Coach Mike D'Antoni Sighs

Smack!

Dwight Howard got to the ball first, tipping it back into his own backcourt to give the Los Angeles Lakers the first possession of the game.

Steve Nash skillfully dribbled across half court. The moment he crossed the line, Pau Gasol, stationed beneath the basket, rushed up like a tiger released from its cage to set a screen for him.

Using that exquisite pick-and-roll, Steve Nash tried to pierce the defense like a blade and drive straight into the paint. But time spared no one—the Son of the Wind, once lightning-fast and graceful, was no more.

Steve Nash's driving speed was now clearly much slower than it had been at his peak, while Tony Allen slipped around Pau Gasol with lightning speed and stood squarely in Nash's path like an impenetrable wall.

Seeing this, Steve Nash remained calm under pressure. With a light flick of his wrist, the ball flew as if enchanted, landing precisely in the hands of Kobe Bryant, who had long been ready beyond the three-point line on the right wing at a 45-degree angle.

The instant Kobe Bryant caught the ball, Dwight Howard burst out like an arrow loosed from a bow, building a solid barrier for Kobe Bryant—another perfect pick-and-roll!

However, the Boston Celtics were clearly not about to stand by and watch.

Jimmy Butler reacted swiftly, pouncing toward Kobe Bryant like a hungry tiger. At the same time, Andre Drummond followed close behind without hesitation. The two worked together to trap Kobe Bryant in an instant.

Facing such airtight defense, Kobe Bryant showed no fear. He rose decisively into the air. While airborne, his sharp eyes swept across the court like a hawk's, accurately spotting Pau Gasol wide open and unguarded on the other side.

Pau Gasol securely caught the pass and was