Horry was moved into the starting lineup by Harris, and Scott returned to the bench, yet the Lakers lost again...
In the reserve lineup, Horry played the role of a mobile power forward.
On offense, he set high screens and pulled out to the three-point line to create space for He Ximeng and Kobe to drive, and he would also take shots when opportunities arose.
On defense, Horry would drop back to help protect the paint, and the effect was quite good.
However, in the starting lineup, Horry played the small forward position previously occupied by Ceballos. His direct defensive assignment was usually a perimeter player, so there was no need to "clear out" or create space.
On defense, with O'Neal and Campbell inside, Horry was rarely needed to help on the inside.
Therefore, Horry's role in the starting lineup didn't seem to showcase his full potential.
For the Lakers, the addition of new players required real-game adjustments to find their proper roles.
Van Exel and Campbell, after Ceballos' departure, quickly chose to submit...
After a few rounds of "entertainment" for O'Neal, he intervened with management on their behalf, convincing them to let the two players stay for now.
O'Neal's reasoning was that the team had finally gelled after half a season, and replacing everyone at once would be detrimental to their championship aspirations...
Yes, O'Neal's claim was that it would be detrimental to their championship aspirations... The Big Diesel had big dreams, aiming to devour the championship trophy in one bite...
The "logo man" certainly didn't believe this! However, before this, the Lakers' management had already inquired with other teams about the trade value of these two players. If a suitable offer had come along, they would have been traded long ago.
Van Exel was a "nervous knife," inconsistent, and most teams in the league were hesitant to acquire him. Those that were willing to take a chance weren't willing to offer much.
Campbell was a blue-collar center, and the current league wasn't short on such "muscle-bound" players. Therefore, trading him now wouldn't yield any premium assets.
So, if O'Neal insisted on trading them away, the "logo man" would have sent them packing, even at a discount.
But now, since O'Neal had stepped in to keep them, the "logo man" seized the opportunity, deciding to give the two players more time, see if they could show some form, and then look to sell them for a good price at the end of the season...
However, this development effectively extinguished He Ximeng's chances of entering the starting lineup ahead of schedule.
It was unclear whether O'Neal was genuinely naive or truly cunning.
Those who called O'Neal naive pointed to his forgiveness and willingness to move past the previous unpleasantness with Van Exel and Campbell, attributing it to his broad-mindedness.
Those who called O'Neal cunning suggested he was playing both sides, keeping Van Exel and Campbell as "fallen generals" to continue their friction with the emerging stars Kobe and He Ximeng. This way, he could position himself as the mediator, solidifying his leadership position by keeping both the veteran and rookie factions reliant on him.
Even He Ximeng, for a time, couldn't quite fathom O'Neal's intentions.
O'Neal was certainly not foolish, but was he cunning to the point of being manipulative? Could it really be the effect of those few "entertainment" outings?
As long as Van Exel remained, He Ximeng couldn't get into the starting lineup.
Without a starting spot, He Ximeng would have to continue partnering with Kobe, forming the "bench twin stars."
Kobe, though he didn't say it openly, was likely secretly pleased. Having He Ximeng by his side to battle it out on the bench at least prevented Kobe from feeling any sense of displacement.
For someone as competitive as Kobe, if He Ximeng had truly entered the starting lineup early and become a star player, it was uncertain if their friendship would have survived...
Just as the Lakers were striving to find a new equilibrium through team chemistry, misfortune struck: O'Neal was injured!
In a game against the Washington Bullets in early February, O'Neal twisted his ankle while being double-teamed by Juwan Howard and Chris Webber. The conservative estimate was that he would be sidelined for at least three weeks.
For O'Neal himself, this meant he would miss the upcoming All-Star Weekend.
For the Lakers, O'Neal's injury would disrupt the hard-won order within the team once again.
Eddie Jones hadn't yet solidified his position as the second option, Van Exel and He Ximeng were still at odds, Campbell was facing challenges from the rookie center Knight, and Kobe... Kobe was eyeing Eddie Jones, cooperating while secretly competing...
The Lakers' locker room was as chaotic as a marketplace, with everyone vying for the increased playing time and shot opportunities during O'Neal's absence. The result was a four-game losing streak for the Lakers leading up to the All-Star Weekend.
However, despite the team's poor record, He Ximeng and Kobe from the bench put on impressive performances.
Not only was He Ximeng selected for the Rookie Challenge, but Kobe was also invited to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest, following in Jordan's footsteps and proving his mettle...
He Ximeng also received an invitation from the All-Star committee, not for the Slam Dunk Contest, but for the Three-Point Shootout!
On February 8, 1997, the 47th NBA All-Star Weekend was held at the home court of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Rookie Challenge, as always, took place first. The current Rookie Challenge featured a matchup between the Eastern and Western Conference rookies.
The undisputed leader of the Eastern Conference rookies was Iverson of the 76ers!
Other players from the East included Camby of the Raptors, Antoine Walker of the Celtics, Kittles of the Nets, Erick Dampier of the Pacers, Ray Allen of the Bucks, John Wallace of the Knicks, Popea of the Cavaliers, Tony Delk of the Hornets, and Fisher of the Magic.
The leader of the Western Conference... the West had no single leader!
The player with the highest draft pick was supposed to be Shareef Abdur-Rahim of the Grizzlies!
But Abdur-Rahim couldn't command the team!
Although Kobe Bryant's individual statistics didn't match Abdur-Rahim's, he refused to defer to him.
Stephon Marbury of the Timberwolves was in a similar situation to Kobe; his stats didn't tell the whole story, and he simply wouldn't back down...
Instead, it was He Ximeng of the Lakers who had subtly emerged as the leader of the Western Conference rookies.
The reasons were not complicated.
Firstly, He Ximeng's individual statistics were comparable to Abdur-Rahim's, demonstrating his inherent skill.
Secondly, the Lakers had three rookies selected for the Rookie Challenge: He Ximeng, Kobe, and Knight. With more players on their side, their influence naturally grew.
Furthermore, He Ximeng had a good relationship with both of the other "troublemakers," Kobe and Marbury.
If these two couldn't lead themselves, and had to choose between Abdur-Rahim and He Ximeng, they would undoubtedly choose He Ximeng...
Thus, He Ximeng, who had no intention of competing with Iverson, found himself thrust into the role of a leader by circumstances. Even though he didn't want to be the leader, he had to be...