On November 21, the Los Angeles Lakers press conference.

West in suits and leather shoes and Robert Horry were in attendance.

"I'm here to officially welcome, the team's new signing, Robert Horry!" West gave Horry a hug.

"Thank you Mr. West for the welcome, and I have to tell you that I came to the Lakers to pursue a championship, and I don't like the non-competitive atmosphere of the Suns." Horry was very happy, his mouth was a little unchecked, and all kinds of words came out of his mouth.

The media is excited, and tomorrow there will be news to make up the page.

"May I ask Mr. Horry, what do you think of the Suns?"

'It's a bad atmosphere there, you know, the losing streak has just changed the coach.

"And what do you think of the new team, your Lakers teammates?"

"It was Kobe Bryant who invited me to the Lakers, and he said he liked my style of play. We have a great relationship and I can't wait to play for the Lakers!"

。。。。。。

"WOW, Rob. Drinks come to the Lakers. "At the Lakers training gym, Kobe Bryant gave Horry a chest bump.

Kobe Bryant's arrival was overjoyed by Horry's arrival, and it was a crucial piece of the dynastic puzzle.

"I'm here because of you and Shaq." Horry laughed, having treated the 18-year-old rookie like a star. In his opinion, sooner or later, Kobe Bryant will become the face of the league.

"It's an honor." Kobe Bryant talked a lot with Horry on the phone, team tactics, team development, competitiveness and a series of basketball topics.

Bryant is very familiar with this old teammate, and they get along well.

"Damn, there's actually another person who grabbed my position as the second fisher." Looking at Horry, who was hooking up with Kobe, Fisher secretly slandered on the side.

Harris was in the office discussing Horry's usage with the TAs.

"I don't think it's going to ruin the team atmosphere where the chemistry is good and let Horry be the replacement."

"Horry deserves to be the starting power forward, and with Campbell's poor performances lately, it's entirely possible to try a new starting lineup."

"We can't put a player with an annual salary of $7 million on the bench!"

Harris groaned, and he also felt that it was too risky to change the starters. Campbell may not be acceptable, and at the same time will destroy the chemistry that is now good.

"Then let Horry play as a backup small forward, and he will play as the sixth man and lead the second team."

The Lakers' bench small forward role has always been vacant, and the addition of Horry could make up for that shortcoming.

The next day, the Great Western Forum Arena, the second game of the season between the Lakers and the Spurs. The Spurs are also the only opponent the Lakers have lost so far.

"Kobe, are you really sure you want to play?" Garivetti observed Bryant's physical condition and didn't want Bryant to play.

"I'm going to play."

Gariverti and the team doctors communicated with each other, Kobe Bryant has no injuries, but the physical consumption is very large, after an inside-level attrition, they are not sure if Kobe Bryant can recover.

"Guys, Horry needs to go for a team medical today. Can't play. Lambis walked into the dressing room.

"Curt, Kobe Bryant insisted on wanting to play. My advice is to let him rest. ”

Rambis frowned, he approached Kobe Bryant and said.

"Listen, Kobe. You still have a long career, and there's no need to fight hard for a regular season game. Get in good shape, the team needs you to step up at the most critical moments. ”

Kobe Bryant felt that he was fine, except for some symptoms of muscle soreness, but for Kobe Bryant was used to playing with minor injuries.

Letting Kobe Bryant sit on the sidelines and watch the game is even more uncomfortable than killing him. Especially since the team has just lost to the Spurs once, are they not afraid of losing again?

"Guys, what's going on here?" Harris walked in, and Rambis explained what had happened.

"Kobe, you've done a great job, sit on the sidelines and watch your teammates play."

Kobe Bryant was helpless, and the head coach said so, so he had to accept it.

The Spurs had a 3-7 record prior to this game and finished 12th in the West.

The Lakers are 10-1, leading the Houston Big Three and ranking first in the West.

"Kobe Bryant doesn't play? It seems that the last hand-to-hand fight with Malone was too hard, and I don't understand why the Lakers' coach would let an 18-year-old outside player go hand-to-hand with Malone, which is simply unreasonable. "The magician on the commentary bench got the team list for the game.

The Magic's commentary partner for this game is Gail Goodrich, a player who won the '72 championship alongside West and Chamberlain.

"Oh, that's a bit of a disappointment. But Magic, aren't you also a rookie champion who won the championship on the inside? Goodrich shook his head.

"That's right, hahaha. Even without Kobe, the Lakers are good enough to crush the Spurs. The magician looked confident.

"You think so? Don't forget that the Lakers' only loss this season was the Spurs! "Goodrich is not optimistic about the Lakers without Kobe.

"The Spurs are a fish belly, and the Lakers are a championship-caliber team. Even without Kobe, the Lakers are still enough to win easily, and this is the essence of the championship team! The magician spoke.

"Then we'll see."

The Lakers' starting lineup has been adjusted, PG Nick Van Exel, SG Eddie Jones, SF Bruce Bowen, PF Elden Campbell C, Shaquille O'Neal.

Harris believes his veteran, Van Exel, can hold up the team's playmaking responsibilities in Bryant's absence.

The starting lineup for the Spurs is PG Avery Johnson, SG Vernon Maxwell, SF Sean Elliott, PF Dominic Wilkins, CVIL Perdo.

"Boss, I really don't believe that the Spurs with such a configuration will only have a 3-7 record." Xiaoyu and Kobe Bryant sat on the sidelines together.

Kobe Bryant didn't believe it either, and Kobe didn't believe that they could still draw Duncan.

Everything that happened on the court next made the Lakers players on the sidelines cover their eyes.

At the end of the game, the Spurs defeated the Lakers again 96:89!

The Lakers were in disarray under Van Exel's playful offense, with O'Neal getting to the low post but not receiving the pass. As a result, O'Neal only made 15 shots in the game, and although he scored 23 points and 13 rebounds, he did not play the desired dominance.

Nick Van Exel scored 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting and looked good, but he had five turnovers and only four assists.

An inside center must have an outside player who can feed the ball, otherwise it will be difficult to play dominant. The Spurs' targeting of O'Neal is very good, and the flexible and fast forward attack poses a very big threat to O'Neal.

Coupled with the fact that there was no way to receive the ball in time, O'Neill played very uncomfortable.

And Dominic Wilkins, the former star player who averaged only 18+6 per game this season. exploded again, he seemed to be particularly excited in the spotlight in Los Angeles, with 31 points, 13 rebounds and 2 assists, and once again broke Campbell.

After the game, Harris turned blue and walked straight to the locker room.

"Magic, I have to tell you the truth, that is, the Lakers without Kobe Bryant are a mess, and with Shaq alone, the Lakers are just a playoff-level team."

"Well, it seems that Kobe Bryant is far more important to this team than we expected."