Pick Westbrook

Chapter 405 In the Private Room of the Staples Center
The game is over.

The Pelicans won the game 106:100.

科比打满40分钟，24投10中，罚球7罚6中，得到了26分7篮板2助攻的数据。

Warcraft Howard scored a large double-double with 25 points and 15 rebounds, and Nash had 12 points and 6 assists, but it is a pity that the Lakers encountered this multi-point Pelicans team.

伦纳德23分6篮板2抢断，吉米巴特勒18分5篮板4助攻，保罗20分11次助攻，JR史密斯13分3篮板2助攻，安东尼戴维斯10分10篮板。

Five Pelicans scored in double figures.

In the post-match interview.

A reporter noticed a band-aid on Kobe's brow, and asked curiously, "Kobe, are you okay?"

Kobe didn't care about the Band-Aid. In fact, he had a lot of such wounds on his arms, but the wound on the brow bone was prone to bleeding, so he put on the Band-Aid on the advice of the team doctor.

The team doctor said that the wound on the brow bone was not handled properly, and sweating would have some impact on the competitive state and feel during the game. Kobe did not hesitate to post it when he heard this.

"I'm fine," Kobe said.

The reporter continued: "The Lakers have fallen behind by a big score of 0:2. Although you performed well from beyond the three-point line tonight, it doesn't seem to make the Pelicans change their defensive strategy."

"They are still restricting the Lakers inside, still restricting the Lakers' mid-range, what are you going to do next?"

Kobe breathed a sigh of relief for the first time at this stage of the playoffs. After tonight's game, he has confirmed that he is not the Peter Pan of the year, and the black mamba who could win the game by himself is no longer there.

He lowered his head and then raised his head again, his eyes were still full of love and purity for basketball, as well as a strong competitive heart, just like when he was a teenager!
"I will do my best to play every game for the Lakers."

"The game is not over yet, we still have to hit the finals."

4 month 26 day.

Los Angeles.

Lakers fans greeted the streets, holding signs with Kobe's face in their hands to cheer and parade, while some unfriendly voices appeared.

"The Lakers are over, we can't beat the Pelicans."

"Last season, the Pelicans were our losers. Why can't we beat them this season?"

"Because we let go of Garnett and Odom, the future trade that consumes the team got Howard and Nash."

"The arrival of the two destroyed our original offensive and defensive system, and Nash's premium contract was even lost to grandma's family."

"Except for these four, we have no potential players and excellent rotation players. The playoffs are based on the lineup and whether there are any shortcomings. We have too many shortcomings. How can we compete with the Pelicans."

"In the final analysis, it was the offseason trade that caused the trouble, and now Los Angeles has become the laughing stock of the whole United States."

"What F4 Legion has no combat power at all."

"Someone has to be responsible for this matter, and team president Bass Jr. will bear the brunt!"

Staples Arena.

Kobe sat on the bench with his head raised and his eyes closed. He didn't know that the major media in Los Angeles had fallen out, and he didn't know that the fans were collectively denouncing the Lakers management.

Kobe has always turned off all his social media as soon as he enters the playoffs, and puts all his heart and soul on basketball.

He opened his eyes at this moment, just like his career in the past 17 seasons, stood up, held the lights above his head, and stepped on the court with firm eyes.

"Mamba! No Out!"

Game start.

Regular starter for the Pelicans.

The Lakers are regular starters.

Kobe took the lead in the attack, and he used Gasol's pick-and-roll to hit a three-pointer as soon as he came up.

Then the Lakers took the high double block again, Gasol and Howard participated in the pick-and-roll attack at the same time, in order to destroy the Pelicans' defensive system.

Seeing this scene, Barkley's eyes lit up and said: "This offensive tactic is not bad. It directly involves the shrinking zone defense of the Pelicans and expands the defense line. It not only frees up space inside, but also eases the defensive pressure Kobe faces on the outside."

"It's not like a play that Coach Mike Brown could come up with."

Lakers coach.

Mike Brown looked embarrassed. He really didn't have the talent to guide the offensive tactics. This offensive tactics play was thought up by Kobe and Nash.

Judging from the pictures on the court now, it seems to be working well.

Leonard's stalker-like defense was restricted by Gasol's pick-and-roll. Even if Leonard squeezed ahead and defended around the front, it would leave Kobe with a little breathing room.

This kind of opportunity and space is completely enough for Kobe. In addition, there is a more secure high-post double pick-and-roll. Kobe can directly face the defense of Jordan Jr. and Anthony Davis after the pick-and-roll.

Small fight big, Kobe is also very good at.

The Lakers started with an 11-5 offense.

The Staples fans at the scene immediately burst into extremely enthusiastic applause, and some bold fans even shouted, the Lakers championship.

"pause!"

Li Lai frowned and walked to the technical desk and called a timeout.

It was indeed beyond his expectation that the Lakers suddenly came up with such targeted offensive tactics. Li Lai was very familiar with Mike Brown.

Even Li Lai admired the opponent's accomplishments on the defensive end, but on the offensive end, it was like a puddle of mud, with no achievements.

"But this time, Mike Brown did a great job."

Stevens looked at Li Lai with some concern, he didn't think of a solution to this tactic.

Because Gasol and Howard are both wide-shouldered inside players, the pick-and-roll effect is excellent, and Kobe has such a pinnacle of singles skills, giving him such an offensive opportunity is really like sending points.

Du Feng suggested: "How about we implement an early double-team tactic against Kobe?"

So far in the playoffs, the Pelicans have not double-teamed Kobe, because Leonard's defensive restrictions on the opponent are very good.

In addition, there is Jimmy Butler on the side to assist in the defense, and the Pelicans also adopted a defensive strategy of shrinking the zone defense, so there is no need for the Pelicans to double-team Kobe.

This is also the first time since Li Lai met Kobe in the playoffs that he did not use double-team tactics.

"no!"

Li Lai shook his head and refused, saying, "If we double-team Kobe, our defensive tactics will no longer exist."

"Shrinking the zone defense is a special test of the integrity and positioning of the defense. The double-team defense will make our defensive tactics self-defeating, and it is very easy for Gasol and Howard to get inside scoring opportunities."

"In this round of the series, I never regarded restricting Kobe as the primary goal, but Howard and Gasol inside."

"As long as these two can't play normally or play abnormally, then the Lakers will never be able to beat us."

Stevens raised his head in surprise, Du Feng was stunned and also felt a little surprise.

Li Lai said with a smile: "Although I feel a little arrogant when I say this sentence, it is indeed a truth."

"Kobe, he's old."

The game restarts.

Barkley straightened his body and said in shock: "The Pelicans have changed."

Kenny Smith looked on the court and found that the Pelicans' defensive position had really changed a lot.

Before that, the zone defense was contracted, and almost all 5 players stood one step inside and were in the state of matchup defense and assist defense at the same time.

Such a defensive position consumes a lot of physical energy for the players, and it also tests their rotation speed and defensive urgency.

But now, with Leonard jumping a little further on the defensive end first, Jimmy Butler puts Ariza a step further.

On the court, Kobe continued to implement high pick-and-roll tactics, but this time Jimmy Butler on the weak side immediately rushed over to help defend.

The key core of the pick-and-roll lies in the pick-and-roll. Only one gear and one roll can be powerful. The core of this tactic lies in this key point.

But the Pelicans were obviously unwilling to be fooled, so they used Jimmy Butler on the weak side to help defend and participate in breaking the pick-and-roll.

In this way, Kobe will lose the chance to score easily in singles, and it will be impossible to play big. Gasol and Howard will continue to encounter Anthony Davis and Jordan Jr. if they want to attack down.

In this round of the series, both Gasol and Howard clearly felt the restriction of the Pelicans inside.

A young Jordan, his defensive skills have improved significantly compared to the previous two years, especially the amazing efficiency in the interior frame protection. Howard was obviously greatly affected in the confrontation with the opponent.

Another rookie, Anthony Davis, Gasol himself is a very talented player, but after meeting the octopus-like Anthony Davis in front of him, he felt inexplicably in his heart that the opponent was more talented than himself. High thoughts.

After all, the Lakers recovered very well after the All-Star Game. Although they still haven't played a championship-level performance, they are not so bullied by their opponents.

The Pelicans' defense really put a lot of pressure on these players.

"Kobe stopped the ball!"

Under the defense of the Pelicans, Kobe not only failed to find an opportunity to attack, but was also stopped by Leonard who was following up.

Kobe quickly looked for the position of his teammates, and finally saw Ariza who was open, and passed the ball decisively.

Jimmy Butler had already received the coach's instructions. The moment Kobe stopped the ball, he rushed in the direction of Ariza, and the latter caught the ball and rushed to shoot.

Jimmy Butler quickly followed and jumped hard.

Duang!

It still interferes!

Ariza missed a three-pointer.

The Pelicans counterattacked quickly. Jordan picked up the backcourt rebound and passed it directly to Chris Paul on the center line. The latter dribbled the ball with one hand and made a long pass, and quickly passed it to Jimmy Butler who was down.

boom!
Jimmy Butler scored with a one-handed dunk!
"The Lakers' offense is still broken."

At the CCTV commentary station, Su Qun couldn't help but sighed.

Originally, at the beginning of this game, the Lakers once gave people a hope that they would make a strong comeback in tonight's game. First, this is the Lakers' home court. Second, they found a way to break the Pelicans' zone defense. Third, Kobe Bryant Feeling hot after the opening.

But only 4 minutes after the opening, the Pelicans quickly used a timeout to completely crack the Lakers' offensive tactics, and there was no flaw in the crack.

Yu Jia said: "If the Lakers can't find a solution to the Pelicans' defensive tactics as soon as possible, it will still be difficult for them to win tonight's game."

Su Qun nodded and said, "Coach Mike Brown is also a defensive coach, and he is notoriously unresponsive in the league."

The first quarter ended quickly.

The Pelicans came from behind and took the lead with 32:30.

In the rotation lineup in the second quarter, it was a combination of Beverly, JR Smith, Vince Carter, Diaw and Oden.

The Lakers followed the strategy of playing the game, allowing Nash and Howard to lead the substitute players to fight at this time.

Oden still had a hard time defending Howard. Diaw's defense in the interior was not effective. Howard felt hot tonight, turning back and scoring dunks and layups consecutively.

But at the same time, with this lineup, because Diora was restrained from outside the three-point line, Howard on the inside couldn't defend, and the Pelicans focused on outside offense. JR Smith and Vince Carter got three-point opportunities in a row.

Lakers coach.

Mike Brown watched Nash and Howard play a very good offensive cooperation. As a result, the Pelicans ushered in a three-point bombing of 12 of 6 in a single quarter.

At the end of halftime.

The Pelicans have already led 70:62.

In the second half of the game, Kobe, who refused to admit defeat, made another effort.

Different from the previous two games, in this quarter Kobe knew that there are tigers in the mountains and he is biased towards the tigers. He insisted on forcibly breaking through the Pelicans' defensive formation, trying to disrupt the entire defense line of the Pelicans with a sharp breakthrough.

In the process of defending Kobe's breakthrough, Leonard and his opponent both fell to the ground and flew out of the court. Jimmy Butler's help defense directly pressed Kobe from the air.

During a Kobe breakthrough, he stood in front of the terrifying four defenses of Jordan, Big Eyebrow, Leonard and Jimmy Butler.

beep!beep!
Kobe made consecutive breakthroughs and made fouls to get to the free throw line and hit the basket steadily.

But looking at the score on the court, it did not open.

The Pelicans are still scoring, and more efficiently than the foul-only Lakers.

"Kobe wants to push the Pelicans further down the line so that the Lakers' perimeter shooters can get better shots."

"But it's a pity that the overall defensive discipline and defensive awareness of the Pelicans are still as good, which is why the Pelicans have always avoided starters staying on the court for a long time."

"Coach Li Lai hopes that his starting lineup will always maintain such aggressive defensive pressure as long as he is on the court."

Su Qun looked at the same score and shook his head again and again.

The third quarter of the game has ended, and the score on the court has come to 95:85.

It is really difficult for the Lakers to even out this 10-point disadvantage in front of such a strong defensive Pelicans.

In the fourth quarter of the game, Kobe, who knew he couldn't do anything, still stubbornly broke through the basket again and again, throwing his body into the air and still on the floor.

He told himself that the Lakers still had hope of winning, as long as Leonard and Jimmy Butler made 6 fouls, the Pelicans' defense could still be broken.

Kobe singled Leonard, a mid-range score that almost lost his balance.

Turning around, Leonard fought back from the mid-range, and then Jimmy Butler forced Kobe to the basket and made a rebound. Kobe was called a foul.

The tough Jimmy Butler reminded Kobe of himself when he was young. He was helpless and completely helpless at this time.

Then the Pelicans' offense almost fell on Leonard and Jimmy Butler, who almost singled Kobe for every ball.

Kobe was scored many times by Leonard and Jimmy Butler, who are young and strong but also good at mid-range singles, and made a lot of fouls.

Kobe patted the ball vigorously, gritted his lips and looked helpless, and then he still wanted to give the two some color, but the two defended tacitly and directly intercepted the ball with help defense.

"The Lakers are going to lose."

In the private room of the Staples Arena, Old Buss said with red eyes.

(End of this chapter)