Pick Westbrook

Chapter 347 Everything Is Possible

Jenny Buss was startled, she looked at her father in surprise and said.

"Dad, are you talking about the guy you think is the biggest opponent in the history of the Lakers?"

For the first time at this time, Old Bath gave his beloved daughter a severe look, and reprimanded her.

"How can you describe him as a guy!"

"He was your father's most respected friend and favorite friend. Since he died of a heart attack in 06, I feel like I have lost the most important thing in my life."

Buss Jr. recalled that when he was a child, he witnessed his father building the Lakers into the top giants in the NBA.

The Showtime era, the OK dynasty, and the combination of Kobe and Gasol, the Lakers at that time were the brightest boys in the entire NBA.

But if you want to ask if there is any team in the NBA that can compete with such a glorious Lakers team, the answer is still there.

That is the Boston Celtics, also known as the rich team.

Little Buss turned his head to look at his father at this moment.

He had met Li Lai, but was he really as terrifying as that man?Is Old Bath delusional?

on the field.

The game has entered a critical stage.

In the fourth quarter, there were 1 minute and 30 seconds left in the game.

The Hornets fell behind 97:99.

It has already exceeded everyone's expectations that the series can reach such a wonderful level.

The resilience and potential shown by the Hornets in the game shocked everyone who watched the game.

Barkley couldn't help saying to the Hornets at this time, "the future is boundless."

Kenny Smith said very proudly: "The game is not over yet, and it is not impossible for the Hornets to overtake."

CCTV commentary desk.

Yu Jia sighed and said: "I originally thought that this round of the series would end with the Hornets being completely crushed by the Lakers, but now I want to change this view."

Su Qun agreed and said: "The Hornets played very well. Kobe made 3-for-0 shots in the fourth quarter, which made the Hornets dare to double-team Garnett and Pau Gasol more recklessly."

"It is precisely because of Kobe's tactics that the Hornets have achieved such a miraculous effect."

"In the last 1 minute and 30 seconds of the game, it depends on which team can last until the end."

Hornets attack.

Paul held the ball firmly and raised his head to signal.

In this round, the Hornets must hit the success rate.

Kobe bared his teeth completely showing the black mamba posture, and kept yelling to remind his teammates to pay attention to defense.

It was still the pick-and-roll brought up by Jordan, and it was still Gasol who switched on Paul.

It was a classic small fight big again, Kobe rushed over to double-team Paul without hesitation at this time.

Paul quickly passed the ball to Leonard at a 45° angle on the right. The moment the latter caught the ball, Kobe returned to defend.

Leonard still made a decisive three-point shot and completed the shot the moment Kobe's defense arrived.

Swish!
hit!

"The ball is in!"

Leonard remained expressionless, but also took a deep breath on the court.

The score overtakes.

The Lakers requested one final timeout.

The bald-headed Mike Brown was already a little panicked at the moment, he knew too well Li Lai's ability to arrange Mao Mao at critical moments.

Originally, he didn't want to call this timeout. After all, it meant that the Hornets could also make offensive and defensive arrangements.

But the game has progressed to this stage, Mike Brown can't help being nervous, he also wants to use this timeout to let Kobe take a good rest and recover some energy.

After all, calling a timeout to let the leading star rest has already been done, and he is very good at it.

Kobe pressed Mike Brown's tactical pad, and then called all his teammates to him.

"Give me the ball! Then pull away!"

The game continues.

Lakers offense.

Serving from the sideline, Kobe found Leonard and Jimmy Butler surrounded by two defenders before he stood on the court.

It turned out that during the timeout just now, the Hornets made substitution adjustments, taking Vince Carter and taking Jimmy Butler, who has a better defense.

Such a substitution intention is too obvious, isn't it just double-teaming Kobe!
Kobe's chest heaved and he glanced at Li Lai of the Hornets' coaching staff. This is not the first time he has been targeted by the opponent in the playoffs.

And Li Lai always knew what he wanted to do, as if he could predict the future.

Kobe didn't hesitate, pushed Leonard and Jimmy Butler at this time, and then started running.

Gasol held the ball high and kept staring at Kobe's position, but the chances were always bad.

Seeing that the free throw was about to be violated, Garnett decisively went up to ask for the ball, and then sent the ball out.

Garnett gave Bryant a look, then handed the ball to the other side, and set a high screen for Bryant to block defender Jimmy Butler.

Kobe went into the penalty area smoothly, and Leonard kept his defense in place.

At the distance from the free throw line, Kobe saw Jordan jumping over and took off early to make a mid-range shot.

Leonard pounced hard, only to find that Kobe's mid-range shot turned out to be slanted.

"He is jumping diagonally!"

"How is it possible to invest in this state!"

Swish!
The basketball hits steadily.

Kobe pointed at Leonard with both hands, and said, "Come on, you're about to guard me."

The Hornets have no timeout.

Li Lai hurriedly waved his hands near the center line to signal the players on the field to speed up the attacking rhythm, and Paul once again got the opportunity to play big with a small one.

This time it was Kevin Garnett who defended him.

Facing the defense of Garnett, the wolf king, Paul continued to shake and reached the basket again with experience, but was slammed out by a big hand behind him when he layup.

"It's Kevin Garnett!"

"This is the wolf king's defensive ability!"

"Even if you pass the opponent with Chris Paul, Garnett can come from behind and block this layup."

After the block, Garnett gritted his teeth with excitement, picked up the basketball and smashed it hard on his head.

The Hornets then attacked and hit the iron, and the game ended.

The Lakers narrowly beat the Hornets 101:100. Garnett completed a fatal block at the last moment to help the team win tonight's game.

Bryant and Gasol both walked over after the game and rubbed Garnett's big bald head.

The three veterans are very clear that there is not much time left for them.

"Please, never underestimate the heart of a champion."

Post-match interview.

The reporters took out the statistics of the game.

科比24投10中，罚球7罚6中，三分球6中2，砍下了28分5篮板3助攻的数据。

加内特13投7中，罚球4罚2中，砍下了16分9篮板3助攻2盖帽1抢断。

大加索尔11投6中，罚球5罚5中，拿下了17分8篮板4助攻1盖帽。

"Just judging from the data and performance of the Big Three of the Lakers, the Hornets seem to have a good defense against the Lakers."

"But in terms of high-level statistics, the Hornets allowed the Lakers to score a full 58 points in the interior tonight, which is a full 40 points higher than your 18 points in the interior."

"When a team loses so many points in the paint, it's very difficult to win the game."

Knowing that this was another reporter who only looked at statistics, Li Lai replied casually: "We will keep an eye on the Lakers' inside offense in the next game."

"Let them not score in that position so easily."

At this time, another voice sounded on the field.

"The Hornets have a lot of problems in the interior defense, especially in the defense at the power forward position."

"The Lakers did get a lot of easy points at power forward tonight, but the Hornets still came close to beating them and lost by one point in the end."

"Why the Hornets can do this, after all, everyone was not optimistic about you before the game."

Li Lai raised his head slightly in surprise, and after realizing that it was Zhang Weiping who asked the question, he couldn't help but lower his head and smile.

He naturally knew that Director Zhang was here to wait for him to finish the game, but the question he asked was obviously more advanced than the previous reporter.

Li Lai said: "Outside attack, misplaced singles, speed up the whole court."

"The Lakers' interior defense is really good, and Garnett's defensive ability put a lot of pressure on us."

"Paul is the only person we have to solve the Lakers defense, and he assumed the responsibility of the leader in this game."

"The players of the Lakers are generally too old, and speeding up to consume their physical strength is the goal set by the Hornets before the start of the series."

"Remember, this is a series, not a life-and-death match. It's not certain who will have the last laugh."

Zhang Weiping smiled and nodded, thinking that Li Lai was indeed the one.

This tactic is always designed to target the opponent's weaknesses, which will also make the entire Lakers team nervous.

If you don't have any tactical level, you really can't see the powerful relationship here.

at the same time.

In the private room of the Staples Arena, Jenny Buss and Buss Jr. broke out in a cold sweat at the same time.

"Almost overturned by the Hornets!"

"Are they really that powerful?"

Old Bath shook his head with a serious expression.

Most of the Hornets' players are rookies and young players, who have not yet reached their peak in experience and ability.

But it is such a Hornets team that almost pulled down the Big Three Lakers, which is enough to prove the strength of the Hornets coaching staff.

They really can make a team stronger and play beyond their own ability.

This reminds Buss Sr. of his once best friend, who was also his strongest enemy during his NBA years.

5 month 30 day.

The Hornets challenged the Lakers' second game away.

After a day and night of thinking, Mike Brown finally figured out what the Hornets' coaching staff was going to do.

They are not going to kill Kobe, but they are going to kill the entire Lakers.

Because the Lakers' players are mostly older experienced players, the Big Three's Kobe, Garnett and Gasol bear the brunt.

In terms of the average age of players, they are also 31 years old, which ranks first in the league.

Players at this age have already begun to decline in physical fitness and are extremely prone to injuries.

At this stage of the playoffs, most of the veterans of the Lakers have reached the point where their physical fitness is in danger.

So Li Lai's tactical strategy was really well planned.

But in Mike Brown's eyes, that's not the case at all.

"He is insidious!"

"What does that guy Li Lai use to make his mind? How can he always come up with some messy tactics?"

In order to avoid long nights and dreams, Mike Brown has told all the players in the team about the Hornets' insidious tactics.

There is only one thing they need to do now, and that is to resolve the battle with the Hornets as soon as possible to avoid being protracted and dragged further by the opponent.

At that time, I am afraid that the Lakers will really be overthrown by the Hornets due to physical problems.

To be turned over by such a team, in Mike Brown's view, that is a big joke.

Game start.

Garnett and Gasol are particularly active inside.

The two didn't dare to underestimate the Hornets team even more because of the last game, because the opponent really gave them a chance to kill them.

The two teamed up to contribute 20 points in the first quarter, helping the Lakers take a 32:23 lead.

In the second quarter of the game.

Bryant's playing time has been limited because Mike Brown is worried that Bryant will pull his hips in the fourth quarter due to physical problems like the previous game.

So Kobe didn't play until 1 minute later in the second quarter, and he left the game 1 minute earlier than the previous game.

And the price of such a substitution adjustment is that the Hornets' rotation lineup took this opportunity to play a wave of 10:2 small high slots.

JR Smith's sudden outburst completely exceeded the expectations of the Lakers coaching staff.

Halftime is over.

The Hornets fell behind 54:58.

In the second half of the game, Paul suddenly made 6 of 4 in a single quarter and sent 4 assists, which directly helped the Hornets tie the game in this quarter.

The coaching staff of the Lakers was in a state of confusion at this moment, calling two timeouts in a panic within 2 minutes, but it was completely useless.

Game four.

Both teams returned to the same starting line.

In this quarter of the game, the two sides also played the strongest defense since the series.

Leonard left the field with 6 fouls to defend Kobe, and Jimmy Butler also made 2 fouls in a row by Kobe.

Kobe was defended 5-for-0 in this quarter, but walked to the free throw line 10 times and hit 9 of them.

The Hornets lost the game by a living penalty.

105: 108.

The big score is 0:2.

The next game is going to New Orleans.

科比26投10中，罚球15罚14中，砍下了34分4篮板3助攻的数据。

凯文加内特14投8中，罚球5罚3中，19分8篮板2助攻2盖帽2抢断。

大加索尔12投5中，罚球4罚4中，14分10篮板。

黄蜂队这边，克里斯保罗19分4篮板13助攻1失误，伦纳德9分6篮板6犯规，JR史密斯17分3篮板2助攻，吉米巴特勒7分5篮板，迪奥6分4篮板4助攻，文斯卡特13分3篮板1助攻。

The Barkley Show.

Magic Johnson said in awe: "I have to change my point of view before the start of the series. This Hornets team is really very strong."

"They were able to defeat the Rockets and the Grizzlies to reach the stage of the Western Conference finals, not at all by luck but by their own strength."

"To force this Lakers team to win in the last minute of every game, I would say the Hornets have done a great job."

Barkley nodded in agreement and said: "The Hornets have proven their potential, and I believe they will be on the stage of the Western Conference playoffs in the next few years."

Kenny Smith looked at the two arrogantly, thinking that he had reminded you not to look down on the Hornets and coach Li Lai.

As a result, you didn't believe it and insisted on belittling them. Now it's your turn to be slapped in the face.

He said: "The next game will be moved to the home of the New Orleans Hornets."

"It's going to be a lot more difficult for the Lakers."

"Considering the age of the players in their team, if the Hornets really drag the game behind."

"Maybe the Hornets can really perform miracles."

O'Neill grinned happily and said, "This is my coach Li Lai."

"I have no respect for any coach other than Phil Jackson, and Li Lai is the only one."

"I followed him to witness the small ball era of the Bucks and the miracle of winning the three-point championship, so as long as he is there, everything is possible."

(End of this chapter)