One Year Left to Play-Chapter 339 - 107: Sorry, I’m Not the Center You Want
"This is my stage: Special contract player Zhang Hao needs to prove to the fans that he is the best rookie of the 1995 class.
Goal 1: In the upcoming games, whenever Zhang Hao encounters higher-ranked rookies from the same class, he must score more than his opponents and help his team defeat the opposing team.
First match, opponent: Raptors, Damon Stoudamire.
Zhang Hao scored 24 points, Damon Stoudamire scored 7 points, and the Lakers won.
Congratulations, the host received a 10-day life-span reward.
Remaining life-span: 491 days, available life-span: 490 days."
Looking at the reward, Zhang Hao didn’t dwell on why his teammates were increasingly supportive; such things don’t need to be fully understood. It’s a good thing, after all. If they can coordinate so well in bullying opponents, they will surely do even better in situations requiring real cooperation!
On the other side, Del Harris found Zhang Hao’s integration speed and the acceptance level from other players... quite incredible. Especially the latter; while the former could be attributed to Zhang Hao’s versatile playstyle and high basketball IQ, the latter... he didn’t think Zhang Hao was particularly likable, but it was indeed the case.
Tonight’s game against the Raptors didn’t involve targeted preparation; the tactics meeting in the morning briefly covered the Raptors’ strengths and weaknesses, without enforcing any play style. In Del Harris’s view, this was why the players dared to play recklessly.
However, he never stopped it. From a certain perspective, bullying other teams’ rookies in a match where victory is assured is a great way to foster team unity. No coach would stop such things.
Del Harris just didn’t like Zhang Hao, but that wouldn’t affect team cohesion...
...
The day after the game against the Raptors, the Lakers faced the Nuggets at home in a back-to-back challenge.
It was the last of three games in four days. Although their opponent only had a 7-10 record at the time and was wavering on whether to tank for Iverson or Duncan, showing inconsistent performance and a top strength of only .500, the Lakers couldn’t afford to be complacent.
After all, it’s a difficult schedule of three games in four days.
This time, Zhang Hao didn’t intentionally mention targeting Antonio McDyess in the pre-game... Anyway, the opponent’s scoring ability was just average, averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds per game so far.
At 8 PM, the game between the Lakers and Nuggets began.
Scoring was challenging for Zhang Hao right from the start, as the defensive duo of Mutombo and Antonio McDyess inside was simply an explosive combination!
This might be the best defensive combination in the league.
But this inside duo also had issues; Mutombo wasn’t acquainted with offense, and Antonio McDyess wasn’t yet the future power forward with average 20+ points and 10 rebounds with superb mid-range shots. His medium and long-range shots were nearly non-existent, his offensive movements were erratic, and his pick-and-roll skills could be compared to Howard’s future self...
In this game, the Lakers focused on outside shooting and blocking the basket. Although the Nuggets had great interior defense, Mahmoud Rauf and Darrell Ellis’s perimeter defense was simply dreadful. Their guard line allowed opponents to score 120 points per 100 possessions, the worst in the league.
With the league’s best interior defense and worst perimeter defense, after the Nuggets fired George Karl, one of the pioneers of the run-and-gun playstyle, the once athletic lineup had become the most bizarre one, showing no trace of the team that upset the Supersonics and pushed the Utah Jazz to seven games two years ago.
Zhang Hao played 41 minutes, struggling to score inside, making only 1 out of 5 attempts from close-range and under the basket. Fortunately, he made 5 out of 11 three-point attempts, hitting 6 out of 16 shots overall, including 1 of 2 from beyond the arc, and 3 of 5 free throws, scoring 16 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 blocks. His defense at the rim was excellent...
The Lakers showed teamwork and resilience in this game. Despite being affected by the demanding schedule of three games in four days, they held firm.
Ultimately, the Lakers narrowly defeated the Nuggets 103-96, achieving a 4-1 record since the big trade, improving their overall record to 14-6, a winning percentage of 70%!
...
After the game between the Lakers and Nuggets, while the team’s substitutes had entered the player tunnel, two people hadn’t left from behind the bench.
"Speed, agility, activity, first-response awareness... they are all excellent. Did you notice? In the last game, there was an instance where he got a foul for closing out on a three-point shooter. This time, in a similar situation, he clearly prepared to stop. These small, subtle improvements are hard to see without careful observation, but they showcase his incredible talent. He’s constantly learning; it’s as if his whole world is basketball... Jerry, you’re really lucky!"
"It’s not luck, it’s vision!" Logo Man confidently boasted. Seeing James Worthy’s disdainful look, Logo Man chuckled and said, "Aix’s talent is indeed higher than I initially expected, but that’s a good thing for us. Moving forward, his defense training is up to you. You should also help him with his fast-break techniques."
"No problem,"
James Worthy was completely impressed by Zhang Hao’s talent. Talking about a rookie from his own team, he would respect the 42 hanging in the Great Western Forum even if not for Logo Man’s sake.
"By the way, Jerry, are you really going to let Elvin come back? ... You know, I’m just worried about Elvin enduring public criticism."
"Don’t worry, his mental toughness is strong, at least as strong as yours and mine. Haven’t you partnered with him for so many years to know this?"
