November 16th, Staples Center, game day between the Clippers and Nets.
Kobe's first game back in Los Angeles. At three o'clock in the afternoon, Kobe arrived at Staples Center. A large number of reporters and fans had been waiting for a long time.
In a familiar arena, Kobe wore a Nets training uniform to warm up. His training content was different from the past. Before the game, he practiced a lot of three-pointers.
Compared with last season, Kobe's body looks slimmer. During the offseason, in addition to in-court training with Grover, he also did a lot of aerobic exercises to lose weight and reduce the burden on his body.
When he first entered the league, Kobe weighed 90 kilograms. In order to enhance confrontation and cope with the opponent's double-teaming and strong defense in the three-second zone, Kobe once gained weight to 105 kilograms. This is basically the peak weight of players at the same position. He can already compete with The small forward fought.
Later, as he grew older and suffered more injuries, Kobe lost weight again. He once rode a 40-kilometer bicycle with Grover and his personal bodyguard in the desert of Las Vegas late at night, and then came back at 2:30 He went to the training hall to continue training until seven o'clock in the morning before resting. Get up after a nap and continue training camp during the day.
At that time, Kobe lost 95 kilograms, allowing him to continue to maintain his condition, but the corresponding confrontation ability declined, and he was no longer able to dominate the high-end games in the playoffs.
After transferring to the Nets this summer, Kobe chose to continue to lose weight under someone's advice, and he lost the same weight as his rookie season, only 90 kilograms.
This greatly reduced the pressure on his knees and ankles, and of course his confrontation ability was further degraded. However, Kobe's playing style has been significantly different from before.
After the warm-up training, the media interviewed Kobe and was asked "What is it like to return to Los Angeles?"
Kobe smiled and said: "This is my home. Of course it feels great to go home, but it will definitely feel even better if I can win."
If Kobe was still with the Lakers, his attention might not be as high as it is now.
Some things are more precious when lost.
Fans who were used to Kobe wearing Lakers jerseys were not used to the black jersey he was wearing.
At night, as the game was about to start, the Staples Center was full, and the fans on the sidelines were dressed in a variety of colors.
Clippers jerseys, Lakers jerseys, basketball jerseys, and some people wearing Kobe’s Olympic No. 10 jersey don’t know what they are thinking.
The front row seats were even more star-studded. Jack Nicholson made a very rare appearance at the Clippers' home court to watch the game, as well as Lakers owner Jeanie Buss. She truly loved Kobe and had no idea about Kobe's first game back in Los Angeles. The arrangement was given to the Lakers, and Jenny was very dissatisfied.
Before the game started, Jeanie Buss greeted Kobe warmly, and the two also gently hugged each other.
Jeanie Buss hopes to use this method to restore the Lakers' image.
Now the Lakers' popularity in Los Angeles has plummeted.
Although they defeated the Clippers in the opening game, their performance in the next few games can only be described as so-so.
What's even more terrible is that the team's core center Brook Lopez suffered a major injury and may be reimbursed for the season.
This is a serious blow to the Lakers, who are ambitious and hope to use their record to regain their popularity.
Joe Johnson is a very capable player, but his style of play, personality, and comparison with Kobe are destined to be completely unable to compare with Kobe in terms of popularity.
The Lakers tend to be mediocre in terms of lineup, tactics, and even gimmicks, which is unbearable for Lakers fans.
They are not the Celtics. What the Lakers pursue is that even if they are as brilliant as fireworks and fleeting, they cannot be like anthracite, which burns long-lasting and warm but has no fireworks at all.
Now Jenny Buss sees how brilliant the Nets are. Even if they don't win the championship this year, it will still be a big improvement and bonus to the Nets' brand value.
You know, after Kobe, Garnett and others announced their joining in the summer, the Nets' season tickets were quickly sold out, and you couldn't even buy them.
The Lakers' ticket sales this year have been difficult, and have been surpassed by the Clippers. The Lakers have had to adopt a discount sales strategy and bundled package sales for certain games where their opponents are not strong.
For example, for the Lakers vs. Nets game, there is absolutely no problem in selling single tickets, but they will be bundled with games against the Pistons and the Bucks that don’t attract much attention, even if the price is lowered, to ensure court attendance. rate and overall sales.
But it’s amazing. Yesterday afternoon, the Clippers even sold tickets at a discount. Your damn tickets are selling so well. You have insisted on not lowering the price for so many years, and you are starting to lower the price this year?
There is no martial ethics at all.
But Jenny Buss has no way to do this. She has too little say in the team management, and some ideas are not supported at all.
And Jenny Buss can clearly feel that some of the Lakers' second shareholders and minority shareholders are eyeing the Buss family's equity dominance.
For example, Anschutz, the second largest shareholder and the owner of Staples Center, would definitely want to swallow the Lakers whole if given the chance.
Jenny Buss has no other choice. Her current tactical strategy is to increase her exposure, maintain the image of the Buss family and the Lakers, tie herself to the Lakers, and ensure that the ship does not continue to sink.
If Kobe is still here, and Buss, the Lakers, and Kobe are tied together, even if the Lakers' record is not good and they can't beat the Clippers and can't win the championship, the Lakers can still sell tickets and remain in the NBA.
The situation is different now. The Buss family is actually in danger. The Lakers brand is still strong, but it is hard to say whether the Buss family can support this brand.
When introducing the visiting players, Kobe received warm cheers from the fans. He waved to the fans and looked up at the ceiling - there were two championship flags of the Clippers and the Lakers' championship flag. and retired jerseys, all covered by the Clippers' curtain.
When it was the Clippers players' turn to come on the court, the situation was a little different, and there were some changes in the Clippers' starting lineup.
The previously stable five-man team, Leonard and Curry, have a truce tonight. The reason is that Leonard feels sore in his knee, and Curry has a recurring ankle injury, so both of them will sit out this game.
The Clippers' starting lineup became Dragic, Harden, George, Randolph and Gasol.
Min Congda looked on the sidelines and was very dissatisfied, "What do you mean? In such an important game, your knees are sore, your ankles are sore? Real injuries and fake injuries? You won't pretend to be injured. Why don't you go on strike here to protest?"
He patted assistant coach Kim Hughes who was sitting on the bench and asked: "Why did Curry and Leonard take turns taking a break and didn't tell me!"
Kim Hughes said in surprise: "Well, you stipulated that if there is an injury problem, I will rest immediately. I don't need to notify you."
"What? Is this what I stipulated?"
"Yes, this rule was established ten years ago."
Min Congda thought to himself, was I so stupid in the past?
(End of chapter)
