This is what "Time Elder" takes away from a player.
However, Kobe's "Killer Nature" hasn't changed much.
The reason the Lakers were able to keep the score close in the second half is because Kobe could always step up at critical moments.
But this was the limit; they absolutely couldn't close the gap they fell behind in the first half in the second half. But this also gave the Los Angeles media and all the Lakers players a sense of confidence.
If in the next game, they can play their second-half performance right from the first quarter, keeping the score tight, then it's not impossible for the Lakers to beat the New York Knicks.
The reason Chris Paul dared to continue trash-talking Stephen Curry is precisely because of this.
Phil Jackson thought so as well:
"The Finals is a seven-game series, which is a very long time. The first game of the series doesn't really decide the outcome of the entire series. We still have a chance!"
