One Year Left to Play-Chapter 349 - 109: Two Generations of Number One
Damn!
I’m the clown again!"
...
Zhang Hao came to the center circle, and for the first time tonight, the crowd started booing him, aiming at Zhang Hao who stepped into the center circle. During the introduction ceremony, no boos were directed at the other Lakers players; they were all chanting "Magician." But now that the game was about to start and they saw Zhang Hao heading to the center circle, boos erupted!
The Bulls have only lost 4 games this season so far, with three of the opponents being the current number one in the West, the SuperSonics, the current third in the East, the Pacers, and the current second in the East, the Magic.
These three opponents are acceptable to lose against.
But the other one, Bulls fans cannot accept!
This opponent is the Brooklyn Nets, who after losing Zhang Hao, Kenny Anderson, and Jason Williams, slumped to 7 consecutive losses, resulting in a 7-13 record, dropping to the fourth worst in the East.
And the one who led the Brooklyn Nets to an upset was this rookie high schooler who just walked to the center circle!
Luke Longley came to the center circle and joked, "Your treatment is quite different, huh!"
Zhang Hao looked up, met Luke Longley’s eyes, and said seriously, "I think they’re afraid of me."
"Don’t be too arrogant, rookie. Don’t think just because you got lucky and won once, you’re really something."
"No, I’m not amazing, it’s just your fans... maybe your teammates and coaches are worried that if I match up against you, you’ll definitely lose."
His tone was as if he was stating a fact, his expression not revealing a ripple... the key is, this rookie was speaking the truth! Luke Longley had always been said to be the only weak spot in the Bulls’ starting lineup.
He couldn’t refute it! Points, 9.1 to 22, rebounds 5.1 to 6.7, assists and steals are about the same, blocks 1.4 to 2.2, even the shooting percentage is 48 to 49... thinking about Zhang Hao’s performance statistics from the pregame preparation today, Luke Longley couldn’t refute it at all, although he could curse. But seeing that overly calm face... he was about to explode!
Zhang Hao started smack-talking with Luke Longley at the center circle, and the Magician was a bit worried, but the other teammates weren’t worried at all.
After a few games, no matter who the opponent was, Zhang Hao remained calm, even the trash-talking Double Davis would be at a loss. If someone cursed, Zhang Hao wouldn’t even bother to respond, but if it were a verbal sparring match, Zhang Hao’s retorts... even reporters were at a loss.
Sure enough, Luke Longley’s flushed face said it all—Zhang Hao won again.
Tonight, the Lakers started with a lineup of Van Exel, Anthony Peeler, Sibaros, the Magician, and Zhang Hao.
The Bulls started with Ron Harper, Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Luke Longley.
For the Magician’s first game back, he had to start, if only for appearances; later, it might not be certain. Jordan anticipated this.
But he didn’t expect Zhang Hao to start, with Campbell benched.
This move was quite clever...
At 6 p.m., the referee walked to the center circle with the ball, blew the whistle to start the game, and threw the ball into the air... the game began!
Luke Longley jumped with all his might, wanting to win! But Zhang Hao leaped even faster, easily tapping the ball away from Luke Longley’s fingers, who was 10 centimeters taller than him.
Lakers’ possession first!
Van Exel received the ball and pushed it to the front, passing it to the Magician. The first shot tonight was in the Magician’s hands.
The Magician held the ball with a smile at the top of the arc, giving Pippen and Jordan momentary flashbacks to the 1991 Finals, only that this Magician was a bit chubby...
Luke Longley crouched under the basket, guarding against the off-ball movements of Sibaros and Zhang Hao. Pippen followed Zhang Hao, Jordan stood beside Anthony Peeler ready to shrink or help defend at any moment, Ron Harper defended Van Exel, and Rodman guarded the Magician at the top of the arc!
Rodman pressed aggressively, trying to steal the ball, but he underestimated the flexibility of the fat guy. The Magician skillfully pulled the ball away, using his center-like wide frame to block Rodman’s attempt at a steal.
The Bulls’ defensive formation was very different from usual; the heaviest player on the opponent’s side was holding the ball at the top of the arc, and this former number one in the league had even developed a three-point shot before retiring. At least for the first ball, the Bulls paid tremendous defensive respect.
The Magician suddenly exerted force to back inside the three-point line. Rodman quickly lowered his stance, trying to block the Magician.
Rodman didn’t expect the Magician to make such a move; did he intend to post-up starting from the three-point line like that rookie?
The other Bulls players also noticed this scene, wondering when the Lakers became so shameless?
Just as all the Bulls players’ attention was on the clash between the Magician and Rodman, Jordan suddenly found the ball in the Magician’s hands was gone!
Turning his head, he saw Zhang Hao circling the baseline using Sibaros’ screen to shake off Pippen, receiving the ball and taking a turnaround jump shot from a step inside the free-throw line on the baseline...
It’s good!
The "Luka-pass!"
The Magician hadn’t been observing his teammates’ movements at all, seemingly focused solely on backing down Rodman from beyond the three-point line, and even Jordan didn’t notice the Magician had passed the ball in the first place!
Fans watching from other angles of the court saw this play, a pass so unexpected that it ripped through the defense, leaving many fans in the arena gasping in surprise.
It’s the return of the King!
But when they saw it was Zhang Hao who made the shot, the crowd instantly started booing again.
Especially seeing Zhang Hao score and run back with a calm demeanor, unlike the other three Lakers players who were excited, the crowd booed even more fiercely.
