NBA peak Jordan template

Chapter 91 Against Megatron!

Before dinner on March 2017, 3, Kobe Bryant showed up at the office of Lakers general manager Magic Johnson.

Bryant in a suit completely faded the shadow of a player, like a business tycoon, and Johnson embraced Bryant affectionately.

"Dear Kobe, I'm so fucking happy that you're here to watch the game at Staples tonight. You haven't been to Staples in a while, what have you been up to lately?"

"What are you busy with? Of course I'm busy on vacation haha, flying around and enjoying my retired life."

"Really? You don't seem like someone who will be idle, I don't believe it."

"You guessed it right. I've been working hard on some things recently, such as filming or something. But then again, do those guys still need me to motivate them? They are the number one in the league! The season is 51 wins and 7 losses! Especially the kid Zheng Long, who played at the MVP level."

The two, who haven’t seen each other for a long time, talked about the results of the Lakers in the new season like old friends. Although Kobe has retired, he has a deep affection for the Lakers.

"That kid is simply the strongest group of players I have ever seen. He made the Lakers reborn from the ashes."

"Really? You mean the Lakers are dead when I'm around?"

Johnson was amused by Kobe's joke, and Kobe also smiled and said: "You have to know that when I played with Russell and the others, I felt that if I retired, the team would be over. Russell's boys are talented, but they don't work hard enough."

Johnson was noncommittal about this, did not say anything more, and instead brought the topic to today's game.

"The team's two All-Star starters were unable to play today. The Thunder are a tough nut to crack. If... I mean if... today's game is lost, I hope it won't affect your good mood when you return to Los Angeles this time."

Kobe nodded and said, "No, I'll rush into the locker room and scold them at most. I should have the qualification to enter the locker room at any time, right?"

Johnson: "."

The two chatted for a while, and the game was about to start, so Johnson took Kobe to the Lakers car to Staples.

------

At the press conference before the game, Thunder coach Donovan was answering reporters' questions about MVP candidates. As the end of the season approached, Donovan would be asked MVP-related questions by reporters in almost every game.

Donovan was a little numb to this, but he still forced himself out of the repeated rhetoric.

"Russell's performance this season is phenomenal and enough to be recorded in history. He has always carried the team on his shoulders. He is definitely worthy of the MVP. He is the MVP in my heart."

The beautiful reporter asked: "What do you think of the Lakers star Zheng Long who will face tonight? He is also a strong contender for MVP."

Donovan's expression changed slightly. Facing the Lakers with many fans, he had to choose his words carefully, and the MVP competition was still going on, so he didn't want to be slapped in the face.

But as Westbrook's head coach, he can't lift Zheng Long too high.

"Zheng Long was selected as a rookie in the Western Conference All-Star, and the record of the Lakers is also the first in the league. This has proved that his performance this season is unbelievable. Such a star competes with Russell for the MVP, which is what the fans want to see. Competitors show value."

Donovan finished his long speech in one breath, and ended the interview with a sense of relief.

The media in Los Angeles is indeed much more aggressive than Goose City in terms of offensiveness. An ordinary pre-match press conference pestered me for half an hour.

Wharton is much smarter than Donovan. He directly missed the pre-match press conference on the grounds of physical discomfort. The media reporters who heard the news couldn't help but curse.

"If Walton is also absent from the press conference after the game, I will definitely file a complaint with the league officials!"

At this time, Wharton, who was "unwell", was nervously deploying tactical arrangements in the locker room.

There was some tension in the locker room, especially McGee and Ingram, who were ordered in danger.

"McGee, today your first task is to stand under the basket, grab rebounds, and grab the ball as soon as you grab the rebound, teammate"

Such a tense pre-match atmosphere has not appeared in the Lakers for a long time, but the absence of two All-Star players has to make Walton nervous.

It's fine if it's an away game. If you lose, you lose. You can afford to lose.

But not only at home, Kobe would also watch from the sidelines. For Kobe, Wharton was a little scared in his bones, after all, he was the "team bully" back then.

If today's game is ugly due to poor tactical arrangements or his own reasons, Walton has no doubt that Kobe will go to the coach's bench to beat himself up.

He is the one who can do such a thing!

But no matter how much he emphasized with Ingram and others, the key to winning or losing tonight lies in Zheng Long.

And Zheng Long was lying on a folding table in the locker room at this time, yes, it was lying on his stomach.

And a beautiful masseur from the Lakers health management department is giving Zheng Long a muscle relaxation massage.

There were four masseurs standing beside him.

This was requested by Zheng Long on his own initiative. Before the game, Zheng Long felt some muscle soreness and his condition was average.

Zheng Long himself is also very strange, maybe muscle soreness is not within the scope of injury immunity.

Upon learning of this, Wharton called all the team's masseuses without saying a word.

"Try to relax yourself, I will arrange for you the technicians? How many can you handle alone? Is four enough? Five, I will arrange five-to-one! Five technicians serve you one!"

Zheng Long:.
Although Wharton’s way of expression was problematic—but the work was still very reliable, and the technician he hired was skilled and gentle. At first, Zheng Long didn’t believe in massage. Perhaps it was because the form of massage in China was more important than the content, which left an inherent impression on Zheng Long.

The beautiful technician asked Zheng Long who was lying on his stomach: "Is it comfortable?"

"Alright."

"Do you want to try something more comfortable?"

"???"

Later, the technician increased the intensity - it turned out to be more comfortable like this.

There were still 10 minutes before the official start of the game. Wharton gave the players time to digest and absorb. He came to Zheng Long and asked with concern: "How is it? Are you satisfied with the technician you found?"

At this moment, Zheng Long completely returned to a certain moment in his previous life.

Why, if you are not satisfied, you can wave your hand and replace it with another one?

But the game is about to start, Zheng Long also put aside the messy thoughts in his mind and let himself focus on the game.

Strange to say.

When the team was first formed, neither the Rockets nor the Clippers had such a sense of tension.

Roll up your sleeves and do it!
Those who are barefoot are not afraid of wearing shoes!

After playing the league's first record now, he treats every game more and more cautiously.

Maybe it's because of the impact of the regular season win record.

Maybe it's because he has won too much, and he is more afraid of losing-because the public opinion and criticism suffered by losing a game now is by no means comparable to that at the beginning of the season.

The more restraints, the greater the pressure.

'Maybe this is the reason why the Warriors won 73 wins in the regular season last season, but frequently performed abnormally in the playoffs? '

next to.

The rest of the Lakers players were also quietly watching Zheng Long's direction. Ingram whispered to Nance Jr. beside him: "It's strange that Brother Long is tense before the game."

Nance Jr. nodded and said, "This is the case in the second half of the season. The intensive schedule will make the body in a sub-healthy state. You may get injured if you don't pay attention."

Because Nance Jr. entered the league earlier than Ingram, he knew more about these, and Ingram quickly understood and understood this.

"No wonder—I don't feel like it lasts that long lately."

"I remember you don't have a girlfriend, and you don't mess with those"

Ingram didn't speak, just raised his right hand, and everything was spoken.

At this moment, little Nance was speechless.

The locker room was completely silent, only the sound of breathing remained, and everyone was waiting for the moment when the game started.

Can you win today?

------

At the Staples Arena, the Lakers fans have already entered the venue early and took their seats early.

Although the game hasn't started yet, the fans don't want to spend a lot of money to buy tickets and miss the show.

Mainly because of gossip that Kobe will be here today!
Hot man!

Then, the fans saw Kobe in the first row of the auditorium. How could there be no diehard Kobe fans among the Lakers fans?
"Kobe! I love you!!!"

"Look here! Kobe!!!"

"Ahhh! Kobe!"

Many fans in the back row have already started shouting loudly, just to be able to turn back Bokoby!

Bryant smiled helplessly (even more triumphantly), and turned around to wave to the fans. This small gesture immediately caused a tsunami at Staples Arena.

"Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!"

Sitting next to Kobe at this time were Butler and Jokic. The two were unable to play today and chose to watch the game from the sidelines.

Even if we can't be together on the court, we must be together off the court!
Needless to say, Jokic is just sick to his stomach, but Butler actually ran over from the rehabilitation center.

Jokic was blown away by Bryant's appeal at Staples.

The last time I saw such a scene was when the Nuggets played against the Lakers last season.

Kobe held a retirement tour last season, and every home fan cheered for Kobe at the end of the game.

Jokic whispered in Butler's ear: "This is Kobe?"

Butler replied lightly: "This is Kobe."

But his eyes couldn't hide the fire.

Kobe's small ears were very sensitive, and he turned his head to look at the two with a smile in his eyes.

"Unfortunately, I can't watch you two play the game today. I have watched every game of the Lakers. You have performed very well this season."

Jokic was praised by Kobe, he laughed straight, and Butler was also very happy, but what Butler actually wants to hear is that you are both very good, and Jimmy performed even better.

It is human nature to have this idea.

Butler still wanted to chat with Bryant, but the lights went out, which meant that the opening show was about to begin.

coming.

The Lakers players came on stage one by one, accompanied by DJ's introduction and long roar.

"Small Forward from Duke - Possessive Potential - Consistently Defenders - No. 14 Brandon Ingram!!!"

"Behemoth at the rim with super bounce - passion on the court - No. 7 JaVale McGee!!!"

"The superstar of the Lakers -- the All-Star starter of the season -- omnipotent on the court -- No. 23 Zheng Long!!!"

Cool lighting, boiling scene, shouting audience, dazzling big screen introduction video.

Jokic sighed sincerely: "Damn it, it's the first time I sit in the auditorium to watch our debut show, so fucking handsome!"

Butler laughed loudly, not forgetting to tease: "That's because you didn't watch your own debut show, and every time you walked out trembling with a body of fat."

Jokic was angry: "Fack squid!"

Kobe is also seriously applauding every Lakers player. Although he was still on the team last season, today, only Nance Jr. has played against him.

It is embarrassing.

But Kobe, as a veteran, understands how commercial and ruthless this league is than anyone in the league.

The lights dissipated, the arena suddenly lit up, and the Thunder players walked onto the court led by Westbrook struttingly.

Zheng Long had no expression on his face. At this moment, he had no other thoughts in his mind, and his only belief was to win the game.

And this also caused Zheng Long to miss Westbrook waving to him.

The two ate at the same table after the New Orleans All-Star Game. Although they didn't communicate much, they knew each other.

Zheng Long didn't respond, and looked forward blankly, which annoyed Westbrook a little.

As it should be, Westbrook regards this behavior as contempt and disregard for himself.

'It turned out that asking me for a number that day was just a courtesy! '

Westbrook, who is sensitive and straightforward by nature, thinks a lot, and the more he thinks about it, the more unhappy he becomes. He even has the urge to run back to the locker room and blackmail Zheng Long directly.

Then Zheng Long came back to his senses when the referee came on the court, saw Westbrook looking straight at him, and waved his hand to say hello.

Westbrook: ..., nothing happened.

Zheng Long scratched his head and thought to himself, he really deserves to be Westbrook. I am afraid that even if he is a brother off the court, on the court, he only has winning in his mind!
For such an opponent.

Zheng Long only set one request for himself.

Give your all and perform at your best.

come on!

Westbrook!
------

"Zhuangdian Ertai!"

"Zhuangdian Ertai!"

"Welcome to the Lakers game against the Thunder at home in the regular season!"

"No. [-] in the Western Conference vs. No. [-] in the Western Conference!"

"Judging from the record, the Lakers will be the stronger team, but the Lakers will not play with Butler and Jokic today."

"With Zheng Long leading the team with a single core, it will still add a lot of suspense to today's game."

"Besides, Zheng Long and Westbrook are both strong contenders for the MVP of the regular season. The outcome of today's game is likely to affect the direction of the MVP in the future."

"The game is on!"

"The Thunder managed to get the ball."

(End of this chapter)