Legendary star

Chapter 808 The Chaotic Lakers

"Kobe, that kid doesn't seem to convince you?" When Dwyane Howard and Tim Duncan, who represented the Lakers and Spurs, both walked into the center circle, Meng Xu, who was standing near the center line, faced Not far away, Kobe, who was slightly bent over, said with a smile.

The boy Meng Xu is talking about is Dwyane Howard who has entered the middle circle. As the Lakers' biggest signing this season, the Lakers have high hopes for Howard. They originally expected to have Dwight Howard. After that, the Lakers were able to reproduce the glory of winning two championships in previous years, but Dwight Howard did not play the role they imagined. One was because of Howard's intermittent injuries, and the other was the relationship between Howard and Kobe. As the boss of the Magic and the number one center in the league, Dwight Howard will not be willing to be the second and third.

"That's much better than you returning to the Spurs as a younger brother!" Originally, Kobe wanted to say that I would definitely subdue this kid, but then he thought that saying that would definitely fall into Meng Xu's trap, so Kobe responded very directly. Meng Xu started to taunt.

"I didn't expect to see you in a few years. Your level is good!" Kobe's irony almost choked Meng Xu. Although the Spurs do not have a nominal boss now, the leader of the locker room is Duncan, and the core of the court is Meng Xu. Xu, but Meng Xu gave up his position in Indiana, and chose to return to San Antonio to make a comeback, which is still not understood and recognized by many people.

The current lineup of the Pacers is reasonable and the salary space is sufficient. In the absence of a superstar, they were able to fight the final champion Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals for seven games last season. Such a team is definitely Meng Xu's comeback The best choice, as long as Meng Xu returns to the Pacers, the Pacers are likely to end this troubled world and continue to rule the NBA for several years. The severely aging Spurs, not to mention the outside media and critics, even Kobe and others who have a very good relationship with Meng Xu, do not understand Meng Xu's choice. There are shortcuts not to take, and there are simple and spacious rooms. Instead of going on the big road, I chose the most difficult and rugged mountain road.

As the referee's whistle blew, Kobe ignored Meng Xu and focused all his attention on the game. According to the basic prediction, when Tim Duncan jumped the ball, he would definitely jump. If they don't win against Howard, the first offense after the opening basically belongs to the Lakers. As the leader and top scorer of the Lakers, Kobe has to think about how to complete the first offense after the opening.

Sure enough, as Kobe expected, Howard easily defeated Tim Duncan in the jump ball and moved the basketball to the Lakers' half court. After Steve Nash got the ball, Kobe quickly moved towards The frontcourt advanced, but what made Kobe a little regretful was that it was not Meng Xu who faced him at the beginning of the game, but Kawhi Leonard. Although this second-year rookie's defense was worse than Meng Xu, and his own The offensive rate will also be more efficient, but Kobe still hopes to match up with Meng Xu and beat him upright.

With Phil Jackson opting to retire after the Lakers' three-peat failure and his replacement Mike Brown fired after a failed season, the Lakers' triangle offense came to a screeching halt again in the Lakers' place. - D'Antoni, at the beginning of taking office, prepared to transplant his own running and bombing tactics to the Lakers, but the 38-year-old Nash, 34-year-old Kobe, 32-year-old Gasol, 33-year-old Artest, these old Can the guys complete D'Antoni's 7-second offense?

The 38-year-old Nash is no longer the peak Nash of the Suns. However, D'Antoni still gave Nash the heavy responsibility of controlling the ball. Although Kobe also has a certain organizational ability, he is better at scoring, so he used the guard as a tactic. The point of running and bombing tactics, after coming to the Lakers, there was obvious acclimatization.

Moreover, with the Lakers having Howard and Gasol as two major insiders, playing small ball tactics is simply cutting their feet to fit their shoes. Howard doesn't like pick-and-rolls, but likes low-post singles, but D'Antoni doesn't give him the ball. Let Nash pick-and-rolls , and then waiting to eat the cake, Gasol moves slowly, and his low-post footsteps are his specialty, but D'Antoni let him pull to the outside to shoot three-pointers, D'Antoni does not teach according to his aptitude, but does the opposite The practice not only caused complaints within the Lakers, but also caused the Lakers' tactical system this season to be in chaos. Dwight Howard, in particular, has publicly stated many times that he is very dissatisfied with his position and role in the Lakers.

The first offense after the opening just started, D'Antoni on the sidelines frowned, with a dissatisfied expression on his face. Howard, who was already standing in the low post, originally reached out to Nash for the ball, but Howard saw Nash made a pick-and-roll gesture towards him, and after cursing a few words in a low voice, he slowly ran towards the top of the arc.

However, Tim Duncan pretended not to see Howard who was pulled out for a pick-and-roll. I don’t care where you pull him. Pau Gasol, Tim Duncan would have done it no matter what.

After completing the pick-and-roll with Howard very logically, looking at Tim Duncan, who was already standing on the edge of the paint and staring at him, even though Nash was already open, Nash still did not cut towards the basket, but after hesitating for a moment, Choose a mid-range shot.

"Bang!" There was a sound, and after Steve Nash made a mid-range shot, D'Antoni on the sidelines, Kobe on the court, and Howard all frowned as they watched being embraced by Tim Duncan basketball.

D'Antoni arranged for Pau Gasol to be pulled outside to shoot three-pointers, and Howard was arranged to pick and roll near the top of the arc and the free throw line. In this case, once the shot is missed, it is difficult for the Lakers to grab rebounds , so Howard, Gasol, and Kobe on the court all complained about D'Antoni's tactics and strategies. The number of rebounds can only be ranked outside the top ten in the league, and the offensive rebounds are the bottom in the league. This is not without reason. Although teams that play small ball tactics have always been short boards in terms of rebounds, a team like the Lakers The interior configuration, if you can't grab rebounds, it's a bit unreasonable.

As for D'Antoni on the sidelines, he was lamenting the rapid decline in Nash's state. If it were changed to the past, Nash would definitely go straight to the basket. Even if Tim Duncan was guarding there, Nash would go to the impact without hesitation. He, but now, Nash's body and mentality no longer allow Nash to do this. At the same time, D'Antoni's arrangement of Tim Duncan staying at the basket for the Spurs is also a bit tricky for the Lakers and D'Antoni. Pulled out to defend against pick-and-rolls, Nash has no room to break through. The key is that Howard has no mid-range, which is very embarrassing.

(End of this chapter)