One Year Left to Play-Chapter 350 - 109: Two Generations of Number One
The Zen Master closed his eyes and reflected on the Lakers’ recent offense, realizing it was indeed quite difficult to defend against.
But no worries...
As the play shifted from defense to offense, Ron Harper advanced to the frontcourt and dispersed, allowing Pippen to organize the attack with the ball.
Pippen, at the perfect moment, passed the ball to Jordan who was nearby; Jordan’s lob pass sent it smoothly to Luke Longley who scored two points.
The Magician + Zhang Hao + Sibaros, while not defensively overwhelming like the Bullets, were also not particularly solid.
For the Bulls, it was like having an ATM machine lineup at the frontcourt.
It was now the Lakers’ turn to go on offense; this time, the Magician didn’t call for the ball from the outside, but moved to a closer position. With both Van Exel and the Magician on court, the play was straightforward. When the Magician called for the ball, it was passed to him immediately.
At this moment, Zhang Hao once again circled out from the baseline. Pippen and Longley thought Zhang Hao was going for a hand-off pass and screen with the Magician, so they both pressed up to trap them in that area, likely with Rodman’s help. While the Magician went to screen for Zhang Hao, he passed the ball instead to Sibaros who charged in from the free-throw line!
Pippen was the first to react, moving swiftly into the charging zone. If he had initially pressed tightly on defense, he might have had a better chance of stopping Sibaros. However, with Sibaros already on a roll, Luke Longley was deceived away, and even Rodman might not be able to stop him, let alone Pippen!
Sibaros powered through Pippen to score a layup!
What does it mean for a player to transform a team’s offense?
The Magician showcased one of the top organizing abilities in NBA history seamlessly!
These two offensive plays clearly demonstrated that the Magician had thoroughly studied his future teammates before his comeback, positioning himself in places where teammates preferred, and handling the ball exceptionally well.
With Del Harris intentionally deploying an offensive lineup, the Magician opened with two assists! 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
The Bulls players realized that this was truly difficult to defend against! However, their head coach, Phil Jackson, sat mystically on the sidelines without much reaction, and the players on the court stayed calm.
Since that’s the case, they decided to proceed as usual; if they couldn’t defend, they should utilize their offensive strengths well.
The subsequent period witnessed both teams executing a beautifully contested offensive battle.
The pace wasn’t fast, but the success rate of offense was high.
In comparison, the Lakers’ playstyle appeared more dazzling, yet not superficial; their offensive efficiency was truly solid. Zhang Hao, Anthony Peeler, Sibaros, and even Van Exel could receive the ball at the most optimal shooting timings and just throw it directly; it felt like they’ve never played so comfortably before.
The Bulls’ approach seemed very simple, from initiating the attack to scoring, it might consume less time than Pippen waiting for teammates to get in position.
Yet, simplification proved highly effective! This indicated sheer strength, as the Bulls could always score with the utmost simplicity.
Both teams’ shooting percentages at one point hovered around 80%, giving fans a semblance of the offensive boom of the late 80s and early 90s, as they played over five minutes, leading to a score of 20 to 17!
At 5:38, Jordan feigned a drive after receiving the ball at the top arc, then suddenly pulled up for a three-pointer and nailed it, allowing the Bulls to tie the score once more!
Again, it was the Lakers’ turn on offense; this time, the Bulls players clearly noticed that the Magician, after playing for a while, seemed a bit breathless. Jordan double-teamed him at the moment he received the ball!
The double-team from Jordan + Rodman was a truly luxurious treatment!
The Magician was a bit slow to release the ball, allowing Jordan to poke it free, but fortunately, Anthony Peeler managed to recover it.
However, Jordan, like a beast, quickly pounced in front of Anthony Peeler, causing him to forcefully attempt a fadeaway... but it missed!
Rodman, with a tenacious diving leap, tapped the defensive rebound to Pippen, diving amongst the crowd himself.
Many players observed Rodman’s dive towards the baseline, female fans outside were not only unafraid but even reached out to touch Rodman’s head... such envy and jealousy.
Jordan, Pippen, and Ron Harper executed a fast break!
With Jordan’s mid-range catch-and-shoot jumper, the Bulls overtook the Lakers 22 to 20!
The Zen Master, seated on the bench, gently clapped his hands, acknowledging that the time he was waiting for had arrived.
The Magician was impressive, and though he might not run fast or shoot accurately now, his awareness of positioning and ability to organize offense remained, and he likely worked hard on his stamina to prepare for his comeback.
However, the difference between training and actual games is substantial, and encountering Rodman’s defense in the first game back would be highly draining.
"Is the Lakers’ downfall happening this quickly?"
Just as the Zen Master allowed a smirk of self-satisfaction regarding his unchanged approach, the referee’s whistle sounded.
The Lakers called a timeout!
The active inbound and half-court advance executed by the Magician himself prompted the timeout call!
"Is he... about to substitute himself out?"
As the Zen Master envisioned, upon returning to the bench, the Magician actively requested Del Harris to substitute him out.
Del Harris did not refuse, instead releasing a sigh of relief.
Coaching the Magician was incredibly pressuring; if he insisted on playing continuously, what could he do?
The Zen Master saw how the quick physical exhaustion was apparent with the Magician facing Rodman upon his return. Del Harris naturally noticed it as well, constantly monitoring this crucial point tonight.
