Building on the threat created by Zhang Hao at the start, the Lakers' opening offense quickly became smooth, as the Magician handed off the ball to Van Exel, who was responsible for secondary ball control and close-range hooks.
The Lakers' opening offense was extremely effective.
Zhang Hao didn't go to the center position, so he couldn't fully showcase his rim protection skills, which had been temporarily elevated to the highest level.
Ewing very astutely observed something and chose to actively position himself inside against Campbell, using post-up spins for layups and close-range shots after a step to score. If Zhang Hao stepped down from the high post, Ewing would pass to the perimeter. He played very smartly, demonstrating the comprehensive offensive skills that a superstar should have.
However, the Lakers' offense was smooth, scoring an average of 107 points per game, far more fluid than the New York Knicks!
