Of course, there are many gaps, but the game merely showed that the Rockets played better at critical moments and during transitions.
The reason the Lakers could withstand the pressure was that Zhang Hao was selected to the First Team before the series started.
Being selected to the First Team put Zhang Hao in the spotlight, and whenever the Lakers lost a game, the media targeted him.
Yet Zhang Hao's calm demeanor reduced the pressure felt by the team and his teammates.
At the end of the game, the camera on the big screen was focused on Zhang Hao during his interview. The fans couldn't hear what he said or what the media asked, but having watched for so many years, they knew that whenever the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs, the most focused person would get attacked and blamed.
And Zhang Hao, with his first word, took the responsibility upon himself.
