Garnett scored 14 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks, Marbury scored 26 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists, Gugliotta scored 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, the three of them scored 60 points and 15 assists, and their performance was already very good, but they couldn't beat them.

The Lakers played a few blindly in the third quarter, but because of this, Timberwolves players and fans saw a bigger gap!

The start of 20 wins and 2 losses... No, it is a team with 21 wins and 2 losses. When the condition is not bad, the gap between the team with 16 wins and 9 losses is quite obvious. The difference in 9 points is definitely not big, but the continuity after playing the advantage, the ability to seize key opportunities, and the ability to grasp key balls, tonight, the gap is reflected. If the Timberwolves have the ability to better grasp opportunities in the middle of the first quarter and the third quarter, the Timberwolves may win tonight, but if they are not sure about these two stages, the Timberwolves will have no chance.

...

After all, I won!

In the early morning of the next day, it took a day to review the game against the Timberwolves. Zhang Hao felt that winning was really dangerous!

We need to adapt to the extension of the three-point line in advance and start adjustments in advance... It will definitely be beneficial to the future, but now it is a troublesome. In this game between the Timberwolves, Mr. Zhang simply did not throw three-pointers in the top arc area.

Of course, this is an adjustment to the Timberwolves' defensive strategy, not a person who doesn't want to shoot. The Timberwolves have a very good understanding of his regular shooting area. He can use targeted defense naturally.

In addition to this, he also felt that his teammates were floating again as the middle of the season approached...

Another old problem that cannot be solved is that the defending champion, the Jazz, the first and second place in the league, won 4 games, played more than a quarter of the schedule and gradually felt the fatigue of the long season... Their aristocratic disease is about to be violated again.

The problem reflected is that it is easy to get away when you lead. This situation has begun to occur recently before the first 20 games.

This problem, even in the peak period of 2008-11 when Kobe was ruled by high pressure in time and space, could not be solved. This is the tradition of the Lakers...

Even though he knew it was a problem that could not be solved, Zhang Hao was not confused. The thing worth being happy was that O'Neal did not slacken. This not only made Zhang Hao amazed.

Recently, even Kenny Anderson has been a little arrogant, but O'Neal has not played very hard! Even when encountering opponents like Sabonis and Stanley Roberts, O'Neal has worked hard and played smarter, playing with strengths and avoiding weaknesses, grasping the playing time of playing staggered play, and creating opportunities to suppress first and then rise... It is not obvious that O'Nealdo is working hard in training, but he spends more time on the court.

Maybe it was because he had been playing in the noble team for a long time, and Zhang Hao gradually accepted the aristocratic disease...

...

The morning after playing against the Timberwolves, Zhang Hao didn't have the heart to care about the media's praise for how good the continuity and adjustments of the Lakers' dominance were. He flew to Atlanta with the team and rested for an afternoon, and the second game within 24 hours started at 6 pm.

The Hawks have played 24 games so far, with 13 wins and 11 losses, ranking sixth in the Eastern Conference. Compared with their 56-win record last season, they have declined a lot.

Their defense is still strong. Mutombo, who claims to be 32 years old, is averaging 13.4 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game, and is the soul of this team's defensive end.

The one who declined the most was their offense, averaging 90.2 points per game, averaging 90.5 points per game, basically pure defense.

The reason is that after their star Murch Brelock took effect in five years, his offensive status declined sharply!

There is no problem in defending Muchi Brelock. After Payton, the second player in the league's point guard was defending, and under the leadership of Mutombo, the defense was still sitting in the point guard position.

But on the offensive end, he averaged 17 points last season, and fell to 13 points per game this season, with a shooting percentage of 44% last season, and only 38% this season, with a three-point shooting percentage of 36.7 last season, making 2.8 three-point shooting percentage, and only 33.1% of three-point shooting percentage this season, and also facing an extension of the three-point line...

Last season, he averaged 7.7 assists per game, and this season he also plummeted to 5.9, and the number of turnovers increased from 2.4 per game to 3 per game. The assist and turnover ratio fell below 2.

30-year-old Murchi Brecklelo is as good as ever on the defensive end, but has a cliff-like decline on the offensive end.

Fortunately, Muqi Breckle's contract renewal was completed in advance before the start of last season, with an average annual salary of over US$4 million. It is worth more than Pippen's 2.78 million US$2.78 million this year. It is definitely not worth it, but it will be worth it after comparing it from next year.

After the game started, the Lakers and the Hawks were in a fierce defensive battle, and the game was full of hand-to-hand combat, confrontation, fouls, free throws... and conflict. O'Neal and Mutombo almost had a wet kiss and their noses were pressed.

But it was purely because of the big moves against the two of them, and they were angry when they didn't really fight, and they just pulled it apart.

The turning point of the game was that in a rotation of the Hawks, they sent substitute power forward Oliver Miller to defend O'Neal.

O'Neal can't find several opponents heavier than him in the league, Oliver Miller is one of them. This season, Oliver Miller is 140 kg, which is 5 kg heavier than O'Neal...

But in terms of height, O'Neal is 10 cm taller than Oliver Miller, and the bounce is incomparable.

In the middle of the third quarter, the two teams scored 55-56, and the Lakers were still one point behind. However, this time the Hawks rotated, O'Neal's chance came, jumped up twice in a row to crush Oliver Miller and smashed the ball into the basket. The second time he made a foul, and even made an extra free throw, and he scored a 5-0 wave.

In this regard, the Lakers have a clear initiative.

At the end of the third quarter, O'Neal, who was already excited, received the ball and dribbled quickly, attracting Kristen Leitner to attack. Zhang Hao took advantage of the group of people on the left side of the basket and slipped the bottom line behind O'Neal, and caught O'Neal's pass from behind, making two points.

After the third quarter, the Lakers led 67-60 and entered the final quarter by 7 points!

This point difference has become an unchallengeable gap for the Hawks when the confrontation has already reached its extreme, so they chose to chop the Sharks... on the substitute double towers and chase O'Neal for a foul.

Just after he got back from the break between the festival, there was no question of whether the rhythm of the game would be interrupted. The Silver Fox was tough and did not substitute. Then... O'Neal walked on the free throw line three times in a row, making 1 of 6 free throws.

The Eagles' foul effect was indeed good. They scored 5-1 and scored 65-68, which was only 1 goal behind. But at the critical moment, O'Neal suddenly got accurate and made both free throws!

Immediately afterwards, the head pitcher of the Hawks, Steve Smith, who had just scored 5 points in a row, became a three-pointer, O'Neal grabbed the rebound, Zhang Hao, who had sucked the jersey during the break, went straight to the opposite side, Brian Xiao received the ball and passed it... Zhang Hao counterattacked and dunked two points under the basket, and the difference reached 7 points again!

The Eagles worked hard to use 8 fouls to cut the sharks. 8 fouls in 2 minutes and 11 seconds can be considered a shocking and terrifying thing, but they ended up being lonely.

Not only did the score difference not change, the Eagles themselves are also in an embarrassing situation where the opponent makes a free throw for a foul.

At this time, Zhang Hao didn't care about anything else, and fell into the position and held the ball and drilled into the inside like holding an explosive bag... The first point guard possessed him!

In the last quarter, O'Neal made 6 free throws in a single quarter, and Zhang Hao made 4 of 6 free throws. The two scored 10 points with free throws. The Hawks scored 5 points more than two minutes before the start, and only scored 10 points later. In addition to Zhang Hao and O'Neal's 10 free throws, the Lakers also scored 11 regular points.

In a single quarter, the Lakers steadily withstood the Hawks' tactical offensive.

In the end, with Zhang Hao's 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks, O'Neal's 24 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks, Jason Williams' 7 points, 16 rebounds, and Kenny Anderson's 13 points, 5 assists... The Lakers defeated the Hawks away 88-75, and won both back-to-back games!

...

In this game against the Hawks, it seems that O'Neal won 5-0 in the third quarter, or the Lakers' team's impact after O'Neal withstood the pressure of free throws in the fourth quarter, actually, it is winning in rebounds.

Zhang Hao, O'Neal and Jason Williams scored 37 rebounds in three people, while the Lakers had 57 rebounds, which was 18 more rebounds than the Hawks!

After defeating the Hawks, the Lakers got a day off and came to Charlotte for a night of rest. On December 19, they challenged the Hornets away.

At 5 pm, the game started, and the Lakers still had the advantage in the stage. They led the Hornets 30-26 in a single quarter by 4 points, very strong. O'Neal scored 6 points and 3 assists in a single quarter. The key was to start 3 of 3 shots, two of which were 2+1, but they did not make the penalty. The league's No. 2+0 master is well-deserved.

But when it came to the rotation stage, the Lakers began to be at a disadvantage, 24-30, and the Lakers were overtaken by two points after the half.

In the third quarter, the Hornets scored 27-22, and the Lakers were behind by 7 points.

Although the Lakers won a little in the last quarter and once scored 20-15 in a single quarter, Glenn Rice was still tough and led the team to a 11-6 wave in the last 4 minutes of the fourth quarter. The Lakers' offense was not able to continue at the last moment, so the Hornets blocked Zhang Hao and O'Neal.

In the end, the Hornets defended their home court 109-100, giving the Lakers the third loss this season!

In fact, when watching the game, O'Neal played well. He had a shooting percentage of 63.6%, but only 11 shots, and made 7 of 11 shots. He started with a strong start and the more he went backwards. After all, although the fourth game in 6 days is not as cruel as 4 games in 5 days, it is still relatively difficult. The key point is the back-to-back in the middle. Neither the Timberwolves nor the Hawks are good at losing. Even if they lose, they will have to make the Lakers lose their skin.

7 of 11 shots, 5 of 12 free throws, O'Neal scored 19 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in 31 minutes, Zhang Hao scored 32 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 42 minutes, Jason Williams scored 17 points and 16 rebounds, Kenny Anderson scored 14 points and 8 assists... The four of their brothers have reached the limit.

By the way, the Hornets did not cut the Sharks when O'Neal made 5 of 12 free throws, which is considered very ethical.

This time the Lakers really have no choice. Even Zhang Hao killed the game until the critical moment...

...

22 wins and 3 losses, 6 consecutive away games with 3 wins and 1 loss, and overall it is OK.

This wave of consecutive away Eastern Conference games was over. Early the next morning after the game against the Hornets, Zhang Hao said goodbye to Curry, who was depressed last night because he lost the game and was almost beaten by his own father but still ran to the hotel to send him away. He flew to Houston with the team.

Next, the last two games before the Christmas game, playing back-to-back against the Rockets and the Clippers away.

After a night in Houston, on December 21, the Lakers came to challenge the Rockets away.

Originally, the Rockets had the chance to play the Lakers' shot. O'Neal was not in shape tonight. He made only 5 of 11 shots, plus 4 of 10 free throws, so he scored 14 points... The reason for the chance was that this was the defense that Divac had done when Olajuwon was injured.

Although Olajuwon is currently only the third highest score per game for the Rockets, and both Drexler and Divac perform better than him, as a first-class support + defense power forward, Olajuwon is still very important to the Rockets.

O'Neal scored not well, and the rebound was well protected, with 14 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and 1 steal, plus Zhang Hao's 17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, Kenny Anderson's 10 points and 10 assists, Doug Christie's 16 points, Brent Barry's 12 points, Jason Williams's 19 points and 11 rebounds... The Lakers easily defeated the Rockets without Olajuwon with 94-83.

The score difference is not big, but it is said that it is a light pick, but there is no problem at all, because Zhang Hao only played for 27 minutes and O'Neal only played for 30 minutes.

Jason Williams has performed very well when the team entered a period of fatigue recently, with excellent physical strength and excellent rebounding awareness. With the threat of Zhang Hao or O'Neal, he is like a sucking man at the basket.

The rebounding evaluation that is higher than O'Neal is really not for nothing.

So far, Jason Williams has played 26 games on the bench, averaging 22 minutes per game, scoring 8.8 points and 9.5 rebounds! Moreover, it is on an upward trend!

Jason Williams' outstanding rebounding protection and second-offensive performance have played a huge role in recent times.

...

Back to Los Angeles with a record of 23 wins and 3 losses, at 6 pm on December 22, the Lakers started their second game within 25 hours, playing against the Clippers away.

This is the easiest game in the sixth consecutive away game. It is easier than being sent out after opening the Blazers' Tianzun roared and was sent out. After playing one third of the season, the Clippers chose to give up and started playing badly. At this point, the 9th to 14th in the West, collectively playing badly. The happiest thing is the Rockets boss Alexander. He can enter the playoffs without further spending money...

O'Neal played 29 minutes, made 8 of 10 shots and 4 of 7 free throws to score 20 points, Zhang Hao scored 13 points and 3 assists in 18 minutes, Jason Williams scored 13 points and 10 rebounds, Kenny Anderson threw 20 times, 12 of 20 shots, including 2 of 5 three-pointers and 6 of 6 free throws, and scored 32 points and 2 assists, plus Rick Fox and Brian Xiao combined to get 13 assists...

It was really just playing around. Fisher was rumbled out and shot 11 times, 9 of which were three-pointers, and 3 of them were 9 shots, and only these three three-pointers made and scored 9 points.

Amid the crazy cheers of fans at the scene, the Lakers slaughtered the Clippers 125-90, improving their record to 24 wins and 3 losses, surpassing the Lakers' best start in the 1986-1987 season!

That season, the Lakers won 65 wins, and they played 27 games before the Christmas game, 23 wins and 4 losses... In fact, there is something very unfair. The Lakers won 69 wins in 1971-1972, but that year the Lakers started because the Lakers' opponent's general manager played 9 games before they retired, which affected the opening record...
Chapter completed!