The Lakers can now only try to disrupt the opponent's shooting percentage while ensuring their own. Of course, this is easier said than done.
O'Neal tried to receive the ball at the edge of the paint but was double-teamed by Longley and Pippen. O'Neal passed back to Hexi Meng, who didn't hold the ball but passed to Eddie Jones in the middle. Jones then passed to Fox on the left. Fox drew Pippen back while dribbling the ball to O'Neal, who had turned around!
O'Neal dribbled once towards the middle, leaning on Longley, and made a hook shot off the glass.
The Lakers played this possession with enough patience.
The Bulls continued their triangle offense, but this time, Pippen's mid-range pull-up jumper bounced off the rim. Horry grabbed the rebound and quickly passed to Hexi Meng. Hexi Meng, breaking free from Harper's interference, raced past half-court, following the Bulls' retreating defense. He passed to Eddie Jones, who was trailing on the right. Jones caught the ball, took flight, dodged Jordan's dive from behind, and finished with a layup off the glass!
The Bulls played resolutely, and the Lakers were equally determined!
When masters clash, there's no hesitation. Missing a shot is not the fear; the fear is playing timidly and not daring to shoot.
Turning around, Kukoc screened for Jordan, then set a screen for Pippen off the ball before retreating to the three-point line. He received the pass and shot!
This was the Bulls' first three-pointer of the game, from power forward Kukoc. Unfortunately, the ball bounced off the rim.
Eddie Jones fought for the rebound and brought the ball upcourt.
Seeing this, Hexi Meng quickly moved to the right wing and drove, sinking to the right corner.
Eddie Jones initially intended to drive to the basket himself, but the Bulls' chase defense was very aggressive. Jordan was tight on him, and Pippen doubled from the weak side. If Eddie Jones had insisted on driving, he likely would have faced a combined block.
At a crucial moment, Eddie Jones didn't force the issue and, at the last second, passed to Hexi Meng in the right corner!
Hexi Meng had only moved to a position that was tactically optimal and didn't really expect Eddie Jones to pass. In a regular-season game, Eddie Jones likely wouldn't have passed and would have tried to score regardless, accepting the potential block. But in the playoffs, especially in the Finals, this was Eddie Jones's first Finals appearance, and he was still a bit reserved and cautious. Therefore, at the last moment, Eddie Jones didn't dare to shoot and chose to pass to Hexi Meng, making a very sensible assist!
Hexi Meng caught the ball and smoothly sank a corner three-pointer, giving the Lakers their first three-pointer of the game.
After a brief scoring drought, the Lakers' offense began to open up with O'Neal as the focus in the half-court and Hexi Meng leading the fast breaks.
The Bulls also had a brief scoring drought at the start, but soon, Jordan, with himself as the center of the triangle offense, helped his teammates gradually find their rhythm.
Neither team could gain a significant advantage in the opening stages. Midway through the first quarter, Kobe Bryant came in for the Lakers, replacing Fox. For the Bulls, Kukoc left the game, and Rodman entered.
Both head coaches adjusted their lineups simultaneously, and the intensity of the competition only increased.
Kobe, eager to play, was very active upon entering the game. Using a screen from Eddie Jones at the high post, he cut from the weak side to the strong side, then faked a backdoor cut towards the middle, aiming to drive to the basket.
However, Rodman, who had just entered the game, was equally spirited. Seeing Kobe's cut, he immediately abandoned Horry, sprinted in, and leaped from behind Kobe's side.
Rodman's angle of approach was directly in Kobe's blind spot. Kobe, too focused on the basket, didn't hear Hexi Meng's loud warning from behind. Consequently, this stop-and-pop jump shot was swatted by Rodman!
Kobe cursed and quickly landed to try and regain possession, but Jordan, guarding him from the front, was incredibly quick. He immediately snatched the ball, spun around beautifully, and was about to drive past Kobe.
In a moment of urgency, Kobe had no choice but to foul to stop Jordan's fast break.
Having been blocked and fouled within thirty seconds of entering the game, Kobe was understandably frustrated.
On the way back on defense, Hexi Meng patted Kobe on the back and told him to relax.
Kobe understood the logic, but this was his first NBA Finals, and denying any nervousness would be a lie.
Turning around, the Bulls organized their half-court offense. With Kukoc off the court, Rodman took his position near the free-throw line, forming a strong-side triangle with Jordan and Pippen. Rodman screened for Jordan on the wing. Jordan drove past Horry to the right low post and hit a pull-up jumper, scoring two points.
It was the Lakers' turn to attack. Kobe continued to move actively, finding an open cut with another backdoor.
Hexi Meng, unfazed by Kobe's earlier block, immediately passed the ball to Kobe. This time, Kobe didn't give Rodman or Jordan a chance to block. He immediately stuffed the ball into the basket, scoring the two points in the most secure way!
Kobe was also very excited after the dunk! On the way back on defense, he couldn't help but high-five Hexi Meng hard.
At the end of the first quarter, the score was tied at 20-20.
At the start of the second quarter, Hexi Meng and O'Neal went to the bench for a rest. Eddie Jones, Kobe, Fox, Campbell, and Van Exel formed the Lakers' second unit.
The Bulls' second unit consisted of center Rodman, power forward Simpkins, small forward Pippen, shooting guard Burrell, and point guard Kerr.
In this lineup, Pippen was the core player, and Kerr played the role of a point guard, assisting Pippen in distributing the ball.
Van Exel, using his strength and explosive power, drove past Kobe and into the Bulls' paint, then connected with Campbell, assisting his old partner on a turnaround hook shot in the lane.
Immediately after, the Bulls made a turnover on a fast break. Fox stole a pass from Kerr intended for Pippen and, while pushing the ball, passed to Kobe. Kobe drove aggressively, backed down Burrell to the right low post, and then hit a turnaround fadeaway jumper!
That move... made Jordan, watching from the sideline, curl his lips: Isn't he imitating my moves?