One Year Left to Play-Chapter 168 - 53: What If I Can’t Keep a Low Profile?
If the team wants to change the pace, just substitute Kenny Anderson in, he knows what to do on the court.
Zhang Hao sees Chales approaching the three-point line, immediately starts moving, runs to the open area, leading the defensive player away from Chales and Jason Williams doing the pick and roll.
When he judged that his teammates were about to start executing the offense, Zhang Hao proactively accelerated his run, drawing the opponent’s attention. Vaughn Fleming got the chance for a baseline cut and floater, received the pass from Chales and went airborne for the shot...
Vaughn Fleming played very aggressively, the veteran’s experience allowed him to keenly find the cutting opportunity, Chales’ pass was timely too, Vaughn Fleming’s flying floater fell into the basket, Brooklyn Nets gets two points!
to 17, amidst the boos from the local fans, Brooklyn Nets still maintains their lead!
For the remainder of the first quarter, the two teams played back and forth, the Hornets had strong outside power but their inside was indeed too weak, with two starters not playing.
Brooklyn Nets didn’t have the advantage in strength, but they thrived in hard work, and after the conflict, relied on high morale and the opponent’s weak interior defense to execute several well-crafted attacks, solidly withstood the Hornets’ intent to storm after the conflict.
During this time, Zhang Hao didn’t have many chances to shine, had one missed mid-range shot after receiving the ball, but managed a putback, the opponent’s defense was very tight against him, or rather obviously targeted him on the defensive end, but this, in turn, created opportunities for the entire Brooklyn Nets team.
End of the first quarter, Brooklyn Nets leads Hornets by two points 28 to 26!
Entering the second quarter, Zhang Hao was substituted out to rest.
points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, playing over 6 minutes in the first quarter, this performance was quite impressive.
Chales continued leading the set-piece battle lineup, standing toe-to-toe with the opponent, performing far better than expected because their confidence was already buoyed.
At this time, Larry Johnson was substituted in, Gilliam did not fall behind, dueling evenly and showcasing his impressive offensive skills.
Zhang Hao kept a close and steady gaze on the players, observing the ways teammates and opponents handled certain situations, this kind of close-up observation, Zhang Hao only experienced in the last match, serves as a great learning style.
Also, he worked hard to analyze the opponent’s tactics, combining perspectives from the players’ angle and pre-match analysis from the coaches.
Compared to the fervent enthusiasm and relentless drive of Brooklyn Nets, Hornets played rather gloomily.
They fielded a lineup with Michael Adams, Glenn Rice, Burrell, Larry Johnson, Zideke, in terms of strength, definitely stronger than Chales, Jason Williams, Gilliam, Edwards, Graham.
However, the Hornets didn’t seize the advantage!
The opponents behaved like they were risking it all, fighting for every ball, treating this preseason game as though it were the playoffs.
Nevertheless, the Hornets players exerted greater effort as the game reached this pace, unwilling to lose!
In the mid-second quarter, Brooklyn Nets finally undertook a major rotation, sending in Kenny Anderson, Graham, Levis, Zhang Hao, PJ-Brown, forming their most athletically capable lineup.
Across the court for Hornets, Kendall Gill, Glenn Rice, Edison, Larry Johnson, Matt Geiger entered.
Zhang Hao easily discerned the opponent’s intention for this rotation—looking to establish a lead before halftime!
Currently, Brooklyn Nets lead Hornets 43 to 42 by just one point, even if Brooklyn Nets plays so well, Hornets haven’t genuinely lagged behind, this is Hornets’ strength, and they have confidence because of it.
Timeout concluded, Hornets possession, Zhang Hao guarding the backcourt, waiting for the opposing team to start moving positions after reaching the frontcourt, moves alongside Larry Johnson while contemplating the opponent’s intentions based on player movements.
Suddenly, Larry Johnson, who was merely repositioning within close range, explosively cuts to the basket, Zhang Hao immediately presses up for a confrontation, but just after clashing with Larry Johnson, swiftly dashes toward the other side of the three-second area because he noticed Edison cutting in!
As Zhang Hao analyzed, Larry Johnson’s cut was merely a threat, the other side was the real endpoint, since PJ-Brown already moved out to defend against Glenn Rice! Sure enough, Zhang Hao reached the right side of the three-second area just as Glenn Rice, who attracted PJ-Brown’s defensive effort, passed the ball to Edison.
Edison was already poised to catch the ball and dunk easily, but Zhang Hao blocked the way.
Edison sprinting noticed Zhang Hao, ordinarily he would choose to fake before attempting a floater or layup, but this time he chose not to, wanting to repay Zhang Hao’s previous quarter’s poster dunk, anger brimming, Edison jumped towards Zhang Hao, attempting the dunk over...
"Slap"
In that instance, Zhang Hao jumped, meeting Edison in mid-air, swatting the ball held high by Edison down cleanly!
Neat and tidy! With sheer confrontation and height plus wingspan advantage, Zhang Hao achieved a spectacular and clean block!
