Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Chapter 787 787 512 Need Time_4

?Chapter 787: Chapter 512 Need Time_4 Chapter 787: Chapter 512 Need Time_4 It seemed both sides were scoring, but the Lakers were more efficient, and by the end of the quarter, their lead had settled at 8 points.

The first half ended.

In the second half, Yu Fei took over once again, scoring and assisting to narrow the gap to 4 points.

But with their own shooters going cold, Durant being locked down, and an overall poor free throw percentage, their scoring efficiency was just too low.

Yu Fei’s momentum from consecutive individual scoring runs in the first half didn’t continue, and instead, the Lakers, fueled by Kobe’s explosive state, spread to the shooters, allowing James’s one-star, four-shoot system to fully come into play.

Kobe might have been the brightest star tonight, because offense is the most important part of a basketball game.

And Kobe scored the game-high 44 points tonight.

Following him was James with 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 12 assists.

It could be said that James’s passing was like Kobe’s engine.

But in Los Angeles, James’s versatility was inevitably overshadowed by Kobe.

The only person who kept pace with Kobe was Yu Fei, who from the second quarter, played until being benched with 15 seconds left before the end of the game due to the gap being widened to 9 points.

Yu Fei fought until the last moment, scoring 40 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and doling out 11 assists, but tonight’s defeat was inevitable.

119 to 112
The home-standing Lakers defeated the Supersonics, evening the series at 1 to 1.

Post-game interview
“That’s why they are the first in the league, why they can set the best record. They have many excellent players, each capable of delivering key performances,” — Tyronn Lue discussed the strength of the Lakers.

“Don’t blame KD, you can’t blame him for not having a monster game like Frye. He’s only 22, it’s not fair to him,” — Tyronn Lue talked about Kevin Durant’s subdued performance in Game 2.

“When we become a collective, no team can beat us,” Phil Jackson looked at the series going forward, “I don’t care about Seattle, I only focus on ourselves.”

Kobe Bryant received all the love.

With one outstanding game, he proved he was the master of the City of Angels.

Countless media wanted to interview him, asking him how it felt to score 44 points in front of Yu Fei.

This was the strongest feeling people had in a long time that the “era of Frye” was nearing its end.

If the Lakers defeat the Supersonics, it would be the beginning of the Kobe era.

So, everyone had the look of interviewing a new god.

Kobe coldly retorted, “My work isn’t done yet, there’s the Western Conference Finals after this, and the Finals, I’m not thinking about these things right now.”

Soon, James arrived.

He was always the last one to be interviewed.

In his life, there was only one dessert he couldn’t refuse, and that was the sweetness of defeating Yu Fei, for which he was willing to contract diabetes.

Although Kobe was the best player in the game tonight, he believed that the discerning could see his role.

Without his help, Kobe couldn’t have won this matchup.

He won tonight, and he will win in the future, as the era called “Frye” is turning the page, so what awaits him?

“LeBron, this is the second time in your career you’ve defeated Frye, how do you feel?”

There were many ways to ask the question, but the reporter chose the one James liked least.

His good mood dissipated a bit.

“There will be many more times.” James tried to show confidence in the future, but his words came across as arrogant, “You better get used to it.”

“Kobe is the best player in the game tonight, what do you have to say about that?”

“I’ve always known he’s a great player as long as he wants to…”

“After the slump of the first game, you got rid of the bad state tonight, do you think Kobe helped you in this regard?”

“Of course…”

“How did Kobe help you find your rhythm?”

“…”

Kobe, Kobe, always Kobe, in Los Angeles, Kobe seems to be the only thing that matters.

James knew this well, but what he resented was that the media more and more frequently treated him as Kobe’s sidekick. Was the term misused? Strictly speaking, no. He was Kobe’s sidekick, just as Kobe was his. But the media never said Kobe was his sidekick.

He didn’t understand why the same victory granted Kobe everything he had ever dreamed of, while his life, image, and reputation remained unchanged?

It was they who together defeated Yu Fei tonight, so why was the public perception “Kobe defeated Yu Fei”?

Why? What was the problem?

Along with the doubts, the seeds of jealousy and hatred were also germinating.

But before these seeds could sprout and significantly affect his emotions, the most that James was left with was doubt.

He had yet to fully understand the true nature of the world, nor had he achieved enough success to reflect back on the impact of “The Decision.”

All this would take time.