Jim Bass Ambition

Chapter 61 Uneasy
O'Neal's expected comeback time was postponed to the end of March, and Jim also got confirmation from Thomas Carter that O'Neal's operation before the start of the season was almost a failure. After Carter's conservative treatment, he will wait until the end of the season to see if he needs major surgery. Come cure.

Fortunately, the rest of the team members are basically in good health, except for Arenas who ate Malone's iron elbow and had 5 stitches in the corner of his mouth.Jim suggested that he could wear braces during the game.

Since last Thursday, the Lakers have not played, and the four-day break has given the exhausted team a buffer.Jim and O'Neal tacitly did not disclose any information to the team, and the players did not know the upcoming upheaval.

The first opponent after the break is the New York Knicks in a dark period.

The Knicks fell short of winning the championship in a shrinking season. With Ewing leaving the team sadly and Larry Johnson retiring due to injury, the Knicks' scepter was transferred to the hands of the two-gun Latrell Sprewell and Alan Houston. Coach Jeff Van Gundy's ugly style of play maintained a 50-win regular season record in the next two seasons.

But in the playoffs, they all played the role of accompanying the prince to study. The New Yorkers paid high salaries, but the rewards they got were far less than the investment. The pressure on Van Gundy was increasing, and his hair was getting less and less.

Finally, at the beginning of the season, Van Gundy blatantly resigned on the grounds of "wanting to spend more time with his family" and threw the Knicks to Don Cheney.Poor Cheney led the Knicks, who were troubled both internally and externally, with an avalanche of records all the way, approaching the two tank teams of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls.

Under the defense of Bruce Bowen, Alan Houston lost all his sights and scored 16 points on 4 of 10 shots from the field. Arenas, who had a mouth injury and came on the stage with braces, faced the old Mark Jackson with full firepower. He scored 5 three-pointers in the opening shot.

It is worth mentioning that one of Arenas made a super long three-pointer with two steps outside the three-point line. As soon as the ball was shot, the Lakers bench off the field celebrated, and Arenas was wearing braces Goes right back to the defense without even looking at the basket, the ball goes in the net.This goal made Mark Jackson feel very embarrassed.He made up his mind that in the future, he would not let anyone take a long three-pointer in front of him, let alone chew his braces in front of him.

湖人以117比103轻取尼克斯，全队7人得分上双，就连本·华莱士都拿到了10分18篮板的两双数据。斯普瑞维尔空砍36分，难挽败局。

Next, the Lakers faced the challenging Charlotte Hornets and won an atypical victory with their impregnable defense. The Hornets shot a miserable 32.3% in the whole game. Among them, the core point guard Baron Day Weiss made 12 of 1 shots, core small forward Jamal Mashburn made 11 of 2 shots, and the two scored 10 points together.

The Lakers slaughtered the Hornets 103 to 61 without bloodshed, giving the Hornets the record for the largest loss in the season.

Next, the Lakers took the Clippers lightly. At the same time, the Kings lost to the Knicks away, and the Lakers temporarily stabilized their No. [-] position in the Western Conference.

Jim found something strange.

Under the reminder of Stevens, Jim noticed that Kobe's shots dropped from about 25 times before the loss to the Jazz to 18 times in these games, and his scoring average was only a little over 20 points per game.On the court, Kobe showed no desires and no desires, which was completely different from the previous momentum of gnashing his teeth and threatening to destroy the entire opposing team by himself.

A gentleman's agreement had been reached with Kobe's agent Tylan before, and O'Neal's side had been temporarily settled, so the problem could only be on another person.It's about to meet the devil's schedule, and this time can't go wrong.

I came to the Zen master's office again, this time the Zen master did not make a blend of tea, but made a pot of Tieguanyin that I did not know where to get.

"Last offseason, you took away more than half of the team. And within half a year, you planned to take away the best player on the team. I admire your courage." Zen master put a cup of tea to Jim in front of.

"You and I both understand that this is bound to happen, it's just a matter of time." Jim picked up the teacup, put it in front of his nose, and fanned it with his hands, showing no surprise at the Zen master's news.

"Very well, then do you think the Lakers, without Shaq, have the ability to continue to compete for the championship? Kobe is great, but he is not Michael, at least now he is too young."

Phil Jackson didn't like Kobe.

Because Kobe doesn't like Jackson's triangle offense, although it can bring him a lot of shots and reduce the defensive pressure he receives.

In order to keep Kobe in the attack mode, Jackson gave Kobe a high degree of freedom in the offensive system, but Kobe, who went his own way, still repeatedly touched Jackson's bottom line.

In contrast, he hopes to build a team around O'Neal as the core.

"I will do everything I can to get the team to compete for the championship, and you can witness it with me. Of course, we have to win the ring in front of us first, and I promised Shaq that. I think, at this time Changing tactics for a while will cause uneasiness to the players." Jim drank his tea.

"Haha, you actually care about the uneasiness of the players? Do you know how many people on the team are here for Shaq? You think you're doing everything right, but the rumors can't be stopped!" Zen Master raised his eyebrows in a rare way. tone.

"Then tell them what's going on! The trade door is closed, there is only one month left in the regular season, Shaq will come back in time, everyone play well, the championship this season is still ours. Anyone who doesn't want to play, I will satisfy His wish, lay him off and let him find a good next home!" Jim grabbed the teapot by himself, poured a glass of water, drank it in one gulp, put the teacup heavily on the table, turned and left the office.

Zen Master watched Jim leave the room and slowly narrowed his eyes.

Next, the Lakers had two home and away games against the Mavericks. Kobe resumed his attack mode and scored 90 points in the two games. The Mavericks rotation of Sky, Lavlenz, Wang Zhizhi and Bradley had no way to do it. With the convulsion of Van Exel on the bench, the Lakers suffered a double kill by the Mavericks.

The tour of the Texas Devils continued. The Lakers challenged the Spurs away. Bruce Bowen sacrificed his crippled feet and took a wretched and evil step when Steve Smith shot the ball. Smith was injured and left the field.But this inspired the fighting spirit of everyone in the Spurs. Shi Buddha covered the sky with one hand in the interior, and the data of 39 points and 16 rebounds made the Lakers' interior group look ashamed.

The Lakers, who had swallowed a three-game losing streak, took a breather in Detroit. Facing their former owner, Ben Wallace sent a large double-double with 14 points and 21 rebounds, while the Pistons double-gun Stackhouse and Michael Reed Suppressed by Kobe and Arenas, the Lakers beat the Pistons, but the record has been tied by the Kings.

And the next opponent of the Lakers is the Sacramento Kings who sit at home and are in full swing.

　Thank you for your support and recommendation~
　　


(End of this chapter)