The way Kobe understood and defined basketball does not prove it is the entirety of the sport.
In fact, every person who loves basketball has their own definition of the sport in their heart.
"Passion" is one interpretation, and "calm composure" is another.
"Individual skill display" is one interpretation, and "team chemistry" is another.
Just as there are "a thousand Hamlets in the hearts of a thousand Hamlet fans," there are a thousand basketball fans with their own unique understandings of what basketball should be and how it should be played.
He Xi Meng's path in basketball is quite different from Kobe's. However, due to Duncan's unexpected injury in this year's playoffs, He Xi Meng's playstyle had to undergo a certain transformation, becoming closer to Kobe's. But this does not mean that the future He Xi Meng will continue down this path.
Not all players with excellent scoring ability enjoy pushing their scoring skills to the extreme. At the very least, He Xi Meng is not one of them. In He Xi Meng's understanding, the importance of team and victory will always surpass individual scoring...
In the final quarter of the game, O'Neal wanted to make a kingly comeback, and the Spurs continued to employ the "hack-a-Shaq" strategy to disrupt him. And the 'Big Shaq's' free-throw shooting today was truly abysmal. He only made 2 out of his first 10 attempts. Even the most obedient Fisher was hesitant to hand the ball to O'Neal. Because giving it to him essentially meant O'Neal would go to the free-throw line, and O'Neal at the free-throw line essentially meant a turnover...
In contrast, Kobe played with explosive passion! He continued to go all out in the fourth quarter, driving to the basket, executing fadeaway jumpers, and even sinking a three-pointer!
However, to Kobe's surprise, the player who first stepped up to challenge him in the fourth quarter was not He Xi Meng, nor Reed, but an old friend, Ginobili!
Ginobili had an ordinary performance in the first three quarters, shooting 3-of-6 from the field, including one three-pointer, for a total of 7 points, generally underperforming Reed.
But in the fourth quarter, when Reed went to the bench for a rest and Popovich put Ginobili on to partner with He Xi Meng, Ginobili suddenly erupted. In a mere three minutes, Ginobili, with drives and outside shots, scored 10 points, instantly elevating himself from a mediocre backup shooting guard to the level of a league-best sixth man!
He Xi Meng's 39 points and 10 assists in three quarters did not anger the Zen Master, but Ginobili's 10 points in 3 minutes caused the Zen Master, who had been calmly holding his ground, to show rare signs of displeasure. He stood up from the bench, arms crossed, and continuously rubbed his chin beard with his thumb and index finger... Clearly, the Zen Master's dissatisfaction was on the verge of exploding.
Why did He Xi Meng's 39 points and 10 assists not have this effect, while Ginobili's 10 points in 3 minutes had such great impact?
Because He Xi Meng's performance was within the Zen Master's calculations, but Ginobili's surge was outside of the Zen Master's plans, even disrupting his strategy!
Yes, in the first three quarters, although the Lakers allowed He Xi Meng to score a game-high 39 points and 10 assists, He Xi Meng's stamina was also largely depleted.
Kobe's explosive start to the fourth quarter was perfectly timed! If He Xi Meng had stepped up to retaliate, the last bit of his remaining stamina would have been completely exhausted.
In the latter half of the fourth quarter, as long as O'Neal could contribute a bit more, or Kobe could push a little harder, the Spurs, without He Xi Meng's firepower, would have basically been finished with a quick run.
As a result, Ginobili stepped up, helping He Xi Meng withstand Kobe's onslaught! This gave He Xi Meng precious breathing room. It thwarted the Zen Master's plan to exhaust He Xi Meng in the first three quarters. The Lakers failed to drain He Xi Meng's stamina, and were instead kept in the game by Ginobili, forcing the Lakers into a difficult, hard-fought battle in the latter half of the fourth quarter!
The Spurs, with home-court advantage, successfully employed the "hack-a-Shaq" tactic to curb O'Neal's dominance in the paint... Of course, O'Neal's dismal free-throw shooting percentage today was also the biggest reason for his self-inflicted damage.
After his explosion in the first half of the quarter, Kobe's shooting percentage began to decline in the latter half. Ultimately, Kobe's shooting for the game ended at 19-of-35 from the field, 1-of-2 from three-point range, and 6-of-8 from the free-throw line, for a staggering 45 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block! A 45+10 double-double is truly insane.
But unfortunately, Kobe encountered an even more insane He Xi Meng!
In the latter half of the fourth quarter, neither O'Neal nor Kobe managed to go on a run, but He Xi Meng did! He scored 12 consecutive points in the final 5 minutes, leading the Spurs on an 18-10 run to reverse the game, defeating the arrogant Lakers 108-104 by 4 points!
He Xi Meng's final stat line for the game was 51 points, 13 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals!
Against the O'Neal-Kobe duo, he managed to score 51 points! He Xi Meng once again solidified his reputation as a "scoring machine," drawing the attention of fans across the league.
Even Iverson, who is currently on the rise in the Eastern Conference, has been overshadowed by He Xi Meng's brilliance lately.
This season is Iverson's peak season!
In the Eastern Conference Semifinals that have already concluded, Iverson and Carter led the Raptors in a grueling seven-game series!
In the final moments of Game 7, Carter drove and passed to Dale Curry, who hit a crucial three-pointer, helping the Raptors narrow the score to 87-88!
Iverson took the last shot, but unfortunately, his fadeaway jumper after a drive was unsuccessful. The Raptors had a chance for a game-winning shot against the 76ers!
With 5 seconds left, Carter took the last shot, but unfortunately, Carter couldn't create a miracle. His pull-up jumper at the buzzer was missed, and the Raptors lost Game 7 by one point, thus missing their chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
In this Eastern Conference Semifinals, across all seven games, Iverson averaged 33.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 3.1 steals, while Carter averaged 30.4 points, 6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 2 blocks! The two were evenly matched, clashing like sharp swords.
Ultimately, there could only be one winner. Iverson won and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, while Carter lost, ending his season, which had been so close to brilliance.
Carter's outstanding performance also made the Eastern Conference Semifinals a thrilling affair. Iverson's victory was narrow, but this tension captivated the fans...