One Year Left to Play

Mark Davis was a second-round rookie from the ’95 draft. His rookie season was unremarkable, just like an ordinary second-round pick should be. After being traded to the 76ers for the new season, he performed well, with excellent rebounding skills. Averaging 8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, he played extremely well when partnered with Clarence Weatherspoon, forming a very strong offensive rebounding frontcourt combo.

The 76ers were on offense, and Iverson could finally control the ball again. Then, he saw Zhang Hao was back...

Although Coleman, when on the court, either stood still or demanded the ball for iso plays, completely lacking team coordination sense, Iverson didn’t like playing with Coleman.

Right now, the current frontcourt trio is his best combo of teammates.

But Coleman could take Zhang Hao away!

Faced with Zhang Hao’s indifferent defense strategy, relying purely on height and wingspan to disrupt mid-to-long range shots, plus a Big Shark under the Lakers’ basket who didn’t want to leave the three-second zone during defense...

Iverson felt the defense wasn’t as rough as when he shook off Jordan and scored a mid-range shot, where Jordan’s defense afterward made it difficult for him to even shoot, forcing him to take ultra-long shots.

By comparison, Zhang Hao’s defense was so gentle, far less aggressive than Zhang Hao’s match-up with Coleman.

Yet Iverson felt worse than when playing against the Bulls!

Just uncomfortable! He enjoys challenges, but facing Zhang Hao’s defense, it’s really uncomfortable!

Iverson went solo for several possessions afterward. Whether he missed the shots or found an opportunity for mid-range shots at the baseline, Zhang Hao’s defense didn’t change.

On the Lakers’ end, Zhang Hao met Clarence Weatherspoon’s defense. It was tough playing post-ups against him. Clarence Weatherspoon’s defense was quite remarkable, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks last season, earning a $12 million two-year contract effective from the ’97-’98 season.

A solid foundation, outstanding defensive awareness, and a proactive defensive attitude... But his speed is just average. Zhang Hao made a successful threat by cutting in for a close-range floater.

Kenny Anderson capitalized on this, and the two big men inside started happily feasting on easy opportunities.

Halfway through the first quarter, an official timeout came, and the Lakers started with a score of 18 to 6!

Iverson couldn’t accept this score, even though they had lost so many matches this year. He still couldn’t accept it because he couldn’t accept any loss after each match.

After the timeout, having only made 2 out of 6 shots in the opening, he proactively passed the ball to Starkhouse.

But after the timeout, the lineup the Lakers put on was Zhang Hao, Doug Christie, George Lynch, Magician, and O’Neal.

Defending Starkhouse turned into Doug Christie!

The highly anticipated duo from the ’95 and ’96 drafts - Starkhouse, the 3rd pick from ’95, and Iverson, the 1st pick from ’96. Both players had great stamina and are the kind who can throw thirty-plus shots in a full game.

Thus, both began their iron-throwing journey one after another...

Zhang Hao was ruthless, although he didn’t stop O’Neal from comfortably feasting on easy plays and enthusiastically grabbing offensive rebounds, O’Neal’s defensive enthusiasm was still elevated. Although he still wasn’t willing to leave the three-second zone, he managed to protect the basket well.

Zhang Hao and Doug Christie jointly locked down Iverson and Starkhouse’s mid-and-long range shooting, giving the two high draft picks a painful memory in the first half!

The strength gap between the two teams was already extremely large, and O’Neal who initially intended to slack off was now actively feasting, grabbing offensive rebounds, and protecting the basket diligently. Moreover, Zhang Hao, O’Neal, and Doug Christie all played almost the entire first half, with O’Neal only resting for 4 minutes in the second quarter before swapping back in for protection, Zhang Hao played the entire first half, and Doug Christie only rested for 5 minutes at the end of the second quarter.

First quarter, Lakers 32 to 11, leading by 21 points, second quarter, Lakers scored 26 to 15.

At halftime, the Lakers led 58 to 26, ahead of the East’s second-to-last 76ers by 32 points!

The whole second half became garbage time!

...

Playing 20 minutes, hitting 7 out of 9 shots, with two put-backs, and all 5 from easy plays, plus free throws 1 out of 4, O’Neal on the sidelines watched the Magician, Barkley, and Kenny Anderson take the court leading the backup teammates, truly enjoying himself.

He felt Barkley’s joy.

Barkley needed to play a bit longer to maintain his condition, though Del Harris was already hopeless about Barkley, yet Barkley had to play about 20 minutes per match to keep his competitive state.

However, once Barkley took the court and saw Coleman, he worked vigorously to let off some steam for the little boss.

Zhang Hao was also substituted out, having scored 13 points in the first quarter and 8 in the second, totaling 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks, clocking off at halftime.

Barkley played about 10 minutes in the third quarter, and after being substituted out, the Magician finished the third quarter and was also subbed out.

Since Barkley saw O’Neal sitting lazily in the third quarter, feeling upset, and to vent for Zhang Hao, he went on to fiercely confront Coleman, who didn’t get substituted after the entire first half and only got a chance again in the third quarter.

Although Iverson played much better after Zhang Hao’s defense was absent, and he played exceedingly hard.

The point difference after the third quarter not only didn’t shrink, but instead expanded!

At the end of the third quarter, Lakers led 94 to 53, ahead of the 76ers by 41 points going into the final quarter.

In the final quarter, 76ers didn’t even field their starters, completely surrendering without any struggle!

For the fourth quarter, both teams fielded players from the end of the bench, with Iverson leaning on the scorer’s table, feeling tonight was like a nightmare!

He originally thought he would be targeted by Zhang Hao or the Lakers, but no, their defense strategy was merely excellent, almost never directly paying attention to him.

The stars from the opposing team mainly targeted Coleman, virtually ignoring him, merely performing the necessary defense.

And his team was being stampeded underfoot and rubbed relentlessly!

Just when Iverson was completely stupefied, someone appeared nearby, Iverson looked up at that cold, handsome face... and grinned!

Zhang Hao looked down at Iverson and chuckled, "Rookie, welcome to the NBA!"

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