Chapter 345 East Final, Battle Piston Seventeen

At the Pistons' home court, the Cavaliers lost by 8 points.

In this way, the Pistons won the sixth game, that is, the Pistons got the match point of the game.

The game against the Pistons is completely different from the previous game against the Heat and the Pacers, whether it is against the Heat or against the Pacers, the first to get the match point is the Cavaliers, however, this battle is diametrically opposed, does this portend anything?

So far this season, 26 of the league's 30 teams have been eliminated, and there are still games to play, in the East it is the Pistons and Cavaliers, and in the West it is the Lakers and Timberwolves.

The situation between the Timberwolves and the Lakers is extremely clear, and it is only a matter of time before the Lakers defeat the Timberwolves.

In fact, the Lakers have and only the Spurs in the West, however, after the Spurs are eliminated, then the Lakers also entered the Finals with half a foot.

This is not without reason.

The Lakers are the strongest team in the 21st century, in fact, not only the strongest in the 21st century, but also extremely competitive throughout the history of the Lakers.

In the past five years, they have dominated the West for four consecutive years, including three consecutive championships, and this year, the Lakers have also gathered O'Neal, Kobe, Malone and Payton.

Needless to say, O'Neal and Kobe Bryant are the most powerful combination in league history.

In addition the second-highest scorer in league history. Ma Long is also a famous person.

Payton is the all-time steal king of the league, and Cao Jian's steals are also taught by Payton.

Although, this season. Teams such as the Kings, Spurs and Timberwolves are also extremely tough, but. In the end, it was the Lakers who came out on top in the Eastern Conference Finals, and the Lakers could come out on top in the East. This is naturally a reason for the Lakers.

Many people say that the Lakers have come to this point more by luck, but is it really luck?

It's a bit to say that the Lakers entered the Finals by luck, however, luck is only one part of the strength, and without strength, do you really want to enter the Finals?

This is categorically impossible. This kind of thing doesn't happen, there's no way it can happen.

This part of the people said that the Lakers won by luck, and naturally they said so after seeing the Lakers' performance in the playoffs.

The Lakers' playoff performance this year is really not good.

Fight against the Rockets and win hard.

Against the Spurs, they fell behind 0-2 again, and in the end, they reversed.

Against the Timberwolves, it was the seventh game, however. Is this kind of thing really explained by luck?

When it comes to saying that the Lakers are lucky, they ignore some of the most serious problems.

For example, the current coach of the Lakers, Phil. Jackson. He has nine NBA championship rings in his hands, Kobe Bryant and O'Neal also have three, and Malone and Payton don't. However, they all have the experience of finals.

The playoff experience is even more numerous. These are all regulars in the playoffs.

If the Lakers have an 'F4' lineup this year, they are the most experienced team in the league. That's not wrong at all.

However, rich experience, this is just one of the points, and now this Lakers is the most talented team, although Malone and Payton are old, and they came to the Lakers just to hug their big ~ legs and ask for a championship ring.

But here's where their talent lies.

The holder of the second-highest scoring record in the history of the Malone League, as long as he wants to, scoring is like chopping melons and vegetables for him, although he is now coming to the Lakers as the younger brother of O'Neal and Kobe, the score has declined, but now he is still comfortable with an average contribution of 20+ per game.

In addition to Malone, there is another person who has to be mentioned is Peyton.

Peyton is also a character that should not be overlooked.

Payton is the league's steal king, and now can also contribute more than 2 steals per game, and his glove nickname is not called out for nothing.

In addition to the talents of Malone and Payton, the ace partners of O'Neal and Kobe Bryant are needless to mention.

O'Neal is now the league's No. 1 big center, although the media and reporters in the league are now advocating that the new giants have a tendency to catch up with O'Neal, but their own family knows their own affairs, and everyone knows what the specific situation is.

Not to mention Kobe, a popular superstar in modern and contemporary times, is the first brother in the league like Maddie.

Being able to reach the level of O'Neal, Kobe, Malone and Payton is naturally not something that can be achieved by hard work alone, it can be done, you don't have extraordinary talent, you can't do it at all, you can't do it, or it's impossible to do it at all.

It is precisely because the players on the Lakers' side are talented, talented, and extremely experienced in big battles that they will repeatedly pull the score away in the game, which is a bit like the Chicago Bulls in the past.

Like the Bulls, if the Lakers don't have the strength, they can beat the Spurs after defeating the Rockets and then beating the Spurs in the unfavorable situation of falling behind 0-2, and in the Western Conference Finals, will the Timberwolves also have another season?

Can this be done by luck alone, can it be done?

Naturally, this is not the case.

The first five games between the Timberwolves and the Lakers are not that they don't work hard enough, on the contrary, they work harder than any other team, extremely hard, whether it is the main Garnett or the bench, they are trying to show their best side, but, because of their lack of experience, they still let them lose.

As the Los Angeles Times commented after the game, the experienced Lakers are the well-deserved bosses of the West.

They have dominated the West four times in the past five years, and it is not without reason that the Lakers, with O'Neal, Kobe, Malone and Payton, are currently the most dominant team in the NBA. You can say they're old, but you have to admit that in today's NBA, the Lakers are still the strongest. The Kings, Spurs and Timberwolves all had a chance, but it was the Lakers who ended up in the Finals.

However, it would be right to say that the Lakers won by luck and got to where they are today.

The most classic example. It was in the fifth game between the Lakers and the Spurs, Fisher's 0.4-second shot. This ball Fisher also helped the Lakers win this game, which also helped the Lakers.

Sometimes. You have to admit that there is luck.

However, God helps the self-helpers.

If there were no Lakers who still did not abandon or give up at the last moment, there would naturally be no Fisher's exquisite stunner at the last moment of the game.

But you find out that there is no if it is not Phil. Jackson relied on his rich experience to arrange this tactic in the back, will there be a miracle in the future?

This is categorically impossible.

Naturally, when facing the Timberwolves, the Timberwolves missed the last two games with an injury. This is really a reflection of the Lakers' luck. However, who says the Lakers can't beat the Timberwolves with Cassel? This is simply nonsense.

Although, there are a lot of comments out there that also make assumptions that if Cassel is not injured, then maybe the Lakers and Timberwolves will play Game 7. It seems that even the heavens are favoring Peyton and Malone.

However, they ignored the Lakers effort.

The Lakers struggled they didn't see.

The last battle between the Lakers and the Timberwolves also started as promised, but the sixth game between the Lakers and the Timberwolves was also a battle in which the Lakers directly defeated the Timberwolves and went home to fish.

This battle. As the core soul of the Timberwolves, Garnett, who has the title of 'Wolf King', performed well and played the whole game. He also scored 22 points and 17 rebounds, but. He still couldn't avoid being ejected in the final moments of the game.

In addition to Garnett, Sprewell scored a team-high 27 points.

But. Their performance is in front of the Lakers, who have the Big Four. These achievements are nothing at all. Although, the Big Four did not score high, and none of them scored higher than the two, however, it was the Lakers who had the last laugh.

Not only in this game, but in the entire series against the Lakers, Garnett scored highly, averaging 23.7 points and 13.5 rebounds, saying that he was the leading scorer in this series, and he deserved it, however, after the game, Garnett said, "We tasted the Western Conference Finals." But as Sprewell said, it doesn't mean anything if you can't win it. Either way, we gained important lessons. ”

Garnett's words were full of sourness.

Who doesn't want to win, and who just wants a taste of the Western Conference Finals?

If you can win, who wants to lose, no one wants to, it's just that the strength is not comparable.

The battle between the Timberwolves and the Lakers.

At the beginning of the game, the Lakers' Big Four didn't seem to wake up and didn't play much, but even so, the Timberwolves still couldn't beat the Lakers.

Since the beginning of the game, the Timberwolves have been in the lead, and this lead has been maintained.

In order to win this game, the Timberwolves are extremely ferocious, and the Lakers are not soft-boned, they are also tough, Malone, Payton, O'Neal and Kobe are all fans who have seen big scenes, and they naturally won't pay attention to this kind of small scenes.

However, the referee's decision in this game was also extremely strict. Bryant, O'Neal and Garnett were quickly plagued by fouls, and in the fourth quarter, O'Neal stayed off the court for four and a half minutes, and Malone also received five individual fouls for defending Garnett.

In the last 5 minutes of the game, the Timberwolves once led by 10 points.

Although, without Kassel, the Timberwolves are not intimidated at all, and they play extremely tough.

However, when the Lakers really got serious, the Timberwolves knew what was the heritage of the giants and what was the absolute super self-confidence.

At the most critical moment, Payton stealed, all the way down, although he was a veteran, but this time it was the legend of the veteran's immortality, flying up, directly a one-arm slam dunk, and the scene was directly detonated.

After this steal, Payton also took advantage of the Timberwolves' offensive miss, came back, and shot directly outside the three-point line, the basketball rolled out of Payton's index fingertips, and the basketball also drew a beautiful arc in the air, and finally, the basketball also smashed directly into the basket, making a crisp sound of "shabu", and the ball went in.

Payton's key steal this time, and this key three-pointer also helped the Lakers narrow the score to 5 points.

With a 5-point gap, there is still a big chance on the Lakers' side.

And at such a critical moment of chasing points. One is called Kobe. Bryant's man also stood up.

Kobe Bryant does not have the kingly spirit of the future now. However, now Kobe Bryant's ability is speechless. One class awesome.

Outside the three-point line, directly facing the defender, pulling up from the ground and shooting directly for three-pointers.

Actually, many times, this kind of ball, this kind of shooting, is not allowed, but. Kobe Bryant dared to do this, he was a daring to do what others didn't dare to do, even if it was Phil. Jackson didn't have anything to do with Cao Jian.

However, this is just the beginning.

After scoring a three-point shot, Kobe Bryant's hand ~ felt it.

Kobe Bryant felt that he attacked the city again, went straight to the Pistons inside the restricted area, dodged and moved in the crowd, and directly made a low-handed layup under a basket in the crowd. Hit the ball again.

The Lakers fans at the scene also shouted again, MVP !!

Although, now the boss of the Lakers is still nominally O'Neal, but. In fact, Kobe has taken over most of O'Neal's boss power, and Kobe has done extremely well.

Although. Kobe Bryant did a very good job, but. Malone, Payton, O'Neal and others are all people who are above the top, and you let Kobe Bryant, a person who doesn't get as much honor as them, be the boss. Naturally, they were reluctant.

Therefore, there are many voices against Kobe.

However, Kobe Bryant was unmoved and only did what he had to do.

And after Kobe, O'Neal also returned to the court, looking at the Lakers' posture, they wanted to close the game.

That's not wrong at all.

O'Neal came back, and the Lakers also launched a general offense.

O'Neal came back and immediately sat under the basket and forced the Timberwolves to eat the inside, and the Timberwolves didn't dare to let O'Neal mess around in the restricted area and defend O'Neal.

Although O'Neal is extremely rough, he is not stupid, on the contrary, he is also extremely smart, never reluctant, no, just pass the ball directly, divide the ball to the outside, Kobe Bryant received the ball, Kobe Bryant's position was empty.

Although there are rumors of a feud between Kobe and O'Neal in the outside world, in the face of victory and honor, they can still put aside their prejudice and be unanimous with the outside world.

It's a bit like two couples, usually, quarrels are commonplace, however, when outsiders come to provoke, they will definitely be at gunpoint to the outside world, whoever comes and who dies.

Kobe Bryant did not live up to O'Neal's pass, bent his knees, kicked the ground, his body rose to the highest point, his wrist pressed lightly, and the basketball also rolled out from the tip of Kobe's index finger, and the basketball pierced the sky.

The game continued.

After this goal, Kobe Bryant hit three shots in a row, even O'Neal, who didn't make a very good free throw, this time the free throw was an unprecedented shot, and it didn't take long for the Lakers to directly give the Timberwolves a wave of offensive frenzy, and finally, in the last 3 minutes and 22 seconds, the Lakers established a 10-point lead.

Sprewell said after the game: "We were in a good situation at one point, and in the first half of the fourth quarter, we also played well, but the Lakers announced our death sentence with a high score~ tide. ”

In other words, the Lakers settled their opponents in just half a quarter.

Szzczebiak said: "All summer we will savor the last quarter of the game. ”

Although Cassell is out due to injury, this has a big impact on the Timberwolves, who have been in a state of "struggle" and cannot maintain the constant pressure on the Lakers.

After the game, Timberwolves coach Saunders also said: "I told the team that we had a great series. If our point guard Cassel had played, the result might have been different. ”

In fact, this is just an excuse for the Timberwolves coach to talk about comfort, who knows, after the Timberwolves have more Kassel on their side, whether they will win, no one dares to say this, no one dares to pack tickets.

Compared to these people, Garnett was more direct, and said after the game:

"To lose is to lose, there is no if. I am a person with a positive attitude, which is the foundation of success. Even if we lose, we're going to come back. ”

And as Garnett said, he's an extremely positive person, so. He's going to be with the Timberwolves for so long and haven't left.

After the Lakers won, the Timberwolves. Then on the western side, the Western champion was finally born.

The feeling of winning. It's always exciting.

However, now this Lakers, even if they lift the Western Conference championship trophy, do not have too much excitement, even if they have stepped into the Finals, however, the Lakers have not relaxed in the slightest, they continue to maintain their desire to win.

Lakers Big Four this season, why. They will be assembled in Los Angeles this season, and their goals are very clear.

The reason why Malone and Payton came to the Lakers is that as long as they are coming for the championship cup, except for the championship cup, after they can't get it, they have already won all the other honors, and they are here mainly for the championship.

After the game, the media also interviewed Malone, who has played in the NBA for 19 seasons, and asked him why he won the Western Conference championship. Don't smile yet?

To this question, Malone replied in the same way, "I'm here to win the championship." Now the Western Conference championship is only part of it, and since the goal has not been achieved. Naturally, it will not be happy. I know we're going to have a lot of challenges along the way, but that's what basketball is all about. You have to work towards your goal. ”

Bryant was also the subject of the interview.

This game. Kobe Bryant is a well-deserved hero of the Lakers' victory, if it weren't for Bryant's last-minute game. Kobe Bryant stepped up and the final result of this game. It's very difficult to say, or rather, the Lakers will win this game in the end, but it's definitely not so easy, and the reason why the Lakers are so easy has something to do with Kobe.

In a media interview, Kobe Bryant also truthfully said, "We have completed the most difficult task," Kobe said after the game, "Four times to the finals, this is an extraordinary achievement." We were very lucky. But this is just the beginning, and we're going to do better. ”

Kobe Bryant did this, but the reporter still didn't intend to let him go, and continued to ask:

This is the fourth time in five years that the Lakers have reached the NBA Finals, and in the other division, the Pistons lead the Cavaliers 3-2, and if they beat the Cavaliers tomorrow, the Lakers will face the Pistons in the Finals, and the Lakers have home-court advantage. Do you think you're going to win? ”

In fact, in this question, there is a trap, before the game starts, it is said that it is the Pistons who can enter the Finals, where does he put the Cavaliers?

Although Kobe Bryant is a training maniac, he also looks a little unkind, but this does not mean that he has a low IQ, he naturally understands the meaning of the reporter's words,

"The game doesn't end yet, it hasn't started yet, how do you know the Cavaliers are lost. On the contrary, I don't think there is a game with that guy, and I shouldn't lose so quickly. ”

And in Kobe's mouth, who else is this so-called guy besides Cao Jian?

"Do you think the knights will be your opponents?"

"I don't mind who the opponent is? Because, no matter who it is, in the end, it is we who win. ”

When Kobe Bryant said this, he was also domineering.

O'Neal was also interviewed and asked what he thought of Kobe, and O'Neal also did not hesitate to praise his teammates, "He has excellent skills, and he is the key reason why we win." He's one of the best pitchers we've ever had, and when I pass the ball to him, he never lets me down. I couldn't have asked more of him tonight. ”

In addition to these starters, the Lakers bench is also a big magic weapon for the Lakers to defeat the Timberwolves.

Particular mention here is Rush.

Rush played this game

Rush played the entire fourth quarter, shooting seven shots from beyond the three-point line, only missing the last time. His only mid-range shot was also missed, and he also had three rebounds and three assists.

In an interview after the game, Rush also said: "When I hit the first three-pointer, I knew it was going to be a fantastic night. The players continued to feed me the ball and the fans were watching me. I kept shooting and tonight I felt like every ball was going to go in. So, in the end I did it, and, it was done very well. ”

In the first five games of the Western Conference Finals, Rush scored a total of 11 points, averaging 12.2 minutes per game. He averaged 2.9 points in the playoffs this season.

But in this battle, Rush broke out completely.

The coach also recognized Rush's performance, "Rush has been doing really well and I hope he can continue, obviously, he played the best game of his career. I'm sure a lot of people don't know what he's capable of, so I encourage my teammates to pass him the ball and give him a chance to prove himself. ”

For his teammates, Phil. Jackson also never skimps on praise for Phil. In addition to asking Jackson about the Lakers' performance, the media reporter interviewed Jackson specifically asked about his views on the Pistons-Cavaliers battle in the East.

(I continue to ask for a variety of things.) (To be continued......)