The Diesel O'Neal Shows Off

"Kobe, it's been a long time!" Amid the lively clamor, Goodwin, the home team's host, strode briskly toward Kobe, who was warming up, and greeted him warmly. "Things haven't been going too well for your Lakers lately!"

After all, the ambitious Los Angeles Lakers, who had touted their newly assembled F4 superteam, had managed only a pitiful 13 wins so far while carrying the heavy burden of 14 losses.

Such a record was obviously enough to satisfy no one.

Those who had closely followed the Los Angeles Lakers knew all too well that this season had been a nightmare for the Purple and Gold.

Every game was a nerve-racking affair. When they won, it was an exhausting struggle, as though they had used every ounce of strength they possessed; when they lost, they collapsed completely, without even the power to fight back.

It was no exaggeration to say that being a qualified Los Angeles Lakers fan required an exceptionally strong heart.

Otherwise, even watching a single game might have been too much to bear.

The player fans criticized most was Dwight Howard. His performance had been abysmal: so far, he was averaging only 15.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 2.4 blocks, and 3.6 turnovers, a far cry from last season's form.

Especially in the previous fierce battle against the Golden State Warriors, Dwight Howard had been plagued by foul trouble throughout the game, instantly leaving the Los Angeles Lakers in a precarious position.

Fortunately, Kobe stepped up and barely held things together with his extraordinary individual ability. Otherwise, the game would have long since become the opponent's for the taking.

But it had to be admitted that the Golden State Warriors had also failed to seize their chance to win.

In the crucial moments of the fourth quarter,