Paul got 12 assists, but the Hornets lost by more than ten points, which was a rare occurrence last season; Paul scored the second-highest 30 points in the game, which, even in last season, was a bad omen for the Hornets. When Paul scores 30+, it's mostly a sign that the Hornets are in trouble...
In this game, Zhang Yang saw Paul's current predicament.
Unlike the future Gui Gui, who wants everything, Paul is passive; the team needs him all the time.
Paul has to hold down the fort and step up to solve problems during clutch moments. The first half was fine, he was consistent the whole way, but in the third quarter, he started tailing off, and by the final quarter, he was completely exhausted, yet he had to persevere and try his best with a weary body.
This was even more dangerous than the predicament Zhang Yang had analyzed before the game. Perhaps only the future peak Gui Gui could carry this team without collapsing from exhaustion; Paul's stamina clearly isn't that good.
