Jim Bass Ambition

Chapter 247 Breakthrough
As Popovich expected, after returning to the court, Kobe Bryant began to dominate the game. He first took advantage of Billups' off-ball screen and then received the ball. Passing the ball, the fast break assisted Garnett to complete the dunk, opening the point difference to double digits.

The Spurs are still tenaciously resisting, Duncan shoulders all the burdens, Artest is almost sticking to him like a plaster, trying to interfere every round, but Duncan still keeps scoring points, after three quarters, Shifu Already had 31 points and had both Nene and Campbell backed by four fouls.

Of course, some of these fouls were paid by Zen Master in order to buy Garnett a rest time, press the rhythm on the offensive end, and use the Buddha-cutting tactics on the defensive end.

Although Duncan had no solution, the two points of Parker and Rasheed Wallace were strictly defended by the Lakers. Parker made 9 of 2 shots and Wallace made 11 of 3 shots. With the support of Prince and Turkoglu, the two forwards are both zero. Only Manu Ginobili's performance is still normal, and Yaodao scored 15 points, the second highest in the team.

On the other hand, the Lakers, although Kobe only scored 17 points, but after three quarters, 5 Lakers scored in double figures, and Battier also scored 2 three-pointers.

In the fourth quarter, as Duncan, who was physically exhausted, missed consecutive shots, the point difference became wider and wider.

Parker, Rasheed Wallace and others were replaced early, and they sat on the bench blankly, watching their teammates make the last effort. Ginobili tried to use three-pointers to close the point difference, but failed. The basketball he threw spun around the rim twice before being spat out again.

With 3 minutes left, the Lakers led by 18 points, and the game gradually lost its suspense.

After Billups received an assist from Garnett and made a three-pointer, the last hope of the Spurs was also declared shattered. Zen Master signaled that the player fouled intentionally and replaced it with a full substitute lineup.

When the five main players left the field, they gave high-fives to Karl Malone, who was watching the game with the team. They kept the results of the series, and the postman's championship dream can still continue.

As the number on the timer returned to zero, the Lakers beat the Spurs 98-82 away, eliminated their opponents 4-2 with a total score, and advanced to the finals first.

"Before the game started, I realized that this game would be very difficult. We lost the game, and that was the result." After the game, Duncan, who scored 38 points and 20 rebounds, still accepted the interview politely.

"Do you think your teammates have given you enough support?" A reporter who feared that the world would not be chaotic asked such a question.

"Everyone should be criticized after losing the game. It's not the fault of any one person." Duncan stared at the reporter with a blank expression on his face.

Obviously, it is unrealistic to try to get something out of Duncan.

But the next day, the major media launched a pot-sharing meeting.

"He made 13 of 2 shots in the life-and-death battle. Superstitious talent is not advisable. Should the Spurs trade Parker for Kidd?"

"The series is 14+7, and the rookie of the same class is blown away. Rasheed Wallace may be overestimated?"

"No three no four! Turkoglu's contract renewal is a fan, he will bid farewell to the NBA?"

The wind direction is basically that Duncan tried his best. His teammates CBA, according to the statistics, Shifo averaged 26.8 points, 16.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game.

"It's a good thing we won, otherwise, according to the above, we would have to disband on the spot." Kupchak held the newspaper, which was full of all kinds of irrelevant analysis.

This is not a joke. The Lakers lost the finals back then, but they really disbanded.

But the situation is different now. Two-point high salary plus two cabbage long-term contracts can keep the starting four for at least five years, and Wade's rookie bonus can still be enjoyed for three years. Faced with the dilemma of contract renewal that could only choose one of the two.

The Lakers returned to Los Angeles and prepared for the finals. There was good news from the East. The Pistons had a back-to-back game in Game 31. Cassell scored 9 points on Payton and Ben Wallace scored 18 points. Rebounds, two overtimes at home, and finally relying on Michael Reed's lore shot, defeated the Pacers 93 to 91, and tied the total score to 3 to 3.

This means that before the finals, the Lakers have 5 days to rest.

In the last game, Artest spent most of his time defending Duncan, which was very exhausting. Even if he was as strong as Artest, he couldn't bear it. He had cramps in the fourth quarter of the game; Garnett and Kobe's average playing time is more than 42 minutes; the Spurs missed the goal in Game [-]. If Parker or Rasheed Wallace had one offensive line, the Lakers could not win as easily as it seems.

This precious 5 days can allow the team to breathe a little easier.

Under Jim's interference, the Pistons did not make up the original five tigers. Although the five players in the current version are also very capable, Reed and Stackhouse are strong offensively and weak defensively, and they are not efficient scorers. Brad Miller is comprehensive and good at organization, but there is still a gap between the offensive and defensive ends compared to Rasheed Wallace. The current Pistons are more like Philip Sanders. None reached the top.

Larry Brown once coached the Pacers, the configuration is the old ball guard Mark Jackson who is good at playing back, the scorer Reggie Miller who is good at shooting, the scorer Byron Scott, and the inside blue-collar Dale Davis , All-round center Rick Schmitz, relying on this lineup, the Pacers fought hard in 7 games that year, eliminated Pat Riley's Knicks, and lost to the Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals.It now appears that the Pistons lineup is a replica of the Pacers back then.

And Rick Carlisle has also coached the Pistons, and it was just two seasons ago that he is familiar with half of the Pistons.

In addition, the two sides have fought fiercely for six games, and there are basically no secrets between each other. The comparison is the willpower of the players.

In the seventh game, the two sides gave everything they had, biting from the first minute to the last second. The game continued the consistent blood and toughness of the Eastern Conference, full of confrontation and fouls.The game was played in fragments, and the audience fell asleep watching it.

In the last 14 seconds, the two sides were tied and the Pistons attacked.

Larry Brown chose to let Michael Reed, who had the highest scoring average on his side, attack Reggie Miller, who looked the worst on the perimeter.

However, Miller reappeared the true qualities of Mr. Key, broke Reid one-on-one, and then drove the horse alone to make a layup.

Stackhouse chased back desperately, but he missed the block by 5 centimeters and failed to touch the ball.

And Cassel faced Payton's lore shot, hit the back basket heavily and bounced out.

With O'Neal's dragon coming to the world, blocking Ben Wallace's desperate tip-up after grabbing an offensive rebound, the Pacers defeated the Pistons 73 to 71, won the tiebreaker, and reached the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year. In the finals, he joined forces with last year's opponent, the Los Angeles Lakers.

(End of this chapter)