Chapter 1 The Importance of the Game

June 2nd, the Lakers and Warriors' Western Conference Finals Game 5 returned to the Staples Center.

Inside the arena...

As the camera focused on the big names present tonight...

Whether it was "Magic" and "Skyhook" reminiscing about the old days, or Beckham, Federer, or those Hollywood celebrities you usually only see on the movie screen, they were constantly reminding people in front of the TV...

The importance of this game to the entire basketball world.

On the court, as the two teams' entrance ceremonies ended, the big screen at the Staples Center displayed the starting lineups for both teams tonight.

Lakers: Su Feng, Middleton, Green, Kobe, Rondo.

Warriors: Chandler, Kirilenko, James, Klay, Curry.

As a coach who likes to make selections based on players' on-court performance, after returning to Los Angeles, Middleton's excellent performance in training impressed Coach Lu.

In addition, after the first four games, the Lakers' group of veterans' physical condition was no longer comparable to before the series began, so in order to ensure the Lakers' defensive vitality, Coach Lu also knew that he had to dare to send fresh troops into battle at this time.

In the center of the court, Su Feng and Chandler were responsible for the jump ball to start the game.

As in the previous two games, after Su Feng symbolically competed with the boxing champion, the Warriors attacked first.

James was responsible for dribbling the ball across the half-court.

Curry, who made a name for himself in G4, used Kirilenko's screen to get the ball on the right wing.

Rondo kept up in time and successfully prevented Curry from shooting indiscriminately.

Seeing this, Little Zhan Zhan, who originally planned to pass the ball to Curry, no longer hesitated.

At the high post, holding the basketball, after blowing past Green in one step, James directly cut into the Lakers' defense like a human tank.

Su Feng, who continued to play center for the Lakers in the first half tonight, failed to stop James.

After collecting some "toll fees" from him, in order to avoid committing a foul at the start, Su Feng turned his head and ran to the baseline, preparing to quickly inbound the ball.

Bang, swish!

At this point in the Western Conference Finals, neither the Lakers nor the Warriors would be silly enough to prevent this kind of score that must be respected.

The Lakers attacked, and Rondo quickly pushed past the half-court line and passed the ball to Kobe.

Green and Middleton, who followed Kobe and Rondo on the fast break, fell into the left and right corners respectively.

Through a subtle change of rhythm in his shoulders, Kobe broke through along the left after shaking Klay on the left wing.

It's a pity that Kirilenko's help defense was in place, blocking Kobe's path forward in advance.

If he were one or two years younger, Kobe would definitely not have given Kirilenko a chance to help defend.

But with age, the Mamba snake's dribbling speed was obviously not as good as during his peak.

But men!

Sometimes being too fast isn't necessarily a good thing.

On the court, just as he was about to collide with Kirilenko's defensive zone, Kobe suddenly flicked his wrist and sent the basketball miraculously into Middleton's hands in the right corner.

Middleton, who was fully prepared, caught the ball very smoothly.

Swish!

2 to 3.

On CCTV, Zhang Zhidao smiled and said, "Wow, Kobe's pass is really freehand!

Look, even 'Magic' is ashamed!"

On the sidelines, at this moment, if Johnson could understand Chinese...

Then he would definitely feel like he'd been screwed over.

No!

I'm just cheering for the Lakers' juniors!

How did it become that even I am ashamed?

On the court, the Warriors' offensive possession.

Curry, who was restrained by the Staples curse and Rondo, still failed to run out of an open position according to the Warriors' original tactical deployment.

At the top of the arc, Little Zhan Zhan stepped on the accelerator again, holding the ball and forcefully killing the Lakers' basket.

After gaining muscle in the summer last year, Green's strength has improved a lot.

However, because he has to ensure his three-point shooting percentage, Green, who doesn't dare to gain too much weight, is still unable to take advantage of his build to block James' breakthrough route when James starts to accelerate.

Bang, swish!

Under the basket, Little Zhan Zhan scored another point for the Warriors.

Without a truly meaningful center, in addition to hoping that Su Feng could descend from the sky with "divine punishment," it was basically impossible for the Lakers to do anything about James' breakthrough.

But just like in "partner yoga" training, the physical exertion of "lying down" and "standing up" is worlds apart.

If only James had the stamina to score six or seventy points...

Then how could the Lakers have the opportunity to fight the Warriors in this crucial game?

It was the Lakers' turn to attack.

With Li guiding from the bench tonight, the Lakers had to rely on Kobe to take the lead from the start.

On the wing, after pulling out to receive the ball, facing Klay's defense, after switching the ball to his right hand with a crossover, Kobe suddenly took a step towards the baseline.

Klay followed with small steps, but who would have thought that with his right shoulder already extended, Kobe could still pull the ball back!

How strong would his core strength have to be to do that?

So, doesn't every successful man have a woman behind him who can make him reach for his back when getting out of bed the next day?

Although he no longer had the speed of his peak.

However, Kobe, whose waist was as young as ever, still used his movements as smooth as a girl's skin to cheat Klay.

Push off, stay in the air, flick his wrist.

One step inside the three-point line at a 45-degree angle on the right, Kobe immediately pulled up and shot as soon as he created shooting space.

Swish!

4 to 5.

On CCTV, Zhang Zhidao, who was mesmerized, couldn't help but exclaim, "As long as you give Kobe this kind of one-on-one opportunity, then next, you can basically wait to inbound the ball from the baseline!"

On the court, the Warriors' third attack after the start was completed by Klay.

It's a pity that under Kobe's interference, the basketball failed to hit the target and was way off.

Back on the Lakers' fast break, Kobe decisively threw a three-pointer in transition after getting the ball.

However, like Klay just now...

Because he failed to adjust his rhythm when shooting, Kobe's shot was also way off.

As the basketball flew out of the baseline, on CCTV, Yu Jia continued Zhang Zhidao's commentary and said, "Zhang Zhidao just commented that it is indeed the Warriors' turn to inbound the ball from the baseline again."

Zhang Zhidao: "..."

On the court, the Warriors had possession.

This defense, the Lakers switched to Middleton to defend James.

The tall and long-armed Middleton fully displayed his advantages in stature, almost stealing the ball from James' hands when he was dribbling to launch an attack.

Startled into a cold sweat, James also hurriedly re-examined this opponent standing in front of him at this moment.

Although people have been lamenting in this series that the Warriors' foundation is so strong that even their substitutes can form a championship-winning lineup...

However, the Lakers' talent reserves on the front line also made James feel a sense of malice.

On the left wing, after using Chandler and Kirilenko's elevator screen to get out, Curry successfully helped James resolve the embarrassment of being forced to stop the ball.

However, just as the elementary school student received the pass from his good buddy, Rondo covered him like a ghost.

With Rondo in front of him, there was no way Curry could shoot indiscriminately.

So, after glancing at the basket, Curry tried to use one of his signature moves, the Buddha fake, to first bow to Rondo, the great Buddha.

However, Rondo, who had obtained the "Stephen Curry Defensive Guide" from Seth before the game, saw through Curry's trick at a glance.

Pa!

You like to bow to the Buddha, huh? Show off!

On the court, after stealing the basketball from Curry's hands, Rondo quickly transferred the ball to Kobe's hands.

In the Warriors' half-court, the old Los Angeles flying man dribbled the ball all the way down and dunked the ball into the basket with an old man's split dunk.

4 to 7.

If it had been a few years ago...

Then this kind of weak dunk would never have received applause at the Staples Center.

But at this moment, watching Kobe still "fly," the Lakers fans at the scene and in front of the TV were already in tears.

"You're being too economical, aren't you?" In the Lakers' half-court, as Kobe retreated to defend, looking at him not even willing to jump more than 1 cm, Su Feng complained while high-fiving him.

In fact, based on Kobe's health in this life...

He could have dunked a more spectacular dunk just now.

But...

Compared to that Kobe who loved to show off...

The current Kobe had long abandoned the low-level taste of only caring about looking cool on the court.

In short...

If it weren't for the fact that there was no one within a few meters, Kobe even wanted to lay the ball in from the start just now...

"As the leader of this team, do you think I can be like some people, only caring about my own enjoyment and not caring about the overall situation?" Kobe said after glaring at Su Feng.

Hearing this, after nodding obediently, Su Feng immediately turned his head and retreated to his defensive zone.

Uh!

Don't be surprised!

The main reason why Su Feng didn't continue to nag with Kobe was because the Warriors' transition offense was too fast.

Besides, how could Su Feng, who has always been extremely magnanimous, be affected by a few words of bickering?

On the court, the Warriors quickly pushed the transition.

Kirilenko retreated early when making an elevator screen for Curry, and secretly slipped into the Lakers' basket.

At the top of the arc, James, who noticed this detail, immediately found this AK47 with a brilliant bounce pass.

6 to 7.

Green has to take the blame for not paying attention to Kirilenko's movement on this play.

However, before the Lakers fans could start a witch hunt for Green, Green made a three-pointer after receiving Kobe's sudden pass, explaining what it means to be both loved and hated!

This is Danny Green.

A player that the more you hate him...

The more you will like him. (Fans: Really? I don't believe it!)

In the first quarter, because of the lack of Curry's firepower support, James, who had to exert himself in advance, continued his stable performance in this Western Conference Finals.

Although under the encirclement and suppression of the Lakers' front line, James had to pay a considerable toll every time he passed, he still used his strength to explain what it means to be "rich" by scoring 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists for the Warriors in the first quarter.

At the Staples Center, in the first quarter, the Warriors slightly led with a score of 35 to 33.

The Lakers, who led in the first half of the first quarter, were forced to give up their lead in the second half due to someone hitting four consecutive shots.

No way.

Kobe's touch is just so Schrödinger-like.

When he's on, he can make you dazzled with all kinds of incredible shots.

However, when he's cold...

He can also change the way and play music for you without repeating the same note.

After the timeout, at the beginning of the second quarter, Su and Kobe were both benched by Coach Lu.

Jordan Jr., Bogdanovic, Stephenson, Curry, and Livingston were sent into battle.

On the Warriors' side, while retaining James and Chandler, they put on Artest, Ray Allen, and Terry.

Not joking...

If the Warriors' second lineup were all at their peak in the second quarter, then in Su Feng's view, this lineup would even have a chance to challenge for a dynasty.

But after experiencing the first four games, the Lakers' substitutes were also not to be trifled with.

Livingston and Bogdanovic, who have been getting better and better this season, may not be able to explode on the court for a long time, but this pair of "Serbian Jordan and Pippen" can always buy Su Feng and Kobe rest time in the game.

In the second quarter, the Lakers defended the outside line to the death.

Even if Stephenson was provoked by James and desperately used the ear-blowing technique on him, they resolutely did not double-team or help defend.

In the first four games, the Lakers had been doing a very good job of controlling the Warriors' outside shots.

Even in the fourth game, where they were shot through by Curry and Klay, you can't deny that the defensive strategy arranged by Coach Lu in this series was very targeted.

As Stackhouse said.

Regardless of who initiates the Warriors' offense, they are a team that focuses on shooting and the outside line.

Therefore, rather than being shot to pieces on the outside, the Lakers would rather let James run rampant and dominate, and resolutely not allow outside shots.

As for those high-difficulty three-pointers that the Warriors made in the game...

To be honest.

Based on the Warriors' outside firepower...

If the Lakers were really shot to death by the Warriors' god-like shots...

Then the Lakers could only accept their fate.

In this quarter, the domineering Little Zhan Zhan scored another 13 points for the Warriors.

In the first half alone, on this night, James contributed 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists for the Lakers.

At the Staples Center, at the end of the first half, the score between the two teams was 65 to 65.

After the halftime break, in the third quarter, Little Jia and Little Yao, who had rested for the entire first half, played together.

On the court, the scene of old Su Feng and old Kobe encouraging each other when the third quarter was about to begin also made countless fans in front of the TV feel the difficult situation the Lakers were facing at this moment.

In the second half, the Lakers attacked first.

Facing Butler's cowhide-like defense, after opening up with the triangle offense, Su Feng first probed with his left shoulder, then shook his right shoulder, and then probed to the left side of his body again without moving his pivot foot.

At the scene, the knowledgeable fans exclaimed, "Dreamlike footwork!"

Bang, swish!

In the low post, at the moment he was shaken open by Su Feng, Butler finally understood what Little Ka experienced on that hundred-percent night.

This is Su Feng.

Maybe his physical function is no longer as good as it was in the past.

But every frame of his offense...

Can be called the essence of a human textbook!

65 to 67!

The Lakers once again regained the lead in this game.

"Choosing to join the Lakers last summer was indeed the wisest decision of my life." On the Lakers' bench, after sighing, Billups said with emotion.

Then, after pausing, Billups said with incomparable pride: "In the future, when I retire, I will definitely tell my children...

I was an NBA player who fought side by side with Su and Kobe!"

On the court, the Warriors attacked.

Inside, facing Little Jia, who had been bullied by him throughout this series, Little Yao not only didn't underestimate him, but as time went by, Little Yao increasingly felt that the wall of flesh behind him had a "vitality" comparable to that of a cockroach.

Ha!

Isn't it just being beaten?

To tell the truth.

In Little Jia's growth process, being beaten...

Was just a required course after his daily training.

In Barcelona, when children of the same age were running on the beach and in the sun...

Almost every day, Little Jia would be beaten violently by his older brother.

And after getting a little older, because he was often criticized by people around him for being a useless "fat paper"...

So God knows how strong Little Jia's heart is in this environment.

Compared to Pau Gasol.

Marc Gasol is by no means a genius.

But the epic battle he witnessed with his own eyes in his childhood made Marc Gasol always believe...

In this world, miracles... are real!

Admittedly, Su Feng today is already a god in the basketball world.

But sixteen years ago.

When he jumped on the technical table in Chicago and declared to the world that he would defeat Michael Jordan...

At that time, he was just the most deserving of a beating among the many mortals...

"I grew up watching Su's games.

So no matter how many times you ravage me in this series...

I will never take a step back." On the court, Little Jia, who had defended Little Yao for the first time, looked at this super center, whose stature was even larger than his, and said with a solemn expression.

At the Staples Center, it was the Lakers' turn to counterattack.

Rondo, who also grew up watching Su Feng's games, noticed the figure flying towards the Warriors' restricted area and immediately threw the basketball into the sky!

In the Warriors' half-court, James, who was trying to stop Rondo's pass, could not reach this pass.

Because from the time Rondo remembered...

In the NBA...

Only one man can reach this height!

At this moment, when a meteor streaked across the night sky!

The legend still continues!

A god descends to earth!

Clang!

"Do you know why this era is called Su Feng?" On the Lakers' bench, turning to look at Bogdanovic sitting next to him, Seth Curry asked excitedly.

Before Bogdanovic could answer, Seth Curry continued, "Because he redefined the sport of basketball!

Redefined the NBA!

And, he has influenced generations!

And I am one of them!"