As a rough-and-tumble big man, Howard had fallen right into the "trap" Zhou Ze had laid for him.
His inefficient one-on-one post-ups left him frustrated, and the other Magic players on the court were just as miserable.
All that running back and forth greatly dampened the players' enthusiasm and seriously hurt the team.
The Magic's defense instantly fell apart, too.
During a transition, the Magic failed to get back on defense, leaving Howard to face three opponents alone.
Zhou Ze, Lamar Odom, and Kobe raced down the court on a three-man fast break.
Odom passed to Zhou Ze. Howard had just turned toward Zhou when Zhou quickly dished the ball to Kobe on the wing. Kobe caught it, took two dribbles, and exploded off the floor. With Howard unable to turn around in time, Kobe finished with a posterizing dunk.
At the instant the ball went through the hoop, Kobe looked as if he were riding on Howard's back.
The familiar sight made it impossible for Howard to smile anymore.
"Oh, no!"
"Dwight Howard looks like a little kitten tonight, letting the Lakers pet him however they like. He can't fight back at all."
"Compared with the cunning, mature Zhou Ze, Dwight looks more like a rookie—raw, impulsive, and reckless."
The Magic's home commentators spoke with exasperation.
As Zhou Ze and Kobe slapped hands in celebration, Zhou Ze didn't forget to shout, "Kobe, your crotch's dirty!"
Kobe rolled his eyes helplessly.
Enraged, Howard called for the ball in the post again on the next possession. After backing his way in with brute force, he tried a clumsy hook shot that didn't even hit the rim. Zhou Ze collected the rebound with ease.
On the Lakers' bench, Phil Jackson watched the players on the court with satisfaction.
"Coach, I