In the end, 110 to 98, the Wizards successfully won this high-profile duel at Staples.
In the whole game, Jordan made 14 of 19 shots and performed a low post teaching in front of Kobe. Counting free throws, he scored a total of 33 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists for the Wizards.
Gasol used his "fight and retreat" method to make O'Neal very angry. He made 9 of 17 shots in the game, including 3 of 8 three-pointers. Including free throws, he scored a total of 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists. .
In addition, Artest and Jackson also performed well in this game. They scored 10 points, 11 rebounds and 9 points and 7 rebounds respectively.
For the Lakers, O'Neal almost set a new record for his number of free throws in a single game. He made 7 of 11 free throws and 17 of 30 free throws. He scored a total of 31 points and 17 rebounds for the Lakers.
Just looking at the data, O'Neal's fans would never have imagined how painful O'Neal was in the night that just passed.
But just looking at the data, the hackers can show the most heart-rending smiles and sing to themselves the song "The Little Blacksmith of Milan" which will be released in 5 months.
In this game, Kobe used his strength to explain what it means to be "the ultimate in blacksmithing. If I can't make a move, who can compete with me?"
In the whole game, he made only 9 of 33 shots, including 1 of 11 three-pointers and 6 of 8 free throws. He scored a total of 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist for the Lakers.
Of course, 24 irons in a single game is outrageous, but in a few years, this record will mean nothing to Kobe.
After the game, a reporter asked Phil Jackson why he didn't hand the basketball to the more efficient O'Neal in this game.
After hearing this, the "Zen Master" smiled slightly and answered the reporter with a meaningful expression:
Guess why the Lakers players on the court didn't pass the ball to O'Neal?
In fact, as the game progressed, Jackson, who noticed the serious decline in O'Neal's physical fitness, knew very well that even if the Lakers could hand the ball to O'Neal in the second half of the game, O'Neal's physical fitness at the time could not guarantee that he could continue to kill the Wizards.
Compared with other tactician masters of the same era, "Zen Master" is indeed slightly inferior in tactics, but this does not mean that during the time when he did not call a timeout, he was not thinking about how he should face the Wizards in the future. Come and break the situation.
"Zen Master" knows that the key to the Lakers' breakthrough lies in how to use O'Neal more efficiently.
However, if he wants to use O'Neal more efficiently, Jackson must let Kobe understand that at this moment, if he is still thinking about how to seize O'Neal's status as a talker, then the Lakers should simply stop trying to defend their title and just disband on the spot. .
The "Zen Master" who is familiar with Kobe's character will not criticize Kobe at this time.
Because after this night, Kobe, who gradually calmed down, was definitely the one who blamed himself the most at the moment.
Similarly, O'Neal did not criticize Kobe too much in the post-game interview.
Because no matter how frustrated he is at this moment, when the playoffs come, O'Neal will know very well that he and the Lakers need Kobe.
As for defeating the Lakers, if some people still thought that the Wizards were just lucky this season, after this night, the vast majority of fans began to regard the Wizards as a strong contender for this season's championship.
The next day, while the New York Times took the opportunity to praise Wang Shuo, it also secretly stepped on Van Gundy, who had been fired by the Knicks:
Some people are born in Rome, while others, no matter how long they coach, can't find their way to Rome.
The "Los Angeles Times" also gave Wang Shuo high praise, saying that he is gradually fulfilling his promise and conquering the NBA city after city.
"What a piece of correct nonsense." The next day, when he saw the Los Angeles media's evaluation of himself, Wang Shuo couldn't help laughing.
Of course, although it is correct nonsense, Wang Shuo knows that for the current Lakers, this is exactly what they need.
Because instead of sharing the blame after losing, why not take the initiative to admit that it was the strength of the opponent that caused the Lakers to lose in the game on the 12th?
Anyway, the Los Angeles Times is not the only media reporting on Wang Shuo.
Moreover, under the premise that everyone can see that there are conflicts within the Lakers, what else can help them unite more quickly than creating a powerful opponent for them?
In this life, after personally experiencing the job of NBA head coach, Wang Shuo finally understood why this job was called "the most painful job in the world" by many colleagues.
In the NBA, everyone is a genius!
…
In February, after defeating the Lakers, the Wizards obviously became relaxed mentally.
The team lost to the Timberwolves, SuperSonics and Nets on the 16th, 19th and 27th respectively.
In March, after losing to the Grizzlies and Celtics on the 4th and 7th, the Wizards, who had lost 11 games, officially announced that they would not be able to break the best record in NBA history created by the Chicago Bulls that year.
As for the team's recent laxity, compared with reporters and experts who are busy looking for problems for the Wizards, Wang Shuo does not feel anxious about it.
Because in a long season, it is impossible to maintain concentration every game.
After defeating the Lakers, this young wizard also needs time to rest, both mentally and physically.
However, on March 15, after the team lost to the Nets again, Wang Shuo rarely got angry in the locker room after the game.
At that time, he poured a bucket of ice water over his head, shocking the Wizards players in the locker room.
Afterwards, according to insiders, during the training session the next day, no Wizards players, including Jordan, dared to speak loudly.
In Miami, when Riley learned about this, he was so excited that he almost gave Wang Shuo a bucket of ice water on the spot.
Good guy!
Others smoke cigarettes to keep me company.
Are you two addicted to self-abuse?
In fact, the reason why Wang Shuo got angry after the game on the 15th was not because the Wizards made the same mistakes in the last game against the Nets. It was just because, as the season entered the final stage, as a player, The head coach of the team must stand up and remind the players like an alarm clock set in advance:
Wake up! It was okay to relax before, but now, we are going to play in the playoffs!
As for why I chose to pour a bucket of ice water on my head...
"Michael, no matter what you say to me from now on, I will never believe it." On the morning of the 16th, after the team's training session, he looked at Jordan who joined forces with him to put on a show for these young Wizards players. Wang Shuo said with a resentful look.
After hearing this, Boss Qiao whistled sideways and comforted Wang Shuo: "I didn't expect that you couldn't even hold a bucket of ice water.
How about waiting a few days and letting you criticize me in public if I am late on purpose? "
In fact, according to the prior discussion between Wang Shuo and Boss Qiao, Wang Shuo was planning to pour the bucket of ice water on Jordan.
Because according to Jordan, only in this way can we deter these young players who have been too relaxed recently.
But who would have thought that Boss Qiao changed his mind temporarily and sneak-attacked Wang Shuo when Wang Shuo raised the ice bucket.
Ah!
The old comrade who turned 39 last month specially dug a hole to sneak up on me, a 27-year-old young man, right?
In late March, Wang Shuo's unexpected "Riley behavior" successfully made the Wizards players "tighten up".
In addition, Boss Joe fulfilled his promise, so the Wizards players, knowing that their head coach was so crazy that even Jordan dared to criticize SB, immediately went into full gear and met God to kill God later this month, and also won by the way. The second contest with the Lakers in the regular season.
Compared with the first time the two teams met, this encounter has little reference value.
Perhaps because he wanted to prove himself too much after losing last time, Kobe, who had been so tough in recent games, accidentally sprained his ankle before the game against the Wizards.
Kobe Bryant is out due to injury, and the Lakers cannot defeat the Wizards who are flourishing both inside and outside by relying solely on O'Neal's dominance.
This focus battle on March 27 gave O'Neal a full experience of what it means to win while the team loses.
In the game, he made 16 of 25 shots, including 9 of 14 free throws. He majestically scored a terrifying double-double of 41 points and 19 rebounds at the MCI Center.
But when I looked at the score after the game...
88 to 119.
That night, looking at the group of insects on the Lakers bench, O'Neal, filled with grief and anger, missed Kobe in his heart more than once.
How can we achieve three consecutive hegemonies with a bunch of insects like you?
The first day Kobe missed due to injury, I missed him!
Fortunately, Kobe's injury is not serious. According to the Lakers team doctor, he will be able to return to the team in a few days.
I just don’t know how long O’Neal’s “love” for Kobe can last this time?
At the end of March, after defeating the Raptors at home, the Wizards, who led the league with 62 wins and 11 losses, had already secured first place in the Eastern Conference due to their division advantage before entering the final sprint in April.
The 01/02 season can be said to be a watershed that kicked off the NBA's weak east and strong west.
So far this season, the Nets and Pistons, ranked second and third in the Eastern Conference, have only 46 and 45 wins respectively.
On the other hand, looking at the West...
The Timberwolves and Trail Blazers, who have the same record as the Nets and Pistons, are currently struggling to compete for fifth place in the Western Conference.
In April, in order to ensure that the team could compete in the playoffs with a complete lineup, Wang Shuo began to rest the rest of the team's players except Boss Qiao, who needed to brush up on statistics.
On the 3rd, in the back-to-back games against the Bucks, Gasol and Hamilton were absent due to "flu".
On the 6th, in a back-to-back game against the Grizzlies, Artest and Jackson were injured due to diarrhea.
On the 10th, in a back-to-back game with the Bulls, Wang Shuo simply rested Jordan's four "second players" at once, giving Gasol, Hamilton, Artest, and Jackson a day off.
Unlike before Wang Shuo's time travel, rest breaks had become the norm. In New York, when Stern learned that Wang Shuo dared to openly let go of the fans who paid for tickets to enter the stadium, he was immediately slapped with heavy fines one after another. Sent to the Wizards' general manager's office.
But afterwards, after calming down, Stern discovered...
Wang Shuo didn't seem to let the fans go.
Because of course the fans at this moment bought tickets to see Jordan!
But no matter what, the "Rules" cannot be broken.
In Stern's opinion, the fine should not be less at all!
On April 17, the season started with the Knicks and ended with the Knicks.
At Madison Square Garden in New York, after nearly 20,000 "Wizards fans" at the scene paid homage to Boss Joe's regular season finale of the 2001/02 season with their cheers that echoed throughout the night...
The Washington Wizards, who successfully completed all the team's regular season tasks with 67 wins and 15 losses, completed their transformation from the bottom of the list to the top player in the Eastern Conference in less than a year!
Looking back at a season that Wizards fans still find incredible to this day...
On TNT TV, Barkley said bluntly: "I think no one will doubt now that the Washington Wizards are one of the most competitive teams this season in the upcoming playoffs!"
During the regular season, Boss Joe, who played 82 games for the team, averaged 23.8 points (season total: 1,952 points) and 11.2 rebounds (season total: 1,952 points) in his first NBA season after three years. 918), 11.7 assists (season total assists: 959), 1.4 steals (season total steals: 114), and 0.5 blocks (season total blocks: 41). (Note ①)
In addition, his overall shooting percentage of 47.8% even surpassed his performance when he last won the championship three years ago.
Moreover, Jordan, who played 34 triple-doubles in a single season this season, completed his self-transcendence of "Young Joe, Mature Joe and Peak Joe" in just one season.
The only regret is that the current Danzi Wang Shuo must be used sparingly.
Otherwise, if Jordan works harder, he will definitely have a chance to break the record for triple-doubles in a season held by Oscar Robertson.
As Jordan's "deputy", Hamilton also performed well this season.
In the regular season, Hamilton, who played 69 games for the team, averaged 19.9 points (1373 points), 2.7 rebounds (186 rebounds) and 1.8 assists (124 assists) per game.
Its overall shooting rate reached 46.5%. In addition, Hamilton also shot 39.8% from three-point range this season. He averaged 2.4 three-pointers for the team per game. He has transformed into a modern shooter in terms of style.
Another Jordan's "deputy" and the only candidate for this season's Rookie of the Year, Pau Gasol played a total of 77 games for the team in the regular season, averaging 15.1 points per game for the team (1163 points), 6.7 rebounds (516 rebounds), 4.8 assists (370 assists), 2.1 blocks (162 blocks).
Although Gasol was "exploited" by boss Joe in terms of statistics, he was selected as an All-Star starter in his rookie season, but it was with the Wizards that he gained a status that far exceeded the same period in history.
As for the top candidate for Defensive Player of the Year this season, in Wang Shuo's eyes, there is a high probability that Artest will be dismissed by Stern...
After playing a total of 78 games for the team in the regular season, he averaged 11.2 points (874 points), 6.5 rebounds (507 rebounds), 2.4 assists (187 assists), and 3.1 steals per game. (242 steals) and 1.1 blocks (86 blocks).
Among them, Artest's steals and blocks have set new career highs.
Moreover, his 39.9% three-point shooting rate and his ability to score 1.8 three-pointers per game for the team have made him the well-deserved "number one shooter" in the Wizards.
On the same day, as NBA teams concluded their curtain calls, the regular season seating arrangement, the NBA playoff lineup for the 2001/02 season, and the team rosters preparing for the 2002/03 season were also released.
In the 01/02 season, the first to eighth place in the Eastern Conference are as follows:
Wizards, Nets, Pistons, Celtics, Magic, 76ers, Raptors, Pacers.
In the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the four groups of matchups are as follows:
Wizards vs. Pacers, Nets vs. Raptors, Pistons vs. 76ers, Celtics vs. Magic.
After many years of absence, Jordan finally got the chance to meet his "lifelong enemy" Miller in the playoffs for the second time.
In the market, most experts generally believe that the Wizards will take away the Pacers 3-0 in this series. (Note ②)
The showdown between the Pistons and the 76ers is also very interesting.
Because in the regular season, the Pistons under Carlisle averaged nearly 20 three-pointers per game, but the 76ers led by Larry Brown averaged less than 10 three-pointers per game.
In addition, the rankings of ninth to fifteenth place in the Eastern Conference this season are as follows:
Hornets, Bucks, Heat, Hawks, Knicks, Cavaliers, Bulls.
As the predecessor of Joe's boss, since Jordan left the Bulls in the 1997/98 season, this is the fourth consecutive season that the Bulls have ranked last in the Eastern Conference.
In addition, this season, Tyson Chandler, the No. 1 pick that the Bulls exchanged for in the 2001 draft, has been labeled as the "parallel import No. 1 pick." Therefore, God knows at this moment, after watching his second comeback, Boss Joe is about to lead the team to the championship in the playoffs. How do Chicagoans feel?
On the 17th, after the game against the Knicks, Wang Shuo used his saved exploration points to explore the information of the Pacers, Celtics, Nets, and Lakers, and conducted The Wizards' playoff situation this year is analyzed below:
"The so-called strategic decisive battle, simply put, means betting on the fate of the players and the team. The word "bet" is very unpleasant, but I can't find a more appropriate word to replace it. Anyway, that's what it is. He was charged at once.
In short, in this playoff trip, the Wizards' biggest obstacle to winning the championship is the Lakers.
Judging from the playoff experience of the two teams, this is a pot of mixed rice, but the mixed food is mixed, and the mixed food must be eaten! "
No coincidence.
On the night of the 17th, after leading the Lakers to a record of 56 wins and 26 losses to end all the team's regular season games this year, looking at the Lakers' playoff lineup, "Zen Master" Phil Jackson was also thinking about the Lakers' performance this year. Analysis of the playoff situation.
Although the English is profound and profound, if the "Zen Master"'s thoughts at this moment were translated, it would be roughly as follows:
"I don't understand why everyone is talking about O'Neal being trapped in Washington recently, as if this ancient battlefield in America is destined to be doomed for us. Three years ago, I came to Los Angeles from Chicago and started my coaching career with the Lakers. The NBA is in chaos. Then the Lakers and I were unified. Everywhere we went, the people welcomed us wholeheartedly. We really had the best time. That state of vitality and competition is still before our eyes. Could it be that just three years later, this NBA playoffs Has it actually changed and become our burial place?
No matter what, the Lakers' biggest obstacle to winning this playoff trip is the Wizards.
We are two top super giants fighting against a rising star. I have the advantage! "
…
PS: It will be available at 0:00 on August 1 =. =, I’ll leave it to you all when the time comes! Begging for the first order! Begging for a monthly ticket! I beg you to collect it! Please give me your recommendation vote!
PS2: Note ①: Aqiao will use this as a template when writing season data in the future. The total data will no longer be emphasized in parentheses. You just need to know that it is the total data to avoid inflating the number of words.
PS3: Note ②: At this time of the 2001/02 season, the first round of the NBA playoffs is a five-game system. When it is changed to a seven-game system in the future, A Qiao will emphasize it in the book and will not repeat it.
