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Nike and Adidas had offered Wang Chong high-value contracts, but he wanted to wait until after winning the championship before making any decisions. His value might increase even more after a championship win.
Wang Chong knew the Lakers would likely rely on him to turn the tide in the finals. Besides, he was already financially secure with his current team salary, so waiting another month wasn't a problem.
In Game 1 against the Kings, the Lakers defeated them 104-98 to secure their first victory. Unlike the first round, the Kings were strong enough to be considered worthy opponents.
Point guard Mike Bibby scored 33 points, and six Kings players reached double-digit scoring, showcasing the Princeton system's elegant offensive style. However, despite their efforts, the Lakers prevailed.
Shaquille O'Neal's performance in this game exemplified the dominance of a top center. He shot 15 of 25, made 10 of 17 free throws, and finished with 40 points, 18 rebounds, and 2 blocks, completely overpowering the Kings' inside team of Chris Webber and Brad Miller.
Kobe Bryant, on the other hand, had an off night, shooting just 6 of 21 from the field and scoring only 16 points, with a shooting percentage under 30%. But thanks to O'Neal's explosive performance, the Lakers managed to win without much trouble.
Wang Chong played consistently, shooting 7 of 13, making all 4 of his free throws, and scoring 19 points with 5 rebounds, which was the second-highest on the team.
As for Karl Malone and Gary Payton, both had poor performances, with shooting percentages rivaling Kobe's.
Lakers fans were pleasantly surprised that the team could still win even though three of the F4 players weren't at their best. O'Neal's stellar performance was a major factor, but Wang Chong's steady scoring also played a crucial role in ensuring the Lakers' victory.
In the past, if one of the OK duo underperformed, the Lakers would struggle to win. But now, with Wang Chong as a reliable scorer, the team's margin for error had greatly increased.
And when Kobe found his rhythm in Game 2 of the series, scoring 24 points on 8 of 17 shooting, the Lakers overwhelmed the Kings, leaving them with no room to fight back.
After two games, the series score stood at 2-0, putting the Kings at a significant disadvantage.
On May 10, the series shifted to the Kings' home court for Game 3, but even with the home-court advantage, the Kings couldn't manage a win.
O'Neal scored 28 points, Kobe 31, and Wang Chong 22. The three of them combined for a total of 81 points. No matter how potent the Kings' offense was, they couldn't keep up with such firepower.
Sacramento fans watched in despair as their team lost the third game, falling behind 0-3—essentially a death sentence.
Historically, no NBA team has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit, and the Kings were no exception, especially against the OK duo that had won three straight championships.
In Game 4, the Kings, teetering on the edge, played with a do-or-die mentality. They launched an offensive barrage, scoring 61 points in the first half and holding a lead of over 15 points.
However, the Lakers mounted a 15-point comeback in the second half and eventually defeated the Kings by two points, 117-115, completing the sweep and advancing to the Western Conference Finals.
This marked the second time the Lakers had swept the Kings in the playoffs. The last time was in the 2000-01 season. Surprisingly, four years later, history repeated itself.
But unlike last time, this Lakers team wasn't just about the OK duo.
In the 2000-01 season, the Lakers' OK duo was unstoppable, sweeping the Kings in four games. Kobe averaged 35 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, while O'Neal averaged 33 points, 17 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game.
The duo combined for an incredible average of 68 points, 26 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 blocks per game. Which team could withstand that?
Four years later, the OK duo clearly didn't have the explosive scoring ability they once did. Perhaps Wang Chong's presence had reduced their shot attempts, spreading the scoring load to this rising star.
Kobe averaged 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, while O'Neal averaged 24 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 4.3 blocks.
Wang Chong, while not reaching a 20+ point average during the regular season, still averaged 19.4 points on 55% shooting in these four games.
By this point, few Lakers fans still remembered the mighty F4 that had been hyped at the beginning of the season.
Since the playoffs began, Payton and Malone seemed to have disappeared. Malone had some sporadic highlights, though they were brief, but at least they existed.
Payton, however, was completely out of sorts. Despite the Lakers easily sweeping their opponents in the first two rounds, his shooting percentage didn't even reach 35%, with averages of just 6 points and 4 assists per game. His poor performance was beyond anyone's expectations.
Since the start of the playoffs, Payton had been totally off. No one knew why. Even his pick-and-roll with Wang Chong wasn't as effective as it had been in the regular season.
As for Malone, it was understandable that he would perform poorly due to his age and injuries.
Lakers head coach Phil Jackson felt extremely grateful.
Fortunately, the Lakers had traded for Wang Chong in the draft, and fortunately, Wang Chong showed strong individual ability.
Otherwise, given Malone and Payton's performances, the Lakers' playoff situation would have been quite precarious.
The super F4 that had shocked the league at the start of the season was actually the OK duo dragging along two veterans who no longer had much left in the tank. It might have been fine for the first two rounds, but it would be a real problem in the Western Conference Finals and the Finals!
In the series against the Kings, Jackson, noticing Malone and Payton's poor form, decisively reduced their playing time and shooting opportunities. Instead, he concentrated the ball on the OK duo and Wang Chong, yielding great results.
"In this situation, even if we only rely on the core trio of O'Neal, Kobe, and Wang Chong, we are still one of the strongest teams in the league and capable of winning the championship!"
Phil Jackson lowered his head slightly, a glint of light reflecting off his glasses.
"As long as there are no internal issues..."
As a coach known for handling superstars, Phil Jackson had partnered with many top players in history, including Jordan and Pippen, and Shaq and Kobe.
He knew very well that for these superstars, the biggest competition often wasn't the opposing team, especially when the team leader could no longer fully suppress the second-in-command, who was eager to take the throne.
Entering the playoffs, Phil Jackson could clearly sense Kobe's growing desire to score.
Whether it was in the first or second round, Kobe took the most shots and scored the most points on the Lakers.
He hoped this situation wouldn't become problematic in the upcoming games.
Little did Phil Jackson know that this was just the beginning. Kobe would show his true intentions once they reached the Finals.
End of this chapter
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