In 2003, the Lakers OK combination, who won three consecutive championships, was eliminated by Duncan, a single-core group?

From 2000 to 2002, the Lakers achieved three consecutive championships, which is also the only three consecutive championships in the NBA in the entire 21st century. During this period, the Lakers also encountered some adversity and even desperate situations, but they eventually survived and successfully won the championship.

But why is this Lakers, who have won three consecutive championships, eliminated by the single-core Duncan Spurs in 2003?

In 2003, the Lakers' main players were basically there, including O'Neal, Kobe, Fisher, Horry, Brian Shaw, etc., but it is obvious that because they have achieved three consecutive championships, the players' mentality must have changed. The desire to win is not as high as before, and the players are not satisfied with their status.

The Lakers are only fifth in the Western Conference in the first round, and against the Timberwolves, the Lakers got a good start with a big away victory. Kobe scored 39 points and O'Neal scored 32 points. Then the Timberwolves won two games in a row and overtook the score 2-1. In the key fourth game, the Lakers reversed in the fourth quarter, O'Neal scored 34 points and 23 rebounds in the whole game. Kobe had a bad touch, making only 7 of 25 shots, but in the fourth quarter, Kobe scored 13 points for 10 free throws.

In the last two games, Kobe scored 32 points and 31 points efficiently, O'Neal also scored 27 points and 11 rebounds, 24 points, 17 rebounds and 9 assists, and the Lakers eliminated the Timberwolves 4-2 to advance.

The Lakers were able to beat the bottom in the first round mainly because the OK combination was too strong. Although Garnett was there, they could not resist it at all.

In the second round, the Lakers' opponent is the Spurs, the No. 1 in the West. They have Lianzhuang MVP Duncan, and they are also the Lakers' biggest opponent in the West. The Lakers still have no home advantage.

Game 1: The Lakers lost 82-87 away.

Kobe scored 37 points on 16 of 38 shots, O'Neal scored 24 points and 21 rebounds on 10 of 20 shots, Fisher scored 10 points, and the other players only scored 11 points in total.

The Spurs actually scored not very high, Duncan scored 28 points, David Robinson scored 14 points, Ginobili scored 15 points, Parker scored 9 points, and Bowen scored 8 points.

The Lakers tried to catch up with the score in the fourth quarter. Kobe made two consecutive three-pointers in the last moment, narrowing the gap to 3 points at one point, but he missed the three-pointer in the last 11 seconds, and the Lakers lost. In the second game, the Lakers lost 95-114, and the Spurs scored in double digits; in the third game, the Lakers won 110-95, Kobe scored 39 points, O'Neal scored 21 points, 16 rebounds and 8 assists, Fisher scored 14 points, Horry and George scored 13 points, and 5 players also entered double digits.

In the fourth game, the Lakers narrowly defeated the Spurs 99-95 at home, setting the score 2-2. Kobe scored 35 points, O'Neal scored 29 points and 17 rebounds, and Fisher scored 17 points. The Lakers still only had three players scoring in double digits.

And the battle of Tianwangshan was the turning point in this series. After winning the fourth game, Kobe also issued a statement of confidence, citing a classic saying - Never underestimate the heart of a champion.

The first four games were all 1 big win and 1 narrow win, and both sides tied 2-2.

In the fifth game, the Lakers were once behind 23 points in the first half, the Spurs were scoring more than 5 points, 8 players scored at halftime, 2 players scored in double digits, and 6 players scored more than 5 points. It was difficult for the Lakers to narrow the score in the third quarter. In the last 38 seconds, the Lakers were still 22 points behind 58-80. Then Kobe first hit a three-pointer, then made a steal, and then made a three-pointer. The Lakers were 16 points behind at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Lakers launched the final counterattack, Kobe scored 13 points, O'Neal scored 5 points, Medwardenko became the surprise, he scored 7 points, and in the last 19 seconds, O'Neal scored 2+1, the Lakers were only 1 point behind 94-95, Jackson made one of two free throws, and the Lakers were 2 points behind 94-96 in the last 14 seconds.

This process is almost the same as last season's fourth game against the Kings. In that game, the Lakers fell behind by 20 points in the first quarter, and finally caught up with the score, 2 points behind at the end, and the last attack. In this game, the Lakers were once behind 23 points, finally catching up with the score, 2 points behind at the last moment, and the last attack.

Last season, Kobe failed to make the game, O'Neal did not make the game, and Horry scored three-pointers.

In this game, the Lakers directly arranged for Horry to make a three-pointer, which was an opportunity, but Horry was not sure. In the end, the Lakers lost 94-96, and this loss also stopped the Lakers' entire momentum. They lost in the sixth game, ending the series 2-4, missing the four consecutive championships.

The Lakers' failure cannot be entirely blamed. The fundamental reason why the Lakers lost to the Spurs is 2 points:

The first is the performance of role players. The Lakers' role players are not as strong as the Spurs' desire to win, and their performance is not as stable as the Spurs' role players.

The second is the core player. Although the Spurs are single-core, in fact, Duncan Robinson is the inside, and Bowen, Jackson, etc. can be consumed with OK combination.

2 reasons combined together lead to the Lakers' loss.