Chapter 153: Return to Staples
In the four games, O'Neal and Lee Zhi averaged a total of 25+ points, is the Warriors crazy?
"O'Neal is just coming back, and the Warriors can't go far."
A ball review from the Los Angeles Sports newspaper analyzed the Warriors' first four games and came to the simple conclusion that the opponent was too weak on the inside and the Warriors had not yet faced a real test.
"O'Neal averaged 13.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game last season, and as he gets older, the more O'Neal the better? Is he a monster? ”
O'Neal was upset by such comments from the Los Angeles Sports Newspaper, who tweeted that he was going to score 30 points on the Lakers' interior head, only to receive a series of negative comments.
After Li Zhi understood, he probably guessed the opinion of the Los Angeles Sports Newspaper, this analysis is correct, but that was only before.
The Los Angeles media probably has a mentality that they can't eat grapes and say that grapes are sour, and they also threatened that in the next game, the Lakers' interior three highs will beat O'Neal out of the prototype! And Li Zhi can't afford the title of "Little Kobe".
So, with a kind of "fateful battle" mentality, the Warriors' high-imitation version of the "OK Combination" came to Staples.
O'Neal's performance last week was obvious to all, which earned him the Western Conference Weekly Awards, and most people have no opinion on this award, although everyone doesn't think O'Neal can continue this form, but this week's performance is still worthy of the best of the week.
But Kobe Bryant was not convinced, and after four games, Kobe averaged 24 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds per game, winning all of them, and the praise was not bad.
If this week's best award is given to others, Kobe Bryant will not have an opinion, but O'Neal makes Kobe angry.
Kobe Bryant and O'Neal's feud is well known, and Kobe has decided to teach O'Neal a hard lesson in Staples.
On the night before the game, TNT Radio broadcast live, and Barkley analyzed the gossip between the two sides before the game, and the strengths and weaknesses of the lineup.
Barkley's commentary does not only rely on loud-mouthed grandstanding, but also professionalism, he is also a leader in the commentary industry, and a lot of data comes out of his mouth.
As an old rival, he admires O'Neal and considers him an important member of the Lakers' history, and Barkley scoffs at the LA Sports Newspaper's comments.
"The direction of the game between the Warriors and the Lakers is no longer determined by the Lakers' interior three-high, but on O'Neal!"
"The Lakers' triangle tactics O'Neal knows a lot more than Bynum, and if Shaq continues to be in this form, the Lakers' interior is a joke."
"Of course, I have reason to believe that Shaq will continue this state, Nelson is a good coach, he will not force Shaq to play in a way he doesn't like, look at it, 70% of the Warriors' average points per game this season still come from the outside, as long as Shaq stands on the inside, the Warriors don't collapse on the outside, and the Lakers will definitely not win easily!" Barkley said.
Warriors starters: Lowry, Jackson, Rich, Milicic, O'Neal
Lakers starters: Fisher, Kobe, Odom, Gasol, Bynum.
The Lakers' lineup has not changed much from last season, and the elder Nelson did not send Li Zhi to defend Kobe, but let him devote more to the offense.
There were no boos from the fans before the game, in fact, many Lakers fans have experienced O'Neal's era, judging from the fans on the court, many fans are still wearing O'Neal's jerseys, which made the "middle two" O'Neal really moved, but when he saw Kobe Bryant opposite, O'Neal's put away his moved expression.
Both sides jumped the ball, Bynum won, and the game began.
Bynum gives it his all every time he faces O'Neal, as does the jump ball. The reason why Bynum did this is known from their nicknames.
In 2004, the conflict between O'Neal and Kobe intensified, and it has reached the point where it is difficult to tolerate two tigers. In the end, the Lakers made a difficult decision to choose the younger Kobe Bryant and trade Olney out to Miami. In the position of leader of the Lakers, Kobe Bryant took over the mantle of O'Neal.
And in the center position where O'Neal used to dominate, the Lakers quickly found a successor to the Sharks.
In 2005, the Lakers drafted high school kid Andrew Bynum with the No. 10 pick, who was the youngest player in the draft. The Lakers' selection of Bynum is a gamble, but also a kind of nostalgia, they can't forget O'Neal's glory days, so use the younger Bynum to continue the glory of the Lakers' center position.
Four years have passed, and everyone thinks that O'Neal's career is coming to an end, and he is no longer the most dominant player in the league, and Bynum has provoked the Lakers' main center, but for the comparison with O'Neal, many fans are still on O'Neal's side, which makes Bynum very unconvinced.
Fisher controlled the ball to the front court and played a pick-and-roll with Bynum.
Bynum was tall and completely blocked the small steel cannon.
Fisher broke down the left and made a pull-up jumper. Jackson couldn't make up for Kobe Bryant, and Milicic was afraid of Gasol's shooting, so he was not very active in switching defenses.
Fisher averaged only 9.5 shots per game this season, but he was still able to score 11.7 points and 2.9 assists on a 43.6% shooting rate.
0:2
The Warriors attacked, and O'Neal made a block directly in front of Li Zhi, but the Lakers' defense was different from that of the Hornets, Nuggets and other teams, and the defense was aimed at O'Neal to prevent O'Neal from cutting in the air.
The Lakers' formation was obviously prepared, Bynum stood in the low post, Gasol in the middle, and the other three took turns to defend, and after Richie shook off Odom, he switched to Kobe Bryant.
Li Zhi secretly scolded the Lakers for being treacherous, and then dribbled the ball for a while, and just showed signs of a breakthrough, he was cut off by Kobe Bryant.
Immediately afterwards, Kobe Bryant threw the ball directly in front, and the person moved with the ball, bypassing Li Zhi on the side, and taking the person to attack quickly.
Li Zhi started the speed of kung fu, Kobe Bryant has completed the violent dunk with one hand.
0:4
Since Kobe Bryant this season, he has often seen the evaluation of Li Zhi in the media, and many media have added the name of "Little Kobe" to Li Zhi after the "little melon", and after the video study of the Warriors before the game, it was found that Li Zhi's breakthrough was completely imitating himself.
So defensively, Kobe Bryant took care of Li Zhi's breakthrough in a targeted manner.
When the Lakers fans cheered, Li Zhi frowned, and the shot just now made Li Zhi feel something different.
O'Neill touched Li Zhi's head and motioned for Li Zhi to attack.
The Warriors attacked, Stephen Jackson received a pass from Lowry after running, Kobe Bryant chased after him, and under the interference, Jackson shot wide.
But the basketball ball was grabbed by O'Neal, and O'Neal, who was full of strength, fought alone against Bynum and Gasol in the penalty area without falling behind.
O'Neill then passed to Milicic, but Milicic didn't throw in either.
O'Neal didn't expect this, and after Bynum grabbed the rebound, he handed Fisher the ball through the half.
Fisher lowered the tempo and battled with the Warriors.
Fisher is stronger than Lowry in this point, experience. Except for O'Neal, the other four of the Warriors are all good runners and jumpers, and Fisher slowed down his speed at this time, obviously curbing the rhythm of the Warriors.
Fisher gave the ball to Odom, who stood behind the top of the arc and hoisted the ball to Gasol on the inside.
Then Odom ran to the baseline, and Bryant got to the 60-degree arc, and the triangle was done.
Gasol singled out Milicic, both of whom were about the same height and size, but Gasol won technically, and after a few tops to the inside, seeing that the Warriors were not packed, he centered on his left foot and showed off his inside footsteps.
Milicic was shaken up by Gasol, who directly lowered his body, squeezed over, and then put the basketball directly into the basket.
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