LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 375: 240
Fisher? This Triangle Offense master will replace Payton in the Lakers' starting lineup in the second half.
Whether the legend is true or whether the meeting actually existed, the Lakers managed to hold their own against the Bucks in the third quarter, scoring 22 to 21.
It was the first time they won a quarter in the Finals since it began.
Even if it was by just 1 point, even if it only reduced the deficit to 15 points, it was invigorating.
The Lakers' road to a three-peat wasn't without peril, such as the seventh game of the 2000 Western Finals and the sixth game of the 2002 Western Finals, where they ultimately proved to be the better team.
However, tonight seemed different.
In 2000, they had the united OK; back then, Kobe could still outmaneuver Scottie Pippen and deliver one of the greatest alley-oops in playoff history to Shaquille O'Neal.
In 2002, they had the referees' favor, but tonight, even on home court, their free throw attempts fell behind the Bucks, and the unity of OK in the third quarter was like a dying patient's last flash of health, brief, reminding people of their past glory, and then...
Kobe Bryant was determined to carry the role he had acquired in Eagle County to the end.
What role was that?
A rapist, a demon, a villain, a person who creates chaos within the team, gives hope only to completely destroy it.
Tonight, O'Neal was invincible in the paint, but in the fourth quarter, Kobe ignored his advantage time and again, opting for difficult jumpers and three-pointers with no precision at all.
When Kobe went mad, Yu Fei was there on the court, right beside him.
For some reason, he could actually understand what Kobe was doing.
An indisputable fact was that Kobe's sole purpose in doing this was to win the FMVP.
Whether it was Jordan, whom he was always emulating, or Shaquille O'Neal, with whom he was at loggerheads, their crowns were all studded with gems named MVP. Kobe had an inner urge to prove himself, to win his own FMVP, and irrespective of the Lakers' situation, he selfishly wanted to show he was the best.
Tonight, O'Neal had 32 points and 20 rebounds, but in the last half of the quarter, he didn't take a single shot.
Kobe shot 14 out of 32 for the game, with just 3 out of 11 in the last quarter.
The Lakers fans at Staples Center watched as the Lakers collapsed on the court, losing the third game by a margin of 22 points.
And so, the Lakers stood on the brink of a cliff.
0 to 3
Their comeback was now only a theoretical possibility, one of the most unassailable myths in NBA history.
No team has ever come back to win four straight games after losing the first three.
The Washington Post's sports writer, Mike Wise, who co-authored an autobiography with O'Neal, wanted to offer some comfort and motivation to his friend. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire
Right there on the court, Wise said to O'Neal, "Shaq, you and Kobe need to work together. You can still win this game. The Bucks are strong, but I think..."
Enough already. After watching Kobe's "performance" in the fourth quarter, O'Neal had lost his enthusiasm. He waved his hand for Wise to keep quiet.
Then, his gaze fell on someone in the distance, the woman kissing Yu Fei in front of the live camera—Christian Hendricks, who had chosen an appropriate outfit for the night, showcasing her hourglass figure to full effect.
The bastard really has some great luck with women!
"I have to say," O'Neal remarked as he looked into the distance, "that bastard's woman is smoking hot!"
In an instant, Wise knew the Lakers were done for.
Even he still harbored some hope, yet O'Neal was passing judgement on his number one rival/enemy's girlfriend.
No more noise.
The Lakers had been sentenced to death.
Two days later, on June 12, Game 4 of the Finals kicked off at Staples Center.
A desperate Lakers Team chose Stanislav Medvedenko to be the starting power forward.
The mediocre Ukrainian was unlucky; once, being a part of the Lakers' F4 was his greatest glory, but now he was forced to fight alongside the selfish Kobe, a lackluster O'Neal, a confused Payton, and the mediocre Kareem Rush.
Medvedenko was 25 years old this year and had joined the Lakers in 2000; he was the second European player to come to the Lakers Team after Divac. Initially, the Lakers' scouts hoped he was half Vin Baker (in movements) and half Divac (in basketball IQ), but eventually, they found he had the discipline of Baker and about 10% of Divac's basketball IQ.
Starting such a man in the Finals was a clear sign of the Lakers' desperation.
Then, the desperate game began.
Yu Fei continued to hammer O'Neal throughout.
In the first quarter, O'Neal, named specifically, stepped out to help defend Yu Fei, causing two fouls.
Phil Jackson incredibly didn't substitute him off.
Then, Yu Fei quickly drew O'Neal's third foul. This foul made Yu Fei believe that not even within the League did they want to see the Lakers win. This whistle was the proof.
It wasn't that the Bucks had gained much of an advantage, but the Lakers hadn't received any favoritism from the referees in the Finals, which was abnormal.
But the League couldn't be blamed. After all, Kobe was still facing a lawsuit, and it seemed there was ample evidence against him. If it went to trial, the rape charge might stick. How damaging would it be to the League's image if the Lakers won and then it came out that their star player was in jail⑵?