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Wang Chong rushed all the way to the basket and scored a layup with ease. Eddy Curry, positioned under the basket, either didn't have time to defend or simply chose not to.In truth, the "Little Shark" was too lethargic to even chase down rebounds, revealing a concerning lack of competitive spirit and desire to win. This casual approach to defense had always limited Eddy Curry's growth and potential in the league.
His reasoning was straightforward: why should he clean up after teammates when they failed to score? If he exerted too much energy on defense, he risked fewer scoring opportunities on offense. Additionally, if he found himself in foul trouble while trying to protect the basket, it could reduce his playing time—definitely not a thankless task he was willing to take on.
As for the Bulls' scoring, Curry believed Odom, the player assigned to defend Wang Chong, should bear the blame. To him, it was not his responsibility.
This indifferent attitude on the court led to Kobe Bryant's visible frustration. He shouted at Curry, demanding, "Defense!" before sprinting back to the frontcourt.
Eddy Curry, however, merely curled his lip in disdain at Kobe's scolding. Unlike others who feared the Black Mamba's intensity, Curry, a veteran in his fourth season, knew his value to the Lakers. After all, he was the sole anchor of the Lakers' restricted area.
As the Lakers began their offensive play, Hinrich dribbled the ball past half court and made a clean pass to Kobe, mirroring Monta Ellis's style. The Lakers' current predicament was reminiscent of the Bulls': both teams struggled with coordination, relying heavily on the individual talents of their stars.
With Wang Chong having just scored, Kobe was determined to keep pace. Yet, he faced an unforeseen dilemma. The strongest defender the Lakers could send against Wang Chong was Odom, while the Bulls had Raja Bell, who was beginning to establish himself as a formidable perimeter defender.
At this time, Bell wasn't yet renowned as a top defensive specialist or a so-called "Kobe Terminator." However, his defensive skills were already among the league's elite. Since the 2001-02 season with the Mavericks, Bell had faced Kobe numerous times, and Kobe's shooting percentage against Bell was surprisingly low.
In his career, Kobe averaged 28 points per game with a 44.6% shooting rate in 44 encounters with Bell—both numbers slightly above the league average. Yet, his performance against other elite defenders like Tony Allen and Dwyane Wade was markedly better, showing that Bell, while effective, didn't truly earn the "Kobe Terminator" nickname; rather, it stemmed from Bell's frustrations during their matchups.
Nonetheless, Bell was among the few guards in the league capable of defending Kobe one-on-one. Given his value as a role player, his cost-effectiveness was impressive.
Moreover, during this period, Kobe didn't have a strong recollection of Bell, which could lead to potential pitfalls.
And so it was in this moment. As Kobe dribbled the ball, he recognized Bell's solid defensive position, which made him uneasy. What worried Kobe more, however, was Tyson Chandler, who stood resolutely in the Bulls' paint.
From his vantage point, Kobe understood that after navigating past Bell, he would likely encounter help defense from Chandler. Thus, in a positional battle with established defensive alignments, driving to the basket wasn't the best option.
Kobe instinctively thought about calling for a pick-and-roll but hesitated.
No, that wouldn't work!
Wang Chong had just scored a layup, and if Kobe signaled for a pick, it would imply that he couldn't match Wang's offensive prowess—something the fans at the Staples Center would undoubtedly notice. Although this reasoning was somewhat naive, Kobe often found himself trapped in such mental blocks.
Instead, Kobe continued advancing the ball to the three-point line, facing Bell while backing him down. He squeezed a few steps toward the basket, positioning himself in a familiar shooting area, then executed a shoulder shake followed by a fadeaway jumper.
Kobe's move was convincing, but Bell remained unfazed. He leaped and raised his hand just in time to contest Kobe's shot, disrupting his rhythm. Although Kobe's fadeaway was difficult to block, Bell's interference affected the shot enough that it rattled off the rim.
Chandler, having anticipated the miss, snagged the rebound with one hand and swiftly passed the ball to Monta Ellis.
Ellis wasted no time, dribbling the ball in front of him as he sped into the frontcourt. While his recent performances had been subpar, he was beginning to notice that many players in the league were significantly slower, particularly in straight-line sprints. Few could keep up with his speed.
Hinrich, for instance, wasn't one of those fast guards. Unprepared for Ellis's quick transition, he was left trailing behind.
In an instant, the Bulls launched a fast break. Wang Chong, Luol Deng, and Bell all dashed toward the frontcourt. Wang, with his long legs, showcased an astonishing speed that left Odom struggling to keep pace.
This fast-break strategy was part of Wang Chong's game plan for the Bulls. In the absence of a dominant point guard, such tactics often yielded success for any team; it required speed and finishing ability more than complex plays.
While most players relied on teamwork and strategy, Nash was a remarkable exception. His uncanny ability to sense teammate movements within a narrow window of seven seconds during fast breaks allowed him to pass the ball effectively—an advantage that justified his back-to-back MVP awards.
The fast-break approach suited Ellis, who had little else to contribute on the court at this time.
As Ellis approached the Lakers' three-point line, he boldly challenged Caron Butler, the only defender who managed to return in time, forcing a layup against the defense.
With sheer speed, Ellis collided with Butler in the restricted area. Though Ellis lost his balance mid-air, he managed to release the ball towards the basket. Butler, too, was caught off guard and couldn't effectively contest the shot.
However, Ellis's skill set was still developing, and the ball circled the rim before bouncing out.
Lakers fans, initially rejoicing at the missed shot, had their smiles wiped away as Wang Chong followed closely behind. He seized the rebound with both hands and emphatically dunked it home, silencing the crowd.
Despite sprinting the length of the court, Odom couldn't keep up with Wang's speed and fell behind.
With this, Wang Chong had scored the Bulls' first four points of the game, showcasing his determination and skill.
End of this chapter
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