Previously, the Admiral might have touched the ball 40 times in a game, but now it was only 20 times. So, he had to find ways to effectively score with fewer opportunities to touch the ball.
He did well, his role transition wasn't complete, but it was a good start.
On the Hawks' side, since the inside was sealed off by the Twin Towers, their offense greatly relied on shooting.
But the team's best shooter, Stevie Smith, continued his poor performance, going 0 for 5 from beyond the three-point line in the first half.
By the end of the second quarter, except for Roger, no one even passed the ball to him.
This was a vicious cycle, Stevie Smith's performance caused him to lose his teammates' trust, and his teammates' behavior made Stevie Smith even more depressed.
The team's division seemed inevitable.
Ultimately, Duncan had 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists by halftime, and the Admiral had 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists.
