Chapter 181: Death.
"Defense! Defense!"
Han Sen's fierce offensive and defensive plays electrified the crowd, and the stadium roared with cheers.
Kobe, undeterred, went right back at Han with his trademark back-to-the-basket move, shaking him off with a smooth up-and-under.
But as Kobe went up for the layup, Marc Gasol stood tall in the paint, nearly blocking him a second time.
Though Kobe avoided the block, the shot clanged off the front of the rim.
This was all part of the defensive strategy Han and his team had discussed: guard Kobe closely on the perimeter and rely on interior help.
It was reminiscent of how Yao Ming and Artest used to defend LeBron James years ago.
But, Kobe wasn't LeBron, and this approach worked partly because Kobe was visibly heated. If he'd been calm, he'd have seen Marc Gasol closing in and recognized Okafor was wide open under the basket, ready for a pass.
However, every strategy has its downside. On the other end, a determined Kobe returned the favor by blocking Han's shot.
He wasn't as 'washed up' as Han claimed. An 'old' Kobe wouldn't have posted his career's most efficient stats to win MVP, nor would he be averaging 30+ in the playoffs.
But Han Sen didn't back down either.