One Year Left to Play

They originally thought they could just use Jim McIlvaine as a meat shield to stop O’Neal from getting offensive rebounds, and focus their defense on Zhang Hao and Kenny Anderson.

The defense on the outside was indeed done very well, but O’Neal one-on-one inside almost made Jim McIlvaine, who earned 35 million US dollars while lying down, cry! A meat shield isn’t just about being tall and heavy; players like Campbell and Ostertag can still be NBA starter level even when not defending O’Neal.

Although Zhang Hao and Kenny Anderson only scored a combined total of 26 points, Doug Christie, George Lynch, and James Robinson each scored in double digits, combined with Jason Williams and Barkley alternating on the court to collectively earn 14 points and 20 rebounds.

The Lakers defeated the SuperSonics 115 to 106, achieving a six-game winning streak!

After this game, the Lakers’ record improved to 15 wins and 4 losses, surpassing the SuperSonics’ 14 wins and 4 losses to reach second place in the West!

After the game ended, looking at the laughing and joking trio on the other side, watching that sophomore player whose shot count almost halved compared to the previous few games and once again refused a post-game interview, walking back to the players’ tunnel with a cold face...

Thinking about O’Neal, who seemed "wronged" in the past five games and who was crazy aggressive inside as the main attack point tonight, where was the grievance?

Thinking about it carefully, Payton discovered something—the opponents of the Lakers in the past five games, except for the Phoenix Suns, who are somewhat playoff-worthy, the other teams were all tanking teams!

Given the Lakers’ performance tonight, although good, their SuperSonics shouldn’t have been so passive in the scene. The Lakers’ coordination overall wasn’t particularly great; it was purely that the Lakers had several excellent scoring opportunities from the corners!

Payton felt the opponent was telling him with a cheeky attitude—"We’re just teasing you!"

...

...

On December 3rd, quite a few things happened in the NBA: veteran Phoenix Suns coach Cotton Fill Simmons resigned and announced retirement; Danny Ainge became the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns.

Gerry Keane, the head coach for over four years and achieving no improvement but the Kings’ record deteriorating with each passing month, was fired. Eddie Jordan, a huge admirer of the Zen Master and a promoter of the triangle offense, who was a video assistant during the Bulls’ first championship three-peat and an assistant coach for the Kings in the following years, became the Kings’ new head coach.

The Phoenix Suns traded former Lakers guard Anthony Peeler to the Grizzlies...

Bulls forward Tony Kukoc injured his knee and will be absent for 3-6 weeks; the Bulls urgently signed backup player Bibi Deler before the game.

This Bibi Deler was really quite the madman, showing an average of 15 points and 7.8 rebounds last season for the Clippers. During the offseason, he received a three-year deal worth 9 million US dollars from the Clippers, and at 27, in his prime, he flatly rejected it, stating he would not sign for anything less than an annual salary of 5 million US dollars, and 3 million a year wouldn’t be enough for him.

Then the whole summer went by, and he didn’t receive any other offers.

Now, signed on a 10-day temporary contract by the Bulls...

However, these trivial matters pale in comparison to the major U-turn in the Lakers’ internal conflict events!

Firstly, the media reviewed the five games O’Neal played against the SuperSonics and discovered something they had completely neglected or perhaps intentionally ignored. It was something Del Harris had actually mentioned but was never reported—when O’Neal requests the ball, everyone else must find ways to create single-play opportunities for him.

It’s just that in the previous games, the times O’Neal actively requested the ball totaled less than 10 times, so it appeared that every game, O’Neal was merely charging at the frontline, participating in self-rebounds and self-shots while passing assists by their turn.

In this game, when O’Neal actively wanted the ball, he immediately became the Lakers’ primary offensive option and had the most field goal attempts. And because single plays consume more energy, O’Neal’s offensive rebounds sharply decreased, while Barkley’s and Jason Williams’ offensive rebounds increased significantly.

Zhang Hao also no longer was shooting endlessly outside the three-point line like in previous games; when O’Neal was the main attacker and the SuperSonics focused their defense on him, the past few games’ crazy high volume shooter on the outside, he reduced his shots and consciously took on the role of drawing attention and did very well.

Looking at the playtimes, except for the game where he almost achieved four by five, O’Neal played 31 to 35 minutes in the other four games, but played 44 minutes against the SuperSonics.

Also, O’Neal had over 10 single-play attempts, so it’s normal that his offensive rebounds decreased...

In other words, it’s purely a strategy issue, considering O’Neal’s physical condition and play style, and what’s with opponents willing to give a salary of 35 million US dollars over seven years to someone like Jim McIlvaine as a pure meat shield to cope with his defensive treatment... Under such conditions, O’Neal’s aggressive offensive rebound strategy actually plays more easily against weaker opponents.

And when it needs O’Neal to break through the opponent’s inner line, he’ll be the main attack...

No face-slapping happened, from stepping on the Lakers for sacrificing O’Neal to promote Zhang Hao, to praising the way the Lakers utilized O’Neal as exceptionally correct, with a side mention that "other media" did not affect Lakers’ strategy implementation, etc.

In any case, O’Neal was praised immensely!

After 6 games, O’Neal had four double-20 performances; his rebounding displayed explosiveness.

He has always been criticized for his rebounding not being good, among the four centers; besides O’Neal, only Ewing, who always had bad legs and liked shooting from the outside, hasn’t won a rebounding title.

And Ewing’s defensive rebounds are not any fewer than O’Neal’s.

This time, O’Neal used strength to prove that his rebounding ability is not bad; if he really focuses all energy on rebounds and second-chance offense, even Rodman wouldn’t be able to match him!

Reducing his shots also got translated into him helping the Lakers cultivate Zhang Hao, willing to sacrifice...

To sum up, winning is the ultimate principle, and with O’Neal adjusting his play style, the Lakers have won six in a row!

Looking at the media evaluations, recalling the past six games, O’Neal was convinced!

However, he felt, even playing this way, it’s so exhausting...

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