novelraw Chapter 383 - 115: Finally Took the Bait!
Chapter 383 - 115: Finally Took the Bait!
Avery Johnson was blocked on the left side of the three-second zone by Van Exel and Campbell, so he had to pass to Peldo.
However, Peldo didn’t shoot blindly. He held the ball up to guard against being stolen. David Robinson received Peldo’s pass hand-to-hand at the baseline, then faced Zhang Hao one-on-one like a guard.
When Peldo returned to the basket, Elliott took the Magician outside the three-point line, and Avery Johnson left the three-second zone, David Robinson didn’t play tricks. He directly wanted to break through by pushing Zhang Hao and rushing into the paint!
After a few days of training, Zhang Hao’s foot movements weren’t perfect yet, but his awareness of observing the opponent’s details when penetrating the basket had improved significantly!
David Robinson’s breakthrough without any fake moves allowed Zhang Hao to predict his movement lines and block him in time, colliding with David Robinson...
Zhang Hao was pushed back a step, but David Robinson couldn’t crush Zhang Hao, and he also paused from the impact! The ball was dribbled toward the basket, and David Robinson quickly scooped up the rebounded ball, avoiding a mistake, but he had stopped dribbling!
The referee didn’t blow the whistle!
This was a legitimate collision!
Among the Lakers players on the perimeter, only Anthony Peeler had poor defensive skills, but their enthusiasm was excellent. Seeing no chance to pass, David Robinson prepared to shoot.
After stabilizing his footing from the collision, Zhang Hao gritted his teeth and pressed up again, while David Robinson leaned back and took a tough shot from the right side of the three-second zone...
Zhang Hao defended well this time, but David Robinson had luck on his side. The ball bounced off the neck of the basket and fell straight in!
Zhang Hao watched the ball fall into the basket and saw the Spurs players quickly retreating to defend, running forward silently.
"This guy has Howard’s build, yet possesses a good mid-range shot..."
However, Zhang Hao also noticed something. It was the reason he was able to disrupt David Robinson’s mid-range attempts effectively — Robinson wouldn’t move into the paint unless necessary!
With the Magician chasing him and Robinson limited by the Magician’s heavier weight preventing full acceleration, he wouldn’t rush inside.
David Robinson thought that Mr. Zhang certainly couldn’t withstand his initial acceleration like the Magician, so he rushed into the paint.
"This weakness is quite similar to the Beast’s... I need to find a way, he’s playing too comfortably."
It was the Lakers’ turn to attack again. Every time Zhang Hao completed a spectacular dunk, the Lakers players became especially active and daring in the ensuing possessions.
Having just been blocked, Van Exel faced tight coverage again on the perimeter and chose to penetrate... still missed, avoiding David Robinson’s defense, shooting a tricky shot.
But at least the enthusiasm remained. When his teammates hadn’t gotten into position, Van Exel didn’t let the ball stop.
Back on defense, Zhang Hao switched with Anthony Peeler. Anthony Peeler went to guard Elliott, and Zhang Hao went to guard future NBA coach Negro.
It turned out there weren’t any issues. Zhang Hao could totally keep up with Negro’s pace, and Negro looked at Zhang Hao with a touch of desperation in his eyes, unable to shake him off.
The Lakers defended the Spurs’ off-ball double screens very well, but Avery Johnson didn’t choose to change tactics. Instead, he continued to execute the double screens for Elliott’s side, only this time the target was clear — to get the ball to David Robinson for a solo play.
David Robinson created a mismatch against Anthony Peeler, first protecting the ball while his teammates spread out...
Avery Johnson felt a bit exhausted, because the team’s MVP-level superstar had the biggest problem of being too unselfish. Other teams’ superstars would establish their dominance at the beginning, but David Robinson never did that and preferred teamwork.
Being unselfish certainly wasn’t wrong, but David Robinson’s unselfishness made it seem like he didn’t want to take responsibility, or maybe he was a bit afraid.
If it weren’t for creating a mismatch, David Robinson basically wouldn’t actively want the ball to play solo against the Magician.
However, the mismatch appeared, and David Robinson immediately braced himself for a strong play, just like earlier when Zhang Hao switched onto him.
Can’t beat that rookie? Surely he can beat this guy, right?
David Robinson forcefully attacked Anthony Peeler!
This time he wasn’t stopped; David Robinson seemed to face no obstruction at all as he sprinted into the paint at full speed, jumping from the right edge within the three-second zone!
So fast and fierce!
At that range, Campbell confronted the airborne David Robinson, but Robinson stabilized his posture and slammed the ball toward the basket... only to see a hand thrust over... it was the rookie!
Zhang Hao successfully anticipated the opponent’s intention! He was in position at the last moment!
Nonetheless, David Robinson’s strong upper body managed to pull the ball back, and as he descended, he threw the ball out!
The scene was quite shocking!
Negro was surprised when he received the ball on the sideline; considering the situation, David Robinson still managed to pass. Negro quickly jumped for a shot...
Negro had some three-point capability, typically making two threes in three games, but this shot was outside his three-point range, and it hit the iron!