Chapter 113 - 112: Two Bottles of Poison!

Chapter 113: Chapter 112: Two Bottles of Poison!

Second Quarter Battle: Kobe vs. Zack

After a brief rest, Zack and Kobe, back on the court for the second quarter, each initiated a low-post game in their respective painted areas. This season, Kobe, who had formed a "Kobe and Gasol" bond with Pau Gasol, saw his scoring average inevitably drop to 27.8 points due to fewer shot attempts. However, his true shooting percentage increased to a career-high 58%. By the standards of the later small-ball era, Kobe’s efficiency would certainly not be considered high. But compared to later stars, Kobe’s astonishing production and the critical damage he inflicted when his shot was falling could only be described as abnormal. Even in his retirement game, Kobe could still hoist up 50 shots. At that time, was it the 60 points Kobe scored for the Lakers that was so shocking? No. It was his ability to shoot at will, even after multiple major injuries. This ability meant that Kobe could step up at any time on the court to "flip a coin" for the Lakers.

Lakers’ Offensive Possession

At the Staples Center, it was the Lakers’ offensive possession. By positioning themselves to draw Zack away from the paint, Kobe got an opportunity to post up Artest. Unlike the stereotypical "four straight misses turning into three air balls," peak Kobe had a close to 60% success rate on post-ups. [① This data comes from Kobe’s retirement game in the future and the league’s recorded turnaround jump shot percentages since 2001, as shown in the figure]. Zack knew very well that even Artest would struggle to limit Kobe once he got into the low post. Because at this stage, Kobe’s post-up ability far surpassed that of other perimeter players. Gasol’s arrival further amplified this strength of Kobe’s. Since Gasol was a big man who could space the floor and facilitate from the high post, the Lakers could always create low-post opportunities for Kobe through the triangle offense.

Of course, high-frequency post-ups, even with Kobe’s legendary core strength, wouldn’t hold up. Otherwise, Kobe wouldn’t have had to resort to those "unreasonable" shots that brought down his overall field goal percentage. Therefore, upon noticing Kobe preparing to engage him in this low-post game, Zack didn’t hesitate to accept the challenge.

Kobe’s Move, Zack’s Response

In the low post, Kobe smoothly used his footwork to pump-fake Artest and hit a turnaround jump shot. As he retreated on defense, Kobe deliberately flashed a "1" to Zack, indicating he was now up 1-0. Seeing this, Zack immediately unleashed his anger at Kobe entirely on Lamar Odom. This was the fury Odom had to bear for Kobe. After all, the Lakers couldn’t possibly use Kobe to guard Zack in the low post. If the Lakers actually used Kobe to guard Zack, that wouldn’t be called brave; it would only be called a death wish. Just as Zack couldn’t possibly guard Kobe. Because then, Zack, standing at 211 cm (6’11") with shoes and weighing 124 kg (273 lbs), would unnecessarily give Kobe a small-on-big mismatch opportunity.

In the Lakers’ paint, facing Zack’s wild and unreasonable offense, Odom, determined to fight for Khloé Kardashian tonight, gave it his all. Then... he was shoved aside by Zack and, from the best viewing angle, fully enjoyed Zack’s next astonishing tomahawk dunk. After the basket, Zack specifically flashed a "2" to Kobe. In that moment, Kobe rushed over, exasperated, and said, "Why ’2’?" Hearing this, Zack calmly replied, "Because I finished with a dunk." Kobe retorted anxiously, "That’s not fair! A dunk is two points, just like a shot!" Zack unhurriedly said, "Alright, since you put it that way, I don’t mind letting you have it. 1-1 it is."

Kobe: "..."

What do you mean you’re letting me have it?

Mental Warfare and Low-Post Dominance

Compared to his rookie season, Zack’s ability to mess with people’s minds had significantly improved. On the court, after Kobe changed his score against Zack to 2-1, it was the Warriors’ offensive possession again. Only this time, Gasol and Odom double-teamed Zack in the low post. This was a double-team that greatly annoyed Zack. Although he ultimately assisted Biedrins for a basket... as he retreated on defense, Zack relentlessly went to Kobe to argue, "You guys shamelessly used a double-team on me; this shot has to count as my make." The next second, Kobe smiled and said, "Alright, since you put it that way, I don’t mind letting you have it. 2-2 it is."

Zack: "..."

Do I need you to let me have it?

Although Zack wasn’t shameless enough to call himself a post-up master like Hakeem Olajuwon or a turnaround fadeaway master like Michael Jordan, he had absolute confidence in winning this low-post game. This confidence stemmed from the mismatch advantage he created against Odom in the low post. If Odom could still use his mobility and desperate defense to prevent Zack from creating a mismatch on the perimeter, then in the low post... no matter how much Odom wanted to improve, he could only take a beating.

And Zack was by no means just bullying Odom with brute force. For instance, in the possession where Zack successfully changed the score against Kobe to 3-2 (Zack leading), in the low post, after faking Odom’s center of gravity with a shoulder feint, Zack quickly spun around and, with an elegant fadeaway that even Kobe couldn’t fault, beautifully sent the basketball into the hoop.

Shift in Game Dynamics

This low-post game ended here. Because next, as both sides gradually adapted to each other’s offense, both Kobe and Zack would be double-teamed the moment they received the ball. Moreover, the outside shooting of both teams, which subsequently found its rhythm, indirectly changed the course of the game. The Warriors’ seemingly crazy average of twenty-eight three-point attempts per game on their championship run last season had profoundly impacted this era. Even Gregg Popovich, who believed Zack should shoot fewer threes, was scouring the world for shooters last summer.

Perhaps, in games with frequent physical confrontations like tonight’s... whether three-pointers go in ultimately comes down to fate. But without the offensive space provided by three-pointers, both teams on the court would inevitably become more and more fatigued, and their shooting would get worse and worse.

Mid-to-Late Second Quarter: Outside Shooting and Role Players

Entering the mid-to-late second quarter, Shane Battier remained hot, hitting threes from the top of the arc and the left corner for the Lakers. As for Richard Jefferson, whom Zack had high hopes for, he perfectly showed the other side of his "streaky" nature. Zack, unfortunately, drew the "joker" card with Jefferson, but thankfully, he had Mike Dunleavy Jr., his instant remedy. Last summer, Dunleavy, who had put a lot of effort into his three-point shooting, further optimized his shooting release with the help of a shooting coach named Bruce Fraser. Fraser primarily refined Dunleavy’s process of bringing the ball up after a catch and his preparation before receiving the ball. These were two very subtle details. However, it was precisely these two subtle details that allowed Dunleavy to evolve into the Warriors’ undisputed chief shooter this season.

On the court, during the Warriors’ offensive possession, Dunleavy, who was always ready to squat and load, used his increasingly unique running posture to screen off Artest and Jefferson, respectively, before wrapping around to the right side of the court. Then, stepping into the catch while simultaneously adjusting his center of gravity, Dunleavy immediately shot the ball into the Lakers’ hoop with an extremely quick release. As the Warriors’ most consistent perimeter scoring threat this season, Dunleavy, with a three-point shooting percentage as high as 42.4%, had already embarked on a path completely different from his previous life. Although in this highly centralized Warriors team, Dunleavy’s ball-handling ability would inevitably continuously regress, focusing all his talent on off-ball ability would, on the contrary, give the Warriors’ opponents a huge headache. Zack dared not speculate on what changes this evolution Dunleavy was undergoing would bring him. But one thing Zack could be certain of: the current Dunleavy had become a valuable asset for this Warriors team.

Zack vs. Gasol

In the final moments of the second quarter, the Lakers’ offensive core shifted to Gasol. Gasol’s arrival provided the Lakers with a stable second scoring option, significantly reducing Kobe’s burden. Biedrins, who had previously made Gasol look like a background prop, reappeared late in the second quarter and transformed into a Barbie doll for Gasol to toy with. Biedrins’ strengths were his rebounding ability and, as he matured and activated his talent, his positive rim protection for his team. But facing a low-post footwork master like Gasol, Biedrins was like an innocent maiden, constantly falling for Gasol’s tricks, even knowing that Gasol was a scoundrel deceiving her.

Seeing this, to prevent Biedrins from having a mental breakdown due to Gasol, Zack had to take on the heavy responsibility himself, personally guarding this greatest legendary big man in Spanish basketball history.

At the Staples Center, in the Lakers’ first offensive possession after the Warriors switched their defense, Zack forced Gasol’s turnaround shot to bounce off the rim with an intense contest that even Artest would call professional. Before Gasol "hardened" after losing that Finals series, he often preferred to avoid high-intensity physical confrontations from opponents. And this was exactly what Zack wanted. Because it allowed Zack, who was already protected by star calls, to constantly impose his physicality on Gasol. In the final moments of the second quarter, Gasol faced Zack twice in the low post, and both times resulted in glorious achievements for Zack.

On TNT, Barkley sharply commented, "Hey, Pau, what are you so afraid of? Why are you so unable to move your legs in front of the Messiah, as if you’re wearing a skirt?"

Halftime and Tactical Discussion

Halftime score: 55-48.

Upon returning to the locker room, Biedrins asked Artest, "Why can the Messiah easily guard that Spaniard?" Hearing this, Artest patted Biedrins’ shoulder and earnestly said, "Don’t try to learn that; it’s a defensive method you can’t pick up. Trust me, if you try to guard that Spaniard the same way, you’ll only send him to the free-throw line."

Artest knew very well why Zack could make Gasol so soft in front of him. It was purely because Zack simply didn’t need to care about Gasol’s pump fakes. You want to use footwork to deceive me? Good, then I’ll give you an elbow first. Oh, you want to use a shoulder fake to deceive my center of gravity? Good, then I’ll give you another elbow. In short, with one elbow after another, no matter how exquisite Gasol’s offensive skills were, they would ultimately deform due to disrupted movements, turning into offensive rebounds for the Warriors. This kind of defensive approach, aimed at disrupting the opponent’s center of gravity, without a certain level of experience and status, would only backfire if rashly attempted.

"Who taught you these defensive techniques?" Leaving Biedrins standing there, Artest actively approached Zack and asked.

"Tim Duncan taught me how to put pressure on opposing bigs by testing the defensive limits. Kevin Garnett taught me how to use that pressure to disrupt the opponent’s center of gravity." Zack answered Artest’s question.

The next second, Artest sighed, "No wonder people always say the NBA is a place that only teaches you to get worse." Although Artest had already fully felt Zack was learning to be "worse" when evaluating Zack’s one-on-one defense earlier, Zack tonight still opened Artest’s eyes. Unlike Zack’s previous defenses, which merely avoided fouls due to star calls, tonight Zack was clearly using his star calls and the referees’ tacitly approved defensive limits to actively disrupt Gasol’s offense. One passive, one active. Artest knew very well that Zack’s unwillingness to simply be a stat-padder on defense would inevitably lead him to become a true interior defensive master in the future.

Third Quarter: Zack’s Dominance and Kobe’s Burden

After halftime, the Warriors still had Zack primarily guard Gasol. Unlike Kobe, who had the "right to guess heads or tails" even against Artest, Gasol, who had consistently chosen to avoid contact on offense, lost his previous flair in several consecutive possessions. At the Staples Center, some Lakers fans began to show dissatisfaction with Gasol. On the sidelines, Lakers "mascot" Jack Nicholson, after Gasol passed up an open low-post opportunity, said with a puzzled expression, "Hey, Pau... you can’t always pass the ball."

Gasol, who had only been traded to the Lakers this summer, clearly underestimated what it meant for the Lakers to defeat these Warriors at home. If it were an ordinary regular season game, Gasol avoiding contact would be fine. After all, even by avoiding contact, Gasol could still help the Lakers with his passing and mid-range shooting. But in a game that had been in "war mode" since the start, where was the space for Gasol to avoid contact?

On the court, during the Warriors’ offensive possession, Zack forcefully pushed Odom aside and dunked the ball over Gasol, who had rotated for help defense. The entire arena instantly erupted with Zack’s incredibly pleasing "cheers." Then, adopting a regal stance similar to Eric Cantona, overlooking the entire court, Zack wished he could play at the Staples Center every night. Without a doubt, every conquest of Los Angeles brought Zack a different kind of satisfaction. Especially the Lakers’ unyielding attitude, which made Zack want to mentally crush them again and again. He relished the Lakers fans’ exasperation. He savored the thrill of Kobe’s desire to devour him alive. The more the Lakers resisted, the more excited Zack became, to the point of being uncontrollable.

As he retreated on defense, looking at Monta Ellis, who was unable to play for the Lakers due to an ankle sprain on the sidelines, Zack didn’t forget to remind the Kobe fan: "Remember to recover well, so next time you can lose with your idol." Hearing this, Ellis was furious. And as the star player of this Lakers team, Kobe absolutely could not tolerate Zack’s ugly face. However, in this high-intensity game, even Kobe could not guarantee his shooting touch.

On the Lakers’ bench, Phil Jackson looked worried and said, "If only we had a center who could provide low-post defense." Jackson knew very well that Zack’s unsolvable nature lay in the fact that he was a player with two bottles of poison. One bottle was named "perimeter finesse." One bottle was named "interior domination." The SuperSonics earlier, although they successfully stopped Zack’s interior domination through their paint advantage, still had to swallow the other bottle of poison named "perimeter finesse." And tonight, thanks to the officiating limits tacitly approved by Bavieta and Odom’s desperate defense, the Lakers were the exact opposite. They stopped Zack’s perimeter finesse but could not limit Zack’s interior domination. And most fatally, in turn, Zack also bullied Gasol on defense, forcing Gasol to flee the paint.

The Toll on Kobe and Zack’s Efficiency

Third quarter, Lakers’ offensive possession. A rapidly breathing Kobe scored two points for the Lakers with an unreasonable turnaround fadeaway. But this was not a good possession. During Gasol’s "power outage," Kobe had taken on too much of the offensive burden. Remember why Kobe couldn’t constantly post up on the court? Because Kobe’s legendary core strength couldn’t withstand such high-frequency post-ups. Especially in a game like tonight where Kobe had to maintain his scoring output. Throughout the entire third quarter, unlike the exhausted Kobe, Zack only attempted 3 shots.

On the court, as Richard Jefferson switched from the "joker card" to the "ace card," Zack immediately utilized the pressure he had previously exerted on the Lakers’ inside and outside to quickly switch into "commander" mode. Artest, who had developed an increasing默契 with Zack, proactively took on the necessary ball-handling offensive possessions. The short-handed Warriors did not give the Lakers a chance to catch up in the third quarter. At the end of three quarters, it was 78-71. They were still leading the Lakers by 7 points on the scoreboard.

Fourth Quarter: Gasol’s Respite and Zack’s Return

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, while Zack rested, Jackson quickly arranged for Gasol to find some confidence on the court. This was a suggestion from Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw. After all, constantly getting beaten on the court... if this continued, Zack would eventually become Gasol’s personal demon.

Staples Center. This successful "off-peak" outing finally made Gasol feel some warmth against Biedrins. Those were three magnificent low-post moves. Although it only added 6 points to the Lakers’ score on paper, it made Gasol feel that there was indeed true kindness in the world. While Zack was resting, the Warriors’ offense was primarily sustained by Dunleavy. Battier, the "Batman," and Dunleavy, the "Joker," jointly delivered a blockbuster annual drama for the fans: he runs, he chases, he can’t escape.

On the court, during the Warriors’ offensive possession. The moment Dunleavy successfully wrapped around to the perimeter to receive the ball, he was filled with tears, regret, and rage. Then, Dunleavy hit a three-pointer, personally ending the painful farce for Battier. Although Dunleavy’s off-ball threat was greatly reduced to allow Zack to rest, the Lakers’ other three bench players also couldn’t switch defenders with Battier as effectively as the starters. Tonight, due to the absence of Ellis, the Lakers’ second unit offense was clearly significantly impacted. After all, this little fan of Kobe was a hidden "star" in this Lakers lineup.

On the sidelines, after Lakers backup forward Bonzi Wells cut the lead to just 4 points with a beautiful pass from Gasol, Zack returned to the court. Having conserved his energy in the third quarter, Zack immediately went to work in the low post, easily scoring over Wells, who was similar in height to Kobe. Seeing this, on the Lakers’ bench, Jackson immediately turned his gaze to Odom, who was still fixated on Khloé. However, as the game reached the fourth quarter, even Odom, who was desperately trying to prove himself tonight, inevitably saw his defensive quality decline. And this also gave Zack an opportunity for perimeter finesse.

Zack’s Showmanship and Lakers’ Despair

Warriors’ offensive possession. Using a drag step to fake Odom’s center of gravity, Zack quickly gathered the ball, then jumped straight up and fired a pull-up jumper. Swish!

Odom, who had poured his heart and soul into the game, then witnessed a scene that pierced his heart. Khloé Kardashian, wearing a Warriors #30 jersey, wildly shaking her ample chest, was screaming for Zack and blowing him kisses.

About two minutes later, during a dead ball, the Lakers subbed Kobe back into the game. In crunch time, Kobe, who had sat out half a quarter, first hit two incredible "prayer shots," then found Odom with a brilliant behind-the-back pass in the next offensive possession. That was a pass that could have potentially changed the course of the game. And the moment Odom received the ball, he had ample time to adjust. But at the most crucial moment... Odom actually took a full two seconds to adjust, like Kwame Brown. No one knew what Odom was thinking at the time. But amidst Khloé Kardashian’s frantic screams from the sidelines, Zack, who arrived in hot pursuit, made a soul-crushing mid-air block, successfully halting the Lakers’ comeback!

Then, Zack immediately initiated a fast break. On the perimeter, Richard Jefferson hit a fast-break three. This transition offense extended the Warriors’ lead to 5 points. And this 5-point lead became the unbridgeable chasm that the Lakers could not overcome until the final buzzer sounded.

Final Score and Post-Game Remarks

Final score: 102-97.

In the entire game, Zack, who tallied 37 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists, 5 blocks, and 2 steals for the Warriors, once again, after the game, gave his blessings to the entire City of Angels with his signature move: "Good night, Los Angeles."

In response, the seething Los Angeles fans even boosted Zack’s jersey sales in the following days. Some Lakers fans bought Zack’s jersey just to burn it to vent their anger. But other Lakers fans clearly had ulterior motives...

In the game, Kobe, who scored 34 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals for the Lakers, now had three unsettled scores with Zack after this game. However, in an interview, Kobe did not blame the loss on Odom’s bizarre "power outage" in the fourth quarter or Gasol, who was personally labeled a "softie" by Zack. He simply said, "We’ll win next time."

You’ll win next time?

Press Conference

At the press conference, regarding Kobe’s post-game statement, Zack disagreed: "Next time, it will only be us who win."

A reporter at the scene followed up, "You always play exceptionally well whenever you visit Los Angeles. Can you share your secret with us?"

Zack smiled and replied, "The hospitality of the people of Los Angeles makes every game I play here feel like a home game. I’d like to use a quote from ’D-Wade’ to describe how I feel playing at the Staples Center..."

The next second, as Zack uttered the words, "This Is My House," several overly emotional local Los Angeles reporters were escorted out of the press conference by security personnel.

Then, a reporter asked, "It’s rumored that you intend to participate in this year’s Las Vegas All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest. Is that true?"

Zack nodded and said, "I do plan to participate in this year’s Dunk Contest, but..."

"But what?"

"If possible, I hope you can help me contact a few more dunking masters to participate."

"Are you hoping to make the Dunk Contest more exciting?"

"No, I just hope more masters come to compete for the runner-up position."

"..."

"Author needs votes to survive. Send help (and motivation) 🆘

belamy20 only for 5$