Chapter 516 A person’s hell
The focus of the Sonics' defensive arrangement is James.
This is the result of the deformed and unified consensus at the beginning of the formation of the Kojan Alliance.
In the triangle offensive system, Cojan is undoubtedly a perfect match. James at his peak is a fully enhanced version of Pippen, and Kobe is only slightly inferior to Jordan in his prime. In terms of 2K values, this is like a super giant with an ability value of 97. The difference between having an ability value of 99 is huge.
Once such a combination works together, it will inevitably be as devastating as Kudu during 2017-2018.
But the deformity of the Kojan Alliance is that James never promised that he would actively integrate into the triangle offense.
He also never plays Pippin's awakening.
This is also a hidden danger left by Kobe when he originally recruited him. Kobe believes that he is good at offense, and James is an all-around player second only to Yu Fei. Therefore, as long as they join forces and perform their respective duties, they will be unfavorable.
This idea is probably correct. When you meet most teams, even if they have evil intentions, they can still crush them with their talent.
Keqiang Yuyuyong was almost pulled down by the Rockets in 2019 when Kudu was healthy. On the contrary, after Durant was injured, the Warriors, who had a clear backbone, overturned the Houstonians.
The Lakers have not yet reached the situation of the 19th Warriors, but the indiscriminate ball rights and the passive choice of letting James lead the offense are being exploited by the SuperSonics.
The Sonics have home court advantage, and the referee team headed by Scott Foster also encourages confrontation. Under seemingly consistent standards, star players like Yu Fei and Durant are more likely to get fouled. In turn, Kobe As a guest, Zhan's whistle power is the same as that of role players.
This potential double standard is the norm on the road, but the Lakers' star players don't usually experience it.
Therefore, Yu Fei's tough defense and rough physical contact made James uncomfortable and evoked a nightmare deep in his mind.
Wasn’t that what the U.S. team training camp in Las Vegas was like three years ago?
James' confidence is that he is stronger than he was three years ago.
Indeed.
Yu Fei also admitted this.
Therefore, Yu Fei did not think about making a fool of himself in front of the elites of American basketball like he did three years ago.
The main trouble Yu Fei brings to James, who has the home court advantage, is that he has to work hard every time he breaks through and completely loses his belief in using shooting to solve the problem.
Even if James shoots with a relatively low output this year and has a much higher outside shooting percentage than Yu Fei, it is impossible for him to really use shooting as a regular main weapon like Yu Fei.
Because while James has improved his shooting skills, he has also improved in his "shot selection".
When he was with the Cavaliers, he had no choice; but with the Lakers, he can distribute those poor shot choices to others and try his best to take open shots and open shots that are one or two steps away from the defender. If you feel good, shoot more. If you feel bad, try to hit the basket and run fast breaks.
Whether it is his career planning or his choices on the court, his golf intelligence is integrated with his tendencies, giving people an overly shrewd feeling.
Just like those who taste the fish fat first when eating fish, there is nothing wrong with this. It's just that in the game, being shrewd is different from being smart. The former is often utilitarian.
Since there is a utilitarian mentality, it will be exploited.
James' shooting percentage is not like that of Yu Fei who relies on his excellent skills to constantly challenge the defense and maintain high production.
Therefore, it is impossible for him to try to solve the problem with shooting under the "killing, killing, killing" defense of the Supersonics.
He will look for breakthrough opportunities wholeheartedly.
Yu Fei will apply pressure, and then the supersonic spiders will each look for opportunities to block his breakthrough path.
James was forced to pass.
But in front of the SuperSonics' lineup with long hands and long legs, his teammates can only get half-open spaces at best.
The man receiving the ball on this play was Richard Hamilton.
The masked man took a three-pointer under the interference of Hughes's long arm and barely hit it.
"Larry, stick to him."
For a high-quality shooter like Hamilton who can hit a three-pointer from a mid-range position, the Sonics' proposition is not to give him a chance.
The masked man's thrilling shot allowed James to breathe a sigh of relief.
The game didn't look as difficult as he thought, but in the next round, Yu Fei asked for the ball in the low post.
Before James could react, Hughes had already given the ball.
James' teammates chose to trust his low-post defense, and then Yu Fei slammed in aggressively, knocking the emperor back half a step.
In just a moment, Yu Fei turned around, collected the ball, and raised it to his head.
James' forward leap to block shots was like an instinct written into his genes, but it was just Yu Fei's fake move.
When James took off, Yu Feiren was still on the ground, and he knew it was over.
Yu Fei caught the time difference, took off after James landed, rubbed his shooting hand against the opponent, naturally caused a foul, and then gently took the ball out of his hand.
For an instant, time seemed to have stopped flowing.
The boneless shot feels so silky that it makes one's scalp numb. Even a training geek like Kobe believes that this is the muscle memory that Yu Fei has gained through millions of training sessions.
It’s impossible not to enter.
The basketball fell from the center of the basket without even touching the net.
The ball bounced on the ground, and Yu Fei scored 2+1.
"And One!!!" ESPN's Mike Breen screamed in surprise, "Frye's shot could be put into a shampoo commercial. This shot just explained all the meaning of 'silky'!"
Yu Fei looked at James contemptuously: "You can't even defend in the low post. Why on earth did you get selected for the best defensive team?"
"I'll let you know!"
Yu Fei made a free throw.
In the next round, James was like a beast that had lost its mind.
However, Yu Fei hinted to Durant in advance to be ready.
Just when James decided to break through at full speed and fly to the basket for a explosive dunk in return, Durant actually let Kobe open and came directly to double-team.
The beast turned into a trapped beast, and two players with a height and wingspan greater than James blocked his passing route.
Just when he was trying his best to protect the ball, DeAndre Jordan blocked the referee's field of vision whether accidentally or intentionally. Yu Fei started boldly, hitting first and then patting the ball.
Durant got the ball and immediately handed it to Yu Fei, who was sprinting forward.
James yelled at the referee, retreating on defense while gesturing how unreasonable Yu Fei's actions just now were.
But Foster looked like he recognized Yu Fei as his godfather and refused to brag about it.
James didn't know that Foster didn't see what happened just now, and only said that the other party favored Yu Fei.
However, he complained at the wrong time.
Just as he made a few gestures to Foster, Yu Fei had already shaken him far away and rushed forward to complete a gliding tomahawk dunk that made the Key Arena boil.
"Man!!!" Will Smith, a Lake honey, couldn't help but jump up and yell at Fei, "I won't watch next year's slam dunk contest without you!"
Not even halfway through the first quarter, Yu Fei had already scored 10 points.
The preview of 50 points in a single game is by no means a simple pre-game rhetoric.
He has the ability to do it and is doing his best to accomplish it.
Phil Jackson stood up unconsciously.
He wanted to call a timeout, but the Lakers' current problem is James.
What to do after the pause? Take away James' ball rights and make this man whose mentality has undergone major ups and downs feel that the world has abandoned him?
This effect will not only last for the entire game, but will also be affected in subsequent games.
As a coach certified by many super giants, Jackson's excellence lies in his mental skills.
This gives him a skill that ordinary coaches don't have: palace fighting.
But mental skills not only make him effective in court battles, he also puts his mental state first when observing the players' on-the-spot performance.
James' current state is very delicate.
Jackson put aside the ideological debate for the time being. He wanted to stabilize James' mentality.
So even if you do nothing, call this pause.
Unexpectedly, before the timeout was called, James had already broken through Yu Fei.
After all, he is a talented monster that appears only once every ten years, and no one can keep him firmly on the periphery.
But Yu Fei on the defensive end is just a problem, and the SuperSonics have set many problems for him.
If they are all solved by him, then the Sonics have one more trick.
Jordan suddenly appeared during James' charging stage, and the two collided violently in the air.
This caused James to lose his balance and it was difficult for him to complete the shot.
The referee's whistle finally sounded, and Jordan was called for a foul, but this foul would not make James change his mind, because it was an impossible foul not to call.
Can this foul help James breathe a sigh of relief?
Jackson hasn't called a timeout yet, and he thinks he can watch a few more rounds.
But this is just a precursor to a major blow.
James made one of two free throws, and the missed second free throw hinted at the misfortune to come.
"Basketball doesn't lie!" Jordan shouted after grabbing the rebound. "Those who betray their hometown cannot have a good ending!"
James glared angrily and wanted to say something, but with the dog flying next to him, was there any need to waste his words?
"DJ, you did a great job." Yu Fei took the ball from Jordan, "Get ready to pull away."
Jordan said in embarrassment: "I am as bad at shooting as Kwame."
It's hard for Yu Fei not to appreciate Jordan.
Looking at his stupid, thick and thick look, you would think that he is a person who only has motor instincts and does not know how to use his brain. Most of the time he does, relying solely on talent and instinct to play. But speaking of his inability to shoot, he also needs to bring Kwame Brown with him.
He really sees starting in the Western Conference Finals as an opportunity to challenge for a starting role.
Yu Fei smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, just pull away like Kwame."
Yu Fei hadn't passed halftime yet, and the singles order had been conveyed to the entire team. Even the Lakers could tell he was going one-on-one.
Kobe said to Kawhi: "Mark, prepare to double-team, don't let LeBron deal with him alone."
Xiaojia nodded.
But is two people enough?
It's not that Kobe has never thought about this problem, but Yu Fei plans to start singles from the outside this round, which will circumvent James's weakness of not being good at low defense.
In terms of perimeter single defense, James is among the top three in the league.
The Lakers trust James' defense.
In addition, Xiaojia is always ready to double-team, isn't this foolproof?
The results will be announced soon.
"Fry wants to fight back!"
"Look at the positioning of the rest of the Sonics, they are all spread apart!"
"Can you do it, Fry?"
Commentators from major cable TV stations said excitedly.
James seemed to be deaf, unable to hear external sounds. Yu Fei dribbled the ball and only made a gesture, and the whole team dared not disobey him. This was the position he dreamed of in Los Angeles.
Whenever he shows his ambition to achieve a higher status, someone will ask him, if he likes to be above everyone, why did he leave Cleveland in the first place?
Why can't he be like Frye?
This question in the emperor's heart was quickly burned to ashes by jealousy, and the man who lived the life of his dreams started without reservation from his left hand.
It's fast, but not so fast that people can't react.
James mobilized his terrifying motor skills to keep up, but when he was two steps inside the three-point line, he almost lost his balance.
Yu Fei's right hand suddenly paused while dribbling. It looked like a precursor to collecting the ball for a jump shot, but it was actually the movement of pulling the ball from behind to change its direction.
James was not deceived, he just couldn't give a correct reaction. The moment he pulled the ball, Gasol entered the battlefield. This was a perfect time.
No one can point out anything wrong with the timing of Kaspersky's entry.
James reacted and was about to double-team sideways. In the blink of an eye, Yu Fei used his left hand to slap the ball from behind into his crotch. His body rushed forward like an arrow, suddenly breaking out of the fragile center of the double-team. A way out was found in the area.
"OMG!!!"
The commentators are at a loss for words to describe the splendor of this scene.
Yu Fei quickly got rid of Xiaojia, but James was still behind him. The two entered the penalty area at the same time and took off together.
However, Yu Fei's back was turned to James when he took off. He hit the opponent hard with his back, causing James to lose the remaining power to block him from behind in the air. However, he jumped with the help of the opponent's tank drive. to the highest point.
He couldn't see the basket and lost all sense of distance. He just threw the ball into the sky based on the memory in his mind.
"Beep~~~~!!!"
The referee awarded James a defensive foul, and the ball
It flew to the height above the basket, then showed a beautiful arc and hit the backboard, taking advantage of the momentum and falling into the basket.
"What a move!!!" yelled Mike Breen, "Made by Fry Yu!"
And, there are free throws.
This is James' second foul.
However, the most exciting thing happened after the goal.
Yu Fei ignored James, turned around and shouted to the Lakers: "This weakling can't guard me at all, let Kobe come over!"
When dignity, pride, and faith are all trampled to pieces, all that is left of human beings is the beastly nature of resorting to violence.
Losing his mind, James walked toward Yu Fei, but was pushed away by Jordan.
There was a quarrel between the two sides, and the referee took control of the game in time.
However, the damage has been done.
Yu Fei's insult to James elicited a response from the entire audience.
They started insulting James with all kinds of dirty words.
This is hell for a person.
Whether James is the leader of the Lakers or not, his status as the core is clear.
Seeing him being so insulted but unable to do anything, the morale of the Lakers also suffered a heavy blow.
Phil Jackson regretfully called a timeout.
The score difference has reached double digits, and Jackson must make a decision.
He replaced James.
Although it was not a good time, the two fouls gave him reason.
"LeBron, I can't let you play the game at the risk of further fouls." Jackson said, and asked Artest to replace James.
James sat down speechlessly.
Kobe said: "Don't take it personally, LeBron."
Only Kobe can comfort James, only he is qualified.
Because he is the number one player on the team.
Whether James accepts it or not, this is true.
James didn't want to see others pity him, so he responded coldly: "I'll be back soon."
"I know." Kobe said, "We need you back."
Is this Kobe's most emotionally intelligent moment since recruiting James? The Zen master doesn't know.
But this aloof, egotistical, and often overly arrogant man did the right thing when James was at his most vulnerable.
The Lakers are not finished.
Even tonight, their hope was not lost.
The timeout ends and both sides return to the court.
Yu Fei is ready to impose additional penalties.
"Is that weakling who abandoned his hometown crying in the audience?" Yu Fei asked Kobe sarcastically.
Kobe said: "LeBron didn't turn his back on anyone."
"Go and ask people in Cleveland if they agree."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Fei made a penalty hit.
Seven minutes into the game, James was substituted, which was an opportunity for the Sonics.
Tyronn Lue was thinking about extending the lead, while assistant coach Adrian Dantley suggested: "In another two minutes, we can let Frye go off the court to rest."
Dantley's suggestion was simple. He did this to let Yu Fei rest.
This is rare in this series.
Coach Lu immediately calmed down: "Yes, Frye is in great shape tonight. We can win as long as we play steadily."
Eight minutes into the game, Yu Fei used a buzzer-beating three-pointer to increase his score in a single quarter to 16 points, and the SuperSonics' lead reached 15 points.
Ten seconds later, Durant fouled Kobe.
Director Lu replaced Yu Fei and Bosh with Alonzo Key and Jermaine O'Neal.
"Fry, have a good rest." Coach Lu said cheerfully, "You can only score 50 points if you have enough strength."
If Lu didn't replace him, Yu Fei wouldn't say anything.
But choosing to replace him at this time is what Carr would do.
Because he spent a lot of money in the first quarter, not only attacking with all his strength, but also sparing no effort on the defensive end.
So it was the right decision to let him take a break while he was leading by a big score.
Yu Fei came to the court and sat down, looking at the Lakers bench from a distance.
James has already put on his appearance uniform, sitting quietly like a substitute player, biting his fingernails from time to time.
It can be seen that he has recovered.
Who gave me the chicken soup that works so quickly?
Yu Fei thought to himself that the Lakers' offense had arrived in the frontcourt.
Kobe unreasonably rushed to the basket, singled out Ou and Jordan in the no-fly zone, and forced the ball into the ball through the lever.
He turned around and bared his teeth at Yu Fei, "Don't think you are safe!"
The person who feeds James chicken soup is definitely not the guy who rushes to provoke himself by stepping on shit and making a difficult lever.
Yu Fei thought to himself.
The Lakers' momentum was not lifted by Kobe's brilliant offense.
Because the SuperSonics adopt a stable play style.
Durant attracted the defense from the high position and provided the ball for Xiao Ou.
Xiao Ou worked in the low post and suddenly threw the ball into the air, and Xiao Jordan happily ate the cake.
This kind of cooperation is not uncommon in the closing stages of the first quarter. Due to the large lead, the Sonics played very steadily. Even if Yu Fei was away, the offensive momentum remained unabated.
Kobe Bryant played the entire first quarter, and the Lakers' offense improved after James came off the court, but they still failed to narrow the gap much.
At the end of the first quarter, the score stayed at 36-23.
The SuperSonics lead their opponents by 13 points.
(End of chapter)