The Lakers' final defensive stand saw Harris's eyes flit between Kobe and Scott. He ultimately chose the veteran Scott, rather than the wild Van Exel, to guard Damon Stoudamire.
But Scott was old and his legs were no longer what they used to be. Damon Stoudamire, nicknamed "The Jet," was incredibly fast.
Despite Scott's vast experience, his footwork couldn't keep up. After a few feints from Stoudamire, he blew past him in a single step.
Fortunately, Stoudamire, in his pursuit of a higher shooting percentage, opted not for a pull-up jump shot but attempted to drive to the basket. He weaved and dodged in the air, avoiding O'Neal's massive hands, and finally ended the game with a layup.
However, "The Jet" had underestimated O'Neal's shot-blocking ability! In the 96-97 season, O'Neal was in his prime, agile as a bird. Even as he was falling, O'Neal, with his excellent shot-blocking instincts, swatted away Stoudamire's final shot with his fingertips.
The final buzzer sounded, and the game was over.
With a score of 93-92, the Lakers, thanks to O'Neal's last-minute defensive play, blocked the Raptors' game-winning shot and secured their fifth consecutive win of the new season!
O'Neal once again recorded 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Ceballos shot 1-of-6 from the field for 2 points and 7 rebounds. Van Exel shot 1-of-14, scoring 3 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.
The internal friction within the Lakers gradually faded with each passing game, leaving little room for suspense.
Kobe set a new personal scoring high in this game, with 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block.
He Ximeng also scored 10 points, along with 6 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals.
After a grueling three-game road trip, the Lakers finally returned to Los Angeles, getting a chance to catch their breath.
However, after a day of rest, the Lakers were scheduled to play two back-to-back home games. The NBA's schedule is notoriously dense and brutal. For players, without a durable body, it's impossible to withstand this intensity. Even with a strong physique, if the coaching staff doesn't employ good rotation habits, even the most robust players will face various injuries throughout the long season.
In conclusion, the NBA league is not simply a collection of games. It's a complex organization that requires the coordinated efforts of players, coaches, medical staff, scouts, and management. If any single aspect has a significant weakness, it's impossible for that team to contend for a championship.
As a bench player, He Ximeng's playing time was kept under 20 minutes, so his physical exertion was well within manageable limits. The more significant fatigue stemmed not from the games themselves but from the constant travel, flights, and hotel stays, which took a toll on both mind and body.
Upon returning to Los Angeles, seeing Kayla, brimming with youthful energy and a sweet smile, leap into his arms, all the fatigue from the journey vanished.
As the saying goes, a day apart feels like three years.
In the small apartment, even the air seemed to crackle with the scent of hormones.
The next day, Kayla happily headed off to school, while He Ximeng planned to sleep in until noon.
After their five-game winning streak, Coach Harris, in a rare move, gave the players a day off to rest and recover their energy for the upcoming back-to-back games. The two teams challenging them were traditional Western Conference powerhouses: the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs!
However, shortly after Kayla left, Kobe's persistent calls began.
"Sleeping? Get out and practice! Now!"
"Speaking of which, you're always practicing, practicing... Doesn't Vanessa give you trouble?"
"Trouble? What trouble?" Kobe sounded bewildered on the other end of the line. "Vanessa is still sleeping... Kid, stop changing the subject. You have half an hour to get to the gym and meet me, or I'll beat you up every time I see you..."
You win.
He Ximeng ignored Kobe's threat, hung up the phone, and tucked it under a sofa cushion before falling back asleep. He figured Kobe was just bluffing over the phone. To his surprise, less than half an hour later, his apartment door was violently knocked open.
Kobe stormed in and dragged the groggy He Ximeng to the gym!
Want to sleep in? Not a chance!
In the bloom of youth, why sleep? Practicing is the way!
Thus, He Ximeng's rare day off was ruined by the practice fanatic Kobe.
A day later, the Lakers hosted the Rockets!
The Rockets' core this season was a legendary lineup in NBA history: Hakeem Olajuwon at center, Charles Barkley at power forward, and Clyde Drexler at small forward!
If these three legends hadn't passed their peak, and had they been paired with a decent point guard, they would have swept the league, leaving no chance for other teams.
Fortunately, the Rockets had poured most of their salary cap into these three stars. Their shooting guard, Mario Elie, and point guard, Matt Maloney, were not exceptional, and there were no particularly strong role players on the bench.
For the Lakers, as long as they could withstand the onslaught of the "three legends" on the front lines, their "Laker twin stars" could help them score points during the rotation.
As the game tipped off, O'Neal and Olajuwon engaged in a fierce battle in the paint!
Both adopted a defensive stance, preventing the opponent from directly dunking, instead forcing them to rely on floaters or jump shots to finish their offensive plays.
Frankly, when it came to touch, O'Neal was no match for Olajuwon.
Meanwhile, Barkley hit a three-pointer, forcing Campbell to step out of the paint and extend the defense to the three-point line.
Drexler moved fluidly both inside and outside, looking for weaknesses in the Lakers' defense.
With O'Neal, their strongest offensive weapon, being contained by the Rockets, the Lakers' offense struggled in the early going.
However, fortunately, Ceballos and Van Exel, who had been in a slump for nearly five games, seemed to awaken with O'Neal facing difficulties.
Ceballos repeatedly drove strong against Drexler for successful baskets, and Van Exel, after shooting 1-of-14 in the previous game, started this one by making his first three shots.
With these contrasting developments, the Lakers, after a brief deficit, managed to claw their way back into the game.
On the sidelines, Coach Harris, seeing how well the starting lineup was performing, delayed initiating rotations.
It wasn't until the end of the first quarter that he substituted Ceballos for Scott.
It was only at the end of the first quarter that He Ximeng and Kobe had yet to get a chance to play.