Pope of Basketball.

Summary

The Lakers employed a double guard strategy and small ball tactic, leaving Deng Tai Jones and Mbenka off the game roster. The Trail Blazers' players relied heavily on defense, but their inside players couldn't stretch the floor for mid-range shots, making it tough for them to compete. The Lakers used a 122 zone defense, protecting the paint and exploiting the Blazers' weaknesses. Ao Duo Mu and Lou Wei executed pick-and-rolls, which Bi De Lin Si found troublesome. The Blazers' bench lacked one-on-one skills to exploit the Lakers' weaknesses. Fei Er Nan De Si's debut was disappointing, and Yang Rui felt sorry for him, thinking he had joined the wrong team and couldn't showcase his full potential. The Lakers led 60-38 at halftime and continued to dominate in the second half. The Blazers attempted high pick-and-rolls but couldn't break through the zone defense. The Lakers' offense remained a solo act by Kobe, focusing on isolation plays. The Lakers entered the final quarter leading by 18 points and eventually won 121-86. After the game, Trail Blazers coach MacMillan expressed frustration, saying the Lakers were too strong. Fei Er Nan De Si scored 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists, but was taught a lesson by the Lakers. The Lakers could be even stronger if they let Yao Ming play more inside. The next day, they faced the Clippers and won 127-79, with eight players scoring in double digits. The Clippers were weaker than before, with a core of Mobley and Kaman, and a starting small forward of Ricky Davis. The Lakers seem strong at the start, but a hidden danger is about to erupt.

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