And such a scene continued.
One possession later, Steve Nash's mid-range shot after a pick-and-roll hit the iron under Roger's best efforts to contest.
Allan Houston's catch-and-shoot was also directly blocked by Kobe.
The secret to a team becoming tough lies in defense, an eternal truth.
In 1975, the Golden State Warriors were the last team in NBA history to win a championship solely relying on offense. Since then, modern defensive systems have gradually emerged, and defense began to dictate victories.
Last season, the Lakers and the Warriors were almost as strong in offense as they are now, but neither went very far.
And this summer, they both solved a common issue, which is defense.
This allowed both teams to completely step up a level this season.
Great defense is like planting a dense forest of towering trees in your own half-court, and if the opponents charge recklessly, they can't help but get battered and bruised, crushed to pieces.
