The current situation means he can't predict the next move of that betting bald guy on the opposite side, so it's better not to complicate things. Kidd handles the offensive end, Garnett takes care of defense, Kobe is responsible for shooting and initiating attacks—this is the best choice at present.
The Zen Master's composed demeanor does have an effect. Calling a timeout was perceived by the players as merely a way to calm them down, not to worry about the substitute center falling into foul trouble. After the timeout, the Lakers executed their offensive plays steadily and were minimally affected.
But on defense...
Kwame Brown, who played over 8 minutes as the center in the first quarter and over 3 minutes as the power forward, rested for just a short while; upon returning, his performance in protecting the rim noticeably declined!
