Chapter 72: Healthy Basketball, Battle of Proof!
"Kobe, you're back?"
On January 26, Doon returned to the Toyota Center to practice after filming the commercial, but he didn't expect to meet Kobe Bryant again.
"Well, I came back yesterday, why didn't I see you?"
Bryant stopped training and had a face-to-face chat with Doon.
Doon replied truthfully: "I went to shoot a commercial, my signature shoes are about to go on sale, and I will come back to practice after filming the commercial." ”
"Do you want to practice together?" Bryant suggested.
When Du En heard this, he immediately shook his head: "No, you can get busy first, I still have to warm up, don't worry about me." ”
Having played together for half a season, how could Doon not understand Kobe's personality? After practicing together to the end, can't you help but go head-to-head with Doon?
To describe Pippen's experience - other NBA players only play a few games a year against Jordan. And what about Pippen? From early October to mid-June, it was necessary to withstand offensive fire from Jordan almost every day.
After Doon gets the Pippen template, the defensive experience is enough! There is no need to use Kobe Bryant to improve his defensive intensity.
Besides, Doon is still facing a fitness bottleneck.
What Doon has to do now is neither to study nor to train hard, but to reduce the physical exertion as much as possible and reduce the work that should be done when playing.
Today, Doon came to the Toyota Center to practice, not to digest the players' templates, but to warm up and stay in shape.
Just like a car that is not driven often is more likely to break down than driven often. People are also like cars, those who exercise regularly are healthier than those who do not exercise.
Athletes have always maintained a certain amount of exercise, and suddenly one day they rested, and they lay in bed all day to rest, and when they really need to play, they are prone to various uncomfortable symptoms, that is, the so-called "big break" situation.
The regular season is still going on, and Doon has not yet solved his fitness problems, so he is naturally not ready to stop at will.
"Alright then......"
Kobe Bryant could only pout when he heard Doon reject his kindness, and soon began his own training again.
Doon warmed up at the Toyota Center for less than two hours before heading home, leaving Bryant still practicing in the arena.
When I returned to the Toyota Center the next afternoon, I saw Kobe Bryant again.
If it weren't for Kobe Bryant's change of outfit from head to toe, Doon would have thought that Kobe had been living in the Toyota Center in order to practice!
On January 28, the regular season continued with the Lakers hosting the SuperSonics.
With the OK duo around Doon to score, and Payton sharing the pressure of holding the ball, he tried to find opportunities to be a little lazy on the defensive end, and it was indeed a lot easier to play.
Played 35 minutes in the game, accumulating 6 of 14 shots, 2 of 6 three-point shots, and 4 of 6 free throws, easily cutting down 18 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
Although he failed to produce a double-double and his shooting touch did not recover, Doon's scoring efficiency improved a lot.
Doon originally thought that Kobe's return would last for a long time, so that someone could digest the ball, and Doon would be able to continue to be lazy and continue to play healthy basketball.
Who would have thought that the next day, Doon actually didn't see Kobe's figure at the Toyota Center.
Doon thought that Kobe Bryant was tired and needed time to rest, so he didn't pay much attention to it.
On the third day, Doon came to the Toyota Center to practice as usual, but he still didn't see Kobe, which was a little suspicious.
Subsequently, Doon inquired with the staff and learned that Kobe Bryant left the team after playing the supersonics, and now at this time, Kobe Bryant should attend the hearing in Eagle County......
"What the hell, is it so difficult for Lao Tzu to play a healthy basketball?"
No, on January 30, Garnett arrived at Staples Center with the Timberwolves, the third team in the West.
In the words of the local Los Angeles media before the game: "It's time to test Doon's ability to lead the team!" ”
"Why am I just a rookie and lead the team? No kidding, right? ”
Doon wanted to complain, but the outside media told Doon - you must help the Los Angeles Lakers and win this next crucial game!
The game of strong dialogue can best reflect the personal ability of the star and the attribute of leading the team!
The Lakers can play tonight with only three stars - O'Neal, Doane, and Payton.
Payton's form this season is really worrying, although the attendance rate is full, but the performance on both offensive and defensive ends is only the mid-level level of the league's starting point guards.
As for O'Neal, he has everything he should have, regular season MVP, All-Star MVP, Finals MVP! No one can question O'Neal's individual strength and ability to lead the team.
So, can the Lakers hold on to their home win against the Timberwolves three-headed monster? It's up to Doon to perform!
Since Doon's current All-Star vote ranks first among All-Star forwards in the West, Doon has to take on the responsibility of All-Star forward.
Doon first, Garnett second, just looking at the All-Star ballot, it is.
However, fame is all false, and the competition still depends on strength!
Whether Doon lives up to his name or not depends on how the next game goes!
Of course, in the next game, Doon can't directly face Garnett.
However, the Timberwolves don't just have Garnett.
The Timberwolves, like the current remnant Lakers, are also two stars on the outside and one star on the inside.
If Doon wants to help the Lakers win, he needs to blow up the madman Sprewell on both offensive and defensive ends!
Now Doon is ranked fifth on the list of scoring champions, higher than the madman, and there are faint signs of becoming a superstar.
So, it should be reasonable to blow up the four-time All-Star guard Maniac, right?
There is no way, Doon was also coerced by public opinion, and had to give up the idea of healthy basketball in advance.
At least, in the next game, Doon must devote himself to both offensive and defensive ends to compete with the madman as much as possible.
Moreover, it is not enough to win the data, the most important thing is to help the Lakers keep the victory at home!
"Don't worry, Doon, just pass me the ball and Shaq will take you to win the game!"
The match was about to start, and O'Neal smiled and gave Doon a squeeze on the shoulder.
Originally, Doon was still a little nervous, mainly because of the responsibility of winning.
Now hearing O'Neal say this, Doon came back to his senses: "Yes, O'Neill is the boss of the team!" ”
Of course, Doon still hasn't completely relaxed.
In this next match, Doon wants to win and wants to prove himself!
After all, if you lose, O'Neill will be scolded, and Doon will be scolded, and no one can escape!
If you want to be the boss of the team, you must first have the courage to take responsibility and accept criticism from the outside world.
However, Doon prefers praise to criticism!
Didn't you say that I was not worthy of virtue? Then I just want you to see who is stronger between me and Garnett!