The Lakers last season were plagued by internal struggles for status and playing time, marked by overt and covert conflicts, factions, and a somewhat toxic competitive environment.
This season, with O'Neal's status unshakeable and Eddie Jones cemented as the second-in-command, the Lakers have an opening for a third star.
Van Exel and Campbell have been relegated to the bench, and the final opportunities to claim the Lakers' third star position are currently held by Horry, He Ximeng, and Kobe.
Although Kobe is on the bench, he receives more playing time than starter Fox. His scoring average has jumped from 10 points last season to 18 points per game, with his shot attempts increasing to 12 per game. By all metrics, Kobe's standing within the Lakers has significantly improved.
He can be described as a super sixth man off the bench, or potentially a candidate for the team's third star.
With O'Neal performing consistently, Eddie Jones maturing and entering his prime, and Kobe and He Ximeng emerging from their rookie years and developing rapidly, the Lakers' offensive firepower is a match for any team in the league!
After an opening three-game winning streak, the Lakers are set for a challenging three-game road trip against the three Texas powerhouses!
The first game of the three-game road trip sees the Lakers challenging the Dallas Mavericks!
The Mavericks are still in a rebuilding phase this season, without any All-Stars on the roster. Their core players, Finley and AC Green, acquired from the Suns mid-season last year, have not yet fully integrated into the Mavericks' system.
The Lakers did not expend much energy in this game. The Mavericks' Bradley, though tall, lacked a stable base and was completely overwhelmed by O'Neal's imposing presence. He Ximeng merely needed to lob the ball towards the paint's edge, and O'Neal would consistently score inside.
Initially, the Mavericks hoped Bradley could limit O'Neal in one-on-one matchups, but he was simply dominated. Throughout the game, O'Neal shot an impressive 17 of 23 from the field, a remarkable 74% success rate.
In the end, the frustrated Mavericks resorted to intentional fouling to stop O'Neal. O'Neal, however, struggled from the free-throw line, making only 3 of 9 attempts, a free-throw percentage of less than 34%, less than half of his field goal percentage.
The primary reason, it seems, is that the free-throw line is simply too far for O'Neal.
He Ximeng dished out an astonishing 15 assists in this game, most of them to O'Neal, recording a double-double with 13 points and 15 assists.
Kobe played only 15 minutes, shooting 4 of 7 from the field for 10 points and 3 rebounds. During a dunk in the third quarter, Kobe accidentally injured his wrist and was forced to leave the game. After putting up near-All-Star performances in the preceding games, with his scoring average soaring to 18 points, he overextended himself and injured his wrist, leaving the court with visible frustration and disappointment.
For Kobe at this stage, the greatest pain is being unable to play.
After defeating the Mavericks 118-96, the Lakers traveled to Houston to face the Rockets!
Kobe did not continue with the team on the road trip. Instead, as per the coaching staff's instructions, he returned to Los Angeles for further examination. While not a severe injury, a wrist injury can significantly impact a shooter's accuracy. Consequently, the coaching staff did not take it lightly, sending Kobe back to Los Angeles overnight for evaluation at a specialized facility to determine whether he would undergo treatment or a period of rest.
The Rockets' core this season remains their legendary trio: Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and Clyde Drexler.
Last season, the newly assembled Lakers lost all four regular-season matchups against the Rockets, failing to secure a single victory.
O'Neal found it difficult to make an impact against the double-teams of Olajuwon and Barkley.
However, this season, both Olajuwon and Barkley are a year older. Olajuwon can no longer execute his "Dream Shake" as effectively, and Barkley is not as explosive.
O'Neal, on the other hand, is more dominant than last season!
As the game tipped off, Olajuwon, using his experience, faked O'Neal slightly and won the tip, giving the Rockets the initial offensive possession.
Matt Maloney brought the ball across half-court and passed it to Olajuwon near the paint. Olajuwon attempted to back down O'Neal but was firmly held. He resorted to a turn-around hook shot, which unfortunately hit the rim and missed.
O'Neal secured the rebound and passed to He Ximeng for the advance.
He Ximeng advanced the ball calmly, waiting for O'Neal to position himself. He called for a high-post screen from Horry, drawing Barkley out. He then created a mismatch on the wing and executed a bounce pass to O'Neal, giving him an opportunity to post up Olajuwon one-on-one!
This is one of the Lakers' classic tactics to prevent O'Neal from being double-teamed!
He Ximeng now poses a significant threat from the perimeter, and no team in the league dares to leave him open.
Therefore, as long as Horry's screens are effective, opponents are forced to switch.
Once they switch, He Ximeng gains an advantage in mismatches, allowing him to either drive to the basket himself or pass to O'Neal inside.
On this play, He Ximeng feigned a retreat to the three-point line to shoot, drawing "The Round Mound of Rebound" out to the wing. He then delivered a precise bounce pass to O'Neal, who had slipped to the edge of the paint on that side!
Upon receiving the pass, O'Neal immediately began to push, as if he wanted to bowl Olajuwon over with his backside! However, "The Dream" is a top-tier center in the league, and even with age, his experience remains. He didn't foolishly try to withstand the pressure head-on. Instead, he retreated in the direction of O'Neal's force, partially evading the power of O'Neal's push, and waited for O'Neal to ease up before closing in to disrupt.
However, Olajuwon overestimated his footwork's agility. He avoided the initial push, but his rhythm was off when he tried to close back in.
O'Neal exploited the space Olajuwon had created, turned, took a step, and unleashed a one-handed slam dunk, clearly with a taunting intent!
On the other end, Maloney mirrored the Lakers' tactic. He brought the ball up to the high post at the three-point line and called for a screen from Barkley.
Barkley planted his feet wide and solid, like a wall, blocking He Ximeng's path!
Even though He Ximeng anticipated Maloney's intention and tried to squeeze past, he couldn't move the large forward.
Barkley playfully nudged He Ximeng with his shoulders, without moving his feet, sending He Ximeng nearly flying off the court!
"Hey! Little guy, you're not very sturdy, are you..." Barkley quipped, mocking He Ximeng's lack of strength.
He Ximeng ignored Barkley's taunts and immediately signaled Horry to switch!
Horry didn't hesitate, leaving Barkley to He Ximeng and going to chase down the driving Maloney!
He Ximeng immediately pressed up against Barkley, guarding against a potential pass back to Barkley from Maloney.
Maloney, however, had no intention of passing back. He drove all the way to the basket, attempting a floater.
Horry didn't allow him an easy shot, coming from behind to contest, swatting Maloney and the ball to the floor.
Unfortunately, the referee's whistle blew, calling a foul on Horry.
Maloney went to the free-throw line and made both shots, putting the Rockets on the scoreboard first.