Pope of Basketball.

Summary

The Lakers' starting lineup consisted of Daniel Gibson, Kobe, Iguodala, Milsap, and Yao Ming. Last season, Milsap performed exceptionally well when Odom and Yao Ming were injured. This season, Yang Rui made Milsap a starter due to his excellent mobility and defensive skills. The Trail Blazers' starting lineup consisted of Steve Blake, Roy, Travis Outlaw, Aldridge, and Noah. The Lakers' defense was strong, and they were able to counterattack. Yao Ming made a cut to the left side of the low post, receiving a pass from Kobe, and scored. The Lakers led 2-0. The Trail Blazers counterattacked, but Roy's shot was off-target due to Yao Ming's interference. Yao Ming grabbed the rebound and passed it to Gibson. Kobe and Yao Ming played another pick-and-roll, and Yao Ming scored easily, adding two more points. The Lakers led 4-0. Noah was 211 cm tall but weighed only 104 kg, which made him too thin to defend against Yao Ming. The Trail Blazers' offense mainly relied on Luo Yi and A Er. At the end of the first quarter, the Lakers led 25 to 18.

Full content