The Bulls and the Lakers have only faced each other once in the finals, but that time was very classic.

That was in 1991. That year, Jordan finally led his team over the Pistons, and he faced another mountain from the last century, "Magic" Johnson.

Johnson was only 31 years old at the time, and was at the peak of his career as a point guard. He was not only the best in the league, but also the best in NBA history.

In the end, the Bulls defeated the Lakers and won the first NBA championship in team history.

Jordan stepped on Johnson to reach the top, and that finals was therefore called the "Transfer of Power" by fans.

A year later, when the Dream Team was formed, Jordan smiled and said to Bird and Johnson on the bus, "There's a new sheriff in town."

After that, it was Jordan's era.

Of course, history will not repeat itself 100%, and the Bulls today are completely different from the Bulls then, but the good past always brings back memories. Chicago fans, or Jordan fans, now place their former love on Xu Yong.

Let's do the Lakers again.

"90% of people think the Lakers will win."

In a villa in downtown Chicago, Butler was exchanging views of the outside world with Xu Yong.

Like last year, ESPN also conducted a survey on the upcoming finals this year. The results were exactly the opposite of last year's results. This time, the underdog team became the Bulls.

"Not bad, still 10% of people are optimistic about us." Xu Yong said with a smile.

The Bulls and the Lakers were originally similar on paper, but now that Rose is injured, anyone with a discerning eye can see that the Lakers are stronger.

If he were just a fan, he would choose the Lakers without hesitation.

"Senior, how do you plan to defeat them?" Butler asked.

In his heart, Xu Yong is like a god now, so he feels that Xu Yong will definitely be able to fulfill his promise to him and win the championship this year.

"Go all out." Xu Yong said calmly.

He is just a reborn person, not a real god, and he couldn't have guessed that Rose would be injured before the finals.

The Lakers are not the Thunder. Not only is their lineup mature, but their core is also mature.

Even Bynum, a player who often failed to perform well in the playoffs due to injuries, has played in all the playoffs in the past two years.

In other words, the Lakers have no weaknesses that can be targeted by the Bulls, and the Bulls can only fight head-on.

Self-confidence is a good thing, but if it goes too far it becomes arrogance. As the weaker party, he can only try his best to fight for a chance.

"Senior, I think there is something we can use." At this moment, Butler suddenly spoke.

"Huh?" Xu Yong looked at Butler in confusion.

"I think we can also use up Kobe's energy like you said before."

"Kobe is not Durant," Xu Yong reminded.

The reason why Durant's physical fitness is not good is that he is too tall, 2.08 meters barefoot and 2.11 meters with shoes, which is a standard inside player's body shape.

When he first entered the league, Durant was still very thin, and the physical fitness problem was not obvious at that time. However, in the past two years, in order to evolve, increase confrontation and gain weight, his physical fitness is obviously not enough.

In other words, using the height and weight of an inside player, but always playing from the outside, all of which consume a lot of energy in terms of dribbling, positioning, and defense, it will be the same no matter who comes in.

But Kobe is 1.95 meters barefoot and 1.98 meters with shoes, the standard size for a shooting guard.

"But he is old. He did not make the defensive first team this season, which means he dare not invest too much on the defensive end. However, his personality makes it easy for him to invest on the defensive end," Butler continued.

Xu Yong looked at Butler, and after a while he smiled and patted Butler on the shoulder.

It has to be little Jimmy!

Although he did not get many playing opportunities this year, his ability to read and analyze games improved rapidly.

This is indeed a point that can be exploited, especially when Butler mentioned Kobe's character.

Imagine when he repeatedly called out Kobe using pick-and-rolls. Given Kobe's personality, it would be hard for him not to think, "I'm going to defend you to death."

"It's a pity that I can't help much." Butler was naturally happy to be recognized by Xu Yong, but he said it with a little regret.

Of course, he was not only focusing on analyzing the game this year, he was more focused on improving his physical fitness and defensive level.

The only difference is that there was Tony Allen before him, and he couldn't compare to him not only in defensive ability but also in experience.

"Don't be anxious, and don't think you have to be the same as me. I believe you can become an All-Star player in the future." Xu Yong encouraged.

Talent, the eight years since he traveled through time, the eight years of inhuman training he had persisted in, and his understanding of basketball in his previous life, these are gaps that Butler cannot change.

But Butler is a rare player with a super-durable physique who is not immune to injuries but can train like him, and he also has enough competitive spirit.

Xu Yong believes that Butler will have a more glorious career than in history.

Hearing Xu Yong say this, Butler nodded excitedly and firmly.

Although he is only a late first-round pick, he firmly believes in this.

…

The first game of the finals was held in Chicago, and the Bulls were well rested.

The confrontation between the two sides attracted unprecedented attention.

According to official NBA statistics, the game set new ratings both in the United States and overseas.

One is the best player in the league, and the other is a supernova whose momentum has suppressed James, who should have become the next face of the league.

If this were the world of pirates, this would be the battle between Luffy and Kaido, which could last for a year.

Jordan once again appeared at the United Center. Two players who inherited his skills met in the finals. How could he miss such an opportunity?

Chicago fans also showed unprecedented enthusiasm, and the streets near the United Center were blocked.

Even Rose, who had just undergone surgery, came to the scene on crutches to cheer for his teammates.

As the live broadcaster of the finals, TNT sent out their strong commentary team, with the three giants of Barkley, O'Neal and Kenny Smith all in place.

During the pre-match warm-up, the three of them were also working hard to warm up the scene.

"We know that ESPN has done a survey before and the Lakers are the favored side. What is your opinion?" Smith looked at the two funny guys.

O'Neal was about to speak when Barkley suddenly stood up.

Then, in the surprised eyes of Smith and O'Neal, Barkley ripped open his suit, revealing the classic red Bulls jersey underneath.

"You know, I've been a Bulls fan for 20 years."

Twenty years ago was 1992, which was the beginning of the Jordan era. Barkley's words are logically impeccable.

Smith burst out laughing on the spot, and even O'Neal stood there in a daze. It took him a while to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

That expression seems to say that you win.

This episode from the commentary booth fully livened up the atmosphere before the game.

After the opening ceremony, the starting lineups of the two teams were announced one after another.

Lakers: Paul, Kobe, Ariza, Dio, Bynum;

Bulls: Hinrich, Tony Allen, Xu Yong, Artest, Yao Ming.

The Lakers used their regular starting lineup, while the Bulls used one big and four small players.

Xu Yong gathered the Bulls players together on the sidelines, raised their hands and touched them together, and said the last words before the game started, which were also what he had said to Butler before: "Go all out."

Bynum won the jump ball and the finals officially began.

The Lakers' offensive style is the same as in the regular season, mainly centered around Paul's organization and Kobe's off-ball play.

But Kobe did not get the chance to run away, because the Bulls' defensive strategy was very targeted. Except for Yao Ming at the fifth position, other positions would resolutely switch when encountering pick-and-rolls.

Kobe's efficiency this season is due to Paul's organization.

Even people who don't understand tactics know the difference in efficiency between comfortable dunks and difficult singles.

This is Thibodeau's purpose of using one big and four small players. He wants to eliminate the Kobe who is catching dunks and replace him with the Kobe who is playing one-on-one.

To achieve this, the only way is to have one big and four small players, because Kobe's shooting ability is too strong and only high-speed rotation can stop him.

Thibodeau is worthy of being a coach famous for his defense. From the deployment of troops to the defensive strategy, he revealed his targeting of this Lakers team.

Even using Allen to defend Kobe can reduce Xu Yong's consumption on the defensive end, killing two birds with one stone.

Of course, Thibodeau's capital to do this is the Bulls' unique configuration. The defensive level of the Bulls' starting four is elite, and they will not suffer if they face Kobe in a mismatch.

For this reason, he also put Jimmy Butler on the active list tonight, so that there are two defensive gates, Battier and Butler, on the bench to ensure the rotation defense intensity of the entire team when Kobe is on the court.

Kobe finally stopped and saw that the person behind him was Hinrich, so he reached out for the ball for a one-on-one shot.

Xu Yong had already rotated in front of Paul at this time. After seeing Kobe turn around, he quickly double-teamed him.

Hinrich also had good understanding and pushed the focus of defense to the baseline, so that he and Xu Yong formed a front and back siege.

Kobe chose to turn and lean back toward the baseline, basically forcing a shot against Hinrich's defense.

Hinrich caused a lot of interference in this ball.

“Swish!”

But Kobe still made the shot despite the defense.

There was a commotion at the scene.

Kobe's performance in the first few rounds of the playoffs was very brave, and he showed no signs of weakening in the finals.

At this time, Xu Yong looked up at O'Neal in the commentary booth.

He had anticipated Kobe's condition.

If we were to say what O'Neal talked about the most in the commentary booth over the past year, it would be the fact that he won five championships.

Moreover, O'Neal watched Barkley every day and said that TNT had the two of them perform a real-life PK in the studio for the sake of program effects.

The traffic was there, but everyone also remembered that O'Neal had five championships.

Although Barkley has always complained about the quality of this fifth championship, just like James's statistics, most fans don't care about the details.

Especially Kobe, he is the one who cares the most. Although the OK combination has reconciled their past grievances, the fact that "I have one more than you" is a topic he must talk about when the two meet.

So if everything O'Neal did before was to pursue the fifth championship, then Kobe will also do his best for the sixth championship.

Xu Yong arrived at the frontcourt and saw that the person defending him was Ariza.

As Butler analyzed, Brown reduced Kobe's consumption on the defensive end at the beginning of the game.

Xu Yong reached out for the ball and tried to pass it to Yao Ming inside, but Bynum went straight ahead.

In terms of defensive targeting, Brown is much better than his predecessor "Zen Master".

Seeing this, Xu Yong directly signaled Yao Ming to move to the high position to play pick-and-roll.

Yao Ming is big and blocked Ariza tightly. Xu Yong found the gap and shot directly from 18 feet away.

“Swish!”

The basketball also landed safely in the pocket.

Kobe is in hot form, and he is not far behind.

This is all thanks to James, who not only won the Eastern Conference Finals, but also replenished the energy bar consumed in the game against the Celtics.

The fans at the scene were also delighted from the start.

Kobe was forced to play one-on-one with the ball due to the Bulls' defensive strategy, while Xu Yong had a strong desire to attack from the start.

There is no foreplay. The two people just start doing it as soon as they meet.

Then, the Lakers slowly fell behind.

Although both of them were scoring, Xu Yong was essentially playing pick-and-roll tactics, while Kobe was basically playing one-on-one. There were differences between the two in terms of efficiency and physical energy consumption.

After half a quarter, Xu Yong was still very active on the offensive end, and Kobe could only pass the ball to Paul while he stayed on the weak side to recover his strength.

In terms of strategic game, the combination of Thibodeau and Malone is clearly better than the combination of Brown and Tyronn Lue.

“Bang!”

After the pick-and-roll, Xu Yong passed the ball to Yao Ming with a fake shot, shook Bynum off, and broke into the inside to complete a two-handed dunk.

After landing, he smiled and made his signature hand-spreading gesture at Kobe who came late.

He previously wanted to call out Kobe to provoke him to defend himself, but later he felt that such an approach might not work. After all, if Kobe defended seriously, the offensive efficiency could not be guaranteed. If his touch fluctuated, not only would he fail to provoke Kobe, but his own mentality would be affected.

So he chose a different approach.

The meaning of this action just now is his way of saying: Kobe, your little brother can't defend me.

Yes, Ariza is tall and has long arms, and he is good at moving and fighting, making him an excellent forward defensive player, but he doesn't know how to do the puppy footwork, and he can be easily caught up by a huge guy like Yao Ming.

Xu Yong plays against Bynum, and he has a great chance of success as he can both break through and shoot.

Kobe's face changed instantly.

In the next defensive round, he indeed switched back with Ariza.

A person's character can make him or her what he or she is, but it can also be used as a handle for others to target you.

Xu Yong gestured to pull it open.

The United Center was boiling again.

The scoring competition between the two at the beginning was exciting enough, and now they have to face off one-on-one, which is simply exciting.

The other people on the Lakers knew Kobe's character and wisely did not go over to help defend.

After having the offensive space, Xu Yong quickly launched his attack.

He chose to play a one-on-one shot with his back to the basket and then turn around and fade away.

His size is an advantage over Kobe, and he has maintained a good touch since the start of the game.

Post-up, fake turn, turn around and fade away.

Xu Yong's back-to-the-basket shot was clean and neat.

However, Kobe caused great interference to Xu Yong in this ball because he was too familiar with this kind of offense.

Xu Yong used his air suspension to create a shooting angle and shot against Kobe's defense.

The ball barely passed over Kobe's fingertips.

Both of them used their offensive and defensive abilities to the fullest in this round.

The fans also watched intently.

“Swish!”

The ball finally hit the basket and went into the net.

The scene was instantly filled with sudden cheers.

What Xu Yong did was a strategic consideration.

But in the eyes of the fans, Xu Yong has been confronting Kobe head-on since the beginning of the game tonight.

When this ball goes in head-on, it will definitely be an emotional detonator.

Xu Yong was in a very good mood after scoring the goal.

The first goal was crucial because it really stimulated Kobe.

Of course, he still felt it was not enough, so he made the same "listening" celebration gesture he did against the Celtics while retreating.

Not only Iverson does this, Kobe also does it.

Of course, at home, this means making the cheers even louder.

Kobe's eyes at this moment can kill people.

When he returned to the offensive end, he didn't even bother running. He just leaned against Allen in the high post to ask for the ball. After receiving the ball, he didn't wait for the help defense to come up and turned around to break through to the baseline to make a quick stop jump shot.

Allen's defense on this ball was very good and he also provided enough interference before Kobe shot.

But Kobe dodged it with a pull-up lever in the air...

“Swish!”

Still threw the ball into the basket.

After being on the court for a while, his physical strength recovered a lot.

Of course, what is more important is that after being stimulated by Xu Yong, he entered a special state.

In this state, he can play as he pleases.

Xu Yong continued to challenge Kobe on the offensive end, but this time his attack failed to score.

He didn't know what happened to Kobe, but he could feel that Kobe's overall defensive intensity suddenly increased significantly.

Looking back, Kobe continued to single out Allen.

Allen played better defense this time, but Kobe still managed to get the ball into the basket despite his defense.

He looked a little miserable at this moment, because it was clearly a matter between Xu Yong and Kobe, but he became the injured person.

In this quarter, Kobe suppressed Xu Yong on the court. Under his leadership, the Lakers overtook the score at the end of this quarter.

Then soon, they started the second quarter.

In this game, the rotations of both teams were even more compressed than the previous game between the Bulls and the Celtics.

The only players who came off the bench for the Bulls were O'Neal and Battier, and the only players who came off the bench for the Lakers were Okafor and Barnes.

Both sides knew the importance of the opening battle, so they started fighting with bayonets.

It was in this quarter that the Bulls slowly regained the initiative.

The main reason is that Kobe Bryant of the Lakers has lost too much strength, so Brown can only activate the eighth man and let old Hill take over for a while.

It was during this period that the Lakers' offense couldn't keep up.

Paul certainly has the ability to score. He was the main scoring point for the Lakers during this period. His mid-range shots against Yao Ming after the pick-and-roll with Bynum were also very intimidating.

But with Kobe's help, no one could hold Xu Yong down.

Simply comparing scoring explosiveness, how can Paul, a point guard, be better than Xu Yong, a swingman?

The passive situation made Brown pace back and forth on the sidelines, looking very anxious.

As a head coach who is also famous for his defense, he actually discovered the Bulls' strategy of consuming Kobe later.

But discovering and being able to say it are two different things.

Kobe's personality off the court is much better than Jordan's, but on the court he and Jordan are cut from the same cloth, a typical court tyrant.

To put it bluntly, Phil Jackson has a brilliant resume and is very good at pua superstars, but Brown obviously can't do this.

When he was in the Cavaliers, he was called James' nanny. In front of Kobe, who is stronger and has a higher historical status, he is just a little Kalami.

On the other hand, Thibodeau does not have such worries. Although he is a rookie coach, Rose and Xu Yong are both newcomers on rookie contracts.

And because he is a rookie coach, he will not and is not qualified to act arrogantly.

So the Bulls coaches and players are on an equal footing and communication is smooth.

When the Bulls widened the gap to nearly double digits, Kobe, who had not yet fully recovered his strength, took the initiative to stand up and return to the court.

This time, Kobe did not compete with Xu Yong.

From this we can see that after the first quarter, Kobe realized that he had fallen into the trap of the Bulls, or Xu Yong.

However, when masters fight, victory or defeat often depends on just one move or two.

In particular, Xu Yong did not invest too much on the defensive end tonight, and he went all out on the offensive end.

In the end, after Kobe picked up his jersey and sucked the salt inside to replenish his energy, and the counterattack he launched in the last quarter failed, the Lakers finally lost.

The final score between the two sides was 89 to 81.

The score was low for both teams, which was part of the Bulls’ game plan.

They did not use any air-conditioning tactics like the Celtics, but the absolute defensive intensity they showed at the beginning of the game and the continuous consumption brought the Lakers' offense to a relatively low level.

According to post-match statistics, Kobe Bryant of the Lakers scored a team-high 31 points. He was very efficient in the first half, scoring 22 points, but only 9 points in the second half.

The shortened season, the seven-game battle with the Thunder, and the Bulls' targeted game strategy caused him to have obvious problems with his physical fitness in the second half.

Paul also had 21 points and 8 assists. He stepped up in the second half when Kobe had physical problems and helped the team keep the score close.

Then the problem can also be seen from the statistics. The other players of the Lakers only scored 29 points in total.

The Bulls' increased defensive intensity and their rotation speed did not allow others to have much room to play.

It can be said that the Bulls fully demonstrated their defensive capabilities in this game, which gave them the capital to compete with the Lakers in the absence of Rose.

What ultimately helped them win the game was Xu Yong's performance.

It's not just the trap that was dug for Kobe at the beginning. After all, Kobe didn't fall for it later. That can only be regarded as the first small snowball in the snowball.

More importantly, his offensive performance tonight was as he made 15 of 29 shots and scored a game-high 43 points, which was also his first 40+ in the finals.

Especially in the last quarter, he scored 13 points in a single quarter and withstood the Lakers' final counterattack to win the game.

After winning the championship last season, he and Rose have completed the running-in. Rose played more in the first three quarters, and he made up for it and saved his energy for the fourth quarter. However, Rose's frequent injuries this season made him develop the ability to do the work of two people.

The price was that after the handshake ceremony, he did not immediately return to the player tunnel, nor did he participate in interviews with reporters on the sidelines. Instead, he sat alone on the bench for a long time.

His physical fitness has been greatly improved this season, but there is a limit.

With the intensity tonight, he played the whole game and it was good enough that he didn't fall down.

After sitting for a while, someone patted him on the shoulder. He looked up and saw the familiar boiled egg.

"Well played." Jordan commented on his game tonight after sitting down.

"Your strategy in the first quarter was good, but it was a little messy." Then, Jordan showed the complexity and authenticity of his character, swinging wildly between being able to speak and not being able to speak.

Xu Yong was already used to it, and nodded, "I felt that I was no match for him during that part, he was very powerful."

He told the truth that there was no need to hide anything in front of Jordan because he was present at the scene tonight. As the audience who knew basketball best, Jordan could see it more directly than he, a player.

"Have you heard of Mental.flow?" Jordan suddenly asked.

Xu Yong thought about it and shook his head.

Mental.flow, literally translated as psychological fluency, was a word he had never heard of before.

"It's a term in psychology, generally referring to the psychological state when you are concentrating on a certain behavior. Of course, there is also a term in basketball, called The Zone."

When Jordan mentioned Zone, Xu Yong's eyes lit up.

He had heard of this term before. It was described in the Japanese anime "Kuroko's Basketball".

In that comic, that is the strongest skill, which enhances all ability attributes, makes the reaction faster than usual, and the movements faster than usual. It can also be understood as super-normal performance.

Now that Jordan said that, it seems that Kobe did have that attitude during that period.

Moreover, Kobe is already very strong, and he will go even further, and no one can stop him.

"This is a real state, but it is only accessible to a small number of people, and only those who have practiced hard can achieve it. Entering it is also accidental."

Jordan's next words surprised Xu Yong again. He didn't expect that this actually happened in reality.

But it seems normal when you think about it. The author of the anime Kuroko is an NBA fan himself, and many of the skill settings in it are based on the NBA and then exaggerated.

"How many times have you entered?" Xu Yong asked curiously.

Jordan shook his head: "I can't remember."

Xu Yong: I shouldn’t have asked this question!

"But the one that impressed me the most was the first game of the 1992 Finals. I made 6 three-pointers in the first half. That should be the first time I experienced that I felt I could do anything as long as I wanted, and then I did it." Jordan still had that pretentious expression.

But this is indeed the truth. Jordan's truth sounds like pretense, while other people's truth sounds like slander.

Xu Yong naturally had an impression of this game, but he could not imagine that Jordan had such a performance because he entered the Zone.

But this is indeed the most reasonable explanation, because Jordan's three-point level, the title of [lowest record holder in the three-point contest] is enough to explain everything.

"Of course, it has many limitations. For example, he needs to have sufficient physical strength and fully mobilize his emotions. In that state, the physical energy consumption is also doubled, and he will be very tired after coming out."

Xu Yong nodded. This reasonably explained why Kobe only played half the game, or more accurately, one quarter.

But this is indeed very powerful. It can establish an advantage in a tense game in one fell swoop. As long as you hold on afterwards, it will be enough to determine the outcome.

"Don't be discouraged, I think you also have a chance to get in." Jordan smiled and patted Xu Yong's shoulder again.

"After you play for two more years." Then he added.

Xu Yong: Thank you so much.

…

The victory in G1 gave Bulls fans full of confidence.

But reality soon taught them another lesson.

In Game 2, the Lakers fully demonstrated their adjustment ability and hard power.

Kobe did not engage in excessive head-on combat with Xu Yong, and he retained his energy. Although his points did not increase, they were more evenly distributed in the game.

This also allowed the Lakers to maintain a good offensive and defensive quality throughout the game.

At this time, the Bulls' lack of strength on paper was also exposed.

One thing that must be made clear is that the Bulls with Rose are far better than the Bulls without Rose.

In the games that Rose did not play in the regular season, the two games in which Xu Yong led the team to defeat the Lakers and Thunder were exciting enough, but such games are only a minority after all. The Bulls often showed ups and downs in their record.

Even taking this season as an example, without Rose scoring in the first three quarters, Xu Yong felt like he was shedding a layer of skin every time he played a game.

Because he not only has to maintain a high offensive intensity, but also has to constantly be double-teamed by opponents.

So even though Xu Yong played steadily in G2 and scored 31 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists, and Yao Ming also had 22 points and 11 rebounds, the Bulls still lost the game 91 to 101.

Moreover, the tactic of Paul and Bynum setting pick-and-roll and then shooting Yao Ming from mid-range began to appear more and more in the game.

In order to protect Yao Ming, the Bulls adopted a rotation method, but Paul's organizational talent was reflected at this time.

Paul played quite well in this game, scoring 28 points and 14 assists.

Then came the crucial G3, and both sides moved to Los Angeles to continue.

Let’s talk about the result first. The Lakers won another game 86 to 79, changing the score to 2 to 1.

Xu Yong's performance on the offensive end was up and down in this game, and he only scored 21 points in the whole game.

Although he made efforts in other aspects, including 12 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks, it was not enough to help the team win the game against an opponent of the level of the Lakers.

Stability is an area that Xu Yong needs to improve, but this improvement takes time. You have to know that he is only in his third year this year.

Then in this game, Paul had 23 points and 11 assists.

It may be hard to believe, but Paul may have a chance to compete for the Finals MVP this year.

Paul's performance in these two games can be said to be good news for Lakers fans.

But for Bulls fans, this is obviously not good news.

Because Paul's condition helped Kobe relieve the pressure greatly, it was difficult for the Bulls to drag the game into a war of attrition.

Just after falling behind 1-2, James fans started to celebrate because their previous predictions were coming true little by little.

On the Bulls side, Artest also faced a lot of doubts.

After Rose's absence, the only one who can become the third scoring point besides Xu Yong and Yao Ming is Artest.

But he averaged only 8 points in the first three games, which is obviously not up to standard.

Although his three-point shooting percentage is still good, at 37%, Battier can do it if he just needs a three-point shooting point, and in a game against the Lakers, Battier even did better than Artest on the defensive end.

As the third highest paid player on the team, his performance is hardly satisfactory.

Even the rationality of the Bulls' lineup has been questioned, because on the back line, apart from Xu Yong and Rose, there are no other players who can hold the ball and attack.

Forman found a lot of excellent role players, but with Rose frequently injured this season, he did not prepare for the possible situation in advance.

“Is Kobe about to win his sixth championship in his career?”

In the latest episode of TNT, Barkley looked at O'Neal and asked seriously.

O'Neal had been arguing with Barkley every day before, and now he finally had a chance to fight back.

"I believe the Bulls will turn the situation around in the next games." O'Neal looked stubborn.

Now he can only choose to believe Xu Yong. If Kobe wins his sixth championship, Kobe will mention it every time they meet in the future.

Because he has retired, it is impossible for him to catch up in terms of the number of championships.

"Shaq, I actually think you can come back and join the Lakers next season," Barkley said.

"I have five championship rings and you have none." O'Neal made a big move.

Barkley slammed his hands on the table. This trick that O'Neal has tried and tested has always worked.

"Let's make a bet." Barkley was so angry that he spoke directly.

"What are you betting on?" O'Neal is not afraid of this.

"You say." Barkley was determined to embarrass O'Neal this time.

O'Neal stroked his chin and thought. The Bulls were clearly at a disadvantage now. If the Bulls lost in the end, he would have to fulfill the bet.

"How about this, let's bet on the next game. I bet on the Bulls and you bet on the Lakers. The loser wears a JK outfit and a wig to participate in a show. How about that?"

Barkley was stunned when he heard this, while Kenny Smith, who had been silent next to him, burst into laughter.

These two old men are getting more and more ruthless.

But apart from anything else, the traffic will definitely explode.

After all, who can resist the JK outfit of "Feizhu" or "Shark"?

And at this moment Smith was really grateful for O'Neal's joining, because he no longer had to worry about his ass being targeted by some flying pig.

"It's decided, next game!" Barkley was determined to win.

…

The day before G4, after finishing the evening extra practice, Thibodeau came to the training hall again.

The two sat down and talked about the next game.

Trailing 1-2 and without making any obvious mistakes, the next games in the finals will be really difficult.

"CP3's condition was something I didn't expect." Thibodeau said a little helplessly.

He actually knew that Paul would shoot at Yao Ming, but he didn't expect him to be so accurate.

According to statistics, when facing Yao Ming in a mismatch, Paul's mid-range shooting percentage reached 75%, an extremely terrifying statistic.

"Tom, I have an idea." Xu Yong said after thinking for a while.

"Just tell me." Thibodeau's face was filled with interest.

The previous strategy against Kobe was suggested by Xu Yong before the game, and then successfully implemented by Xu Yong.

"We can reduce the defensive pressure on Kobe appropriately, and then focus on limiting Paul's scoring opportunities," Xu Yong suggested.

Thibodeau didn't understand for a moment after hearing this.

Kobe is the offensive focus of the Lakers, and Paul is just a secondary attacker. Pinning the secondary attacker to give the main attacker a chance, isn't this putting the cart before the horse and throwing the baby out with the bathwater?

"Tom, do you know CP3?" Seeing Thibodeau's reaction, Xu Yong asked.

Thibodeau shook his head. He had no experience of working with Paul, and if he did understand him, it was only limited to his technical characteristics.

"I just heard from time to time that CP3 is a person who cares a lot about honor. He has a chance to win the FMVP now, but if he finds that something so close to him is taken away, he will feel unbalanced."

Xu Yong's words stunned Thibodeau. This was no longer a tactical or strategic level, but a psychological tactic similar to Kobe's "double-teaming players in their contract year."

"As for Kobe, we can rotate our defense. If he really explodes again, I will switch to defend him. He has been exhausted so far in the game." Xu Yong continued.

Thibodeau did not express his opinion immediately this time, because psychological tactics are indeed a bit mysterious.

…

A day later, Game 4 between the Lakers and the Bulls continued in Los Angeles.

Playing at home and leading 2-1, the Lakers players had relaxed smiles on their faces.

Especially Paul, whose future with the Hornets was bleak last season. This season, he not only won the championship, but even got the FMVP.

This wave fully illustrates the truth that "a tree that is moved will die, but a person who moves will live."

In addition, the pain of 58 brought by Xu Yong and the Bulls can also be vented this year.

The game started quickly, and then Paul couldn't laugh anymore.

Because he found that the Bulls actually put the focus of defense on him tonight!

It was difficult for him to find Yao Ming in a mismatch, and the Lakers' offensive focus was forced to shift to Kobe.

Then Kobe played very well at the beginning.

As the game continued, Paul's face looked more and more strange, and then he actually started to attack!

Thibodeau felt incredible watching from the sidelines.

It is said that the human heart is the most difficult to predict, but Xu Yong really understands it.

As the brain of the team, Paul's attack quickly disrupted the Lakers' offensive rhythm.

After Brown saw Kobe start to look at him in confusion, he had no choice but to substitute Paul to make adjustments.

As a result, Paul gave him a cold shoulder when he came off the court.

You may think that anyone can be a nanny coach for star players, but it is not that easy.

Then because of this chaos, the Lakers finally lost to the Bulls 87-99, and the score was tied at 2-2.

At the end of the game, Xu Yong couldn't help laughing when looking at the score.

Naturally, he has never worked with Paul, but Paul's experience in the Suns finals was so impressive.

And when you look back on Paul's career, while you feel regretful, it is also easy to discover a fact: when it comes to failing, he really never fails.