Chapter 144: Bulls vs. Lakers, Wang Chong and Kobe's First Matchup
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On the perimeter, Raja Bell and Luol Deng were both excellent defenders. Even when matched against key offensive players, they were able to effectively restrain them.
In the paint, Tyson Chandler stood tall and protected the rim well. Chandler isn't a traditional heavy center. Standing at 7'1", his weight was under 240 pounds. Compared to the heavier centers in the league, Chandler was on the lighter side, but that lightness gave him better footwork and mobility. His ability to protect the rim and defend pick-and-roll situations made him stand out.
While Chandler struggled against heavyweights like Shaquille O'Neal or Yao Ming due to the weight difference, the league was moving into an era where centers were less dominant. With Shaq aging and Yao Ming limited by injuries, Chandler's quickness became more valuable, especially when facing versatile bigs like Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, and Amare Stoudemire. Against these players, Chandler's speed, strength, and explosiveness allowed him to perform well defensively.
Wang Chong even saw similarities between Chandler and Rudy Gobert, a future multiple-time Defensive Player of the Year. Both were tall with long wingspans, excelling defensively but struggling offensively. The only difference might be that Gobert's additional weight made him a better rim protector, whereas Chandler's advantage was his mobility, allowing him to defend smaller players more effectively.
Wang Chong believed that Chandler, in his prime, was not much worse than Gobert. Chandler only won one Defensive Player of the Year award compared to Gobert's three, but that doesn't necessarily reflect a gap in ability. The level of competition was different. Chandler won his award during an era dominated by defenders like Dwight Howard, Garnett, and Ben Wallace, while Gobert faced less competition.
Although Chandler had not yet reached his peak in 2005, his defensive abilities were already at a top-tier level. He had no problem guarding the paint for the Bulls.
Wang Chong, though solid on defense, chose to focus on offense for this game, using his scoring to help his team navigate the early difficulties they faced.
November 18, 2005. The Bulls traveled to Los Angeles to face the Lakers.
This was the Bulls' third consecutive road game, and they had won the previous two, largely due to Wang Chong's efficient play. However, playing back-to-back games tested the team's endurance, and the Lakers were not to be underestimated. Despite a slow start, the Lakers stood at 4-4, while the Bulls were 3-4.
Both teams had undergone significant changes over the summer. The Bulls acquired Wang Chong, while the Lakers received Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, and Eddy Curry, which overhauled both teams' starting lineups. Kobe had also lost his best offensive partner in Wang Chong.
Though the trade fulfilled both teams' needs, neither team had performed as well as expected early in the season.
Wang Chong's return to the Staples Center drew widespread attention. On one hand, he was returning to face his former team, but more importantly, this was his first face-off against Kobe Bryant. Lakers fans were eager to finally see which of the two had the better scoring ability.
That evening, the Staples Center was packed, with fans excited to witness this scoring battle between two of the league's premier scorers.
Lakers' Starting Five:
PG: Kirk Hinrich
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Caron Butler
PF: Lamar Odom
C: Eddy Curry
On paper, the Lakers had a formidable lineup. By acquiring Eddy Curry, the Lakers retained Caron Butler, who secured his spot as the starting small forward.
However, despite the talent on the floor, the Lakers had not shown the dominance that their fans had hoped for. There was a feeling that something was missing. Kobe had to consistently score 30 or even 40 points for the team to have a chance at winning.
Last season, this was not the case. Reflecting on it, Wang Chong's absence was clearly felt, as his contributions were unmatched, even by several players combined.
Bulls' Starting Five:
PG: Monta Ellis
SG: Raja Bell
SF: Luol Deng
PF: Wang Chong
C: Tyson Chandler
The jump ball took place at midcourt, with Chandler and Curry—former teammates—facing off.
Both players were drafted in 2001, with Chandler being the second overall pick and Curry the fifth. They had spent four seasons as teammates, engaged in constant competition for the starting center role.
Chandler had a higher draft position, but injuries in the 2003-04 season gave Curry an opportunity to start. In the 2004-05 season, Chandler became Curry's backup, though Curry's inconsistent play and injuries led the Bulls to trade him to the Knicks, choosing to stick with the more reliable Chandler.
Now, the two were once again on the same court, competing directly against each other. This was a personal battle, as both wanted to prove they were the better player.
When the referee threw the ball into the air, Chandler's superior jumping ability and wingspan gave him the edge, and he tipped the ball to Monta Ellis.
Ellis quickly advanced the ball past midcourt before passing it to Wang Chong. Although Ellis was still adjusting to the NBA game, he had already learned one key thing: when Wang Chong was on the court, give him the ball. Wang Chong would decide when to pass it back or let him attack.
Wang Chong, positioned at the top of the three-point arc, faced off against Lamar Odom. Of all the Lakers, Odom was the most suitable to guard him. Odom's size and athleticism made him one of the few players in the league who could match Wang Chong physically.
Having spent a season as teammates, Odom was familiar with Wang Chong's style of play. While this didn't mean Odom could shut him down, he knew what type of defense would make things more difficult for Wang Chong and lower his efficiency.
But understanding it and stopping it were two different things.
As Wang Chong raised the ball to shoot a three-pointer, Odom's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly stepped up to contest the shot. He knew from experience how dangerous Wang Chong could be from long range.
But just as Odom moved forward, Wang Chong pulled the ball down, exploded with speed, and blew past him, driving straight toward the basket
End of this chapter
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