Bao Zhou managed to score a game-high 33 points, but it was all in vain. The Bulls' overall scoring efficiency was not high. Besides Jordan, only Pippen scored 21 points and Longley contributed 10 points. No other player on the team scored in double digits.
In contrast, the Lakers' scoring leaders were O'Neal with 24 points and 14 rebounds, He Ximeng with 21 points and 10 assists, Eddie Jones with 15 points and 7 rebounds, and Kobe with 14 points and 6 rebounds.
While the Bulls had two core players, the Lakers' core players, seemingly O'Neal alone, were in reality four.
Although He Ximeng and Kobe were still second-year rookies, and Eddie Jones had just finished his rookie contract and was in his fourth season, a quasi-rookie...
Talented and capable players are not limited by age.
For instance, He Ximeng, who had been understated for the first three quarters, went head-to-head with Jordan in shooting during crucial moments of the fourth quarter! While Jordan made all three of his shots, He Ximeng also made all three of his, and they were all three-pointers! This forced the Bulls to employ a half-court trap to prevent him from handling the ball... which in turn created space and opportunities for the other of the Lakers' twin stars, Kobe, to perform!
Kobe then made a dunk to tie the score, helping the Lakers force the game into overtime.
At the post-game press conference, Coach Phil Jackson continued to play coy, refusing to acknowledge the performance of the Lakers' twin stars, merely emphasizing that the Bulls' defense had issues in the final moments.
It was Jordan, however, who readily admitted that He Ximeng's three-pointers were a "fatal blow" to the Bulls and an "unexpected development."
On the Lakers' side, Coach Harris praised his players for not giving up or abandoning the game when trailing, ultimately achieving the comeback. He called it "the most important lesson" on the Lakers' path to growth.
"I knew we could win; I always knew it. I've always worked hard to win. I believe my performance in overtime truly demonstrated my strength..."
What O'Neal couldn't stop thinking about was not how the team won, but He Ximeng's incredibly cool celebration move!
"I've already spoken with Simon. In the next game, we'll bring the fans a surprise..."
The surprise O'Neal referred to was that before the start of Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the arena lights suddenly went out. As the fans looked on in confusion, a spotlight illuminated He Ximeng, dressed in the Lakers' purple and gold uniform, striking a "single whip" pose at center court!
The crowd gasped. Before they could even applaud, a few more spotlights turned on!
O'Neal, Eddie Jones, Kobe, and Horry lined up behind He Ximeng, also striking the "single whip" pose, though each with their own unique flair.
O'Neal's "single whip" seemed to evoke the image of Lu Zhishen uprooting a willow tree, while Kobe's "single whip" possessed the elegance of a Wudang sword master, arguably the closest to He Ximeng's original pose.
Behind the four, more lights shone, revealing the other 10 Lakers players in the third row, also striking the "single whip" pose!
Honestly, this entrance ritual was quite spectacular!
Not only did the Lakers fans in attendance erupt in thunderous cheers, but even fans watching the game on television couldn't help but let out exclamations of awe!
Hearing the cheers of the entire crowd, O'Neal couldn't help but grin, "I told you this idea would be a hit, right?"
Kobe retorted, "It's a hit, alright, but why do I feel like a clown?"
Eddie Jones tried to console Kobe, "Don't think that way! Have you heard of the Haka? It's said that New Zealand athletes perform the Haka before games to inspire their fighting spirit! Just think of this as the Chinese version of the Haka..."
"Simon, aren't we starting yet?" O'Neal was impatient to showcase the moves he had learned in the past two days.
"Not yet! We need the DJ to provide the background music..."
As soon as He Ximeng finished speaking, the chanting of "Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching" echoed through the arena. Then, led by He Ximeng, the entire Lakers team began performing the "left and right wild horse parts the mane" move across the court.
"A big watermelon, cut in half with one knife, one half for you, one half for him..."
As everyone silently recited He Ximeng's mysterious mantra, under the inspiration of the Tao Te Ching, they began performing the "left and right wild horse parts the mane" move.
The sense of mystery was impeccable, but the actual moves... were quite a spectacle!
However, operating under the principle that if they weren't embarrassed, the entire audience would be, the Lakers team, clutching imaginary "big watermelons," performed the "left and right wild horse parts the mane" for a full minute, concluding with a final pose.
In total, with the beginning and the end, there were only three moves, which left the fans across North America stunned, believing they had witnessed the most authentic Chinese kung fu!
In the VIP box, Scarlett Johansson, looking bewildered, asked Kayla, "Does your man really know Chinese kung fu?"
Kayla shook her head, "I've never seen him seriously practice any Chinese kung fu... It was just recently that he said he wanted to pick a unique celebration move, and asked me to help him choose one from a few options... That opening move, called 'single whip,' I think..."
"Holy cow! That's so cool! Have him teach you a few moves when he has time, and then you can teach me..."
"Really? You want to learn Chinese kung fu?"
"I read in a book about Chinese culture that practicing Chinese kung fu helps maintain youthfulness and delays aging..."
"Really?"
"That's what the book said! It also mentioned techniques like 'Fang Zhong Shu' and 'Cai Yang Bu Yin'..."
At O'Neal's strong request, He Ximeng reluctantly agreed to participate in this unprecedented entrance ceremony!
To be honest, the innovation index was a perfect score, a unique occurrence in the league's fifty-plus year history!
Perhaps it was the influence of the mysterious Chinese power, or perhaps the Bulls were intimidated by the spectacle in Los Angeles. In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the Lakers played as if divinely inspired, with multiple players stepping up.
In the starting lineup, O'Neal had a hot hand, sinking every layup and hook shot in the paint. The Lakers capitalized on this, going on a scoring spree to take an early lead.
Following that, Kobe exploded during the rotation period, leading the bench unit in a relentless assault.
Jordan's shooting touch today was ordinary, not as good as in Game 1, and the other Bulls players did not provide enough offensive support for Jordan.
With O'Neal and Kobe erupting, and He Ximeng and Eddie Jones performing steadily, the Lakers maintained their pressure on the Bulls throughout the game, ultimately winning comfortably by a score of 96:90.
With a 2-0 advantage, the teams moved to Chicago. If the Lakers could secure a victory in Chicago, their championship trophy would be all but assured.
However, the Lakers' opponent was, after all, a five-time champion! Would the Bulls let the Lakers win easily?