He just played basketball and became the chosen one...

Chapter 192: Paranoia is both a shortcoming and an advantage! What kind of performance will the scoring champion perform in the playoffs?

In the first game of the Western Conference Finals, the Nuggets showed their strength as a two-peat team.

They used a strong joint defense to contain Kobe, but also contained the Lakers' role players.

The Nuggets' defensive strategy is actually very simple. They don't double-team Kobe from beyond the three-point line, so as to suppress the rest of the Lakers and not directly give others big open opportunities.

But for Kobe, he started to flank him at the free throw line and the area extending from the free throw line.

As soon as Kobe gets close to the free throw line, Kirilenko will drop Gasol and immediately step forward to attack.

In fact, Bird used the method Green Kai used in the 08 Finals to restrict Kobe in advance.

08 Although Green Kai defended Kobe in a somewhat awkward manner, it was not always double-teaming without any thought.

When the defense first started, Ray Allen usually defended Kobe alone.

And once Kobe wants to cause trouble behind the free throw line, someone, usually Garnett, will come up to help defend.

Corresponding to the Nuggets, AK47 undoubtedly plays the role of Garnett.

This defensive strategy also led to Kobe's very strange shooting percentage distribution in the 08 Finals.

In the Finals that year, Kobe shot only 30% from the field when he was purely open.

The shooting percentage in single defense is an unqualified 39.13%.

But he shot 45.83% when playing double defense.

The three-man defense actually shot 60% from the field.

Just. Very Kobe.

Do you know why Kobe doesn’t like going home this season? Because there aren’t many people around, he can’t even play!

Kobe: Defending with three people allows me to focus more on shooting, but when there is only one person guarding me, I always wonder why they only use one person to guard me. It’s easy to get distracted!

Well, that's certainly not why Kobe's shooting percentage is so weird.

The real reason for this situation is that when Kobe faced single defense, he always took shots from not very good positions such as mid-to-long distance and outside the three-point line under extremely heavy pressure, and his efficiency was natural. Not high.

In the case of two-man defense and three-man defense, it is generally because Kobe has reached the position below the free throw line, so the shooting rate is higher.

To put it bluntly, the Celtics' strategy is not to double-team without thinking, but to help defend against the double-team when Kobe enters a high-threat area.

In this regard, Bird and the Celtics thought of going together, so they also used this trick to deal with Kobe.

And because he has the AK47 behind him, Artest can press the defense unscrupulously.

This makes Kobe's long-range shot very uncomfortable.

In addition, Kobe's touch was very average today, so he only made 26 of 9 shots in the game.

In this wave, Artest found the correct way to defend his excellent teammates.

If your teammates help you defend well, if you still work hard to pressure your opponent, your opponent will definitely have a hard time.

If you rely on your teammates to assist you in defense, so you go crazy and miss people throughout the whole process, and leave it to the person who is good at defense, then your teammates will not be injured every three days.

And because the Nuggets didn't attack blindly, Gasol and Odom didn't get many opportunities today.

They only scored 16 points and 14 points respectively, and could not make up for the scoring gap left by Kobe.

Of course, the Lakers did not relax their defense of Ryan.

They still use Ariza to lead the defense and consume Ryan, supplemented by a tight shrinking zone defense.

Except for Ariza, the other four players stood at the four corners of the three-second zone and adopted the so-called Box One tactic, that is, one-to-four combination.

This tactic is mainly aimed at teams whose overall offensive strength is not strong and who rely too much on a certain offensive point with outstanding capabilities.

This tactic rarely appears in situations like the Western Conference Finals, because teams that reach the Western Conference Finals generally don't have such good teammates.

However, the Nuggets' overall offense is really not very good this year, especially their long-range shots.

However, facing this kind of defense, the Nuggets' role players felt better today.

Artest scored 15 points and Monta Ellis scored 21 points.

In addition, Ryan also scored 26 points. Although the shooting rate was only 42%, it was enough to kill the game!

The Nuggets won 97-86, giving the Denver Miners a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals!

However, after the game, Kobe was not panicked: "This is just one damn Western Conference finals game!"

But what makes Los Angeles fans despair is that the Lakers lost the G2 series again!

In G2 of the series, the Nuggets followed the successful experience of G1 and used almost the same method to kill Kobe.

In the second game, Kobe still didn't get any good opportunities, and he was miserable.

But Gasol, the Spanish giant, woke up, took advantage of AK's gap to help defend Kobe, and scored 72.7 points with a super high shooting rate of 19%!

Kobe also rarely gave out 10 assists in the playoffs - before this, Kobe had only 10 assists in two games in the playoffs.

Most of these 10 assists were given to Gasol.

The tacit understanding between the two does not seem to need to be cultivated. You know my depth and I know the length of the relationship and the connection is completed.

Today, because Artest's touch is no longer outstanding, and the Lakers have adjusted their defense, Fisher began to mark Ellis, turning the Lakers' defense into a one-to-three combination.

Therefore, the Nuggets' role players are not as brave as before.

So today, although Kobe is very tough, the Lakers still insist on holding on to the game.

In the last 43 seconds of the game, the Lakers, who were only 3 points behind, actually had a chance.

At that time, Kobe and Artest were talking trash and fighting each other outside the three-point line.

In the end, the Black Mamba relied on a Reggie Miller-like push to get rid of Artest, gain a little space, and receive Fisher's pass.

It stands to reason that the Nuggets will not help defend Kobe from outside the three-point line.

But because this time is very special, Bird had arranged before that once Kobe catches the ball, he will attack directly!

So, when Kobe received the basketball from outside the three-point line, he saw Kirilenko completely abandoning Gasol and pounced towards him.

Gasol is ready to catch the ball and end the key attack.

As a result, this time, Kobe, who assisted Gasol throughout the game, paranoidly chose to take action himself at this critical moment!

Needless to say, the result was that under the double interference of Artest and the arriving AK47, Kobe's three-pointer bounced out of the frame.

Ryan grabbed the rebound himself, and after a one-stop counterattack, he used a two-handed dunk to narrow the point difference to 5 points.

Completely ending the suspense!

2-0, the Los Angeles Lakers lost all two away games!

At this moment, Kobe seemed no different from Paul.

Even stronger than Paul!

Before the game, Liu Bei was blowing loudly, but when the game started, he still couldn't win a single game.

However, after leading 2-0, Ryan's attitude was completely different from the previous round.

In the last round of competition, after Ryan won the first game, he had already milked Paul completely.

But in this round, even though the Nuggets were leading 2-0, Ryan still only said one sentence at the press conference:

“It’s not time to celebrate yet, our work isn’t over yet!”

That night, Barkley also commented on Kobe's final choice:

“In some aspects, Kobe’s character is very similar to McQueen.

They are both competitive and paranoid to the point of being perverted.

This kind of character is both a shortcoming and an advantage.

The downside is that this personality makes Kobe perhaps the guy with the most problematic shot selection of any superstar in NBA history.

Just like tonight, no one knew why he didn't pass the ball to Gasol, who was obviously hot at that critical moment.

But the advantage of this personality is that Kobe is one of the best 'difficult shot scorers' in NBA history!

He won't miss key goals like this every night. Kobe's character has two sides! "

And when the game returned to Staples Center, both Ryan and Barkley proved their worries were correct!

In G3, Kobe, who was still paranoid, immediately hit a quasi-winner!

In this game, Ryan was defended quite awkwardly because of his mediocre touch.

Because he has no back-up skills, once Ryan has a bad touch when facing the frame and is locked inside, it will be difficult to find other offensive methods.

But no matter how bad he felt, Ryan still scored 42 points with a 20% shooting rate.

Moreover, Monta Ellis made the old fish repeat the famous scene of "Oh, this young man really has two brushes" countless times today and scored 22 points.

Therefore, the Nuggets still take the initiative.

In the last 37 seconds of the game, the Lakers trailed by 2 points.

Once again, at this moment, Kobe paranoidly chose to solve the problem himself.

Facing Ryan Artest and AK who were rushing towards him, Kobe first feinted and pretended to shoot a three-pointer directly.

But while they were both focused forward, they suddenly took back the basketball and then accelerated straight to the basket!

The Denver Miners immediately filled the penalty area like crazy. Unexpectedly, Kobe was able to get rid of two defensive players at once.

At this time, there are gaps everywhere on the Lakers court. Gasol and Odom both got open mid-range shots.

But the paranoid Kobe didn't pass the ball. He faced Ben and Ryan who came up to defend him, turned 180 degrees in the air and wiped out the defense, gliding to the other side of the basket.

At this time, Kobe's athletic ability is definitely not as good as Ryan's.

If it were Ryan, he might just pull the lever and dunk, or use a terrifying hang in the air to make a layup when his opponent landed.

But Kobe, while his body was falling, he threw the ball softly toward the basket. Finally, this 180° turn lever hit the target!

And because Ben hit Kobe's forearm in a hurry, the referee also called a foul!

At the desperate moment, Kobe scored a three-pointer!

In the end, Kobe's extra penalty was a sure hit.

In the Nuggets' final round later, Ellis' pass to Ryan was directly intercepted by Ariza.

Ariza's desperate steals are an important part of the Lakers' success no matter where in history.

In this way, the 1-point advantage was maintained by the Lakers until the end.

Kobe used a sure-shot shot to turn the total score of the series into 4-0 when the whole world thought the Nuggets were about to sweep the Nuggets 1-2 to advance!

Barkley said that Kobe's paranoid and perverted character is both an advantage and a disadvantage.

In the last game, Kobe paranoidly took action on his own at a critical moment, causing the team to lose the game.

But today, everything is reversed.

At the critical moment, Kobe still paranoidly chose to attack the basket, and finally killed the game!

Ryan was right, the Nuggets' work is not over yet!

The Los Angeles Lakers are indeed not like the previous Hornets, they are by no means ordinary!

Even if the score is 2-0, champagne cannot be opened at halftime.

After the game, Kobe Bryant had no excited expression on his face like Ryan, who had led 2-0 before:

"It's just a win, nothing to celebrate.

I know what level of player Ryan is, and I also know that I am still three games away from a complete victory. "

From the interviews between Ryan and Kobe, it is not difficult to see that although they are bitter enemies, they often verbally humiliate each other.

But in fact, both people respect each other's strength.

Ryan knew that Kobe would not be killed so easily, and Kobe also knew that he must not get carried away.

In the series G4, both Ryan and Kobe performed well in the mid-to-long distance.

Kobe Bryant scored 25 points and shot 45% from the field. Ryan scored 29 points and shot 47%.

However, because the efficiency and output are both close, no one can kill anyone.

Just when people were speculating on who would be the winner of today's game, the most unlikely guy appeared.

The cunning Derek Fisher faced Monta Ellis in the fourth quarter and went around the screen four times in a row and made 4 of 4 shots.

Coupled with a counterattack layup and one of two free throws, Laoyu scored 11 points like a superstar in the fourth quarter!

This is why the Zen Master needs Fisher, because this guy always makes a difference when it is most needed and least expected!

The Zen master knew that Lao Yu was not a good character, but he still had the same hobbies as Cao Cao.

But because of this key attribute, the Lakers have to use him at the risk of being capped from top to bottom!

After the game, Ellis put his head in his hands.

In the last game, he beat the old guard to a pulp. So today, Monta Ellis ignored the old fish a little too much.

And in the first three quarters of the game, Fisher only scored 5 points.

But who would have thought that this old man would actually hit back with a heavy and accurate punch!

As the saying goes, one learns from one's mistakes. Now, young Ellis knows that in the playoffs, he must pay attention to veterans like Fisher.

But the lost G4 will never come back.

Ever since, 2 to 2!

Even when trailing 0-2, the Lakers won two consecutive games at home to equalize the series!

After the game, Lao Yu was very excited: "I am too old and too slow, but I am not completely useless! I am very happy that I can still help the team in my own way! We will definitely become the final champion!"

In four games, there was no margin of more than double digits in any of the games.

In the four games, the two sides faced each other fiercely.

In the four games, the keys to victory for both teams are different.

In G1, the Nuggets' defensive strategy made the Lakers uncomfortable, while the Lakers' defense liberated the Nuggets' role players.

In G2, after the Lakers adjusted their tactics, the Nuggets' role players were suppressed, but Kobe's paranoid shooting changed the outcome of the game.

G3, Kobe Bryant's game-winner.

G4, the old fish broke out.

Both sides lose and win, there are players' duels and coaches' tactical games.

Kobe is right, this round of games is called the real playoffs!

After 2-2, the most exciting drama in the playoffs besides the tiebreaker is about to come!

The next battle at Tianwang Mountain will determine whether the Purple and Gold Legion will revive or the Denver Miners will create a new dynasty.

After the game, Kobe and Ryan naturally expressed their determination to win the next game.

Kobe believes:

"We have done a good job of limiting Ryan in this round. As long as we keep it up, we will definitely be the first to win the fourth game."

Lane said:

"Kobe is just a little harder to beat than other opponents, but he will be beaten in the end.

In fact, if it weren't for Derek Fisher's unreasonable performance today, we would have led 3-1.

But it doesn't matter, it's good to eliminate the Lakers with my own hands at Staples. "

Both men were unwilling to be outdone, and after the game, Barkley began his prediction again:

"Seeing this, you must think that this year's Western Conference Finals is exciting enough, right?

But let me tell you, the previous four games can only be regarded as trials at best!

In G1, the Lakers focused on the four-way, but Artest and Ellis punished this defense.

So the G2 Lakers immediately adjusted and changed to a three-pointer, and sent the old fish to keep an eye on Ellis.

Although the Nuggets won, the performance of their role players was immediately limited in that game.

The Nuggets also discovered new problems. They realized that if they let Gasol go too hard, the Spaniard would also cause big trouble.

So in G3, Kirilenko no longer let Gasol go short easily. If it weren't for Kobe's buzzer beater, the Nuggets would have been 3-0.

In today's G4, the Nuggets saw the power of Fisher, and their defense will definitely face corresponding challenges in the next game.

did you see it? In the first four games, both sides made adjustments and had variables.

They are all pushing each other to their limits step by step.

And after today, I can say that both teams have no room for adjustments and corrections!

It's impossible for Fisher to play in that game again, and it's impossible for Gasol to get so many opportunities.

Artest cannot be efficient every game, and the Lakers' defense against Ellis is getting tighter and tighter.

There are fewer and fewer factors that can change the outcome of the game. Next

Only Kobe and Ryan can influence victory!

So the battle of Tianwang Mountain is a king versus king showdown!

This also means that this round of the series is the most brutal stage! "

Buckley's analysis was clear and logical, and what he said was true.

In the battle of Tianwang Mountain, both sides have exhausted their tactics and tricks. Kobe and Ryan will directly determine the outcome of the game.

Kenny Smith then asked Feizhu: "So Master Pig, in your opinion, who will win this key battle next."

Buckley looked serious:

"Kobe has entered his true prime this season. Although he has lost some athleticism, his reading of the game, his maturity, his determination, and his skills are all at their peak.

His tenacity and competitive spirit are infinitely close to Jordan's.

I think it's possible for Kobe to win a championship within four years.

but!

If there is really someone in this world who can defeat Kobe, who is already so perfect.

Then this person must be Ryan! "

"Uh are you so sure Charles?"

"I can't be sure, but Ryan will help you determine it in the next game!"

After Barkley finished speaking, he looked at the statistics of the Nuggets' recent games.

It's been four games, and because the Lakers have been closely guarding one and three, Ryan hasn't gone completely crazy yet.

Not even a game scored more than 30 points.

To put it bluntly, the Nuggets have not yet reached the point where they have to rely on Ryan to solve the problem personally, and Ryan is still playing in a nearly reasonable way.

But in the next Tianwang Mountain, Ryan had no room to play reasonably.

so.

It’s time for Ryan to go crazy again!

What kind of terrifying performance will Ryan, who has become the regular season scoring leader, bring in the playoffs?

Flying Pig can't wait.

　Today’s 10,000-word update is here! The diligent old man kneels down and begs for a monthly ticket! Thank you stepfathers!

　　

　

(End of this chapter)