บท 119: Winning Consecutive Games – Wang Chao Averaging 25+8, the Lakers Are About to Take Off?
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After securing a win in their season opener, the Lakers traveled to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Jazz in their second game of the season.
During the 2004-05 season, the Jazz managed to snatch Carlos Boozer from the Cavaliers. Despite this, they still had a poor record of 26-56, which was the fifth worst in the league. However, this allowed them to snag the third overall pick in the 2005 draft, selecting future star Deron Williams. This new Utah duo of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer would soon torment the Houston Rockets in multiple playoff series.
At this point in time, though, the Jazz weren't much of a challenge for the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant led the charge with 38 points, guiding the Lakers to a 95-89 victory over the Jazz, marking their second win in a row.
However, Wang Chao's performance in this game was somewhat underwhelming. He made 5 out of 11 shots, scored 7 of 8 from the free-throw line, and ended the night with 18 points. The reason for his less-than-stellar performance was a formidable opponent.
Standing in his way was Andrei Kirilenko, one of the league's premier defensive specialists at the time.
Kirilenko, standing at 2.06 meters with a wingspan of 2.28 meters, had been named to the All-Defensive team three times throughout his career. His defensive prowess during his peak made him one of the most feared defenders in the NBA. Between 2003 and 2006, Kirilenko posted absurd defensive stats, averaging as much as 1.9 steals and 3.3 blocks per game during one season. For a wing player, such defensive numbers were nearly unheard of.
Wang Chao felt Kirilenko's presence firsthand. His usual mid-range jump shot, which worked well against most defenders, was less effective against Kirilenko's height, wingspan, and explosiveness. Kirilenko, only 6 cm shorter than Wang Chao and with a longer wingspan, made it difficult for him to shoot with his usual rhythm. Although Kirilenko wasn't able to block many of Wang Chao's shots, his defensive positioning was enough to disrupt the young star's shooting accuracy.
The experience reminded Wang Chao of his matchups with Kevin Garnett the previous season, a player who gave him similar difficulties.
Despite Kirilenko's tough defense, Wang Chao's skill level had risen to a 91 overall rating, boosted by his numerous gold-level badges. Kirilenko couldn't completely shut him down.
A 45% shooting percentage and 18 points placed Wang Chao as the Lakers' second-best scorer in the game. After facing Kirilenko, Wang Chao felt more prepared for future encounters with top-tier defenders like Garnett, whom he would face again later in the season.
On November 5th, the Lakers suffered their first loss of the season, falling 96-105 to the San Antonio Spurs.
The game exposed the Lakers' significant weakness—interior defense. Without Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan dominated the paint, scoring 28 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, and blocking 3 shots, effectively controlling the game.
Kobe Bryant struggled against the Spurs' defense, shooting 8-for-22 from the field. He managed 28 points, with 11 coming from the free-throw line.
Wang Chao had more shooting opportunities in this game. He made 11 of 18 shots and went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, tying Kobe's point total with 28. However, the lack of a strong interior presence ultimately led to the Lakers' defeat.
Following this loss, the Lakers went on a four-game winning streak. They defeated the Hawks 106-90, the Hornets 103-98, the Grizzlies 110-95, and the Magic 122-103 in a back-to-back road game. But on November 13th, their streak ended with a 92-89 loss to the Houston Rockets, led by the Yao Ming-Tracy McGrady duo.
Once again, the Lakers were exposed for their lack of interior strength. Yao Ming, reminiscent of a prime O'Neal, dropped 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, overwhelming the Lakers' defense.
Despite these losses, the Lakers were still performing well. After 8 games, they had 6 wins and 2 losses, placing them among the league's top teams.
Kobe Bryant continued to shine, averaging 28.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game on 44% shooting. His performance post-Shaq was living up to his expectations of being the Lakers' leader.
However, Kobe's success was partially thanks to Wang Chao, now firmly established as the Lakers' second option. Wang's shot attempts had risen from 14 per game last season to nearly 18 per game. His shooting percentage had improved to 51%, an impressive mark more commonly seen among centers. Wang was now averaging 25.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
If Wang Chao had been the Lakers' focal point from the start, like LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony, he could have been contending for the scoring title.
While Kobe and Wang shone, the Lakers' third main option, Lamar Odom, had been underwhelming. Used to more ball-handling duties during his time with the Heat, Odom struggled to adapt to his reduced role. His averages of 14.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists weren't enough to fully cover the Lakers' weaknesses inside.
Caron Butler also contributed off the bench, adding 10.2 points per game.
On November 17th, after a grueling four-game road trip, the Lakers returned home to face their crosstown rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clippers, led by Elton Brand and Corey Maggette, put up a good fight. Brand posted a double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds, dominating the paint.
However, the Lakers' dynamic duo of Kobe Bryant and Wang Chao proved too much for the Clippers. Kobe scored 23 points, and Wang Chao dropped 29. Together, they combined for 52 points, leading the Lakers to a 103-89 victory, improving their record to 7-2.
Next up for the Lakers were the Phoenix Suns, a rapidly rising team in the Western Conference, largely thanks to the addition of Steve Nash.
Nash's arrival had completely transformed the Suns, revitalizing players like Amar'e Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson, and Quentin Richardson.
With both the Lakers (7-2) and the Suns (6-2) performing well early in the season, their upcoming showdown would be critical in determining the top ranks of the Western Conference.
Wang Chao knew how strong the 2004-05 Suns were, but with him in the mix, the Lakers had a fighting chance.
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