Chapter 879: Nobody Knows How to Come Back From Behind Better Than Me!

A successful system is never based solely on assumptions.

No matter how correct the assumptions are, without practice, it is difficult to adjust things in detail.

The Remy Martin Duo, anyone can see that this combination will inevitably become an insanely powerful super inside duo, with the two players also quite in sync in terms of play style.

But when O’Neal is slacking, no one can accurately predict what kind of chemistry the two will produce.

Occasionally, you can see some excellent cooperation between them, but each cooperation is different.

This adds a touch of uncertainty to Zhang Hao and O’Neal’s prospects as a duo.

Everyone can see that they don’t get along well, and no matter how high the degree of fit, if they don’t cooperate wholeheartedly, it’s all in vain.

However, this uncertainty was broken after the All-Star weekend when Zhang Hao and O’Neal really started working toward the same goal, which is to win games, and began to develop chemistry.

But their way of cooperating was unexpected to everyone!

The defense in previous games, as well as the way O’Neal and Zhang Hao teamed up to overtake the score in this game, were beyond the predictions of experts, media, and seasoned fans!

Previously, the Lakers’ ultimate frontcourt combination had shown tremendous thrusting power like a football offensive line, and some experts predicted the Lakers would play that kind of offense.

Zhang Hao and O’Neal working the high-low post was also considered one solution.

O’Neal, Barkley, and Zhang Hao taking turns hammering — this Rascal Style of play is also a type of cooperation.

But as a result, the XO combo executed their partnership starting from the defensive end, with O’Neal playing power forward on defense…

And tonight, the XO combo’s cooperation style was unexpectedly O’Neal taking the charge during regular time, leading the team to grind down the defense, and Zhang Hao stepping up at the last moment to harvest the results of O’Neal’s efforts.

On the Knicks’ side, Jeff Van Gundy thought after returning to the locker room that Zhang Hao, having gotten considerable rest while both teams were spending significant energy, could still come out in optimal condition and launch counterattacks…

Jeff Van Gundy was truly at a loss!

Halftime quickly passed, and both teams’ players returned to the court.

When the two teams’ starters took the court in the third quarter, Jeff Van Gundy and his players couldn’t help but curse!

The Knicks sent out the combination of Chales, Alan Houston, John Wallace, Larry Sanders, Ewing.

Opposing them were Fisher, Brian Shaw, George Lynch, Jason Williams, O’Neal… This lineup came again!

The Knicks wanted to try gaining an advantage in the third quarter to tie or even overtake the score, but seeing this Lakers lineup, their hearts sank halfway.

The Silver Fox certainly didn’t initially plan to play like this.

At first, he thought their defense had improved so much after the All-Star weekend, they should be able to contend with teams like the Heat, Knicks, and Cavaliers, having previously played an evenly matched defensive battle against the Cavaliers.

But now it becomes clear why the Cavaliers were evaluated as “becoming mediocre.” Their playstyle is quite similar to the Knicks, yet their record is vastly different because they have become a weaker version of the Knicks. It’s not that they have become weaker, but the Knicks are stronger on both ends.

By the end of the first quarter, Del Harris actually sensed their defeat looming, so he had to gamble… and he won!

Next, they surely must continue with the previously successful tactics.

A tactic being simple and thoroughly researched by the opponent doesn’t mean it can’t be effective.

When something is strong enough, what does it matter if it’s seen through?

Sure enough, the Knicks deployed an offense-defense proficient combination, yet still couldn’t deal with the Lakers’ defense and had to continue banging heads defensively with them.

Over 8 minutes in, the Lakers scored 10 points, the Knicks scored 11 points. By the time the third quarter reached 8 minutes and 22 seconds, the Knicks who had called a timeout two minutes earlier called another one!

6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks — these were O’Neal’s stats in the first 8 minutes and 22 seconds of the third quarter!

Under O’Neal’s leadership, the defensively-minded Lakers maintained a 5-point advantage at 50 to 45 against the Knicks despite the whole team’s atrocious offense.

O’Neal already had 18 points, 16 rebounds, 6 blocks, 1 steal!

Things were going very smoothly; Del Harris seized the opportunity to send in Kenny Anderson, Zhang Hao, and Doug Christie, while Jason Williams and O’Neal continued playing.

Deploying three fresh forces to gain an advantage in the third quarter!

…

Coming out of the timeout, Ewing from the Knicks missed a corner three-point shot.

The Lakers mounted a counterattack, with Zhang Hao crashing into the other team’s basket compressing their defense before passing back to Kenny Anderson who was running to the left 45-degree angle. Kenny Anderson made the trailing three-point shot during the counterattack… very decisively, with O’Neal already rushing into the free-throw line and Zhang Hao from a close distance.

Kenny Anderson decisively hit the three-pointer!

First, grind down the opposing defense to weaken their outside shooting feel, then somewhat undermine their defense to enhance shooting for defensive counter-attacks — this tactic is not something new, but to play it well, at least the previous Lakers couldn’t pull it off.

But now, they can do it even better than the Knicks!

When it reached the third quarter at 11 minutes and 41 seconds, Zhang Hao’s turnaround fadeaway on the baseline hit, successfully pushing the score to 59 to 49, expanding the lead to 10 points!