basketball never sleeps

Chapter 330 Do you also want to dance?

The referee's whistle brought the spectators, who had been engrossed in the exciting halftime performance, back to reality; the second half was about to begin.

Upon returning to the court, Kobe was like a wild beast unleashed from its cage. From the very first possession, he displayed an energy and style completely different from the first half. As soon as he reached the top of the arc, he demanded the ball for a one-on-one attack before his teammates could even run a play.

Paul frowned. Even though they had communicated at halftime and he knew Kobe would exercise his privileges as the team's leader in the second half, he still didn't like Kobe's choice and couldn't understand Kobe's obsession with "destroying the opponent's will".

Did Kobe ever manage to break the will of his opponent?

Of course, and there are many.

However, if we were to give an example, we would find that this is a question like "James dominated the East, so who else did he dominate?"

At the level of star players, the gap in talent is mostly smoothed out, and being outplayed by an average player doesn't put much psychological pressure on a star player who is constantly under the media's magnifying glass.

Jalen Rose is a rare case, much like the "Trash Brothers," whether it's being fouled in the Finals or becoming the backdrop for Kobe's 81-point performance. But aside from him, some truly hellish facts are that there are probably even more stories circulating about Kobe destroying the mental fortitude of his teammates...

Ray Allen bravely stuck to Kobe again, and their 11-year-long rivalry since the draft gave them plenty of motivation to fight each other.

However, while Ray Allen could go toe-to-toe with Kobe on offense, there was an objective gap in defense.

Kobe drove two steps into the three-point line, made two contact with each other, faked a drive but actually turned and shot. Ray Allen also routinely provided contact all the way until the last jump and blocked his eye.

boom!

Reality remained as rigorous as ever, and the sound of the ball hitting the rim, like a predetermined program, made Ray Allen's lips curl into a slight smile. However, the basketball hitting the rim and falling into the net led the story down a different narrative path called "heroism."

Mo Wen, who always considers the feelings of the second oldest, and Ray Allen executed a handoff screen. Kobe was drawn to Mo Wen's determined gaze. Ray Allen comfortably received the ball, took a long stride, and smoothly launched a three-pointer.

boom!

The unlikely event of the ball hitting the rim and falling into the net did not happen again. O'Neal shouted and grabbed the rebound, and the Lakers launched a fast break.

Kobe and Paul twice replaced dribbling with passes, and by the time Mo Wen caught up with Paul and blocked the passing path, Kobe had already gained sufficient speed.

With O'Neal joining the team, Kobe no longer needed to be obsessed with his status. After losing weight in the summer, he regained most of the speed of his younger days. Ray Allen tried to stop him, but couldn't.

Mo Wen originally intended to drive straight towards the basket, but as soon as he shifted gears, he felt like he hadn't engaged the gear. Turning his head, he saw that Xiao Pao had subtly grabbed his arm with one arm, while the other hand was on the crook of his arm, combined with his unsteady forward lean...

It was as if she was dragging him away herself.

Master Pao, that's the taste!

When Mo Wen broke free from A Pao and turned around, Kobe was already hanging on the rim, accompanied by the referee's whistle for a foul.

"Go ahead and try to defend against me, I can beat you every time!"

The venomous snake's hiss caused even the usually composed Ray Allen to lose his composure, and the Supersonics reverted to their previous offensive formation.

Kobe didn't fall for it again; his chase and defense were timely. However, Mo Wen didn't pass the ball again because Ray Allen's gesture just now wasn't a gesture to receive the ball and actually shoot.

The two players shifted their positions, turning the previously crowded strong side into the weak side.

Mo Wen didn't seem to have much desire to play one-on-one today, but he was being guarded by Luke Walton.

Luke Walton is relatively slow. His strength lies in using his size advantage to force faster players to the baseline and coordinate with his teammates to complete the defense. However, against players like Mo Wen who are not superior in speed, size, or strength, his greatest role, besides defending Mo Wen's shots, is to hope that O'Neal can get back on defense in time.

Mo Wen used a series of crossover dribbles to shift Luke Walton's center of gravity, then suddenly accelerated the pace and slammed the ball sideways. With a sizzle of his shoes, the two completed the transformation from opponents to passersby.

He dribbled into the paint, and O'Neal quickly collapsed to defend him, but Mo Wen didn't try to dodge this time. He paused, swayed his upper body with the ball, and used a Euro step to avoid the block. He then turned 270 degrees and made a layup under the basket.

Then, Hill, not one to be stubborn, quickly directed from the sidelines to have Gay guard Kobe. Knowing that Kobe, who couldn't exploit weaknesses in pick-and-roll situations, didn't bother with the pick-and-roll.

Paul executed a triangle pass and cut as planned, but after two passes, the ball returned to Kobe's hands for a tough pass.

Gay has been constantly taught by Morey on the team, and has long since developed an immunity to it.

Sure enough, Kobe turned and made the shot, and Gay showed no emotional fluctuation, maintaining a calm mindset as he turned around and started a fast break.

Kobe visibly found his rhythm. Paul's presence limited Kobe's performance to some extent, but also amplified his impact.

Without any complicated or rigorous tactics, relying solely on the all-out defense and Kobe's red-hot form, the Lakers went from trailing by 2 points at halftime to leading by 7 points, managing to overpower the SuperSonics during their traditionally strong period.

The Lakers fans at the stadium were extremely excited, shouting their support for their team, sensing an impending victory.

Since Jerry Buss acquired Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers have only missed one Christmas Day game in the last 10 years, a stark contrast to the Celtics, who have only played one Christmas Day game in the last 10 years.

However, another embarrassing fact is that the Lakers have lost five consecutive Christmas games, four of which were played at Staples Center.

The feeling of losing a Christmas game at home is like seeing Jia Ling on the Spring Festival Gala program list, but when it's actually Jia Ling's turn, it turns into a collective recitation of "Man Jiang Hong".

Kobe was naturally excited; if he made another three-pointer, the gap between the two teams would widen to double digits.

Although he didn't know why Mo Wen was still conserving his energy, he didn't believe that with his current form, home advantage, and a double-digit point difference, the SuperSonics could still turn the game around.

Swish!

The three-pointer went in, but it went into the Lakers' net.

Mo Wen, like an old man, simply took a soft, slow three-pointer from two steps beyond the three-point line, ending the Lakers' brief dream.

With only a 4-point deficit, a team struggling to score might need a long time to catch up, but against a team like the SuperSonics that relies heavily on three-pointers, it's not enough. If it were a CBA referee, it wouldn't even be enough to warrant a 5-free-throw and 1-possession game.

The game continued, and while the other Lakers players felt helpless, Kobe's eyes were filled with anger.

This anger can be seen as "morning grumpiness" that arises after a daydream is shattered.

So when Mo Wen had the ball again, he took the initiative to approach him.

As for why we didn't go after Mo Wen during the offensive?

Because if that happens, A-Pao won't pass the ball to him, and the Zen Master will call a timeout to help him calm down.

"Stop passing it around, come and fight me one-on-one!"

Mo Wen turned his gaze away, looking at the dangerous creature before him with great interest.

Do you want to dance too?

After saying that, Kobe felt a gust of wind, but where did the wind come from in the closed arena in winter?

Kobe had no time to worry about anything else. Mo Wen had set up a triple threat in front of him, and Kobe unconsciously shut down everything else and focused all his attention on this defensive play.

Mo Wen's triple threat move is different from others. Although from a third-party perspective, the move is similar, elite defenders who can read the offense can read some additional details.

He's playing you.

Mo Wen's top-notch shooting, penetration, and passing make his triple threat an unfair game. Mo Wen can attack from any angle he wants, and the defender can only choose one option, or choose nothing at all. Surrendering means losing half the battle from the start.

What's even more unfair is that even if you bet correctly, it's hard to say whether the defense will be effective.

Faced with Mo Wen's probing step, Kobe chose to keep his distance. Mo Wen then slightly raised his hand, and the moment Kobe pressed forward, Mo Wen's probing step also suddenly shot out.

When the ball is placed forward, Mo Wen should attack from the right flank like a tiger descending a mountain.

Having lost half a body length, Kobe chose to disrupt the play with physical contact. Mo Wen withstood the contact and fought back, using his powerful core to maintain his balance and seek to expand his positional advantage.

Kobe didn't risk a behind-the-back steal; he could only twist his unbalanced body to try and recover, but Mo Wen didn't give Kobe any time to adjust, suddenly stopping and pulling back. The incredible balance from his core prevented Kobe from falling, but he could only watch as Mo Wen changed direction like the wind, darting past him on the other side.

"Oh no, Kobe got beaten, his target is the basket, Jermaine is back on defense fast... BOOM! Jermaine blocked Mo, but Tyson caught the alley-oop! Brilliant, this play definitely deserves to be on tonight's top ten plays!"

Kobe's face was flushed, so he chose to use a similar approach to attack Gay in the next possession.

He faked out Gay, missed the shot, but still earned cheers from the referee.

Making both free throws gave Kobe the confidence to regain his pride and lead, and he went after Morey again.

With a more focused and cautious defense, he kept Mo Wen under his thumb. The two whittled each other down to the elbow area. Seeing Mo Wen with his back to the basket, Kobe already anticipated how he would finish the game, and his powerful legs were ready to go.

But Mo Wen didn't use that desperate fadeaway jump shot. Instead, he leaned to the side, lightly jumped up, slightly raised his arm with his supporting hand, and used his broad shoulders as a barrier. Holding the ball with one hand, he threw the basketball into the sky like a rudimentary catapult.

The curve was a bit too high, but the board frame corrected the track.

"Skyhook, I knew he was going to do that!" The magician on the commentary stand sighed.

This skill has been absent from the league for so long that people have forgotten that classic offensive start.

But then again, even if we knew Kobe, would we really have a way to defend against him?

Kobe was very frustrated. Does having a lot of weapons make you great?

Mo Wen: Sorry, having more weapons doesn't mean you can do whatever you want.

As the offense and defense switched, Kobe still raised his hand high, as if by divine command.

Paul made a pass-to-him gesture, then used Ray Allen's momentary lapse in concentration to set a screen for O'Neal. He couldn't shake off O'Neal, but O'Neal was left wide open at the high post, only to miss the shot.

Mo Wen wanted to play around with the serious-faced man in front of him a little longer, but Ray Allen, feeling a surge of team spirit, reminded him, "Mo, you've been playing a bit too much one-on-one."

Mo Wen, who has always listened to advice, smoothly passed the ball directly to Mo Wen. Kobe, who was guarding in front of Mo Wen, wanted to say something and protest, "We are in a 1-on-1 men's battle, what are you doing here?" But Ray Allen, as if playing volleyball, did not touch the ball at all and directly passed it back to Mo Wen.

Mo Wen, anticipating this, received the ball and, without hesitation, turned and feinted a drive before stepping back and standing on one leg beyond the three-point line.

Swah——

Mo Wen scored a three-pointer and added one assist; Ray Allen added one assist; the SuperSonics took a one-point lead.

What is team basketball?

Ah Pao was dumbfounded as he watched Mo Wen and Ray Allen high-five each other.

Everyone says that Master Mo is good at making the cake bigger, and seeing it today, I can confirm that he lives up to his reputation. He has a long road ahead of him, and there is still a lot for him to learn.

Kobe was a little angry... to be precise, he was furious.

Okay, okay, so you're going to cooperate like this?

Feeling like he was being played, Kobe became a black hole on the court for the remainder of the third quarter. As soon as the ball reached his hands, other players could simply go and box out for the rebound.

The Zen Master let Kobe do as he pleased, wanting to see how destructive a fully-fledged Kobe could be to the SuperSonics' defense.

Kobe Bryant, reminiscent of three years ago, shot 5% more than his usual standard, but the SuperSonics regained their rhythm after Moratti's three baskets and took control of the game.

At the end of the third quarter, the score was 80-76, with the SuperSonics maintaining a 4-point lead.

"I feel that our opponent in the Western Conference Finals this year will still be that Chinese player."

In the dimly lit office, Angie spoke to Rivers, who had just returned from a press conference.

"Oh? The Lakers lost? How did they lose with that roster?"

As he spoke, Rivers patted his big head. The press conference just now had really exhausted his brain. Those media actually asked him to explain the team's tactics!

"We didn't lose, but it's hard to win."

Before the game, Ainge also thought the Lakers would win. Although the SuperSonics had a good record, Ainge believed that it was based on the consistent ability to beat weaker teams brought by Mo Wen's outstanding individual strength. In a real battle, a team with a balanced roster like the Lakers would be the better choice.

But once the match started, the two sides were still at the same level.

Without their star center, the SuperSonics couldn't replicate last season's fluid offense, but they're becoming more and more like the team he remembers that ended the Celtics' last glory.

Mo Wen's skin tone certainly couldn't overlap with that hard-boiled egg, but if you combined it with that old bird's appearance...

He involuntarily shivered.

"Is Kobe imitating Michael Jordan again?" Rivers thought of a player he had coached who had a good relationship with Kobe. He didn't think too much about it, mainly because thinking too much would bring bad luck.

Angie wanted to say that there was someone else imitating Michael, but in his eyes, Mo was already on the same level as Danzi, so he just shook his head in response.

"By the way, pay more attention to Rajon's training. We don't have much room for mid-season adjustments right now, and the team needs his energy."

"Yeah, I've already had Chris (assistant coach) catch his shot. The kid's pretty serious, but..." Rivers thought of the basketball that fell from the sky when he watched Rondo shoot that day, and his forehead throbbed slightly.

"that is?"

"Hey, it's still early, let's take another look."

The game resumed in the final quarter, and Kobe and O'Neal scored two baskets for the Lakers with two very similar turnaround jump shots.

Before the Staples Center fans could even cheer, Mo Wen's long pass to Millsap in the bottom corner brought the lead back into the game.

Seeing Mo Wen's calm and composed demeanor, Kobe's anger was almost uncontrollable.

Everyone else is playing basketball so hard, what makes you so calm?

So when he got the ball again, Malone made the same choice as he had before.

His movements became increasingly large and dangerous.

Mo Wen, unable to bear watching any longer, took the initiative to defend Kobe, which only excited Kobe even more.

Mo Wen didn't tolerate him. When Kobe tried to elbow Lin again during a mid-range back-to-the-basket move, Mo Wen leaned forward and used his long arms to forcefully reach out and grab the ball. When he was elbowed, he fell to the ground and used his strength to pull the ball down, bringing the person who had been elbowed down with him.

Kobe, who had fallen to the ground, clutched the ball despite the pain, but Mo Wen did not give up. He fought back and used his elbow as a fulcrum to pry the basketball off Mamba's ribs.

Fortunately, the experienced referee stopped the match in time; otherwise, the ball-fighting would have turned into a judo competition.

After being pulled away, Kobe, feeling wronged, tried to get revenge by suddenly swinging his elbow, startling the referee who had pulled him away.

"The Christmas game is fine, but are you still going on and on?" Mo Wen's voice turned cold as he looked at Kobe, who seemed ready to fight.

"This is our home turf, who the hell wants to play with you? If you're scared, get out of here!"

Mo Wen was so angry he laughed. He stopped his teammate, who had come to support him, from trying to escalate the conflict. After the referee awarded technical fouls and the two were back together, Mo Wen extended his hand.

"The match will end in 5 minutes tonight, enjoy it." (End of Chapter)