One Year Left to Play-Chapter 354 - 110: The Moment of Full Throttle!
Kukoc passes the ball to Jordan. Jordan turns, jumps, leans back for a mid-range shot...
It’s in!
to 34, tonight’s game has already seen explosive offense from both teams.
The Lakers are on the offensive. Van Exel pushes forward quickly. When he reaches a step beyond the opponent’s three-point line, seeing the increasingly aggressive defense, and with 30 seconds left on the shot clock, he decisively stops a meter beyond the top arc for a shot!
Going for a quick strike!
This is exactly what Van Exel is often criticized for, but without this aspect, he wouldn’t be him. Occasionally, it leads to surprises, like now!
Van Exel hits a showy three-pointer!
to 38, with 28 seconds left in the first quarter, the Lakers have reduced the gap to just 1 point!
Theoretically, each side still has a shot opportunity!
During this time, the Bulls didn’t slow down; they maintained a normal pace, continued with the triangle offense, and Jordan once again scored on a turnaround fadeaway.
points in the quarter!
Jordan made 8 of 12 shots in the quarter, including 2 of 3 from beyond the arc, plus 3 free throws, totaling 21 points! The Bulls also set a season-high with 40 points in a single quarter!
With 8 seconds left in the first quarter, the Bulls apply full-court pressure!
Right after Jordan’s shot, he immediately sticks to Van Exel, who received the inbound pass. Van Exel looks for someone to pass to, clearly under pressure, seeing some players break away and others retreat quickly for defense, he passes the ball.
Zhang Hao receives the ball outside the three-point line, shields it with his body, and with momentum, charges towards Pippen, who presses up immediately.
Pippen doesn’t dare to let Zhang Hao go. Just now Zhang Hao accelerated suddenly at mid-court, making Pippen feel Zhang is even faster! However, though he sticks to him, he can’t stop him!
Zhang Hao’s awkward dribbling forcefully takes him to the basket, luckily unopposed by other defenders.
At the arc of the charge circle, Zhang Hao goes up strong with momentum, over Pippen, and slams the ball into the hoop!
It took less than two seconds from the three-point line to the basket; Pippen didn’t even have time to foul Zhang Hao to stop him! Ironically, as Zhang Hao threw it down, Pippen held onto him.
Even if it’s a home game, the referee blew the whistle!
Zhang Hao’s basket counts, and he’s awarded a free throw!
With 7 of 12 field goals, including 1 of 2 from three, plus 4 of 5 free throws, as Zhang Hao dunks his seventh basket of the night, his score rises to 19 points, with one more free throw to go!
Zhang Hao might also get 20 points in a single quarter!
Looking at the Lakers players excitedly rushing towards Zhang Hao, seeing Zhang Hao coolly high-fiving his teammates and stepping to the free-throw line, Pippen has already switched to tantrum mode inside.
"I’m so unlucky! Why do I have to guard this rookie!"
Walking to the free-throw line, Zhang Hao lets out a heavy breath through his nose, maintaining composure, but his expanding nostrils reveal his excitement as he tries to calm himself.
points in a single quarter, for the first time, who’s not excited?
Under the referee’s urging, Zhang Hao dribbles once, raises the ball, releases the free throw... it’s good!
points in the quarter, achieved!
Lakers tie Bulls 40 to 40!
With 3.1 seconds left in the first quarter, the Bulls inbound quickly, Steve Kerr receives the ball just past mid-court for a long-range attempt that clangs off.
The first quarter ends, the two teams are tied at 40!
...
The game has become more than just a contest between the players of the two teams. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
Playing requires intelligence, but not every player has a high basketball IQ.
Vision, judgment, and coordination skills are also crucial, but not every player possesses these.
Hence, the need for a coach.
However, coaches aren’t omnipotent, so the experience of veterans is necessary.
The group beside the Lakers’ bench consists of some of the highest basketball IQ players in the NBA from the ’60s to now!
Zen Master truly can’t remain calm now, feeling as if he’s engaging in an intellectual duel with most of the opponent’s team history’s superstars.
The Lakers are bullying... aside from the Celtics, what other team can gather such a legendary group?
Zen Master really wants to call over the Celtics legends who are here tonight and say—let’s join forces to Beat LA!
Yet, Zen Master also feels exhilarated, as this isn’t a situation just any coach would encounter, and perhaps no other qualified coach would have the "luck" to encounter such a rare scenario, as tonight happens to be the Lakers’ all-time great’s comeback game.
Zen Master wants to win!
However, the opponent has done exceptionally well, with the legends clearly defining their roles, enhancing players’ performance on the foundation of Del Harris’s strategies and the players’ abilities, indeed impressive.
However, what Zen Master is worried about is not actually the opponent’s legendary group, but another issue.
Jordan and Pippen both played the entire first quarter, and Luke Longley as well, yet the score got tied in the last two minutes...
On the flip side, the Lakers players, who just managed to tie the game, are very excited.
Zhang Hao, Van Exel, and Sibaros are subbed out for rest, while Del Harris sends in a defensive lineup.
Sedale-Srte, Anthony Peeler, George Lynch, Jason Williams, and Campbell take the court.
After Del Harris sets up the tactics, the legendary group that was coordinating with him on tactical details swings into action again.
