"David!" He Xi Meng shouted, passing the ball low behind O'Neal.
"I'm here!" David Robinson's deep voice sounded from behind O'Neal. He caught the ball, turned, and shot off the glass! David Robinson easily made the basket with almost no defense.
Although the Spurs scored, the fans let out a sigh of regret because the "He Xi Meng challenges O'Neal" spectacle they had anticipated didn't materialize! At the last moment, He Xi Meng had once again chosen the most low-key yet most effective method: assisting his teammate to score!
"Hey, brother, can you do me a favor? Next time you want to pass, could you not act like you're going to dunk on me and give me that look?"
O'Neal deliberately found He Xi Meng during the transition and grumbled a few words.
"I'm afraid not, Shaq! You're so intimidating in the paint. If I don't act like I'm going for a dunk, will you let David go and fully contest me? If you don't defend with all your might, David won't have the space and opportunity, and I might get blocked by you too. I was forced into it... You see my point, don't you?"
"Uh... it seems like you have a point! But next time, you won't trick me again!" O'Neal flexed his biceps and threatened He Xi Meng fiercely.
"Okay, Shaq! I won't trick you again..."
He Xi Meng tried his best to put on a sincere smile, but O'Neal returned a scornful grin, his lips upturned at a forty-five-degree angle: "I'll believe that when pigs fly..."
"Damn it! Fooled by the Shark..."
Turning around, O'Neal actively positioned himself at the edge of the paint, sealing David Robinson off from the ball.
Brad Miller quickly stepped up, attempting to double-team O'Neal, but O'Neal passed the ball back to Grant on the other side.
Grant drove towards the basket. Brad Miller rushed back to defend. O'Neal spun, sealing off David Robinson. Grant immediately made a bounce pass back... Before the recovering Brad Miller could even jump, O'Neal had already caught the ball and taken flight. Above Brad Miller's head, he powerfully slammed the ball through the hoop with both hands!
"Now that's a dunk!" O'Neal roared at He Xi Meng, who was retrieving the ball at the baseline.
"Got it, got it! I can't dunk on you, so if you're so good, come out and shoot!"
He Xi Meng refused to be outdone, striking directly at O'Neal's ego. Now, less than three minutes into the game, He Xi Meng had successfully angered both members of the OK combination... Well, it's either you die or I die, no need to say anything more about this game.
Turning around, He Xi Meng dribbled past half-court and, unusually, called for David Robinson to come to the perimeter for a screen, seemingly wanting to isolate O'Neal.
Although David Robinson screened him, Kobe Bryant wouldn't let He Xi Meng go. He went around the back, abandoning David Robinson to help O'Neal corner He Xi Meng.
"Hoo hoo! I've actually forced the OK combination to double-team me?" He Xi Meng felt a surge of internal satisfaction, almost floating and wanting to test his limits. Fortunately, reason ultimately triumphed over vanity. He Xi Meng didn't get carried away and instead passed the ball back to David Robinson near the free-throw line.
Fox slid back to help Kobe defend David Robinson. David Robinson didn't force a shot but passed it out to the open Bowen.
Bowen caught the ball and shot! It was a decent open look, but unfortunately, the ball bounced off the rim.
"Bruce!"
Seeing that the rebound would likely bounce far, and the big men wouldn't be able to control it immediately, the Spurs' number 4 player swiftly moved across and leaped high above everyone else, swatting the ball back towards Bowen, who was preparing to retreat on defense!
"I'm here!" Bowen caught He Xi Meng's tipped pass and, from almost the same spot, caught and shot again! This time, he didn't miss his opportunity and successfully made the three-pointer.
"Damn it! Who let He Xi Meng come over?"
O'Neal was very unhappy with his teammates' defense on this play. If He Xi Meng hadn't tipped the ball out to the perimeter a step earlier, that rebound would have been his.
But no one answered O'Neal's grumbling, because it seemed that after the switch, the Lakers player responsible for guarding He Xi Meng was O'Neal himself...
It was the Lakers' turn to offense. O'Neal wanted the ball again, but Kobe took it from Fisher a step earlier. He then drove hard at He Xi Meng, finally leaping and scoring a low post two-pointer in front of He Xi Meng and the recovering Brad Miller.
After making the difficult shot, Kobe even slapped his hands together and gestured to the referee, indicating that the Spurs had fouled him on the play and he should have gotten an and-one opportunity.
He Xi Meng confirmed he hadn't touched him, knowing that such a move against Kobe would be pointless and only lead to fouls. However, Brad Miller was not to be outdone by Kobe. Perhaps in that instant, Brad Miller had the desire to block Kobe, but he missed the ball and hit Kobe's hand instead!
Fortunately, it was the Spurs' home court, and the referee saw Kobe make the shot. Brad Miller's touch foul wasn't too obvious, so the referee pretended not to see it and signaled for the game to continue.
Kobe shook his head and retreated in frustration.
Because He Xi Meng was already bringing the ball up, if Kobe continued to argue with the referee, He Xi Meng might have taken a transition three-pointer...
On this possession, He Xi Meng returned the favor. He drove past Kobe and into the Lakers' paint!
Kobe clearly didn't expect He Xi Meng to be so decisive on this play. Kobe had thought He Xi Meng would use the drive as a feint and then use a step-back jumper to score. He didn't expect He Xi Meng to choose what Kobe considered the least likely option... Caught off guard, He Xi Meng scored!
Kobe, unwilling to give up, pursued He Xi Meng. But he was half a step behind, unable to block him. Kobe could only wait for He Xi Meng to shoot, hoping for a chance to steal or block!
He Xi Meng knew exactly what Kobe was thinking. So, on the final move, He Xi Meng didn't opt for a regular layup or Kobe's preferred step-back jump shot with hang time.
On the previous possession, Kobe had used his core strength and leaping ability to overpower He Xi Meng and Brad Miller with a jump shot with hang time.
He Xi Meng was different! He Xi Meng used a subtle move. Before Kobe could catch up and while O'Neal wasn't in position, he executed a little floater, giving Kobe and O'Neal no time to jump and block. The ball flew past Kobe's side and over O'Neal's head...