Chapter 578 - West Conference Finals 8 (1/2)
Jake was calm knowing that his mother would come on game day to watch, Jake had already ordered a hotel prepared for Eva who would have to stay a few days in San Antonio because the Lakers team would play 2 games in the city.
Jake was very excited for the game that would happen the next day, he saw in the last training before the team game that his teammates were much more rested after these almost 4 days of rest.
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal looked confident after so many comfortable wins they had, they knew that if the Los Angeles Lakers team won one more of those two away games they would have a great chance to advance to the next round.
After all, players had finished dinner Coach Rambis asked all players to gather in the hotel's meeting hall because he wanted to talk to everyone before the next game.
”Conference Finals, very important for you to remember that we are in the Conference Finals, after this phase of the playoffs are champions, and if we are Conference Champions, we can go to the NBA Finals and we will try to become NBA Champions.”
”Of the 29 teams in the NBA, we are one of the top four, out of all the players, you are in the top 100, that's something for our team to be proud of, but you shouldn't be satisfied with just that.”
”You are playing for the Los Angeles Lakers team, one of the best teams in NBA history, the Los Angeles Lakers team was 11 times NBA Champion, it's been 11 years since the last time, don't you think it's time for the Los Angeles team Lakers to be champion again?”
”I look at this team and I honestly see the best team this season in the NBA, I see here some players who could be MVP this season, so I don't see why we couldn't be champions this season in the NBA.”
”The next 2 games will be the most important of this Conference Finals, if we win one game as a visitor we will have almost guaranteed our place in the NBA Finals.”
”So try to win tomorrow's game so the pressure will all go on the San Antonio Spurs team, maybe if we win tomorrow we can win the next game too and we'll go back to Los Angeles just to wait for the NBA Finals.”
Coach Rambis' speech served to further cheer the players up and show how important the next game would be, if the Los Angeles Lakers team won the next game, they would only need one win to advance to the NBA Finals.
If the San Antonio Spurs team lost the next game, they would need a miracle to win the next 4 games in a row to advance to the NBA Finals, so the pressure would all go on the San Antonio Spurs team if the Los Angeles Lakers team made it.
Soon the game day arrived, Jake ate a reinforced breakfast along with Rick and Kobe, after a few hours Jake got a call from Eva that she had already arrived in San Antonio and was resting at the hotel before heading to the game.
After a few more hours the Los Angeles Lakers team went to the Alamodome, the San Antonio Spurs fans came to support the team and fill the Alamodome, fans knew that if the San Antonio team lost it would be difficult to advance to the NBA Finals.
Jake put on his uniform and then went with the Los Angeles Lakers team to the court to warm up, so soon it was time for the game to start, the Los Angeles Lakers team was calmer and the San Antonio Spurs players felt more pressured.
The Los Angeles Lakers team would start the game with Jake playing PG, Kobe Bryant playing SG, Rick Fox playing SF, Dennis Rodman playing PF, and Shaquille O'Neal playing Center.
The San Antonio Spurs team would start the game with Avery Johnson playing PG, Mario Elie playing SG, Sean Elliott playing SF, Tim Duncan playing PF, and David Robinson playing Center.
The two teams were equal, after all these were the best players the two coaches had for this game, coach Gregg Popovich would have to keep the same strategy from the last game as well and hope that Kobe Bryant and Rick Fox had a poor performance in the game.
After all, coach Gregg Popovich knew he couldn't just defend against Shaquille O'Neal and the Lakers attacking plays near the painted area, the San Antonio Spurs team also needed 2 players to prevent Jake from having the freedom to try to make multiple attacks of three points.
”Welcome to everyone who came to watch this third game of the Conference Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers team won the first 2 games playing at home, so if the Los Angeles Lakers team gets the third win today, it will be very difficult for the San team. Antonio Spurs advance to the NBA Finals.”