Chapter 778 The Shark’s Missed Kill
"Kobe! Many people think you are the greatest clutch killer in history! Do you recognize this title?"
On May 2, 1999, the Lakers appeared in Houston!
As soon as Kobe got off the plane, he was surrounded by a group of reporters with long guns and short cannons.
Kobe originally wanted Blackwater's security to get rid of these reporters.
But after hearing this question, Kobe still planned to say something. These reporters got so angry after the 0.5-second kill!
Kobe was even praised as an invincible player in heaven and earth!
Although Kobe is not afraid of this kind of praise, he is still a little worried that his teammates will be affected.
O'Neal's expression when he heard these words was ugly anyway, and Kobe was also thinking about how to fool this big fat man.
O'Neal has a lot on his mind lately! It was written on his face, and Kobe could see it at a glance.
"The greatest clutch shooter? I hope you guys can continue to praise me like that when I miss the buzzer-beater."
"I just shoot and score. But who can guarantee that I will score every time?"
Kobe said lightly.
When Harris next to Kobe heard these words, he suddenly frowned.
Who can guarantee that Kobe will score every time?
no one!
Harris began to reflect on whether his recent trust in Kobe was too much.
O'Neal has a temper!
This is what Silver Fox Harris knows, and it is also Harris's own responsibility. As a head coach, coordinating the relationship between players is what he should do.
Jackson's on-site coaching and tactical drills may not be the best in history, but when it comes to coordinating player relationships, Jackson is the best!
"Next time, if O'Neal has a chance, give him the winning chance."
"After all, it's not the finals. Even if the buzzer-beater fails, the Lakers can afford to lose."
"Let Kobe and O'Neal concentrate on playing! This is what I should do."
Harris secretly made up his mind.
May 3, 1999!
Houston Compaq Center Arena!
Los Angeles Lakers VS Houston Rockets - GAME 3!
"Gerrard! Do you think Hakeem can win this game?" Two tall black teenagers were sitting in the square outside the arena, preparing to watch the game on the big screen.
"Hakeem can definitely do it! They are the glory of Houston! They made Houston a legend! Besides, that silly guy Pippen is back."
"That guy Pippen actually wants to usurp his position and become the boss of Houston! This is Hakeem's team! Look, this guy is just an average starter in the playoffs averaging 15 points per game. He can't get it against Kobe. Double-digit score!”
"DeAndre, although Pippen is stupid, he is the only one in the Rockets who can defend Kobe." The boy with only nine fingers said helplessly.
"With Pippen's defense! Hakeem and Charles will definitely win this victory! Return to the home court and let the Houston fans teach those hillbillies from California what a devil's home court is!"
"I really hope that one day we can appear in this stadium and fight for this city."
"There will be a day, I believe."
"I can't believe it! The game was at the last moment! Olajuwon, the big dream, scored the key goal!"
"Los Angeles Lakers 91:92 Houston Rockets!"
"There are 19 seconds left in the game! Olajuwon used his dream steps to score in front of Shaquille O'Neal!"
"Unstoppable! The big dream in this game has already scored 37 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 blocks!"
"He scored almost half of the team's points alone!"
"The Lakers came to Houston from Los Angeles, and their touch finally fluctuated!"
"Kobe 'only' scored 25 points on 11-of-24 shooting in this game!"
"Pippen's defense!!! Pippen was so angry that he seemed to have a sworn hatred for Kobe. He guarded Kobe fiercely!"
G3!
The Lakers and Houston are tied! This game, which was not a good one for both sides, turned into a defensive battle like a meat grinder!
Kobe's touch rarely fluctuated!
"Damn it! These referees didn't call a foul?" Stephen Jackson was speechless. Pippen almost dragged Kobe away.
Pippen's defensive aggression in this game was too strong! The referee blew the home whistle intentionally or unintentionally, which made Pippen's defensive actions become more and more intense!
"This is balance." Kobe's mentality is stable, and he understands the league's rules. When the difference between two teams is too great, the league will find a balance.
The league just wants to play more games in the series, charge more ticket fees, and attract more attention. It does not want to interfere with the trend of the series.
But often this balance will cause unpredictable changes in the outcome of the entire series!
The Warriors, Cavaliers, Lakers and Kings, and even worse, during Xiao Hua’s reign, the entire first round of the series was a tiebreaker!
In this game, Pippen's defense is getting bigger and bigger under this balance!
When Kobe's touch is not good, he often looks for opportunities to break through the paint and find his touch through scoring in the penalty area and free throws.
But this game gave Kobe no chance to adjust at all!
Kobe Bryant, the Lakers' sharpest offensive arrow, was blocked! The Lakers' offensive efficiency has obviously dropped by several levels!
Plus Rudy Tomjanovich deliberately suppresses the rhythm! This has caused the Lakers' rhythm to be led by the Rockets!
If O'Neal hadn't come down from heaven and scored 31 points and 12 rebounds on 13-of-18 shots, perhaps this game would have been settled!
But at the last moment, Dameng still calmly scored the key goal in the face of O'Neal who had no solution in this game! Beat the score!
Now!
The game, like G1, once again came to the most critical moment!
WIN OR GO HOME!
Or kill it!
Or lose!
"Coach, this shot! Let me hit it! My shooting percentage will be higher in the paint!" The Lakers paused, and O'Neal said directly to Harris.
Harris hesitated.
O'Neal really felt better in this game.
With Kobe's hand feeling so bad, and Pippen's unscrupulous foul moves to defend Kobe, Houston will definitely double-team Kobe at the last moment. If handled according to conventional tactics, Kobe is not a good candidate to execute the final attack.
But Kobe has never disappointed.
If he is not allowed to shoot, will Kobe have any ideas?
And O'Neal is indeed more confident in the paint.
"Let Shaq come." Kobe's eyes flashed!
"Horry serves from the sideline! Will the 0.5-second buzzer-beater happen again? This time the Lakers have 19 seconds of attack time!"
"Kobe's crazy movement! He took away Pippen and Drexler's defense!"
"Horry passed to Bowen!"
"Bowen passed the ball to O'Neal in the low post!"
"No double teams! O'Neal's dream of holding the ball in the low post and playing in isolation!"
"Push! Push! Turn around!"
"Little throw!"
"Missed! O'Neal's last little hook! To avoid Dameng's blocking shot! Missed!"