Champion Creed

In the stands, seeing the Lakers still holding the score tightly, some Warriors fans in Oakland began to grow restless.

The Los Angeles Lakers are indeed strong this season, being the team that caused the most trouble for the Warriors during the regular season.

No one knows who will be the last to laugh.

Someone started shouting at the Soul Dancer John Cage, "John, why don't you dance? Every time you dance, we win."

"Shut up, Andre, do you know how much toasted bread I had to sell to buy this ticket today? Do you know how long my wife has been nagging me about coming to watch the game? My wife even warned me not to make a fool of myself again, or I'd be sleeping outside tonight."

"What's so embarrassing about that? Your bakery has been doing better because of it, fans love buying bread from you, don't they? And John, I don't know why you're so afraid of your wife, my wife listens to me at home."

"That's because your wife doesn't have a double-barreled shotgun to blow your brains out! Shut up, I'm not doing it today, no dancing!"

After John Cage finished speaking, he stared at the court, looking at Roger and Kobe resting on the bench, so nervous that his palms were sweaty.

He couldn't say which side would claim the final victory, because Kobe Bryant is a very special opponent.

For Kobe Bryant, in his eighth professional season, this year was his best opportunity to reach the peak.

He didn't have Shaq by his side, but the Lakers had a very competitive lineup. This meant that if the Lakers won the championship, he could completely step on the head of his arch-nemesis Shaq.

And, Kobe Bryant would also realize his original dream—to become Roger.

Of course, if Kobe had the thick skin of LeBron James, he could say he had already replaced Roger as the face of the league.

But obviously, declaring oneself king without a championship is not convincing.

In this era where the Roger Dynasty is temporarily interrupted, anyone has the right to start a new chapter.

For Kobe, this championship window is especially important. Therefore, mentally, Kobe would absolutely not easily admit defeat.

No matter how terrifying Roger's performance is, he will not be intimidated, but will fight back even harder.

Kobe is the most qualified person to challenge Roger!

Yes, John Cage, like 90% of Americans, doesn't like Kobe. The Eagle, Colorado incident reminded fans of a fact: You only know what kind of player he is, but you don't know what kind of person he is.

A fierce warrior on the court may cheat while his wife is pregnant, a seemingly impeccable player may enjoy chaotic parties, a reserved player may like something in between male and female.

John Cage didn't like Kobe as a person, even if Kobe didn't assault the girl in Colorado, he still hurt his own wife.

But as a player, you have to admit his strength.

Kobe is now the second-best perimeter player in the league next to Roger; in terms of mentality and technique, Kobe is the closest guy to Roger.

So, tonight's game is indeed very dangerous.

Both Roger and Kobe scored 36 points in three quarters, but that won't be the final score.

These two still have a bloody battle to fight, and only they can decide the game's fate.

John Cage's judgment was correct; for tonight, only Roger and Kobe can decide the game.

Karl Malone was completely lost, wrapped up by Marcus Camby, and the Malone + Theo Ratliff combination stunted Stoudemire's performance.

Steve Nash's attacking threat greatly decreased under Roger's defense, and Allan Houston was practically turned into a second Peja by Kobe's defense.

But on the flip side, precisely because both sides have so many offensive threats, Kobe and Roger have many opportunities.

Kobe couldn't spare energy to assist against Roger because he was clamped onto Allan Houston.

Roger couldn't let go of Nash, so he couldn't attend to Kobe.

Offense and defense constrained each other, ultimately forming a shooting duel between Roger and Kobe.

At the start of the fourth quarter, both Kobe and Roger took a break; both teams' bench rotations played well for a few minutes.

On the Lakers' side, taking advantage of Roger's absence, Steve Nash and Ukrainian center Stanislav Medvedenko played a pick-and-roll like a dream.

Steve Nash is definitely one of the best offensive players of the 21st century and among the first point guards to pioneer pick-and-roll shooting. As long as he has a big guy who can set a screen, he can unleash hell on the offensive end.

On the Warriors' side, Stoudemire took advantage of the Lakers' rotation to minimize Hua Mountain's height. The Lakers' interior has a fatal weakness: a weak rotating lineup. The combination of Karl Malone + Theo Ratliff is great, but the only usable substitute inside players are Medvedenko, the aging Horace Grant, and the aging Rick Fox.

Apart from solid screens and somewhat unstable mid-range shots, Medvedenko is almost useless on the court.

Horace Grant was a figure during Jordan's three-peat era and the Magic Dynasty era, and he briefly teamed up with Roger again during the Hawks Dynasty, but he was long past his prime.

Rick Fox has suffered multiple injuries to his foot, neck, and back this season, leaving him in terrible physical condition. In fact, he is considering whether to retire from basketball and begin a second career in the San Fernando Valley.