No.1 in basketball scoring-Chapter 150 - 97. Didn’t we agree to have a duel like high schoolers?_3
Chapter 150: 97. Didn’t we agree to have a duel like high schoolers?_3
Zhang Yang watched as Kobe tried to play team offense with Odom at the start of the game, and after a few rounds, he began to go one on five, sighing at how tough it is to be a blacksmith... teammates, keep it up!
The Lakers’ lineup is really poor!
Small forward Odom’s performance is unpredictable, never sure when he will transform into a left-handed magician or become a liability. Tonight he’s just average, a starting-level support forward without any highlights.
Kwame Brown, strong at the jump ball.
But on the first play, Odom assisted, Kobe cut in to receive the ball and drove in, passing to Kwame Brown who fumbled the dunk, and it was stolen by Gerald Wallace.
Smush Parker, before joining the Lakers, averaged 0.8 assists along with 3 points. Zhang Yang remembered that after Death Parker left the Lakers, he was cut after less than two months and never appeared in the NBA again.
How bad exactly? Rookie Felton played him like a joke.
Power forward Brian Cook was stuck to the floor like he had glue on his shoes, welded to the baseline and not moving an inch.
Zhang Yang never thought that their Bobcats would one day have an advantage in roster structure and depth, even with Okafor off reducing muscle.
But Kobe is truly fierce!
Kobe’s insane one-on-one drives and assists, Odom’s high position play to the cutting Kwame Brown, distributing to the deathly Parker at the arc, and Cook in the corner, such a simplistic method of play, still managed to press their Bobcats!
The Lakers are only the eighth in the West! But they are playing like the third in the East, the Nets... Midway through the first quarter, the score is 12 to 16, the Bobcats trailing by 4 points.
Felton was truly taking on the role of starting point guard for the first time since he entered the NBA tonight, and he was fighting hard. He really performed much better than Brevin Knight in the set offense.
While he wasn’t pushing the fast break as well as Brevin Knight, tonight that was no issue. Despite the Lakers lineup being a mess, they had strong athletic ability, with Death Parker, Kobe, Odom, Kwame Brown all retreating quickly on defense, especially the 122kg Kwame Brown who ran like a small forward, explosive in his physical capabilities.
After all, they were once able to lead the fast-paced Suns 3-1 in the playoffs.
If Brevin Knight hadn’t been traded and was still controlling the offense, their counterattacks and fast breaks would hardly be effective, they might have been decimated by Kobe in the set offense in the first half.
Coming into the timeout, Zhang Yang was called by name to substitute in.
He was now very excited, about to face off against Kobe!
He knew he couldn’t beat Kobe, but as someone rightly said, he just needed to give his all, and leave the rest to... the old big man, senior Gerald.
Joining Zhang Yang on the court were his four teammates Felton, Gerald Wallace, Jumaine Jones, and Perkins.
The Lakers sent out Von Weaver, Kobe, Luke Walton, Kwame Brown, and Bynum.
Coming back from the timeout, the Bobcats were on offense.
Zhang Yang looked at Kobe next to him and couldn’t stay calm.
No way, why was the blacksmith guarding him? Hadn’t he been guarding Gerald Wallace the whole time? He should at least be going after Felton, right?
Was he being targeted by the blacksmith? Zhang Yang never expected to be bitten by the snake, given how friendly the opposition seemed before the game... how wonderful!
Zhang Yang, with Kobe in tow, ran to create space for Felton and Gerald Wallace.
However, Zhang Yang underestimated the defensive capabilities of the opposing team’s young towers, as Felton drove in, Kwame Brown tightly guarded him up close, Bynum was crouching under the basket, blocking Felton’s way, severing Felton’s connection with Gerald Wallace, and even Perkins, who wanted to finish the play, was blocked by Bynum, taller and stronger than him.
That was Felton’s oversight, he should have passed the ball earlier, he had the opportunity to pass to Jumaine Jones.
Luckily, Zhang Yang saw how the two big men were moving and knew trouble was coming, so he quickly looped from the left to the top of the key.
Felton, after being forced to stop, immediately looked for Zhang Yang, the teammate with the best off-ball movement on the team, and timely lobbed the ball to the top of the arc.
As soon as Zhang Yang received the ball, the defensive Kobe stuck to him like glue, pressing defense.
Zhang Yang turned around with his back to the basket, jutting out his rear to protect the ball.
Kobe, pushing against Zhang Yang, was about to reach in from the waist to poke at the ball when he noticed Perkins approaching from the left rear, withdrew his poking action, and prepared for the pick-and-roll defense, with Bynum also ready for the switch.
"Back off, I’m about to have a high schooler’s showdown!" Zhang Yang shouted while protecting the ball with his right hand, and with his left hand, he beckoned downwards towards Perkins.
Perkins: ?
Bynum, hearing this, retreated to the low post, yielding his position, somewhat excited. Was this about to be a reenactment of an all-star moment?
Come on, brother Jack, smash that buzz-cut who bullied me!
Kobe also withdrew his scanning gaze, "Yo, I didn’t expect you to be such a spirited high schooler... Fa Ke!"
Zhang Yang suddenly spun left around the screen and surged forward, Kobe hesitated briefly before decisively getting blocked by Perkins who stood firm on his left rear.
Zhang Yang came around the back of Perkins, halted abruptly, and facing a scrambling Bynum who was hurriedly moving back in, took a jump shot... and scored!
Zhang Yang turned to high-five Perkins in celebration but was met by Kobe sticking close to him.
Kobe, incensed, said, "What happened to the high schooler’s showdown?"
He and Bynum had actually seen the hand motion Zhang Yang used but when paired with what Zhang Yang said aloud, that gesture looked like he was shooing Perkins away, not signaling for a quick play... verbal deception combined with a completely different action!
Zhang Yang, puzzled, replied, "Didn’t you just compare strength against the high schooler? Can’t take a loss?"
Kobe: "What?"
Zhang Yang: "You and Kendrick are high schoolers; of course, I was talking about your showdown. I’m not a high schooler. Let me introduce myself, I’m Zhang Yang, the guard from North Carolina, a pleasure to meet you."
Kobe: "..."
During the transition between offense and defense, feeling mocked, an angry Kobe decided to go one-on-one against Gerald Wallace.
He had no other option; with this lineup, the only things he could do were to play isolation, distribute the ball, or cooperate with Luke Walton atop the arc for triangle offense actions.
Gerald Wallace defended the play well, Kobe’s turnaround mid-range jumper clanked off the iron!
Perkins held off Kwame Brown, and Felton grabbed the defensive rebound, immediately passing it to Zhang Yang on the other side of the free-throw line. Zhang Yang started the fast break!
With this Lakers lineup, the speed was much slower compared to their starters. Zhang Yang raced to the frontcourt, with only one person entering the three-point line faster than him—the recently isolated Kobe.
With no one to pass to, he decided to go for it.
Zhang Yang charged from the free-throw line into the paint, Kobe moved in to pressure... and missed his steal attempt! Zhang Yang took two steps into the area beneath the basket and scored on a layup!
Euro step!
Just as Kobe was surprised that Zhang Yang actually knew this move, Zhang Yang, who had just scored 4 consecutive points, ran up beside him: "Just think of me as a high schooler then. High schooler showdown, I win! You couldn’t defend me!"
Kobe couldn’t help but laugh angrily. This rookie had thicker skin than he did back in the day! Truly worthy of being the 17-year-old high school rookie drafted 13th overall!
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