What to do if the MVP is unstable? Then score a hundred points in a single game!!!!

April 14, 2010.

The Los Angeles Lakers' regular-season finale was an away game against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks had also played 81 regular-season games, posting a 53-28 record to rank fourth in the Eastern Conference.

The team's core had gradually shifted from Joe Johnson to Josh Smith. However, because the Hawks faced the Lakers two or three times every season, each matchup left the Hawks' management hesitating over whether Josh Smith should truly become the team's centerpiece.

Like Rodney Stuckey, Josh Smith had publicly mocked and questioned whether Zhou Ze deserved to be mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan.

Although Zhou Ze had never directly responded to this, those who knew him understood that he was not nearly so "magnanimous."

Tonight's starting lineups:

[Hawks]: Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Zaza Pachulia.

[Lakers]: Rajon Rondo, Patrick Beverley, Ron Artest, Zhou Ze, and Jermaine O'Neal.

Well...

That's right.

Kobe was resting tonight, conserving his energy for the NBA playoffs.

As for competing for MVP, honestly, Kobe was not particularly interested. In his eyes, the ultimate prize—namely, the championship—was far more valuable than MVP.

Zhou Ze, on the other hand, was the type who wanted every honor he could get.

Of the Lakers' three centers—Marc Gasol, Chris Andersen, and JaVale McGee—two were resting as well. Only McGee remained, and he was merely Jermaine O'Neal's backup.

The Lakers without Kobe gave their opponents hope before the game.

"Although Los Angeles has already won 75 games this season, the Lakers without Kobe will definitely suffer a major drop in strength. Also... you media people keep saying Zhou will score 100 points against us tonight and lock up this year's MVP? All I can say is... that's simply impossible."

"Even if you saw aliens invade Earth, you still