One Year Left to Play-Chapter 231 - 78: Frenzied Debut!

Just as the basketball fell from the hoop, Jason Williams immediately caught it and passed it to Kenny Anderson, only to see Zhang Hao already sprinting ahead.

PJ Brown was accelerating, and when he saw Zhang Hao sprint past him, he suddenly picked up speed and ran even faster!

Charging past the three-point line... even faster!

Grant Hill was the first to give chase, but after being outrun by Zhang Hao, he couldn't catch up!

Kenny Anderson was stunned by the scene, quickly passed the ball, and Zhang Hao sprinted to the front court, receiving the ball for another layup success!

At this time, only Grant Hill, who halted his steps, and Joe Dumars had crossed the midline!

Kenny Anderson and PJ Brown exchanged a glance from behind the three-point line—who really has the energy?

It's inexplicable!

Sitting on the sidelines watching, Zhang Hao's last score of the previous play seemed less dramatic because it didn't look as fierce as the two fast breaks in the first half.

But on the court, you could more clearly feel the players' stamina and movement, which highlighted how fearsome Zhang Hao's continued sprinting was!

Unbelievable!

The lead was still 12 points! No chances for the Pistons!

In the upcoming period, Zhang Hao showed everyone through his actions—he is enduring!

Zhang Hao didn't worry about anything, just kept sprinting!

On defense, when the opponents charged in, he disrupted them when possible, and if not, he just surged ahead without thinking, counterattacking brainlessly!

Initially, Grant Hill tried hard to match Zhang Hao's pace, hoping he'd tire out after a few sprints, and vigorously improved his own score to 39 points.

However, he felt Zhang Hao remained consistently fast...

Actually, Zhang Hao wasn't always that fast, he had bonuses, but after several sprints, his "Single Rider Full Power" bonus speed fell to 91 only, a significant drop.

The only one faster was Kenny Anderson, who wasn't very tired tonight.

But Kenny Anderson didn't steal the spotlight; with Zhang Hao sprinting ahead, he passed well, helping secure team scores immediately. If he chose to conduct a full-court counterattack himself, the success rate wouldn't compare to Zhang Hao's quick surge.

Grant Hill scored 6 points in nearly 4 minutes, but Zhang Hao racked up 9 points during the same time!

Four of those were direct counterattack successes, and one was after Zhang Hao surpassed the last opponent and got fouled, giving the Pistons' Joe Dumars an unsportsmanlike foul, allowing Zhang Hao two throws and the Nets an opportunity to continue possession after the throw-in.

Although Zhang Hao only made one of those free throws, during the subsequent field offense, Kenny Anderson got blocked by an intense Grant Hill.

However, during this period, the Nets still executed a 9-to-6 run!

At 4 minutes and 23 seconds of the fourth quarter, Zhang Hao's counterattack layup succeeded, leading the Nets to a 101-86 advantage over the Pistons by 15 points!

Simultaneously, Zhang Hao's personal score increased to 44 points!

A 15-point difference isn't huge, over 7.5 minutes remain, but both sides are nearly exhausted!

Tonight, Grant Hill, highly targeted and worn down by the Nets, was playing weakly! His next breakthrough layup was blocked by Zhang Hao standing still... and immediately, the Pistons scrambled to stop Zhang Hao, which thrilled him.

Two situations signify their counterattack plan's success: one when the Pistons hastily shoot at the offense, focusing entirely on returning to defend.

The other is when the Pistons try blocking the Nets' fast breakers.

Kenny Anderson himself executed a counterattack, sprinting for a layup success.

103 to 86, a 17-point difference! The Pistons called a timeout!

4 minutes and 23 seconds, accruing 13 points solely on counterattacks, the audience recalled the sixth game of the 1988 Finals wherein, after leading the Lakers 3-2 and up 5 points halfway through the fourth quarter, Lakers' James Worthy, driven by speed with Magic Johnson's assists, alone scored 11 points, flipping the score to an 11-5 run, maintaining a 1-point lead, leveling the championship to 3-to-3, eventually reversing and winning the championship 4-to-3, with James Worthy securing the Finals MVP.

That year, everyone remembered James Worthy's game-seven triple-double, but Pistons fans most vividly remembered James Worthy's ferocious counterattack in game six's final quarter.

Though today's circumstances were vastly different, Zhang Hao's performance in the past four minutes reminded many spectators of that night, seven years ago!

Players from both teams retreated to the sidelines, emotions of the night distinctly opposite.

On the Nets' side, celebration was underway, every player surrounding their hero—Zhang Hao, patting heads, slapping butts...

Meanwhile, the Pistons were mentally collapsing, clueless about countering him!

How to hinder that rookie?

No way!

No matter how you play, he sprints blindly ahead.

The Nets' method is essentially simple to counter.

Zhang Hao's counterattack isn't unbeatable, full of flaws; even more so if PJ Brown served as the spearhead, the risks are higher, Zhang Hao could dodge the speed issue, as the guard will surely keep up with this flaw.

There are more issues Zhang Hao hasn't solved, he just continues charging, repeatedly charge.

If the Pistons had another strong one-on-one player like Almon Gilliam along with Kenny Anderson; if their faster outside players were better defenders besides Grant Hill, like Joe Dumars being three to four years younger alongside Kenny Anderson's Chales and PJ Brown; if their substitutes were better...

There are various ways to create winning opportunities.

But not many ifs exist!

The Pistons don't have anyone left; Grant Hill could barely jump!

The phrase "pull double duty" describes Grant Hill's situation perfectly!

Returning to the sidelines, when Grant Hill sat down, his knees failed, landing in the chair heavily with a "thump".

Doug Collins watched Zhang Hao, supported by his teammates, equally exhausted, and murmured complaints to his brother beside him.

Scott Collins helplessly shrugged—You wanted Zhang Hao while trading for Edith Soper but traded away the eighth pick, blaming me?

Yet, he truly hadn't anticipated Zhang Hao being this outstanding!

Even though he discovered Zhang Hao's physical talent and brought him from China to Inglewood High, he didn't expect Zhang Hao's talent to be this exceptional.

Even though their team was virtually resigned to losing because their strongest player, Grant Hill, couldn't keep up, making Kenny Anderson the strongest on the floor, but purely in scoring, Alan Houston couldn't match Kenny Anderson, yet Scott Collins felt somewhat pleased.

He felt such an idea was wrong... but indeed joyful!

This is his student! The genius he brought back!

He devised numerous strategies targeting Zhang Hao, yet Zhang Hao surpassed their expectations!

With a direct counterattack scoring 16 points and free-throws netting 3 points, Zhang Hao earned 19 points solely through counterattacks! Also, Zhang Hao quickly adapted to NBA-level confrontations, with little impact on his shots post-contact...

Honestly, Scott Collins didn't have much direct insight into Zhang Hao's strength because during his coaching tenure, Zhang Hao overwhelmingly dominated the center position in California high school basketball.

But he didn't anticipate Zhang Hao could confront players like Grant Hill and Edith Soper in the NBA.

Scott Collins asks online: What should I do if I want to defect?