Capítulo 1383: Chapter 433: He Is Already in Another Realm
After halfway through the first quarter, he substituted Dwight Howard and Chauncey Billups, leaving Kobe and Jas on the court.
This ant that the Lakers’ invincible help defense was gone, and the pressure on Roger was also lifted.
Facing Sasha Vujacic, who replaced Billups, Roger scored at will from mid-range.
Sasha Vujacic couldn’t stop Roger’s breakthroughs, and the aging Theo Ratliff couldn’t assist defensively as quickly as Howard.
Roger scored repeatedly over Vujacic’s head, leaving the handso boy helpless.
When Roger scored his 12th point of the quarter over Vujacic’s head, he shrugged: “I may have rejected Maria (Sharapova), but I never expected her to be so devastated as to find such a loser like you.”
“Don’t drag Maria into this, you bastard!”
“I will drag her in, bla only yourself for not being able to protect her, for not having the ability to shut up, loser.”
After Roger spoke, Sasha Vujacic charged at Roger like a mad bull.
Embarrassingly, the strong Roger rely stepped back after the impact, while Sasha Vujacic was bounced off, falling directly to the ground.
The referee even called a technical foul on him.
Roger stood nearby, applauding the seated Vujacic.
Phil Jackson felt like Roger was the basketball god, controlling everything in the ga at will.
He could toy with opponents’ ntalities at will, respond promptly to shifts in the tide, and his strong personal ability could solve most problems.
Years ago, when Phil Jackson led the OK Lakers against Roger, he never had this feeling.
Back then, Roger was just powerful, but now, in what is rumored to be Roger’s final season, Phil Jackson truly felt that Roger had beco a true master.
No matter how the league changes, regardless of how strong the opponents are, Roger could effortlessly control the ga.
CCTV comntator Yu Jia explained Roger’s state better in Chinese: No matter your skill, I will break it with one strike. Just like that.
Subsequently, the Warriors maintained their advantage, aning: apart from the opening 2-0, the Lakers never led for even a second.
No one would have expected this first ga of the Super Lakers’ regular season to be so stifling, but their talent did solve many problems.
In the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, when the Lakers big four were back playing together, they launched a fierce pursuit.
Kobe hit a three-pointer over Roy.
Howard blocked Stadeyer even after being out of position.
Chauncey Billups made an unreasonable trailing three-pointer.
LeBron Jas attacked the rim violently for a 2 1.
The Lakers chased hard, finally narrowing the gap to 5 points in the last 57 seconds, Warriors called a tiout.
The Lakers still had a chance; no one knew if the Warriors could suppress the Lakers’ montum.
The upcoming defense was crucial for the Lakers; if they could force the Warriors to miss, they would have a chance to win.
On the bench, Phil Jackson was setting up this defense.
His core strategy remained unchanged: not giving Roger easy shots, pressuring him, directing him into Howard’s help defense range.
Zen Master had studied extensive ga tapes of the Warriors, and he could predict Erik Spoelstra’s strategies.
Hence, in this crucial play, he assigned LeBron Jas to guard Roger initially, instead of the calr Chauncey Billups, who was tasked with defending Stephen Jackson.
This was a strange arrangent, but Zen Master had reasons for doing so.
According to Spoelstra’s sideline play habits, Roger would position near the basket, then use a teammate’s screen near the free-throw line (likely Jackson) to curl to the three-point line for the ball and shot during the inbounds.
Therefore, assigning Jas to chase Roger initially, Billups to chase the screener, all was to facilitate switching the defense once Roger cleared the screen.
Ultimately, Billups would appear in front of Roger without screen interference.
The tiout ended, the ga restarted, Roger moved near the basket, Stephen Jackson and Roger were on one side, hovering near the free-throw line.
Seeing this, the Lakers team gained confidence.
Phil Jackson had predicted everything about the Warriors!
Roger noticed the Jas, whom he had schooled hard in the first quarter, defending him in this key play, and couldn’t help but shout at Phil Jackson: “Phil, are you trying to lose?”
“Shut up, we will win! It’s over, your dominance over is over!” Jas yelled in Roger’s ear while pulling Roger’s jersey and arm.
“No, there’s only 57 seconds left before you suffer your 13th straight professional loss to . How ridiculous, soone who lost 13 gas in his career to , thinks he can stand on par with Kobe.”
Jas’ heart was once again pierced: “You mother…”
Kobe couldn’t hold back: “LeBron, don’t let his trash talk affect you, don’t beco the next Sasha!”
“You see, LeBron, in Kobe’s eyes, there’s no difference between you and Sasha Vujacic – both can’t provide him peace of mind.”
“Shut up Roger!” Kobe didn’t want to see LBJ collapse ntality in such crucial monts, though fortunately, Billups would switch defense with Jas next. If now this ntally affected LBJ defended Roger, he dare not imagine the consequences.
While the Lakers were incredibly tense, Roger’s face displayed a smile, exchanging a look with Stephen Jackson.
This smile made Phil Jackson feel like his heart was gripped by a devil’s hand.
He swore, there was no verbal exchange or even a nod between Roger and Jackson, just a mutual glance.
Yet Phil Jackson felt they were communicating sothing.
Had they seen through his strategy?
Had they tily adjusted again?
No, impossible!
Roger, no matter how much a basketball master, could not have adjusted the strategy imdiately with just an eye contact!
The referee blew the whistle, the ga started again.
Roger indeed sprinted towards the outside line the mont the referee handed the ball to Boris Diaw, Stephen Jackson also moved closer preparing to screen.
But suddenly, before Roger reached him, Stephen Jackson swiftly dismantled, sprinting crazily toward the other side of the court, cancelling the screen!
Chauncey Billups was dumbfounded then, considering Jackson’s decent three-ball threat, Billups had no choice but to follow chasing.
This ant he couldn’t complete the switch with LBJ!
Roger directly ran to the three-point line, receiving the ball, facing not the composed Billups, but the agitated Jas!
Phil Jackson was covered in goosebumps, Roger predicted his prediction and adjusted his strategy within seconds. And he indeed communicated with Stephen Jackson with just eye contact!
This was not mysticism, Stephen Jackson during the Atlanta Dynasty was Roger’s follower, then accompanied Roger into Bay Area winning four championships.
This guy claiming “I don’t know how to shoot” understood Roger more than anyone.
Roger imdiately raised the ball over his head upon receiving it, LBJ, greatly stimulated internally, jumped straight up.
“No, damn it!” Kobe cursed rushing toward Roger, even at the cost of leaving Brandon Roy open.
Indeed, Roger was faking the shot, Jas fell for it, his anger clouding his judgnt.
Roger feinted number 23, dribbled a step forward then jumped shooting.
Kobe tried his best to interfere, but was still a step too late.
When his fingertips sealed Roger, Roger had already released the ball.
“Roger faked out LeBron, his defense once more failed. Kobe tried to block, but Roger seed unfazed… BANG!!! Roger scored his 43rd point of the ga, extending the lead to 8 points! Again, he suppressed the Los Angeles Lakers’ montum! Lakers have no chance, Warriors are unlikely to allow them 9 points in less than a minute, LeBron has only 55 seconds till his 13th loss to Roger!”
Mike Breen was as excited as the live Warriors fans, their blood pressure likely exceeding all players’ height at the mont.
But after delivering this final blow, Roger rely wiped the sweat off his forehead, blinking at the stunned Kobe and Jas.
The basketball god was just controlling this court at will.
That’s all.
There’s nothing to be excited about, he was already in another realm.
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