The struggle in the paint was just as plain and unadorned, and unremarkable.
Aside from Shaquille O’Neal’s positioning, Zach Randolph would also help with double-teaming.
Even when Paul Gasol moved up high, creating space for Yao Ming, Randolph still stood in a threatening position. He ensured that the mont Yao received the ball, he could team up with Shaquille O’Neal for a double-team.
This inevitably highlighted Yao Ming’s passing ability.
He could pass out of the double-team, but most of the ti, he couldn’t find an open man to initiate an offense imdiately.
Rick Carlisle noticed this and would naturally not abandon the defensive strategy of keeping Yao under high pressure because of a few setbacks.
Moreover, the facts proved that this defense was extrely successful.
Yao originally struggled to receive the ball, and now, even if he got it, he faced a double-team and had to pass it out, resulting in several useless possessions where his physical fitness was wasted.
The Lakers had no choice but to initiate offense through Paul Gasol’s high-post playmaking. They put more pressure on Zach Randolph, who was double-teaming Yao, keeping him preoccupied.
Just by looking at the Lakers’ tily ga adjustnts tonight, it was clear that the Lakers’ coaching staff had prepared very ticulously for the ga. They had anticipated all possible outcos and had solutions ready for each one.
Although it looked very simple:
Kobe followed by Yao followed by Gasol, and then Gasol followed by Kobe...
But who told them to play "Triangle Offense"?
Moreover, they had the capital to do so:
Kobe plus Yao Ming plus Paul Gasol.
Just think about whether the Lakers’ "show ti" era had such a dazzling lineup!
But...
They t "Old Coin"!
Thousands of miles away, Larry Bird, watching Paul Gasol with the ball unable to penetrate Zach Randolph’s tight defense, floating on the periter to organize play with a "shy look," also revealed a subtle "forcing king" smile.
Sorry, I drew my hand to counter yours!
Yao Ming has strong one-on-one skills, right?
I’ll put out Shaquille O’Neal, add Marc Gasol, and then have Zach Randolph join in for a multi-person siege.
It’s also this lineup that prevents Paul Gasol from penetrating the paint.
The luxury of the Lakers’ lineup lies in the "Twin Towers."
Especially when Kobe stands outside these "Twin Towers," causing 99% of the League’s teams to not abandon periter defense and double-team the paint without restraint.
But the Pacers beca that 1%, not needing periter players’ help defense; their big n could handle the paint issues themselves!
Even turning the tables, the Lakers’ Twin Towers could not limit the Pacers’ "Twin Towers" in their assault on the basket.
The Lakers used double-teams against Shaquille O’Neal, but Zach Randolph could stand out at the three-point line ready to ambush. Initially, when Randolph missed his three-point shot, Paul Gasol could still stand in a position that threatened O’Neal’s reception, putting pressure on him. But after Randolph made his second three-point attempt, Paul Gasol had to drift outwards.
Thus, he was unable to continue help defending Yao.
Paul Gasol’s help defense quality was very high, so much so that the quality of his defense from high post to the basket could be compared to Kevin Garnett.
But the reason he didn’t beco the "Best Defensive Player Award" winner like peak Garnett was because the quality of his help defense seriously declined from the high post to the three-point line.
Once he left the high post, he also had the problem of being slow to move.
Zach Randolph standing outside the three-point line essentially nullified most of his help defense.
Without the help defense, Shaquille O’Neal’s enthusiasm for one-on-one post play surged.—Even in his later years, Shaq could still explosively match Yao in a 1v1, Yao couldn’t limit him, nor could he limit Yao.
But now...
Shaquille O’Neal, with the help of Zach Randolph’s defense, could restrict Yao’s one-on-one play, but the Lakers couldn’t provide Yao with more help.
Especially after Zach Randolph scored a three-point shot.
Kobe tried to double-team, and Shaquille O’Neal’s peripheral vision had always been tracking him. As soon as Kobe moved in, Shaq imdiately passed the ball out to Su Wan.—Shaq’s fastest connection to a periter teammate was now Su Wan.
Apart from Su Wan’s good movent, another very important reason was that his red sneakers were very eye-catching.
Su Wan received the ball and made a three-point shot. The mont the ball went in, Shaquille O’Neal was even more excited than him, letting out various screams, but his eyes were fixed on Kobe with an expression that seed to say:
Kid, didn’t I know you would co to help defend?
I’ve been waiting for this!
This left the Lakers in an awkward position.
At the end of the first quarter, the Pacers, with their advantage in the paint, took a 7-point lead.
In the second quarter, Phil Jackson held his ground, continuing to allow the Lakers’ "Twin Towers" ti to adjust, but the results were not good. If it weren’t for Ariza stealthily sinking two "three-point shots," then the difference in score between the two teams at halfti could have reached more than 10 points.
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