Lakers starting lineup: Zhao Chen, Kobe, Covington, Randle, Jokic.
The Lakers now like a lineup with rookies and veterans. Not all rookies will start, and not all veterans will start.
Warriors starting lineup: Curry, Thompson, Barnes, Green, Bogut.
Green was added as a point forward by Cole, and the Warriors' players in all positions are in the best shape of their careers. It's hard to think bad about their record.
The referee threw the ball high, and Jokic and Bogut jumped up to compete for the ball.
Bogut averaged 6 points, 8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game this season. His contribution on the defensive end is far greater than the offensive end.
Bogut passed the ball to Curry.
"The Lakers' interior offense will be a little troublesome. Both Bogut and Draymond Green are strong defensive interiors."
"Hey, the Lakers don't really need interior offense anyway."
"That's right, they just need to give the ball to Zhao and see if there is a chance for Zhao to score more than 80 points. Then they can ensure the win, haha."
"The Lakers have defeated the Warriors twice, so they don't need Zhao to score such a high score. Let's have a triple-double. This is the basic condition."
...
O'Neal, Barkley, Smith, and Miller were chatting about the situation on both sides.
Warriors attack.
Zhao Chen constantly interfered with Curry's dribbling.
Curry did not play by himself. He brought the ball across half court and gave it to Green at the top of the arc. Then he took Zhao Chen away and let Green organize it.
Although the Warriors are strong, they don't have many players who can launch their own offense. Curry counts one, and Barnes counts one.
Green got the ball at the top of the arc, and Randall let him go for a shot. This was the Lakers' defensive strategy.
It's best for Green to attack without passing the ball.
But at the beginning of the game, Green didn't have much confidence and didn't attack the open position. He gave the ball to Barnes at the free throw line.
Curry and Thompson were watched by Zhao Chen and Kobe. There was no chance from the outside. Barnes relied on beating Covington.
"boom!"
"boom!"
Barnes occupies a certain advantage in confrontation, relying on strong turns to shoot jumpers after the fight.
Covington's block hit Barnes on the wrist.
The referee whistle sounded.
Barnes steps to the free throw line.
"Uh-huh!"
"Uh-huh!"
Made two free throws.
2 to 0.
"Facing Covington, Barnes' singles ability is one of the Warriors' strengths."
"Yes, but against top small forwards, Barnes's move will not be useful. If Barnes upgrades his offensive ability, Curry and Thompson on the outside will have many opportunities."
"Haha, you might as well just say Durant joins the Warriors, so other teams don't have to play."
"It's a crazy idea and it shouldn't be possible."
Barkley and O'Neal had a rare serious discussion about the game.
Zhao Chen went over to explain the defensive issues to Covington.
This is very important for Covington. He needs to guard Barnes and not let Barnes divert more defensive attention.
Zhao Chen and Kobe need to chase the Splash Brothers and cannot give these two any chance, otherwise the game against the Warriors will be difficult.
The wins in the first two games were largely due to the fact that the Splash Brothers were locked up and not in extraordinary condition, so the Lakers finally won.
This game still needs to replicate the experience of winning the previous two games.
Lakers offense.
Zhao Chen dribbled the ball to the frontcourt.
Thompson entangled Zhao Chen.
Thompson's eyes and movements are very competitive. He has always wanted to guard Zhao Chen, especially after Zhao Chen scored 85 points.
"boom!"
"boom!"
Thompson took the initiative to challenge Zhao Chen, and Zhao Chen had to start protecting the ball with his back near half-court.
The referee did not call such a physical confrontation and allowed such a defensive action.
Zhao Chen did not keep the ball in his hands, but gave the ball to Kobe in the low post after reaching the top of the key.
Kobe beats Curry in the low post!
"boom!"
"boom!"
Curry's body has no advantage, and Kobe got the opportunity after continuous impacts in the low post.
Kobe turned over and fell back!
Curry's interference.
"Uh-huh!"
Kobe made a mid-range shot.
2 to 2.
Kobe's scoring average this season is not high, and he focuses on efficiency.
Kobe also knew very well that his low post offense was not a good thing in this era.
Not only is it inefficient, but it is also easy to be counterattacked. If it were not an absolute advantage, Kobe would not play like this.
"Well done." Zhao Chen gestured to Kobe.
Kobe also nodded towards Zhao Chen.
The two have already established enough tacit understanding and trust.
Warriors attack.
Curry still brought the ball to Green.
Green did not give it to Barnes this time, but gave the ball to Thompson who ran out with the help of a running position.
Thompson avoided Kobe's pursuit, caught the ball and drifted to a 45-degree position to complete the shot quickly.
"Uh-huh!"
An arrow to the heart!
5 to 2.
Thompson averaged 21 points per game this season and shot 44% from three-point range. He is a top 3D player.
Lakers offense.
Curry pushed Kobe out, preventing Kobe from getting in position inside.
Zhao Chen gestured and Kobe put up the screen.
After the screen, the defense was switched, and Zhao Chen and Curry matched up.
This is also the Lakers' tactic, try their best to defeat Curry.
Facing Curry, Zhao Chen continuously changed directions.
"Whoosh!"
Curry couldn't guard Zhao Chen. Zhao Chen changed direction to the right and discovered Curry's defensive gap. He suddenly accelerated and passed Curry.
Curry chased back, Zhao Chen took an extreme step back, and took two consecutive steps to open up the space.
From outside the three-point line, Zhao Chen's step-back jumper!
The rhythm is perfect, the knife rises and falls!
"Uh-huh!"
5 to 5.
"He walked." Curry complained to the referee.
Zhao Chen's retreat looks a little weird.
The referee ignored Curry.
"Zhao Chen immediately responded to Thompson's three-pointer."
“The three-point shooting matchup in this game is going to be great to watch.”
"Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have made more three-pointers than Zhao Chen this season, but if compared individually with Zhao Chen, they are not as good as Zhao Chen."
"Zhao Chen's three-pointers are not only large in quantity, but also of high quality."
On the court, the Warriors' offense comes again.
The Warriors averaged 110 points per game this season, while the Lakers averaged 108 points per game this season. The scoring efficiency of the two teams means that the score in this game will not be too low.
Warriors attack.
Curry initiated a pick-and-roll with Bogut. After the pick-and-roll, Zhao Chen and Jokic switched defenses.
Curry hit Jokic in a misplaced position. After continuous changes of direction and shaking breakthrough, Curry found an opportunity in the mid-range position.
Curry's emergency stop mid-range.
"Uh-huh!"
7 to 5.
Jokic hates such a small man who is good at shooting. It is difficult to guard him.
Lakers offense.
Zhao Chen gestured and pushed forward.
Zhao Chen never planned to use defense to completely defend the Warriors' offense. If he wanted to win, he had to attack harder than them.
Zhao Chen dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, and Kobe still came up to pick and roll.
After the pick and roll, switch defenses.
Curry defended Zhao Chen with a bitter look on his face.
Curry worked very hard, but there was nothing he could do in the face of Zhao Chen's series of tricks combined with step-back.
Zhao Chen once again stepped back continuously to open up space and hit a jumper from beyond the three-point line!
7 to 8.
The retreat step is Zhao Chen's classic killer move, and it was displayed vividly after the start!
The Staples Center cheered and Curry was singled out for three consecutive rounds.
