Zhang Hao is not just aiming for scoring, but also for winning! Having seized the opportunity with a good rhythm, scoring 12 points in 4 and a half minutes, it's time to slow down. The game is long, and scoring over 20 points in the first quarter without lasting energy might be detrimental to high overall scoring.
Zhang Hao's tactic of pulling to the high arc for pick-and-roll and receiving the pass, combined with the Blazers' defensive focus on him, left the Lakers' low-post area wide open. This gave Barkley ample space for close-range attacks, Jason Williams opportunities for put-backs and easy buckets, and Kenny Anderson and Wilkins perfect openings for support after the pick-and-roll...
The crux of the matter remains the Blazers' overly Zhang Hao-focused defensive strategy. When faced with the Lakers' sudden shift to team offense, the Blazers were bewildered defensively!
