บท 16: Chapter 15: Strive for five consecutive wins
"Okay guys, let's win that damn away game tomorrow. We can fulfill our promise at the beginning of the season." Mike Malone was delivering a passionate speech to the players on the plane to Los Angeles. At the season's outset, Jake and Mike Malone had set a goal: win at least five consecutive games. Malone had initially thought this goal was nearly impossible, especially since five of their opening games were against last year's playoff teams, including two back-to-backs. However, after the team had defeated the Warriors and the Trail Blazers in succession, Malone began to believe that perhaps this goal was attainable after all. Now, they just needed to win the two back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Nuggets, and Malone remained confident about their chances.
"We have to be cautious about the Clippers. With Griffin and Jordan, our original inside advantage is no longer so clear-cut." Malone glanced at Cousins, who sat nearby looking somewhat distracted, and added a dose of reality. "And don't forget about Chris Paul." Jake, sitting in his plane seat, chimed in, "Paul is one of the most dangerous guards in the entire league. With him, the Clippers' overall competitiveness elevates significantly. Competing against such a seasoned player will greatly benefit your growth."
Jake's tone took on an air of authority, oblivious to the fact that many players on the team were not much younger than him, some even older. "I believe this matchup in Los Angeles will be our toughest challenge on the path to a five-game winning streak." Unbuckling his seat belt, he stood up, "Your usual training, leave, and even tactical requirements—Coach Malone and I have worked hard to get those in place. Now it's your turn to help us. We've signed a military order in front of the boss. If we lose, we'll all feel the consequences!"
This was the first time Jake had spoken so sternly since taking charge of the team. Truth be told, Jake was uncertain. The previous two wins had relied more on luck than skill. The Warriors had underestimated them in the first game, and the Trail Blazers had not played to their full potential due to off-court issues. But the Clippers were a different beast. Their playing style resembled the current Kings, yet their talent was undeniably superior. With two high-flying forwards like Griffin and Jordan in the paint, and Paul, the king of point guards, the Kings' young backcourt would be in for a tough test.
Realizing Jake was serious this time, the players adopted a more solemn demeanor. "Don't worry, Jake, we'll bring you a victory," Rudy Gay, the oldest player on the team, assured him. Though Cousins was the biggest star for the Kings, everyone understood that he lacked the commanding presence of a traditional team leader, so the team generally looked to Gay as their elder statesman.
The Staples Center in Los Angeles was one of the premier arenas in the league. It had hosted countless great games, mostly associated with the Lakers. Ironically, despite the Clippers' superior records over the past two years, they remained less favored by the city's fans. In Los Angeles, the purple and gold jerseys were still seen as the true royalty, and today, the arena was far from packed. People were saving their money to see the Lakers play.
As the game began, DeAndre Jordan won the opening tip, and Chris Paul dribbled the ball slowly up the court. CJ, tasked with guarding Paul, widened his eyes in anticipation. If he wanted to become a top defender, facing Paul was a crucial opportunity for growth. Paul assessed the rookie who had recently made headlines, opting to go without a pick-and-roll. With a quick change of direction, he easily slipped past CJ.
Paul relied on the fundamentals—no flashy moves, no complex plays—yet CJ felt as if he had lost his balance for just a moment. That slight hesitation was all Paul needed; he had already driven past CJ. Facing the Kings' interior defense, he calmly lobbed the ball into the air. A shadow soared into the frame: Jordan elevated, snagged the pass, and slammed it home.
"Roar!" Jordan bellowed, thumping his chest in triumph after the dunk. Malone, watching from the sidelines, scowled. Although CJ was undeniably talented, he was still inexperienced compared to Paul.
On the next possession, Cousins called for the ball in the paint, ready to take on Jordan. However, Jordan, who stood as a formidable wall under the basket, had no qualms about a physical confrontation. He easily disrupted Cousins' shot, and the ball ricocheted off the rim. Frustrated, Cousins clapped his hands and hurried back on defense, but Paul had already accelerated past him. Ben, who had just retreated to the three-point line, didn't have time to react as Paul executed a smooth turn and laid the ball in effortlessly.
In the following possessions, the Kings struggled against the Clippers' dominance. By the middle of the first quarter, the Kings found themselves trailing by 7 points, 14-7, prompting Malone to call a timeout. Meanwhile, many voices online expressed pessimism about the Kings' prospects. "I told you, the Kings are just a flash in the pan. How can a team make such great progress in one season without changing its core?"
"I was quite optimistic about CJ before, but now it seems that he is just so-so. You see, he was beaten by Paul and lost his composure, right?" At that moment, Coach Malone was too preoccupied to pay attention to the outside commentary. The Clippers were scoring more points, and if they didn't adjust quickly, they would likely fall into the opponent's rhythm in the first quarter, making it difficult to turn the game around.
"Change players." Jake's words suddenly resonated with Malone. He looked at his serious colleague, smiled bitterly, and shook his head. "Who should we change? We don't have enough depth on the bench to compete with the Clippers' offense."
"The Clippers' biggest weapons are their two towering inside players who can fly. We just need to pin them down," Jake said, his eyes bright with determination. Malone pondered this for a moment. "Cousins, reduce your offensive frequency and focus on the outside. Casspi, take a breather. Mozgov, you're up. I want you and Cousins to fill the paint so tight that not even a mosquito can get through!"
"Got it." Mozgov replied with his distinct Russian nasal tone, quickly removing his training gear and standing up.
"Oh? The Kings are changing their lineup first." In the TNT studio, the Big Three—Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith—observed closely. As Mozgov walked onto the court, Barkley squinted and said, "It looks like the Kings are planning to deploy that twin-tower lineup we speculated about since the beginning of the season."
"Swish!" CJ took advantage of Mozgov's screen, launching a three-pointer from the top of the arc. Since the game against the Trail Blazers, he felt like he had boundless energy, and his shooting accuracy had inexplicably surged. As he returned to defense, CJ couldn't help but wonder: Am I the legendary chosen one?
When Paul dribbled the ball past half court, he prepared for either Griffin or Jordan to cut inside for another alley-oop. Suddenly, he noticed that both big men were standing outside, unmoving. Confused, Paul looked toward the paint and his eyes widened. Cousins and Mozgov were stationed in the paint area on either side like towering sentinels. The previously open paint now felt congested with these two blocking the way. Did they intend to shut them out of the interior scoring?
Paul's expression turned serious as he called for a pick-and-roll, driving to the free-throw line for a jump shot. However, his rushed shot missed the mark. Cousins and Mozgov stood firm, like two immovable walls, effectively guarding against Griffin and Jordan. As the basketball bounced off the rim, Mozgov didn't even jump; he simply reached out and snatched the rebound, pocketing it before passing it to Gay on the perimeter.
Gay paused, ready to push the ball up the court, only to see two purple figures racing toward him. Ben and CJ were sprinting down the court. With a nod, Gay threw the ball forward without hesitation. Ben glanced back at Matt Barnes, who was closely trailing him, gritted his teeth, and jumped without a second thought, elevating over Barnes to slam the ball home.
"Good shot! Ben really threw it down!" O'Neal exclaimed, visibly impressed as he watched the live broadcast. After landing, Ben exhaled heavily and looked over at CJ with a somewhat boastful grin.
Ben and CJ had always shared a competitive relationship on the team. Both were sophomores, but Ben had a slightly higher draft ranking. While Ben was proud of CJ's rising fame, he couldn't help feeling a twinge of envy, knowing CJ was now shining while he remained an ordinary rotation player.
"Just play like that, brother," CJ said, patting Ben's back as they jogged back on defense. Since the game against the Trail Blazers, CJ had fully embraced his role as a Kings player, and witnessing Ben's success made him proud.
"Don't worry, this is just the beginning!" Ben replied, eyeing the approaching Clippers players. "I heard this is the city of alley-oops. Who can't dunk?"
Realizing their inside advantage was diminishing, Paul quickly adjusted his strategy, relying on pick-and-rolls to create opportunities for outside shooters like Barnes and Redick. The Kings responded decisively. Gay, the team's elder statesman, stepped up, calling for the ball and leveraging his height and wingspan to dominate on several occasions.
As the first quarter came to a close, the Kings had mounted a small rally, finishing the period just three points behind at 24-27.
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