But that would inevitably get them destroyed by King Arthur and Antoine, both of whom were elite isolation scorers.
If they did not want King Arthur and Antoine to tear them apart, they had to double-team them, which would inevitably leave Role Players open for Open Shots.
It was like choosing between two cups of poison. They had to pick one.
At this point, it was a gamble. Phil Jackson was betting that the Pistons' Role Players were not as mentally tough or as capable as their Core Players.
In the high-pressure environment of the final eight seconds of Finals Game 7, many players could crumble under the pressure.
That was what Phil Jackson was betting on.
After the Timeout, both sides returned to the court.
When Michael Jordan and LeBron James saw that the Lakers had actually put three centers on the floor, they were both stunned.
Michael Jordan said in surprise:
"A three-tower lineup?"
"God, how many years has it been since we last saw a lineup like this?"
"Is it really reasonable to use a lineup like this at a time like this?"
LeBron James thought for a moment before saying:
"Normally, a three-tower lineup slows down a team's offensive and defensive pace. Especially when the opposing perimeter shooting is hot, a three-tower lineup is practically a live target."
"But at this stage of the game, the Pistons' stamina has dropped, and their perimeter shooting has gone cold."
"Also, they have Antoine, who holds an absolute advantage inside, and Michael Arthur, who can powerfully attack the paint. So when it comes to handling the final game-deciding possession, Billups will most likely choose the options his team trusts most to handle the ball. And those two options will most likely use the methods they trust most to attack