novelraw Chapter 389 - 116: Frenzied December!
Chapter 389 - 116: Frenzied December!
Here it comes again! Avery Johnson’s uneasy feeling resurged. He suppressed his anxiety, ready to make a good offensive play... But why is David Robinson asking for the ball again? Wasn’t it agreed to run a pick-and-roll?
After Avery Johnson pushed to the frontcourt, he saw David Robinson moving inside, seemingly ready to go one-on-one!
Before the official timeout, David Robinson succeeded in two consecutive solo plays, a close-range floater and a strong 2+1 dunk over the Magician that stopped the Lakers, helping him regain his composure.
He already had 27 points, more than half of the Spurs’ total score.
This time, he planned to move out for a pick-and-roll with Avery Johnson, tearing apart the opponent’s defense, and acting like a team player again since he had already enjoyed enough solo plays today.
Although the 29-year-old David Robinson was confident in his stamina, being someone who could still sprint across the court even after over forty minutes of play, he calmed down and prepared to utilize his offensive threat. He did not believe the opponent would leave someone to guard him alone after a pick-and-roll.
But then Zhang Hao made a beautiful put-back dunk...
David Robinson’s newly calmed mindset exploded again!
That guy’s offense is always more impressive than his!
David Robinson called for the ball on the right side of the three-second area, using Jason Williams as a screen for a solo play. Determined, Avery Johnson had no choice but to pass it over.
This little detail, Zhang Hao had been waiting for the opportunity, immediately clapped his hands a few times in succession. His teammates received the signal, and when David Robinson got the ball, besides Anthony Piller who was guarding Chuck Person, the top shooter with an average of 2+ three-pointers per game, everyone else rushed to double-team David Robinson!
Jason Williams struggled to hold off David Robinson, while Doug Christie and Van Exel went for the ball. Zhang Hao kept an eye out for Jason Williams, ready to guard against the opponent’s outside players cutting in or against David Robinson making a strong jump shot despite the triple-team.
David Robinson, overwhelmed, was taken aback by the double-team. Van Exel’s hands were swift, completing a steal before David Robinson could react and lift the ball!
Zhang Hao initiated a fast break!
The Spurs’ players quickly retreated in defense, but this time Zhang Hao’s teammates all cycled to the inside, even Anthony Piller’s position defending Chuck Person was at the baseline. Zhang Hao almost triggered the "Single Rider" rush at the very first moment of the fast break, being the first to cross midfield!
Van Exel’s long pass spanning the court, Zhang Hao caught the ball a large step inside the free-throw line, stepped forward, switched the ball from his right leg under to his right hand with a left-hand move, swung it successfully to draw a beautiful semi-circle, and slammed it into the basket as he landed... a fast break with a between-the-legs hand-switch dunk!
"Dunk Master (Bronze) triggered..."
The defensive plan was executed for an entire quarter, really needing to execute that final move, Zhang Hao’s teammates were anxious: it’s fine if it works well, but if not, they would likely face harsh criticism from the coach.
Zhang Hao wasn’t afraid; the team revolved around him in trades. But his teammates were indeed concerned!
Although, as Zhang Hao stated, normal defense is difficult to stop, if the opponent’s team offense kicks in, there’s little they can do; last time they lost by over 20 points.
But they were still scared, because if they adhered to regular tactics and lost, they wouldn’t be blamed.
Trying unconventional strategies resulted well if it worked; otherwise, well...
Therefore, even though they executed one-on-one defense well, they were anxious when it came to double-teaming. Luckily, the first attempt succeeded.
At this moment, after Zhang Hao completed the counterattack with a between-the-legs switch dunk... the teammates’ small satisfaction from that earlier successful double-team was magnified!
It was effective!
Morale boosted significantly! Given its effectiveness, they decisively double-teamed!
When the Spurs attacked, David Robinson still didn’t quite grasp the Lakers’ defensive antics from earlier.
Too sudden!
Following the official timeout in the first quarter, approximately a quarter had passed where the Lakers maintained individual defense on him. Besides Zhang Hao, other forwards attempted to guard him: the Magician, George Lynch, Jason Williams, and the Lakers’ newcomer Donyell Marshall... none could stop him, but they hadn’t double-teamed until then.
The sudden double-team came, and it was unexpected and aggressive!
However, despite Zhang Hao’s flashy move during his counterattack dunk, it couldn’t unsettle David Robinson this time; he suddenly regained composure.
Because, when Doug Christie and Jason Williams were covering him earlier, he clearly felt he couldn’t push through those two!
In the previous quarter-and-a-half, he racked up 27 points, roughly 21 points accumulated during the past 12 minutes, with successful shots from 12 attempts, shooting 8 out of 12, and 5 out of 6 free throws considered as three disrupted shot attempts, totaling 15 attempts! During individual defense, it wasn’t noticeable, but during double-teaming, he distinctly felt his stamina was declining!
Initially, he didn’t notice, unconsciously moving closer to the basket, shortening the distance when initiating solo plays.
This subtlety was caught by Zhang Hao.
Avery Johnson pushed to the frontcourt, and David Robinson again chose to go one-on-one.
But this time, David Robinson noticed the opponent’s double-team approaching. As soon as the double-team came up, he passed out the ball at the first moment, Negro attempted a three-point shot upon receiving... missed!