CHAPTER 1255: CHAPTER 509: YOU HAVE JI BUGONG? I HAVE THE STRONGEST HIGH SCHOOLER IN HISTORY!

Zhang Yang and Kobe were not only the focus of the live audience, but also where both teams’ players concentrated their attention after entering the court.

Of course, their teammates had very different thoughts.

Wolf King, Ji Bugong: Boss, just glare at him, don’t go looking for trouble, you can’t out-talk Zhang San.

Little Fatty’s thoughts were written on his face, and Little Duncan was secretly thinking: Go ahead, third bro! Annoy that Ironsmith!

Surprisingly, the two didn’t start arguing before the game but instead looked across from the technical table, and the players from both teams followed their gaze... it’s Lord of the Rings!

At this moment, words were unnecessary, the battlefield filled with tension...

The time reached 8 p.m., and the game began.

Both teams’ starters remained the same, Okafor outjumped Kwame Brown to win the tip-off, and the Bobcats attacked first!

Zhang Yang executed the first attack, bypassed Kobe, and drove to the right elbow, suddenly grabbing the ball, changed direction to sidestep Garnett, then took another step to the left side of the basket, reverse layup avoiding Kwame Brown’s block, and scored!

On the return, Kobe played one-on-one against Zhang Yang, slowed down after reaching the free throw line, leaned sideways against Zhang Yang, who was coming back to position, engaged in a physical battle, grabbed the ball, turned around, and made a fadeaway jump shot... scored!

Seeing the surprise flash across Zhang Yang’s face, the Ironsmith: Hmm, didn’t expect this Mamba to copy your move so quickly, did you?

Zhang San: A 30-year-old Ironsmith learning a minimally invasive 35-year-old Ironsmith’s technique?

Kobe ’learning’ from Zhang Yang was unexpected for him, as Zhang Yang was usually the one learning from others. Like in the second round, he learned quite a bit face-to-face from Pierce, Joe Johnson, and Bibby. During the Finals, after playing Kobe four times, he also learned a lot about using physical confrontation while on the move, but it was the first time someone learned from him face-to-face.

However, Zhang Yang wasn’t surprised that once Kobe learned something, he could use it during the Finals. This was originally a tactic adjusted for declining physical fitness after minimally invasive treatment, and it had been 11 days since the Finals started; who knew how many times Kobe had secretly practiced in those days.

But this move of Kobe decelerating, collecting the ball, and turning for a jump shot, the technique bore such a resemblance to Zhang San’s step-back mid-range shot, doesn’t that mean...?

At this moment, the TV commentators were discussing how Kobe learned Zhang Yang’s technique, with well-founded logic, and the director cut to close-up footage as evidence...

Zhang Yang and Kobe’s first attacks were beautifully executed, capturing the gap in their opponents’ double team for a Euro step layup. Using solid fundamentals to forcefully create a rhythm difference and relying on pure strength for a turn-around jump shot, showcasing excellent competitive condition, the match point battle officially began.

In the first few plays, the Bobcats executed quite well, hitting 3 out of 6 shots, plus one additional free throw, and two free throws caused by a drive and floater drawing a foul, scoring 9 points in total. However, Carlisle’s pressure increased because the opponent hit 4 out of 7, including a Kidd three-pointer, also scoring 9 points!

As predicted in the Bobcats’ pre-game meeting the day before, the Lakers indeed reverted to regular defense without further adjustments.

The Lakers’ defense, as a result, lost many possibilities but reverted to the way it was from G1 to G3, with Garnett and Kidd, one inside and one outside, as the main defenders linking up the defense. With their league-leading individual defense on the wings and an elite rim-protecting center, they had no apparent weaknesses!

Carlisle didn’t have to rack his brain for targeted offensive adjustments, but consequently, he also lost room for maneuver.

He regretted it a little, shook his head, and let go of the pressure. Since that’s the case, they should rely on strength and the players’ ability to adapt on their own!

Their opponent had Ji Bugong, but they also had the strongest high school player ever!

...

After both teams traded early blows, they tacitly slowed down the offensive pace, entering a tug-of-war.

The Lakers, like in G1 to G3, focused on making no mistakes and laying down solid fundamental defense, and the Bobcats did the same, focusing on stability, like in G2 to G4.

While the defenses of both teams seemed unremarkably ordinary, they were particularly dreadful for the Lakers with the strongest defense setup and the Bobcats with one of the best rotational defenses in the league.

Neither side dared to play too aggressively on offense, fearing mistakes. The Lakers didn’t want their team offense cooperation to crumble like in G1, and the Bobcats didn’t want to follow the Lakers’ path from G1 either, so they played incredibly restrained.

This earned praise from commentators for the Lakers.

The Bobcats led 3-1 in the series, enjoying a huge psychological advantage, making it natural for them to have the patience to seek stability.

The Lakers approached the edge of dropping the crown, facing a situation that no team in NBA history had ever reversed.

The last team down 1-3 in the Finals was also the Lakers, during the F4 era, collapsing in G5 on both offense and defense, making mistakes and digging holes everywhere, only scoring 45 points in the half, and getting humiliated by the Pistons, who had never scored more than 91 points in the first four games, managing 55 points in that half, being blown out on the match point game.

But this time, the Lakers steadied themselves, with Kobe’s offensive choices, Kidd’s control, and Garnett’s transitions, all receiving high praise from the commentators.

Both teams patiently waited for the opponent to make the first mistake, and this tug-of-war dragged on till the end of the first quarter!

By this point, the teams not only reached their best collective defensive state but also achieved superb offensive teamwork, with head coaches not causing any ’unnecessary trouble,’ focusing on roster rotations and distribution of playing time, delivering excellent team performances and not giving the opponent any opportunities!