The two forward-sized guys both started dribbling in the opening game. Shea also didn't directly shake Penny at this moment, but when Penny puffed out his chest and blocked it.

He was directly pushed away by Shea. Then, Pence was pushed directly to the basket by Shea with his shoulder!

Even after gaining weight last summer, Hardaway is still on the thin side.

His size is naturally invincible for the point guard position, but among all players, he is still slightly weaker in confrontation.

And this offense and defense also reminded Hardaway that his confrontation ability is not on the same level as Shay!

O'Neal rushed over to help defend, and Shea took the opportunity to hit the ground through the crotch and feed the ball to Ewing behind O'Neal.

After receiving the ball, Ewing directly performed a two-handed gorilla dunk, which was so powerful that it seemed like he could pull down the basket!

Magic fans never expected that the first player to abuse the frame in this game would be Ewing, who was already seriously injured!

Shay also used a forced breakthrough to completely defeat Hardaway in confrontation.

Hardaway just couldn't hold up Shea, but Shea could easily push him to the basket.

Shay wins in this regard!

The game continued. After Hardaway went up last time, he called Holmes Grant to give himself an off-ball screen.

Pence still wants to try again. He still wants to perform like the 36 points in a single game against the Bulls.

After Grant's screen was in place, Hardaway immediately accelerated, jumped one step inside the three-point line, and made a sudden stop for a jumper!

But what Hardaway didn't expect was that Shea immediately bypassed Grant's screen and interfered with his own shot in time.

Shay stretched out his long arms, and the interference effect was also increased under the influence of the badge.

In addition, Hardaway's long-distance shooting itself is not particularly stable, so basketball is once again hitting the iron!

The gorilla tried hard to trap the shark and firmly grasped the basketball with one hand.

The Lakers completed their defense. Hardaway, who was invincible in January, was defended by Shay in two consecutive rounds!

In fact, if there was no interference in that moment, Hardaway still had the confidence to make the ball.

He also felt that he could not be disturbed.

But Shea's speed around the screen was so fast that Hardaway thought he could handle Pippen and all the perimeter defenders in the league.

In fact, no one has been able to guard Hardaway this season.

But the emergence of Shea made Hardaway feel for the first time this season that it is so difficult to score.

The Lakers attacked again, and Hardaway calmly opened his arms. He knew that he could not defeat Shea in confrontation, but defense does not rely solely on confrontation.

As long as you are active enough, you will be able to achieve results.

However, Shay seemed to be deliberately confronting Hardaway in this round.

He did not continue to play in isolation, but waved his hand and called Ewing to come out for a pick-and-roll!

In the first round, Hardaway beat Shay.

Shay also chose to force Hardaway in response.

Just now Hardaway used a pick-and-roll to hit Shay, and now Shea also chose to use a pick-and-roll to hit Hardaway.

The pick-and-roll is in place, and Shea drives towards Ewing.

O'Neal did not save the ball but stood two steps away from Shay.

Although it doesn't mean he completely let go of Shay, it is equivalent to a defensive look.

In fact, if there were no illegal defensive rules, O'Neal would simply stay in the penalty area and not come out.

This is how he played during the Lakers era.

At this period, O'Neal has passed the age of active defense.

And the pick-and-roll shark is especially reluctant to move.

As for Hardaway, coincidentally, he is also a black hole in pick-and-roll defense!

Because his body is not strong enough, what Hardaway fears most is guarding the pick-and-roll, as he cannot squeeze through.

Shay hit two people on the G at once. He is indeed a man who plays with the baton.

Just like that, Shay stopped suddenly in the mid-range, even adjusted before shooting.

By the time Hardaway caught up, Shea had already thrown the ball.

The basketball hit the net without any suspense. No one expected that the Magic, with a much more luxurious lineup, actually conceded two goals at the beginning!

Seeing this situation, the live commentator in Orlando swallowed his saliva:

"I feel

Shay wants to prove that Hardaway is a weakened version of him!

Whatever Hardaway wanted to do but couldn't do, Shai will do it in the next round!"

Hardaway began to feel how scary Shay was, and he actually deliberately used my offensive methods to educate me.

Is this the man who blocked himself outside the gate?

After the goal, Shea looked at Hardaway with a smile.

As if to say: "What else don't you know? Let me teach you?"

Pence is not the kind of person who is easy to take advantage of. Although he is very unwilling to do so, he will definitely not play alone again if he misses in two consecutive rounds.

and

The shark, who had just returned from injury, had "Hurry up and give me the ball" written all over his face.

O'Neal doesn't even understand. How can you say that a player like Hardaway, who averages only six or seven assists per game, is selfless?

Kobe, who averaged less than 5 assists per game, said he was very impressed, give the ball to the Sharks quickly!

Finally, O'Neal caught the basketball in the low post.

The gorilla's breathing became rapid, and he knew very well what the giant in front of him was capable of.

Since the beginning of the 93-94 season, Ewing has basically been unable to hold down the Sharks.

When they perform best, they also explode with each other.

And now the gorilla, who was severely injured and had to control his weight, could not withstand the destruction of the terrifying shark.

O'Neal gave the head a sudden blow, and Ewing suddenly felt that his internal organs were rotten inside.

But just when the shark was about to turn around and attack the frame, Clifford Robinson attacked from a double flank!

It was difficult for the shark to make moves for a while, even passing the ball.

Although they knew Grant was open, the Sharks couldn't pass the ball.

Carlisle breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he listened to Thibodeau's defensive advice!

When dealing with sharks, most teams like to double-team the moment the shark catches the ball.

That's what bulls do.

As a result, the Magic's outside shooters were overwhelmed.

Because it's not that O'Neal has no passing ability, at least his passing ability when faced with double teams is more reliable than Ewing's.

But the Knicks and Pacers have different methods of dealing with O'Neal.

They waited for the moment O'Neal was about to take action and then immediately double-teamed him!

At this time, O'Neal was already positioned too deep, and if he was suddenly double-teamed, O'Neal would have no space to pass the ball, making it difficult to pass the ball.

Relying on this move, the Pacers and Knicks can defend the Sharks more efficiently.

Thibodeau used this trick on the Lakers. To use this trick, you must have a center who can carry it, so that he will not be sent flying after being hit by a shark.

You also need a very fast forward to help defend.

The Lakers can meet both conditions.

Although Ewing is not as good as before, he is not a soft persimmon at the basket.

Clifford Robinson has always been very mobile, and it is not difficult for him to help defend O'Neal.

Appropriate tactics and appropriate players made O'Neal, who returned from injury, find himself in a tough battle the first time he caught the ball!

In desperation, O'Neal could only give the ball to Penny who cut into the basket from the front in a hurry.

Hardaway went straight for a layup after receiving the ball, but because he did not completely shake off Shay, the two were in a stalemate in the air for a while.

Shea jumped up and blocked the basket with his palms. Hardaway had to throw the ball towards the basket as his body was already falling due to Shea's interference.

In the end, the basketball passed Shay's fingertips, but was rejected by the basket!

Hardaway started with 0 bars and 3!

Magic fans are all surprised. Why was it so difficult to score a point against Shay last month when he blocked the killer Penny!?

It must be difficult. When Hardaway beats others, those who are harder than him are not as fast as him, and those who are faster than him are not as hard as him.
To be continued...