One Year Left to Play

People have come to expect Zhang Hao to score 20+ or 30+ points.

In his rookie season, averaging 27 points, achieving the second best record in the league and top in the West, and being selected for the First Team, he was expected to enjoy this kind of performance, which is absolutely incredible for his age, yet considered normal glory.

Actually, if O’Neal hadn’t gotten injured at the start, his performance compared to last season would have been questioned.

However, scoring 40+ points is different.

50+ points are rare, 60+ is unattainable. For determining whether a scorer is top-notch, the number of times they score 40+ points is absolutely one of the best ways.

Since the modern era of basketball in 1976, players who managed at least 10 career games with 40+ points can absolutely be called first-class scorers during the period from their first to last such game; scoring 20 times means being considered top-notch scorers.

Zhang Hao scored 40 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking his 10th career game with 40+, doing so in just 87 games, matching Michael Jordan’s record in 108 games, making him the fastest in modern basketball history to achieve 10 games with 40+ points!

After the match against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Zhang Hao finally made the headlines.

However, another topic became even more popular—Zhang Hao taunting the Timberwolves and Garnett before the game and boldly claiming to sweep the emerging Timberwolves.

The TV station edited footage of Zhang Hao’s taunt, showing him pointing at Garnett, though the camera angle didn’t capture any details, and the live scene didn’t have clear audio as current technology lacks noise-cancelling microphones.

But after the game, due to its high viewership and exciting offense, T.N.T planned to rerun it the next afternoon.

While re-editing, a lip-reading editor caught Zhang Hao pointing at Garnett, switched to a non-primary camera angle facing Zhang Hao, and noticed Zhang Hao saying the word "sweep".

This was explosive news!

Immediately, the editor informed his boss, who took it seriously. Finding someone to read lips is simple... so although it didn’t make the headlines, mentioning it in sports news ignited it!

The next morning, media sought confirmation from referees and other players about this, and received verification.

Thus, by midday, this topic became the hottest—initiating the rivalry between the 95 class star power forwards!

Originally, the 96 class rookies entered the NBA outperforming, although none as spectacular as Zhang Hao, overall surpassing the 95 class by far, becoming media darlings. But Zhang Hao taunting Garnett and fulfilling his boast, with more to come as Lakers and Timberwolves would face three more times this season, made media anticipate the showdown—Zhang Hao’s 40 points vs. Garnett’s triple-double clash, with three more confrontations ahead!

Zhang Hao’s taunt to outscore Garnett by 10 points is a certainty in media’s eyes, without suspense.

Yet the outcome of a game, who can say for certain?

The Timberwolves’ trio showcased their talent and synergy in preseason and early regular season games, formidable even against championship contenders. Claiming to sweep them... has set the stage for their next encounters!

Just like the Celtics currently enduring a 5-game losing streak, if their rookie Anthony Walker boasts they can beat the Bulls, that would attract considerable attention in their next match.

Zhang Hao, Garnett, Marbury—all among the most talented new generation players together on the court, already drawing significant attention. Now, with verified news, both teams slated for two nationally broadcasted games, television networks are now competing to add two more!

...

...

Snagging another trending headline, yet the topic again turning peculiar, Zhang Hao felt helpless.

Nonetheless, he actually enjoys being in the spotlight, although during offseason he avoids media exposure, choosing to focus privately, but with the new season showing his improved skills, he craves for more attention.

Magician and Logo Man both foresaw the ambition hidden behind his poker face, predicting he’d fall in love with Los Angeles’ exceptional conditions, and they were right.

With the news climate ongoing, time marches on.

Having just played back-to-back games, November 9th, the Lakers got a day off, no training planned, as tomorrow’s rivals the Hawks arrived in Los Angeles around noon.

Last night, the Hawks defeated the Supersonics, achieving a 5-game winning streak.

Originally considered not a hot match in scheduling—supposedly an easy Lakers win—it turned out differently.

The Hawks’ surprising start this year defied expectations; last year they seemed on the verge of dropping out of the playoffs, inviting ridicule for handling Wilkins and facing scorn again over summer when Wilkins announced his comeback, rejecting the Hawks’ offer and garnering further criticism.

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