Chapter 112 - 111: Eyes Only for Kobe

Chapter 112: Chapter 111: Eyes Only for Kobe

After last season, the hatred of Los Angeles residents for Zack had reached an unprecedented level.

But it must be stated: not every Angeleno detests Zack. For example, tonight, Kendall Jenner, merely 11 years old, appeared courtside with her sister Khloé Kardashian. At least before leaving home, when Khloé asked her to wear that child-sized Warriors #30 jersey, Kendall didn’t resist; she was even a little excited. Because it would make her feel very unique.

As it turned out, at the star-studded Staples Center tonight, the attention these rebellious sisters received was even greater than that of many famous Hollywood actresses. During the pre-game warm-up, Zack also noticed the Kardashians’ distinctive outfits. Putting aside their intentions, this was definitely an incredibly touching scene.

So, to commend these sisters who dared to wear his jersey in Staples Center, Zack not only willingly posed for a photo with them before the game but, at Khloé’s strong request, he even signed his name on her chest. The much more precocious Kendall Jenner wanted an identical autograph. But to avoid being taken in for questioning by the FBI after the game, Zack could only sign on her back.

After interacting with his two adorable female fans, Zack was in such a good mood that even his subsequent warm-up shots became much more accurate. Two minutes later, the always thoughtful Andris Biedrins quietly slipped a note into Zack’s training bag. It was a note with Khloé’s contact information. Whether Zack would need it later or not, in Biedrins’s eyes, this was a necessary task for him as Zack’s junior.

Two seasons spent on the bench had already taught Biedrins how to read the room. In the NBA, if you want to move up, you have to understand who the key person is that can help you. Of course, more importantly... you must always be ready to "take their place."

Zack was very satisfied with the ambition Biedrins showed after Brown’s injury. He wouldn’t show favoritism to anyone in this upcoming competition because of his relationship with Brown. Because for the Warriors, who aim to defend their title, Biedrins’s ambition can tell everyone that besides their star player, no one else on this team is irreplaceable. While this might make Zack seem cold-hearted, he had long ago dedicated his sentimental heart to basketball.

Dick Bavetta was set to officiate this highly anticipated Lakers-Warriors showdown. Before the game, Bavetta chatted briefly with Kobe and Zack, explaining his officiating standards for the evening to these two superstars. Kobe had been in the league for years; he knew Bavetta’s implied meaning was that tonight would be a game where both teams would be allowed to use more aggressive defensive strategies. Zack wasn’t as experienced as Kobe, but he immediately turned around and told Ron Artest the good news.

It’s worth noting that during the player introductions, Zack was even more "popular" than Kobe. Amidst the torrent of "F-bombs," Zack was certain that the Lakers fans’ "cheers" for him were definitely far louder than for Kobe. Who was the true King of Los Angeles was clear at this moment!

"I f***ing love this place!" Zack exclaimed excitedly at center court as he led the other four Warriors starters onto the floor.

Next, the jump ball. Pau Gasol, increasingly in sync with Kobe, won the tip for the Lakers, officially kicking off this major battle. Biedrins had an advantage in jump height and quickness, but being too young, he couldn’t have imagined that you could use fakes in a jump ball! Gasol deceived Biedrins with his eyes and seized the opportunity for a quick tip.

This wouldn’t be the only time Biedrins was fooled tonight. Shortly after Kyle Lowry brought the ball over half-court, the Lakers quickly formed a triangle offense on the right side of the court with Kobe, Lamar Odom, and Gasol, immediately attacking the paint guarded by Biedrins. Since O’Neal’s departure, after two seasons of dormancy, Phil Jackson’s complete Triangle Offense had re-emerged this season.

Gasol got an opportunity to post up Biedrins in the low block. The gravity created by the Triangle Offense meant that other Warriors players, including Zack, couldn’t help Biedrins immediately. He had to hold his ground alone for one to two seconds before the Warriors could switch and double-team Gasol with him. The handsome Latvian successfully completed his job. He bought Zack and Artest the time and space to recover simultaneously.

But the moment the Warriors’ formation collectively retreated, Gasol immediately found Odom

Kobe was quite satisfied with the Lakers’ offensive possession, chatting and laughing with Gasol as they transitioned back on defense. The live audience also expressed their satisfaction from this high-quality offense with applause. Unlike the "O’K" era, the "Kobe-Gasol" era Lakers, purely from a game-watching perspective, definitely offered a much better viewing experience than the "O’K" era. Gasol’s basketball IQ, mobility, and playmaking ability meant he could bring more variations to Jackson’s Triangle Offense. Of course, the trade-off was that the "Kobe-Gasol" era Lakers didn’t have that absolute dominance in the low post.

Back on offense for the Warriors. Without Baron Davis, their engine, Zack, who couldn’t help but complain about Davis’s constant bragging every day, suddenly found himself missing the original "Big Daddy."

On assistant coach Brian Shaw’s suggestion, the Lakers also deployed a "one-on-one, four-zone" defense tonight. Odom’s size and mobility meant he was the only player on the Lakers’ roster who could match up with Zack. Compared to last season, the Lakers’ defense was indeed much better this season. Although Gasol’s rim protection couldn’t compare to other top big men, with Odom, Shane Battier, Kobe, and Lowry forming a deadly defensive line on the perimeter, the Lakers could always disrupt their opponents’ inside-out connections and prevent them from impacting their paint. The Christmas Day game, where the Lakers easily defeated the Cavaliers 108-87 on the road, was a classic example. In that game, neither LeBron James nor Shaquille O’Neal could get anything easy in the Lakers’ paint. In fact, if James hadn’t unexpectedly hit five three-pointers from the outside, the Cavaliers likely would have lost even more badly in that Christmas Day game.

None of the Western Conference powerhouses this year were easy opponents. With just one look, Zack fully felt the intensity of this Lakers team. At the top of the key, under Odom’s almost drug-fueled defense, Zack didn’t force the Lakers’ one-on-one, four-zone defense into a 3-2 zone until there were 13 seconds left on the shot clock, after receiving the ball at the free-throw line. With Bavetta’s tacit approval, Odom, who could use a "mad dog" defense on Zack, stuck to Zack like superglue.

Additionally, it must be clarified for Odom: although last season, on that infamous "71-point night," he was indeed the Lakers player responsible for guarding Zack, the truth is, on that career night, "the great Lakers legend center" Chris Mihm was Zack’s favorite target. When his mind was clear and focused, Lamar Odom was definitely a two-way player. And tonight was very likely Odom’s most serious game since entering the league. As for why? You’d probably have to ask Khloé Kardashian, who was currently sitting courtside, wearing a Warriors #30 jersey and flaunting her "pecs."

In Zack’s previous life, Odom was supposed to form an inseparable bond with Khloé two years later at the party celebrating Artest’s joining the Lakers. But tonight, as early as the pre-game warm-up, he had already noticed this unique, beautiful woman with an excellent figure. Especially when he saw her wearing that Warriors jersey, Odom admitted that it was that jersey that made him feel a strange excitement. Because as a backdrop to Zack’s career night, Zack had already inevitably become Odom’s personal demon.

It’s well known that there are many ways for humans to overcome their inner demons. And for Odom, his way of overcoming his demon was to make his female companions wear the Warriors’ #30 jersey during their private time.

On the court, looking at Odom, who was glaring angrily at him, Zack at this moment clearly didn’t know that Odom’s intense focus stemmed precisely from his jealousy. That jealousy of Zack signing on Khloé’s "big white bunnies."

Staples Center. Under Odom’s extremely tough defense, Zack had to switch to full power after a powerful dribble drive. Seeing this, Odom chose to stick tightly to Zack and elbowed him directly in the face. This jealousy-fueled elbow immediately ignited Zack’s temper.

So, Zack practically bulldozed Odom

Courtside, Khloé, loudly cheering for Zack’s brilliant pass with Kendall Jenner, once again drew everyone’s attention. At this moment, regardless of her intentions... as he transitioned back on defense, Zack didn’t forget to reward this female fan with a wink. In response, Khloé sat back on the bench, her hand constantly pressing her chest in blissful satisfaction, reminding the world just how "big" she was. This made Odom, who had already "fallen in love at first sight" with her, even more enraged. Odom immediately made up his mind. He was going to show Khloé what a man was through this game!

"But his ’wink’ just now seemed to be for me," the young Kendall Jenner muttered courtside, looking at her sister, who had indulged in a bit too much theatrics. Hearing this, Khloé ruffled Kendall’s hair and chuckled, "You’re still young; he wouldn’t date you." But I’ll grow up in a few years too—at this moment, Khloé’s "he wouldn’t date you" had already planted a seed in young Kendall Jenner’s heart.

On the court, it was the Lakers’ offensive possession. Zack, who finally caught an opportunity to crush Kobe’s basketball dreams, directly swatted Kobe’s layup out of bounds with a powerful volleyball-style block. "Is that all you’ve got? LeBron’s layups are much tougher than yours," Zack quipped in the Warriors’ paint, turning to the Kobe whose basketball dreams he had just shattered.

This was an insult that immediately broke Kobe’s composure. Although in this life, the large-scale "23 VS 24" hype had not yet begun in the NBA, how could the always competitive Kobe tolerate Zack’s "praise one, step on one" taunt? On the court, after the Lakers inbounded the ball from the baseline, Kobe first elbowed Artest away, then bumped Biedrins aside, and stubbornly finished the possession with a dunk.

However, before he could respond, Zack spoke first: "No wonder they say your Dunk Contest title has no real value. In my opinion, Vince Carter’s dunks are at least ten thousand times better than yours."

Kobe: "..."

How to describe Kobe’s mood at this moment? In short, he was furious.

"Come back and evaluate my dunks when you win a Dunk Contest!"

"Just wait, I’m going to win the Dunk Contest this year."

Would Zack participate in the Dunk Contest? Of course he would. Zack knew very well that although his dunking style was certainly not graceful, his mind was filled with Aaron Gordon’s creative and powerful dunks from the future. And as a player who never goes back on his word, since Zack promised he would participate in the Dunk Contest, he wouldn’t just "show up."

Midway through the first quarter, this intensely physical game, whose intensity far exceeded a regular playoff game, finally reached its official timeout. The scoreboard read 12-11. In the hard-fought exchanges between the two teams, who clearly just wanted to fight but used basketball as an excuse, the score proved that both teams’ shooting percentages were significantly affected.

During the timeout, Kobe wanted to specifically praise Odom’s defense tonight... But who would have thought that his trusted right-hand man was currently only interested in gazing at beautiful women? On the Warriors’ bench, Zack, who was extremely annoyed with Odom, was in complete agreement with Mike Malone.

After the timeout, to break the Lakers’ tight defense, the Warriors proactively changed their lineup: Mike Dunleavy Jr. in, Biedrins out. This meant the Warriors’ on-court lineup became a "one big, four small" configuration consisting of Zack, Artest, Jason Richardson, Dunleavy, and Stephen Jackson.

On the Lakers’ bench, Phil Jackson turned to assistant coach Brian Shaw and asked, "Are they trying to speed up the game?" Shaw shook his head and said, "I think they’re planning to attack our interior."

Shaw was correct. Since the intensity of this game meant Zack likely wouldn’t find his shooting touch for the entire game, Malone and he both believed that in times like these, he had to aggressively attack the paint. A "one big, four small" lineup could fully spread out the court.

As for defense... on the court, it was the Lakers’ offensive possession. Artest was still primarily defending Kobe. However, unlike the previous man-to-man defense, the Warriors also switched to a "one-on-one, four-zone" defense.

On TNT, Charles Barkley quipped about this: "They say ’one-on-one, four-zone’ is a ’kid’s play’... But now, these ’grown-ups’ in the NBA have clearly forgotten how much they looked down on this ’kid’s play’ before."

In certain specific games, the "one-on-one, four-zone" tactic had already fully proven its value. If the Warriors were going with "one big, four small," they would have to rely on Zack in the paint. Therefore, with only Artest able to somewhat contain Kobe, the optimal solution was for the other four players to protect the paint with a zone defense.

At the top of the key, under Gasol’s patient breaking down of the defense, the Lakers found Shane Battier lurking on the baseline through passes from Gasol and Odom. The elite small forward from Duke showed his big heart, calmly sinking the three-pointer. This was the first three-pointer made by either team in the game. To maintain his shooting touch in such intense physicality, Battier truly lived up to his "Batman" nickname.

Next, it was the Warriors’ turn to force their way through the Lakers’ tight defense. The Warriors’ "one big, four small" lineup fully stretched the width of the court. However, after seeing the Warriors’ formation and positioning on the court... on the Lakers’ bench, Jackson, whose expression rarely changed, suddenly looked surprised and said, "They’re running the Triangle Offense too?"

In basketball, there is never an outdated tactic. As long as you have the right players, any tactic can be considered an advanced tactic after some slight modifications. The Warriors’ Triangle Offense was for no other reason than to create opportunities for Zack to post up Odom in the low block. Because only there could Zack’s weight fully exploit its advantage.

Wham!Wham!

On the left low block, the moment he violently bumped Odom aside, Zack immediately turned and, using his wingspan, slammed the basketball through the rim. This low-post move, Zack’s overflowing talent, once again redefined people’s understanding of the game. Because ordinarily, considering Zack’s distance from the hoop after his post-up turn, most big men would choose to finish with a hook shot or a floater. But Zack could just dunk the ball in.

Courtside, Khloé simultaneously praised Zack’s wild, powerful dunk with her continuously shaking "surging waves." But the rebellious Kendall Jenner, who had deliberately pulled up her jersey to expose her navel, was increasingly convinced that Zack’s subsequent wink towards the sideline was definitely for her.

On the court, Kobe and Zack’s bickering continued.

"Your post-up just now was nowhere near as good as Shaq’s back in the day."

"Don’t bring up that useless guy who couldn’t even win a championship after leaving you!"

Friends come and go. At Staples Center, where championship banners flew in the wind, only Shaquille O’Neal could, for a moment, turn Zack and Kobe into inseparable good brothers.

"If you’re so tough, don’t pass, shoot it yourself."

"Then do you dare let Pau Gasol stop that damn screen and go one-on-one with Ron?"

"I don’t need a screen to beat that stand-up comedian."

"Then why do you think I’m Kobe Bryant, that pass-averse idiot?"

Staples Center. As Zack and Kobe argued repeatedly...

At the end of the first quarter, the score was 27-25. In the latter half of the first quarter, Odom, who had given Zack intense pressure due to his jealousy, was definitely the most heartbroken player in the game. Because in a sense, being "cuckolded" by Zack... not only did he have to endure Zack’s wrath on the court, but off the court, he also had to tolerate Khloé constantly showing favor to Zack.

And the most infuriating part was that Zack simply didn’t care about Khloé, who Odom now considered his treasured possession. From beginning to end... tonight, his eyes were only for Kobe!

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