Kobe shot only 38.1% from the field in that series and scored 22.6 points on 22.6 shots.

Well, from another perspective, this is still a 100% hit rate.

O'Neal was still able to score 26.6 points with a shooting percentage of 63.1%.

Even in 2005, the Heat, which was no longer at its peak and traveled east to Miami, could still shoot 59.2% and score 20.6 points when facing the Pistons in the playoffs.

To put it bluntly, no one has ever restricted the top Sharks on offense.

Even in the series in which he was swept in the past few years, people would at best complain that the Sharks were too lazy on the defensive end, but no one would question the Sharks' offense.

Even Jordan had the experience of being restricted by Payton and Shea.

But O'Neal, he is really unbeatable!

Therefore, Carlisle was not surprised to see that O'Neal was still comfortable under the combined defense of Mutombo and O'Neill.

He had already been mentally prepared for this.

The key to the Lakers' victory is not locking down the Sharks.

Soon, the Lakers began to attack.

The person responsible for defending Shai is the Knicks No. 8, the defensive leader of the new era!

Reggie Miller swallowed his saliva while watching TV. When he saw Kobe's snake-like eyes, Miller would think of the Eastern Conference finals that just ended.

That was definitely one of the most painful memories of his career.

Although Shea's defense is also very strong, last year's finals also made him miserable.

But after all, Shay is the DPOY and has already gained a reputation, and Miller recognized it after he defeated him.

But being guarded so awkwardly by a kid like Kobe was even more harmful to Miller.

But soon, Miller started to gloat again:

"Shay, Shay, now it's time for you to feel for yourself what it feels like to be defended by you!"

In Miller's opinion, Kobe's defense is at least 90% similar to Shay's!

When the one-on-one began, Shea knew that Kobe's only shortcoming on the defensive end during this period was his lack of confrontation ability.

So, Shay first held the ball with his back and pushed Kobe away with his back.

Then immediately hold the spherical frame and change direction to the left!

but!

It was as if Kobe was stepping on a pulley with his soles, using small and fast steps, he immediately entangled Shay again, slammed into him, and started to steal the ball!

Shea made a quick stop and passed the ball to the right, where Billups was already out to catch the ball and shoot.

However, Kobe moved quickly laterally again, stretched out his arm with incredibly fast reaction, and directly swatted away the ball just passed by Shay! During the whole process, Kobe's defense did not lose the slightest bit!

After the basketball was destroyed, it was picked up by the madman. He quickly dropped down, and Shay immediately chased after him.

But after breaking into the paint and taking off, the madman slipped the ball back in the air and handed it to Kobe who was following up.

Because Shea was chasing a madman, he had already crossed the baseline when he landed, and he could only watch as Kobe scored a dunk.

4-0, the Knicks had a very strong start!

Marvin Albert, who was commentating on the game, couldn't help but applaud Kobe:

"How many years has it been since we've seen a player who can force Shea to make a turnover in a one-on-one situation?

Shay must be surprised, because Kobe is simply a different version of himself.

Kobe's defensive characteristic is that he is aggressive, and that guy always maintains a winning mentality to kill his opponent and win the game.

Moreover, Kobe's lateral movement speed is very fast, almost comparable to Shay's! Just now, Shay's change of direction failed to get away from Kobe!

There is also the fact that Kobe is extremely quick to strike. He rarely uses gambling steals to defend, but once he has the opportunity, he will strike immediately with incredible neurological reaction speed!

I don’t know if you still remember the game between the Lakers and the Knicks in this year’s regular season.

Although at the last moment, Shea defeated the Knicks with a three-pointer.

But don't forget, in the last 26 seconds of the game, Kobe blocked Shay's key shot under single defense!

If Shea hadn't unexpectedly made a three-pointer when his life was hanging by a thread, maybe the Knicks would have had the last laugh.

Kobe has proven that he can guard Shay at critical moments, and Shay may have a tough time in this series!"

Kobe's defense made Master Zen smile.

One is responsible for locking the opponent's arrows, and the other is responsible for scoring. In Zen Master's view, he has built a new "Jordan + Pippen" combination.

This group is younger, more united, and the role players around them are even stronger!

So, how do the Lakers win!?

Immediately after the Knicks' attack, O'Neal was double-teamed and steadily handed the ball to Clifford Robinson.

O'Neal's passing ability when faced with double teams has always been good. Although he is not at Olajuwon's level of freewheeling, he is still very good among centers.

Robinson did not hesitate after receiving the basketball and accurately hit the three-pointer!

The Knicks start 7-0!

According to the usual script, at this time, Shay should start to exert his strength.

He will definitely use a difficult goal that will surprise everyone and stabilize the situation for the Lakers.

But, Kobe ruined everything again!

As soon as Shea passed halftime this time, Kobe bumped into him roughly and started to tangle with Shea near the midfield line!

This Knicks still retains some of the style and shadow of the Pat Riley era, and the rough and muscular defense is still respected by the Knicks.

This kind of aggressive defense is naturally quite exhausting.

But don't forget that Kobe is also an individual, and he is not afraid of exhausting his energy at all.

Seeing this, Shay immediately changed direction to the right and accelerated. Kobe also took a few steps back in order to block Shay's breakthrough.

Seeing Kobe back away, Shay slowed down again, preparing to slow down outside the three-point line and wait for his teammates to move into position.

However, Kobe didn't give Shea any chance to breathe. As soon as Shea stopped, Kobe immediately got close to him and continued to fight with Shea. Seeing this, Shea quickly turned around and tried to get rid of Kobe.

But Kobe once again used his incredible lateral speed to continue to stay in front of Shay!

The Lakers fans watching TV started to get a little worried at this time. How could there be someone in this world who could guard Shay like this?

In people's minds, only Pippen before 1995 could restrain Shay so uncomfortable in one-on-one situations.

Finally, Shay suddenly stopped after taking one step inside the three-point line, trying to make a jump shot.

Most defensive players would be shaken away by Shay's sudden stop.

But Kobe seemed to be smeared with glue, still sticking to Shay's body!

Shay had no choice but to force the shot under Kobe's personal interference.

Although Shea has scored many goals after forced shots, he does not always succeed.

Just like this, when Lakers fans are expecting Shai to follow the previous "script" and help the team stabilize the situation in times of crisis.

Shay's shot missed the frame again!

Shea admitted that Kobe Bryant's defense was a bit tricky for him.

It's been years since anyone gave Shai a hard time one-on-one.

Shay suddenly felt like he was playing in the Finals with the Bulls.

Before Shai became completely successful in shooting, he and Jordan played in the Finals, and most of the time they had to defend each other against each other, and neither could easily score on the other.

Jordan's defense at that time was just like this, never leaving an inch without making any moves.

But Kobe has an advantage that Jordan doesn't have - he doesn't need to worry too much about offense!

On the offensive end, the Sharks can solve 60% of the problems alone.

Kobe doesn't need to be like Jordan, guarding Shea while also carrying the team's offense.

Therefore, he is even more willing to waste his energy on the defensive end, and he is not afraid of crazy confrontation with Shay.

During Kobe's best defensive period, his defensive ability was indeed top-notch!

After guarding Shea again, the Knicks also made achievements on the offensive end.

This time, O'Brien double-teamed the Shark without the ball, preventing the Shark from catching the basketball in the low post.

Seeing this, Kobe passed the ball to Sprewell.

The madman sat down to beat Billups, turning over and shooting a jumper from the mid-range position!

Because the Knicks don't have a traditional number one position at all, their three perimeter players, Sprewell, Kobe and Big Mom, are all very big.

Billups is a crazy defender and has no advantage in confrontation or height.

Moreover, this season's Madman, just like Alan Houston before him, was in excellent form in the playoffs.

In the 1999 Finals in original history, he averaged 26 points per game!

In this history, because the shooting rights are not as good as O'Neal and Kobe, the data is not that exaggerated.

But the attack capability is still very strong.

Previously, Alan Houston was dragged to death by his own MVP.

In the Knicks, the star player will not hold back the madman.
To be continued...