott.
The Lakers should not let Kobe continue to be the leader, he can no longer control the situation! - ESPN host Jay Williams.
I've said it before, the so-called "Four Kings" are actually not that scary! - Mavericks owner Cuban.
The atmosphere of the entire Lakers team has become increasingly gloomy. Even during training, there are not many smiles to be seen.
Becoming the laughing stock of history is something that no one is really willing to accept.
But... not everyone has the determination to change.
15 wins and 21 losses, this is like a heavy boulder, pressing hard on the head of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Los Angeles seems to have entered a period of complete darkness.
Even some extreme fans have given up on this season.
On January 13th, US time, the Los Angeles Lakers played against the Cleveland Cavaliers at home.
Before this game, Kobe seemed to be feeling a little unwell, but he refused Gary Vitti's suggestion to take a rest and insisted on playing. Kobe did not say even a word in the entire locker room and warm-up, but Tang Qian did
In this man's eyes, I saw a faint and violent light.
It's like a poisonous snake that was hit seven inches, but didn't die on the spot.
Due to the "Olympic bet" incident between Kobe and Irving, the two people naturally became the focus of this game.
Irving is still so confident. He told the media that he is not afraid of Kobe. He is definitely capable of defeating Kobe and winning tonight's game. Even though Irving is followed by "Star Kermit", but now, he
He was still a conceited young man who had his sights set high above his head and believed that Kobe should have stepped aside long ago.
But after the reporter told Kobe this, Lakers No. 24 showed no expression, and after a while he slowly said: "He can't win, I guarantee, he can't win." The meaning of this sentence is very clear.
Obviously there are two levels, one is that Irving can't beat himself, and the other is that the Cavaliers can't beat the Lakers.
Of course, reporters liked this kind of scene the most. They immediately wrote about it and started tweeting on their mobile phones.
Pre-game publicity and pre-game rendering are a major feature of NBA games, as if this is more than just a basketball game.
It's a Hollywood blockbuster.
"Hot~ I will pass the ball to you more in this game." Steve Nash whispered to Lakers No. 29 before coming on the court: "Don't hesitate after you get the ball. As long as you have the chance, attack the basket with all your strength."
, Do you understand?" Tang Qian was stunned when he heard this, but still nodded.
The Lakers' current offensive model is too simple.
Except for the simplest pass-and-cut cooperation, only the two-person cooperation of Nash + Kobe is left. The rest of the time is almost spent on their own, relying on their own abilities.
Are you talking about the cooperation between Gasol and Kobe? No, no, no, this Lakers team is no longer the Lakers team during the two consecutive championships. Due to the loss of dominance in the low post, Pau Gasol is now using Mike D'Antoni's tactics
In the system, there is just a big man who can shoot open shots. That's all. So even if Kobe wants to cooperate with the Spaniard, he has no chance.
Nash made this decision to increase the Lakers' offensive diversity.
Originally, this tactic should belong to Dwight Howard + Steve Nash, but unfortunately "Warcraft" is too narcissistic. I always feel that as the league's number one center, he should hold the ball and play in low singles, instead of doing these "out of tune" things.
Pick and roll, cut and move.
At the beginning of the game, Kobe was eyeing Kyrie Irving, but in this quarter Irving had great touch and could shoot no matter what. So even though Kobe's defense was already in place, the opponent still made 3 of 3 shots, including a three-pointer.
He scored 7 points with a 100% shooting percentage. Kobe was very annoyed. Since he couldn't control you on the defensive end in this quarter, he couldn't lose anymore on the scoring end.
Therefore, a wave of 12 points and 5 assists in a single quarter directly suppressed the opposite Kyrie Irving on the data side.
Tang Qian played 3 minutes and 46 seconds in this quarter and got 2 rebounds and 1 block.
At the end of the single quarter, the Lakers entered the second quarter with a 17-point lead of 37-20.
The first half of the second quarter became Nash's performance time. Because this period was the regular substitute time, both sides withdrew most of their main players. On the Lakers' side, only Steve Nash was left on the court.
Leading the team. Because the Cavaliers were behind by more points, star Kyrie Irving did not end the game.
Irving was born in 1992, so he is just 20 years old this season. He is young and energetic, and it doesn't hurt to stay on the court for a while. Seeing that the person defending him has become Steve Nash, Irving has no problem.
Without hesitation, he started playing consecutive singles. He made 2 of 3 shots in the first 3 minutes, and his shooting percentage was quite good. But who is Steve Nash? He is not the kind of player who likes fighting spirit. As a traditional No. 1 position, his
The primary goal is to connect the team and organize the team. In a sense, he is completely different from the number one position like Kyrie Irving.
Why did Mike D'Antoni leave him on the court? The answer will be revealed soon.
Tang Qian made a cut for a dunk and then a layup. Meeks scored a 3-pointer, which immediately offset Kyrie Irving's offensive score. The initiator was none other than Steve Nash. His pass was like
Just like high-tech missiles, no matter what direction the receiver is in, as long as there is an open space in front of him, the basketball will be delivered to him as soon as possible.
Until the second half of the second quarter, when the main players of the Lakers gradually returned to the court, the score difference between the two teams did not change much. As for the consumption of the lineup, it was undoubtedly the opposite Cleveland Cavaliers, which was more intense.
.
At the end of the single quarter, the Lakers returned to the locker room 20-25 and 57-45 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Irving obviously stepped up his personal attacks, hoping to use his own personal abilities to reverse the Cavaliers' disadvantage. However, Kobe was like an enraged snake, clinging to him like brown sugar. Regardless.
No matter how he changed direction or made any moves, he couldn't get rid of it completely. So in the end, he had no choice but to make an emergency stop and take a mid-range shot.
He scored a lot in the first half, mainly because of his explosive touch from the outside, but he couldn't continue this touch into the second half. "Dang~", his shooting was poor. In fact, Irving is a player with strong pull-up jump shooting ability.
He hit more than 44% of both distance and long-range 2-pointers. This is already a very strong number. Unfortunately, his height is too short, and his wingspan is not outstanding. Once he is beaten by a tall guard like Kobe,
If it sticks, the shooting will be greatly interfered with and affected.
Moreover, this game is not an ordinary game. After the "Olympic Bet" incident, many people are paying attention to who is stronger, Irving or Kobe. Naturally, Irving feels that he is more awesome, but
Has Kobe ever been weak? So as the game progresses, the two are not just competing on the technical level, but the mental level gradually becomes more important. And when competing with Kobe on the mental level, where is the young Irving?
Will you be your opponent? You were instantly suppressed by the Black Mamba's aura. In singles and balloon fights, the most important thing is your spirit and momentum. If you are overwhelmed by your opponent, then your strength will probably not be enough.
six.
Lakers No. 24 is the type of player who can fight you to death, and his energy will not fluctuate at all during this period.
Damn it, I don’t believe I can’t get past you!
Irving saw that he had repeatedly failed in singles, and he was very annoyed. After all, he had successfully passed Kobe Bryant several times during the Olympic practice games, so he thought it was just that he did not perform well. But what is the reality? The practice games are just practice games after all, and Kobe Bryant
His level of investment is far from being as concentrated as in a formal game, so it gives Irving the illusion that he is invincible.
After all, Kobe is the winner of 9 primary defenses. He has faced the strongest breakthrough No. 1 position. In front of that person, three Kyrie and Irving are not enough. Although the former is no longer at his peak, his physical fitness and
His physical fitness is on the decline, but as the top wing of the 1996 golden generation, he also has his own dignity.
Irving waved his hand and made a single move.
At this time, the whole place was excited, and the audience stood up, just to witness Kyrie Irving defeating the king of the old era.
Kobe didn't flinch at all and went straight forward, forming an absolute one-on-one situation with Kyrie Irving near the top arc.
Players from both sides consciously distanced themselves, because whoever wants to help at this time would be acting stupidly.
At this moment, Irving only had Kobe in his eyes, and Kobe only had Irving in his eyes.
Kobe's defensive posture on this ball is obviously different from before. His whole body is extremely low, and he even leans forward slightly. His eyes are like a hawk, his hands are flexed, and he looks full of aggression. This is Kobe's appearance at his peak.
The defensive style is not passive, but active. This style is exactly the same as that of Michael Jordan, who is known as an offensive wing defender.
It's just that Kobe has gotten older in recent years, so this defensive posture has gradually been restrained.
And tonight, he showed it again.
Irving is really confident, because he has been blocked by Kobe Bryant this season, but he still has an expression of "I am the best in the world." This is the difference in mentality between the inferior and the superior. The former is the challenger anyway.
It doesn't matter if you fail, no one will care too much about it. What about the latter? If you win, you should, but if you lose, it will be magnified a hundred times.
Therefore, after many NBA stars become famous, they are hardly obsessed with playing one-on-one with newcomers. This is the reason.
It's a completely loss-making deal. No matter whether you win or not, it won't do you much good.
But there is a group of people in the history of the NBA who are paranoid. In their areas of expertise, no matter how high their status is, they are not afraid of challenges and will not reject anyone who comes. Jordan and Kobe are the best among them, and the latter's personal strength is of course
Not as good as Qiao Shen, but his mental paranoia is even better.
Therefore, at this moment, the Lakers' No. 24 seemed to have become No. 8, and their outside blocking ability suddenly improved.
Irving tried his best, but in the end he couldn't get past the opponent. Instead, the old Mamba ended the fight with a big shot.
In this one-on-one challenge that attracted everyone's attention, Irving was completely defeated.
From then on, he truly understood what the Black Mamba was and what Kobe Bryant was.
Throughout the second half, Irving only hit 2 out of 9 shots, with a shooting percentage of 22.2%.
Since the core of the team was completely blocked, the game completely lost its suspense. In the end, the Lakers won 113-93 with 20 points. Kobe scored a game-high 23 points and shot over 64% from the field.
It can definitely be regarded as highly efficient. Howard also scored 20+10 standard inside star statistics with second-year Tristan Thompson. Nash once again scored 10++10+, and Tang Qian also scored 13 points and 9 rebounds.
Not bad data with 3 blocks.
But Mike D'Antoni still shook his head slightly at Howard's performance, because Howard had very few high-post pick-and-rolls in this game, and most of his points came through low-post singles. Second-year Tristan Thompson is originally a
The average starting level, height and weight are all at a huge disadvantage against Howard. Therefore, Howard has no problem at all if he plays him alone. With a body that is less than 230 pounds, there is no way he can cause any trouble to "Warcraft".
But there are so many strong teams in the NBA, what if you encounter a strong defensive inside line? It is really not a good thing for "Warcraft" to be so obsessed with low singles. Because from the looks of Mike D'Antoni, Howard is not the right player at all.
The material of a low-level killer.
But after all, he won the game, so Mike D'Antoni couldn't say much.
In the next game, the Lakers played against the Milwaukee Bucks. Kobe continued his strong defensive performance in the previous game, directly preventing super rookie Brandon Jennings from making 4 of 14 shots from the field, with a shooting percentage of 28.6%.
There were only one outside assist and one rebound. It can be said that Mike D'Antoni's tactic was successful, because as long as Kobe defends seriously, he will still be the top outside defender in the league. Especially when defending with the ball, he is very hot.
Still, the sword is still young. Dwight Howard also scored the same 31 points as Kobe. The Bucks' Larry Sanders and Ersen Ilyasova simply couldn't stop the "Warcraft" in the Bucks.
The inside line is wreaking havoc. Like Tristan Thompson of the Cavaliers, they are too light, weighing about 230 pounds, and cannot stop Howard, who weighs 280+. And they are not the kind of inside line with particularly strong physical fitness.
Therefore, being severely ravaged by Howard became inevitable.
Seeing that the Lakers won two consecutive victories, Lakers fans were naturally happy. After all, Kobe and Howard had good statistics in these two games. People imagined that it might be the Lakers' No. 24 and No. 12 who started calling. In fact?
That's not the case at all.
Kobe and Howard directly contacted each other, which was rare in these two games. Except for a few alley-oops, there was no wonderful performance in response to each other. Fans can't see clearly this situation. As the head coach of the Lakers
, how could Mike D'Antoni not see clearly? But it was still the same as the last game, the Lakers won, so he had nothing to say.
Extra training after the game.
"It's hot~ No, no, no~ You should take this ball down one step faster~ The effect will be far worse if you take one second slower~"
"When cutting in the air, he also makes fake moves. Take a look at Amare's video to see how he does it~"
"Decisive! Decisive! OK? The most taboo thing about air cuts and pick-and-roll moves is hesitation. You must remember it!"
"You left the pick-and-roll too early! I haven't completely passed it yet! Come again!"
"It's too late again! This will delay your attack opportunity! Come again!"
"The pick-and-roll time is almost up, but you are still too hesitant to do it~ Why was Amare able to average nearly 30+10 points per game in the 2004-05 playoffs? Momentum! You must have offensive momentum! As a
Athletic big man, when you get the ball, you have to have the attitude of tearing the opponent's basket apart! Do you understand? Hot? e.on! Come on with some momentum! Come on with some ferocity!"
"Yes, yes, that's it. Be more fierce! Be more fierce! You want your opponents to see you dunk down and subconsciously not dare to block the shot directly!"
In the recent period, Tang Qian has made rapid progress in his off-ball cutting ability and pick-and-roll ability due to Steve Nash's personal training. There were many things that he couldn't understand after watching the video, but now that he's here with Nash, they all become clear.
It was solved easily. As expected of the No. 1 position who has worked with Amare Stoudemire for many years, his understanding of air cuts and pick-and-rolls far exceeded Tang Qian's imagination.
And his speed of absorption and progress also made Steve Nash secretly nod.
On January 16th, U.S. time, the third round of All-Star voting was released. The league leader is still Kobe Bryant with 1,177,456 votes, Durant with 1,088,797 votes, and Tang Qian with 891,345 votes.
, Howard received 716,671 votes, Blake Griffin received 593,024 votes, and Chris Paul received 651,893 votes. There was not much change in the Eastern Conference. In order of votes, they were LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.
, Dwyane Wade, Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett.
But compared to the All-Star Weekend, a real challenge is coming.
That is January 17th, at Staples Center, against the defending champion Miami Heat.
The real tough battle of this season's regular season is about to begin.
PS: It broke out today~~~Please support me~~~
It seems that this is the third time Xiaozi has broken out in 7 days, right? Can you give me a toothpaste for counting the votes~~~