My Name is Kobe Bryant

"Shaq finally won the MVP he longed for." When Stern read out this name, many people breathed a sigh of relief.

This MVP seems to bring a perfect end to the era when the center is king.

This also includes the big dream Hakeem Olajuwon who is in the Mamba Academy in South Africa.

Dameng is full of emotions. How long has O'Neal been the number one center?

It has been seven years since 1997.

From a young man in his prime, he has become a middle-aged man in his 30s.

The rulers of the American NBA have also changed from the four major centers to today's large number of swingmen.

During this period, O'Neal has been extremely dominant and occupied the throne of the league's number one center. Won 5 championships and dominated the first team.

But what Olajuwon can't understand is that even so, O'Neal has never won an MVP.

This is a shame for living through the era when the center was king.

The center has really declined.

I don’t know since when, the pace of the league has become faster and faster. The three-point pass and cut made the slow-moving center gradually withdraw from the stage.

The three major centers in the league now, O'Neal, Yao Ming, and O'Neal Jr. are all extremely talented players, and other centers have no way to copy their style of play.

Even O'Neal, Yao Ming, and O'Neal have no way of leading the team alone. They must have top outside stars to perform well.

One generation is worse than the other~!

O'Neal lacks shooting.

Yao Ming lacks strength and agility.

O'Neal Jr. could only be a role player in their era.

But this is already the best center right now.

Dominant centers like Olajuwon, who are versatile both offensively and defensively, and who single-handedly support both offense and defense, no longer appear.

Olajuwon feels that if he is at his peak, he can still score 30+15 in this league, or even more terrifying statistics.

But time is ruthless, and Dameng never has the opportunity to compete with the stars of this era of the NBA at his peak.

"I'm not willing to let the center come to an end like this."

"Is it possible that in ten years the league will not have a true center?"

"No! I must regain the glory of the center in this land!"

Africa is a land with so many miracles.

There is often a tribe here with monsters who can jump more than 1 meter.

There are also various track and field monsters.

The physical fitness of the black people here is terrible!

At the same time, it experiences the harshest natural conditions all year round, including wind and sun exposure, and

Olajuwon was born here, and he clearly knows that perhaps he is the best player in African basketball. But he is by no means the most abnormal in physical fitness!

If these guys with abnormal physical fitness had systematic basketball training since childhood, what terrible miracles would they create?

This is the reason why Da Meng is willing to join Kobe's Mamba Academy and go to this barren land on the African continent.

And now, he has found a group of suitable children.

Olajuwon suddenly roared, "Joe! Run! If you don't complete today's task, don't even think about going home!"

There is a teenage black boy on the court. Although he is young, he looks very impressive at first glance and is a good prospect for playing basketball.

He gritted his teeth firmly.

"Run just run!"

"How can playing basketball be more difficult than fighting a lion?

…

"It's Shaq's turn." Barkley sighed. Although he didn't like O'Neal, he also recognized O'Neal's greatness.

Such a great center, a legendary center with 30+ points in many seasons, has not received any decent personal honors in this era.

This is a pity in Buckley's eyes.

Last season O'Neal averaged 30+14+5 per game but did not win the MVP. It can only be said that Kobe's performance of 43+10+10 triple-double per game last season was legendary.

And now, O'Neal finally won the MVP he longed for.

not easy!

A hard-working MVP!

Among the three people with the fiercest competition for MVP, Kobe's statistics and performance last season were better than this year. In addition, the team also has a superstar outside, so it is understandable that he did not win the MVP.

Nash's scoring average did not exceed 20 points per game, and many people believed that he was a system player. Without Kobe and the bombardment system, it is useless. It is understandable that he did not win the MVP.

O'Neal is the most suitable person this year.

He came to Miami from Houston and helped this team climb a level, from 60 wins last year to 68 wins!

Don’t underestimate these 8 wins!

There are only a handful of teams in history that have won 68 games!

This is the Heat's best record in team history!

Most valuable player, well deserved!

The king of centers finally won the MVP crown.

Maybe he will win FMVP this season?

It would be very interesting if this year's finals were an OK matchup.

…

On April 17, 2004, the first round of the playoffs officially started.

The Lakers faced the Jazz in the first round.

Kings vs. Rockets.

Timberwolves vs. Mavericks.

Grizzlies vs. Spurs.

The game between the Lakers and Jazz almost collapsed.

In 4 playoff games, the Lakers averaged 127 points per game in front of the Jazz, a slow-paced defensive team!

You know this is the playoffs!

A team in the playoffs averaging over 100 points per game is considered a high score!

Killing!

Jerry Sloan's expression was very embarrassing after four games.

4:0 The Lakers easily advanced to the next round.

The game between the Kings and Rockets was somewhat unexpected.

Francis and Mobley's double-gun breakthrough was too strong.

The Kings' forward lineup was once unable to do anything to them.

After all, every player in the Kings is a big man over two meters tall.

But in the end, the Rockets' interior defense was still too poor, and Webber averaged a triple-double of 35+14+11 in the series.

Kings 4:2 Rockets.

The confrontation between the Timberwolves and the Mavericks also doesn't have much suspense.

Although this year's Mavericks introduced Antawn Jamison and others, their defensive problems still have no way to be solved.

Marbury and Ray Allen directly tore apart the Mavericks' defense.

Mark Cuban is so angry!

If Laga Bell was here, how could Marbury and Ray Allen play so easily! ?

Nowitzki also had a very difficult time playing under Garnett's defense.

He scored 27+8+3 in the series, which seems to be good data.

But compared to Garnett's normal 24+18+7+3+2, it seems a big difference.

In the end, the Timberwolves swept the Mavericks.

4:0!

The Mad Scientist submitted his resignation after the series.

He knew Mark Cuban had no room for him.

At the same time, he did not build this team well.

If at that time, he inspired Nash to become what the Lakers are now, and at the same time paired him with a top inside tool, maybe the Mavericks would be different?

The Grizzlies' series against the Spurs was extremely exciting.

The Grizzlies' youth group's growth every season is visible to the naked eye.

After Jerry West joined the team's management this season, the tactical system of this youth army began to imitate last year's Lakers.

Carter, with Gasol as the core, played a high pick-and-roll.

Coupled with Payton Lao, Battier's defense, and Raheem's impact in the interior, the combat effectiveness of this team cannot be underestimated!

But the Spurs were also last year's champions.

This season, although the team suffered a lot in the regular season due to the slow lineup system, no one can ignore their strength in the defensive stage of the playoffs.

This series also became the most brutal series in the first round of the Western Conference.

After seven bloody games, in the end, Carter's outstanding performance, against the help of Laga Bell and Duncan, made consecutive three-pointers to kill the game.

At this point, last year's championship Spurs bid farewell to the playoffs.

On the other side of the Eastern Conference, the Heat faced the Cavaliers in the first round.

Pacers vs. Knicks.

Celtics vs. Wizards.

The 76ers faced the Nets.

The one that has attracted the most attention is undoubtedly the Heat's series against the Cavaliers.

The first game of the series was O'Neal's MVP award ceremony.

At the same time, this game is also THE KING JAMES' career playoff debut.

LeBron James looked at O'Neal, who was grinning and happily accepting the MVP trophy, and curled his lips.

"Damn fat man, what are you so proud of? In a few years, this award will be mine."

The series between the Heat and the Cavaliers ended in a sweep.

4:0.

LeBron James averaged 23.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.4 steals, 1.2 blocks and 4.5 turnovers per game.

This performance is already considered great for a rookie!

But now James, facing an aircraft carrier like the Heat, still has no way to bring the team a victory.

Especially facing the joint defense of Pippen and Eddie Jones, James's problem of not shooting was infinitely magnified.

Can break out!

Face Pippen!

Face Eddie Jones!

For a player of this caliber on the best defensive team, James can still easily complete a breakthrough.

But what about after the breakthrough?

After the breakthrough, James was faced with a double-team from three people!

And he distributes the ball to his teammates.

Neither Boozer nor Ricky Davis could hit.

When a player breaks through the distribution style and his teammates are unable to hit shots, then only destruction awaits him.

"James' rookie season is over. He contributed a very good rookie season."

"People often compare James and Kobe, but Kobe won 70 wins in his rookie season and played 7 games against Jordan in the Finals."

"LeBron James is a little bit less interesting."

This is what Scottie Pippen said about James after the series.

James silently took off the hair tie.

Poker face.

Go into the locker room.

Next season, I’m going to blow your minds.

The Pacers easily took away the Knicks 4:1.

Celtics 4:2 Wizards.

The Celtics took the lead by 2 games.

Then in Washington, Arenas scored 47+12 and hit a buzzer-beater against Penny Hardaway.

After this incredible game, the Wizards were full of momentum!

Another game at the Celtics' home court!

But this was the Wizards' last victory of the season.

In G5 Tianwangshan, Arenas and Tracy McGrady competed against each other, both scoring 50+ points in the game, which made countless fans excited.

In G6, Billups and Tracy McGrady teamed up to score 27 points in the third quarter, killing the game.

"Chauncy Billups has repeatedly shown his big heart at critical moments this season!"

"After experiencing the experience of the finals, his performance at critical moments is already outstanding!"

In the game between the 76ers and the Nets, the 76ers won 4:2 in danger.

Odom sprained his knee.

Coupled with Mourning's injury, the 76ers have almost no available insiders.

In the end, Iverson scored the league's highest average of 40.6 points per game in the series, abruptly leading the team into the next round.

In the second round of the Western Conference, the Lakers faced the Grizzlies.

Kings vs. Timberwolves.

"Kobe, this is our first time playing against each other in the playoffs." Vince Carter called Kobe.

The two most popular superstars of Mamba Sports meet in this round of the series.

At the same time, Jerry West encountered his old club in the playoffs in his first year after leaving the Lakers.

The Grizzlies' tactical system is also modeled after the Lakers to a certain extent.

It's just that they don't have the running and gun core of Nash.

But Carter is also gradually transforming into a top offensive initiator. This season, he has averaged 9.1 assists per game.

Averaged 30.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 0.8 blocks, 1.5 steals and 3.1 turnovers per game.

The hit rate is as high as 51.4%, 39.6% and 89.5%.

Carter's efficiency has dropped this season, but his help to the team has actually risen to another level.

Kobe and Carter are almost the two guards with the strongest comprehensive abilities in the league.

Iverson's defense was a little worse.

McGrady has transformed into a small forward.

The match between Kobe and Carter will undoubtedly be exciting.

"I still underestimated this team." Jerry West crossed his arms, sitting in his office in Vancouver, watching the live TV screen in front of him.

At the end of three quarters, the Lakers were 92:71 Grizzlies.

Scored 92 points in three quarters!

You must know that the Grizzlies have three outside defenders like Payton, Carter, and Battier.

Although Gasol is too weak to hold up players like O'Neal, his height and wingspan have always frustrated countless defenders who broke through.

But to no avail.

The Lakers' firepower is too intense.

Kobe, Nash, Anthony, and Yao Ming made 16 three-pointers in three quarters!

It's absolutely terrifying!

West feels that each of these four players can become the cornerstone of the team.

And now the Lakers, four players of this level are gathered together, and they are connected as a whole through the running and gun system!

This is too scary!

Nash adapted too quickly to Payton's defense, which was unacceptable to West.

But think about it, the reason why Nash didn't win the MVP this season may just be because O'Neal is too qualified. The accumulation in the past few years allowed him to finally win the MVP.

Nash is a guard with MVP level strength!

West even saw in Nash the shadow of himself when he was playing.

As for the core here, Carter faced Kobe's defense, and his efficiency barely remained unchanged due to his strength advantage. But output was significantly reduced.

He has absolutely no way to run in and create opportunities for his teammates like he did in the regular season.

Although he can also contribute wonderful dunks and three-pointers, and compete with Kobe. But its influence on the team has significantly declined.

Facing Yao Ming and Ben, Gasol stood still and helped defend, but he was unable to do anything.

"This year's championship belongs to the Lakers."

When the Lakers swept the Grizzlies 4-0 in a thunderous 4-0 victory under the spotlight, Jerry West speculated on the final result of this season.