Vol 6 Chapter 23: Kobe's comeback

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The next day, the biggest news in American sports was that the Lakers reached the playoffs.
"The Lakers have entered the playoffs? How is this possible? Didn't they even get the five players on the court? How did they enter the playoffs? It's been more than half a month since April Fools' Day. Joke? What? Eighth in the West? 49 wins and 33 losses? Impossible! They lost 32 two and a half months ago, could they only lose one game in these two months? It must be deceiving!"
"Congratulations to the landlord Netcom!"
"Congratulations to the landlord back to earth!"
"Congratulations to the landlord for fleeing the mental hospital!"
Below this comment, this is the reply.
In the United States, the Los Angeles Lakers have always been the most watched team, and the Lakers' every move is also the most watched.
And this year's Western competition is really too fierce. The 49-win Grizzlies have a 60% win rate, but still can't enter the playoffs, but the Lakers are able to play a wave of 33 wins and 1 loss after 16 wins and 32 losses. Into the playoffs, it was enough for everyone to be shocked.
In the entire NBA league, no one has regarded the Lakers as a weak player, and many people even regard the Lakers as a hot team to win the championship.
At this time, another news that excited the Lakers fans also came out: Kobe is back!
...
D'Antoni seemed a little helpless. He found that Kobe and Zhang Guan didn't seem to be very compatible. When Zhang Guan and Kobe were on the court at the same time, it was like two Kobe Bryant. There was a problem with the distribution of ball rights.
Kobe is the ball tyrant, this is known all over the world. "Ballmaster" does not mean that Kobe will not pass the ball. On the contrary, if Kobe really plays assists, he is not inferior to top point guards. "Ballmaster" does not mean that Kobe will only play singles, singles means the type of player Marbury. "Ballmaster" does not mean that you must always control the ball and hold the basketball without letting go, then other people do not have to play, and it is enough to follow the return.
The so-called ball tyrant means that all the team members must play in accordance with his play style, rhythm and will. This is not a combination of tactics alone, or it is as simple as giving the ball to him, but the team’s Playing around a person.
And Zhang Guan is learning Kobe's experience book. His demand for basketball is the same as Kobe's. It's unkind to say that Zhang Guan is another ball dominator. When Kobe was away, Zhang Guan took the place of Kobe Ballmaster, and when Kobe returned, it was like two suns suddenly appeared in the solar system, letting the eight planets turn around?
"That's not okay. The rotation of the ball is very big. When Zhang Guan and Kobe are both on the court, the players don't know how to play. Unless some of them are willing to change!" D'Antoni shook his head in distress.
From the bottom of his heart, D'Antoni hopes that Kobe can change his style of play to accommodate Zhang Zhang. After all, Kobe is 36 years old, and his body and hit rate are not as good as before. Unlike the omnipotent when he was young, he has gradually increased his iron. Players at this age should slowly change their role, from the core of the team to a role player. By comparison, Zhang Guan is younger, has better physical fitness, and has higher scoring efficiency.
But it is obviously impossible for Kobe to change. If Kobe can really change his style of play, it has already been changed!
"What should I do? Do you want one of them to go to the bench? This is also unlikely! These two uncles are not materials that can be used as substitutes..." D'Antoni was thinking, but suddenly looked Arriving on the training ground, Zhang Guan fell to the ground and did not get up in a long time.
"Pause!" D'Antoni immediately stopped everyone and stepped forward.
"What's going on?" D'Antoni captured him.
"Twisted." Zhang Guan hugged his knee, sweating with pain.
"Team doctor! Team doctor come over!" D'Antoni shouted without hesitation.
...
A reporter in Los Angeles soon got the news that Zhang Guan sprained his knee during training and needed a week's rest.
"The playoffs are about to start in two days, but Zhang Guan is going to truce for a week. This is equivalent to not being able to participate in the first three games! Without Zhang Guan, what would the Lakers use to play the Spurs?"
"I used to think that the Lakers might be black! It seems impossible now. Once Zhang Guan was injured, it would be nice if the Lakers were not swept away."
"Don't panic, don't the Lakers still have Kobe! Don't forget, Kobe has come back. With him, the Lakers still have hope!"
At this time, the Lakers fans involuntarily thought of Kobe, who had just come back. Kobe has brought too many miracles to Los Angeles people, and this time, it is time for Kobe to lead Los Angeles.
...
On April 20th, the San Antonio ATT Center Arena, where the Spurs play their home games. Because the Spurs hold the home court advantage in the playoffs, the first two games of the playoffs will also be held here.
Kobe stood on the sidelines, looking at the familiar venue. In fact, for a veteran who has played in the NBA for nearly 20 years, any venue in the league is familiar to Kobe.
"In the first round of last year's playoffs, if I weren't injured, I might not be swept by the Spurs! I didn't expect the first round of this year's playoffs, we came here again." Bryant took a deep breath, his However, Zhang Guan appeared inexplicably in his mind.
"Zhang Guan! I have to thank him. He brought the team to the playoffs, but now, it's my turn to do things! Zhang Guan can lead the team to defeat the Spurs, and I can certainly do it!" Bryant eyes There was a fever.
...
"Kobe Bryant is old!" Duncan sat on the bench, staring at the field, and in the field, Bryant was still running like a gladiator.
"Old? You're two years older than Kobe! Are you embarrassed to say he is old!" Ginobili, who was sitting beside him, said.
"We are all old." Duncan leaned on the back of his chair and just wanted to smile, but suddenly stopped his expression. He remembered that he once ate a technical foul because he laughed on the bench and was sent off the court.
Ginobili next to him did not pay attention to this, but went on to say, "Kobe has scored more than 40 points, but this is the playoffs. You got 40 points in the playoffs. You haven't done a few. Time?"
"Four times! The most recent one was six years ago." Duncan shook his head, then said: "This is still because of the defense of Kawhi (Leonard), otherwise, Kobe will get more points. Fortunately, Kobe is 36 years old. If it was Kobe Bryant ten years ago, no one can really prevent him!"
"But the Lakers still have to lose. Even if Kobe scored 50 points, the Lakers still have to lose. Kobe is not LeBron, and he doesn't have the help of Wade and Bosh." Ginobili raised his head and looked up On the scoreboard, the score between the two sides was 105 to 90, and the Spurs led by 15 points.
...
In the first game of the playoffs, the Spurs defeated the Lakers 108 to 95. Kobe Bryant played 40 minutes in this game. He scored 42 points alone, but it was difficult to lead the Lakers to a victory.
The Spurs, GDP combined playing time of less than 30 minutes, the Spurs almost rely on a set of semi-backup team, won the Lakers.
On April 23, in the second game of the playoffs, Kobe Bryant played again for 44 minutes and scored 48 points. However, the Lakers lost another 92 to 113.
Losing at home at the Spurs is not a shameful thing. No team in the league can guarantee that they will deliberately win in San Antonio, but the Lakers lose the way a little embarrassed because Kobe took a total of two games. It's 90 minutes.
Kobe scores high, but the team loses. This is nothing new for the Lakers. In those seasons when Kobe averaged more than 30 points per game, the Lakers often lost, even in the recent season. This has happened from time to time in the past few years.
Sometimes, the desire to win is too strong is not a good thing, especially for Kobe, he often gets a high score, but the scoring efficiency is not high. For example, Kobe, if his shooting percentage drops to 40%, the higher the score, the more times he takes shots, and the more opportunities he wastes.
This is exactly the case at the end of his career with Kobe, averaging around 20 shots per game, but the efficiency of scoring has continued to decline. Harden, who is also a quarterback, is actually similar to Kobe in shooting percentage, and his shots are not as good as Kobe, but he averages more points than Kobe, except that Harden shoots a little more three-pointers. And, more importantly, Harden can cheat 10 free throws per game, and this data, Kobe is much less. This is the difference in scoring efficiency.
On April 26, the third game of the playoffs came to Los Angeles, the home of the Lakers.
This time, the GDP combination's playing time finally exceeded 30 minutes, and even the 38-year-old Duncan played 36 minutes.
The Lakers lost again, 119 to 118, Danny Green's three-pointer lore, Kobe's 50 points in vain.
In fact, Kobe has tried his best, he was almost carried off the ground. The continuous high-intensity combat has made Kobe's old ankle injury have a tendency to recur. He even needs the help of his teammates to walk.
With a total score of 0 to 3, the Lakers seem to have returned to being swept by the Spurs last year.
In the history of the NBA, the team has never been able to make a comeback with a 0 to 3 lag. It can be said that the Lakers have fallen into a desperate situation.
"Aren't the Lakers swept by the Spurs for two consecutive years?" The Lakers home fans left the Staples Stadium with great disappointment.
...
After the game ended, the Lakers announced two news. The first news was that Kobe was discomforted by his ankle and worried that the old injury would recur, so the coaching staff requested a truce.
The second news is that Zhang Guan has basically recovered after a week of cultivation, and will return in the fourth playoff.
"It's already 0 to 3. What effect can Zhang Guan return at this time? Can he still lead the Lakers to make a comeback?"
"It would be nice if Zhang Guan came back one game in advance, 0 to 2 behind, and at home, he can pull it back. Now, it is already 0 to 3, and even if he wins the next game, he still has to go to the Spurs' home. Lost. Zhang Guan came back, at best to avoid being swept by the Spurs! 1 to 4 loss and 0 to 4 loss, the results are the same, are eliminated!"
On April 28, the fourth match between the two sides, the game is still held at the home of the Lakers.