Kapitel 104: Can Prince Defend Against Wang Chong? Are You Kidding!
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"Although the Pistons don't have any particularly strong individual players, they are a complete team. Each of the five starters has their own responsibilities, and together they build an incredibly strong defensive system. So, even though our opponent is the Pistons, we cannot take them lightly."
Phil Jackson delivered his pre-game speech in the locker room. "After an entire season of hard work, we've finally reached the Finals. I believe no one here wants to fall short at this stage, so we need to work together and give it everything we've got. Don't let any personal ideas get in the way..."
As he said this, he shot a glance at Kobe, intentional or not.
Wang Chong knew that Kobe would become a problem during the Finals, as a time traveler who was already aware of how things would unfold.
But clearly, Phil Jackson, with his vast coaching experience, had also sensed something. However, not even Jackson could foresee how ineffective his warning would be, and that the situation would soon spiral out of control.
The Lakers started with their usual lineup of Payton, Kobe, Wang Chong, Malone, and O'Neal. The Pistons stuck to their familiar starting five as well: guards Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton, forwards Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace, and their elite defensive center, Ben Wallace.
It has to be said that as a "blue-collar" center, Ben Wallace's achievements are truly impressive. Officially listed at 2.06 meters in height, it's estimated that without his signature afro, he might not even reach 2 meters. Standing next to O'Neal during the jump ball, Ben Wallace looked much smaller, making it hard to believe he was one of the few players capable of pushing Shaq around in the post.
Although Wallace was dwarfed by O'Neal in terms of height and weight, his sheer strength was a rare asset in the league. His lack of height was compensated by his mobility, which, combined with his defensive IQ, helped him win four Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) awards.
When the jump ball went up, O'Neal committed a violation during the scramble, and the ball was awarded to the Pistons.
Rasheed Wallace quickly passed the ball to Billups at midcourt. Billups waited outside the three-point line, watching his teammates get into position before passing the ball back to Rasheed Wallace, who had positioned himself beyond the three-point arc after setting an off-ball screen. Rasheed shot from the 45-degree angle on the right side and nailed the shot.
3-0.
Malone had been lackluster since returning from injury, offering very little offensively and almost nothing on defense. His slow footwork often turned him into a defensive liability.
Rasheed Wallace, a player who could swing between the forward and guard positions, was tall, agile, and had an accurate long-range shot, making him difficult to handle.
The Lakers had their turn on offense, but after a mistake of their own, Rasheed Wallace's three-pointer had already dented their momentum. Not to be outdone, Malone tried to force his way past Wallace on offense. Receiving the ball in mid-range and leaning back, Rasheed Wallace barely raised his arms, and Malone's shot missed the basket entirely.
Since the start of the playoffs, Malone hadn't had a standout game, shooting around 40% and barely averaging double figures in points.
The Lakers, however, were used to Malone's missed shots. O'Neal had already anticipated the miss, boxed out, grabbed the offensive rebound, and slammed the ball home with both hands.
3-2.
O'Neal's response ignited the Lakers' home crowd.
The game resumed with the Pistons inbounding the ball. Payton played aggressive, pressuring defense, earning a foul in the process, but his tenacity remained undeterred.
Payton, who had been humiliated by Parker in the Western Conference Finals, was driven by a sense of vengeance in the Finals.
His high-intensity defense rattled Billups, who was forced into a turnover, giving Payton the opportunity to steal the ball. However, when Payton tried to push the ball up the court, he was quickly surrounded by Pistons players, and had no choice but to pass it out. Kobe received the ball on the perimeter and, without waiting for his teammates to set up, fired a three-point shot.
"Bang!"
The ball clanged off the rim, and Rasheed Wallace secured the rebound.
Seeing this, the Lakers quickly retreated back on defense.
The Pistons' game plan was defense-first, relying heavily on Billups' pick-and-rolls and Hamilton's off-ball movement on offense.
In the regular season, Hamilton led the Pistons in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game, followed by Billups with 16.9, Rasheed Wallace with 13, and Prince with 10 points per game.
The Pistons' approach was simple—limit their opponents' scoring, grinding the game down to their pace. Their playstyle was slow, ugly, and often difficult to watch.
Most fans didn't enjoy watching Pistons games, but their defense-heavy, blue-collar style garnered a dedicated fanbase.
The Pistons' offense on the next possession reflected their identity perfectly.
Hamilton, known as a mid-range shooting maestro, was also an expert in off-ball movement. After running around screens and darting around the court, he finally received a pass just as the shot clock wound down. He pulled up for a jumper.
And... "Bang!"
Another missed shot.
As a guard, Hamilton had a unique shooting style, often opting for long two-pointers just inside the three-point line. Naturally, his percentage from that range wasn't stellar.
At the start of the game, both teams were feeling each other out, and neither side was particularly efficient on offense.
Hamilton's missed shots were mirrored by Kobe on the Lakers' side. Kobe had a strong desire to score but struggled with efficiency, as the Pistons' defense was as tough as expected.
Although Hamilton had never made an All-Defensive Team, his defensive prowess was underrated. Plus, the Pistons' overall defensive system allowed him to take some risks. Whenever Kobe drove past Hamilton into the paint, Ben Wallace would be there, ready to contest.
Kobe's mid-range shots were tightly contested, and even when he drove past Hamilton, Wallace would force him into tough finishes.
By the end of the first quarter, the score was a tight 21-19 in favor of the Pistons.
For the Pistons, Hamilton had only made 1 of 4 shots, scoring just 3 points. Kobe wasn't much better, with 2 of 6 shooting for 4 points. The Lakers' offense in the first quarter relied heavily on O'Neal, who dominated inside, shooting 4 of 5 from the field and 3 of 6 from the free-throw line for 11 points.
Wang Chong, on the other hand, had an unexpectedly challenging first quarter.
Tayshaun Prince—though less familiar to future generations of fans—was a defensive freak at this point in time.
Prince stood 2.06 meters tall with an incredible 2.18-meter wingspan. Though playing as a small forward, his physical profile was comparable to many power forwards or even centers.
Prince's natural gifts allowed him to be named to the All-Defensive Team four times in his career.
Drafted in 2002, just one year before Wang Chong, Prince was only in his sophomore season but was already making a name for himself.
Wang Chong hadn't expected Prince to be able to guard him effectively, but he underestimated the young forward.
While Prince wasn't strong enough to guard Wang Chong one-on-one, the Pistons' defensive schemes neutralized him.
Prince's positioning was impeccable, often cutting off passing lanes between Payton and Wang Chong. Payton frequently had to rethink his passes to avoid getting intercepted.
This type of defense works best against spot-up shooters, players who rely on catch-and-shoot opportunities. And, in this game, Wang Chong had been relegated to just that—spot shooting.
Though playing alongside stars like O'Neal and Kobe had its perks, it also came with downsides.
Kobe's struggles persisted in the second quarter. He took eight shots but only hit three. O'Neal made two of his three shots, contributing six more points. Both players scored six points in the second quarter.
The Lakers managed only 17 points in the second period, falling into the Pistons' defensive trap. The Pistons weren't setting the scoreboard on fire either, with 24 points in the quarter, but it was clear the Lakers were beginning to lose control.
Phil Jackson's face showed concern.
Throughout the first half, he had warned Kobe repeatedly not to rely solely on one-on-one plays. Instead, Jackson urged him to work within the team's overall offense and look for better opportunities for O'Neal inside.
But Kobe wasn't listening. In fact, things were getting worse.
Kobe finished the first half with 14 shot attempts, making just five of them—a shooting percentage of only 35.7%. His inefficiency also meant fewer opportunities for his teammates.
O'Neal, despite being in top form, only managed eight shots in the first half. Wang Chong took only four shots, hitting two of them for four points.
If the Lakers continued down this path, they would likely lose Game 1 at home.
The problem wasn't just Kobe, though.
As expected, Malone and Payton both struggled. Malone missed all five of his shots, while Payton missed all three of his. Neither had scored a single point.
The Lakers' offense was being carried by O'Neal's efficiency and Kobe's inefficiency.
Then came the halftime break.
End of this chapter
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