O'Neal scored 7 points in 9 minutes in the first quarter, Kobe scored 6 points in 12 minutes, and the Lakers only scored 17 points!
For the other 4 points, Leder stepped back and scored two points, and Tyronn Lue seized the opportunity to counterattack and layup for two points.
The opposing veterans made 0 of 7 shots from close range, as if they had blocked the basket.
This situation was unexpected by the Clippers players, and Gentry was also surprised by the adjustment, but everyone was extremely excited about it!
When the break was about to end, Li Ao received a task prompt...
In the second quarter, the Clippers continued their previous style of play.
Li Ao and his teammates trust each other.
Teammates trust Li Ao to defend Kobe's mid- and long-range shots. Unless Kobe breaks into the paint, everything will be left to Li Ao.
Trust Li Ao to shrink inside, focus on blocking the mid-range and long-range shots of the opponent's veterans, actively block the three-second zone, and prevent the opponent's shots from the wings.
Li Ao also trusted his teammates and left the offense to O'Neal Jr. and McGinnis.
If the teammates really need one person to play in isolation, then he will play behind the back to help.
When his teammates needed someone to take the shots, he would make a shot to boost his momentum.
On the offensive end, he moved less if he could, put his energy into defense, and extended his playing time.
In the first quarter, he thought that with his slow movement, Kobe's attention would be drawn away to the side with the ball, and he could take the opportunity to move to catch the ball and shoot.
As a result, the afro stared at him and refused to help defend.
But that doesn't matter. With McGinnis's style of play and O'Neal's passing ability, unless the head coach arranges passing to be the main focus, Li Ao feels that even if he gets a chance, he won't be able to catch the ball every time and be able to contain it. Living in Kobe is actually better.
He thought about using running positions to consume Kobe... but in the end he chose to continue walking to keep fit.
Kobe has no obvious signs of insufficient physical reserves. If he consumes Kobe, this afro will definitely make him laugh out loud.
Trust and hard work pay off!
The Clippers seized the opportunity brought by the unstable mid-season status of the Lakers veterans!
The score was 21-22 in the second quarter and 20-26 in the third quarter.
The OK combination's counterattack became more and more fierce. In the second quarter, Kobe Bryant scored 7 points and O'Neal scored 11 points. In the third quarter, Kobe Bryant scored 12 points and O'Neal scored 8 points and 3 assists.
However, the Clippers relied on the efforts of the whole team and resolutely implemented the offensive and defensive strategies. Although they were beaten 16-9 in the first half of the third quarter and the score was overtaken by two points, the Clippers outscored 11-10 in the second half of the quarter. The score did not allow the Lakers to continue to widen the point difference, but also narrowed the point difference to 1 point!
After three quarters, the Clippers trailed the Lakers 64 to 65.
At the end of the quarter, it’s time for the Clippers!
The Lakers already showed signs of fatigue in the second half of the third quarter. The Lakers couldn't produce a team offense tonight. The offense in the first three quarters relied solely on the OK combination that scored 51 points. The veterans could only risk their lives to contribute on the defensive end.
In terms of defensive ability, tacit understanding, and experience, the Lakers veterans beat the Clippers.
But compared to physical strength...
In the last quarter, the young players of the Clippers were still running fast, but the veterans of the Lakers could not keep up!
The OK combination, which scored 51 points together, also fell asleep in the first half of the final quarter.
The Clippers made 10 of 12 in the first half of the quarter. Boykins and Big Q scored 7 goals in the counterattack. Boykins, who came on as a temporary substitute, scored 11 points in the first half of the quarter and led the team to beat the Lakers. A wave of 24 to 8!
88 to 73, the Clippers took a 15-point lead!
However, before the Clippers could be happy for long, after the official timeout came back, O'Neal, who had regained his composure, took the lead and hit two single hook shots. Then Kobe used his strength to hit Li Ao in singles and scored two step-back three-pointers, plus A breakthrough layup 2+1.
Kobe's terrifying and intimidating shots attracted Li Ao to defend him. He took the opportunity to break into the paint and passed two balls to O'Neal. O'Neal made a layup and a one-step hook that resulted in a foul and two free throws.
The OK combination worked hard and hit a 17-4 wave in more than 4 minutes. They relied purely on personal ability to help the Lakers chase the score to 90-92, narrowing the point difference to two points!
It was useless for Gentry to call timeouts continuously. The 24-8 wave in front of them was achieved purely because the opponent's veteran couldn't keep up with the speed and counterattacked. They really couldn't win in a positional battle.
When the Clippers attacked, Ron Harper defended very well at the last moment and followed McGinnis's footsteps. McGinnis made a great pull-up jumper in singles!
However, Li Ao cut inside, took advantage of O'Neal Jr. and Cherokee Parks to rush and contain him, and made a tip-in at the critical moment!
94 to 90, the Clippers lead by 4 points!
Looking back, the Lakers were in a triangle offensive position. O'Neal caught the ball and three people were blocked at the basket. Kobe turned his back and ran back to receive O'Neal's pass. Li Ao followed closely. Kobe did not make any hard shots. At the critical moment, he believed That man.
Horry went around to the top arc, received a pass from Kobe, and made a three-pointer with a wide gap in front of him. He made a hollow hit!
93 to 94, the Lakers narrowed the point difference to 1 point!
The Clippers called a timeout and continued to play when the OK combination scored 17 points.
McGinnis was still playing in singles, but this time someone from the Clippers stepped up. Li Ao cut in, attracting O'Neal's attention. O'Neal Jr. got the offensive rebound and made a small loop of play under the interference of Horace Grant. Basket shot.
96 to 93, the Clippers lead by 3 points!
When the Lakers attacked, Jackson still didn't pause, and the OK combination played just right.
Kobe held the ball from the outside and broke through in singles. He took the initiative to lean against Li Ao during the march, turned his back to separate the space, and when the rhythm was disrupted, he pulled up and hit the mid-range shot. 95 to 96, the Lakers chased the point difference to 1 point.
With 31 seconds left, the Lakers players retreated quickly. If they defend in the next round, they will win.
They are so confident because they have Kobe Bryant!
When the Clippers attacked, at the last moment, McGinnis suddenly gave up. After hitting two irons in a row, he didn't dare to shoot. After hesitating at the top arc for a while, he lobbed the ball to O'Neal in the middle distance on the left side of the three-second zone.
O'Neal Jr. unexpectedly received the ball at this time, but he reacted quickly and immediately leaned against Horace Grant to protect the ball and not give the opponent a chance to steal. If he couldn't score, it would take time for him.
Upon seeing this, Li Ao came to the right side of the free throw line. Seeing Li Ao's movement, O'Neal leaned on Horace Grant and slowly moved toward the 45-degree angle of the three-point line.
McGinnis quickly ran back to the top arc from a 45-degree angle on the right side to respond. Kobe stuck to Li Ao, preparing to defend against a back hit.
Kobe knew that Li Ao wasn't good at playing from behind, and he just learned a rudiment of very standard and professional movements. However, this big spider's shooting was extremely accurate, and he didn't dare to be careless.
Just when O'Neal Jr. grabbed the ball and pushed it out, and Kobe was waiting for McGinnis to catch the ball and pass it to Li Ao, Li Ao, who had been pushing back, suddenly turned left!
Kobe, who was pushing forward, accidentally jumped forward. When he stopped and turned around, he saw that Li Ao had already received the ball!
O'Neal Jr. passed the ball not to McGinnis, but directly to the back left of Kobe!
Li Ao caught the ball and took off for a mid-range shot. No one from the Lakers came up to cover. No one expected this!
'Catch and shoot expert level 5' was triggered, and Li Ao hit the ball and made a mid-range shot!
98 to 95, the Clippers once again took a 3-point lead.
When the ball fell into the basket, there were only 9 seconds left in the game. By the time Li Ao's ball fell into the basket, the offense had consumed a full 22 seconds.
The Zen master finally called a timeout!
Li Ao excitedly rushed up to hug O'Neal to celebrate.
He just pointed at O'Neal with his hand on the left side of his head, and the other party understood what he meant tacitly!
He felt O'Neal's strong trust in him. There were only a few seconds left in the attack time, but the opponent still boldly chose to cooperate with him.
This ball also allowed him to realize another use of the back-up technique, which is more suitable for his back-up application at this stage.
After the timeout, the Clippers sent out a combination of Big Q, Li Ao, Naseby, O'Neal Jr., and Chris Mihm. Gentry's defense was to... try his best to defend.
For the Lakers, the combination of Brian Shaw, Kobe, Rick Fox, Horry, and O'Neal came on the court.
The Lakers served in the frontcourt, but the Clippers failed to complete the serve and steal. The Lakers entered a positional battle and immediately passed the ball to O'Neal, who was leaning against Chris Mihm in the low post to reach the position, and 'moved ahead' to directly under the basket. O'Neal directly attacked from a double flank, not giving O'Neal a chance to make singles moves.
O'Neal has long noticed O'Neal Jr.'s movement and distributes the ball to Horry.
Why do Horry and Fisher have so many opportunities at critical moments?
Because if the opponent doesn't free them up, it will give Kobe or O'Neal a one-on-one opportunity at critical moments.
Opportunities for both of them are inevitable.
This time Kobe was followed closely by Li Ao, who was good at guarding long-range shots. Although he scored two step-back three-pointers against Li Ao in the final quarter, at the last moment, he still trusted Horry, who had better opportunities.
But unfortunately, Horry has already used his quota for key goals today. He just scored a three-pointer in the last round, and this ball is crooked!
The ball hit the neck of the basket with a "clang" and bounced out. O'Neal Jr. grabbed the defensive rebound and was immediately hugged by O'Neal.
With 3.6 seconds left, the Lakers could only pray that O'Neal, who shot 61% from free throws, would turn into Malone.
At this moment, the voices of the fans at the scene turned into cheers and boos. When O'Neal made the first free throw, the Lakers had resigned.
Although O'Neal missed the second free throw, the Clippers still led by 4 points.
Chasing 4 points in 3.6 seconds, the opponent can just ignore it.
But there is still one person who hasn’t given up!
Before Zen Master called a timeout, Kobe actively asked for the ball. After receiving the ball, Li Ao aimed at nearby and rushed forward. He tilted his body and threw the ball towards the scene with one hand... The ball hit the backboard with a "bang" and bounced towards the center circle. , the iron didn't even hit, and Kobe didn't pounce on him. Li Ao nimbly retreated to avoid it, and Kobe fell to the floor with a bang and threw himself on the street...
The ball hit the center circle and rolled back towards the half court, and the final whistle sounded.
Nearly 10,000 Clippers fans at the scene burst into violent cheers and completely 'occupied' the Lakers' home court!
99 to 95, the Clippers defeated the Lakers in an away game!
The Clippers players and coaches were more excited than the fans, gathering together to celebrate like a New Year.
While celebrating, Li Ao received a task prompt.
"Congratulations to the host for defeating the Los Angeles Lakers. The host's game statistics are: 17 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Awarded 520 achievement points."
"Counterattack OK:
Goal 1: The hosts need to score higher than their season average tonight.
Reward: 1 basic attribute point. (Host season average score: 24.5 points, score in this game: 17 points, failed.)
Goal 2: The hosts need to block more shots than their season average tonight.
Reward: The number of blocks multiplied by 1000 achievement points. (The host’s average blocks this season: 3.7, blocks in this game: 2, failed.)
Goal 3: The host needs to lead the team to win the game tonight. (completed)
Congratulations to the host for receiving the reward: 1 random action pack related to post-up singles. "
Relying on the final tip-in and mid-range shot, his shooting percentage will reach 40%. He only made 6 of 15 shots in the game...but he made 5 of 5 free throws and did not miss simple points.
In terms of assists, he only had two assists tonight, a career low. He had at least 3 assists before.
However, the rebounds were in double figures! He shrunk to intimidate the opponent's veteran from attacking the frame. He didn't get the block, but when his teammates saw him getting into the basket, they all went to block the position to prevent O'Neal and Horace Grant from grabbing offensive rebounds. He lived up to the trust of his teammates and routine. Time got 10 rebounds, the first double-double in his career!
In terms of tasks, he selectively gave up on the first goal when he saw it.
For the second goal, he did not deliberately block shots, but used shrinking threats as a defensive method. It is good to have blocks, but it does not matter if he does not.
Both goals failed, but it doesn't matter, we won tonight!
Relying on mutual trust and not betraying each other's trust, the whole team worked together and they seized the opportunity to defeat the OK combination, which scored 70 points together!
(End of chapter)
