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Chapter 696 - 292. Someone can shoot better than Zhang San!_3

Chapter 696: 292. Someone can shoot better than Zhang San!_3

After Garnett joined the Lakers, Kwame Brown greatly improved his ability to protect the rim under his mentorship, evolving from a ’low-post defensive stalwart’ into a rim-protecting expert capable of seamlessly coordinating with him.

It’s worth noting that after being tormented by Jordan, Arenas, and Kobe for six years, Brown, entering his seventh season, was just 25 years old...

The opposing team’s decision to go for the first attack took the Zen Master by surprise. He had thought they would at least try to execute the Triangle Offense, which he had prepared to defend against.

You could say it was no surprise that a genius who won Coach of the Year in his first season did not rigidly stick to set playbooks.

However, the opposing team’s abandonment of their previously prominent team offense was, in the Zen Master’s view, like handing over half the victory on defense. A non-primary strategy might be effective, but it would definitely lack the proficiency of a primary tactic, relying mostly on harmony which could be difficult to maintain.

This was Garnett’s defensive deterrence!

When it was the Lakers’ turn to attack, Kobe forcefully drove in for a play, but instead of holding onto the ball and continuing to spin, he pulled up to the right elbow area. After Kidd initiated the offense, he began to move without the ball.

With Kidd orchestrating, Garnett coordinating, Kobe finishing, Morris Evans ready to shoot from afar, and Kwame Brown prepared to strike at the rim, the Lakers had their standard playbook for the season.

But after Garnett received the ball on the right side of the three-second area, he couldn’t pass it out!

Perkins was well-positioned under the basket, and with Brown’s inability to drive to the rim, Garnett looked to pass to Kobe but Hill immediately cut it off.

Garnett steadied himself without taking the risk to pass and was soon closely marked by Okafor.

Garnett instinctively turned his back to the basket to prevent a steal, briefly losing sight of the play. Kobe had the opportunity to receive a pass on his cut, but Garnett missed him again. By the time Garnett looked over, Zhang Yang had already switched defense with Hill, and Kobe continued to be closely guarded.

With little time left on the shot clock, Garnett took the shot himself, a back-down turnaround jumper... Okafor’s interference was on point! The shot clanged off the rim!

Perkins blocked out the charging Brown, and Zhang Yang collected the defensive rebound, prompting a fast break!

Kidd didn’t retreat but instead took the initiative to step forward and intercept Zhang Yang.

As Kidd expected, Zhang Yang passed the ball to Felton to pick up speed, with Kobe already in place to help defend.

Garnett hustled back to the backcourt, helping Kidd slow down the swiftly advancing Zhang Yang, while Brown dropped back under the basket, and Kobe and Kidd returned to their defensive spots... The Lakers successfully set up their defense!

Zhang Yang and Felton didn’t intend to sure-fire fast-break points, their primary goal was to create mismatches, but that failed too!

The Zen Master was very satisfied with the fast-break defensive coordination of Kidd, Kobe, and Garnett.

Such a defensive formation for the guards and forwards was incredibly strong! Among the teams he had coached, only the combination of Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman could compare.

However, the defensive strategy of Coach "Baldy" tonight surprised the Zen Master yet again.

A weakness of the Lakers, not fatal but quite troubling to him, had been targeted by the opposing "Baldy" – a lack of rim-driving power.

Coach "Baldy’s" defensive strategy was not comprehensive and even had many flaws, but it was extremely targeted... The Zen Master saw through Coach "Baldy’s" defensive scheme, but just like the defensive preparation shortcoming earlier, he had no plans to intervene.

On the court, the fast break didn’t materialize, and Felton slowed down to protect the ball, passing it to Zhang Yang.

Rather than handing over possession after a round of ball-handling like Kobe had done at the start, Zhang Yang’s strategy tonight was to attack while holding the ball!

Okafor continued to come up and screen off Kobe for Zhang Yang, who accelerated past the pick. However, Zhang Yang wasn’t as fast on this drive as in the previous round...

After the screen, Okafor continued to move to the left. He had stabilized his weight at 113 kilograms and moved nimbly.

Kobe had underestimated Okafor’s speed in the previous round and clung on with effort this time. But Okafor headed straight down to the left elbow area instead of moving to the 45-degree angle on the left for a long two-pointer. Felton, bringing Kidd with him, ran over the top using Okafor’s screen.

After briefly distracting Kidd’s pursuit, Okafor immediately turned and cut to the basket.

Kidd and Kobe decisively chose to corner Okafor as he cut inside.

On the other side, Zhang Yang used the screen to slow his drive and couldn’t shake off Garnett, who had switched onto him. As Zhang Yang approached the free-throw line, Okafor was cutting in after having just helped Felton disrupt Kidd’s pursuit.

Garnett shuffled a step to coordinate with his two teammates, blocking Zhang Yang’s pass to the top of the arc. At this distance, if Zhang Yang pulled up for a jump shot, Garnett was confident he could disrupt or even block it.

Just as Garnett stepped to the side to cut off the passing lane, Zhang Yang suddenly accelerated forward, stopping quickly at a distance inside the free-throw line, jumped, and released the ball rapidly...

It went in!

Garnett grunted and slapped his hands together. His defense had had just one gap, which Zhang Yang seized upon instantly.

If Zhang Yang had been a bit slower in stopping and shooting, Garnett could have pressed forward to disrupt it. If Zhang Yang had driven one more step, he would have entered Brown’s defensive territory, allowing Garnett and Brown to close in together.

Under normal circumstances, Garnett would surely be cursing, trying to mess with the opponent’s mind, but today he was up against the bad boy Jack... It’s better to play the game. Cursing isn’t civilized.

In the transition from defense to offense, Kidd and Garnett continued to work together to lead the team’s collective offense.

After setting a screen for Kobe on the wing, Garnett moved to a step beyond the free-throw line, receiving a pass from Kidd and nailing a long two-pointer!