May 8, 2003, San Antonio.
Previously, the Lakers and Spurs had split the first two games, 1-1.
Duncan had hit the game-winner in Game 1.
In Game 2, Duncan had not dared to play freely, and Kobe had seized the holes in the Spurs' defense to take the game.
The Spurs' strongest defensive point had instead become their weakness!
As long as Duncan got into foul trouble, no second player on the Spurs could step up and withstand the time Duncan was off the court.
In Game 3, the Lakers continued to have Kobe stick to that strategy.
"No! This can't go on!"
The Lakers led the Spurs 25-21 after the first quarter.
Kobe had completed nine drives in the quarter alone!
In any era, anyone who recorded more than ten drives in a game was a superstar!
This season, Iverson ranked first in drives per game, averaging 16.7.
Grant Hill was second at 14.7.
Kobe was only third, at 14.1.
And in the playoffs, superstars' average number of drives would rise even further!
The playoffs were when one man charged through a thousand, when heroes played hero ball!
Iverson led the league this postseason with 20.1 drives per game!
Kobe averaged 17.8!
Carter, 16.4!
Hill, 15.3!
Driving was one of the most destructive offensive methods against a defense. Compared to shooting, it offered more options—you could finish the play yourself, or draw the defense and create assists for your teammates.
When Kobe completed nine drives in a single quarter, the Spurs simply had no good way to contain the Lakers' offense.
Especially since Duncan was playing in an incredibly stifled state.
"Damn it." Even the calm Stone Buddha was three parts angry by now.
If he had been guarding Stephen Jackson, then no matter how Kobe ran the pick-and-roll,