Hayes is a low-key person and rarely gets into conflicts with others on the court.

He established himself in the NBA not through offense, but through defense. Standing at only 1.98 meters tall, he averaged 22 minutes per game last season and grabbed 7 rebounds, including 3 offensive rebounds.

His role with the Rockets is indelible...

However, Hayes rarely participates in the offense and has few free throw attempts, totaling no more than 100 free throws throughout the entire season. This time, it could be considered as two or three free throws, since Hayes took three free throw attempts.

finally...

Hayes makes the free throw!

57:52!!

The Rockets are down by 5 points.

......

The first half ended, and the Lakers players returned to the locker room.

The Lakers' owner is not the owner of the Staples Center. There are two teams in the league that share the arena: the Lakers and the Clippers. The fact that the mysterious Chinese owner bought the Lakers does not mean that he bought the Staples Center. However, this mysterious Chinese tycoon is very powerful.

Even if you can't buy the stadium, setting up a few separate locker rooms is no problem at all.

The Lakers' home locker room was being used for the first time since its renovation. The players didn't notice anything amiss while changing clothes before the game, but halftime showed them something new – this locker room was something else entirely!

There's even a restaurant and kitchen inside...

It's not uncommon for people to eat something to replenish their energy during halftime, but who drinks mutton soup during halftime?

This feast tempted Kobe but he dared not take a bite. He was a very disciplined player, and his control over his diet was extremely strict. If his nutritionist saw this, he would definitely throw this steaming bowl of mutton soup at Kobe's head.

Kobe asked curiously, "Was it like this during halftime with the previous teams you played with?"

"No, not really..."

Cummings slurped up the mutton soup. "I'll eat some too, just not as much as today."

Wei Guo walked to the dining table, sat down, and asked Kobe, "Would you like a bowl?"

"Forehead..."

Kobe hesitated and said, "Save me a bowl, I'll eat it after the game."

His attitude towards the game was extremely unserious... Thinking back to games against the Rockets, Nets, Suns, Knicks, and Trail Blazers, during halftime they would discuss tactics while their opponents leisurely sipped soup, or even pick their teeth with toothpicks... Kobe felt a pang of resentment.

That's how they won six championships in a row.

Everyone except Kobe drank a bowl. Paul only took a few sips before stopping, as there were still two quarters left in the game and it wasn't a good time to exercise after a big meal.

Furthermore...

He has already eaten dinner.

NBA players have high levels of physical activity and large appetites, so it's normal for them to eat five or six meals a day. Most players also eat before games, and many even bring their own boxed lunches when playing away games. Once they get used to this rhythm, they will control their diet before games, just like the previous teams did, and then have some extra food during halftime. Gentry's cooking skills are really good.

Wei Guo sometimes thinks...

His excellent form is also undoubtedly related to the extra meal Gentry had during halftime.

......

The second half began with the Rockets trailing by 7 points.

The gap between the Rockets and the Lakers is quite large. In the pre-game poll, 97% of fans believed that the Lakers would win.

For the Rockets, a 7-point deficit is acceptable... There is still hope of catching up in the second half. As long as Wei Guo doesn't play center, Yao Ming still has an advantage in the paint. Currently, Gasol and Yao Ming are still players of the same level, and Yao Ming has been coached by Wei Guo, making him more technically mature.

The Rockets are on offense.

Alston faked out Paul with some fancy moves and took a mid-range shot.

"Beware of Weiguo!"

Adelman shouted a reminder.

*Smack!!!*

Wei Guo blocked Alston's shot from behind.

Kobe gets the ball and goes on a fast break...

Wei Guo quickly caught up, and Battier and McGrady also came after him. Kobe knew how to score, so he crossed the free throw line and tossed the ball onto the backboard.

Battier and McGrady hadn't even had a chance to jump yet.

Wei Guo, like a helicopter, took off in front of the two and caught the basketball in mid-air.

"Bang!!!"

A powerful and heavy dunk.

This was the first time Kobe and Weiguo had connected. Weiguo had provided three assists to Kobe in the first half, and this connection could be seen as Kobe returning the favor.

Speaking of which...

Wei Guo and Kobe were teammates several times, mostly in All-Star games or exhibition games. The highly entertaining alley-oop connection was something they were both very familiar with.

67:58!!

The Lakers lead by 9 points.

This is a completely new lineup, and the Lakers are still figuring it out and working together. They are likely to find the most compatible playing style. Gentry doesn't expect that five players can add up to five. For victory, some players have to make sacrifices. Kobe and Paul can't have as much ball possession as before.

Some star players can be very lethal even without occupying a player's space.

Ray Allen, Miller, Peja, Martin... including Hamilton of the Pistons, these players have excellent off-ball movement abilities.

Kobe and Paul couldn't do that. The only Lakers player who could do that was Wei Guo, which is why Wei Guo had so many shots in the first half. If you don't double-team Wei Guo, he can easily get rid of his opponents. At that point... as long as you can get the ball to Wei Guo, he can turn the pass into an assist.

But...

Gentry did not want the Defenders to do that.

This is a waste of Wei Guo's abilities. If he could arrange tactics arbitrarily, with a 24-second shot clock, Gentry would want Wei Guo to have the ball for 22 seconds.

Rockets on offense!

McGrady's pull-up three-pointer over Kobe missed, and Gasol grabbed the defensive rebound.

Paul dribbles the ball up the court...

Wei Guo had already run to the frontcourt, and Paul understood his meaning as soon as he peeked at the basket.

Throw the ball over the basket!

Wei Guo followed up with a step, grabbed the basketball in mid-air, and slammed it down with a powerful dunk.

"Bang!!!"

The basketball rims were bent under the weight.

After learning he had been traded to the Lakers, Paul was very confident in himself... He didn't even watch the Lakers' previous game footage because Paul knew that Kobe had never played with a top-tier guard before, and he could do better than anyone else. Later, when he learned that Wei Guo had also joined the Lakers, Paul watched the Suns' previous game footage repeatedly.

He is studying...

Learn how to pass the ball to Weiguo.

Paul has played for six different teams, but he has played alongside many great guards, including Iverson, Nash, Francis, and Stockton... Paul wants to be better than all of them.