novelraw Chapter 370 - 113: I Wish I Could Beat the Celtics Every Day
Chapter 370 - 113: I Wish I Could Beat the Celtics Every Day
"Special Contract Player: Zhang Hao.
Age/Date of Birth: 18 years old/January 7, 1977.
Height: 207 cm, Wingspan: 218 cm
Weight: 97 kg.
Position: Forward
Team: Los Angeles Lakers.
Ability Rating: 73
Physical Attributes: Speed 90, Strength 90 (Explosiveness 83), Jumping 94, Agility 95, Stamina 92...
Shooting: Three-pointers 65 (Top Arc area three-pointers 80, others 59), Mid-range Shot 91, Layup 89...
Technique: Dribbling 61, Passing 67, Catch-and-shoot 91, Catch-and-turn fadeaway 64, Post-up fadeaway 58..."
On the morning of December 22nd, after resting for a day and night, Zhang Hao was driven by Aprile Clark to the Time Warner Arena at 7:30.
After this wave of away games, Zhang Hao looked at his own progress. It was obvious!
Although he hadn’t reached an ability rating of 74, there were many small improvements. The shortened three-pointers within the 45-degree angles on both sides, which were originally long two-pointers near the three-point line at the top arc area, reached 80, which is something to be celebrated.
The passing improved to 67, dribbling reached 61, these two have always been practiced, but being tall was a problem.
The catch-and-shoot reached 91, which is a result of recently learning Reggie Miller’s running rhythm, combined with the previous guidance from legendary figures, allowing Zhang Hao’s catch-and-shoot to successfully improve from 90 to 91.
Once any skill reaches the top level, it becomes very difficult to improve!
And the post-up fadeaway, unconsciously, already exceeded 50, reaching a level evaluated by the system.
The catch-and-turn fadeaway slowed in progress after reaching a passing line.
Time for training, game experience... take it slowly.
After finishing six consecutive away games, the Lakers have two days of rest. They didn’t schedule any training for two days, and will directly play the Kings tomorrow, and the Christmas game on the 25th. These two days of rest are purely to recuperate from the previous intense consumption.
But after Zhang Hao helped Aprile Clark set up her house yesterday, he contacted James Worthy in the evening, strongly requesting to start training today.
Compared to the Brooklyn Nets’ trainer who openly showed displeasure, the veteran trainer from the Pat Riley era who worked at the Lakers was already working eagerly in the morning. By the time Zhang Hao arrived at the gym, the trainer had already prepared everything, and after Zhang Hao had been on the elliptical for a while, he helped Zhang Hao stretch his muscles and joints to get ready for training.
Half an hour later, the warm-up for training was completed, and James Worthy hadn’t arrived yet. The appointment was before 9 o’clock, so Zhang Hao practiced turnaround fadeaways for a while.
This technical move has been practiced for two months, and while Zhang Hao doesn’t dare say he’s completely mastered it, he can do it with ease.
But the more this is the case, the less he dares to slack off. He’s still far from the point where in a game, when the thought of performing the move arises, his body does it naturally driven by muscle memory.
While Zhang Hao was filled with motivation due to his progress and practicing excitedly, a voice rang out: "Oh, Cool-guy, you’re here so early, I thought I could get here a bit earlier than you."
"Didn’t I tell you, James, as long as it’s a home game, whether it’s a rest day or not, Aix is the first to arrive at the gym for training."
"Elvin, stop it, you remind me of the head coach. If it wasn’t for him, maybe Kareem could’ve played in your retirement finals, and we might’ve won the sixth championship."
"Haha, but without Pat, we might not have even won those three championships."
"You’re right, but those memories of training back then are still nightmarish..."
Magician and James Worthy arrived.
Zhang Hao was about to stop training to greet the two, glancing at the time, it was 8:44... so he practiced a bit longer, waiting for them to finish talking before going to greet them.
While Magician and James Worthy were chatting, they seemed to have forgotten what they initially set out to do, and looked at Zhang Hao. Zhang Hao started another set of training.
James Worthy thought he had perhaps seen Zhang Hao respectfully preparing to greet them and uncertainly asked: "Is Aix avoiding interrupting our conversation?"
"It seems so. According to Jerry, Aix is a bit overly polite."
"I feel the same, on this front... it always gives a strong sense of distance, not annoying, but it’s also not easy to want to get close."
"Jerry wanted us to think of a way to prevent Aix from becoming like Kareem."
"When you say that, Aix really does seem a bit like Kareem..."
The two continued chatting, having not worked together for years, and there was indeed a lot to talk about.
As they chatted, they noticed someone appear in front of them: Zhang Hao; Both turned to look at the clock on the wall, 8:59.
"Mr. Johnson, Mr. Worthy, can we start training?"
"..."
"..."
They didn’t know what to say, it was indeed punctual!
They went straight to the point, and James Worthy asked: "Aix, do you train like this every day?"
"Not always, training intensity during the season isn’t high, but I train to maintain the feeling every day, yet the learning never stops."
James Worthy nodded; the young man understands body protection very well... this makes him even more like Jabbar! He truly wanted to introduce them, curious to see the scene of them sitting together not saying a word for half a day.
"Alright, Elvin, today is going to be a bit tough on you. Aix, today Elvin will help you with training... Tsk tsk, this treatment, you’re the first one!"