On the Blazers side, although Nash's personal offensive capabilities are not as strong as Robert Parker's, his starting position has surprisingly enhanced the Blazers' overall offense.
Nash can execute pick-and-rolls with Rashid Wallace, forcing the opponents to make more defensive adjustments.
When Isaiah Rider isolates, although he's a rookie, Nash, who is already 22 with skills well-honed except for some heft and game experience, has a top-tier three-point shot. His catch-and-shoot ability is much better than Robert Parker's, and his off-ball movement, positioning, and stamina are superior too.
Occasionally, in transition opportunities, Sabonis plus Nash makes them practically unstoppable!
On the Lakers' side, with Kenny Anderson absent, the "three heavies" are lazier than ever, leaving Zhang Hao and Doug Christie as the main offensive points.
Even though the Lakers appeared dominant early on thanks to Zhang Hao, as the game progressed, they started to fall behind!
