The second half began, and the Los Angeles Lakers, trailing by 16 points, had clearly regrouped in the locker room.
Phil Jackson abandoned those complex off-ball screens and tactical runs, concentrating all ball possession in Shaquille O'Neal O'Neal's hands. This was the Lakers' simplest and most unstoppable tactic: give the ball to their most dominant big man and let him destroy the opponent's paint.
O'Neal positioned himself deep in the low post and received a lob pass from Kidd.
Ben Wallace was still guarding him.
In everyone's mind, if O'Neal gets the ball in such a deep position, he will most likely turn around and dunk the defender and the ball together into the basket.
That was indeed O'Neal's plan. He dribbled the ball once, then thrust his massive hips and back backward, attempting to use his enormous body to create space.
"Bang!"
But to everyone's surprise, Ben Wallace wasn't knocked away like those thinner centers; he barely even stumbled backward. His legs were firmly planted on the floor, and his bulging veins on his arms held O'Neal's lower back firmly.
O'Neal paused for a moment, then immediately launched a second attack, lowering his shoulder.
Big Ben remained motionless, and the two engaged in a brief but intense struggle in the paint, resulting in a stalemate where neither could break through the defense. Unable to create space, O'Neal was forced to change his move, launching a hook shot from a step away from the basket.
The basketball hit the rim and bounced out.
On the sidelines, Rick Carlisle, who had been observing with his arms crossed, suddenly had a bright look in his eyes.
"No wonder." Rick Carlisle turned to assistant coach Casey beside him, a hint of surprise in his voice. " Shaq cut too much weight to maintain his stamina for the regular season. His lower body is still invincible, but his upper body strength can no longer keep up with Ben."
Casey immediately realized, "Ben ( Wallace ) has been going crazy with strength training this season, and his bench press has reached an astonishing 460 pounds! In pure upper body strength, the weight-cut Shaq has no advantage at all!"
This is absolutely a discovery that could change the course of the entire series.
Weight loss gave O'Neal healthier lower limbs and more stamina, but he lost his overwhelming size advantage in the paint. When Ben Wallace can withstand O'Neal's power in one-on-one situations, Boston's double-teaming pressure on the defensive end will be greatly reduced.
Without the overwhelming pressure from their inside game, the Lakers ' half-court offense not only failed to close the gap in the third quarter, but they also became increasingly exhausted as Boston's counterattacks dragged on.
The game is in the seventh minute of the third quarter.
A Los Angeles Lakers turnover allowed Pierce to steal the ball and launch a fast break.
Gerald Wallace sprinted from the backcourt like he was on the gas. Kidd chased after him desperately, trying to disrupt the fast break with a foul. Just as Gerald Wallace took to the air to dunk, Kidd's hand struck his arm.
The basketball went wide, the referee blew the whistle, and a defensive foul was called.
But after landing, Gerald Wallace didn't head to the free-throw line. Instead, he suddenly yelled in pain and collapsed onto the floor.
"Ah--!"
Wallace clutched his right calf tightly with both hands, writhing in agony on the wooden floor, his face contorted in pain. His screams pierced the noisy New Garden.
The entire audience fell silent instantly, everyone gasping in shock.
Pierce and Gary Payton, who were closest, looked visibly shaken and rushed over. Rick Carlisle, who was on the sidelines, also stood up nervously, and the team doctor, carrying a medical kit, sprinted onto the field like a 100-meter dash.
"What happened? Achilles tendon or knee?" Gary Payton crouched down next to Wallace, asking anxiously. Such a sudden, non-contact collapse with a scream often indicates a career-level serious injury.
The Lakers players also stopped in their tracks. Jordan frowned as he looked at the young man lying on the ground, and Kidd even came over to explain, "I swear, I only hit his arm, I didn't touch his leg."
The team doctor quickly cut open the brace on Wallace's leg and skillfully pressed on his calf muscles a few times.
The team doctor, who had initially looked grave, suddenly breathed a sigh of relief after finishing the chest compressions and turned to wave at the tense players.
"It's nothing, it's not a joint, nor is it a ruptured Achilles tendon," the team doctor shouted, forcefully prying Wallace's toes upwards. "He just has a cramp! A severe muscle spasm!"
Upon hearing the word "cramps," the teammates, who were already quite frightened, froze instantly.
"You scared the hell out of me!" Gary Payton slapped Wallace on the head, annoyed. "It was just a cramp, but you screamed like your leg was broken!"
"Ouch! Gary! It really hurts!" Wallace lay on the ground, tears welling up in his eyes, gasping for breath and crying out that he was innocent.
After several minutes of stretching, the team doctor finally relieved Wallace's spasms. Two substitute players came onto the field and helped the grimacing Wallace off. The fans, relieved that the situation had been so tense, stood up and applauded the hard-working young man.
Casey watched Wallace limp back to the bench, glanced at the stats, and swallowed hard in disbelief. " Rick, Gerald... he only played for less than six minutes this quarter. Six minutes and he's already cramping up?"
"He did everything he could to limit his opponent; that's just his personality."
Rick Carlisle looked at the young players on the bench, drinking electrolyte water and panting heavily, his voice laced with a cold admiration. "When these substitutes come on, whether it's off-the-ball movement, going around screens, or lateral movement on defense throughout the game, they're doing everything at 120% sprint speed."
Rick Carlisle turned to look at the Los Angeles Lakers ' bench on the other side.
Barkley didn't even have the strength to stand up, Jordan placed two ice towels on the back of his neck and knees respectively.
"Our lads play six minutes and they'll cramp up," Rick Carlisle said, pointing towards the Lakers' side. "How long do you think those veterans in their late thirties can keep up with this kind of pressure?"
There was no need to wait until the fourth quarter; the Answer was already written on the scoreboard at the end of the third quarter.
85 to 62.
Boston entered the final quarter with a massive 23-point lead. The Lakers ' veterans not only had to contend with Ben Wallace's 460-pound bench press on offense, but also with a group of madmen who could run themselves into cramps at any moment on defense.
As the fourth quarter began, Phil Jackson looked at his starters, who were barely breathing, sighed helplessly, and waved his hand to substitute all the reserves.
He finally admitted that the Los Angeles Lakers lost this test of physical fitness and rotation completely.