Facing a series they were destined to lose, the big problem was how to motivate their teammates.
Given the choice between a last-ditch effort and completely giving up, many players silently chose the latter, wanting to end it early and enjoy their vacation, as losing wouldn't affect their earnings.
Before Game 4 began, Kobe didn't encourage his teammates in the locker room.
Instead, he issued a "must-win command."
The atmosphere group responded positively on the surface, but after the game started, the Mamba seemed to break down.
"Boo!"
At Staples Center, over 18,000 Los Angeles fans booed again after the Lakers called a timeout.
After the second quarter began, the home team was still trailing.
Where was the promised battle for honor?
The director also aimed the camera at Kobe, who was walking towards the bench, wearing a home yellow jersey.
The special Mamba's head was covered in sweat, and he was waving his arms, communicating loudly and somewhat urgently with his teammates.
Duncan, who was sitting in his seat, also clapped his hands in frustration.
He truly couldn't understand why the opponent was playing so well while his own team's basket seemed to have a lid on it.
In the noisy Staples Center, Phil Jackson sat expressionless in front of his players.
He didn't offer any more morale-boosting speeches as he usually did, but instead looked at everyone and said angrily:
"I don't see any vitality from you! I don't want to remind you again, the series isn't over yet!"
.
The pre-game analysts' blame-game still hurt the role players.
Lamar Odom looked indifferent, as if saying, "I know you're going to trade me."
Among the atmosphere group, Sasha Vujacic didn't applaud enthusiastically as he usually did.
He had been heavily criticized these past two days.
The loss was clearly the boss's fault, yet he ended up being the "scapegoat."
Kobe, panting and baring his teeth, didn't pay attention to others.
He had lost his calm pre-game mindset after the game began, as Lee constantly shook off the Defense, seemingly mocking his incompetence.
At the ABC live commentary desk, the three were chatting happily.
Since the series had lost its suspense, their commentary style had changed somewhat.
Van Gundy transformed into a humorous Champion Coach, occasionally sharing his "championship experience":
"The Lakers, like the Cavaliers, are caught in a losing spiral. I don't like those reports. I believe Kobe Bryant is the root cause of the losses!"
"You all know I had success in New York, but my results with the Cavaliers didn't meet expectations, and a large part of that is due to the difference in core players."
"Tactics can't make up for these problems. Kobe should realize this. He must become more efficient and consistent. Only then can he win."
Averaging the three games, Kobe's field goal percentage didn't exceed 40%.
If you covered his name and only looked at his efficiency, his stats were very similar to Allen Iverson's.
Some analysts had already discussed this issue in the past two days, and they even dug up Allen Iverson's Eastern Conference Finals stats from previous years.
Mark Jackson also fanned the flames, quickly taking over the conversation:
"I read the Philadelphia reports, and there's an interesting point of view: Allen Iverson is underestimated. You know, when he was with the 76ers a few years ago, he was always matched up against Clay Lee."
"That's indeed a fact. Allen Iverson's situation was actually more difficult, that 7VP!"
Van Gundy, smiling, gave a direct affirmative answer, seemingly feeling it wasn't enough, and seriously added again:
"Kobe Bryant has shown a lack of leadership in this series. Although the game has only been going on for less than 4 minutes, the Lakers' role players seem to lack motivation. They haven't shown any desire!"
"Basketball can sometimes be simple, but sometimes it's very complex. As the team leader, he must unite the locker room!"
"Although the Lakers have won a championship in recent years, judging by the results of this year's Finals, they haven't yet established a true winning culture. Kobe must learn from Lee in this regard."
In the noisy Staples Center, the referee began to call the Lakers players back onto the court.
Phil Jackson was still pulling aside Radmanovic, who was about to come off the bench, giving him endless instructions:
"Play tougher!"
Radmanovic, who understood the locker room situation, nodded silently.
The main reason everyone was unmotivated was because Kobe still couldn't break through Lee's limitations.
Derek Fisher, preparing to inbound the ball, saw Kobe pop out and then demand the ball at the top of the arc, drawing Lee over again.
Helplessly, he passed the ball to a teammate who had just subbed in on the left wing.
According to the tactical requirements, Duncan immediately set a cross screen with Lamar Odom on the baseline.
The Knicks chose to switch on Defense.
The former tried to receive the ball in the low post, while the latter sped towards the right corner to open up offensive space.
Pau Gasol worked hard to defend, and when Duncan received the ball and turned to face the basket for a post-up, he actively shifted his body, trying to force his old opponent to drive with his left hand.
"Offense!"
"Let's show them what we've got!"
Some excited Los Angeles fans behind the basket stood up and shouted.
Duncan remained expressionless, taking several probing steps with his right foot.
Finding that his opponent hadn't changed his defensive strategy, he faked again and immediately put the ball down with his left hand.
When Duncan began to force his way to the basket, Chandler, who was to the lower right of the basket, immediately moved his feet.
Just like the first three games, the interior still insisted on a double team.
The expressionless Duncan didn't force the offense.
As he approached the basket, he swung the ball with his left hand to the right corner.
Lamar Odom, who was completely open, hesitated after catching the ball.
Finally, under everyone's gaze, Lamar Odom missed another open three-pointer.
"Still couldn't capitalize on this open opportunity. The Lakers players seem to lack confidence!"
"I must commend Duncan's passing, but at this point, they seem to need to score more."
Mike Breen subtly questioned Duncan's choice.
In his opinion, Duncan played without aggression tonight, frequently passing the ball after the game started.
"Boo!!"
The greatly disappointed Lakers fans once again erupted in loud boos.
Raja Bell grabbed the rebound, and their immediate press didn't do much.
Lee received the ball and easily rushed past half-court, still pressing Kobe.
As Lee approached the left wing, the Knicks players also began to move in an orderly fashion.
Ron Artest ran to the opposite corner, Pau Gasol quickly moved up from near the left baseline, and the rotation continued along the top of the arc.
Kobe lost his composure shortly after the game began, mainly because Lee had "too many tricks," as if constantly toying with him.
Right in front of the referee, Kobe pressed up defensively and tried to swipe the ball.
Lee, holding the ball with his left hand, turned his body to protect it, while using his free hand to swat away Kobe's arm and instruct his old opponent:
"Don't make reckless contact! Left side? Right side…"
Kobe, baring his teeth as he fiercely tried to steal the ball, saw movement behind him and couldn't help but try to steal it again.
Just as he extended his right arm, Lee in front of him suddenly made a quick shoulder fake.
No sooner had he spoken than Kobe instinctively moved, losing half a step.
Twisting his body and leading the ball forward, Lee suddenly accelerated.
Facing Lamar Odom, who was coming over for a hard hedge, he performed a small In and out dribble while moving.
Faking right, driving left, and pushing the ball outwards, Lee ignored the Defense and decisively accelerated.
Kobe, who was chasing defensively, had just been helping Pau Gasol, trying to double-team with his teammate, but Lamar Odom was actually shaken off in one step, making him curse under his breath:
"Damn it!"
Amidst the boos, the chasing Lamar Odom stumbled off the baseline.
Clay Lee, after a brief confrontation, soared into the air.
Tim Duncan didn't have time to jump and block, as his old opponent in front of him powerfully slammed the ball into the basket with both hands!
Shaken and pushed back two steps, Duncan's eyes widened when he saw Lee land back on the floor, appearing somewhat angry.
"I've prepared a gift for you this year too! Bro, how was last year's champagne?"
...
Lee patted his old opponent and chuckled, making a prediction.
Remembering last year's 53 points in Game 4, Duncan was so angry he almost threw a punch.
He wanted to launch a "charge," but instead bumped into Chandler.
40:29, the score difference returned to double digits.
The referee blew his whistle repeatedly, separating the "head-butting" big men.
"The Triangle Offense is not suitable for today's league. I believe the Lakers' tactical system must change. They need to make their offensive pace faster."
"Clay Lee has changed modern basketball. In this era that emphasizes space more, low-post offense has become increasingly inefficient."
Van Gundy, from the commentary booth, once again offered his insights.
Seeing the smile on his partner's face, Mark Jackson immediately teased him:
"Do you think Phil Jackson's tactical system is outdated? God, I don't think many fans would agree with you. The Lakers have been extremely dominant in the Western Conference this year."
Seeing Kobe receive the ball after a screen and pop out from the right block, Van Gundy explained again:
"But they're facing the Knicks in the Finals. The Lakers can't find a player to match up with Lee, and Kobe's poor performance is also related to the Defense."
On the right wing, Kobe, who had just received the ball, was almost stolen directly by Lee, forcing him to readjust his posture.
He quickly swept the ball from left to right, making continuous jab steps, only to find Lee still slightly turned.
With no intention of passing or calling for a pick-and-roll, Kobe, with his hands and feet, leaned back against the Defense and took a contested three-point shot!
To avoid a block, Kobe leaned back slightly, increasing the arc.
He fell to the floor after landing, and the basketball ultimately swished through the net.
Before he could even stand up, the Mamba roared with a clenched fist:
"Yes!"
After three games, Kobe also made changes on the offensive end.
He rarely posted up tonight, primarily relying on face-up drives, pull-up jumpers, and step-back jumpers.
"Oh!"
The first cheer of the game erupted.
Los Angeles fans actually don't ask for much.
They just want to win once with dignity.
Duncan, who had just been boxing out, also wanted the ball, but scoring is always good, which made him high-five his new partner in celebration as he retreated on Defense.
Amidst the cheers, everyone on the Lakers felt invigorated.
"Defense!"
Defense cheers once again echoed in the Staples Center, and the narrowing deficit gave the Los Angeles fans hope.
Lee, near the right wing, signaled a play.
Facing Kobe's Defense, he faked an acceleration after a hop dribble.
As his opponent crowded him, he immediately stopped short, then executed a behind-the-back dribble.
Kobe was still pressing forward, but Lee, who had switched the ball to his left hand, suddenly twisted his body, then flicked his wrist, and the basketball was smoothly whipped to the right corner.
Amidst gasps, Ron Artest, who had just slipped along the baseline and broken free from Defense after a big man's screen, easily received the ball.
Without any adjustment, he decisively jumped and sank a three-pointer from the right corner!
43:32, the Knicks responded quickly.
Kobe turned his head, giving a "death glare."
Radmanovic had actually lost his man.
Perhaps trusting his shooting touch, Kobe called for the ball directly at the baseline, personally dribbled past half-court, and upon reaching the top of the arc, faced Lee's Defense with continuous in-place crossover dribbles.
Actively increasing the force of his dribble, Kobe suddenly gathered the ball and, against the Defense, pulled up directly from beyond the three-point line!
"Bang!"
The basketball hit the back rim and bounced straight out.
Duncan, battling inside, had no chance to crash the boards, and the long rebound was immediately secured by a turning Lee.
"Move!"
Phil Jackson, waving his arms from the sideline, shouted loudly.
Amidst the boos that filled the Staples Center, Lee sprinted faster and faster.
Kobe, who chose not to foul, furiously scrambled back on Defense.
As Lee approached the three-point line, he suddenly pushed the ball and changed direction, forcing Kobe to lose his balance and be squeezed past.
It was too late to reach out and grab him.
Lee completely shook off the Defense, took a hop step in the paint, jumped with both feet, and once again powerfully slammed the ball through the hoop with both hands!
"Boo!"
The lead widened. With 4 minutes and 30 seconds left in the half, the Lakers fans at the Staples Center completely broke down.
What was the difference between this battle for honor and the last game?
Involuntarily speeding up their offensive rhythm, by the time Duncan found Radmanovic open in the right elbow, the latter, after receiving the ball on the left wing, clanked another three-pointer.
Nearly 20 seconds of offensive time ultimately turned into another Knicks fast break.
When Pau Gasol's long pass found Lee, Kobe could only retreat quickly on Defense.
Loudly directing his teammates to match up in time, Kobe, retreating on Defense, stopped beyond the three-point line.
He had just turned his body, ready to pounce on Lee, but unexpectedly, his old rival launched a sudden cold arrow right in front of him!
On the fast break, still a step away from Kobe, Lee suddenly stopped short and decisively pulled up for a jump shot!
Lamar Odom, who had chased back to the paint, subconsciously turned his head to look at the hoop.
As the basketball swished through the net, the Staples Center fell completely silent.
Duncan, who had just chased back to half-court, also stopped in frustration, watching Lee bounce around and high-five his teammates in celebration.
His mindset exploded for a moment, and he squatted down, angrily punching the floor.
48:32. The familiar scoreline completely deflated the Lakers fans at the Staples Center, and everyone grew increasingly silent.
When Duncan earned free throws amidst a double-team, both shots clanked off the rim.
The Knicks bench erupted in cheers, while Phil Jackson, arms crossed, stared intently at everyone from the sideline.
Pau Gasol jumped to receive the ball with his back to the basket in the left block.
Before Lamar Odom could make any other move, he delivered a bounce pass the moment he received the ball.
Lee, on the left wing, accelerated and received the ball in front of Kobe.
He leaned into the Defense, forcibly cut in, and in the paint, jumped again against the Defense, drifting towards the left side of the basket.
Kobe, chasing from behind, leaped vigorously, and Duncan, coming over to help on Defense, also raised his right arm.
During the mid-air collision, Lee pulled his left arm to the side, clearly pausing.
Only after his opponent began to descend did he twist his body and toss the ball up.
"Squeak!"
The referee's whistle blew.
All three players fell out of bounds almost simultaneously.
Duncan couldn't get to the ball. Just as he looked up, he heard the sighs of the fans.
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Seeing Lee being pulled up, the turncoat fun-seekers screamed wildly.
The two teams now presented starkly different atmospheres.
Kobe, without needing help from teammates, immediately stood up and loudly complained to the referee.
Duncan looked up at the hoop, appearing exceptionally dejected.
The other Lakers players didn't react much either, standing in position with their heads down, seemingly having completely "given up."
They watched their opponents celebrate wildly, quietly waiting for Lee to step to the free-throw line.
51:32. Lee made the extra free throw, and the Lakers called another timeout.
"It's over! Clay Lee's sudden burst has ended the suspense of the game!"
"It's a shame. I think the remaining game time will likely turn into a show. The Knicks are playing exceptionally well tonight. Everyone looks very confident!"
Van Gundy frankly offered his opinion, and the two beside him didn't refute.
Mark Jackson could feel the "energy" disappear from the Staples Center and commented with some regret:
"I don't know what happened in the Lakers locker room. Tim Duncan's performance reminds me of Game 4 of last year's Finals!"
"Last year, the San Antonio Spurs lost by 53 points."
As the trio began to educate the online fans watching on TV about history, the Lakers' performance after the timeout again left them stunned.
A stubborn Kobe repeatedly shot from beyond the three-point line, and in less than two minutes, he led the Knicks on another 6-0 run.
When Duncan also started clanking shots, the Staples Center once again became a library.
Only in the final moments did Kobe score again from beyond the three-point line with a step-back, fading away jumper from the left wing.
Such a beautiful shot was met only with boos from Los Angeles fans.
At halftime, the score was 63:35, and everyone was completely broken.
An enraged Kobe ignored the fans on both sides of the player tunnel, and before even reaching the locker room, he furiously cursed:
"Shit! You guys are playing like dog shit! If you don't want to win, why are you even on the court?"
Kobe Bryant scored 8 points in the quarter, shooting 2-for-7 from the field, including 2-for-5 from three-point range, and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, accounting for more than half of the team's points.
The Lakers only scored 15 points in the second quarter.
No one responded to Kobe.
Duncan seemed to be lost in thought
His condition wasn't right before the game, and he had spoken little these past two days.
Everyone who had returned to their seats exchanged glances, and still no one responded.
This made Kobe even angrier.
Without even looking at the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man entering the locker room, he furiously said again:
"Give me the damn basketball in the second half!"
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)