When Van Exel’s trade was just completed, the Glory Team’s coaching staff was worried that his unstable performance might disrupt the team’s good order and chemistry.
Later it proved that this worry was unnecessary.
Although Eddie House is a very promising young man, in terms of personal ability, he can’t compare with the mature Van Exel.
After gradually adapting to the Glory Team’s tactical system, Van Exel performed well in the sixth man position.
Tomjanovich gave him enough freedom, allowing him to play according to his own ideas and rhythm after coming off the bench, without having to follow some tactical rules.
Old Tang is indeed a coach who is very good at inspiring the potential of players.
Off the court, Van Exel is constrained by Gan Guoyang, but on the court, Old Tang gives him autonomy, and Van Exel plays better and better.
In some games, he can become the key to victory or defeat, and his strong firepower makes the Glory’s offense no longer fluctuates up and down, but more continuous.
Although he occasionally goes crazy, missing shots continuously, his defense is not good, and it’s easy to get beat.
The problem is, can an all-around guard come to your Glory?
Having such a point of eruption in the game, just enjoy it secretly.
Three-point shot tied the score, and the Lakers still rely on O’Neal in the low post to attack strongly.
Willis held up against O’Neal’s back play this time, pushing O’Neal towards the free throw line.
O’Neal’s forced throw did not make it, but his huge body held the position and grabbed the rebound.
Passed to the right-wing outside to Scottie Pippen, Pippen’s three-point shot missed, long rebound, and O’Neal snatches another rebound.
O’Neal is a bit lazy in the defensive rebound, but his offensive rebound is really strong, and his physical advantage gives him a huge threat in the three-second zone.
However, Willis is experienced, you can grab it, but I resolutely won’t let you get near the basket, O’Neal still passed to Pippen, Pippen shoots another three-pointer, still misses!
Pippen’s form has fallen sharply this season, he is also 37 years old, his three-point shooting percentage dropped to 28%, last season he could still shoot 33%, this season has already declined like Barkley.
Although missing consecutively, Robert Horry still taps the rebound and passes it to Derek Fisher outside, steadying the hand.
After Gan Guoyang stepped down, Glory’s rebounding protection capability plummeted, this is a problem the players on the court must face.
However, continuous lost rebounds did not disrupt Glory’s defensive lineup, they held a zone defense, continuing to hold the fort.
The Lakers can’t find a good way to break the zone defense, finally passing it a few times, still passing to the right-wing Horry, and shooting another three.
Three consecutive threes, still not in, Lakers’ starting three-point feel is terrible, this is a trouble.
Finally, Glory grabbed the rebound and passed it to Van Exel, who just shot one, will surely try another.
Top of the arc pick-and-roll with Willis, shook off Fisher’s defense, shoots a distant shot!
Three-pointer is in!
Glory Team has overtaken the score, leading by 3 points.
Phil Jackson did not call a timeout, but tried to cheer up the players with a whistle.
The Lakers’ players are obviously lacking enthusiasm on the court, tactics can be methodical, players’ status cannot be methodical.
Playoffs are different from regular season, in the regular season everyone clocks in at work, you clock in, he clocks in, you are strong in strength, you can win, slowly accumulating a season’s victories, in the playoffs it needs to be transformed into more.
More passion, more creativity, more focus, some players will perform super normally.
Currently, Lakers’ players, except for O’Neal, are just performing normally, even sluggishly, like Pippen.
Of course, the playoffs just started, Lakers have always been a slow-starting team, Jackson hopes they can play with passion.
Tracy McGrady made a breakthrough with a change in pace during a fast break, broke into the basket, passed Miller and Willis, scored with a one-handed slam dunk!
This dunk finally brought passion to the lifeless Lakers offense, McGrady shouted after scoring, adding fuel to the fire for Staples Center.
But Van Exel immediately responded; at 30 years of age, he still has a pair of elastic legs.
He carried the ball, continuously moving, using direction changes and spins to pass Fisher, rushing into the basket again.
With shooters ambushed outside, Lakers’ defense contraction was not timely.
O’Neal, burdened with a personal foul, dared not press too close, Van Exel took a floater shot, scored two points, again maintaining a 3-point advantage.
Under Van Exel’s outstanding performance, Glory Team’s offense and defense are playing very steadily.
Offense is handled by Van Exel, defense is zone defense, regardless of how Lakers play.
Shoot your three-pointers well, be brave to shoot me dead, shooting me dead is unlucky for me.
Tonight, Lakers’ three-pointers are poorly shot, after continuous misses, they dared not take more shots.
Facing zone defense, only two plans, one is giving O’Neal strong play, the other is McGrady pushing fast break.
O’Neal’s condition is stable as always, give the ball, more than half probability to steadily get two points.
The two teams played all the way to 27:25, Glory leading Lakers by 2 points, with 2 minutes remaining until the end of the first quarter, both teams entered rotation.
Gan Guoyang reappeared, replacing Brad Miller, he high-fived Van Exel, this guy played very well, helped Glory through difficulties, and even managed to lead by 2 points.