One Year Left to Play-Chapter 186 - 60: Directions for Technical Expansion
Jordan played really happily today, especially during the third quarter. Despite a little mishap, it seems he didn’t quite crush the opponent’s fighting spirit, but he was truly happy, especially with this shot...
He thinks Zhang Hao will definitely make a mark in the future, and he’s very confident in his judgment.
In his view, Jordan won the personal scoring duel against Zhang Hao in the single quarter! The game also entered garbage time!
In the Nets’ last attack, Jordan’s defense was incredibly active—arguably his most active effort of the night. He wanted to stop Zhang Hao and win everything tonight!
Zhang Hao indeed didn’t get a chance, but he definitely had to take the last shot. Jordan is unlikely to play in the fourth quarter. If the shot doesn’t go in, all the effort was in vain!
But unable to find an opening, Zhang Hao simply leaned on Jordan to ask for the ball.
After receiving a pass from Chales, Zhang Hao turned to face the basket, jumped! Forcefully falling backward and shooting!
Jordan immediately rushed to interfere. Zhang Hao leaned back in mid-air and made a strong attempt...
Using his arm’s reach advantage, Zhang Hao successfully shot the ball over Jordan’s fingertips...
Both were tense with this shot. Even Jordan felt rare tension in the preseason. In the air, both looked at the basket. The ball’s trajectory was very precise, very precise, and with the buzzer sounding at the end of the third quarter, Zhang Hao’s buzzer-beater long two-pointer went in perfectly!
Landing on the ground, Zhang Hao lost balance and fell on the floor. Jordan looked at the ball bouncing on the floor and sighed, then smiled, extended his hand backward without turning around.
Zhang Hao was somewhat surprised and took Jordan’s hand to stand up.
Without turning his head, Jordan pulled Zhang Hao up and immediately walked toward the bench. Tonight’s game was over.
to 57, the game had entered garbage time; the entire fourth quarter was garbage time.
They won, and no one knew about the duel between him and Zhang Hao, not even his teammates, who just saw it as him wanting to seize the opportunity to refine his one-on-many ability, after all, compared to two years ago, his playing style has changed a lot, and he didn’t bother correcting his teammates’ discussions during the third quarter break...
Overall, Jordan really enjoyed the past quarter, even though he "lost" at the end, feeling a bit annoyed, but it was indeed enjoyable because he saw a special group of players, or perhaps a group made special by someone.
Those people were thinking of ways not to lose their fighting spirit.
The feeling of admiration increased a bit more.
He remembered the rookie’s name—Zhang Hao.
...
Butch Baird was really surprised that Zhang Hao could "win"!
Even under such unfair conditions, he never thought Zhang Hao would win because the opponent’s defense was too good.
But Zhang Hao just did it!
Previously, there wasn’t a real chance for Zhang Hao to showcase his mid-range shooting ability, but this time, he gave his all, and Butch Baird saw Zhang Hao’s strongest mid-range performance—it was absolutely top-level! NBA’s top mid-range shot!
Definitely can’t beat Jordan, but looking at the entire NBA, how many can claim they can compare to Jordan in mid-range shots? Jordan during the three-peat years already had one of the best front-facing single-on-one mid-range shots in the league, and now his post-up game is at a superior level.
Playing against Jordan made it clear that he isn’t weaker than before retirement; purely in terms of technique, he’s even stronger!
The game entered garbage time, and originally Butch Baird didn’t plan to send training camp contract players, but entering the fourth quarter, he sent in only training camp contract players. The nine main players who played in the third quarter all needed time to rest.
No surprise, the gap in the final quarter continued to widen.
Zhang Hao, on his side, looked at the task prompt with mixed feelings.
of 7 shooting, 2 of 2 free throws, Zhang Hao scored 16 points in a single quarter, overshadowing Jordan, who had 15 points.
Moreover, Zhang Hao’s shooting percentage of 7 of 16 was higher than Jordan’s 6 of 15.
In Zhang Hao’s view, this was a completely unfair contest, yet he won.
But no one cared.
Others on the Nets also felt not great, but at least they weren’t as dejected as they were after the first half ended.
To Butch Baird, that’s enough.
After sitting for a few minutes, Zhang Hao also saw the light; frustration is inevitable, given their weaker strength, they will surely face such moments.
But should it keep them down?
Definitely not!
No one on the Nets is like Magic Johnson or Duncan. They aren’t superstars who can join the NBA and immediately win FMVP or become All-NBA First Team players. They will definitely face situations like this, and more than once.
Perhaps one day he’ll become a star; perhaps he’ll just be an ordinary NBA player.
But regardless, not being defeated by such negative emotions and choosing to turn this negativity, pressure, into motivation is the best choice.
Since setbacks are unavoidable, choose to embrace the process!
Teammates who had been watching Zhang Hao noticed the change in his expression, saw him rekindle his passion for basketball, and their mood started to rise from the depths.
At some point, in terms of fighting spirit and passion for competition, teammates already regarded Zhang Hao as their backbone.
In fact, their fighting spirit and rekindled enthusiasm were due to the change brought by Zhang Hao.
Chales noticed it, Kenny Anderson noticed it, Vaughn Fleming noticed it, Randy Whitman noticed it, Butch Baird noticed it...
No longer dwelling on weakness or the gap with truly strong teams, Zhang Hao opened the subtitles.
Earlier, when the final buzzer sounded and his buzzer-beater went in, the prompt had already appeared. But seeing Jordan turn away, emotions like emptiness and forlornness surfaced, so he didn’t want to look at it.
Now that his mood was lifted again, Zhang Hao opened the subtitles and saw the task completed prompt... How exciting...
"Dance with God:
Goal: Under the host’s guidance, Zhang Hao needs to outscore Michael Jordan when both are on the court in the second half of the game. (Completed)
Congratulations to the host for earning the reward: 60 days of life.
Remaining lifetime: 326 days, usable lifetime 325 days.
Because Zhang Hao actively taunted in the game, Michael Jordan acknowledged the contest goal, and this goal was achieved.
Congratulations to the host for earning the reward: King of Turnaround Fadeaway (Bronze Medal)."
days of life!
Zhang Hao felt the fatigue in his body, recalling the pressure during the game, the occasional panic facing Jordan’s defense, the frequent moments of cluelessness, and the frustration seeing Jordan score against three defenders... Hu Ke, right?
Finally, his lifetime returned above 300 days!
Additionally, he got a medal!
"King of Turnaround Fadeaway (Bronze) (Not assigned to any player yet): When the player wearing this medal performs a turnaround fadeaway, during this attack, bounce +1, strength +1, with a 10% chance of ignoring shooting effects from the fadeaway."
Of course, wear it immediately!
Looking at the medal’s effects... The physical attribute bonus is minor, the key is that 10% chance to ignore shooting effects from the fadeaway!
But the problem is, he doesn’t know how to execute a turnaround fadeaway. If he doesn’t, then the medal is meaningless.
It’s not that he doesn’t know at all; rather, he rarely uses it. It was seldom used in high school, and it hasn’t been used once in the NBA. He knows his turnaround fadeaway isn’t at an NBA level.
If so, then practice!
He realized from today’s game that sometimes he needs to score by himself, even if it’s catching and shooting after creating space upon receiving the ball.
But his technical skills are poor; even if he’s going to practice, it has to revolve around his mid-range shot. Ball handling and breakouts, for now, weren’t a consideration; focusing on those would affect his current growth direction instead.
Of course, ball handling should be practiced too. He plans to take a ball from the gym back home, dribble casually, and practice the maneuver when getting the ball during a breakthrough, dodging the defender. Not too complicated, just that.
Passing accuracy should also be practiced, as it’s training aligning with his current growth direction.
Now he has a clear direction of developing techniques around his mid-range ability—turnaround fadeaway!
