Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 709 - 246: Slam Dunk Against the Lakers (Already broken, today I am ashamed to face all the reader foster fathers)

Some showdowns, no matter how many times they are staged, are destined to be eternal classics.

The Lakers' offensive possession.

Paul brought the ball to the frontcourt and once again displayed his attacking desire far beyond usual.

Using his left hand to launch Sam God, he executed a sudden stop and shot at the moment of piercing Nash's defense.

The next second, Paul, who had already scored five points for the Lakers right from the start, even threw a cheeky wink at Qin Yue, who was already positioned inside waiting to block him.

That expression, that look, clearly said:

Didn't expect me to anticipate your anticipation?

Compared to Kobe, who chose to remain silent knowing he couldn't outtalk Qin Yue, and those players worried about provoking Qin Yue and inciting his revenge.

If you have to ask...

Who is the player in the league most adept at messing with Qin Yue's mindset, it can only be Paul.

Paul's understanding of Qin Yue makes him far more aware than Kobe of what will break Qin Yue's defense.

As for the cost of angering Qin Yue?

Sorry, since entering the league...

Almost every encounter with Qin Yue, Paul ends up in a love-hate relationship with him.

So what about anger or not?

In Paul's view, if you play basketball, lose on the court, and lose verbally as well, that's truly uncomfortable.

On the court, it's the Warriors' turn to attack.

Under Kobe's close defense, Qin Yue, who had been tightly marked even from the off-ball transition, finally breathed a sigh of relief upon reaching the frontcourt.

Same as in the regular season.

The Lakers' strategy of having Kobe defend Qin Yue off-ball was not intended to limit his scoring, but rather to deplete his stamina.

After all, no matter how strong Qin Yue's individual ability, facing Kobe's unreasonable "elbow check," Qin Yue had to go through a wrestling match just to reach the Lakers' half.

Although Qin Yue's superior physique ensures that Kobe ends up harrowingly defeated every time in their tussles.

But as long as the tactic delays Qin Yue's advance past mid-court and forces him to waste unnecessary stamina off-ball, the Lakers' defensive strategy is already half successful.

On the sidelines, Warriors coach Mike Malone couldn't help but roar at the referee: "Damn it! He's constantly pulling on Messiah's jersey, isn't that a foul?"

Foul?

Kobe had merely used a sandwiching tactic on the GOAT. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

How could that be a foul?

In the NBA, the so-called defensive standards are always a puzzle.

Take this game as an example.

Just from the first two possessions, it's clear the defensive standards allowed by the referees far exceed the rules of basketball itself.

Especially the standards for defending Qin Yue.

Going from the left wing high post, dribbling past Big Gasol.

Initially yanked and pulled by the opponent, then facing Little Gasol's "strong man lock man" in the low post.

Then using the left hand to flick the ball into the hoop.

Even as Qin Yue turned to defend, the referee showed no intention of blowing the whistle for him.

It's no exaggeration to say that this attack, if it were the future Luka Doncic, Dongzi might well have performed the legendary "eighteen flops" on the court.

But as for Qin Yue?

Over the years, Qin Yue has grown accustomed to referees always granting defenders extra consideration on the court.

Can't play without a whistle.

If you can't play, you gesture at the referee as if begging.

If begging doesn't work, get the team's big brother to propose to the referee on one knee immediately.

Unfortunately, such actions are clearly not Qin Yue's style.

Nor do they match his status as the GOAT of the new era.

Even though Qin Yue detests the biased whistles in favor of defenders called by referees these past two years more than anyone else.

But the GOAT should complain to the referees in a GOAT way.

Like at this moment, shouting "FUCK" directly at the referee while retreating on defense.

After venting at the referee, Qin Yue felt much better.

As for the referees on the sidelines, who can only act as if nothing happened?

Well, they're the ones giving biased whistles to the defenders, aren't they?

In the NBA, it's the unique privilege of Qin Yue to insult referees at any time.

After all, after openly giving defenders against the GOAT favorable whistles, the referees have to allow Qin Yue some room to vent.

Even though Qin Yue's frequent yelling at the referee doesn't affect the referee's subsequent calls.

But as the GOAT, wearing that crown and enjoying the world's reverence entails accepting that the world will hold him to GOAT standards in every aspect.

If you desire to wear the crown, you must bear its weight.

And those who want only the crown, yet refuse its burden, will only add comic relief with cries of "Oh he's down again" even if they cling to the NBA until age fifty.

On the court, the Lakers have possession.

After the game opened, the aggressively attacking Paul successfully drew a defensive assist from Brown.

However, Little Gasol, positioned in the phantom zone, had his seemingly sure basket attempt sharply blocked at the last moment by Qin Yue.

At Oracle Arena, as Qin Yue, like Dikembe Mutombo, waved his finger at Little Gasol, having shattered his basketball dream, the entire arena erupted in deafening cheers.

On TNT TV Station, watching Qin Yue wave his finger without getting a technical, O'Neal said: "The referees are too lenient with him. In the NBA, this is a move only Dikembe Mutombo is allowed to make."

In the NBA, wagging a finger is indeed a move only Mutombo could make.

However, Qin Yue is the exception.

Moreover, unlike Mutombo, who earned this gesture privilege through charity work off the court, Qin Yue's reason for being allowed this move is simply that over the past two years, he has thoroughly convinced all the NBA referees with his play.