After losing the third ga, the defending champions have found themselves on the brink of a cliff.
The core Lakers players, led by Kobe, are well aware...
If they can’t win the upcoming fourth ga, they will not only fall behind in a 1-3 series score, but staging a coback against the Warriors in the remaining gas would be nothing short of wishful thinking.
Refusing to sit idly by, Kobe, along with his teammates, practiced extra three-point shots during the lead-up to the fourth ga.
This was a suggestion by Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw.
In the first three gas, besides heavily double-teaming Kobe, to avoid Curry and Nash getting blown out, the Warriors primarily used zone defense as their strategy.
Thus, in Shaw’s view, only by shooting more accurately can the Lakers further improve their offensive efficiency on the court and punish the Warriors’ zone defense.
Additionally, after the first three gas, the Lakers and Warriors have already revealed the chips they could play in this gamble.
Qin Yue is undoubtedly the trump card for the Warriors.
And for the Lakers?
Before the fourth ga began, Jackson earnestly told Kobe, "Kobe, this is definitely the year you have the best chance to defeat him."
The Zen Master is a coach who is very skilled at unleashing the potential of star players.
Jackson knows Kobe is soone who never admits defeat.
Therefore, rather than comforting Kobe...
In Jackson’s view, what he needed to do more was to provide Kobe with a bit of motivation to activate the Celestial God Descending switch on the court.
Two days later, at Staples Center.
The West Conference Finals’ fourth ga between the Warriors and Lakers was set to take place.
During the pre-ga warm-ups.
As soon as he entered the arena, Qin Yue spotted LeBron Jas, who always liked wearing his baseball cap backward, standing by the side.
Qin Yue was curious why Jas would grace the arena tonight.
"LeBron, are you here to cheer on?" Qin Yue approached and greeted Jas.
Upon hearing this, Jas replied with a bitter smile, "Cleveland feels too suffocating. I wanted to get out and relax."
Is it rely suffocation?
Earlier in the postseason, with Jas leading the Cavaliers to beco the first divisional top team to be eliminated in the first round since the playoffs were restructured to a best-of-seven format, Jas has faced constant criticism from the United States dia.
After all, in this era dominated by Qin Yue...
Jas, who already had the montum of being second to none in the regular season, is considered by nurous Arican dia outlets as the potential rival to Qin Yue in the NBA’s future.
Arican Basketball desperately needs a Captain Arica to topple Qin Yue’s reign.
Perhaps, in previous matchups between Jas and Qin Yue, Jas repeatedly t with defeat.
But in competitive sports, a temporary defeat doesn’t signify everything.
Jas is young enough.
Much like how Jordan took years to finally defeat the Pistons.
As the season progressed, with Jas gradually mastering the role of being a ball handler in the core...
Whether it’s his personal stats or his increasingly explosive body, many Arican fans see an incredibly bright future ahead for him.
Fans hope that Jas, who always maintains a chasing montum, could one day catch up to Qin Yue, much like those comic heroes who always co back and win after initial losses.
However...
With fans’ ardent hopes for Jas and the Cavaliers’ first-round exit rging into nothingness, Jas, who provided fans with endless imagination during the regular season, inevitably had to bear the corresponding cost.
The cost was severe.
So severe that Jas didn’t want to spend even a mont longer in Cleveland.
Thus, following Richie Paul’s advice, Jas, who urgently needed fresh air, arrived at the scene for the fourth ga of the West Conference Finals.
On one hand, the West Conference Finals had garnered trendous buzz this year, allowing Jas to maintain his presence by watching in person.
On the other hand, Jas could use this opportunity to demonstrate to the world that he wouldn’t be easily defeated.
"You know, I still have a lot to learn from Era and Kobe."
While receiving a journalist’s interview, Jas humbly stated, "I hope watching the ga closely can help understand how these two great players lead a team to the finals."
At that mont, when Jas expressed his desire to improve with a humble attitude, Qin Yue believed that even those Arican dia who constantly held onto Jas would surely offer him so leniency afterward.
What can Jas learn from watching the ga?
That isn’t important.
What’s essential is that Jas can use this ga to show the world his heart that refuses to give up.
Just like doing a test; the questions might not have to be answered, but the sound of flipping the pages must be loud.
Warm-up concluded.
At the court center, players from both teams gradually took their positions.
That night, the jump ball was again contested by Qin Yue, who played as the center, and Little Gasol from the Lakers lineup.
Interestingly, knowing he wasn’t a match for Qin Yue in the jump ball, Little Gasol simply forfeited the tip-off, and retreated to his half-court as soon as the ga started.
Curry was responsible for bringing the ball over half-court, the Warriors swiftly stretched their formation and created an opportunity for Qin Yue to isolate Odom on the wing.
The next mont, Qin Yue aggressively paved through Odom’s defensive zone, paused for a pull-up, and hit the shot.
In the stands, witnessing the scene firsthand, Jas, who had just involuntarily put himself in Qin Yue’s perspective, imdiately furrowed his brows.
Because at the mont Qin Yue made the breakthrough, the help defense from both Gasols had already arrived, so aside from passing, the pull-up was indeed the best option available to Qin Yue.
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