Chapter 497: Chapter 150: Same Situation, Same Outcome!

After playing the whole game and achieving such a strong defense in the last moment, Reggie Miller still managed a near game-winner.

At this point, no one was thinking about "winning or losing doesn’t matter in the All-Star match." For players in the actual All-Star game, if it began casually and the score difference was huge, winning or losing truly wouldn’t matter. But now, it was all about pride, purely about winning or losing.

Del Harris calmly planned the tactic for the last attack during the timeout.

At this moment, everyone noticed something strange...

As the game progressed, it turned into a 9-man rotation. On the Western Team, playing time gradually concentrated on Magician, Stockton, Drexler, Richmond, Barkley, Malone, Olajuwon, David Robinson, and Zhang Hao.

The Western Team was very strong, but the Eastern Team’s 9-man rotation was also strong, and when O’Neal was on the court, they fought harder to catch up, consuming a lot of energy.

Now everyone could see the fatigue... Before the last defense, everyone could see a decline in speed, jumping height, reaction ability, compared to before.

In terms of spirit and energy, you could see signs of fatigue.

However, during this strategic planning, one person stood out as particularly special... 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

That person was Zhang Hao!

Compared to the frustration and unwillingness of others after Reggie Miller made a crucial three-pointer to take the lead, and compared to Malone’s regret over making the wrong defensive choice, Zhang Hao was full of fighting spirit.

This wasn’t what surprised his teammates; everyone wasn’t surprised by Zhang Hao’s high level of fighting spirit.

The key was that after wiping off his sweat, Zhang Hao was glowing, energetic... He didn’t look like someone who had played for 30 minutes in such a high-intensity, focused match!

...

The Western Team fielded Stockton, Drexler, Zhang Hao, Malone, and Olajuwon.

No changes from before the timeout, mainly tactical adjustments.

The Eastern Team fielded Terry Brandon, Jordan, Pippen, Mourning, and O’Neal.

When it came to the final defense, the Eastern Team deployed the Twin Towers, to guard the middle and close range.

Zen Master’s adjustment was quite targeted. For the Western Team’s offense, O’Neal’s free throw issue was not a problem, and the Western Team didn’t attempt long-range shots in the last two minutes as both backup guards, Payton and Kidd, were players who refused to shoot, and Richmond’s shooting tonight was dreadful, unable to deliver his season-average of 2.8 three-pointers.

Stockton’s three-point shooting tonight wasn’t good either, so blocking the middle and close range, and blocking Drexler’s three-pointers was the best defensive choice.

Defense is not about stopping every point of the opponent; that’s impossible. Making choices based on actual situations is the best defensive strategy.

The game resumed with a sideline throw-in by the Western Team.

Del Harris didn’t set up a tactic for Zhang Hao to play one-on-one.

However, the strategy of having one center crouching under the basket and another ready to double-team in close range prevented Stockton from executing a pick and roll!

Stockton didn’t hesitate for long before gesturing for Olajuwon and Malone to spread out, letting Zhang Hao find a position to receive the ball.

And Zhang Hao, upon seeing the opponent’s lineup and positioning upon his return to the court, had already analyzed that he might have the best opportunity.

While Stockton hesitated, Zhang Hao decisively made the choice, maneuvering around to switch defensive assignments on Pippen, looking for a position to post up.

However, when Zhang Hao reached the mid-range on the left baseline, Jordan was still following him!

Jordan anticipated Zhang Hao’s intention to bully his big brother Pippen!

Stockton’s pass arrived in time, and Zhang Hao received the ball on the left baseline with Jordan leaning against him.

The audience erupted with cheers again as they watched Zhang Hao take on Jordan one-on-one in the final moments!

The ticket was worth it tonight! To witness such an intensely fought All-Star game, with a near buzzer-beater and key one-on-one moments, was simply invaluable!

In this very similar situation, seeing the same defender, Zhang Hao felt like asking—What’s up, partner?

However, when he saw it was Jordan, Zhang Hao’s heart became even more restless!

He turned sideways, using his elbow to block Jordan’s outreached hand, grabbing the ball with his other hand, extending it away from Jordan.

While looking for an opportunity, Malone came up to put a screen next to Jordan...

Good opportunity! But, at that moment, Zhang Hao impulsively said, "Karl, put away your screen, I want to duel Jordan one-on-one!"

Malone was stunned, silently stepping away... At that moment, Malone wasn’t angry; instead, he had a little admiration for Zhang Hao’s courage.

He actually left!

Zhang Hao felt like saying he was just kidding around!

Jordan was also slightly stunned, anger rising in his heart, becoming more aggressive in his confrontation!

With only 4 seconds left on the shot clock and no time to hesitate, Zhang Hao spun half a step to the right, completely turning his back to the basket, pressing against Jordan... Then, suddenly pivoted to the left, raising his arm during the spin, colliding with Jordan...

If it were half a quarter ago, Zhang Hao might have been blocked during that pivot. But now, his energy temporarily restored to its best state, and Jordan, after playing for 37 minutes in such a game, had a slight decline in stamina and reaction, his position-blocking movement was a tad slow, and he was caught off guard by Zhang Hao’s iron elbow!