One Year Left to Play-Chapter 172 - 55: Thank You for Your Welcome
The Brooklyn Nets attack, issuing a pass at midcourt.
Zhang Hao is currently in good shape, but his teammates are struggling. After resting for months and having undergone over a week of team training, it’s only the second preseason game and their stamina is already running low, especially with the Nets rotating nine players tonight. Starting from the mid-fourth quarter, it’s clear they’re exhausted.
Only Zhang Hao maintained his good condition, having trained continuously throughout the summer, coupled with his naturally excellent stamina at a top-tier level of 91. Moreover, his defense isn’t great, so there’s less to do and less energy consumed, allowing him to stay in top form now.
However, he wasn’t worried, as Zhang Hao noticed that from the second half, the opposite Hornets had even fewer rotation players, just eight!
Kenny Anderson arrives by the three-point line, takes a deep breath, does a beautiful crossover to get rid of Kendall Gill’s defense, gaining a positional advantage and breaking through from the right.
Watching this, Zhang Hao confirms his thoughts; Kenny Anderson’s breakthrough has clearly slowed down, but Kendall Gill’s footwork is even slower. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
The Hornets, meanwhile, are watching the breakthrough by Kenny Anderson, a point guard with an average of 20+ points and 10 assists per game. Not only is he great at passing, but his scoring skills are also superb, and they watch the Nets’ top scorer Gilliam tonight, all while keeping an eye on Zhang Hao.
As Kenny Anderson breaks through, Gilliam quickly navigates around to cut into the middle, and Larry Johnson strides to the arc of the legal charging area in the middle to block Kenny Anderson from advancing to the basket or Gilliam from breaking inside. At this point, Zhang Hao steps out a pace, trailing Gilliam’s defender, Glenn Rice, who immediately runs to the left side of the three-second area, while Burrell rapidly moves his steps.
At this point, if Kenny Anderson doesn’t shoot directly from beyond the three-point line, and Gilliam chooses to cut in, the Hornets aren’t that wary anymore. When these two reach the inside, Larry Johnson can completely interfere very well, and Kenny Anderson’s mid-range shots generally face interference due to his height.
Thus, the player they fear the most on the opposing side is the high school rookie!
But Zhang Hao’s outward run to find a spot for a shot was just a fake move; he only stepped out once, tricking Burrell and Glenn Rice, who had the chance to help defend him, and then Zhang Hao suddenly turned, his superb flexibility easily completing the maneuver, accelerating to cut in from the left side mid-range of the three-second area!
Kenny Anderson hurriedly tossed the ball toward the left side of the hoop, sighing regretfully as he threw it—he used a bit too much force. Had this been the third quarter, he wouldn’t have sighed, but by this time, he felt his stamina waning, worried Zhang Hao might not make the catch!
However, his worries were unnecessary. Under the hoop, Larry Johnson thought similarly, turning to grab the ball, believing Zhang Hao wouldn’t catch it either, but just as he stepped forward, darkness enveloped Larry Johnson’s view...
"Boom"
The crisp sound of a slam dunk reverberated as Zhang Hao dunked the ball over Larry Johnson!
Back to the light, Larry Johnson cursed his negligence, looking at Zhang Hao landing. If Zhang Hao dared to glare at him, he’d push the guy again!
Yet, Zhang Hao, holding onto his belief in being "low-key," noted this aspect this time. After landing the dunk, he immediately turned, running toward the backcourt, as if nothing had happened.
Now, Larry Johnson not only wanted to shove Zhang Hao but desired a fight!
Being ignored! What’s the idea here? Does it imply the dunk just challenged air?
Too arrogant!
But Larry Johnson couldn’t erupt now, for Zhang Hao really didn’t do anything. The action after the dunk on Edison could be considered taunting, but this time he did nothing that could be perceived as taunting, so if Johnson reacted, it would show he couldn’t take it!
So frustrating!
Larry Johnson ran toward the frontcourt with Zhang Hao, quickly calming down—it’s not the time to be upset. Frustration wouldn’t help, nor would fighting!
To respond to Zhang Hao’s dunk... no, two dunks tonight, winning this game is necessary! Losing two consecutive games, especially against a rookie from the other side, even if preseason, wouldn’t be tolerated by Larry Johnson!
Johnson continued to play in the low post, and Zhang Hao followed Burrell’s position shift. Burrell went to set a screen for Glenn Rice, leading the defensively weak rookie Zhang Hao to the top talent off-ball shooter, Glenn Rice.
Vaughn Fleming followed Burrell but was ready at any moment to help defend against Glenn Rice, who might evade Zhang Hao; however, Vaughn Fleming saw Zhang Hao choose to collapse and trap Larry Johnson after encountering the screen!
This defensive choice was simply dreadful! No one would expect someone to choose to collapse directly during a screen when he should switch to guard Glenn Rice, one of the league’s top shooters. But, because of Zhang Hao’s choice, Johnson inside, going all out to avoid PJ Brown’s long arms and setting up for a floater, got shocked as Zhang Hao suddenly dashed in; his forearm shook involuntarily during the shot!
The diligent floater hit the right side of the hoop and bounced out, while Zhang Hao conveniently snatched the defensive rebound!
This help defense by Zhang Hao was hasty; he merely judged from Johnson’s motions that Johnson would surely shoot but hadn’t thought about how to properly execute the help defense. He was visibly a step slow and didn’t defend in time. Johnson actually did well, noting everyone’s positions on the court before decisively taking the shot after confirming no one could intercept him, only to be startled by Zhang Hao’s sudden charge. Had he not taken that glance, the shot would not have missed!
