The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him! -
Chapter 557 - 231 Let’s Not Harbor Grandiose Dreams Like New York in Orlando!_3
Chapter 557: Chapter 231 Let’s Not Harbor Grandiose Dreams Like New York in Orlando!_3
But as the game progressed, the Lakers exposed another problem:
Their bench rotation lacked strength.
On the Nuggets’ side, they had J.R. Smith, the "Nervous Saber"!
What was even more fatal was that J.R. Smith’s performance tonight was really good, hitting consecutive three-point shots.
The charm of the three-pointer became apparent at that moment; although the Lakers had a higher overall shooting percentage inside, Smith kept filling the gap with three-pointers.
By halftime, the Nuggets led with a score of 53 to 48, ahead by 5 points.
However, Phil Jackson, the "Zen Master," remained calm, watching J.R. Smith dominate on the court, yet not showing any sign of worry.
Indeed, there’s something to be said for the cunning of age.
The Nuggets, who had turned the tables at halftime thanks to J.R. Smith, also lost the game in the second half because of him.
In the first half, Smith kept firing and hitting three-pointers, with an exaggerated 6 shots and 5 makes. But as the game moved into the second half, his three-point shooting rate plummeted to only 1 make out of 5 attempts.
Now, the Nuggets couldn’t match the Lakers’ scoring pace from the inside.
At the end of the game, with a score of 106 to 96, the Lakers still managed to win the first game of the series without much danger.
But, according to the external media, the suspense of the Western Conference Finals was more significant than the Eastern.
Not to mention the outside shooting, the Nuggets were hotter than the Lakers.
The Lakers were entirely dependent on Kobe.
Ariza had transformed into an excellent "3D player" this season.
But he was no match for Carmelo Anthony; the responsibility of defending "Sweet melon" still had to be handed to Kobe. He couldn’t switch to defend Baron Davis, or Fisher would have to guard the Nuggets’ two.
Just about anyone, like J.R. Smith, could turn him into a sieve.
Ariza spent the whole game focusing on help defense, mainly assisting Kobe.
From this, it’s clear that all the pressure of the Lakers’ outside offense and defense was on Kobe.
If the Nuggets’ outside attacks had been a bit more intense, they could have had a chance to win this game.
Like the Magic Team!
Facing the Pacers, they really didn’t stand a chance.
Both the team’s "engine" and "scoring king" were tightly restricted.
These experts were not wrong, the Nuggets indeed broke the deadlock with fierce outside offense in the second game of the Western Conference Finals, defeating the Lakers with an 11-point difference of 107 to 96, snatching a home victory from Staples Center.
Next, the Nuggets would have 2 home games. If they seized that, they could return to Staples with a 3-1 lead.
Barkley said, "The Nuggets have great potential!"
With that one sentence, Denver fans almost carried trains overnight to Barkley’s house, lining up to take turns beating up the bastard.
Could you just die if you don’t speak?
Don’t you know how toxic your mouth is?
The series in the Western Conference Finals was tied at 1-1.
Over in the Eastern Conference, the battle reignited.
The third game of the series, with Orlando Magic as the home team.
Since leaving in ’96, Shaquille O’Neal had returned here yearly for a long time. After his recent excursions east, his returns to Orlando became occasional, but none of those times felt as satisfying as this one, not by a tenth!
With a 2-0 lead, the next two games were on the Magic’s home court.
Meaning he could very likely end the Magic’s second Finals run in front of their fans!
Fourteen years ago, he led the team to make its first breakthrough, bringing the Magic to the Finals stage.
Now, it was up to him to end the Magic’s second chance at entering the Finals!
All this...
It was destiny’s arrangement!
It proved that Howard was no match for him, only able to bring the team to the Eastern Conference Finals; it also proved that for the Magic to get into the Finals, they relied on Shaquille O’Neal.
This was their punishment for not giving me a $20 million a year contract back then!
Upon reflection, having punished the Magic, and next, they’d have to punish the Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal felt even more exhilarated!
He must admit, joining the Pacers last summer was the most correct decision of his career, even more so than when he joined the Lakers.
Yes...
That’s what he believed now!
What did he achieve with the Lakers?
He led them to three consecutive championships!
But what did he get?
In the summer of ’04, discarded at the peak of his career by Old Bass, not even being offered a top-salary "retirement contract"!
What he contributed and what he received...
It simply wasn’t proportional!
And now...
Just after joining the Pacers for a season, he got the chance to punch the Magic and kick the Lakers, making those "traitors" pay for their deeds. Now tell me, how could this not be the best choice?
When facing the media, he was all snark: "This is just the management of the Magic Team and the media of this city. In ’92, they obtained the greatest five of history but didn’t know how to treasure it. Twelve years later in ’04, they missed the best opportunity again! God had time and again sent them the cornerstone to become a powerhouse, but they always missed out. What else is there to say? This is Orlando; the only thing people think of is Disney. Of course, there will also be my famous dish!"
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