Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 569 - 189 He Has Already Entered "The Zone" (Only 1 update today!)

Chapter 569: Chapter 189 He Has Already Entered "The Zone" (Only 1 update today!)

After losing the third game, the defending champions have found themselves on the brink of a cliff.

The core Lakers players, led by Kobe, are well aware...

If they can’t win the upcoming fourth game, they will not only fall behind in a 1-3 series score, but staging a comeback against the Warriors in the remaining games would be nothing short of wishful thinking.

Refusing to sit idly by, Kobe, along with his teammates, practiced extra three-point shots during the lead-up to the fourth game.

This was a suggestion by Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw.

In the first three games, besides heavily double-teaming Kobe, to avoid Curry and Nash getting blown out, the Warriors primarily used zone defense as their strategy.

Thus, in Shaw’s view, only by shooting more accurately can the Lakers further improve their offensive efficiency on the court and punish the Warriors’ zone defense.

Additionally, after the first three games, the Lakers and Warriors have already revealed the chips they could play in this gamble.

Qin Yue is undoubtedly the trump card for the Warriors.

And for the Lakers?

Before the fourth game began, Jackson earnestly told Kobe, "Kobe, this is definitely the year you have the best chance to defeat him."

The Zen Master is a coach who is very skilled at unleashing the potential of star players.

Jackson knows Kobe is someone who never admits defeat.

Therefore, rather than comforting Kobe...

In Jackson’s view, what he needed to do more was to provide Kobe with a bit of motivation to activate the Celestial God Descending switch on the court.

Two days later, at Staples Center.

The West Conference Finals’ fourth game between the Warriors and Lakers was set to take place.

During the pre-game warm-ups.

As soon as he entered the arena, Qin Yue spotted LeBron James, who always liked wearing his baseball cap backward, standing by the side.

Qin Yue was curious why James would grace the arena tonight.

"LeBron, are you here to cheer me on?" Qin Yue approached and greeted James.

Upon hearing this, James replied with a bitter smile, "Cleveland feels too suffocating. I wanted to get out and relax."

Is it merely suffocation?

Earlier in the postseason, with James leading the Cavaliers to become the first divisional top team to be eliminated in the first round since the playoffs were restructured to a best-of-seven format, James has faced constant criticism from the United States media.

After all, in this era dominated by Qin Yue...

James, who already had the momentum of being second to none in the regular season, is considered by numerous American media outlets as the potential rival to Qin Yue in the NBA’s future.

American Basketball desperately needs a Captain America to topple Qin Yue’s reign.

Perhaps, in previous matchups between James and Qin Yue, James repeatedly met with defeat.

But in competitive sports, a temporary defeat doesn’t signify everything.

James is young enough.

Much like how Jordan took years to finally defeat the Pistons.

As the season progressed, with James gradually mastering the role of being a ball handler in the core...

Whether it’s his personal stats or his increasingly explosive body, many American fans see an incredibly bright future ahead for him.

Fans hope that James, who always maintains a chasing momentum, could one day catch up to Qin Yue, much like those comic heroes who always come back and win after initial losses.

However...

With fans’ ardent hopes for James and the Cavaliers’ first-round exit merging into nothingness, James, who provided fans with endless imagination during the regular season, inevitably had to bear the corresponding cost.

The cost was severe.

So severe that James didn’t want to spend even a moment longer in Cleveland.

Thus, following Richie Paul’s advice, James, who urgently needed fresh air, arrived at the scene for the fourth game of the West Conference Finals.

On one hand, the West Conference Finals had garnered tremendous buzz this year, allowing James to maintain his presence by watching in person.

On the other hand, James could use this opportunity to demonstrate to the world that he wouldn’t be easily defeated.

"You know, I still have a lot to learn from Era and Kobe."

While receiving a journalist’s interview, James humbly stated, "I hope watching the game closely can help me understand how these two great players lead a team to the finals."

At that moment, when James expressed his desire to improve with a humble attitude, Qin Yue believed that even those American media who constantly held onto James would surely offer him some leniency afterward.

What can James learn from watching the game?

That isn’t important.

What’s essential is that James can use this game to show the world his heart that refuses to give up.

Just like doing a test; the questions might not have to be answered, but the sound of flipping the pages must be loud.

Warm-up concluded.

At the court center, players from both teams gradually took their positions.

That night, the jump ball was again contested by Qin Yue, who played as the center, and Little Gasol from the Lakers lineup.

Interestingly, knowing he wasn’t a match for Qin Yue in the jump ball, Little Gasol simply forfeited the tip-off, and retreated to his half-court as soon as the game started.

Curry was responsible for bringing the ball over half-court, the Warriors swiftly stretched their formation and created an opportunity for Qin Yue to isolate Odom on the wing.

The next moment, Qin Yue aggressively paved through Odom’s defensive zone, paused for a pull-up, and hit the shot.

In the stands, witnessing the scene firsthand, James, who had just involuntarily put himself in Qin Yue’s perspective, immediately furrowed his brows.

Because at the moment Qin Yue made the breakthrough, the help defense from both Gasols had already arrived, so aside from passing, the pull-up was indeed the best option available to Qin Yue.