One Year Left to Play

Chapter 402 - 119: A Rookie with Explosive Grit

Doug Christie was more resolute this time, continuing with the pick-and-roll!

Zhang Hao really wasn’t adept at being a Pick-and-Roll Executor, but he could learn! He wasn’t prepared the last round, but this time he was. After setting the screen for Doug Christie against Stockton, Zhang Hao imitated Malone by running the weak side route, moving quickly.

If Zhang Hao hesitated, stayed in place waiting for a pass to coordinate the play, or ran along the better path in the middle for a catch opportunity... These were the options Stockton thought a player like Zhang Hao, who didn’t have much professional game experience and was not yet 19 years old, would choose. But Zhang Hao didn’t do that. Stockton could only pull away following Zhang Hao’s lead.

David Benoit was wary of Doug Christie’s pick-and-roll fadeaway, pressing in closely, only to be bypassed with a crossover by Doug Christie who then charged into the paint, facing Malone’s fierce block!

Seeing Malone rushing menacingly toward him, Doug Christie took a close-range shot decisively... and scored again!

It’s a tie at 27!

Doug Christie truly is a reliable clutch player. He can go without touching the ball and play focused defense diligently, but when needed, he never hesitates!

However, in Stockton’s view, the key to the Lakers’ offense this time was the decision-making of Zhang Hao as the Pick-and-Roll Executor.

Setting a solid screen and making decisive cuts are significant advantages of Malone’s pick-and-roll. If it were to help the ball handler score or assist others in scoring, Malone would make such choices.

But Zhang Hao’s choice indeed surprised Stockton: "That rookie actually predicted that we would block the middle and high position in defense against the pick-and-roll!"

Actually, Zhang Hao was solid in screening. As for making decisive cuts... he only thought of this one option, so of course, he was decisive.

Ideas and changes he didn’t have many of, but he loved learning! This was how Malone played in the first half of the first quarter, and Zhang Hao only learned this one option.

During this stage when the Utah Jazz’s defense was slipping, only focusing on key defenses, unlike when Horace and Spencer were on the court covering the whole field, the Lakers supported their offense through Doug Christie, and the situation became intense.

Thanks to the Magician’s explosive performance at the beginning because of "personal grudges," helping the Lakers not to fall behind too much, to Del Harris’s suddenly ingenious decision of deploying a 4 shooters 1 robber lineup, and to Zhang Hao’s bold display leading his teammates to play tougher in the skirmish with Malone...

By the end of the first quarter, both teams were tied at 33 to 32, and the Lakers led by 1 point entering the second quarter.

At the start of the second quarter, both teams didn’t make large-scale substitutions, only Stockton was replaced by Horace to pair with Howard Eisley, the frontcourt remaining a trio of forwards.

The Lakers made no substitutions at all. The 4 shooters 1 robber lineup of Sedale-Srte, Doug Christie, Zhang Hao, Donyell Marshall, and Jason Williams continued to play.

However, after the second quarter began, Donyell Marshall started guarding Malone with... still ineffective results.

By 3:22 in the second quarter, with increasingly rough actions, the offensive efficiency of both teams began to decline noticeably. In the first three and a half minutes, the Utah Jazz only scored 4 points, and the Lakers only 3, tying at 36!

During a Utah Jazz offensive, Zhang Hao pulled back directly under the basket, shrinking the space early. When Malone received the ball, he immediately distributed it. In terms of playmaking ability, Malone was comparable to Olajuwon, a member of the 4+ average assists for inside players club.

David Benoit received the ball for a mid-range shot...

In many previous rounds, that high school rookie who looked both innocent and noble yet coldly elegant always fiercely confronted David Benoit before shrinking back. Whether David Benoit had a chance to receive the ball or not, it was the same. This time, David Benoit shot with no form at all!

Clattered!

Jason Williams was first to occupy the more advantageous rebounding position, and with all his might boxed out. Malone had a chance to grab the rebound, firmly squeezing out Jason Williams!

But, Zhang Hao, who had bulked up underneath, jumped high and snatched the rebound.

Malone immediately attempted to pressure him... "NONONO..."

Malone couldn’t resist but shouted "NO" multiple times. When Zhang Hao grabbed the defensive rebound and came back down, both his arms spun like propellers, furiously rotating!

Even Jason Williams, his teammate, backed away! Afraid of getting brushed by Zhang Hao’s elbows.

Zhang Hao’s strength wasn’t unknown to him.

Even Malone stepped back. Normally, he was the one pulling this move on opponents; this time, the opponent did it, really shocking him!

After stabilizing his stance, Zhang Hao looked at David Benoit following up after the shot, raising his arms. David Benoit had suffered in collisions with Zhang Hao, unable to match his strength, speed, Zhang Hao’s engagement was unavoidable...

David Benoit quickly retreated to defense. He initially thought Malone would grab the offensive rebound, if not at least closing in with Malone.

David Benoit genuinely wanted, with Brother Malone’s help, to score on that rookie. Even though he wasn’t a star, his pride, his desires were not paid attention to by many. But he still wanted to regain some face, and this seemed like a chance to follow Brother Malone and eat the scraps.

But who knew... "Little brother wants to fight, Brother Malone why retreat first?"

As the saying goes, the unreasonable fear the reckless.

Malone was unquestionably the bully on the court. At this moment, in his eyes, that rookie on the opposing side was just a fearless dunce!

Playing rough, the opponent was not intimidated at all, relying on a better ability than anyone on the opposing side trying to undermine their confidence, the opponent remained frighteningly composed... and what’s more, aggravating!

"Great talent, improving fast, seemingly soft playstyle but a strong character, high basketball IQ, calm... Where did this freak come from! Truly the second coming of Big Bird?"