NBA bench saves national team

Staples Center.

Two hours before the game.

The arena is already crowded with people, and there are no empty seats.

Even if it's Christmas, it can't stop the enthusiasm of the fans to watch the game live.

At this time, the two teams are conducting pre-match interviews.

Lakers interview room.

"Kobe, you are about to participate in the last Christmas game of your career. May I ask how you feel at the moment?"

a reporter asked.

"Very emotional! I have been participating in the Christmas game since the beginning of my career and have never stopped for so many years."

"I'm grateful that this happened."

"But for me, the most gratifying thing is that I can finally be with my family at Christmas next year, which is very happy for me."

Kobe said with a faint smile on his face.

Since announcing his retirement, he often had a smile on his face, less aggressive and murderous.

"Kobe, the opponent in this Christmas game is facing James again. What do you think of this matter?"

a reporter asked.

"It's unbelievable that the league has arranged for us to be against James for several years in a row. We have become old friends in the Christmas game."

Kobe shook his head and said, also helplessly.

But he can also understand this behavior of the league. After all, the most popular and topical players in the league are Qin Feng, James, and himself.

Three top superstars in the league play together.

That, of course, attracted unprecedented attention.

"Qin Feng, this is the seventh time you have participated in the Christmas game in your career. Do you think you have a chance to surpass Kobe in the future and become the player who participated in the most Christmas games?"

a reporter asked.

"To be honest, I'm not sure because I might not be able to play as long as Kobe. This guy has played in the league for 20 years!"

"What a long time."

Qin Feng also said with great emotion.

The reporters nodded.

There are only a handful of players in NBA history who can play for 20 years.

It's really too little.

These are players at the league's living fossil level.

After asking a few more questions, the reporters ended the interview.

Cavaliers interview room.

"James, this will be the penultimate time you have played against Kobe in your career, what do you think?"

a reporter asked.

"No! This is obviously not the penultimate time, we will meet in the finals."

"Kobe is a great player. I am his loyal fan. When I was in high school, I had a poster of Kobe in my bedroom. He is my driving force!"

"It's hard to imagine what the league will look like after he retires, but there is no doubt that the league has lost a great star and a great competitor!"

"Kobe's impact on this era is immeasurable, and the world will remember his contribution to the sport of basketball."

James said seriously, with respect in his tone.

The reporters were a little surprised when they heard this.

Unexpectedly, James would directly say that he would meet Kobe in the finals. This is not in line with his speaking habits.

"James, Kobe started his retirement tour after announcing his retirement. The scale is so large that it is unprecedented in the history of the NBA. Do you think you can have such a scene when you retire in the future?"

a reporter asked.

"I don't know! There is still a long time in my career. I will not think about things that have not happened in the future. I will only grasp the present. I think that when I announce my retirement, it will be very interesting."

"It's hard to imagine that day coming."

James grinned and said, with longing in his eyes.

The story has been written, how will future generations go to praise it?

This is no longer something he can care about.

The only thing he can control is to make this story more perfect.

"Irving, what does Kobe's retirement mean to you?"

a reporter asked.

"Fans all over the world know that I am a big Kobe fan, so you all know how important he is to me!"

"Kobe is my driving force and my spiritual pillar. I will be very sad, so I can't listen to his teachings on the court."

"But even if he retires, I won't give up going to him for a one-on-one match."

Owen shrugged and said, expressing his true thoughts.

The reporters nodded one after another, they all knew how crazy Irving's admiration for Kobe was.

It can be said that Irving is the number one Comedy in the NBA.

The reporters asked a few more questions before ending the pre-match interview.

Players of the two teams walked through the long player tunnel and came to the field illuminated by spotlights.

In this unique festival, the Staples Center Arena has also been redecorated, embellished with many Christmas elements.

The fans started cheering.

Some wonderful pictures of James and Kobe's career fights are also being played on the big screen at the scene.

Before Qin Feng's rise, the main theme of the alliance was 23vs24!

After the compliments, the pre-match warm-up also ended.

The starters of both sides came on stage.

The starting lineup of the Lakers is Jokic, Antetokounmpo, Qin Feng, Kobe, Lowry;

The starting lineup of the Cavaliers is Mozgov, Love, James, Jr. Smith, Irving;

Jokic and Mozgov jump the ball.

The former took the basketball out, and the Lakers took the lead in attacking.

After Lowry dribbled the ball through half court, he passed the basketball to Kobe.

The audience immediately burst into wild cheers.

After Kobe announced his retirement, the team's first round of offense was completed by Kobe.

Corvo was also not polite at all, he fell directly into the low post for post-up singles, bumped JR Smith a few times in a row, then turned around and stepped back to make a jumper.

Even if the explosive power is gone and the bounce rate has become lower, Kobe's technical movements are still picturesque.

The basketball arced high.

Swish.

Hollow into the net.

After scoring the goal, Kobe also showed a smile, feeling that his state of the game was very good.

His suppressed aggressive heart began to become restless again.

The Cavaliers attack.

After Irving dribbled the ball for half court, he passed the basketball to James, who organized the offense with the ball at the top of the arc.

In this team, James is still the absolute core of the team.

Even though Owen has improved a lot on the organizational side this season, he still can't carry the heavy responsibility of the team's organization and is only suitable as an offensive arrow.

And there is no way to affect the game in all aspects like James.

Facing Qin Feng's defense, James changed direction continuously and broke through from the right.

Qin Feng moved his footsteps, not giving James a chance to kill in the penalty area.

resignedly.

James can only pull back and make an emergency stop jumper.

The basketball arced high.

Swish.

Hollow into the network!

After scoring the goal, James also shook his head and let out a sigh of relief.

This attack was almost going to end in a mistake. Fortunately, I have a very strong ability to control my body, which gave me the ability to adjust, and finally completed the shot stably.

The Lakers offensive round.

After Lowry dribbled the ball for half the court, he passed the basketball to Qin Feng. Facing James' defense, the latter made two feints of changing direction, and stepped back directly to shoot a three-pointer.

The basketball arced high.

Swish.

Hollow into the net.

Qin Feng's performance is still very stable.

Seeing this, James also shook his head helplessly. He has competed with Qin Feng for so many years, and he knows that it is completely impossible to prevent Qin Feng.

You can only try to limit him.

This is very hopeless.

Especially in the finals, there is absolutely no way.

There was a gleam in James' eyes.

Although the Cavaliers are now firmly in the No. [-] position in the Eastern Conference, he has no confidence in leading the Cavaliers to the championship this season.

Just because of Qin Feng, because of his Lakers team.

This season, the Lakers have shown a stronger strength than last season. What's going on?