As time progressed, the Energy Solutions Arena became more and more noisy.

More than 20,000 fans poured into the arena, and more than 20,000 fans created an extremely huge boo.

When the Jazz started the game, there was a huge cheer on the scene, especially when Karl Malone came out, and the Jazz fans on the sidelines were still chanting Karl Malone's name.

During the regular season, the Energy Solution Arena was already a devil's home court, and when the playoffs began, the devil level of the Energy Solution Arena went up to a new level, and the noise on the scene was too loud, which made the Lakers very uncomfortable, not only the young players were at a loss, but even Qiao Hai was bored listening to the boos on the sidelines.

The Lakers' starting lineup for this game is point guard Derrick Fisher, scoring guard Kobe Bryant, small forward Bruce Bowen, power forward Scott Pippen, and center Shaquille O'Neal.

Joe Hai put Bowen in the starting line-up, and at the same time put Scott Pippen in the No. 4 position, in terms of defensive alignment, Bruce Bowen will play against John Stockton, and Scott Pippen will also play against Karl Malone, Joe's idea is to limit Karl Malone as much as possible, and use Bowen to completely prevent John Stockton.

The strategy is actually the same as the supersonic in the previous round, the difference is that Scott Pippen's defense is definitely stronger than Venbeck, the real top defender of the supersonic is only one Gary Payton, and the Lakers are different, even Derrick Fisher, who is not trusted by Qiao Hai, is actually a defensive player above the level, Kobe Bryant has also become the arrow of the outside defense this season, but this game Kobe Bryant has to defend Jeff Hornacek.

The Jazz played supersonic games before, and when John Stockton was completely locked up, they found another way to let Jeff Hornacek cooperate with Karl Malone to play a pick-and-roll strategy.

But the Lakers also have Kobe Bryant, and if Jerry Sloan still has the idea of letting Jeff Hornacek match Karl Malone, then the game can be over directly.

The other two starters of the Jazz, Bryan Russell and Greg Ostertag, do not have too strong individual offensive ability, and the Lakers are not worried about their defense, so in defense, the Lakers have a big advantage, and now it only depends on whether Bruce Bowen can prevent John Stockton.

O'Neill and Greg Ostertag jump the ball and the game is about to begin.

Qiao Hai stood on the sidelines, with his hands in his pockets, and Jerry Sloan on the other side held his hands on his chest, the two of them moved almost in unison, staring at the field, one old and one young, and the battle that belonged to the two of them began.

"Welcome to the first game of the NBA1998-1999 playoffs Western Conference semifinals between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers, which I'm bringing you live from the Energy Solutions Arena with Mav Albert sitting next to me."

McBrin and Marv Albert partner commentary.

"Jump ball, Shaquille O'Neal lost to Greg Ostertag, both are heavy weapons on the inside, but now the result is that Greg Ostertag is the better side."

The Jazz got the ball for the opening offense, John Stockton attacked with the ball, and Karl Malone mentioned high and wanted to give John Stockton a pick-and-roll.

Bruce Bowen stuck to John Stockton, leaving no room for Stockton, but Karl Malone took another step forward, Stockton took the opportunity to make a sideways, Bowen was blocked by Mallon's pick-and-roll screen, Stockton got a chance, and an accelerated rush in.

Scott Pippen switched defenses, but John Stockton made a return pass, Karl Malone got the ball, and he made a direct jump shot from the high post.

"Bang!" With a sound of iron, Karl Malone did not succeed in the opening high jumper, which is Karl Malone's range, but he still needs to find his touch in the opening.

But this wave of offense still reminded Qiao Hai that the blocking and pick-and-roll cooperation of John Stockton and Karl Malone is not so easy to defend, and Bruce Bowen's defense is not as good as Gary Payton's, maybe on the defensive end, the Lakers have to be a little more careful.

However, on the offensive end, Qiao Hai doesn't need much attention.

Scott Pippen took the ball, the top of the arc was ready to break through, and Karl Malone's position was more inside, and it can be seen that the Jazz's defense was a pseudo-joint defense, and now it is Brian Russell who is defending Pippen.

The Lakers' misplaced lineup made the Jazz a little uncomfortable, and the defensive lineup was very difficult, Jerry Sloan thought about it, and could only let Bryan Russell defend Pippen, and Jeff Hornacek withstood Kobe's pressure.

Jeff Hornacek's poor defense is a fact that many people know, and the main problem with Jeff Hornacek is that he is now old and his physical strength and reflexes can no longer keep up with a young man like Kobe.

So Pippen made a breakthrough, Kobe cut in the air, and received Pippen's pass directly.

At this time, Kobe Bryant took two steps directly, accelerated to throw off Jeff Hornacek, and rushed to the basket, Greg Ostertag pounced with teeth and claws, Kobe flew into the air, and looked like he was about to meet Ostertag's big hat head-on.

At this time, Kobe Bryant unexpectedly chose to pass.

A pass from behind that doesn't look at people, O'Neal jumped out from behind Kobe, bang, dunk!

2:0, the Lakers take the lead!

"Beautiful passing, Kobe Bryant is not greedy, a pass directly makes the big shark easily abuse the frame, the Lakers' offense is too sharp, the Jazz have too many defensive problems, Jerry Sloan still has to think of a way, otherwise this series, they will have a lot of trouble."

Mav Albert nodded: "That's right, the Jazz are now playing like a set of pseudo-joint defense tactics, Karl Malone is responsible for the mid-range help defense, and Greg Ostertag is responsible for defending Shaq, but this kind of defensive alignment, once the Lakers find an opportunity to penetrate the mid-range, the basket will be immediately exposed, whether it is Kobe Bryant or Scott Pippen, once they rush into the restricted area, a two-on-one situation will be formed in the restricted area, and the Jazz's defense is too difficult." ”

"Yes, but they can't let go of the Lakers' mid-range defense yet, because they need to guard against Kobe Bryant and Scott Pippen in the mid-range fire, both of them are mid-range masters, and Brian Russell can't take care of the mid-range position to help defend because he still has to defend Scott Pippen, I have to say, the Lakers' offensive threat points are too many, and the Jazz have fewer defensive players......"

McBrin and Marf Albert analyzed it, basically to the point, on the offensive end, the Lakers played a more and less game, the Jazz outside John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek's defense can be ignored, the Jazz's defense almost depends on the front three, so if you continue to play, the Jazz will definitely not be able to cope with the Lakers' onslaught.

However, Jerry Sloan seems to ignore this, and he continues to emphasize the offensive and defensive end, and he can only bet that the Lakers will not break into the restricted area so easily.

Turning the switch offensively and defensively, the Jazz continued their pick-and-roll matchup.

John Stockton attracted Bruce Bowen's defense, Karl Malone moved quickly towards the high post, and seemed to have another blocking and pick-and-roll cooperation with Stockton, Bowen was a little nervous, for fear that he would repeat the same mistake, so he stared at Stockton's footsteps.

But Jeff Hornacek suddenly cut diagonally from the other side, Karl Malone stopped directly, a block and cover on the spot, and blocked Kobe Bryant solidly, and Jeff Hornacek rushed directly to the other side 45 degrees outside the three-point line.

John Stockton: A Hit Pass! Syllable!

Getting past Bruce Bowen and getting Jeff Hornacek off the three-point line with no one to defend!

As one of the most well-known three-pointers in the league, Jeff Hornacek obviously won't miss this opportunity, boom! Three-point shot!

"Off the ball block! John Stockton just made a transfer for the ball, and the Jazz's cooperation was so beautiful! ”

Qiao Hai frowned, Jazz's blocking tactics are varied, and it really doesn't seem to be so easy to defend, although Jazz only scored 3 points, the opening two rounds of offense have found opportunities, but the first shot is not good.

If they continue to play like this, the Lakers' defense will also have problems.

"Hurry up and make up for it! Don't give them another chance! ”

Qiao Hai had to go to the sidelines and reminded him that the Lakers' supplementary defense had to be faster so that they could have a chance to defend against the Jazz's pick-and-roll offense.

The Lakers' offense, the Jazz still can't defend the Lakers, this time Scott Pippen directly broke through the inside, attracting Karl Malone's supplementary defense, and then Pippen passed directly to the outside, Kobe Bryant hit a two-point shot from a long distance, 4:3!

When the Jazz attacked, the players on the Lakers court immediately made adjustments according to Qiao Hai's command, and the defense was faster, and they began to rotate the defense at any cost.

The Jazz played a double-block on the outside, and the Lakers quickly made up for the defense, just allowing Malone to get the opportunity to misplace the single, he hit Kobe Bryant, and the back single, crushed strongly, but because of the five-second limit on the back, Karl Malone advanced two steps to the inside line, and shot directly from the middle distance.

Kobe Bryant raised his hand to interfere, but failed, but was fouled by Malone, but fortunately, the shot that had been shot did not go in.

Karl Malone stepped to the free-throw line and hit one of two free throws as the Jazz equalized.