The game between the New York Knicks and the Lakers was also broadcast nationwide. After O'Neal came to the Lakers, the Lakers' number of national live broadcasts was second only to the Bulls and Knicks.
This is a collision between two highly popular teams. The 34-year-old Patrick Ewing and the 24-year-old Shaq O'Neal are also worth looking forward to. In this era when the inside is king, the four centers have ruled the league inside. The confrontation between the new and old four centers always attracts great attention.
Ewing has spent 11 years in the league. Although he can be selected for the All-Star or Best Team every year, he has always been suppressed by the dynasty teams. When he first debuted, there was a Celtics family in the east, then the Pirates' Bad Boys, and then Jordan's Bull Dynasty. So far he has been unable to touch the beauty of the O'Brien Cup.
This year's Knicks are strong and strong. Their staffing is indeed enough to win the glory of the General Administration.
Ewing knows that this is the end of his peak. If this year cannot win the championship, then the worsening physical condition is afraid that there is no chance to win the cup.
Although Ewing is an iron man in the U.S. basketball team, the average number of appearances in 11 seasons is 75 games, almost every season he has played all the games. But Ewing felt the decline of her body, which she might not normally feel. But at the critical moment of the game, there is no longer any physical ability to kill the game. The top Ewing can score 28.6 points per game with a 55% shooting rate, while last season's Ewing only scored 22.5 points when the team did not have many scorers.
The game kicked off in the melee of Ewing and O'Neill. It is not difficult for fans of this era to imagine the fierce degree of the internal fight of this era. Prehistoric giant-level giants catching and fighting inside are the norm in this era.
O'Neal first received Kobe's pass and dunked under the basket. Ewing turned his jumper back to score. The two top centers were inseparable in the first quarter, you come and go. Other players have become supporting actors around them.
The score in the first quarter was very close, the Lakers 25:22 Knicks. The Lakers' bench has the upper hand and is under Kobe's leadership. Starks on the Knicks bench were difficult to perform. O'Neill scored 8 points in the first 8 of 4 points. Without free throws, Ewing's defensive scale is well in place, making O'Neal play awkwardly without getting free throws.
Ewing 6 of 3, also scored 8 points, Ewing has no way to force O'Neal in the basket. Had to use a jumper in the middle distance, the jumper is very eating player's feel. Today Ewing's feel is very good, even if O'Neill gave a strong physical confrontation, Ewing still maintained a hit rate and cast into the CIC.
Kobe Bryant still played the role of an organization and defender in the starting lineup, but when he led the bench lineup. He gave Fisher the right to organize, and he also acted as an offensive and defensive arrow.
The Knicks, under the guidance of Van Gundy, played steadily and steadily, and did not give Kobe a chance to switch between offense and defense.
In the first quarter, Kobe and O'Neal ended at the same time.
Harris tried to use the lineup of PG Derek Fisher SG Van Exel SF Ceballos PF Ben Wallace C Thales. Harris is considering the withdrawal of Van Exel and Ceballos at the same time and wants to observe their performance.
Didn't expect that this lineup was penetrated by Starks, and Starksri shot outside. Repeated offensive scoring, and Ceballos still on the offensive end is still scornful, Harris was helpless, had to change to the starter. At this time, the difference has been overtaken.
Lakers 32: 36 Knicks, and half of the second quarter. This is Kobe's score gap when he plays again, and the situation has come to the Knicks side.
Seeing that there was no sticky ball, he played inside and outside the ball tactics. Alan Houston actually made two consecutive three-pointers under Eddie Jones' defense.
Kobe saw that the momentum was wrong and called O'Neill to mention it. With the help of a pick-and-roll, the three-pointer is also colored.
Kobe Bryant's defensive task in this game is very light, his opponent Charlie Ward is just a dribble guard. The so-called dribble guard is to dribble the ball through the half and then give the team's boss the offensive guard.
This defender's ball control ability and three-point ability are not bad. Charlie Ward can shoot 1.4 three-pointers per game with a 38.6% shooting rate.
Kobe had no way to stop the ball from Charlie Ward, who was only 1.88 meters tall. He had to stare at him at all times, fearing that his three-pointer would not dare to defend.
So Kobe started to work on the offensive end. Charlie Ward's defense is still good. The point guard of the New York Iron-Blood Gangs cannot be a defensive loophole. But Kobe can easily score points from him. Kobe can only use O'Neill's pick-and-roll or run to a suitable position and jump shot. Charlie Ward can't interfere with Kobe's jump shot.
The score stabilized after Bryant's effort and the midfield ended. Lakers 49:52 Knicks. O'Neill and Ewing are the protagonists of this half, UU reading www. uukanshu.com O'Neal scored 14 points and 8 rebounds, and Ewing scored 11 points and 4 rebounds.
It can be seen that the old Ewing has been slightly disadvantaged in front of O'Neill. Although the scores of both sides have been exchanged for a large number of high ball shots, O'Neill's scoring efficiency and rebound protection are more than one.
The time when Kobe was down, Kobe's lead was lost. Alan Houston and John Starks hit the Lakers' weakness with fierce feel.
Alan-Houston made 9 of 5, 3 of 3 and 2 of 2 in the second half. Starks, under Van Exel's defense, scored 8 points and 4 assists in a short period of time.
Kobe Bryant got 11 points and 4 assists efficiently in 13 minutes of playing time, but the positive and negative value of +8 still let the Lakers lose slightly.
The Lakers in the midfield are a little depressed. They fell behind for the first time in the season. The luxurious lineup of the New York Knicks can capture every loophole on the Lakers' defensive end, like Ceballos and Van Exel have become a breakthrough.
O'Neal has the advantage of playing against Ewing in the small and medium, but there is no way to rule the restricted area as in the previous game. When O'Neal couldn't rule the penalty area, how to adjust the team, this issue was placed in front of Harris.
Has the ability to limit O'Neill's team, not to mention the other four centers. The mainstream teams in the league have at least accumulated a big weight shield. Coupled with bashing and bashing, O'Neill tends to struggle. This is also the problem that O'Neal has faced in Orlando for four years. Several times he was swept away because O'Neal could not rule the penalty area and the team fell into chaos.
The New York Knicks with Ewing and Oakley gave a lesson to the Lakers coaches. O'Neill is not invincible.
