During the timeout, Vogel, usually a Confucian Coach, rarely raised his voice.
After laying out the tactics, Kidd kept emphasizing something to James and Durant.
When play resumed, the Lakers had changed their tactics, with the biggest change being James and Durant's positioning.
Previously, in most of the Lakers' offensive possessions, Durant stayed on the wing while James initiated from the top of the arc with the ball.
But now, the two stood one on the left and one on the right.
Durant drew Tang Tian's defense on the left, while James launched his drives from the right.
Siakam's defense was tough, but James played just as physically.
The two collided head-on, and James drew a defensive foul from Siakam on his shot after contact.
Vogel was still a capable coach. This adjustment was timely and correct.
No matter how strong Tang Tian's defense was, he could not move from one side of the court to the other.
Once Tang Tian was separated from the Pelicans' Defensive System, the Lakers' Offensive Efficiency clearly rose.
James stepped to the free-throw line, adjusted his breathing, and made both free throws.
That kind of free-throw performance was unusual for him. It was clear that what Kidd had told him during the timeout had worked.
But immediately afterward, Tang Tian hit a Stop and Pop Pull-up Jumper while trapped by Middleton and Durant.
Before the timeout, Tang Tian had dished out two Lightning Passes in a row, so Vogel did not dare double-team him as recklessly as before.
But that was the result of not double-teaming him enough. Even with two defenders, even Middleton and Durant with their freakish wingspans, they still could not stop Tang Tian from scoring.
56-65, the gap remained nine points.
James continued to drive in the frontcourt, and Gasol