The Bulls' bench was also in a state of excitement. Thibodeau looked calm as he sat there, but his clenched fists betrayed him.
After giving up the regular play style of one senior and four juniors, he faced a lot of pressure, because there are actually only two true power forwards in the Bulls' lineup, O'Neal Jr. and Ty Gibson.
Gibson still needs to grow. If O'Neal is not good enough, the Bulls will inevitably struggle, and may even have to solve the problem through trade, which is obviously not a good choice for the Bulls who already have insufficient tacit understanding.
In the Lakers' offense, Gasol moved to the free throw line to support the offense.
Kobe cut to the basket, but Gasol didn't have a good passing angle.
Allen's accomplishments in off-ball defense are outstanding.
Upon seeing this, Gasol suddenly started and broke through O'Neal with the ball.
His footsteps are very beautiful, but O'Neal Jr. was very focused tonight and discovered his attempt immediately, and then followed him closely.
Gasol showed off his flexibility, making big hooks on the move.
This is also his specialty, but O'Neal Jr. used his long arm to interfere with his shooting angle at the moment he shot.
"Dang!"
The basketball finally hit the frame and the rebound was turned around and collected by O'Neal.
The Bulls bench was buzzing again.
O'Neal's performance is completely different from the past few games.
Sure enough, for the old guys, they need a motivation to play, and starting is the biggest motivation for O'Neal tonight.
And this change is very important to the Bulls, because if the fourth position is not at a disadvantage, the Bulls' biggest problem in the past losing streak will be solved, and the chance of winning the Lakers tonight will suddenly become greater.
In the Bulls' position, Rose and Yao Ming played a pick-and-roll. Yao Ming separated and then moved down. He received Rose's pass and dunked directly over Fisher's head.
The Bulls started with consecutive dunks, full of momentum.
Seeing this, Kobe knew he couldn't continue playing like this. When Gasol was holding the ball high on the strong side, he took the initiative to move from the weak side to the strong side, and then took Gasol's "back door" to cut to the basket.
This is also one of the triangle tactics, and it depends on the tacit understanding between the two.
It is obvious that there is a good understanding between Ke and his wife.
While Gasol handed the ball to him, he immediately set up a screen and blocked Allen.
Kobe accelerated past O'Neal Jr. and went straight to the basket.
O'Neal Jr.'s size makes it difficult for him to catch up with Kobe.
But just when Kobe was about to perform a "Peter Pan" special flying dunk, Yao Ming had already retreated to the basket.
Facing Kobe's action, Yao Ming held back his strength and stretched out his hand directly.
"boom!"
After an aerial exchange of power, Yao Ming directly fanned Kobe's dunk off the court!
After blocking the shot, Yao Ming waved his fist excitedly.
The Lakers also offered him an olive branch this summer, but he ultimately did not choose to go to the Lakers.
The main reason is not the contract, but that he has been defeated by the Lakers in the Rockets for two consecutive years. It is somewhat impossible for him to join the Lakers under this background.
It is precisely because of this that he can still hold back his energy even if he changes teams and plays against the Lakers.
When the Lakers played the ball in the frontcourt, Kobe took a shot without the ball, but even though he couldn't completely get rid of Allen, his shot still hit the frame.
Yao Ming protected the defensive rebound, and the Bulls quickly launched a defensive counterattack.
Rose and Xu Yong faced Kobe's one-on-two in the frontcourt.
When he broke through to the free throw line in the frontcourt, Rose diverted Kobe's attention and passed the ball to Xu Yong.
However, Kobe used his puppy steps very well and quickly turned around to face Xu Yong again.
The space was too small to pass the ball, and he was too close to the basket to change direction without slowing down. In desperation, Xu Yong dribbled the ball behind his back to avoid Kobe's defense, then jumped into the air and turned around to pass the ball. The ball hits the basket.gif.
Kobe had no time to stop him and could only watch Xu Yong complete the fast break after showing off his moves in front of him.
The scene was agitated.
The competitiveness shown by the Bulls in the opening game was not at all like a team that had just suffered a losing streak.
Kobe's expression looked more complicated at this time.
Because the action Xu Yong did just now was something he had done when he was young and still wearing No. 8.
Including the ball blocked by Yao Ming before, he had the same opportunity to dunk Yao Ming directly on the 8th.
This made him sigh and admit that even though he worked hard to improve his skills, his physical functions had begun to inevitably decline.
It is not a shameful thing to admit that you are old. Living in the past will only hurt the team, and only by recognizing the reality can you make the right choices in the game.
In the Lakers' possession, Kobe started holding the ball.
It's just that he didn't make the iconic pull-away action like in the past, but gave Gasol a look.
Gasol understood it and quickly moved to the high post to initiate a pick-and-roll.
Husbands and wives also need to take pictures of their butts, but a look between the husband and wife is enough.
With Gasol's pick-and-roll, Kobe quickly broke through with the ball and completed a pull-up jumper before O'Neal Jr. came up.
"Uh-huh!"
The basketball hollow falls into the pocket.
There was a burst of cheers.
Kobe retreated from defense and completed the communication with Gasol again through the air with his fingers.
The cooperation between the two just now was not just a pick-and-roll, there were many details in it.
Although Kobe Bryant's cut in the last round was blocked by Yao Ming, one thing was successful, that is, Gasol successfully blocked Allen.
Others may not care too much about this detail, but Kobe keenly captured Allen's weakness in dealing with Gasol's screen.
As a top defender, he knows how to find and discover the weaknesses of defensive players.
As it turned out, he was successful.
This goal is also crucial, because the Bulls' current defensive counterattack is a signature tactic, and forcing the Bulls into a positional battle is obviously more beneficial to the Lakers.
"Defend! Defend!"
Moreover, the classic cooperation of the sister-in-law just now also aroused the emotions of the fans at the scene, and the cheers and cheers rang out in the Staples Center.
The Lakers showed high defensive intensity. Rose dribbled back to the three-point line after his breakthrough attempt was fruitless, and then gave the ball to Xu Yong.
Last season's experience has shown that Xu Yong has a stronger ability to solve the problem in positional battles.
There was not much time left for Xu Yong to hold the ball and attack. He directly called Yao Ming to mention the high pick and roll.
This time, Yao Ming broke away and took Ariza away from the free throw line. Xu Yong took the ball and broke through Bynum, then flew backwards for a layup to finish.
During this process, Bynum habitually pulled Xu Yong's jersey in an attempt to prevent Xu Yong's layup. Not only did he fail, but he was also caught by the bottom line referee and was charged with a defensive foul.
After intensive training on the deltoid muscles of Xu Yong's calves, his explosive power has improved to a higher level than before.
Kobe was nearby at this time, looking at Xu Yong who landed, his expression was a little dazed at this time.
For a moment, it seemed that he was not him, but the braised egg, and Xu Yong's figure closely overlapped with that of him when he was young.
6 and 8 are actually just half a circle missing.
6 and 8 are actually just half a circle missing.
Xu Yong went to the free throw line and added a penalty after adjusting his breathing.
9 to 4.
The fans at the scene were even more agitated. From the opening to the present, from defense to offense, the Bulls gave the impression that they were the stronger team.
At the critical moment, it was Kobe who stepped forward for the Lakers.
He continued to break through with Gasol's screen. Although Allen bypassed the pick-and-roll this time and did not give him a chance to shoot directly, he dribbled the ball and turned around to play a second pick-and-roll with Gasol, and then quickly hit the ball. Jump shot from distance.
Although Allen struggled to squeeze past Gasol, his movement towards him was obviously slow.
"Uh-huh!"
Kobe hit mid-range jumpers one after another to stabilize the situation for the Lakers.
Moreover, after Kobe returned to the defensive end, he switched defense with Ariza and directly guarded Xu Yong.
The movement of bending down, the fierce eyes, and the right hand that kept trying to interfere with Xu Yong's activation.
Although he feels older, his competitive spirit has not diminished at all.
Yao Ming then took the initiative to set up a pick-and-roll for Xu Yong, but Kobe successfully avoided it with puppy steps.
Xu Yong relied on his explosive power to seize the slightest chance and rush to the basket.
However, Ariza's help came quickly. Xu Yong finally chose a falling throw under the attack of Ariza and Kobe. Unfortunately, the ball failed to hit.
The rebound was protected by Gasol. He dribbled directly down and advanced. After showing off a crotch dribble, he assisted Kobe for a fast break layup.
9 to 8.
In the blink of an eye, the Lakers had narrowed the point difference to 1 point.
Thibodeau reached out and called a timeout.
There were bursts of cheers and applause at the scene, and the camera showed Kobe.
Kobe scored 6 points with sudden shots and was a key figure in the Lakers' pursuit of points.
After the timeout, the Bulls made adjustments to their lineup, and Artest came on to replace Tony Allen.
Allen's defense cannot be said to be bad, but the fact is that he failed to restrict Kobe tonight.
And when he was on the court, the Lakers defended from five to four, attacking the ball holder unscrupulously.
Therefore, replacing Artest can maintain the defensive intensity while also reducing the defensive pressure on the offensive end.
But in this way, the requirements for Xu Yong are even higher, because he has to keep an eye on Kobe while taking care of offense.
So after making adjustments, Thibodeau patted Xu Yong's shoulder meaningfully, as if a heavy burden had been placed on him.
Xu Yong's response was a calm smile.
Kobe is now both offensive and defensive, and it is natural for him to do this when he is younger.
Not to mention that he already did this kind of thing last season when he was a rookie.
And now, he actually has another thought, that is, he has always wanted to try whether his puppy steps can guard Kobe.
Although he had a very successful restriction on Durant during the World Championships, there is still a certain gap between Durant and Kobe today.
Back on the Bulls' offense, Rose and Yao Ming returned the ball after a pick-and-roll, and Yao Ming made a steady hit with a mid-range shot.
The biggest difference between the Bulls this season and last season is the addition of Yao Ming, who can solve the problem through hard work, which greatly improves their positional battle certainty.
The Lakers are still under a lot of pressure because Gasol has no absolute advantage in the matchup. As long as Kobe Bryant's score is interrupted, the Bulls can quickly open the score in the first period.
With Kobe holding the ball, Gasol continued to move up the screen, but his screen failed to block Xu Yong.
Xu Yong's steps were the same as Kobe's, but with quicker footwork, he avoided the screen and followed Kobe.
Like the last round, Kobe took the initiative to bypass Gasol's second pick-and-roll, seizing the gap in the pick-and-roll to shoot a mid-range jumper.
But Xu Yong once again bypassed the screen, and his flying dive caused great interference to Kobe.
Kobe was forced to lean back in the air. Although he showed his waist to forcefully avoid Xu Yong's block, the ball instantly became a difficult shot.
"Dang!"
The basketball hit the basket and made a sound, and Kobe's offense was interrupted.
Thibodeau couldn't hold back his excitement and stood up this time.
In fact, the reason why he replaced Allen, or the reason why he dared to replace Allen, in addition to the previous considerations, there is another more important reason is the existence of Xu Yong.
When he went to Turkey for inspection, he saw with his own eyes how hard Xu Yong struggled to restrict Durant.
O'Neal Jr. protected the defensive rebound, and the Bulls once again launched a defensive counterattack. Rose easily passed Fisher's flying layup during the fast break.
The Bulls played a good positional battle tonight, but their specialty is defensive counterattack.
Although O'Neal Jr.'s appearance has reduced the flexibility of their lineup, with Rose and Xu Yong, two fast break machines, their speed cannot be slowed down.
Now Phil Jackson, who had always been calm, couldn't sit still. He stood up and went to the sidelines, blowing his signature whistle with both hands.
He has been coaching for so many years, and with his reaction speed, he has already felt the huge threat posed by the Bulls.
The Lakers advanced to the frontcourt, and everyone else moved to the weak side. Ariza was positioned in the corner of the strong side, Fisher held the ball outside the 45° three-point line on the right side, and Kobe was in the high post with Xu Yong behind him.
This is the most standard triangle offense tactic.
Kobe made a small jump with both feet to catch the ball, leaned forward to feel Xu Yong's defensive focus, and then turned right and made a fadeaway jumper after a fake shake.
His series of technical movements were very smooth, but Xu Yong did not falter.
Because he learned the fantasy steps together with Kobe.
And when Kobe was leaning back, his well-timed save caused great interference to Kobe.
In fact, the reason why Xu Yong's defensive effect against Kobe is so good is that in addition to the fact that he learned Kobe's puppy footwork, the more important thing is his size.
Although Allen's defensive skills are equally excellent, his height in shoes is only 1.93 meters, while Xu Yong is 2.06 meters tall. This size difference brings completely different defensive effects.
Kobe is still Kobe, and despite the huge interference, he still relied on a very difficult lever to dodge Xu Yong's block.
only……
"Dang!"
The final result of such a difficult shot can only be three shots turned into two irons.
After Yao Ming got stuck with Gasol, he collected another defensive rebound. This time Artest and Rose made a fast break. Rose's fast break layup was missed by Ariza, but Artest followed up with a tip-in. Complete the score.
The scene was agitated.
Kobe then looked up at the score.
15 to 8.
The Bulls opened the score again after a 6-0 run.
But this time his mood was even more complicated than before.
Because of Xu Yong's "apprentice", the speed of improvement on the defensive end seems to be a bit too fast.
(End of chapter)
