novelraw Chapter 382 - 115: Finally Took the Bait!
Chapter 382 - 115: Finally Took the Bait!
"Wasn’t that rookie not so fierce the last time we played the Lakers?"
"I should’ve jumped in earlier..."
The two players in the jump ball had different thoughts as they entered the latter half of this possession, leading to Spurs’ offense.
Back on defense, Zhang Hao wanted to guard David Robinson... Facing off against the Spurs again, he still didn’t like guarding Elliott; that guy looked like a slightly better-looking alien.
During the lockdown, the media couldn’t dig up news, so they came up with all sorts of strange topics—the league’s ugliest player rankings.
Elliott proudly made the list, while the top spot went to Cassell, who had just finished his rookie season.
If Cassell’s looks were negative infinity, then in the media’s aesthetic scores, Elliott was around negative infinity +100 points.
The visual impact was just too intense.
However, someone was quicker than Zhang Hao... the Magician managed to guard David Robinson, and he was fast!
Despicable!
Seeing Elliott had already gotten the ball and run over, Zhang Hao could only go up to guard him. When Avery Johnson came over, Elliott started moving, and Zhang Hao lunged toward Elliott.
Not only did he have to lunge, but he also had to follow him closely.
While chasing, Zhang Hao was blocked by David Robinson!
Elliott looped around to the baseline; the Magician switched over to cover him, but as soon as he was about to catch up, he was stopped by a second screen from Peldo!
The Spurs’ double-screen play!
This time, Avery Johnson pushed into the inside lane against Van Exel; Campbell couldn’t extend out, so Avery Johnson passed! Zhang Hao wanted to get back to stop Elliott from receiving and shooting, but Avery Johnson didn’t pass to Elliott!
David Robinson caught the ball one big step inside the three-point line at a 45-degree angle on the right side and nailed the long two-pointer!
With outstanding vision, precise passing, and boldness!
The key was boldness; the ball almost brushed past Zhang Hao, who was marking Elliott, and flew to David Robinson.
The teammates couldn’t help but glance at Zhang Hao, not blaming him for leaving David Robinson open. If it were them, they would also cover Elliott; who would have thought Avery Johnson would pass to the furthest person in that crowded area?
They looked at Zhang Hao because of Avery Johnson’s anticipation of the defenders’ movements!
Zhang Hao often demonstrated this ability too, but in his positioning for receiving and shooting.
When David Robinson made his move, the Spurs players started retreating; besides David Robinson, they rarely contested offensive rebounds as their rebounding ability was poor. Despite relying on a double-tower formation primarily, their rebounding was weak, trailing opponents by an average of 0.7 rebounds per game.
The Spurs’ defense wasn’t that good, but just like how the Pacers feared strong forwards, with Zhang Hao in the lineup, the Lakers didn’t struggle with slower-paced teams that were defensively strong in half-court battles. However, facing teams like the Spurs, who retreat immediately after an attack and play at a fast pace, even if the Spurs’ defense was average, allowing 101 points per game this season, the Lakers scored only in the 80s last time facing them.
At the start, the Lakers couldn’t find any chances to play transition defense and offense.
When Zhang Hao reached the front court, David Robinson was glued to him.
David Robinson certainly couldn’t match Zhang Hao’s long-distance running, but his short-distance explosive speed was unmatched by any NBA big men! Even against perimeter players, only a few could match David Robinson in this aspect.
Zhang Hao found it hard to shake off David Robinson with speed, so he decided to loop around the baseline.
Peldo immediately switched to guard Zhang Hao. After dealing with a screen, David Robinson consciously moved up to block the passing lane to Zhang Hao and the Magician.
Van Exel wasn’t just going to let it slide; he anticipated the situation as Zhang Hao made his baseline cut, using speed to break past Avery Johnson and into the paint for a right-side floater...
David Robinson had pulled over to the left baseline of the paint, blocking both the passing lane to the Magician and the connection between Zhang Hao and Van Exel. Nevertheless, when Van Exel drove into the lane, Robinson was there in position!
David Robinson lunged from the front left of the restricted area, leaping high in the air, smacked the ball that Van Exel hadn’t even released to its highest point, just like spiking a volleyball!
The ball rebounded off the backboard but thankfully, the Magician tenaciously grabbed the offensive rebound. David Robinson, truly a Best Defensive Player-level athlete, stuck to him immediately, but the Magician skillfully used his much heftier backside to shield him, stabilizing himself with his mass, then went for a low-handed layup...and it was in!
The "Dunk Master" effect kept the Lakers’ morale, boosted by Zhang Hao’s fast-break start, high for three consecutive possessions, greatly increasing their energy!
David Robinson wasn’t afraid of quick players or those with a wide shooting range; what he feared were physically robust and fundamentally sound ones because his lower body was too unstable and couldn’t push people away.
Back to the Spurs’ offense, initiated from the perimeter, attempting to replicate the previous strategy.
However, the Magician, with his rich experience, had learned from the earlier play and opted to leave Peldo to pursue Elliott during the double screens.
Zhang Hao sensibly stayed close by David Robinson.