novelThe NBA Season Continues 10
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Jake received the ball to start another attack, this time he pretended he would try a feint, but in fact, he really started running from the left, Kobe managed to follow and Jake made the fast crossover and Kobe was unable to follow, so Jake scored another point with the layup.
The game got excited and after a while Jake was winning with 6 points against Kobe Bryant's 4 points, in fact in some plays Jake thought he could do the steal and didn't try to keep the game more excited.
Kobe also realized that Jake didn't seem to be working so hard in the game against him, Kobe had never played so many times in one-on-one against Jake in training, so he hadn't realized how skillful Jake was.
In another move Kobe tried to make another attack and decided to use force to make sure he made the next point, so Kobe started to protect the ball as he advanced and tried to use his shoulder to push Jake back as he advanced.
Jake didn't face that move often playing as PG, he just had to defend plays like that in his imagination training when he played in other positions to train, but in this one, he didn't want to lose.
Kobe tried to push Jake, but to his surprise, Kobe could not push Jake back using force, certainly one of Jake's greatest advantages in basketball was his strength, after all, agility was normal that many players had a lot in basketball, but strength was something that was a top priority for the Center and the PF.
So Kobe realized that Jake was stronger than him and moved away from him and tried a mid-range shot by making a fadeaway and scored another point, Jake wanted to force Kobe Bryant into trying one of his characteristic moves in this one-on-one to win.
Jake took the ball and made a feint pretending he would go to the left and doing a step back and trying the mid-range shot to score 1 more point for him, Jake didn't want to try the mid-range shots because he had a rate of more 80 percent correct and the game would be very easy for him.
But he wanted to pressure Kobe to try to attack in every way he knew, Jake threw the ball to Kobe who started another attack, Kobe advanced with the ball and Jake gave him a little space.
So Kobe finally started making one of his main moves which were the between the legs dribble move, it was the play in which Kobe bounced the ball between his legs to prevent the opponent from trying to steal and for the opponent not to know if after he would advance with the ball or attempt the shot.
Kobe made this move because he really wanted to beat Jake who was winning by 2 points and Jake had 4 more points to win the game, Kobe made that move and Jake didn't have a chance to steal until Kobe showed him what move he would do.
Kobe did the between the legs dribble moves for a while and then did a feint that tricked Jake and he went on to make another 1 point with the dunk, Kobe made the point, but it was Jake who was excited that the game was getting more fun.
Jake received the ball and Kobe was prepared to defend or at least hinder Jake to try to make him miss, Jake advanced with the ball slowly and realized that Kobe was focused on defense.
So Jake smiled and made his own move this time, it was the Ghost move dribble that was never stopped by any opposing player, Jake did the Ghost move and Kobe didn't see the ball for a while, he didn't know what Jake had done.
After Jake passed Kobe like he was no longer with the ball Kobe heard the ball hitting the ground and Jake scored another point with a dunk soon after, Kobe didn't understand this move that Jake had made, but he knew Jake had made it 1 more point and was with 8 points now.
Kobe tried again to do the between the legs dribble move soon after in another move, again he tricked Jake with a feint and advanced to try to make the layup, but this time Jake recovered quickly and managed to jump together and make the block preventing Kobe from doing the point.
Soon after, Jake ran out of the three-point line and made an outside shot that was now worth 1 point also because of the chord Jake made before the game, with Jake winning by 3 points Kobe understood that Jake was not being arrogant when decided that the three-point shot would not be worth 2 more points.
In a few more plays Jake won with 11 points against Kobe Bryant's 8 points, Kobe didn't like to lose, but he was happy with the good game he had with Jake, Kobe realized that his defense was really weak because he couldn't make Jake miss any attack.
After that good game Kobe went to his house and Jake stayed at his house happy with the good game he had with his idol, Jake thought that Kobe was not angry that he told him the truths, it would be good if they could be more friends after that day.
That day as he had no game he decided to call Kate even though it might hinder her because it was less than a week before the Grammy Awards happened, Jake really wanted Kate to win an award, but he knew how Lauryn Hill had a great year at the world of music and was one of the best singers at the Grammy and not just among new singers.
"Hi, Kate, sorry to call you even though you are busy, but I missed you and wanted to know how you are with Grammy being so close?"
"Hi, Jake, you didn't bother me, I'm always happy when I talk to you, I also didn't call you because I know you're busy with games, congratulations on your team's victories in the last games."
"I'm really looking forward to the Grammy being so close, I really want to win, but seeing how Lauryn Hill has done so well in the past year I don't know if I have a chance."
"You sure have a chance, Kate, your songs were great and I know how you've been trying to get this album, rest easy and wait until Grammy Day, I'll be rooting for you."
"Thanks, Jake, I am calmer and happier listening to this, it is a pity that I think we will not be able to see each other this year, because of those months that I stayed in Miami I will have to work all year."
"I could have another vacation in November, but that's when the next NBA season starts, so I'm going to expect to have my vacation in June next year."
"I'm really sorry, Kate, I wish I could see you this year too, but with basketball, I'm going to be really busy."
"I understand that Jake, I also have this same problem that you have to work all year, let's try to combine our vacations so that we can spend a few months together."
Jake was happy to talk to Kate for a while, he knew she was busy too and so he felt less guilty about being so busy too, next year he would have to go to the Olympics on his vacation, but he just needed a few weeks to stay at the Olympics.
The next day after a good rest came the day of yet another game by the Los Angeles Lakers team, Jake and Kobe hadn't rested all day, but that one-on-one game wouldn't make them any more tired.
Jake went to the Great Western Forum for the last game of this sequence of games at the home of the Los Angeles Lakers team, after that game they would have a difficult sequence of 4 games playing as a visitor with the players traveling a lot and thus getting more tired.
Jake saw the fans of the Los Angeles Lakers team filling the Great Western Forum hoping for another victory for the Los Angeles Lakers team this season, Jake went to the locker room and put on his uniform and went out onto the court with all his teammates.
The opponent in that game was the San Antonio Spurs team, which was a very strong team that hadn't started well this season, they had a lot of defeats in the first 10 games of this season, but after that game against the Los Angeles Lakers team, they would lose very few games in rest of the season.
Tim Duncan and David Robinson already played well together and the other players would also improve so they could start winning more games, but for that game Jake thought the Los Angeles Lakers team was a favorite to win.
"Welcome to everyone who came to watch another NBA game this season, the game today is between the Los Angeles Lakers team and the San Antonio Spurs team."
"The Los Angeles Lakers team is a favorite to win this game, after all the Los Angeles Lakers team had 7 victories in 8 games this season, with Jake Smith joining the team they could improve a lot and are winning the games."
"The stars of team Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant were also very important in these games that the Los Angeles Lakers won, they are considered one of the favorite teams to win this NBA season."
"The San Antonio Spurs team won 4 games and lost another 4 games this season, it's a very bad start for the San Antonio Spurs team this season, but the interesting thing is that even in games where they lose the players of the San Antonio Spurs team they play very well."
"It shows that the San Antonio Spurs team is playing well in the games, but something is missing for them to start winning the games, let's see if they find what is missing and start winning more games."
| ← Ch. 501 | Ch. 503 → |