So I am the god of basketball?

He scored 65 points and led his team to victory over the Pacers, a powerful team ranked in the top three in the Eastern Conference.

This is what Meng Lang did tonight.

When he sat down at the post-match press conference, he could clearly see that every reporter's face was more or less shocked.

Before the game, Meng Lang said that if 50 points couldn't lead the team to victory, then 60 points would be the goal.

It was a bold statement at the time, but they just took it as "inspiring" words. After all, even if it was Meng Lang, it wasn't like he could just get 60 points.

What's more, they are facing a strong team like the Pacers, so the chances of scoring 60 points are even smaller.

But I didn’t expect it!
Damn it, he actually did it.

65 points and led the team to victory!
And his total points are higher than all the Pacers starters combined.

This……

It’s really shocking!

You know what Larry Bird said?
After the game, he said to the camera: "There are always a few bastards in this league who can destroy everything with their own strength. You can't limit them at all! Dream is such a bastard!"

Reggie Miller has always been dissatisfied with Meng Lang, but tonight he was very honest in facing Meng Lang's questions: "I think this is why we can't beat him. He can always create such a big scene."

Olajuwon said: "If it weren't for him, I would have had a more successful career. I think so, but what else can I say? His performance is there. Such a person can make anyone a background board, including me, of course!"

The tone of "Big Dream" was filled with frustration.

Not only because of tonight's defeat, he also thought of his two defeats against Meng Lang in the finals. Especially the first time, he still didn't seize the opportunity even in such a situation.

But Meng Lang’s performance at that time was really... surprising!

He always uses this kind of unreasonable performance to win the game. This may be the reason why Olajuwon is frustrated. He feels that it is not just Meng Lang playing well, it is more like God is playing with him.

Facing these surprised looks, Meng Lang adjusted the microphone in front of him and spoke in a sonorous voice: "Listen, I know that many media outlets are doubting the Lakers and questioning whether I should change back to my original style of play. I know that such voices will appear when the Lakers keep losing. Even if they disappear now, as the Lakers fall into the same situation again, these voices will still appear. But what I want to say is that no one should question my style of play and my ability to lead a team!"

"Time will tell. All my decisions, whether right or wrong, will not affect my leading the team to victory!"

If someone else said this, the media would think it was crazy, but when this guy who won three championship trophies in the first four seasons of his career said this, no one dared to question the value of his words.

Meng Lang had the most successful first four years of his career in NBA history.

If he continues this momentum, he will become the most successful player in the first five or six years of his career in NBA history.

If you question such a player, you may have to ask yourself how many keys you can make.

However, Meng Lang did not take all the credit for tonight's victory to himself.

People like him are used to saying "I" when they lose and "we" when they win.

"Kobe did a great job in the second half of the fourth quarter. He seemed to have finally found his position. He used his defense to open up the situation for us. We made several defensive counterattacks. It all started with Kobe's defense..."

Meng Lang gave Kobe enough praise, more praise than he received in the entire season last season.

So much so that when Kobe noticed this in the newspaper the next day, he was completely shocked.

This, this, this, is this talking about me?
Are you sure the person speaking is Meng Lang?
Could it be that he was entangled by something unclean?
But it should be said, although it is unrealistic, but seeing Meng Lang's evaluation of himself, Kobe kept surging in his heart:

Cool!
Hum, it seems that getting this guy's approval is not that difficult! I just need to work a little harder on the defensive end and he can see my ability.

Hey, it’s really not challenging.

Kobe didn't realize that he was now feeling complacent because of Meng Lang's exaggeration. He even had the thought of "I'll start with defense from now on" that he was about to become like Meng Lang.

What does “influencing people invisibly” mean?

Being beaten by Meng Lang in singles for a long time has actually planted the seed of "this man is God" in Kobe's heart. And being recognized by God means that what he did is right.

Since it is correct, of course we should keep going!
Next, the Lakers returned to their home court. In the last game, Meng Lang scored 65 points in a single game, which helped the team get rid of the dilemma of "three consecutive losses", which also made the Lakers fans enthusiastic tonight. Even though they were facing another strong team:
The Minnesota Timberwolves are currently ranked fifth in the Western Conference, just two wins behind the Lakers!

They also firmly believe that the Lakers can achieve "two consecutive victories."

The Timberwolves did not change their lineup this season, the only change may be that they sent Laettner away. Probably to ensure that Kevin Garnett has absolute authority even in the locker room.

There is no way. Just like Lightner had studied in the "South Korean Country", he attaches great importance to things like seniority and often suppresses newcomers based on their seniority.

After he left, the player who played with Kevin Garnett was Tom Gugliotta. He was the sixth pick in the first round of 92, 6 meters tall, 2 kg "little tank". Like most white inside players, he was slow and was mainly responsible for helping Kevin Garnett defend.

Of course, given his height and weight, Kevin Garnett often can't bear the weight that he is unwilling to bear.

The backcourt is the "Duke Twins" Bob Hurley and Ray Allen.

The two of them are a bit like the Jazz's "backcourt duo", who look like "big sieves" on the defensive end, but one is stable and the other has plenty of shooting firepower. Plus Sam Mitchell, a tough small forward with good shooting firepower.

This year's Timberwolves continue to maintain their middle position in the Western Conference.

There's nothing we can do. In terms of the team's ceiling and talent, they are indeed far behind the top four in the Western Conference.

However, the recent weak state of the Lakers has given them hope of squeezing into the top four. They are eager to win this game and further narrow the gap with the Lakers.

Another point is that Meng Lang used to seem so high and mighty and out of reach, but this season's Lakers, despite Meng Lang's good personal firepower, other players on the Lakers are indeed holding Meng Lang back.

This was really the period when Meng Lang was at his weakest, so this group of people had some more ideas, such as...

The following guilty!

And they showed this momentum from the beginning. When Meng Lang walked out from the wing and took the ball in his hands, Mitchell stepped forward to confront him immediately and was extremely fierce.

Although the effect is not very good...

Meng Lang's current confrontation ability is top-notch even at the No. 3 position. Mitchell can only be considered as a confrontation player at the No. 3 position, but it is really difficult for him to have an impact on Meng Lang. Just look at Meng Lang's body shape when he holds the ball, there is no shaking at all.

Instead, Meng Lang took advantage of his overly anxious mentality. He treated Mitchell as a pillar, turned around and followed him from the other side to complete the breakthrough. When Mitchell reacted, he had been left behind.

Kevin Garnett's defensive speed was very fast, but Meng Lang had no intention of attacking the basket. With no defender in front of him, he took a mid-range jump shot with the ball and made it easily.

"It seems that his good touch from the last game has continued to tonight." Fortunately, Bill Walton did not say this to the Timberwolves players, otherwise they would probably break out in cold sweats after hearing this.

The Pacers couldn't defend against Meng Lang, let alone them.

Before worrying about whether Meng Lang will continue his form from the previous game, the Timberwolves need to worry more about their own offense.

Bob dribbled the ball to the front court, and the moment Ray Allen got the ball, Kobe came close to him, and Ray Allen tried to scare Kobe away with a "triple threat" posture. But Kobe's nonchalant look made the ball fly out of his hand.

Ray Allen made a mistake!
He rushed towards the ball, and at the same time, a more ferocious "dog" pounced on the ball in advance.

Kobe held the ball, his body still sliding on the floor, his eyes already looking for his teammates. After sliding about 5cm, the ball flew from his hand into Jones's hand, and the Lakers started a fast break.

4-0!

"Hehe~"

Kobe stood up like an angry bull. If you get close to him, you can almost hear the anger coming out of his nostrils.

While defending this ball, he silently thought in his heart:
Yes, yes, that’s the way. As long as I continue to stick to this way, my performance will get better and better.

He glanced at Ray Allen and muttered to himself:
Meng Lang's descendants are nothing more than this!
The Timberwolves attacked again, and this time Kevin Garnett received the ball in the high post.

Kobe's reckless defense just now successfully ignited the atmosphere on the scene, which caused the entire audience to boo when the Timberwolves attacked.

At such moments, Garnett knew very well that if he did not stand up, he would not be worthy of being the "new wolf king" of the Timberwolves.

Ben Wallace stepped up immediately.

His height allowed Garnett to rush in with the ball without any scruples.

It's just a little embarrassing...

Facing Ben Wallace's defense, he was unable to hold on.

He originally received the ball in the high post and tried to make a strong shot, but in the end he shot from one step inside the three-point line.

Well, "fighting and retreating" is also an old traditional skill of Kevin Garnett.

This is the Garnett that Meng Lang is familiar with!

But we have to admit that this is indeed his killer weapon, the mid-to-long-range jump shot. Just talking about the inside position, there are really few people who are more stable than him.

The ball fell into the basket and the Timberwolves scored 2 points.

But before he could catch his breath, the Lakers rushed over with murderous intent. Meng Lang grabbed the ball in the backcourt and rushed in without stopping. Kevin Garnett covered his face. Meng Lang passed the ball from his waist to Divac behind him.

"Bah!"

Succeeded with a dunk.

In less than 6 seconds, the Lakers completed the counterattack.

Kevin Garnett thought about how hard he had just tried to hold the ball and attack, and he was really a little sad. But even if it was difficult, he had to get the ball at this time.

Because the Timberwolves need him to score.

But this time, after Ben Wallace pushed him out of the high post, Eddie Jones on the outside immediately came to double-team him. The ball went from his hands to Bob's hands, and Eddie Jones returned to him.

The Timberwolves entered a "dead ball".

The ball couldn't be passed at all in Bob's hands.

Finally, Ray Allen forced a three-pointer with 24 seconds left, but the ball hit the basket and fell out.

The Lakers held on for another attack.

For the Timberwolves, it is uncomfortable not to be able to score, and it is even more uncomfortable not to be able to defend against the Lakers' offense.

It was only at this time that the Timberwolves head coach realized that the height of their outside players was not a match for Meng Lang. Mitchell was okay at defending other teams' forwards, but facing a forward like Meng Lang who was big and strong, he really had no way to deal with him.

He watched Meng Lang easily squeeze into the three-point line, and on the move, he made a fake move to deceive Kevin Garnett who was coming up, and then he dunked under the basket. The whole action was smooth and flowing, giving people the feeling that he was playing a training game, no, it was much easier than a training game.

It felt to them like they were playing a teaching game.

Yes, that’s what it feels like!

The score difference soon reached 12 to 2.
Except for Kevin Garnett who scored 2 points, no other Timberwolves player scored a single point during this period.

Kevin Garnett was a little confused.

No, who is actually beating such a strong team?

Didn’t you say you’re not in good shape?

You call this kind of start a bad state?

can only say……

It’s just bad luck!
The Lakers did adjust their playing style some time ago. But after defeating the Pacers after a three-game losing streak, the team seemed to have found the "code book" again. The team has momentum and the team's playing style has gradually taken shape.

Just look at Kobe.

He knew very well that he had to defend now, defend desperately, and didn't need to think about anything else. And it was this idea that made him very eye-catching at the start of tonight. The Timberwolves' inability to open up the outside line had a lot to do with him.

Others were also influenced by him and became more committed in defense.

The Lakers' current playing style is somewhat similar to that of the Philadelphia 00ers in the 01-76 season.

That team had only one main attacking point, and that was Allen Iverson at the No. 2 position. The others were mainly responsible for cleaning up after Allen Iverson on the defensive end and defending hard.

The Lakers' defensive configuration can be equated with that of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Most importantly, even Allen Iverson in the 00-01 season was far inferior to Meng Lang. (End of this chapter)