Paul George is known as one of the top players in the NBA, but probably only a few people know that this boy born in the 1990s in Palmdale, California, was once a die-hard fan of the Los Angeles Clippers. But it is puzzling.
Unfortunately, his number one idol is Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers.
After getting his first Kobe Bryant jersey at the age of 9, he wore it day and night, and then imitated Kobe Bryant's demeanor and movements. He even gave this state an interesting name, "Kobe Face."
Why does George love Kobe so much? In fact, if you have carefully observed his growth history, you will know that although he loved basketball as a boy, he often practiced alone. According to his own revelation, after entering high school, he was "played by his sister on the court for a long time".
"Ravaged". No matter how exaggerated this sentence is, one thing is certain, that is, Paul George was not selected for the school team even in his freshman year of high school. He only entered the school team in his sophomore year and served as a substitute for one year.
He officially became the core force in his senior year of high school.
Therefore, not to mention basketball talent, he must have worked harder than his talent.
You say he doesn’t have the talent to enter the NBA? No, we can’t look at the problem this way. Compared with ordinary people, of course he is extremely talented. But among the players who can enter the NBA, which one is not extremely talented? Which one is not a former high school star?
?Do you really think it is so easy to get into the NBA? So compared with the level of the NBA, Paul George's basketball talent may be a little ordinary.
As for George, who has "average talent" and wants to grow rapidly, it is extremely important to identify a suitable idol to inspire him.
Jordan is a little far away from him, so another paranoid, Kobe Bryant, who is also "disabled and strong", is the best example to learn from. So under constant self-discipline, Paul George finally realized his own
His ultimate dream is to step into the NBA and compete head-on with the "idol" Kobe Bryant.
"Bleacher Report" reporter Kevin Ding said in his column that Paul George is one of the few players he has ever seen who truly regards Kobe as an idol to inspire him. He is not like some people who just talk.
.There is a famous joke here. Kevin Ding once said that if Kobe calls George late at night, George will be eager to let everyone in the league know the next day.
As a young basketball player, it is absolutely correct to choose Kobe as his inspirational idol, because Kobe’s training maniac spirit is enough to make ordinary people embarrassed to like him. If you want to truly get close to him, you can only practice hard and work hard.
That's why there is this scene of Paul George, holding the ball, standing directly opposite Kobe.
"Bryant, I really like you, you are my inspirational idol, but tonight... I want to defeat you!" Paul George held the ball, looked at Kobe who took the initiative to change defense, and said. This is a
This is a very correct "idol spirit". At least in the sports world, idols are not just meant to be "liked" or "worshipped". "Beyond", "beating" and "matching" are the true meanings of idols in the sports world.
Kobe is to Jordan, George is to Kobe.
You are my idol, yes, but I'm sorry, as long as there is a chance, I will defeat you, I will blow you up!
Pacers No. 24 VS Lakers No. 24.
Kobe didn't say anything. He had now entered the "Mamba State" and his whole blood was running cold.
"George made a test step, and then he cut to the left. Kobe blocked it with a sliding step. George changed to the right and Kobe was still close. It's hard to imagine that Kobe is almost 35 years old. This one-on-one defense pace and toughness are really amazing.
! Oh~ No, George's change of direction was not to break through, but to stabilize his body and make an emergency stop!" The Pacers' on-site commentator shouted loudly: "This is a beautiful change of direction! Kobe Bryant made an emergency stop.
I jumped up immediately to block the shot, but it was still too late!"
Paul George's game is a bit explosive. His movements are done in one go. He has no intention of showing timidity in front of the "idol". Instead, he wants to go all out and let the "idol" affirm his ability. He is 8cm taller than Kobe Bryant and athletic.
His ability is also very good, so he changes direction and makes an emergency stop, making it difficult for the old Kobe to pose an immediate defensive threat.
Moreover, Kobe hadn't even rested for a minute in this game, and his physical energy was already on the verge of exhaustion, so when he took off, his leg strength was obviously not enough.
Paul George made a successful shot, a long 2-pointer.
But when the ball flew halfway, it was blocked.
Someone suddenly jumped into the air behind Kobe!
He is Lakers No. 29, Tang Qian!
He, how did he show up there? Why did he show up in the 18-foot area?
This is the voice in Paul George's heart, and it is also the voice in Frank Vogel's heart.
Everyone knows that outside the penalty area, there is basically no place for 7-foot men, let alone the area 18 feet away from the basket?
Under normal circumstances, Tang Qian couldn't do this. Even if he had initially formed the core defensive ability, he was determined not to reach such a far range. But after adding the ability of the golden defense card, it was completely different. Tang Qian could not do this.
His latent defensive ability, including his core defensive ability, has been greatly improved, which is why he is in this situation now.
"This...the Lakers blocked Paul's shot on the 29th! His defensive range actually extended to 18 feet?" Chris Denali, the on-site commentator of the Pacers, said loudly, because this kind of ball is very dangerous.
It's rare. It requires the inside players to have a perfect combination of athletic ability, defensive awareness, and defensive ability. Moreover... it also requires a certain amount of luck to be able to do it.
"Defend! Get back to defense immediately! Don't be dazed! We are still in the lead now!" The Pacers' head coach suddenly realized something and shouted loudly. This was a very correct sideline instruction, so that the Pacers did not have too many mistakes.
Stuck in the "irrevocable past".
Basketball was once again in Kobe's hands.
There are only 9 seconds left in the game.
The Lakers are still 3 points behind.
Mike D'Antoni's heart suddenly became tense. He wanted to call a timeout, but seeing Kobe's mental state on the court, he chose to let the game continue. Because sometimes timeouts not only interrupt the opponent's state
, it may also interrupt the state of your own players.
If the condition is good, then let the game continue.
This has become very popular in the league since Phil Jackson. It is completely different from the "almost rigid" before the 1980s.
Regarding the use, activation and stimulation of players' mental state, "Zen Master" Jackson can be called the strongest in NBA history.
Especially when it comes to exploiting the mental state of players, he has reached the extreme.
"Zen Master" has a very common saying, since the player is in good condition, why should he interrupt it?
D'Antoni is thinking exactly this way now.
Since No. 24 is in good mental condition, why should I help my opponent interrupt him?
You must know that "state" is something that can only be encountered but cannot be sought.
Throughout the Bankers Life Arena, people couldn't help but shout "defense" to help create a favorable atmosphere for the home team players.
Although the Lakers chose to open up, the Pacers' attention was still focused on Zijin No. 24.
Be ready to make up for and assist in defense at any time.
As time passed, Kobe's breathing began to become heavy, but his energy and concentration were more concentrated than normal. This is what Jordan called "killer status" and "killer instinct". No matter what you have done before
No matter how tired you are, once you reach this special moment, your instinct will wake you up and focus you.
The Pacers replaced Paul George to guard Kobe. Because it was only one round of single defense, Paul George was obviously more effective than George Hill. This is the "special round" that is different from the "regular round".
Sometimes it is these few "special rounds" that determine the outcome of a game.
Especially suitable for critical situations.
In 5 seconds, Kobe began to move, followed by Paul George.
It was a great honor and a great challenge to keep an eye on the "idol" at the last moment. Paul George worked 120% harder than usual.
Kobe made several breakthrough moves, but they were all blocked by Paul George. Paul George's defense this season is no joke. He was shortlisted for the top eight DPOY this season, and was ranked second in the best defensive team mock voting.
Lineup. Next year, James will even be pushed out of the lineup and squeezed into the first defense. His perimeter defensive strength is absolutely unparalleled in the league.
Moreover, he is still under 23 years old this season, and his young body is enough to maintain good physical fitness at the last moment.
Kobe was in trouble for a moment, and at this moment, there was less than 3 seconds left before the end of the game.
Just when Pacers head coach Frank Vogel was very satisfied with Paul George's single defense, Roy Hibbert's voice suddenly came from the inside and said, "Be careful with the wall! Be careful with the wall! Paul, be careful...
..." Before he could finish speaking, Paul George's vision suddenly went dark while he was moving, and then he was pinned to the spot.
When he came to his senses, Kobe in front of him had already broken through his defense.
"Defend, defend! Go and defend Kobe! Go and defend Kobe immediately!!!" At this time, Frank Vogel couldn't calm down anymore, because Kobe's reputation in the league and his performance in the first few balls were enough to make him feel worried.
Trembling. With the help of Tang Qian's pick-and-roll screen inside, Kobe got rid of Paul George's defense, and then took off at a 45-degree angle to the left.
"Kobe, don't think about shooting so easily!!!"
The Pacers' reputation as a strong defensive team this season is not for nothing, so they quickly switched defenses and defenders, rushing out from the wing area and heading straight for Kobe's shooting direction.
It was Lance Stephenson and George Hill. Both of them abandoned their defenders, both attacked, and rushed towards Lakers No. 24!
This is a very correct defensive decision.
Because firstly, the time is limited, Kobe may not pass the ball very well; secondly, even if it reaches the three-point line, the shot is still a 2-pointer, and now the Pacers can lead the Lakers with a 3-pointer; thirdly... they...
Everyone bets on Kobe’s personality and he will never pass the ball!
If there were "old fish" Fisher and Steve Nash, Kobe might be able to pass this ball, but with the Lakers' current perimeter lineup, he has no such intention at all.
All attention was focused on the Pacers' basket.
However, the Pacers' defense was really fast and timely. In the blink of an eye, they had rushed to the effective defensive area, which could form a strong defensive interference for No. 24.
"Bryant! You can't shoot! You're finished!"
Lance Stephenson looked at Kobe, who was very close, and shouted loudly. At this time, it was impossible for anyone to help No. 24, so he had confidence in his speed and jumping.
Kobe Bryant, you are an old guy born in the 1970s, and now the world belongs to us born in the 1990s, so just admit defeat!
The golden generation of 1996 is already a thing of the past!!!
Kobe looked at the two Pacers players who were "baring their teeth and claws", and there was no fluctuation on his face at all. His movements and rhythm continued to stretch, and he took off according to the original trajectory. Then... he leaned back and took a shot!
Stop suddenly, turn around, and make a three-pointer!
The action is still picturesque, but due to his leg strength and physical fitness, Kobe's ball's take-off height is not very high.
There is still a possibility of being defended.
But in the eyes of Lance Stephenson and George Hill, No. 24 was gradually moving away from them, which gave both of them the illusion of "impossibility".
Kobe's ball was indeed not high enough to take off, but his backward movement was so large that he lost his balance... and kept drifting backwards. It can be predicted that after this ball is released, Kobe will definitely
It was about to fall outside the sideline, and it fell heavily outside the sideline.
But none of these can stop his determination to shoot.
Suddenly, Tang Qian on the side remembered a Nike advertisement from a few years ago:
The advert says this:
IF.YOU.REALLY.WANT.IT.
Translated into Chinese it is:
As long as you are determined enough.
"Kobe Bryant made a wide-range fallback three-pointer. Neither Lance nor George blocked the shot, but the shot was too difficult. Even Kobe..." He was only halfway through the sentence,
With a "swipe" sound, it penetrated the Pacers' net and the hearts of the Indiana people.
"Go in, go in, the ball went in, Kobe Bryant hit a three-pointer, and the Lakers tied the score difference..."
After the goal, only 0.8 seconds of attack time was left for the Pacers, and then No. 24 crashed directly into the seats on the sidelines.
Although this was not a buzzer beater, it was not a buzzer beater, but when it landed on Tang Qian's head, it was far more shocking than an ordinary buzzer beater.
Suddenly, the image of Kobe Bryant playing against the Raptors in the previous 2012-2013 season came to his mind.
Single-handedly, he forcibly preserved the Lakers' hope for the game.
This is probably the epitome of the career of the so-called "second percentile in history".
Beep~
After the timeout, the Pacers made a long-range three-pointer, and the game entered overtime at 77-77.
PS: Thank you Kong Fen for the reward~ Thank you Knight Apprentice 555 Da Da, the fat man has offended you Da Da, Cheng Xueyu Da Da, I am a top ten, sunny man~ Da Da Da Da’s monthly ticket~
I hope Xiao Zi’s shallow writing skills can show a little bit of the classic nature of that game~