Although there was only one championship difference between two consecutive championships and three consecutive championships, the historical status between the two was worlds apart.
The defending champion, the Los Angeles.
At the start of the season, everyone was united in their determination to win three consecutive championships.
Many media outlets believed that Kobe was very likely to start a new dynasty and complete the second dynasty of his career.
Moreover, if Kobe could win the sixth championship of his career, he would undoubtedly become the first player in the history of the Laker team. The comparison with Michael Jordan would also be more convincing.
However, the path of a dynasty had always been filled with danger.
After the start of the season, the Los Angeles Clippers still had 30 victories and ranked first in the Western Conference, but they could still feel the crisis they were in.
They had lost many games that they should not have lost.
The lineup for the new season was probably the most balanced one the Los Angeles team had in the past three years.
However, their biggest variable was still their injuries.
Kobe's finger injury, Bynum's knee, and Odom's overdraft.
Other than the team's injuries, the new season was likely to be Phil's last season.
In addition, the team's overall mentality and the drive to win the championship were different on many occasions.
Just as Kobe said, winning three championships in a row required luck.
Whether or not the Laker would be blessed by the heavens would only be known after the game was over.
In addition to the internal worries, the formation of the three giants of the Heat was also a problem that prevented the Los Angeles Clippers from winning the championship.
As for the Clippers from the same city?
It had never been part of the plans of the Los Angeles Clippers.
They played this game just to deal with the mentality of the regular season.
……………..
TNT's Barkley smiled and said,""The strength of the two teams is not on the same level. The Los Angeles Clippers aim for the championship, but the Clippers only aim for the playoffs.”
" Ever since Baron Davis was injured, the Clippers have experienced a losing streak," said Kenny Smith." It ended two days ago." Their path to the playoffs was getting further and further away. They had a player who was very surprising.”
"Haha, the Chinese with the short contract, right?" Barkley said. I looked at the highlights. His performance was not bad.”
"But what?"
"But his defense isn't that good? Curry and ellis had both scored more than 60 points. He should be glad that the next game against Fisher would not be so stressful. Otherwise, if he was beaten again, he might not be able to sign a contract, haha.”
"Apparently, Jackson arranged for Kobe to mark that rookie. Do you think he can cause trouble for Kobe?”
"Buddy, Kobe has been in first defense nine times. It's too easy to defend against this rookie.”
"I don't think so. This rookie's body is as strong as Westbrook's, and his technical ability is also very strong. It's very difficult to defend against his offense.”
"Charles, how many points do you think this rookie can score under Kobe's defense?”
" Within 19 points, Kobe must have studied the video of his last game."
"Do you want to bet?"
"Haha, after Yao Ming last time, I swore that I wouldn't bet with the Chinese anymore.”
Charles Barkley didn't fall for his trick and smiled.
This wasn't a joke. He had just gotten 36 points in the last game.
Below 19 points?
It was just the effect of the show.
It was not impossible for him to get 36 points in another game.
Barkley was not stupid.
………………..
The pre-match interview.
"Kobe, what do you think of the Clippers 'rookie, Zhao Hang?”
"Who is he?" Kobe asked, confused.”
The reporter added," In the last game between the Clippers and the Warriors, he scored 36 points and 15 assists. Then, he completed the last game.”
Kobe shrugged." Sorry, okay. I didn't watch that game. We were busy playing against Miami. Zhao? Maybe we'll get to know each other tonight. I hope this rookie will make me remember him.”
Compared to Kobe's lack of knowledge, when the reporters interviewed Artest.
Artest bluntly said,"It's normal that Kobe doesn't know him. I don't know him either, but he'll be guarded to death by us tonight.”
In the media interviews of the entire team.
There seemed to be a sense of arrogance and contempt spreading throughout the entire team.
However, everyone knew that they had the right to be arrogant and relaxed.
Because they were the champions of the previous two years.
The real owner of the Staples Center.
Clippers?
Sorry, they didn't take it to heart.
The Los Angeles media even revealed that Phil Jackson might choose to take a break from the main force in this game against the weak team, but he received some warnings from the league's senior management.
This was a nationwide broadcast. No one could take turns to rest.
Jackson could only give up.
They did have a lot of injuries.
Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, and the others were all injured to varying degrees.
Before the match, Zhao Hang also learned of the news from the media.
He didn't argue with her angrily.
It would be more domineering to fight after winning.
The Clippers were not going to be an easy opponent in this game. Zhao Hang did not have absolute confidence.
………
Come again to Staples.
Zhao Hang felt a completely different atmosphere from the previous match.
The NBA had just won two championships.
This added fuel to their fire.
Their season tickets had been sold out long ago, and the attendance rate for almost every match was above 80%.
The Los Angeles Derby, which happened to be on the weekend, filled the Staples Center arena. It was completely different from the Clippers 'games a few days ago.
When the warm-up ended, Zhao Hang signed autographs and took photos with many Chinese fans and Clippers fans at the side of the field and at the players 'passage.
In just one game, the Chinese in Los Angeles knew about Zhao Hang's existence.
Many people came to support Zhao Hang during his second match.
The Clippers fans paled in comparison to the Laker fans. Judging from the full seats, the popularity of the Laker fans was far beyond the Clippers.
The atmosphere at the scene quickly became feverish.
This also shocked Zhao Hang for a while.
In the previous game, the Clippers only had about 60% of the seats, which was almost double the number.
The cheers were on a completely different level.
No wonder all the star players came to the big cities.
Zhao Hang felt that the popularity of the Clippers 'basketball market was similar to that of a small city. It was just that Los Angeles, where the Clippers were located, had great potential.
The real representative of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Clippers, was the full embodiment of the big city.
Then, would he go to a team similar to the Los Angeles Clippers in the future?
Zhao Hang felt that if he had the chance, he would go too.
After all, the profits would be the greatest in the big cities.
After the entrance ceremony.
The two teams began to prepare for the match.
While Zhao Hang was still actively preparing, Kobe had already started his own entrance ceremony to mobilize the fans.
Zhao Hang also looked at the Laker curiously.
This was a very familiar face in his previous life.
Today, he would be his opponent.
Soon, the match began.
Starting lineup for the Los Angeles Clippers: Fisher, Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum
Clippers starting lineup: Hang Zhao, Gordon, Arminio, Griffin, Jordan Jr.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。