One Year Left to Play-Chapter 143 - 45: Born Leader
Reward: Complete Objective 1, reward medal: Heart Return (Silver); Complete Objective 2, reward medal: Bench Mob (Bronze).
Looking at the triggered task, it’s quite challenging... but what’s not challenging? However, the reward is also substantial!
Zhang Hao thinks the second reward is related to being a substitute based on the words. He can’t guess the bonus effect of the first reward, but if he can get a Silver Medal, who wants a Bronze?
The reward is probably generous because the opening game of the new season’s regular season is his debut game. A game like this only happens once in a career, and he was already prepared to perform well. With the reward, he wants to perform even better.
"The probability of me starting is not very high. After all, I’m still a rookie. Gilliam, Williams, and Brown have a higher chance of starting..."
The analysis is like this, but to start in the first game, you definitely have to fight for it! These things aren’t about whether a rookie should be humble; if you can start, of course starting is better.
Thinking about starting, Zhang Hao realized that their opening game opponent is the Pistons.
"It’s a bit tricky... If I start, I’d have to compete for points with Hill. That guy almost averaged 20+5+5 in his rookie year, right? And he was the All-Star vote leader... But I might be a substitute, and getting a Bronze Medal isn’t that hard to accept. I’m still a rookie, playing as a substitute is normal, isn’t it..."
Thinking this way, Zhang Hao immediately got excited again.
His eagerness to play could be seen at a glance. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
Jason Williams, who had been watching Zhang Hao, was quite displeased seeing Zhang Hao’s enthusiastic expression.
"This rookie is coming for me!"
After Coleman left, Jason Williams thought he was the obvious replacement for Coleman. The situation was indeed developing in this direction, but then this rookie suddenly appeared.
In Jason Williams’ view, high draft pick rookies are no big deal; every year, several high draft picks turn out to be busts. Initially, he looked down on this high schooler, but he didn’t expect Zhang Hao to be such a great shooter.
Shooting ability is what their Brooklyn Nets need the most.
And Zhang Hao’s shooting, Jason Williams felt that he could never match even if he practiced for a lifetime.
Zhang Hao, excited about playing again, sensed a hostile gaze and turned to look, somewhat surprised. He initially thought it would be Almon Gilliam.
Over time, he also learned about the grievances between Kenny Anderson and Almon Gilliam. For the past two years, it was Chris Morris, who worked well with Kenny Anderson, that suppressed Almon Gilliam and started as the main small forward.
This summer, Chris Morris got a big contract with the Utah Jazz—3 years, 8 million US Dollars—and chose to leave. Then Mr. Zhang appeared, and just like Chris Morris back then, soon got along with Kenny Anderson.
He thought Almon Gilliam would be the one targeting him, but it turned out to be Jason Williams, the power forward!
He thought he and Jason Williams might only be competing for rotation time, but the other guy seemed to see him as a rival for the starting power forward position...
"Why am I so tall anyway? 199 cm is just fine. I should’ve learned from the big guys on how to turn enemies into friends..."
Zhang Hao was also helpless; his off-ball shooter playing style came with a power forward’s height.
"If only I weren’t so tall, it would be great to play as a tall shooting guard... No, playing shooting guard this year isn’t too good...
Or maybe grow taller and play as a center... Ahem, this height is pretty good, proper people don’t play center...
Fighting for power forward isn’t a bad thing either. Competing for playing time against Gilliam is definitely tougher than against Williams."
While Zhang Hao and Jason Williams engaged in an invisible staredown, Randy Whitman set up the lineup and assigned the two assistant coaches to both teams.
Watching these two assistant coaches gave Randy Whitman a headache. After starting the tanking mode midway through last season, the management fired all the coaching staff Chuck Daly left behind, except for Randy Whitman. And he wasn’t an old hand on the team; he joined at the end of the 93-94 season.
As far as Randy Whitman knows, the two assistant coaches are friends of the team’s shareholders, there to collect a paycheck.
The veteran players on the team understood this situation; they didn’t fall out with the two assistants and chatted casually before discussing the game plan themselves.
Seeing this, Randy Whitman didn’t interfere.
The role of the coaching staff is to build systems, create tactical frameworks, guide players... But the game itself is played by the players, and their cooperation is the key of keys.
The training camp and the upcoming preseason are mainly to familiarize the players with tactics, develop rapport, and build chemistry.
Randy Whitman is responsible for formulating the season’s game plan, playing time arrangements, and rotation arrangements based on players’ strengths, playing styles, and level of cooperation.
On Team A’s side.
"Aix, follow your instincts for positioning, I’ll pass the ball to you, and let’s shoot Jason out of the game..." Kenny Anderson has a simple expectation for Zhang Hao: catch the ball and make the shot.
This is based on Zhang Hao having the best mid-range shot in the entire team, which is why Kenny Anderson can speak so casually.
Otherwise, expecting an 18-year-old rookie, just out of his freshman year, to compete against Jason Williams, who has several years of experience and starting strength on a weak team... It’s challenging, just thinking about it.
