Serge Ibaka Issues a Statement Overnight to Explain!!!

Russell Westbrook was indeed fast...

Even Rajon Rondo, a First Team All-Defense selection, found himself run ragged trying to deal with Westbrook's gear-shifting burst and second acceleration.

However, Westbrook was not particularly reliable at finishing around the rim.

If he could not finish with a dunk, his shots often rattled out.

The best way to defend Westbrook was still to leave him open—not by three steps, but by one.

However, Westbrook had attended Zhou Ze's vacation training camp back in college, and his three-point shooting was stronger than it had been during the same period. This season, he was shooting 34.7% from three while making 1.9 per game.

Swish!

Swish!

Westbrook hit two consecutive three-pointers, cutting the gap to four.

12-16!

However, the Lakers were not worried in the slightest.

Zhou Ze called for the ball in the deep low post, creating a strong-side offensive setup.

Rondo quickly passed it to Kobe, who had moved off the ball to the weak-side elbow. After catching the ball with his back to Thabo Sefolosha's defense, Kobe planted his left foot as his pivot, feinted backward as though he were turning around, and sold the fake with his shoulders and head. The move was incredibly convincing, and even Sefolosha, who possessed All-Defense-level ability, was faked into jumping. Kobe swiftly pulled back his right foot, stepped into the paint with his left, and scored on a floater.

12-18!

That play made the Swiss Army Knife spread both hands in helplessness.

Soon, Kobe continued isolating against the Swiss Army Knife on the weak side. Holding the ball at the right-wing high post, he assumed a triple-threat stance and jabbed forward with his left foot. The Swiss Army Knife thought Kobe was about to drive and slid backward, but Kobe seized the instant his opponent's balance