After Zhou Quan held the ball across the center line, he pulled it from the center to the left wing. Bowen immediately ran to the top of the key and gave up the left wing to him.
Before he even got close to the three-point line, Kobe began to press decisively. The confrontation was fierce, his body movements were large, and he even moved his elbows.
"This kid's strength is almost the same. A few months of additional training will produce good results."
After a confrontation, Zhou Quan basically figured out Kobe's current strength. Kobe, who weighs 100 kilograms, is still not as strong as him. After all, he is about seven centimeters shorter than Kobe, has greater muscle content, and has a lower center of gravity. But the gap is limited, and he can't squeeze out Kobe as easily as before.
However, this did not increase the difficulty for him to break through Kobe, and Kobe's effectiveness in defending him did not become better because of the weight gain. Why? Because Kobe's mobility has deteriorated a bit due to weight gain.
He gained five kilograms a few years ago. That was a reward from the system, so his physical fitness has not changed. He is still as fast and agile as when he was 92 kilograms.
But Kobe can't do that. After getting stronger and stronger, his speed and agility are not as good as when he was 97 kilograms.
"squeak!"
During the confrontation, he pushed away Kobe and then rushed from the right, attracting Kobe to follow him. However, he suddenly turned around and passed Kobe from the left. After passing the three-point line, he rushed along the He rushed towards the paint area in an arc.
Cobra Grant, who was defending Lewis in the left block, knew Zhou Quan very well. After all, he had played against Zhou Quan in the Bulls.
He is very aware of Zhou Quan's breakthrough awareness, which is to attract his double-team and create open opportunities for Lewis. This is also the most classic breakthrough and distribution tactic of King of Iron Fist.
Because there was O'Neal inside, as long as O'Neal wanted to defend, the defensive effect would be first-rate, so he chose to stick to Lewis instead of double-teaming him.
Zhou Quan didn't attract Grant's double-team at first sight, and Kobe took a shortcut to catch up, so he immediately accelerated his breakthrough, reached the left waist in two steps, made an emergency stop, then pulled the ball backward, and then caught it. Step-back jump shot.
Zhou Quan's pull-up jump shot was no weaker than Jordan's, and his mid-range shot was as accurate as Jordan's. The mid-range shot ratio was very high. Kobe had guarded against his shot early and could barely keep up with the rhythm.
But passive defense naturally means being half a beat too slow. His shot blocking still couldn't stop Zhou Quan's shot, and Zhou Quan didn't even use his backwards stance.
"brush!"
The water splashed and hit two points.
"Kobe, don't be impatient. I've said it before. It will be ten years before you can beat me." Zhou Quan joked with trash talk.
"ten years?"
Hearing this word, Kobe's voice changed and he said angrily: "The last time you were talking about the Western Conference Finals was 6 years ago, when I was 28 years old."
"Impossible. You are 28 years old and I am only 34 years old. I am at my peak. How can you possibly defeat me? I must be talking about 10 years, when I am 38 years old." Zhou Quan immediately denied it.
Kobe gritted his teeth, screw you for 10 years, I will beat you now.
On the sidelines, Phil Jackson kept up with Cobra Grant who ran past, and while running forward, he shouted: "Horace, you have to maintain appropriate defense pressure on the Iron Fist King. Kobe needs you to buy time for him, do you understand? "
"Understood." Grant responded.
"It's okay to give him a little space." Phil Jackson shouted again.
Grant understood what Zen Master meant, referring to Rashard Lewis. He could not give big vacancies, but only small vacancies.
Next, the Lakers attacked the basket fiercely, and the SuperSonics continued to fire from the outside. Each of the two teams played their own advantageous offense in their best positions.
The SuperSonics did not cut O'Neal, nor did they use human shield tactics. O'Neal played a devastating low-post attack on Ben's head.
Under the violent attack of the Sharks, Ben Wallace, recognized as a first-class defensive center, seemed to lose his sense of presence and was dunked under the basket by the Sharks again and again.
Big Ben did not admit defeat. His roars rang out from time to time in the Central Gymnasium. Every time he was dunked, he quickly got up and stood in front of O'Neal again.
In the first quarter, O'Neal smashed his plan, scoring 18 points, with a shooting percentage of 70%. Zhou Quan also beat Kobe, scoring 17 points, but the shooting percentage was only 58%. 32:28, the SuperSonics fell behind at home. 4 points.
Kobe didn't attack much under Zhou Quan's defense. He only took three shots in the first quarter and hit one goal.
Zhang Lili said: "After the SuperSonics defeated the Spurs, Zhou Quan once analyzed the lineup restraints of the Spurs, Lakers, and SuperSonics.
He said that when the Lakers play the Spurs, they should use Kobe's offense, let Kobe focus on the offense, and let O'Neal compete with the Spurs' twin towers.
In the game the Lakers played against the Spurs before this season, they did play like that, but O'Neal's performance was average and was restricted by the Twin Towers, so the Lakers lost.
Today, Kobe's offense was not much, O'Neal's offense was the main one, which was different from the last Western Conference Finals. In the last Western Conference Finals, Kobe was locked up by Zhou Quan, but he still kept attacking and wasted a lot of shots. "
Xu Jicheng said: "Could it be that Coach Phil Jackson used the style of play that Zhou Quan said? O'Neal played with the SuperSonics and had an advantage in the paint, but Kobe was at a disadvantage against Zhou Quan, so the Lakers played SuperSonics tonight. The Sonics, based on O'Neal's offense, allowed Kobe to take fewer shots."
Zhang Liji smiled and said: "It's possible, but Phil Jackson is also a very powerful head coach. Zhou Quan knows this, and he must know it too.
But the result was still a bit bad. In the first quarter, Zhou Quan also exerted his strength on the offensive end, but still lost two points. His outside efficiency was not as good as O'Neal. O'Neal played the big game and had too great an advantage. "
"Yes, you can't even tell that he is a first-class defensive center even though he plays so hard." Xu Jicheng said.
At the beginning of the second quarter, O'Neal and Ben were not on the court. Kobe and Zhou Quan also went off, and the two teams played as substitutes.
After three minutes of play, the SuperSonics tied the Lakers, and then both sides returned to the main lineup.
But this time, Lewis didn't come up and was replaced by Campbell. Westphal told Campbell and Ben to guard O'Neal like they did in the Western Conference Finals.
As a result, after the second quarter, O'Neal made 2 of 5 shots and 3 of 6 free throws within 9 minutes, scoring only 7 points. Zhou Quan scored another 14 points in 9 minutes on Kobe, preventing Kobe from making 1 of 4 shots in the second quarter, and the SuperSonics Overtaken by 6 points.
"The meat shield tactic still works. After limiting O'Neal's scoring, Zhou Quan can gain an advantage on the outside." Zhang Li said with a smile.
Xu Jicheng said: "I think this is actually what Zhou Quan said last time when the Lakers played the Spurs. The SuperSonics' inside line doesn't have the strength to defeat the Sharks, but they can use human shield tactics to limit O'Neal's offensive efficiency. Then Zhou Quan The right to beat Kobe on the perimeter."
Zhang Liyi nodded and said: "It's almost the same, it's that kind of play, that's why the SuperSonics swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals last time.
The problem now is that there were three big meat shields last time, and now there is one missing, Brad Miller. Ewing is old and injured, so he cannot be a meat shield. "
Xu Jicheng said: "Don't be afraid, there is also a fringe center Jelani McCoy. I think he will also come on the court sooner or later to carry O'Neal.
The SuperSonics still have three centers. With Campbell, there are four centers. There are many available, and they must be to deal with O'Neal. "
Xu Jicheng's words were indeed right. In the third quarter, Jelani McCoy, who had not had a chance to play before, was sent on the court to act as a human shield against O'Neal.
McCoy is only 208 centimeters tall and weighed 112 kilograms when he entered the team. He is gaining weight at the request of the team. The target tonnage must reach at least 120 kilograms. He is the meat that Whitsitt has accumulated for O'Neal. shield.
But now his tonnage is only 114 kilograms, and he can't stand up to O'Neal at all. After coming on the field, O'Neal's first low-post hit caused the defense to collapse. He did not block it for half a second and was directly knocked away. There was no opportunity for Campbell to create help on the weak side.
O'Neal first knocked McCoy away, and then dunked on Campbell, who jumped to the ground to help defend but was a beat too late. Campbell was knocked directly to the basket.
"boom!"
"Beep!"
Amidst the violent explosions, he hung on the basket, with McCoy and Campbell hiding under his feet. In excitement, he hung on the basket without falling down, and roared domineeringly, and then was mastered. The referee called a technical foul.
"Continue to let him gain weight, preferably to 125 kilograms." Head coach Paul Westphal said to the team's strength trainer.
After the third quarter, O'Neal scored 14 points in a single quarter and 39 points in three quarters with a shooting percentage of 54.5%. Zhou Quan scored 11 points in a single quarter and 42 points in three quarters. The Lakers were still 3 points behind.
Entering the final quarter, Zhou Quan took over the game. O'Neal, who was physically exhausted in the first three quarters, died down. In the end, Zhou Quan scored 14 points in the final quarter, scoring 56 points in a single game, and led his team to defeat the Lakers.
"Congratulations to Zhou Quan for breaking his regular season scoring record of 55 points in a single game." Zhang Lili said happily after the game.
"This is also the third 50+ in a single game this season and the 16th 50+ in his career. In terms of the regular season alone, it does not include the 50+ data in the playoffs." Xu Jicheng said.
Zhang Liyi nodded and said: "In this game, O'Neal scored 45 points, and his shooting percentage dropped to 49.5%. He has tried his best. Several inside shots from the SuperSonics turned up to push him, and they could no longer win in the final quarter.
On the outside, Zhou Quan still had a hard time beating Kobe, preventing him from shooting 3 of 12 and scoring only 8 points including free throws.
If Kobe can score 20+ points on Zhou Quan and hit over 45% from the field, it will really be hard to say whether he will win or lose. "
Xu Jicheng said: "It's still the tactics of the Western Conference Finals. It's also the tactics Zhou Quan himself said the Lakers used to beat the Spurs. It's really effective."
Zhang Lili said: "It seems that Zhou Quan can still maintain a great advantage over Kobe on both offense and defense. The SuperSonics still have an advantage against the Lakers."
Xu Jicheng smiled and said: "O'Neal made 8 of 16 free throws today, which is not too bad. Several Sonics insiders fouled him 17 times, which is very lethal!
It's a pity that Zhou Quan's advantage on the outside is really too great. It's just a 50+ player. Kobe is not bad. I think he is much better than last season, but he just can't do it in front of Zhou Quan. "
"Kobe is not yet 23 years old and has not yet entered his prime. Jordan in his prime is also at a disadvantage in front of Zhou Quan, let alone him?" Zhang Li said with a smile.
"Shark, when you get old and the Lakers don't want you anymore, come to me and I guarantee you a ring." At the scene, Zhou Quan bid farewell to the somewhat dejected O'Neal and comforted him kindly.
O'Neal was furious, bastard, you are only a little more than a month younger than me, and I am old and you are old too, you can guarantee nothing!
Kobe was beaten up by the Iron Fist King on the court again today. He was in a bad mood and had a cold face. Hearing Zhou Quan's words, he said angrily: "Iron Fist King, don't be proud. Sooner or later, I will surpass you."
Zhou Quan nodded and smiled: "I know, I know, you will definitely surpass me in 15 years."
"15 years?"
Kobe has the urge to vomit blood. Didn’t he just say 10 years?
O'Neal also has an old face, 15 years, 15 years later he will definitely retire, he will be 43 years old at that time.
"Just blow it."
After giving Zhou Quan an annoyed look, he turned around and left.
Kobe looked at Zhou Quan and was about to say something, but Zhou Quan said first, "I know, I know, you don't have to say anything, you will definitely surpass me in the future. Young man, the present is mine, and the future is yours."
"Of course."
After hearing these words, Kobe felt a little more comfortable, turned around and left.
"After 20 years, the future will definitely be yours, I promise." Zhou Quan shouted loudly from behind.
"20 years?"
Iron Fist King, are you kidding me? Kobe's face instantly darkened, he turned his head and glared at Zhou Quan fiercely, and walked into the tunnel at a faster pace.
"King of Iron Fist, what did you mean when you said 20 years to Kobe?" Some reporters came over for an interview and happened to hear Zhou Quan's last words.
"Nothing, nothing, just joking." Zhou Quan smiled and shook his head.
"The Iron Fist King defeated the Lakers again today, does it mean that the SuperSonics still have a clear advantage over the Lakers?" a reporter from NBC asked.
"It depends on whether we can limit O'Neal's development." Zhou Quan said.
"Shark scored 45 points today. Do you think it has limited him?" the reporter asked again.
"What's his hit rate?" Zhou Quan asked.
"Close to 50%. The other 16 free throws were 8." A reporter from the Los Angeles Times said immediately.
"There are certain restrictions. My shooting percentage should be higher than his, but the restrictions are not as good as possible, so we have to wait until the last quarter to solve them. I also have to attack with all my strength to win." Zhou Quan said.
(End of chapter)
