Chapter 558 - The Playoffs 8 (1/2)

Grant had the advantage of being able to use his strength in plays against Rick, but Grant also knew that he couldn't try to move too close to the painted area, after all, Dennis Rodman and Shaquille O'Neal were always looking at him and they would stop him.

The game remained balanced and at the end of the first quarter the Los Angeles Lakers team was winning with a small advantage in points, in that first quarter, Jake played for 12 minutes and had 8 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals.

”The first quarter ends and the Los Angeles Lakers team is winning the game, this start of the game seemed balanced, but it seems that the Los Angeles Lakers team can play better than that and is using the strategy we know.”

”It's true, we could see that Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant are playing well in that game and when they are playing well the Los Angeles Lakers team get the win.”

”Jake Smith is playing as well as in every game, so in this game, the Los Angeles Lakers team will win if the Portland Trail Blazers team are unable to defend better and not press forward.”

”Damon Stoudamire, Isaiah Rider, and Rasheed Wallace are playing better in this game and Stoudamire will have a hard time attacking and defending against Jake, but if the Portland Trail Blazers win this game at the Lakers home they can win this playoff phase. and move forward.”

Before the start of the second quarter, Jake looked at the stands and you can see his mother watching the game in the place he had chosen for her, with Eva in the stands Jake was calmer to play and could play better that way.

From what Jake realized in that game the Los Angeles Lakers team could easily win with Shaq and Kobe playing well, the Portland Trail Blazers team could not defend well against the Los Angeles Lakers attack in that first quarter and would have even more difficulty when Jake took the lead. Lakers team to press on the attack.

The second quarter started with the Portland Trail Blazers pressing in attack and defense, they knew they had to work hard if they wanted to win that first game at the home of the Los Angeles Lakers.

But the Los Angeles Lakers team also started to press on the attack and soon everyone realized that in the first quarter the Lakers team was just analyzing the opponent, with the Lakers team's attack pressing on the Portland Trail Blazers' defense barely managed to hold the opponent's attack.

Jake advanced with the ball and passed to Kobe on the right, Kobe received the ball and Rider came pressing on the defense, Kobe held the ball a little and passed the ball to Rick on the left, Rick received the ball and already passed to Jake further back.

Jake received the ball and Stoudamire came in the defense, Jake advanced with the ball and Stoudamire got closer to keep Jake from moving forward, Jake made a feint and a quick crossover to advance from the right.

Stoudamire was deceived and when he realized he tried to continue the defense, but Jake was faster and advanced into the area, Rasheed Wallace saw that Jake was advancing with the ball and came to defend.

Jake did a fast Speed ​​Dribble and advanced closer to the inside area, Wallace still continued in defense and Jake did the unstoppable Spin Move which was LeBron James' move, so Jake did the spin and advanced to do the dunk hard and do 2 points for the Los Angeles Lakers team.

The fans at the Great Western Forum were excited about this beautiful play by Jake, Shaq, Dennis and Kobe greet Jake for the beautiful play and this increased the spirits of the Los Angeles Lakers team in the game and left the Portland Trail Blazers players discouraged.

Jake started this move thinking of passing the ball to Shaq, but as it was Wallace who came to defend Jake decided to score the 2 points, that was the problem that the defense of the opposing teams had when playing against the Los Angeles Lakers team.

In another move, the Portland Trail Blazers team was on the attack, Stoudamire advanced the ball and passed it to Grant on the right, Grant received the ball and Rick arrived pressing on defense, Grant was one of the best players on the Portland Trail Blazers team and so Rick was pushing hard on defense.

Grant held the ball a little and passed it to Rider on the left, Rider received the ball and Kobe came pressing on the defense, Rider managed to trick Kobe with a feint and advanced to the left, Kobe still managed to react and continued on defense.

Rider made another feint and stepped back and tried a mid-range shot to score 2 more points for the Portland Trail Blazers team, the Portland Trail Blazers players were playing well in that game and were pushing forward.

Even so, the Los Angeles Lakers team's attack was stronger, and the Portland Trail Blazers team could not defend as well as it did in other games, with Shaq, Kobe and Jake playing well it was difficult for the Portland Trail Blazers team to reduce the team advantage Lakers in points.

In another play Jake advanced with the ball and passed it to Rick on the left, Rick received the ball and held it a little before passing to Kobe on the right, Kobe received the ball and Rider came pressing on the defense.