Chương 90: Young man!
Certainly...
Trash talk like this won't make anyone genuinely angry; it only fuels the competitive fire between two players. Additionally, both players exploding on the court is a reality. Kobe can't defend Carlos, and Carlos can't defend Kobe. The NBA is never short of talented players, but those who fear no one in one-on-one offense and defense are few. Kobe is one of them. With Carlos' talent and strength, even against the "Windy City Assassin" Derrick Rose, he can lock him down. However, facing Kobe, especially the two-time champion Kobe, locking him down poses some difficulty...
However, Kobe can't stop Carlos either. As a rookie, being able to go head-to-head with Kobe is already impressive. What's more critical is Carlos's unlimited potential for growth, while Kobe is already at the peak of his career.
In the second half of the quarter, Carlos and Kobe, the "monster rookie" and the active "first point guard," engage in a thrilling exchange, leaving fans excited and applauding.
However...
At halftime...
Suns (54): (62) Lakers.
The Lakers lead by 8 points entering the halftime break.
Inside the Mexican National Sports Television studio...
Jose exclaims, "Amazing! Carlos and Kobe are both incredible. Carlos represents the new generation of exceptionally talented players, while Kobe represents the dominant old guard. The showdown between them is truly exciting! Both are players I really like, and watching them go back and forth in this intense duel is so joyful."
"Yes..."
Mario nods but adds, "Even though Carlos and Kobe are putting on a spectacular show, the defending champions are leading by 8 points at halftime. The situation on the court doesn't look optimistic for the Suns."
"Exactly..."
Jose rolls up his sleeves and says, "In the second half of the quarter, the Lakers clearly strengthened their defense. As the defending champions, the Lakers not only have the super-scorer Kobe but also a formidable defense. Pau Gasol, Bynum, Metta World Peace, and the bench player Odom all have strong defensive abilities. As for Kobe, people might think offense is his main skill, but in fact, he has been selected to the All-Defensive Team 8 times. Before this year, he has been selected for the past 7 consecutive years. His defensive ability is not inferior to the other four. It's just that tonight, Kobe is defending Carlos, who possesses exceptional offensive talent. This might give people the illusion that his defensive skills are not strong."
In conclusion...
The Lakers are not only strong offensively but also have a fierce defense. This fierce defense directly resulted in the complete blockade of the offense of the Suns players, except for Carlos and the in-form Curry. Even with Carlos scoring 27 points in the first half and Curry getting 11 points, the team is still trailing by 8 points. And... changing this situation won't be easy.
"True..."
Mario can't deny it, after all, they are facing a team that has just won two consecutive championships, and the "Black Mamba" Kobe is in hot form.
Of course...
This is just the commentary analysis. On the court...
The showdown between Carlos and Kobe ignites the arena. With an 8-point difference not being significant, the atmosphere in the Suns' home court, fueled by the live DJ, is extremely intense.
And in this heated atmosphere...
The second half confrontation is about to begin!
Back to action...
Lakers have possession...
Kobe dribbles the ball up, Carter steps up to defend. In order to save Carlos' energy, the task of defending Kobe falls back to Carter. And Kobe, aware of this, doesn't seek out Carlos.
Artest steps forward to screen for Kobe. Kobe easily evades Carter, takes a three-point shot, but unfortunately, it lacks a bit of strength, hitting the iron and bouncing out.
"Clang!"
Pau Gasol jumps up for the rebound, attempts a short hook shot but misses.
"Clang!"
Carlos grabs the rebound, quickly passes it to Nash on the perimeter. Nash advances the ball over half-court and gives it back to Carlos. However, as Carlos positions himself at the arc, Artest flashes out.
"Step!"
Pau Gasol also follows suit from the wing.
Yes...
At the beginning of the second half, Carlos faces the defense of two Lakers players. Carlos doesn't rush to pass the ball; instead, he chooses to forcefully penetrate between the two defenders. Once he fully attracts the double-team, he dishes the ball out.
"Swoosh!"
Nash receives the ball on the perimeter, makes a cut to drive, but Kobe comes in for a side help defense, blocking Nash's attempt.
In the next play...
Carlos once again relies on individual offense, creating an opportunity for Curry. Facing Pau Gasol, Curry attempts a quick change of pace to shake him off, but Pau Gasol is incredibly agile. With long arms and legs, even if Curry manages to get past him for a layup, he is still disrupted.
Next...
Frye sets a high pick for Carlos, providing him with a one-on-one opportunity against Pau Gasol. Carlos seems to drive but suddenly changes direction, passing to Nash cutting to the free-throw line.
Nash catches the ball and faces the basket directly.
However...
Bynum rushes out from the restricted area. With a fierce look and a strong physique, just standing there gives off a sense of intimidation. Nash, undeterred, takes a steady jump shot.
"Clang!"
Still no success...
The Suns had several good opportunities but couldn't convert.
On the Lakers' side...
Despite Kobe facing tight defense and experiencing a slight decline in performance, he still manages to score. Moreover, Bynum and Gasol dominate near the paint, wreaking havoc. Frye, standing alone, can't stop them.
"Clang!"
"Swoosh!"
As Curry fails to score in a one-on-one against Kobe, Kobe retaliates with a jump shot in front of Curry, extending the lead to more than 14 points.
"Beep beep!"
Gentry calls a timeout.
"The Lakers' defense is ferocious!"
In the audience...
Wade expresses amazement, and LeBron nods, saying, "Almost everyone on the Lakers can defend. Once they apply defensive pressure, it's challenging for a team that excels in fast breaks and shooting to score. It's tough!"
"Yes..."
Wade agrees and adds, "I think Carlos needs to step up and score at this point, instead of just passing the ball. The team needs him."
"Well..."
LeBron thinks for a moment and says, "Carlos's passes are fine; they're good balls. It's just that under defensive pressure, his teammates can't convert his passes into points. Now, the defending champions' defensive pressure has already suppressed the Suns in terms of confidence and momentum. So, even if there are open shots, the Suns players might miss due to mental reasons. Therefore, I think Carlos needs to play more aggressively, make some strong offensive moves to boost the team's morale, inspire his teammates, and then it might be possible to catch up and reverse the score."
"Indeed..."
Wade concurs...
Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Iverson watches the 14-point deficit and shifts his gaze to Carlos. "Back in the day, I was defeated by the 'OK' combination, a duo with strong defense and offense. Relying solely on one person's strength is too thin. I couldn't succeed... Now, even though the Lakers no longer have Shaq O'Neal, their overall defense is still very tough. Carlos... Can you handle it alone?"
Come on! Young man!
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