One Year Left to Play-Chapter 340 - 108: What If We Win?
In the game against the Raptors, Zhang Hao didn’t review, but for the game against the Nuggets, Zhang Hao chose to review and observe Antonio McDyess and Mutombo’s defense.
At the moment, Antonio McDyess seems to be the best defender among his class. In Zhang Hao’s view, compared to Garnett in the last preseason game, Antonio McDyess is stronger.
Although he needs to learn defense from James Worthy, it’s still beneficial to understand the defensive characteristics of other defensive experts. Who knows, he might pick up some defensive techniques from them in the future; it never hurts.
Through observation, Zhang Hao found that Antonio McDyess seems to prefer playing as a center, forcing Mutombo to step out and defend. However, Antonio McDyess’s frame is a bit smaller, which is why Sibaros was able to play so well last night.
As the night passed, the next day arrived, and it was time to set off for the away game tour.
The prior schedule of 3 home games in 4 days was actually the start of the Lakers’ grueling schedule of 7 games in 10 days. Next, the Lakers would embark on a brutal six consecutive away games, starting with 4 games in 5 days, beginning with the Rockets, followed by the Clippers, and then four consecutive games in the East.
However, unlike usual away games where they depart in the morning, after last night’s game against the Nuggets, the coaching staff notified them to set off for Houston at 2 PM today.
At first, Zhang Hao simply thought it was to have more rest after the stretch of 3 games in 4 days, so he didn’t go to the gym in the morning and instead watched game tapes of Alan Houston and Reggie Miller at home.
He needs to continue improving his positioning.
While watching, he received phone calls from Aprile Clark and Pelinka. After receiving Aprile Clark’s call, he knew what had happened—Magic Johnson was making a comeback!
...
All of a sudden, the soap opera, "The Return of the Magician," which the media thought would end in failure, abruptly came to an end.
On December 11, 1995, the Lakers officially announced that they had reached a one-year contract with Magic Johnson, similar to the contract Jordan used during his post-retirement return, a one-year deal worth $2.5 million USD, marking Magic’s official return!
Alongside the Lakers’ press conference, the NBA also held a press conference, reporting the results of Magic’s extensive medical examination over a month, announcing that no blood transmissible virus could be found in Magic’s body. They also released the doctors’ recommended plan—by adhering to daily medication, Magic was no longer a mobile source of infection, complying with the standards of the United States Sports Association for competitive sports participation.
With the announcement, a great commotion ensued.
Firstly, under the pressure of anti-discrimination organizations, Malone accepted an interview to apologize to Magic: "I’ve always been a fan of Magic. The only reason I chose number 32 is because he is my idol. I’m ashamed of my previous comments..."
After nearly two months of debate, at this point in time Magic’s return continued to have opposing voices, but they were not as intense as before. The most impulsive period among fans had passed, and many recalled the super-talented, all-around warrior that dominated the NBA in the past...
...
At 2 PM, Zhang Hao hailed a cab to the airport.
"I’ve got to buy a car when I get back from this away trip! Nine miles and it cost $35! It’s like highway robbery! Even the girls on Hollywood’s street corners only charge thirty to fifty bucks; I don’t know when I’ll make enough for silicone money."
After worrying about the young women in the United States for a bit, Zhang Hao met up with his teammates. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
Today, the team had a very noticeable figure, warmly smiling and chatting with the general manager, Logo Man, the executive consultant Kupchek, and the head coach.
Even though the man’s smile was warm and trust-inspiring, Zhang Hao felt the team’s atmosphere was peculiar, particularly... quiet.
It wasn’t yet time to board, and Zhang Hao was the last to arrive, not acting like a diva. His teammates knew he didn’t have a car, always using cabs to and from work, and when it comes to cabs in the United States, if they pick you up on time an hour after ordering, that’s already pretty good.
Logo Man called Zhang Hao over, "Aix, you’re here... Elvin, this is Zhang Hao, our talented rookie. Aix, this is the greatest star in our team’s history."
From a distance, you couldn’t tell, but up close, Magic was quite chubby...
Upon hearing the introduction, Magic instinctively reached out his hand, saying, "Oh, Aix, I’ve seen you play, you’re amazing..."
Before he finished speaking, Magic’s gesture of extending his hand froze. He remembered that others might be reluctant to shake hands with him; if he extended his hand first, it might easily create an awkward situation.
However, Zhang Hao seemed oblivious, stretching out his hand and giving Magic a brief handshake, "Thank you, it’s my honor to be praised by the greatest player in history."
Though Zhang Hao just shook hands and said, "it’s an honor," with a calm demeanor, at that moment, Magic felt warmth and genuinely smiled, "I am surely not the greatest player in history; the greatest is right here, our general manager."
"Oh, Elvin, I can’t compare to you; you have five championship rings."
"No no no, you’re NBA history’s first FMVP..."
Observing the mutual flattery exchange between the greatest point and shooting guards in team history—both among the top tiers in these positions in NBA history—Zhang Hao silently stood aside, waiting to board.
At nearly two-thirty, the Lakers crew boarded the charter plane. Seeing his teammates sitting far away from Magic, who was all alone in the first row, Zhang Hao thought for a moment, asking the flight attendant to place the prepared TV and VCD player next to Magic, and then sat down.
