However, apart from the newcomers Chales and Alan Houston and some substitutes, the most disgruntled player for the New York Knicks was Zhang Hao, the superstar who embarrassed them here last year.
Also, the cheers from some fans on site for Zhang Hao made the old players of the New York Knicks feel especially discomforted!
Ewing approached the center circle with strong hostility, suddenly sensing something was off...
Zhang Hao’s latest height update lists him at 203.4 cm barefoot, and 206 cm with shoes.
Ewing noticed this during pre-game preparations, and his registered height is 213 cm with shoes.
But standing at the center circle, Ewing found that his line of sight was almost level with the indifferent-faced sophomore across from him!
Is he wearing basketball shoes or high heels?
This is too much!
At 5:30, the referee blew the whistle to start the game on time, tossing the ball into the air...
The game begins! Zhang Hao leaped up quickly, getting first touch on the ball!
The New York Knicks were well-prepared, with Chales, Oakley, and Larry Johnson effectively organizing against Zhang Hao, Barkley, and George Lynch’s fast break at the start, while Ewing also retreated to the basket.
Kenny Anderson passed long to Doug Christie advancing along the sideline when Alan Houston was already in position to defend, though not well, Doug Christie could break through directly, but they were currently outnumbered 4 to 5, so Doug Christie dribbled away from the three-point line, waiting for Kenny Anderson to come over and pass it back.
Zhang Hao started to run, clearly sensing that the New York Knicks’ defense had visibly improved after changing their coach from Old Nelson to Jeff Van Gundy!
Especially since the other team was focusing very much on defending him; he could feel that even if he got an opportunity to receive the ball, another defender would rush over in time to prevent him from getting an easy shot.
Given this, Zhang Hao decisively chose to work as a decoy, moving to the weak-side baseline near the three-point line to space the floor.
Kenny Anderson initially wanted Zhang Hao to open with a solo play but seeing Zhang Hao moved to space out, he looked for others. Doug Christie was staying honestly on the left sideline, George Lynch... was negligible, Kenny Anderson intended to find Barkley, but he saw Barkley positioned similarly to George Lynch, leaning against Charles Oakley on the left side of the paint, ready to fight for a rebound!
Two teammates spacing out, two teammates ready to crash the boards... they were waiting for Boss Kenny to go one-on-one!
Shaking his head, Kenny Anderson focused, lowered himself facing Chales’s defense, started dribbling, murmuring, "I never thought I’d reach this point..."
Chales didn’t understand but saw Kenny Anderson suddenly accelerate to break through!
He didn’t pass to Zhang Hao or Barkley! Chales, with his back to the basket, didn’t notice what was happening behind and was caught off-guard by the sudden drive.
Already disadvantaged in speed, Chales couldn’t display his excellent close defense, as Kenny Anderson quickly advanced into the paint, and despite Ewing’s help defense, he shot decisively...
No good!
But, George Lynch grabbed the offensive rebound, with Charles Oakley immediately blocking him.
When Kenny Anderson drove in and jumped, Larry Johnson had also shifted back, surrounding George Lynch and Barkley at close range with three players, yet George Lynch found the ball moving to the free-throw line to Zhang Hao. When Zhang Hao caught it, Charles Oakley pounced aggressively, trying a tough shot? No! As Charles Oakley blocked, Zhang Hao suddenly pushed the ball to the floor, sending it through the legs of Ewing, who was occupying Barkley just a step outside the restricted area...
Kenny Anderson, initially ignored after missing the floater, caught the ball behind Ewing! Kenny Anderson never thought a pass could get through but instinctively caught the ball.
Slightly surprised but unfazed, once he realized he had the ball, Kenny Anderson threw up another floater, and this time it went in!
If Zhang Hao had taken the shot directly after receiving the ball, it would likely have been challenged, with Chales closing in. Zhang Hao chose to fake out Charles Oakley, at risk of a turnover.
Then, Zhang Hao opted for a more daring but successful pass to his teammate, ensuring the score.
On the sidelines, the Magician stood up to applaud this play, but he thought Zhang Hao was really daring! With four frontcourt players around the basket, he dared to pass like that!
Yet, since it reached the target, it was a great play!
In terms of passing accuracy, Zhang Hao was above average, not quite first-rate, yet his awareness, timing, and courage in passing were excellently innate, as the Magician felt even from teaching Zhang Hao during the off-season.
Though risky, the away fans let out exclamations!
Risky indeed, but this kind of pass was too stunning to watch! The kind that gave goosebumps!
Transitioning between offense and defense, the New York Knicks were on the attack.
Just like the Lakers, the New York Knicks’ first play was also planned for the last man to enter the lineup to go one-on-one.
Ewing headed straight into the paint upon reaching the frontcourt, intending to use his height and... weight to overpower Zhang Hao.
In the off-season, Ewing shed 20 pounds to ensure his knees could cope, dropping from last season’s peak weight of 119 kilograms to 110 kilograms, yet facing Zhang Hao, he felt he should still have the advantage...
Huh?
After establishing position, Ewing found he couldn’t budge Zhang Hao!
Although he had lost weight, his strength remained top-notch. In last season’s two meetings with Zhang Hao, despite the huge strength gap, even at Zhang Hao’s breakout game, Ewing had considerable strength advantage and couldn’t feel Zhang Hao’s abnormal strength much in confrontation.
Now, rather than a reduced strength advantage, Ewing found he couldn’t move Zhang Hao at all!
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