Chapter 488 - A Great Deal 2 (1/2)
After the first attack of the Los Angeles Lakers team, the Denver Nuggets team had to react, Nick Van Exel started to organize the attack and advanced to the attack with Jake defending against him.
Van Exel passed the ball to Billups on the left, Billups tried the feint, but Bryant was firm on the defense and was not fooled, so Billups had to pass the ball to Raef LaFrentz later on, LaFrentz received the ball and Robert Horry pressed the defense.
LaFrentz was quick and made a spin and managed to make a mid-range shot to make 2 points for the Denver Nuggets team and tie the game again, LaFrentz really was a great player and unfortunately, his career would be hampered by injuries like many players.
In another move by the Los Angeles Lakers team, Jake started to organize the move and passed it to Rick Fox on the left, Fox was not participating as much in the game because the Los Angeles Lakers team did not have so much trouble making points against the Denver Nuggets team.
Fox received the ball and Bryant Stith soon pressed in defense against him, Fox held the ball and soon passed to Bryant on the right, Bryant received the ball and two players from the Denver Nuggets team came to defend against him.
So Bryant passed the ball to Jake further back, Jake received the ball and soon got rid of the Van Exel defense and went inside, the Denver Nuggets team's defense was open and Jake took the opportunity to advance.
Antonio McDyess realized that Jake was going to make the points and tried to defend against him, Jake realized this and made an assist to Shaquille O'Neal who was free, O'Neal received the ball and made the dunk to make 2 more points for the Los Angeles Lakers team.
O'Neal praised Jake for his assistance and Jake was happy with that, Jake thought it best to play as PG because he could defend better and organize his team's plays, moreover, Jake participated in all plays and had more freedom to make assists or make the stitches.
In another play by the Denver Nuggets team, the ball stayed with LaFrentz, LaFrentz held the ball and passed it to Van Exel further back, Van Exel received the ball and made a pass to McDyess further on McDyess protected the ball and O'Neal was defending against him.
McDyess used his ability to position himself to hook to make 2 more points for the Denver Nuggets team, McDyess, LaFrentz was playing very well and were giving problems to the defense of the Los Angeles Lakers team in that first quarter.
Jake received the ball and began the attack of the Los Angeles Lakers team, Jake advanced with the ball and passed to Bryant on the right, Bryant received the ball and felt the pressure of the Denver Nuggets' defense and had to pass to Horry later on.
Horry received the ball and LaFrentz was already defending against him, Horry passed the ball to Jake further back, Van Exel was not pressing in defense and Jake decided to try the shot from outside and hit it with 3 more points for the Los Angeles Lakers team.
That was another difference that he had playing as a PG and playing as an SF, the three-point shots were easier for Jake to try and he would try less 2 point shots, so the tendency was that he had more chances to make assists and could also make more points.
The first quarter ended with the Los Angeles Lakers having a big advantage on the scoreboard, Jake played for 12 minutes and made 9 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals, Jake can make assists and points more easily but had less chance of catching rebounds.
”The first quarter ended, the Los Angeles Lakers team is winning with a big advantage on the scoreboard and it seems to be an easy game for them even with the team playing away from home.”
”Yes, the Los Angeles Lakers team was the favorite in this game anyway, after all, the Denver Nuggets team hasn't won a game this season yet, even with the good performance of Raef LaFrentz and Antonio McDyess they can't stop the opponent's attack.”
”And in the Los Angeles Lakers team we have the whole team performing well in that game, Jake Smith has been playing well and controlling the pace of his debut in his PG position in the NBA.”
”Kobe Bryant started trying to make several plays and made some points and realizing that the Denver Nuggets team's defense was focusing on him, Bryant started to pass the ball more.”
”Shaquille O'Neal is playing as well as always scoring 8 points in that first quarter in 6 attempts, and even Robert Horry and Rick Fox who are debuting this season are playing well.”
Seeing Jake's first quarter as PG, coach Harris can relax, basketball fans might not realize it, but the team played completely differently with Jake playing as PG than it did before with Fisher.