Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Chapter 823 823 523 Hes Back_2

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Overall, Staples Center really nailed it in the Western Conference Finals.

This indirectly highlights the urgency of the SuperSonics’ need for a new arena.

Before the game started, the TV station displayed the starting lineups for both teams.

As expected before the game, Brandon Roy was in the SuperSonics’ starting lineup.

But strangely, Yu Fei was not starting as a small forward.

Tonight, Yu Fei started as a power forward, and Chris Bosh as a center.

Phil Jackson couldn’t immediately see what Tyronn Lue was thinking.

It had been proven in the last game that letting Bosh play against Pau Gasol at center was ineffective.

Bosh wasn’t accustomed to the physicality at the center position, and forcing him there might backfire.

Yet the SuperSonics, as if not learning their lesson, not only had Bosh start at center but also had Yu Fei starting at power forward.

Based on past experiences, only when the Lakers clamped down on Yu Fei with high-frequency double-teams, did the SuperSonics place Yu Fei at power forward to shorten his offensive radius.

Now, with the SuperSonics positioning Yu Fei at power forward from the start, what did that imply? Were they intending to go physical right from the start?

“Brandon Roy, Kevin Durant, Alonzo Gee, Frye, Chris Bosh…” experts in defense like Jeff Van Gundy could already see what the SuperSonics’ game focus was. “The SuperSonics’ starting five possess height, speed, physical fitness, and defensive flexibility. KD, Frye, and Chris even have the ability to guard multiple positions on defense. I think they still plan to use defense to deal with the Lakers.”

At the following tip-off, Pau Gasol won the jump ball.

James suddenly increased the tempo, aiming to burst through to the basket.

However, Alonzo Gee stood boldly in front, acting like a speed bump; while he couldn’t stop James, he successfully slowed his charge.

Nonetheless, James demonstrated an unusual determination tonight, insistent on attacking the basket even when blocked.

With no other choice, Gee opted to foul.

James went to the free-throw line.

James made both free throws, giving the Lakers an excellent start.

Then, it was Roy’s turn to be tested.

James, also registered as a point guard, took him on in full-court defense.

“How much do you dislike Frye?” Roy suddenly said.

James didn’t respond.

“Believe me, I dislike him just as much as you do.” Just as James was about to step up and pressurize, Yu Fei set a screen next to him.

Antoine Jamison followed out, but the defense of this Lakers’ starter, who was virtually invisible in the Western Conference Finals, was an obvious flaw.

Roy decisively took advantage of Jamison’s position, using changes in rhythm to shake off his opponent. Like a silver snake, he slid into the paint, and with a layup, he scored over Pau Gasol’s help defense, hitting nothing but net.

At 198 centimeters tall, Roy’s ambidexterity made him easily switch between the number one and two positions; he was probably the backcourt swingman with the best fundamentals that Yu Fei had ever seen.

Sometimes Yu Fei couldn’t understand how someone so technically flawless, who didn’t over-rely on his body and rarely went full speed, ensuring steady play, could be so injury-prone.

In contrast, Kobe received the ball low, then dramatically twisted and turned for a fadeaway jump shot.

“Swish!”

That was an extreme abuse of the body.

Yet, it was players like Kobe who didn’t know how to spare their bodies that managed to stay away from injuries.

How did that make any sense?

Durant brought the ball past the half-court for Roy.

Because Roy hadn’t slacked off in private training but hadn’t played for half a year, his physical condition was certainly in question. If guarded tightly by the opponent for long stretches, his stamina might not last until halftime.

Reaching the frontcourt, Durant was about to pass the ball back to Roy when he suddenly saw Yu Fei breaking away from Jamison’s defense heading for the basket.

Without a second thought, Durant lobbed an alley-oop pass to Yu Fei from the perimeter.

Jamison’s defensive lapse resulted in Yu Fei’s first basket of the night.

“A beautiful play!” Mike Breen said, “Frye completes 2 out of 50 tonight.”

The Lakers were still adjusting to a SuperSonics team that included Roy, playing relatively simple and not yet experiencing the full strength of switching defense.

Defensively, the Lakers had James match up with Roy, but the SuperSonics wouldn’t arrange it that way; they’d have Alonzo Gee in front of James, as Roy was a point of protection and would typically be assigned to guard Hamilton.

Since the start of the game, the Lakers had been relying on Kobe and James to score.

Seeing a rookie like Gee defending him again, James didn’t hesitate; he charged like a tank heading inward.

A rookie lacking experience like Gee, if he made any substantial defensive move, wouldn’t get a pass from the referees.

Soon, James made a shooting motion at the sound of the whistle.

That was Gee’s second foul.

Gee spread his arms in confusion, believing his action wasn’t excessive.

But the referees have the final say on whether an action is excessive or not.

Coach Lu had no objections.

Gee was just a decoy starter, mostly there to wear down the opponent, and even if he picked up six fouls by halftime, it didn’t matter.

However, the question remained, did the referees’ calls on Gee indicate the overall officiating standard for the night?

This was yet to be seen, as James didn’t maintain his earlier touch and again went to the free-throw line, making one of two.

The missed second free throw, however, led to a swift defensive counterattack by the SuperSonics.

Yu Fei grabbed the rebound and passed it to Roy.

Roy, who had been taking it slow since the start of the game, suddenly accelerated, as if to show that when necessary, he could be fast, too.

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