Godfather of the NBA: Cutting Curry and creating a dynasty

Facing James who was defending himself, Kobe had an understatement on his face.

A reporter once asked Kobe who would win if he and James played 1-on-1.

Kobe said without hesitation: "There is no doubt that I will win. This is too simple for me. I have played 1-on-1 since I was a child. This is my job."

This is the absolute confidence in your singles ability.

And when the same question was asked of James, he answered like this:

"I'm a team player, basketball is not a one-on-one game."

There is nothing wrong with that answer, basketball is indeed a team sport.

From the data point of view, James is indeed a more team player.

Although this "more team" may be based on more possessions.

But in many cases, basketball games really need to be solved 1-on-1.

For example, Wade when the Heat's offense was frustrated, and Irving when the Cavaliers' offense was frustrated.

Without Wade and Irving standing up 1-on-1 at the critical moment, it would be impossible for the Heat and Cavaliers to win the championship.

James can only provide a team with a basic set to reach the finals.

To win the championship, there must be a single player who can come out at a critical moment and end the game 1-on-1.

In this regard, Paul and James are very similar. It can be said that Paul is a weakened version of James.

Both of them can provide the team with a basic set, but at critical moments, they both need their teammates to stand up and kill the game.

Because the two of them don't have enough ability to kill the game.

James is due to technical problems in singles, while Paul is purely due to height problems.

For example, the 18-year Huoyong battle, or the 21-year finals.

But in fact, Paul himself did not seize these two opportunities.

Because Paul's two teammates, Harden and Booker, have no chance to stand up and kill the game

At critical moments, Paul likes to take care of everything and insists on fighting by himself.

It ultimately led to the loss of the two series.

And James is stronger than Paul, and that's why he is stronger here.

At the critical moment, James dared and gave up the ball to Wade and Irving.

Finally achieved dominance.

You can never say that James likes to blame at critical moments, he just trusts his teammates more at critical moments.

That's it.

If Paul wants to win the championship, he must find such a teammate who can really suppress him in terms of qualifications and strength, and also has the ability to kill the game at critical moments.

Obviously, this person is Kobe.

Paul is responsible for the basic set, and Kobe is responsible for killing the game.

If this backcourt combination really succeeds, the Lakers will definitely be the most feared team in the league.

This is why the league stopped the Hornets and Lakers deal that year.

The two are so well matched that no other team has a chance to play.

This is why everyone said back then that if Kobe was given a Paul, he could continue to rule the league for three years.

Back to the game, Kobe faced James' defense without using any fancy tricks.

Just broke through to the right with the ball, and the moment James moved in the center, he braked instantly.

Then there was a mid-range emergency stop jumper, which easily scored the ball.

Looking back, James also singles Kobe with the ball at the top of the arc.

Just when everyone thought that James was going to force Kobe, Ray Allen suddenly ran out of the open space under the cover of Pierce.

Without saying a word, James just threw it away.

Ray Allen catches and shoots, completely ignoring Harden who is about to pounce.

Swish!

The ball arced high in the air and went hollow into the net.

James stepped back to the backcourt, and at the same time, he didn't forget to clap hands with Ray Allen who was running back.

The Heat now lack a player like Ray Allen. If Ray Allen can join the Heat, the Heat will be invincible in the league.

Just now is the real thought in James' heart.

He has played against the Celtics for several seasons and is well aware of Ray Allen's ability.

I also know that Ray Allen's off-ball style is the most suitable outside player for him.

In the fourth quarter, the two sides played more and more intensely.

But in the end, the western side gained the advantage, and it gradually tended to defeat the eastern team.

The problem is not age, but the level of projection.

The All-Stars in the Western Conference all have the ability to shoot three-pointers. At the same time, they can handle the ball from the outside and respond to the inside.

It can be said that this team is not necessarily the strongest, but it must be the most reasonable.

On the other hand, the All-Stars in the East, except for Ray Allen and Pierce, the long-range shooting ability of others is very average.

Especially Rondo, he can't say no, it can only be said that he has no long-range shooting ability at all.

James directly called a timeout on his own initiative.

After playing again, the Eastern Conference All-Star lineup was replaced: James, Ray Allen, Pierce, Johnson and Bosh.

A lineup that allows James to completely control the ball while everyone else has shooting ability.

Popovich also adjusted the lineup in the West, playing: Curry, Kobe, Anthony, Durant and Millsap.

This lineup directly made Yang Li look stupid, Popovich has something to do with this old man!

What was the lineup of Yu Yuyong's five juniors back then, Curry, Tang Shen, Yi Ge, Durant and Green.

In the current lineup, Kobe is the ultimate soup god, Anthony is the first brother with enhanced attack, and Millsap is the enhanced version of Millsap.

Then Curry and Durant just younger themselves.

Once this lineup is taken out, the Eastern All-Stars will definitely not have to play!

The facts were exactly as Yang Li expected. In less than 3 minutes, the Western All-Stars defeated the Eastern All-Stars.

The firepower of the Western All-Stars is like firecrackers on the night of the New Year's Eve, blooming everywhere!

Curry and Durant's super shooting, Kobe's unsolvable singles, Anthony's top three threats, plus a Millsap who can handle the ball.

The All-Stars in the East have no power to parry at all. Who in the West doesn't have to double-team the offense to limit it?

Just five people, where are you going to double-team them all?

If you look at one thing, you lose another. If you break the corn, you will lose the watermelon.

In the end, the Western All-Stars beat the Eastern All-Stars 160:148 without any suspense.

And this year's All-Star MVP was given to Stephen Curry.

He played a full 32 minutes, took 19 shots and hit 12 goals.

Not a single two-pointer, all three-pointers!

In the end, Curry scored a game-high 36 points and won the All-Star Game MVP trophy.

However, Curry, who played 32 minutes, was not the most tired person in the game, the most tired person...