No.1 in basketball scoring-Chapter 133 - 92. This time he took action with just as much determination! (An extra Chapter will be added for every 500 monthly passes)_2
Chapter 133: 92. This time he took action with just as much determination! (An extra Chapter will be added for every 500 monthly passes)_2
Yao Ming started the game by scoring 6 points, leading his team to a 10-2 run against the Bobcats, achieving an 8-point lead right from the start!
...
While the commentators were praising the Rockets for their recruitment and strong lineup, and discussing the likelihood of them winning the championship, they were already preparing their remarks in case the Rockets were defeated by the Bobcats, thinking of ways to make excuses.
However, the Rockets didn’t disappoint; in just three minutes, they had scored 10 points and had not allowed the Bobcats a single field goal. In those three minutes, the Bobcats only managed to score two points from Gerald Wallace’s made free throws, which resulted from an offensive rebound and foul.
The commentator once again praised the performance of the Rockets, commenting that the weaker strength of the Bobcats was a good thing for Zhang Yang as it meant more opportunities to play, and he might be substituted in soon.
At the venue, Bickerstaff, seeing his team’s inability to penetrate the Rockets’ set defense or contain them, harbored some resentment towards the new boss.
It wasn’t until just before the game was about to start that he was told that the opening game was a must-win if possible, although it was also said that losing wouldn’t be too bad as long as it wasn’t an embarrassing loss, essentially they needed to at least show a fighting spirit.
If Jordan had mentioned this a few days earlier, he could have delayed announcing Felton as the starting player a bit longer.
But work had to be done properly; after some thought, Bickerstaff decided to substitute Felton and Brezec, bringing in Brevin Knight, Zhang Yang, Matt Carroll, Gerald Wallace, and Okafor.
The Rockets didn’t make any substitutions, continuing with their starting lineup.
When the live camera switched to the players entering the court, the commentators couldn’t help but smile—they had predicted it right again!
Zhang Yang appearing alongside Yao Ming on the court excited fans back home who woke up early to watch the game.
The domestic media coverage of Zhang Yang vastly differed from that in the US; the mainstream media almost never disparaged him, instead they praised his strengths, especially on certain platforms, which could definitely be considered as hyping him up.
But now, the domestic fans believed this, and they had high expectations for the performance of Zhang Yang, the "youngest rookie in history."
As for the outcome of the game, the fans back home still hoped for Yao Ming to win, yet they were eager to witness great performances from both players.
However, the timeout by the Bobcats this time failed to reverse their declining momentum.
When the game resumed, leaving only Okafor to defend the inside, Yao Ming, wanting to demonstrate the prowess of China’s top basketball player against a home-grown high school prodigy, played even more aggressively and scored another 6 points in three minutes!
In six minutes, Yao Ming had shot 5 for 5 and made both free throws, racking up 12 points!
Meanwhile, the Bobcats’ set play attack continued to struggle, especially Zhang Yang, who had a very rough time and was a focus of the domestic fans.
Zhang Yang had trouble even receiving the ball as he was heavily guarded!
The Rockets’ team defense was excellent, making it very hard for Zhang Yang to find a position on his own. Bickerstaff had arranged for wing screens, but Gerald Wallace, who had never done this before, lacked experience and coordination, and Matt Carroll simply didn’t have the awareness for it. Even with the screens, Zhang Yang still struggled to shake off his defenders, and the opposing team’s switches and close-outs, as well as cutting off passing lanes, were very effective.
Once, when Zhang Yang couldn’t shake off his defender, he received a desperate pass from Brevin Knight. Using a step and a spin move, he managed to bypass Alston and drive towards the basket, only to meet Yao Ming’s fierce block...
Halfway through the first quarter, the score had reached 18-6, with the Rockets leading by 12 points!
Back home, netizens had already started criticizing.
Zhang Yang, in front of his domestic basketball fans, was experiencing what Yi Jianlian would face in the future; the more he was hyped by certain platforms, the worse he was criticized when he played poorly.
However, Zhang Yang, despite such adversity on the court, did not get discouraged; he patiently ran, waiting for a chance to receive the ball for a shot, and another opportunity...
He didn’t get the chance to shoot, as long as Yao Ming stood under the basket, the other Rockets players could freely extend their defense without worrying about the back.
But the other opportunity Zhang Yang was waiting for arrived!
After Yao Ming’s six forceful attempts at the inside after the half, he continued on the offensive; this time he didn’t draw a foul or make the basket, his turn-around jumper clanked off the rim!
Seeing Okafor grab the defensive rebound, Zhang Yang turned and dashed towards the frontcourt.
Gerald Wallace reacted quickly as well, sprinting forward and drawing the defensive attention of Hayes and Ryan Bowen.
Brevin Knight received the ball and pushed the counterattack. Crossing mid-court, he passed it to Zhang Yang, who had reached the free-throw line on the other side!
Alston moved back into the key first, but as Zhang Yang received the ball, he charged toward Alston, who stepped up to press him. Zhang Yang was not intimidated, and with a firm grasp on the ball, he performed two wide Euro steps to maneuver around Alston!
The pressing Alston ended up completely outside the free-throw line; he looked left and right but couldn’t see anyone, then turned around only to see Zhang Yang already airborne, putting the ball through the hoop...
Zhang Yang scored a fast break Euro step, his first NBA basket!
Rockets came on offense again, and Yao Ming continued playing in the low post, opting for a back-to-basket, close-range jumper... Unfortunately, the ball rattled out.
Gerald Wallace, outmuscling Juwan Howard, secured the defensive rebound and passed it to Brevin Knight.
Zhang Yang, with a keen sense of counterattack, charged again, darting like an arrow toward the opponent’s basket. Receiving a long pass from Brevin Knight, he leaped and gently dunked the ball into the basket.
10-18, the Bobcats cut the deficit to 8 points! Jeff Van Gundy called a timeout!
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