The struggle in the paint was just as plain and unadorned, and unremarkable.
Aside from Shaquille O'Neal's positioning, Zach Randolph would also help with double-teaming.
Even when Paul Gasol moved up high, creating space for Yao Ming, Randolph still stood in a threatening position. He ensured that the moment Yao received the ball, he could team up with Shaquille O'Neal for a double-team.
This inevitably highlighted Yao Ming's passing ability.
He could pass out of the double-team, but most of the time, he couldn't find an open man to initiate an offense immediately.
Rick Carlisle noticed this and would naturally not abandon the defensive strategy of keeping Yao under high pressure because of a few setbacks.
Moreover, the facts proved that this defense was extremely successful.
Yao originally struggled to receive the ball, and now, even if he got it, he faced a double-team and had to pass it out, resulting in several useless possessions where his physical fitness was wasted.
