Chapter 308

The NBA is a very realistic place, where you win and lose.

The first two rounds of the Lakers went smoothly, sweeping all the way to the Western Conference finals, but the Thunder stumbled a bit.

So before the Western Conference Finals, ESPN experts, 7 out of 8 predicted that the Lakers would solve the Thunder within 6 games and enter the finals.

As a result, the Thunder gave the Lakers a blow in the first game, beheading the regular season MVP.

This time the basketball world exploded again, saying that the Thunder was underestimated, and it was difficult for the old Lakers to continue their smooth offense in front of the young Thunder.

Nash, who played well in the first two rounds, performed very mediocre in the first game of the Western Conference Finals.

It's impossible for him to guard Westbrook on the defensive end, and the offensive end is equally bad.

In the face of the Thunder's faster and tougher defense, Nash lost his aim.

He made 3 of 10 shots and only scored 8 points, 3 assists, and 4 turnovers.

Without Nash's go-between and fire support, the Lakers could not play an efficient offensive position.

The criticism that Nash is too old naturally ensues.

Westbrook on the opposite side had 21 points and 7 assists. His powerful impact and vitality running all over the court made Nash look old.

In just one game, the predictions for this series have been completely reversed.

Many people believe that the Lakers will be the same as the Spurs last year, unable to cross the Thunder, the new overlord of the West.

The same is true for the Spurs last year. The first two rounds were swept, plus the regular season, they won 20 consecutive victories at the end of the season.

As a result, with a 2:0 lead, they were reversed by the Thunder in four consecutive games.

The Lakers are doing well now. They can't even lead 2:0. They were broken in the first home court and lost their home court advantage.

So it's no wonder that the grasshoppers are not optimistic about them.

On the next day, the entire Lakers team started a closed training session. There was no media open day, and they were fully prepared for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.

Meanwhile in the East, the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers have their first game in the Eastern Conference finals.

The game between the two sides was unexpectedly fierce. The Pacers trailed the Heat by 3 points in 11.3 seconds of the regular season.

Paul George received the ball from outside the three-point line and made a super long-range three-pointer, which tied the score between the two sides and dragged it into overtime.

When he hit the ball, there were only three seconds left.

The Heat missed the last attack, and the two sides entered overtime.

At the last moment of overtime, Paul George made another three-point foul and made three free throws from the free throw line, leading the score by one point.

The time left for the Heat is only 2.2 seconds, and the Heat are about to lose in the first upset like the Lakers.

At this time, James stood up. After receiving the ball, he directly tanked and broke through to kill the basket. He made a layup with his left hand and made a lore in the last 0.3 seconds!

103:102, the Heat relied on James' lore layup to win the game in the first game.

The series took a 1:0 lead.

Now the controversy over James and Kobe's regular season MVP is even greater.

James fans have said that this is the performance that the regular season MVP should have.

Bryant's fans believe that this is the playoffs and has nothing to do with regular season performance.

James fans also said that Kobe is no better than James in the regular season.

Kobe fans said, anyway, the league gave Kobe the MVP, so can you write a letter?

There is endless wrangling on both sides, which actually doesn't make any sense.

James is rejoicing for the victory in the first game, and at the same time he is mentally preparing for the next game.

Obviously the Pacers are quite strong. Their tough defense, balanced lineup configuration, and strong interior will bring big trouble to the Heat.

Kobe has put aside the joy of getting the MVP, and is fully preparing for the second game.

In the first scene, he was really beaten to shame, and Li Liang scolded him so badly that he really couldn't hold back his face.

During the training that day, Kobe didn't speak the whole time, and kept a tiger face all the time.

And Li Liang, like a normal person, continued to beep beep during training, and discussed with Mike Brown how to play the second game.

Mike Brown has his own ideas, first of all, the use of the second team must be changed.

In addition, the offensive efficiency of the starting lineup needs to be raised again, and Kobe should open this point as soon as possible.

But as for whether Kobe will pass the ball, it is not under the control of Mike Brown.

This kind of thing can only get rid of Li Liang and talk to Kobe.

Li Liang rolled his eyes at Brown, "Are you the coach or am I the coach? I'm too lazy to tell him that if he doesn't pass the ball, I won't pass it to him either."

Brown hurriedly said: "The players can't be angry when they play, we are a team."

Brown said a few good words, and Li Liang agreed to communicate with Kobe.

In fact, Li Liang knew in his heart that Kobe would definitely pass the ball in the second game.

Li Liang still understands his temper. If the whole world says "you can't pass the ball", Kobe will definitely pass a lot of balls on purpose, and he will even be unwilling to shoot.

So what Li Liang has to do is to throw in Kobe's pass.

Of course, Kobe must also improve his efficiency, attack the Thunder's defense, and take the initiative in his own hands.

While Mike Brown was worried about Kobe and Li Liang, on the other hand, he found Howard and communicated with Howard.

Brown believes that Howard should put some pressure on the Thunder on the offensive end.

In the first two rounds, Howard was completely blue-collar in offense.

No more than three post-ups per game, the rest are assisted points.

He put all his energy on defense, protecting the rim and rebounding.

In the first game against the Thunder, the Thunder's offense was mainly shooting, and the basket was all about fast breaks and counterattacks.

Perkins has no offensive ability, and Ibaka's main scoring comes from mid- and long-range jumpers.

So Howard didn't play enough role on the defensive end, and he was not allowed to play on the offensive end, wasting his playing time in vain.

Howard seemed very absent.

Brown felt that Howard could no longer be so invisible.

He should put enough pressure on the Thunder on offense to relieve the rotation pressure on the Lakers' perimeter.

But all of these are ideas. To achieve such an effect, players still need to perform on the court.

As for defense, Mike Brown decided to let Li Liang return to the small forward position in the second game.

Match Durant from the beginning and let Ci Shiping defend Ibaka.

Anyway, Ibaka is mainly a fixed-point jumper to catch the ball from the outside, and it is enough for Ci Shiping to match him.

Durant needs to control it from the beginning.

After making all adjustments and arrangements, before the end of training, Brown held an all-hands meeting and issued tactical instructions to the players for the second game.

In the second game, they had to win.

...

On the night of May 23, the Lakers and the Thunder had a rematch.

Before the game, the Lakers maintained the greatest degree of silence. Before the game, the players only had a brief chat about the game and said some official rhetoric.

Only one person kept his mouth open, of course it was Li Liang.

When passing through the player tunnel, Li Liang directly said to all the reporters: "We will definitely win the second game, for sure! If we don't win, our boss will eat the basketball!"

After speaking, he walked into the locker room chicly.

The reporters were dumbfounded, and they could swear, but why did Kobe eat the ball?

Now Kobe doesn't know that Li Liang is swearing at him again, and he is preparing for the game in the locker room.

Even if someone knew about it, they would not dare to tell Kobe now, because he was in a very bad mood and would explode at any time.

The game started on time at 7 pm, which is the time the players are used to playing.

Thunder players looked very relaxed, even if they lose the second game, they will return to Oklahoma City with home court advantage.

Before the game started, Kobe still generously hugged and greeted the Thunder players.

But when the game started, the situation was different.

With a jump ball in the middle circle, Howard dialed the ball, and Kobe got the ball directly.

"Kobe has the ball, he dribbles in the low post, beats Durant, rolls over for a fadeaway jumper! Bang!"

Tonight's game commentary is ESPN's Play by paly commentator Mike Breen.

When he explained Kobe's game, he contributed many classic quotations.

But he also didn't expect that Kobe's offense would come so fast, so early.

And this shot, he hit it.

"It seems that Kobe is going to kill tonight." Breen's partner Jeff Van Gundy said.