The situation was not as the Supersonics thought, and they failed to get the lead in the first quarter.

After the first quarter, Zhang Hao scored 10 points with the help of O'Neal in the first three and a half minutes, and scored 6 points with the help of Barkley in the next two minutes. With the two points in the middle, Zhang Hao scored 18 points in a single quarter, helping the Lakers lead the Supersonics 33-31 and enter the quarter-breaking rest!

The two teams did not make many shots in the first quarter, not counting free throws. The Lakers made a total of 19 shots, but more than 60% of the shooting percentage was made by 12 of 19 shots, and the Supersonics also had super performances of 11 of 18 shots.

The star competition started directly at the beginning, and neither team could predict what would be like next.

But the Supersonics were really surprised by the Lakers' performance in the first quarter!

Judging from the analysis and tactics, the Supersonics coaching staff made the judgment right. In the starting stage, the Lakers took Kenny Anderson and O'Neal as the tactical core. In the first round stage, the Lakers took Kenny Anderson and Barkley as the tactical core.

The first main offensive point in tactics is definitely O'Neal and Barkley. There is nothing wrong with this, and then Kenny Anderson's attack order is third, which can be seen by analyzing the Lakers' offensive tactics.

But the situation that was made was beyond the tactics!

Zhang Hao made 6 of 8 shots in the first quarter, including 2 of 2 three-pointers, plus 4 of 4 free throws, and 18 points in a single quarter!

What the Supersonics see is that Zhang Hao, O'Neal and Barkley both have perfect offensive compatibility!

In the first half of the regular season, when the Lakers played team attack, Zhang Hao, Barkley and O'Neal had already shown great compatibility, but this compatibility was based on sacrificing O'Neal and Barkley, or in other words, it was only when the two of them were paddling to play compatibility when the three of them were playing together.

In the playoffs, Del Harris did not let the three of them stay together for a long time.

But at this time, when the star competition was in progress, Zhang Hao and one of the two had a more perfect compatibility when they partnered alone!

As long as the Supersonics focus on O'Neal and Barkley, Zhang Hao can make good use of this. O'Neal plays inside, Zhang Hao goes to the outside, Barkley attracts Camp to the outside, and Zhang Hao plays at the basket... It's simple and rough, but it's really good!

In the second quarter, the Lakers sent Fisher, Brian Xiao, Magic, Zhang Hao and Barkley.

The Supersonics were once again forced to strengthen their defense against Zhang Hao, and at this time Barkley really stood up and led the Lakers forward.

Payton and Camp are under great pressure tonight, but they must lead their teammates to compete with the Lakers star group.

In fact, the Lakers are under great pressure, and they have an advantage in the first quarter, but the score difference is only two points. The Supersonics have set off a star competition, so they can only be forced to compete with the stars. Playing against the team can also ensure offensive efficiency, but playing against the stars is more likely to ensure offensive efficiency.

The lineup has just been formed in the first year and has not yet achieved results. The Lakers dare not be careless and strive for the best in every link.

At this time, the Lakers star was under great pressure. Zhang Hao had to remain efficient when he was in the main attack. O'Neal and Barkley had to remain efficient when they came on the court. Especially when O'Neal's physical strength declined compared to the best condition. After two consecutive rounds, he made a mistake in making a pass, he was chased by the Supersonics to only 1 point difference. They were even more reluctant, they did not dare to be careless at all, and they were under a lot of psychological pressure.

This also indirectly shows that the Supersonics are truly strong and deserves to be the finals-level team that won the Western Conference playoff championship last year.

In the first half of the second quarter, Barkley and Zhang Hao led the team together and played well. They scored 15 points in the half quarter and the Supersonics scored 14 points. The Lakers still maintained a slight lead, leading by 3 points 48 to 45.

Zhang Hao scored 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks, and Barkley scored 7 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Seeing this situation, after entering the official timeout, Del Harris did not immediately replace O'Neal.

The biggest advantage of O'Neal over the other four centers is that he doesn't need to consider the touch. As long as he is the weight he is now adapted to and has no injuries, then as long as he plays, his role will be like that.

If possible, on the regular time end, O'Neal can rest and have a good rest. Just like the beginning of a game and the last three or four minutes, the most efficient thing is to let O'Neal go up and fight with all his strength.

After the official suspension, Del Harris sent a combination of Kenny Anderson, Doug Christie, George Lynch, Barkley and Zhang Hao.

The pace is very slow, the two teams play very patiently and have made efficient attacks, but both teams find it difficult to continue in this situation. When the rest arrangement was arranged between the two teams, the head coaches of the two teams were surprisingly consistent - strengthening the confrontation!

...

The official timeout comes back, and the Supersonics attack.

The Supersonics replaced most of the starters, Payton, Jose Hawkins, Schramf and Kemp were replaced, and Sam Perkins was replaced at the center position.

In order to have a good enough defensive environment when O'Neal came back, the Lakers improved their confrontation when they came up. Barkley, Zhang Hao, George Lynch, and Doug Christie were all strong players in their respective positions. Zhang Hao played center. When McIlvay didn't play, he didn't suffer much even when facing Camp, but he just had no advantage.

The Lakers' lineup's defense is just average, but the confrontation is fierce. The official timeout arrangement of the Supersonics team is also to improve the confrontation. Payton has such psychological expectations. When encountering the Lakers' defense, adjust in time, pull the air, and play passes and cuts!

Kamp cut in and received the ball, carrying Zhang Hao, who was defending the ball, smashed the ball into the basket through Barkley under the basket!

Kamp's ball was like a heavy rain, and it was impossible to stop it!

When the Lakers attacked, the Supersonics' confrontation also strengthened. The opportunity lies with Kenny Anderson. Kenny Anderson received the ball from Barkley's inside and made a three-pointer... not to make it!

Barkley's rush to attract Kamp's place, and Zhang Hao sneaked into the inside.

At this time, Kamp was already thinking about how to attack the next round of the rebound. Suddenly, a shock force came from behind... Zhang Hao started off from the side and back, borrowed Barkley and Kamp's rebound prediction, and pressed the ball back to the basket through Kamp!

Help Barkley get the place back!

As for Barkley, he couldn't avoid it, and was detained together... It doesn't matter... Anyway, he got the scene back.

Mainly, Kamp dunks once, and Zhang has to dunk twice. At this time, he can't control whether there are teammates at the basket.

Although I haven't taken care of it...

At this moment, Zhang Hao finished the patch and landed, and was pushed by Kemp and almost fell down.

Is Zhang Hao the kind of person who can tolerate his anger?

Of course it is impossible, just about to fight back... Barkley next to him went up with an elbow, and Camp was so strong that he was knocked over by Barkley with an elbow!

After being knocked over by Barkley, Kamp wanted to get up and fight back, but he saw clearly who it was and escaped from his anger of being blocked. He remembered which team he was fighting with, and couldn't help but shrink back on the floor...

The referee came quickly and separated the two teams.

These days, the referee has been very experienced in handling such matters, and Kemp and Barkley made a technical foul together.

The one who calmed down at Barkley's elbow was Zhang Hao...

Seeing Barkley's move, he ended up taking only one technical foul. Zhang Hao sighed that it was worthy of being the playoffs this year... The Admiral is so pitiful!

The Supersonics attacked.

When fighting, Kemp looked at Barkley and was scared, but playing basketball, he was really worth it now. He took the initiative to ask the ball to face the ball at close range and play Barkley single!

Kemp still wanted to continue to force Barkley, and he did squeeze in with his powerful explosive power, but when he jumped up, Barkley pulled him down.

The referee whistle sounded, Barkley fouled, and Kemp got two free throws!

Originally, the two teams wanted to gradually improve the confrontation, and the goal was to prevent the opponent's stars from continuing to perform so well, but in this round, the confrontation in the game was directly upgraded!

After Kemp made both free throws, he went to the Lakers to attack. The Supersonics used hand-to-hand defense. Kemp was very active and brave enough to affect Barkley's catch. Kenny Anderson's defensive breakthrough was extremely difficult for Payton. Fortunately, the confrontation is now rough, and the referee's dictation standard is loose again, so he chose to give the ball to Zhang Hao.

Zhang Hao received the ball and flicked a shot, tricking Sam Perkins into jumping and rushing into the inside, but his layup was disturbed by Kemp and he failed to make a move!

Looking back, Kamp helped Payton cut into the pick-and-roll and hit the basket. Zhang Hao quickly retracted from the bottom line. Kamp was afraid of Zhang Hao's re-defense choice lever, and did not make a shot in the confrontation!

After landing, Kamp said that he had been violated by Zhang Hao, but the referee ignored it. Although Zhang Hao did jump from outside the reasonable collision zone and confronted Kamp, he affected Kamp's pull-up movement.

The whistle that can be blown or not to blow tonight was actually chosen not to blow, but it was only after this time that the two teams took advantage of it.

It was not made good use before, but the game was not expected by the two teams from the beginning. Zhang Hao broke out at the beginning, and the Supersonics launched the star style early. Both teams initially thought of maintaining stability on the offensive end... Now, the game has truly entered the playoffs of the iron-blooded era!

Suddenly, the efficient offensive efficiency of the two teams suddenly decreased!

Why did Pat Riley simply choose to give up strengthening offense without a particularly good attack and choose to do the best defense? It is because this is the best way to narrow the gap between the stars to the greatest extent.

Originally, on the Lakers, Zhang Hao was partnered with either O'Neal and Barkley, and with Kenny Anderson or the Magician's assistance, facing the three All-Sonics stars, the Lakers also had a slight advantage.

But after the confrontation was improved, the Lakers' advantages were almost wiped out!

In the last two minutes of the first half, when O'Neal came on the court, the situation did not change. McIlway came up and increased the confrontational movements. The Supersonics were fighting. Kenny Anderson and Doug Christie's outside shooting performance declined and began to shrink. In the last two minutes, they really relied on the duo of Payton and Kemp to score a 4-0 wave at the last moment.

After halftime, the Supersonics overtook the Lakers 58-56 and entered the midfield break with two points!

...

From a 48-45 run in one and a half quarters to the 5th minute, the two teams scored 9-8, and in the last 40 seconds, the Supersonics scored 4-0... The change in the scoring came very suddenly.

But the fans on the scene were even more excited!

Unfortunately, the Lakers failed to withstand the last 40 seconds and were overtaken by the opponent.

But it was only 4 points, and the fans on the scene shouted to cheer for their team when they entered the halftime break.

The Lakers players were not discouraged when they returned to the locker room.

Tonight, the Lakers were challenged, and the opponent took the lead in changing rhythm. The Lakers were passively following the opponent's rhythm and could gain an advantage for a long time. When O'Neal was in the defensive stage of the confrontation, they could also bite the opponent to death. This is already a good thing.

I will definitely regret and be upset that the score was overtaken at the last moment of the half, but when I saw Zhang Hao's calm face, my teammates calmed down.

Del Harris did not blame the last two defenses, and in the end, Zhang Hao did not make the shot. What he wanted to do now is to take the initiative back and not always follow the rhythm set by the opponent.

I didn't have this idea before, because they could have the advantage in the rhythm of the other party's choice, but now it's not possible.

After discussing with the coaching staff for a while, just as Del Harris had figured out how to take the initiative in guiding rhythm changes in the second half, a No. 8 high school student who was unwilling to be named came to him.

At this time, Del Harris felt a little uncomfortable when he saw Zhang Hao.

He vaguely felt that the way he had tried his best to think about it might be in vain!

"Speak up if you have anything!" Silver Fox said very impatiently.

So impatient, Zhang Hao felt that he had to say it, and then quickly expressed his thoughts.

Hearing Zhang Hao's words, Silver Fox had just discussed the changes and made a decision, and now he was worried that he was uncertain but not at the moment of not paying attention to the decision.

But……

"How to arrange the strategy is our coach's job. Just play well!" Silver Fox didn't give Zhang Hao any face and directly scolded him angrily.

Hao Lai, when Zhang Hao heard this, he decisively went to the bathroom to wipe his sweat.

The old fox did not refute his suggestion, that was he was going to do so.

With 25 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks in the first half, he made 6 of 8 shots, and 9 of 14 shots, and his efficiency was declining.

Zhang Hao thought that scoring more than Camp would be the most troublesome task goal, but in the end, the good guy was actually the easiest one to complete.
To be continued...