Carrying an old science teacher with him

Chapter 70 Clash of Wills

Although somewhat puzzled by Wang Kai's "bet," Kobe intended to teach this arrogant rookie a lesson.

Kobe's current average score is 33.8 points, still behind Iverson and second in the scoring list, but no team in the league will underestimate Kobe's scoring ability.

After Phil Jackson returned to coach the Lakers, he reached a certain level of "harmony" with Kobe. He would no longer demand that Kobe play more "team-oriented" in games, and at the same time, Kobe would also appropriately control his desire to take shots.

However, Kobe still has the competitive desire to prove that he is no worse than that "old gambler". He is not someone who easily admits defeat, nor is he someone who easily gives up.

After the game started, the Lakers won the jump ball, and even if Kwame Brown played poorly, his physique was still there.

In terms of physical attributes alone, Kwame Brown, even if he wasn't a number one draft pick, was definitely among the top centers in the league. It's just that his personality flaws were too serious, and he encountered two "freaks" in a row.

The Lakers attacked first, but Kobe didn't rush to score. He went to the weak side with Jason Richardson's defense after the game started.

Kwame Brown used his weight and strength advantage to establish position in the paint. Biedrins was too young and lacked defensive experience, so he was firmly held behind him by Kwame Brown.

Lakers point guard Smush Parker lobs the ball into the paint.

Kwame Brown attempted a back-to-the-basket move against Biedrins, but his footwork appeared hesitant.

Kobe, playing on the weak side, couldn't help but shake his head. He often used his back-to-the-basket technique to "train" Kwame Brown in training, but now it seems that the other player hasn't learned any footwork at all.

The Warriors double-teamed Kwame Brown, but Brown promptly passed the ball to Chris Mihm on the perimeter.

Chris Mihm received the ball and scored two points with a mid-range jumper.

The Warriors quickly inbounded the ball from the baseline, attempting to launch a fast break before the Lakers could establish a foothold. However, the Lakers were well-prepared for the Warriors' fast break tactics, and the entire team quickly returned to defense.

Baron Davis dribbled the ball up the court, and seeing no opportunity for a fast break, he directly drove hard against Smush Parker.

Parker could keep up with Byron Davis in speed, but he lacked strength and was easily overtaken by Byron's simple turn.

Facing Kwame Brown under the basket, Baron Davis attempted a powerful dunk, but Kwame Brown jumped to block it, though he failed to reach the ball.

The referee blew the whistle; Kwame Brown's defensive action was a foul.

After the game started, the highly anticipated duel between Wang Kai and Kobe did not immediately take place, as both players played relatively relaxed.

Baron Davis had a slow start, making only one of two free throws.

In the following games, the Lakers consistently tried to exploit the Warriors' interior defense. Phil Jackson aimed to use Kwame Brown's physical advantages to break down the Warriors' interior, a common tactic employed by many teams in the league against the current Warriors.

However, Kwame Brown played hesitantly, his movements were always disjointed, and he did not show the level and strength he should have.

It wasn't until more than four minutes into the game that Kobe Bryant broke through on offense, drew a foul from Jason Richardson, and scored two points from the free throw line.

Wang Kai hit a three-pointer while facing Chris Mihm's defense in a previous offensive play.

During the defensive play, Wang Kai raised an index finger to Kobe, indicating that he had already made a three-pointer.

The Lakers had a poor start, with Kwame Brown's lackluster performance plunging Kobe Bryant on the court, while Phil Jackson on the sidelines seemed unmoved.

The Warriors continued their three-point shooting strategy from the start, with Wang Kai hitting a three-pointer, and Jason Richardson and Baron Davis also contributing three-pointers.

Less than five minutes into the game, the Lakers trailed the Warriors by five points, 8-13.

Kobe finally decided not to wait any longer and went straight to Smush Parker for the ball after he got to the frontcourt.

On the Warriors' bench, Fisher couldn't help but feel a little "jealous" when he saw Smush Parker obediently pass the ball to Kobe.

After receiving the ball, Kobe faced Jason Richardson's defense. He took a probing step and then dribbled directly to break through. When Jason tried to block Kobe's path, Kobe pulled the ball back and immediately dribbled with his left hand and turned.

Kobe's movements were fluid and artistic, almost completely bewildering Jason Richardson.

Wang Kai immediately abandoned his defense against Chris Mihm and double-teamed Kobe, but before Wang Kai could get into position, Kobe had already pulled up for a jump shot and made it.

Although it was the Warriors' home arena, there were still some neutral fans and Lakers fans cheering for Kobe's spectacular moves.

During the Warriors' offense, Wang Kai repeatedly used his teammates' screens to make off-ball runs and then received the ball outside the three-point line. However, before he could even shoot, Kobe Bryant, who was on help defense, immediately blocked Wang Kai's position.

Kobe's positioning was extremely aggressive, making it almost impossible for Wang Kai to continue making any moves.

Facing a defense like Kobe's, an average rookie would probably have panicked long ago, but Wang Kai is not an average rookie; he's from the "second class."

Wang Kai dribbled behind his back, his footwork was very clear, and his continuous dribbling and footwork were very well combined, easily shaking off Kobe's defense.

Wang Kai, dribbling the ball, faced Kobe head-on, and after a series of crossover dribbles, he broke through the defense.

Kobe's footwork was faster and more ruthless. He not only stayed close to Wang Kai to prevent him from gaining speed, but also subtly blocked Wang Kai's power-generating foot with his own foot.

This kind of move is not something that current rookies can easily master. It requires players to have a precise grasp of the referee's ruling standards, and at the same time, to ensure that their movements do not deviate from the norm during intense competition.

Having faced off against various stars from the previous generation, Kobe's defense was actually more consistent than his offense.

Just when everyone thought Kobe would use his strong pressure to force Wang Kai into a mistake, or even steal the ball from Wang Kai's dribble, Wang Kai, who seemed to be breaking through, immediately gathered the ball and, without any hesitation, jumped up and shot a three-pointer from a position nearly a meter outside the three-point line.

The basketball swished precisely into the net, and Old Nelson on the sidelines immediately applauded. This was exactly what he hoped Wang Kai would do on the court: "keep it simple." Since he had such excellent shooting ability, he shouldn't play so complicatedly. He should take the shot decisively when he had the chance, even if he missed, it was better than wasting time.

As Wang Kai retreated on defense, he held up two fingers to Kobe, who had already made two three-pointers.

Kobe's expression remained unchanged. He was no longer the hotheaded young man of the late 90s who would get completely enraged if easily provoked. However, Kobe planned to give his all in the upcoming game because the rookie was even better than he had imagined and was a worthy opponent.