But Roy still sent the ball steadily towards the basket, having long been accustod to such confrontations from training with Matt Barnes. He was confident he could make the shot.
However, just as the ball was about to descend, Dwight Howard soared into the clouds, brushing the ball that had reached its peak with his fingertips.
This wasn’t a visually explosive pin-down block, but it was indeed a block.
The basketball, after being brushed by Howard, completely deviated from the basket and was caught by the skier, Radmanovic.
"Incredible block! My God, Dwight will be the best defensive player of the next decade!" Mike Breen marveled at Howard’s athleticism. Yes, Ben Wallace’s athleticism was also very strong, but still sowhat inferior to Howard’s. Moreover, Howard’s true height is about 206 to 208 centiters, which is the height Big Ben reaches with his Afro. Howard’s 225-centiter wingspan is even more impressive than Ben Wallace’s. He’s essentially an upgraded Big Ben.
Howard punched the air in exertion, and Radmanovic handed the ball to Billups.
Billups raised the ball over his head with both hands in the backcourt, and like launching a Gaia energy cannon, he slamd the ball into the ground. The basketball rebounded fiercely off the floor, passed through the crowd, and landed right in Jas’s hands.
The pass was extrely accurate; if the U.S. military had people like Chauncey Billups serving, they wouldn’t have ended up shooting down their own planes.
LBJ took two big steps and executed a tomahawk dunk flush with the rim. You might say LBJ’s dunks aren’t graceful enough, but they’re not without beauty. Height and power are also factors in determining whether a dunk is brilliant, and Jas doesn’t lack in either aspect.
But Jas’s subsequent celebration was quite awkward to watch, as he held his package and hopped around like a gorilla on the court.
"What’s he doing?" Tayshaun Prince, standing next to Roger, was speechless.
"Maybe he’s used to being a clown." Roger shrugged.
to 0, the Lakers had a strong start.
After a whole season of running in, the Lakers had improved their teamwork significantly, and their coordination was more fluid.
And the continuously scoring LeBron Jas even started directing the team’s defense: "Vlade (the skier), guard the baseline, don’t let Stephen cut inside!"
Kobe said nothing because his mind was solely on winning.
He had experienced power struggles before and erged victorious. But what did he gain from it? Nothing.
He and Shaq won nothing after separating, a complete lose-lose situation.
Now Kobe only cared about victory, no longer overthinking, so he tacitly allowed Jas to issue temporary orders.
Jas was thoroughly enjoying the mont, leading the team to ravage Roger.
He had enjoyed leadership in Cleveland but never the thrill of victory.
In Los Angeles, he enjoyed victory but lost the right to lead the team.
Tonight was the first ti he had both, and he was unstoppable.
The ga continued, with the Lakers still led on defense by Chauncey Billups. Once Roger broke through, Jas or Kobe would quickly double-team.
Phil Jackson decided to ramp up the defensive intensity from the start. Stamina? No problem, given the Lakers’ incredible offensive talent, not every offensive option could go cold.
This round, Roger passed the ball to Tayshaun Prince, but Prince’s three-pointer also missed.
The Lakers’ defensive strategy seed to be working. As long as they forced Roger to pass, the Warriors’ offense wouldn’t be lethal!
Jas grabbed the rebound and personally brought the ball upcourt.
He was unhurried, directing his teammates’ movents.
At that mont, he felt the mantle of the Lakers was in his hands.
Before the ga, Kobe had told Jas to think clearly about the kind of person he was and not be swayed by anger. Now Jas had thought it through, knowing he was the leader of this Lakers team!
No, what he needed was not just the mantle from Kobe.
He also wanted to seize the mantle of the era from Roger’s hands!
Rich Paul was quite pleased watching the increasingly assertive LBJ, believing this series would be a turning point in his career, without a doubt.
When Jas dribbled to the three-point line, Kobe sank into the low post, raising his hand to request the ball to be the axis of this attack.
Previously, Kobe wouldn’t command Jas, but when Kobe wanted the ball, Jas would never refuse.
But this ti, Jas didn’t pass it to him. Instead, he suddenly made a wide pass, getting the ball to the skier in the weak-side corner.
This wasn’t a conventional Triangle Offense tactic. In the Triangle Offense, all coordination occurs within the small triangle ford to minimize mistakes. Such wide swings are not permitted.
But Jas believed he had the right to make his own decisions. His height allowed him to see every corner of the court and determine whether the pass was risky.
Just now, Stephen Jackson was positioned closer to the basket because he thought the pass couldn’t reach. Jas seized the opportunity and sent the ball without a hitch.
Radmanovic took a three-pointer, the net ripped, 7 to 0!
"Flawless pass, this is LBJ, he’s orchestrating the entire ga!" Mike Breen acknowledged that he once didn’t think much of LBJ, but today’s Jas deserved praise.
"Roger," Jas said, "I wish you a happy retirent. I’m the one sending you off personally. Rember, I’m the real backbone of this team!"
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