Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters Chapter 375: 240

Chapter 375: 240

Fisher? This Triangle Offense master will replace Payton in the Lakers’ starting lineup in the second half.

Whether the legend is true or whether the eting actually existed, the Lakers managed to hold their own against the Bucks in the third quarter, scoring 22 to 21.

It was the first ti they won a quarter in the Finals since it began.

Even if it was by just 1 point, even if it only reduced the deficit to 15 points, it was invigorating.

The Lakers’ road to a three-peat wasn’t without peril, such as the seventh ga of the 2000 Western Finals and the sixth ga of the 2002 Western Finals, where they ultimately proved to be the better team.

However, tonight seed different.

In 2000, they had the united OK; back then, Kobe could still outmaneuver Scottie Pippen and deliver one of the greatest alley-oops in playoff history to Shaquille O’Neal.

In 2002, they had the referees’ favor, but tonight, even on ho court, their free throw attempts fell behind the Bucks, and the unity of OK in the third quarter was like a dying patient’s last flash of health, brief, reminding people of their past glory, and then…

Kobe Bryant was determined to carry the role he had acquired in Eagle County to the end.

What role was that?

A rapist, a demon, a villain, a person who creates chaos within the team, gives hope only to completely destroy it.

Tonight, O’Neal was invincible in the paint, but in the fourth quarter, Kobe ignored his advantage ti and again, opting for difficult jumpers and three-pointers with no precision at all.

When Kobe went mad, Yu Fei was there on the court, right beside him.

For so reason, he could actually understand what Kobe was doing.

An indisputable fact was that Kobe’s sole purpose in doing this was to win the FMVP.

Whether it was Jordan, whom he was always emulating, or Shaquille O’Neal, with whom he was at loggerheads, their crowns were all studded with gems nad MVP. Kobe had an inner urge to prove himself, to win his own FMVP, and irrespective of the Lakers’ situation, he selfishly wanted to show he was the best.

Tonight, O’Neal had 32 points and 20 rebounds, but in the last half of the quarter, he didn’t take a single shot.

Kobe shot 14 out of 32 for the ga, with just 3 out of 11 in the last quarter.

The Lakers fans at Staples Center watched as the Lakers collapsed on the court, losing the third ga by a margin of 22 points.

And so, the Lakers stood on the brink of a cliff.

0 to 3

Their coback was now only a theoretical possibility, one of the most unassailable myths in NBA history.

No team has ever co back to win four straight gas after losing the first three.

The Washington Post’s sports writer, Mike Wise, who co-authored an autobiography with O’Neal, wanted to offer so comfort and motivation to his friend.

Right there on the court, Wise said to O’Neal, “Shaq, you and Kobe need to work together. You can still win this ga. The Bucks are strong, but I think…”

Enough already. After watching Kobe’s “performance” in the fourth quarter, O’Neal had lost his enthusiasm. He waved his hand for Wise to keep quiet.

Then, his gaze fell on soone in the distance, the woman kissing Yu Fei in front of the live cara—Christian Hendricks, who had chosen an appropriate outfit for the night, showcasing her hourglass figure to full effect.

The bastard really has so great luck with won!

“I have to say,” O’Neal remarked as he looked into the distance, “that bastard’s woman is smoking hot!”

In an instant, Wise knew the Lakers were done for.

Even he still harbored so hope, yet O’Neal was passing judgent on his number one rival/enemy’s girlfriend.

No more noise.

The Lakers had been sentenced to death.

Two days later, on June 12, Ga 4 of the Finals kicked off at Staples Center.

A desperate Lakers Team chose Stanislav dvedenko to be the starting power forward.

The diocre Ukrainian was unlucky; once, being a part of the Lakers’ F4 was his greatest glory, but now he was forced to fight alongside the selfish Kobe, a lackluster O’Neal, a confused Payton, and the diocre Kareem Rush.

dvedenko was 25 years old this year and had joined the Lakers in 2000; he was the second European player to co to the Lakers Team after Divac. Initially, the Lakers’ scouts hoped he was half Vin Baker (in movents) and half Divac (in basketball IQ), but eventually, they found he had the discipline of Baker and about 10% of Divac’s basketball IQ.

Starting such a man in the Finals was a clear sign of the Lakers’ desperation.

Then, the desperate ga began.

Yu Fei continued to hamr O’Neal throughout.

In the first quarter, O’Neal, nad specifically, stepped out to help defend Yu Fei, causing two fouls.

Phil Jackson incredibly didn’t substitute him off.

Then, Yu Fei quickly drew O’Neal’s third foul. This foul made Yu Fei believe that not even within the League did they want to see the Lakers win. This whistle was the proof.

It wasn’t that the Bucks had gained much of an advantage, but the Lakers hadn’t received any favoritism from the referees in the Finals, which was abnormal.

But the League couldn’t be blad. After all, Kobe was still facing a lawsuit, and it seed there was ample evidence against him. If it went to trial, the rape charge might stick. How damaging would it be to the League’s image if the Lakers won and then it ca out that their star player was in jail⑵?