Pope of Basketball.

Summary

The chapter describes the anticipation of Lakers fans for the delayed basketball season, culminating in a preseason game against the Clippers at the Staples Center. Byron Scott, the Lakers' coach, motivated his team with a passionate speech, knowing that poor performance could cost him his job. In contrast, Clippers' coach Yang Rui was relaxed, believing the Lakers' star players, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard, would struggle defensively together. The Clippers employed a small-ball lineup to counter the Lakers, who had a higher total salary but faced challenges in execution. The game quickly turned in favor of the Clippers, who led 37-22 after the first quarter, utilizing effective defense against Kobe Bryant and a fast-paced offense led by Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. The Clippers' bench, featuring second-round rookie Parsons, performed unexpectedly well, extending their lead significantly. By halftime, the Clippers were dominating with a score of 141 to 96, marking a 45-point victory over the Lakers. The chapter concludes with Kobe feeling despair as it becomes evident that the Lakers are no longer the dominant team in Los Angeles.

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