My Name is Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant walked back to the arena in the Great Western Forum, amidst the fanatic cheers that were almost insane.

The second half is about to begin, Jazz 62:73 Lakers.

Just looking at the total points of the two teams, one would think it was won by two teams with only offense. The total score in the half was as high as 135 points. Such high-scoring games are very rare in this era. In this era where defense is the main thing and insiders are king, slow-paced offense is the mainstream.

It is also very common for a team to score a total of 70 and 80 points in a game. It is rare for absolutely strong teams like the Lakers and Jazz to play such high-scoring games. The defense of both sides is the top in the league, even if it is not the first, it can definitely be ranked in the top five. Even so, the offensive efficiency of both sides is still frighteningly high, which shows how strong Kobe and Jazz's offense is.

Kobe looked up and looked at the Jazz players on the other side of the field.

Hey, it still has a high-spirited expression. Kobe nodded slightly. He still admires these veterans very much. The unyielding spirit of old-school players is rarely seen in later generations. He has only seen such a character in Westbrook and Lillard. . In this era, this spirit of never giving up can be seen in many players.

"The lineup of both sides is the same as the starting lineup, and it has not been adjusted. It should be noted that many players have foul trouble on their backs. Three offenders."

"If the action of both sides in this game is still the same as in the first half, then I expect many players to be sent off. The Jazz want to continue to attack the sharks? I don't think it will work. The point difference between the Lakers and them has been pulled to 11. Slashing the shark will further slow down the pace of the game, and there is no way to chase points with a slow pace."

"Especially they still have a large number of players with fouls, let's see how Jerry Sloan's tactics will be adjusted next!"

"The duel between the Jazz and the Lakers is by no means only the superstars on the field. The duel between the two coaches, Jerry Sloan and Silver Fox Harris, is also a very interesting one. This is a duel between veteran coaches. Harris already won the Coach of the Year award in the 94-95 season, and Sloan's coaching career has so far been fruitless."

"Harris won this year's best coach trophy is already a certainty, the coaches below him who have a better chance are Jerry Sloan, Pat Riley, George Karl, and Lenny Wilkens. "

"The referee blows the whistle! The game continues!"

Hornacek serves from the sideline and passes to Stockton.

Stockton advanced with the ball, the Lakers still arranged Eddie Jones to defend Stockton, so that Kobe's physical fitness can be used more in the offense, but it is really going to the last moment, then the defense of the first ball holder Kobe will still take over the task without hesitation.

Stockton threw a high throw to Malone, and Malone held Eddie Jones sideways with his hands. Stockton caught the ball and cut in, and singled out Horry from mid-range.

"Be careful not to foul!" Kobe realized that Stockton's intention was to fight big and small. He wanted to take turns with Malone to beat Robert Horry, who is indispensable for the Lakers' offensive end, so that the Lakers' offense would drop by more than one level. , Kobe's off-ball three-pointer will also lack an important organizational point and pick-and-roll wall.

After being reminded by Kobe, Horry was obviously a little restrained, but Stockton found a chance and made a direct mid-range hit.

Jazz 64:73 Lakers, the point difference recovered to single digits.

For the Lakers, Kobe pushed forward with the ball and handed it to Horry after halftime. Before Horry was beaten by the six fouls, the Lakers must make the best use of everything and use this axis more.

Kobe began to move without the ball, and an embarrassing problem appeared in front of the Jazz.

Do you double-team?

The Lakers lineup is Kobe, Curry, Jones, Horry, Shaq.

Who will give up to double-team Kobe?

Sloan's choice was to release Eddie Jones and let Hornacek, an undersized player, chase Kobe off the ball.

The pick-and-roll ability of the Lakers system is weaker than that of the second quarter. Although there is a top-level wall like O’Neal, no one else can perform a high-quality pick-and-roll except for O’Neal. The Jazz can’t solve it even if O’Neal is a wall. At the basket, other people can chase Kobe.

Horry's first time was to find Kobe, but Kobe's few running positions did not involve any open space, and then Horry passed the ball directly to Eddie Jones in the bottom corner.

Ma Long struggled to defend, and Malone, who has always played on the defensive end, has tried his best in this game.

It's useless, Eddie Jones' gap is too big, and he can have it with just one hand.

The point difference once again widened to more than ten points.

Stockton gritted his teeth. Damn it, he felt that playing like this was full of loopholes for the whole team. Under the Lakers' system of one subject, one shark and three shooters, double-teaming was simply a bonus.

The Jazz and the Lakers played a few more rounds, and the Lakers relied on the Jazz's double-teaming to make consecutive hits. Sloan called a timeout.

There is no way, Kobe can't score, and the scoring efficiency of these horrible three-point shooters is not low at all.

Malone continues to have no solution, but no matter how horizontal he is, he can't compare with these top shooters who practice open shots.

Okay, not just defense.

Jerry Sloan's adjustment gave Kobe another chance to make a move.

"John, do you believe in God?" Bryant smiled at Stockton.

"Hmm." Stockton didn't understand what Kobe meant. As a white man, he was still in Utah, the headquarters of the Mormons. Stockton believed in God more or less.

"Then you'll see him soon."

"???" Stockton didn't understand what Kobe meant.

Then he understood what Kobe meant.

Many years after Stockton retired, looking back on his career, what impressed him most was not the pick-and-roll with Malone, the long talk with Sloan, or the chagrin of not having a championship for life.

But today's game, this game became Stockton's nightmare, the biggest fear when he woke up in the middle of the night.

Recalling his magnificent career, Stockton can be said to have no regrets except for the championship. Although he didn't win the championship, Stockton has a clear conscience. He believes that he has not been sorry for Utah in his 19-year career.

"At that moment, I didn't understand what Kobe meant." The old Stockton sighed in his eyes. The biggest reason why he didn't accept Sloan's invitation to join the Jazz coaching staff after retiring was that he never wanted to see Kobe again.

"Kobe just walked up to me and asked me if I believed in God."

"I nodded. When he said that I would see God later, I was still a little bit disdainful in my heart."

"Unfortunately, when I understood, it was too late."