Jordan: I thought he was there to help me!

Chapter 1101 Conflict! Wade vs. Kobe!

With 10 seconds left in the third quarter, Kobe called for the ball on the baseline. When he was positioning himself, his movement wasn't just a bit too big; in terms of a fighting move, his elbow wasn't hard enough.

Kobe's big elbow was practically pressing down on Wade's shoulder, preventing Wade from getting around to steal the ball, and then he used his other hand to forcefully demand the ball.

But Wade is not the type to swallow his pride.

Kobe, you won't let me go around the front, but I'll go around the front anyway!

He suddenly stopped fighting Kobe, took a half step back to create space for himself, then moved laterally to the far side to give himself room to build up his strength before suddenly charging towards Kobe again.

With a loud "thump," Wade had completely abandoned any intention of playing defense or basketball; he had finally stopped using basketball as a pretext.

It was a blatant act of revenge, a direct elbow strike to Kobe from the side.

At the same time, Wade didn't forget to put on an act, suddenly stretching out his other hand, as if he was three-quarters in front of Kobe to prevent him from receiving the ball.

This acting is so fake it's unbelievable.

The referees never expected the two to suddenly act like that. They couldn't react at all, and they certainly didn't expect Wade to rush straight over without any warning.

The referee didn't react in time, and neither did most of the players on the field.

But the vast majority obviously does not include Kobe.

Kobe took a hard hit himself, which made him cower like a shrimp. In this situation, he was even less likely to tolerate it. This guy's fighting ability is so bad, yet he likes to spar with others day and night. This shows that he is not only bad at fighting, but also a fool.

Of course, being bad at fighting doesn't mean you can't elbow someone. Kobe's big elbows are legendary.

He aimed directly at Wade's body, raised his elbow, and with a "thud," struck Wade in the chest.

The blow was quite heavy, and Wade immediately staggered back several steps before regaining his footing. It was clear that this guy hadn't faked anything.

It wasn't just because his acting was bad and he couldn't act that realistically, but also because Wade's first reaction after regaining his footing wasn't to protest to the referee or express his innocence, but instead he went straight for Kobe and went back up.

Only those who have actually been hurt will immediately want to retaliate after suffering a loss.

If this were acting, Wade should be rolling around on the floor covering his face at this point.

Just then, a pass from his teammate came to Kobe's hands.

But Kobe didn't want to play basketball at this moment. He simply put the basketball on the floor and watched Wade rush over, nodding his head repeatedly, with an expression that said, "Come on, try it again if you dare."

Even if the referees are slow to react, and even if they want to give the game back to the players, they can't completely ignore it at this point.

The whistle blew wildly, and three referees rushed onto the court in a flash, quickly separating Kobe and Wade, while waving to the others to relax, not to fight, and not to act impulsively.

Wade was just one step away from reaching Kobe, but the referee stopped him.

After being blocked, Wade shouted, "What are you doing? I'm on defense!"

Upon hearing Wade shout that, Kobe immediately chimed in, "Yeah, what are you guys doing? He's on defense! Don't stop him, don't interrupt the game. I'll just raise my hand and hit a fadeaway jumper for 2 points."

"Without interrupting the game, he raised his hand for a jump shot, and I raised my hand and blocked it with a resounding slap, sending the ball crashing into the ceiling of the arena!"

"You're kidding me! Here, here, take the ball. Come on, I'll let you bounce it. Let's see if you can bounce it up to the ceiling. If you can't, you can eat the ball, okay?"

"You think we can just eat it because you say so?" Wade scoffed. "I'm not eating it!"

Listening to the two of them arguing so childishly, their teammates who were originally standing between them felt a little embarrassed.

This...does it really sound like we've been meddling in other people's business?

People are still talking about basketball, still talking about this play... what a load of rubbish!

The referee yelled, "Shut the hell up, all of you!"

"Are you two never going to stop?! Do you really think I wouldn't dare eject you two bastards from the final game, the pivotal match of the championship?"

Even at this moment, Kobe and Wade were able to demonstrate their calmness and composure.

For example, after the referee asked that question, both of them immediately shut up. No one tried to challenge the referee by saying, "Yes, you don't dare," or "Come on, try to punish me."

They knew that since the referee had said that, the matter was over, and at most each of them would receive a technical foul, allowing them to remain on the court and continue playing.

But if you really get carried away and say one more stupid thing, you'll most likely get kicked out.

There are some things referees can tolerate or pretend not to see, but there are some things they absolutely cannot tolerate.

Players must not challenge the authority of the referee under any circumstances.

This is why the referees have been able to tolerate Kobe and Wade engaging in free fighting on the court under the guise of basketball.

When the call came for a foul on them, both of them behaved like children, obediently raising their hands to acknowledge the foul and accept the penalty.

This proves that these two aren't acting impulsively and are rational. Since they've already resigned, go ahead and do it! It'll only make the competition more exciting anyway.

But if someone really gets carried away and doesn't care about anything else, well, good luck to them!

Anyway, that's the gist of it. The three referees believed that Kobe and Wade, being seasoned veterans, would understand, so after saying this, they each glared at the two a few times before the referee said, "The last time! The last time tonight!"

"Go tell your coach and teammates this is the last time! If you keep playing like this, I don't care who you are! Even without you two bastards, there are plenty of stars on the court!"

"You all better watch out!"

After writing a final sentence, the referee glared at the two players before going to watch the replay.

Yes, Kobe and Wade knew that it was completely unnecessary.

Because the referee's meaning was already clear: I've decided how to rule, and now we're going to watch the video for two reasons.

1. Put on a show to let everyone know that the referee is very fair.

2. Give Kobe and Wade a chance to calm down, and let them go to the bench and tell their respective coaches to be more careful going forward.

As the referee went to the technical table to review the video, the rest of the players quickly dispersed and returned to their respective benches.

If the referee heard the first words spoken by either coach at this moment, he would be furious.

"Well done! If that bastard dares to do that again, we'll teach him a lesson he won't forget!"

Although Jackson and Brown are completely different types of coaches, their first words to each other at this moment showed remarkable chemistry!

They will absolutely support their players at all times!

But of course, their respective players' responses afterward were another matter entirely.

The Cavaliers cheered in unison, expressing their willingness to give their all!

The morale of the team was greatly boosted, and their fighting spirit was renewed.

Meanwhile, Lin Tian, ​​looking excited, asked the Lakers, "Really? Can we take them down?"

"Except for you." Jackson glared at Lin Tian, ​​indicating that he shouldn't bother with him.

The Lakers' bench immediately burst into laughter, the atmosphere became less tense, and the team's morale soared. Everyone was filled with anticipation for the fourth quarter.

I can't wait to get on the field and teach my opponents a lesson!

But before the fourth quarter began, there were still a few seconds left in the third quarter!

The referees had also reviewed the video replay and once again issued a ruling that both sides should be held equally accountable.

Kobe and Wade each received a technical foul, and then the Lakers continued their attack.

Of course, before the game resumes, Wade and Kobe each have to take a free throw.

After they each made their skill free throws, the Lakers inbounded the ball from the frontcourt sideline.

Kobe and Wade stood almost side by side, far from the inbounds point. Everyone could see that Kobe was the Lakers' first choice to receive the ball.

The question is, if Wade can stop them, can the Cavaliers stop them?

"Beep beep!"

As soon as the referee blew his whistle, Kobe suddenly accelerated and sprinted toward the basketball. Then, just as he reached the top of the arc, Kobe suddenly stopped, turned around, and ran back toward the far end.

A feint attack?

The thought crossed everyone's mind: Was Kobe deliberately drawing attention and then running in the opposite direction to create space and opportunities for his teammates?

Sure enough, as Kobe ran towards the far end, the other Lakers players also started moving around, scattering and screening each other, all trying to find an opportunity to receive the ball.

"Who is it?! Who is going to receive the ball? The five seconds are almost up, and the Lakers haven't inbounded the ball yet. Will the Cavaliers force them into a five-second violation?"

No sooner had Van Gundy finished speaking than Kobe, who had just been running towards the far side, changed direction and turned again, running towards the top of the key once more.

This time, Barnes, who was taking the throw-in, didn't hesitate and made a through pass, sending the ball directly towards Kobe.

In this play, Kobe made a circle and drew an arc when he was running to create the right angle and timing. So he didn't run along the three-point line, but instead circled out at an angle.

Therefore, when he received the pass from Barnes, he was a full 2 ​​meters away from the three-point line.

But that's clearly not a problem!

After receiving the ball, Kobe dribbled one step, and at the same time, he took the opportunity to twist his body from being sideways to facing the basket to being directly facing the basket.

Then Kobe pulled up and launched a long-range three-pointer!

"The Lakers still have time on the shot clock!" Van Gundy shouted. "There's no need, absolutely no need to rush. The Lakers still have 4 seconds left on the shot clock, enough time for Kobe to make a full drive."

"Whoosh!"

Then came a sharp crack, like a slap, which landed hard on Van Gundy's face.

The crisp sound seemed to tell him: what is reasonable, what is rational, what is the timing of the attack, none of it matters.

I am Kobe Bryant!

"Six points! It's another six points!" Miller shouted. "The Lakers' lead has reached six points again! From the Lakers' perspective, they've used fewer starters and fewer core players to almost evenly match the Cavaliers' strength."

"The Lakers have benefited more this time! They'll have a physical advantage in the fourth quarter!"

But before Miller could finish speaking, the Cavaliers inbounded the ball from the baseline and passed it directly to Wade outside the three-point line.

When Wade got the ball, there were 4 seconds left in the quarter. He dribbled quickly towards the frontcourt and, after crossing the midcourt line, made a sharp crossover dribble with almost no deceleration to shake off Kobe and create some space for himself.

Without further hesitation or giving Kobe a chance to catch up, Wade pulled up and, with the momentum of his charge, launched a long-range three-pointer straight at the basket!

It was also a rather illogical choice; Wade made that shot with two seconds left in the third quarter!

But he just shot it! As if he wanted to compete with Kobe to see who was more unreasonable, Wade's long-range three-pointer also went straight for the basket.

Then, two voices rang out almost simultaneously.

"Whoosh!"

"Buzz!"

The third quarter is over!

Kobe and Wade each hit an audacious, long-range three-pointer!

The latter half of this third quarter was absolutely thrilling and exciting!

Both of them were really into the fight, which is definitely the kind of drama and pace that all fans love to watch.

"I don't know how to describe this quarter." After the third quarter ended, the commentators were silent for at least several seconds until both teams' players had returned to their respective benches to rest before Van Gundy finally spoke his first words.

This sentence was like opening a floodgate for Miller and Jackson; they immediately started talking.

"That was amazing! Such a thrilling match absolutely deserves to be the pivotal game of the finals! Such an important competition should be worthy of such a spectacular showdown!" Miller rattled off a string of nonsensical remarks.

Jackson said, "Wade scored 23 points in this quarter! More than Anthony's 20 points in the second quarter. These two are exploding in one quarter after another, it's like they planned it, going crazy to score. They hope to lead their teammates, they hope to win tonight's game!"

"So far, Wade has scored 38 points and Anthony has 37 points. These two are likely to combine for 100 points tonight! With their firepower and efficiency, any other opponent would probably have been crushed long ago."

"But the Lakers just didn't. The Lakers held on, and not only did they hold on, they even gained a 3-point lead at the end of the third quarter! It was really terrifying! As long as they are given the opportunity, they will definitely seize it."

"The Cavaliers only managed to take down the twin towers in the third quarter, and that was only for a few minutes before the Lakers pulled away! Against the Lakers, you really can't give them any chances, you can't give them any openings."

"Otherwise, you'll really just have to wait to lose."

Jackson said, "I think the Cavaliers are also terrifying! Midway through the third quarter, they faced an extremely difficult situation, trailing the Lakers by as many as 9 points, but they didn't collapse or give up. Instead, they withstood the pressure and gradually narrowed the gap."

"Although they couldn't catch up in the end, a 3-point deficit was really within reach. One 3-pointer could tie the game! Not to mention that the Cavaliers' 3-point shooting was super hot tonight. Wade hit 3 3-pointers in a single quarter. Give the Cavaliers an opportunity, and they can take the lead in no time."

Van Gundy said, "I think this time, we shouldn't try to predict who will win or lose, and we shouldn't watch this game with any preconceived notions."

"In the final quarter, the last 12 minutes, let's relax and immerse ourselves in the game. Let's enjoy what may be the highest-level, most intense, and most exciting matchup in recent years!"

Van Gundy's words once again received unwavering support and approval from his two teammates. Instead of analyzing the outcome or the strengths and weaknesses of both sides, they simply chatted about the most memorable moments of the first three quarters, waiting for the game to begin.

Soon, the fourth quarter of the battle began!

Jackson spoke first: "The Cavaliers, as expected! They're not going to let their three core players rest. Wade, Anthony, and Gasol are back on the court together, along with Varejao and Sessions."

"Brown doesn't dare to play his big man, four guards, and three point guards lineup anymore. I believe that unless it's a last-ditch effort, Brown will definitely not let his twin towers leave the court. He will definitely keep two big men on the court at all times."

"Compared to Brown, Jackson is truly terrifyingly audacious!" Miller followed up. "Look at his current roster, I'd think his team is leading by 15 points instead of 3."

"Lin, Terry, Barnes, Parsons, and Murphy."

Jackson frowned and said, "What are they trying to do? Are they sending the Cavaliers to swarm Lin? Let Lin bear all the defensive pressure while the others take the opportunity to shoot?"

"He might be able to hold on offensively, because I've never seen Lin falter, but what about defensively?"

How will the Lakers defend against the Cavaliers' twin towers?

Van Gundy said, "Maybe the Lakers don't need to defend the Cavaliers' twin towers? The Cavaliers' current roster only has Gasol as an inside scorer! Varejao is a pure role player; you just need to make sure he doesn't cut to the basket for dunks."

"The Lakers' perimeter players can perfectly match up for the remaining positions."

"That's because the Cavaliers put Varejao in. If they had put Ilgauskas in..." Jackson paused here.

Yeah, the Cavaliers didn't field Zydrunas Ilgauskas, so the Lakers are fine, right?

So, was the Lakers lucky that the Cavaliers didn't field Zydrunas Ilgauskas, or was Jackson brilliantly predicting that Brown wouldn't field Ilgauskas?

The three looked at each other, and although no one said it aloud, they were all more inclined to believe that Jackson had guessed it with brilliant foresight.

At this point, the two teams had officially made contact, and Wade dribbled the basketball to the frontcourt to face Lin Tian.

Then, this guy changed his attitude from the end of the third quarter when he was going head-to-head with Kobe and almost had his brains splattered. He raised his hand and passed the ball to Sessions, letting Sessions use his speed to bully Terry.

Sessions, who once racked up 24 assists in a single game, was certainly very clear-headed. He knew exactly what his strengths and weaknesses were, so the moment he received the ball, he immediately accelerated and broke through, overtaking Terry in the blink of an eye and rushing towards the paint.

Then, as the Lakers' help defense arrived, Sessions quickly passed the ball to Varejao under the basket. Although Varejao was not confident of scoring against Murphy, his advantage was that he knew his own limitations.

Varejao showed no intention of challenging Murphy, instead passing the ball back to the outside and giving it to Anthony.

After receiving the ball, Anthony immediately pulled up beyond the three-point line, and despite Barnes's almost face-to-face defense, he decisively took the three-point shot.

"Whoosh!"

With a crisp sound, the Cavaliers tied the score!

Meanwhile, the first 40+ point score of the night was achieved, with Anthony breaking the 40-point mark first.

"This is the 27th tie tonight! They've tied for the 27th time! That shows how intense the game is tonight!" Jackson's voice was starting to get a little hysterical. He used this tone, which he usually only used in the last three minutes of the game, right at the start of the fourth quarter, which shows how exciting the game was tonight.

"It's nothing, we just tied it." Lin Tian still had a smile on his face, gestured for everyone to calm down, and then dribbled the ball towards the frontcourt.

No rush.

The Lakers, who are smaller and not taller, are surprisingly not in a hurry!

Lin Tian leisurely walked to the frontcourt and was once again faced by Wade's defense.

This time, Lin Tian didn't waste words with him. Instead, just like Wade had done before, he raised his hand and passed the ball to Terry on the wing.

However, unlike before, Lin Tian did not stand still after passing the ball. Instead, he immediately started sprinting, drawing Wade's attention and the attention of the entire Cavaliers defense. Lin Tian ran from the outside to the inside and then back out to the outside.

After he made two trips back and forth, the Cavaliers' defense was in complete disarray.

There's no way around it; even without the ball, Lin Tian's offensive and intimidating power remains immense.

Then, when Lin Tian ran out of the three-point line again, Parsons' pass was already in place, right in front of Lin Tian's chest. Then Lin Tian once again became the setter, without even stopping the ball, he didn't even hug the basketball to his chest.

Instead, he touched the basketball with one hand and then sent it back the same way. (End of Chapter)