And there's a pattern:
Before subbing out Yao, they'd let him aggressively attack with the ball to force the opponent to tighten their defense. Then they'd switch him out and move the offense back to the perimeter.
If the opponent didn't adjust in time, Kobe would exploit the gap and launch a fierce attack.
If the opponent was quick to counter, Odom would keep driving from the baseline, finding opportunities just the same.
This was one of the Lakers' frequent plays of the season.
What Rick Carlisle needed to do was to speed up Yao's on-court energy consumption during this attack phase, trying to sub him out sooner.
Moreover, the "Small Lineup" could better block the space on the court, whether it was Kobe or Odom holding the ball in isolation, the Pacers could form layers of defense.
Why did the "isolation tactics" become less common after more than a decade?
Because the mobility of the lineup increased, and so did the flexibility in double-teaming.
