In the first game of the Western Conference Finals, the Nuggets showed their strength as a two-time champion.

They used a tough combination defense to contain Kobe Bryant and the Lakers' role players at the same time.

The Nuggets' defensive strategy is actually very simple, not covering Kobe Bryant outside the three-point line, so as to suppress the rest of the Lakers and not directly give others a big open opportunity.

But against Kobe, he began to pinch him at the free throw line and where the free throw line extended.

As soon as Kobe Bryant gets close to the free throw line, Kirilenko will drop Gasol and immediately step forward to pinch it.

In fact, Bird used the method of restricting Kobe Bryant in the '08 Finals in advance.

08 Although Green Kai defended Kobe Bryant a little embarrassed, he didn't have to be brainless all the time.

At the beginning of the defense, it was generally Ray. Allen single-handedly defends Kobe.

And once Bryant wants to make a mistake behind the free throw line, there's going to be someone, usually Garnett, who comes up to help defend.

Corresponding to the Nuggets, it is undoubtedly AK47 who played the role of Garnett.

This defensive strategy also led to a very strange distribution of Kobe Bryant's shooting percentage in the '08 Finals.

In the Finals that year, Kobe Bryant shot only 30% when he was purely open.

The shooting percentage under the solo defense is a substandard 39.13%.

The two-man defense shot 45.83 percent.

The three-man shot 60 percent from the field.

Only. Very Kobe.

You know why Kobe Bryant doesn't like to go home this season, right? Because there are not many people, he can't play!

Kobe Bryant: Three-man defense allows me to concentrate more on shooting, but when there is only one person to defend me, I always wonder why they only use one person to defend me, and it is easy to get distracted!

Well, that's certainly not the reason why Kobe Bryant's shooting percentage is so weird.

The real reason for this is that when Kobe Bryant faces a single defense, he is under great pressure, and his shots are not very good in the mid-to-long range and outside the three-point line, which is naturally not very efficient.

In the case of double defense and three-person defense, it is generally because Kobe Bryant has broken below the free throw line, so the shooting percentage is a little higher.

To put it bluntly, the Celtics' strategy is not to carry out brainless trapping, but to help defend Kobe when he enters the high-threat area.

In this regard, Bird and the Celtics thought of going together, so they also used this trick to deal with Kobe.

And because there is an AK47 behind him, Atai can press the defense unscrupulously.

This made Kobe's mid-to-long-range shooting very uncomfortable.

In addition, Kobe Bryant's hand today is also very average, so he only made 9 of 26 shots in the game.

This wave of Artai is the right way to use it to find a teammate who is excellent in defense.

If you try to press your opponent, they will have a hard time.

If you rely on your teammates to help defend well, so you walk around the whole process and leak people crazily, and leave it all to the person who defends well to help defend, then your teammates won't be injured in three days.

And because the Nuggets didn't have brainless strikes, Gasol and Odom didn't get many opportunities today.

They scored just 16 and 14 points, respectively, and couldn't make up for the scoring gap left by Bryant.

Of course, the Lakers, on their part, did not relax their defense against Ryan.

They still use Ariza to lead the defense and wear down Ryan, supplemented by a tight shrinking joint defense.

With the exception of Ariza, the other four were all standing in the four corners of the three-second zone and posing for the so-called Box one tactic, which is to stare at the quadruple.

This tactic is mainly aimed at teams that are not strong in overall offensive strength and rely too much on a certain offensive point with outstanding ability.

This tactic is rarely used in situations like the Western Conference Finals, because the teams that make it to the Western Conference Finals usually don't have teammates like that.

But. The Nuggets' overall offense this year is really not very good, especially the long-range shooting is really not very good.

However, in the face of this kind of defense, the Nuggets' role players are more competitive today.

Atay scored 15 points in Monta. Ellis scored 21 points.

Plus Ryan himself scored 26 points, and although he only shot 42%, it was enough to kill the game!

The Nuggets won 97-86 and the Denver Shakhtars took a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals!

However, after the game, Kobe Bryant did not panic: "This damn Western Conference Finals was just played!" ”

But what makes Los Angeles fans desperate is that in series G2, the Lakers lost again!

In Series G2, the Nuggets concocted G1's successful experience and killed Kobe Bryant in almost the same way.

In the second game, Kobe Bryant still didn't get any good opportunities, and he was extremely iron.

But Gasol, the Spanish giant, woke up and seized the gap for AK to help defend Kobe Bryant, scoring 19 points with a super high shooting rate of 72.7%!

Bryant also had a rare 10 assists in the playoffs — before that, Bryant had only had two 10 assists in a single playoff game.

Most of those 10 assists went to Gasol.

The tacit understanding between the two does not seem to need to be cultivated, you know the depth of me, and I know the length of the connection.

And today, because Artay's hand is no longer good, coupled with the Lakers adjusting their defense, Fisher began to target Ellis, turning the Lakers' defense into a three-in-one.

So the Nuggets' role players aren't as brave as they used to be.

So today, although Kobe Bryant is very iron, the Lakers still keep biting the game.

In the final 43 seconds of the game, the Lakers, who were only three points behind, actually had a chance.

At that time, Bryant and Atai were spewing trash talk from outside the three-point line while fighting each other hand-to-hand.

In the end the Black Mamba was leaning on a Reggie. Miller's push and shove got rid of Artey, gained a bit of space, and received a pass from Fisher.

It stands to reason that outside the three-point line, the Nuggets will not help defend Kobe.

But because this timing is very special, Bird has arranged it before, once Kobe Bryant catches the ball, he will directly pinch it!

So, when Kobe Bryant received the basketball outside the three-point line, he saw Kirilenko completely abandon Gasol and pounce on him.

Gasol was ready to catch the ball and finish the key attack.

As a result, this time, Kobe, who assisted Gasol for the whole game, chose to shoot himself paranoidly at this critical moment!

Needless to say, the result was under the double interference of Atai and the AK47 who arrived, Kobe's three-point shot popped up.

Ryan grabbed the rebound himself, and after a dragon counterattack, he used a two-handed dunk to stretch the difference to 5 points.

Put an end to the suspense once and for all!

2-0, Los Angeles Lakers lost all two away games!

At this moment, Kobe Bryant doesn't seem to be any different from Paul.

Even a little more iron than Paul!

Before the game, Liu blew loudly, but he couldn't win a game as soon as he started fighting.

However, after taking a 2-0 lead, Ryan's attitude was completely different from the previous round.

In the last round, after Ryan won the first game, he had already breasted Paul to the fullest.

But this round, even though the Nuggets have a 2-0 lead, Ryan still only said one sentence at the press conference:

"It's not time to celebrate, we're not done yet!"

That night, Barkley also commented on Bryant's final choice:

"Kobe's personality is in some ways very similar to Mickey.

They all have a competitive and perverted paranoia.

This kind of character is both a disadvantage and an advantage.

The downside is that this personality makes Kobe Bryant perhaps the most problematic shooting choice of any superstar in NBA history.

For example, tonight, no one knows why he didn't pass the ball to Gasol at that crucial moment.

But the advantage of this personality is that Kobe Bryant is one of the best 'difficult shot scorers' in NBA history!

He won't miss key goals like this every night, Kobe's character has two sides! ”

And when the game returned to the Staples Center, both Ryan and Barkley proved their fears right!

G3, Kobe, who was still paranoid, immediately shot a quasi-lore!

In this game, Ryan was quite embarrassed because of his average hand.

Because he doesn't have back skills, once Ryan doesn't feel good and the inside line is locked, it will be difficult to have other ways to attack.

But no matter how bad his hand was, Ryan still scored 20 points on 42% shooting.

And, Monta. Ellis asked Lao Yu to repeat the famous scene of "Wow, this young man really has two brushes" countless times today, scoring 22 points.

Therefore, the Nuggets still occupy the initiative.

In the final 37 seconds of the game, the Lakers trailed by 2 points.

Once again, Bryant was paranoid about solving the problem on his own.

In the face of Ryan Atay and AK who rushed towards him, Kobe Bryant first made a false shot, pretending to shoot three points directly.

But when they both focused forward, they suddenly retracted the basketball, and then accelerated to the basket!

The Denver Shakhtars immediately filled the box like crazy, but they didn't expect Kobe to be able to shake off two defenders at once.

At this point, the Lakers were full of gaps on the court.

Gasol and Odom both had open shots.

But the paranoid Kobe Bryant didn't pass the ball, he faced Big Ben and Ryan, who came up from the defense, turned 180° in the air to wipe the defense, and glided to the other side of the basket.

At this time, Kobe Bryant's athleticism is definitely not as good as Ryan's.

If it were Ryan, he might have pulled straight up and dunked, or used a terrifying stunt to make a layup when his opponent landed.

But Kobe, he threw the ball softly to the basket while his body was falling. In the end, the 180° turn lever hit steadily!

And because Big Ben hit Kobe Bryant's forearm in a hurry, the referee also blew a foul!

At the desperate moment, Kobe Bryant scored a three-pointer!

In the end, Kobe's penalty was naturally a steady hit.

After the Nuggets' final round, Ellis's pass to Ryan was directly intercepted by Ariza.

Ariza's desperate steals, in any history, have been an important part of the Lakers' success.

In this way, this one-point advantage was maintained by the Lakers until the end.

Kobe Bryant used a quasi-stunter to turn the series total score to 1-2 when the whole world thought that the Nuggets were going to sweep the Nuggets 4-0 again!

Barkley has said that Kobe Bryant's paranoid to perverted personality is both an advantage and a disadvantage.

In the last game, Bryant was paranoid and made his own shot at a critical moment, allowing the team to lose the game.

But today, it's all the other way around.

At the critical moment, Kobe Bryant still paranoidly chose to attack the basket and finally killed the game!

Ryan wasn't wrong about that, the Nuggets' job isn't over yet!

The Los Angeles Lakers are indeed not like the previous Hornets, they are by no means ordinary!

Even if it's 2-0, you can't open the champagne at half-time.

After the game, Kobe Bryant was the same as Ryan, who had led 2-0 before, without any excited expression on his face:

"It's just a win, there's nothing to celebrate.

I know what level of player Ryan is, and I know that I'm three games away from a complete victory. ”

It is not difficult to see from the interview between Ryan and Kobe Bryant that although they are mortal enemies, although they often verbally humiliate each other.

But in reality, both people respect each other's strength.

Ryan knew that Kobe Bryant would not be crushed to death so easily, and Kobe Bryant also knew that he could not get carried away.

And in the series G4, Ryan and Kobe Bryant both put in good performances in the middle and long distance.

Bryant scored 25 points and shot 45 percent. Ryan scored 29 points and shot 47 percent from the field.

However, because the efficiency and output are close, no one can kill anyone.

Just when people were speculating about who would be the winner of the game today, one of the most unlikely guys popped up.

The old treacherous and cunning Derek. Fisher, fourth quarter facing Monta. Ellis made four consecutive shots after rounding the screen, making 4 of 4.

Coupled with a counter-attack layup and a one-of-two free throws, Lao Yu scored 11 points like a superstar in the fourth quarter!

That's why Zen masters need Fisher, because this guy is always able to make a difference when it's most needed and when it's most unexpected!

The Zen master knew that Lao Yu's character was not good, and he had the same hobby as Cao Cao.

But because of this key attribute, the Lakers have to use him from top to bottom at the risk of being hatted!

After the match, Ellis covered his head with his hands.

In the last game, he beat the old defender to the ground. So today, Monta. Ellis was a little too neglectful of the old fish.

And in the first three quarters of the game, Fisher only scored 5 points.

But who would have thought that this old man would actually return a heavy and accurate punch!

The so-called eat a trench, grow a wisdom. Now, the young Ellis knows he has to value a veteran like Fisher in the playoffs.

But the lost G4 will not come back.

So, 2 to 2!

The Lakers also scored two consecutive games at home after falling behind 0-2 to tie the series total!

After the game, Lao Yu was quite excited: "I'm too old, too slow, but I'm not completely useless!" I'm glad I can still help the team in my own way! We will definitely be the last champions! ”

None of the four games had a margin of more than double digits.

In four games, the two sides were staggered.

In all four games, the key to victory for both teams is also different.

G1, the Nuggets' defensive strategy made the Lakers uncomfortable, and the Lakers' defense liberated the Nuggets role players.

G2, after the Lakers adjusted their tactics, the Nuggets' role players were suppressed, but Kobe's paranoid shooting changed the outcome of the game.

G3, Kobe Bryant's lore.

G4, the old fish broke out.

There are wins and losses between the two sides, there are duels between players and tactical games of coaches.

Kobe Bryant is right, this round of games is called the real playoffs!

After 2 to 2, the most exciting drama in the playoffs, except for the tie-break, is also coming!

The ensuing battle of Tianwang Mountain will determine whether the Purple and Gold Army will be revived or the Denver miners will start a new dynasty.

After the game, Kobe Bryant and Ryan naturally expressed their determination to win the next game.

Bryant argues:

"We've limited Ryan very well in this round, and as long as we keep it up, we'll definitely be able to win the fourth game first."

Ryan said:

"Kobe Bryant is just a little bit harder to beat than the other opponents, but he's going to be beaten in the end.

In fact, today if it weren't for Derek. Fisher's unnatural performance and we're already 3-1 ahead.

But it doesn't matter, it's good to knock out the Lakers in Staples himself. ”

Not to be outdone, Barkley began his prediction again after the game:

"Seeing this, you must think that this year's Western Conference Finals is exciting enough, right?

But I'm telling you, the first four were only temptations at best!

G1, the Lakers stared at the quadruple, and as a result, Atay and Ellis punished such defense.

So the G2 Lakers immediately adjusted, turned into a three-star, and sent the old fish to stare at Ellis.

Although the Nuggets won, their role players were immediately limited in that game.

And the Nuggets have also discovered new problems, and they realize that if they let Gasol go too hard, the Spaniards will also cause big trouble.

So G3, Kirilenko no longer easily let go of Gasol, if it weren't for Kobe's stunner, the Nuggets would have been able to make it 3-0.

In today's G4, the Nuggets saw the power of Fisher, and their defense will definitely have a corresponding challenge in the next game.

See? In the first four games, both sides have made adjustments and there are variables.

are all pushing each other's limits step by step.

And after today, I can say that there is no room for both teams to adjust and fill in the gaps!

Fisher can't do it again, and Gasol can't get that many chances.

Atay can't be efficient on the court, and the Lakers' defense of Ellis is getting tighter.

There are fewer and fewer factors that can change the outcome of the game, and next

The only ones who can influence the victory are Kobe and Ryan!

So the battle of Tianwang Mountain is a king-to-king duel!

This also means that this round of the series is the most brutal stage! ”

Barkley was the truth, and what he said was true.

In the battle of Tianwang Mountain, the tactics and tricks of both sides have been exhausted, and Kobe Bryant and Ryan will directly decide the outcome of the game.

Kenny. Smith then asked Fliggy, "So, Master Pig, in your opinion, who will win this crucial battle next?" ”

Barkley looked serious:

"Bryant is in his true prime this season, and now he's lost some of his athleticism, but his reading of the game, his maturity, his determination, his skill, are all at the top.

His tenacity, his competitiveness, is infinitely close to Jordan.

I think Kobe Bryant has the potential to win a championship in four years.

But!

If there is really one person in this world who can defeat Kobe Bryant, who is already so perfect.

Then this person must be Ryan! ”

"Uh, are you so sure, Charles?"

"I can't be sure, but Ryan will help you determine it in the next game!"

Barkley finished speaking and looked at the statistics of the Nuggets' last few games.

It's been four games, and because the Lakers are tightly focused on the triple, Ryan hasn't gone completely crazy yet.

Not even a game was scored more than 30 points.

To put it bluntly, the Nuggets have not yet reached the point where they have to rely on Ryan to solve the problem personally, and Ryan is still playing in a way that is close to reasonable.

But in the next Tianwang Mountain, Ryan no longer has room to play reasonably.

So.

Ryan should go crazy for once!

Ryan, who has become the scoring champion in the regular season, will bring what kind of terrifying performance will he bring in the playoffs?

Fliggy can't wait.

Today's 10,000-word update is present! The diligent old man kneels and begs for a monthly pass! Thank you, fathers!

(End of chapter)