One Year Left to Play

Zhang Hao continued to back down Grant Hill for the ball. This time, his position was closer to the basket, about one collision distance away.

Grant Hill anticipated that Zhang Hao would choose to turn around but decided to stick close each time he was bumped back, rather than leaving space to absorb the impact.

As a top defensive player, Grant Hill knew it was more critical to defend Zhang Hao’s turnaround fadeaway than his spin move.

After bumping Grant Hill back into the three-second zone, Zhang Hao opted for a right spin to the baseline, avoiding Ratliff’s help defense on the other side. However, unlike O’Neal, he didn’t use his left hand for a banked floater but, while leaning forward, scored a low-handed layup with his right hand!

A right-hand layup after a right turn!

How confident must he be in his ability to position himself? Even O’Neal was surprised by Zhang Hao’s choice, having already understood one thing—Zhang Hao’s judgment of defensive players’ movements!

In the previous possession, although Zhang Hao didn’t score on his isolation attempt and the shot was rushed, it was clear his quick release was a result of correctly judging the timing of Ratliff’s help defense.

But typically, when spinning left, the right-hand side moves towards the left, making a right-hand shot awkward due to the motion’s force, which can significantly affect the shot.

This issue doesn’t significantly affect a right turn followed by a left-hand shot, as the right turn shifts the left-hand side to the right, while a left-hand shot moves left, making it smoother, especially for a floater.

Zhang Hao’s shooting isn’t as ambidextrous as O’Neal’s, so he chose the right spin, confirmed his position, and used his right hand for the layup. O’Neal genuinely felt Zhang Hao’s talent—not just imitation, but learning the necessary parts for himself, combining them with his circumstances to choose the most suitable low-post play style!

Grant Hill had the urge to curse—this guy is learning new things mid-game!

He noticed that Zhang Hao was learning O’Neal’s low-post back-down moves.

The key is, he can actually do it!

Zhang Hao’s strength is unbelievably exaggerated to Grant Hill! Even though their weights are almost identical and Zhang Hao is taller, Zhang Hao’s lower body is more solid, and his upper body strength is naturally superior.

When Zhang Hao spun and avoided Ratliff’s help defense, Grant Hill desperately tried to push Zhang Hao, even risking a foul, but couldn’t move him! It was like trying to move a weight scale. If Zhang Hao weren’t taller, Grant Hill might think he was matching up against Barkley.

The reason...

"Deep Stepping" was triggered!

Just as Zhang Hao thought when he received this medal, it’s clearly more suitable for inside players like O’Neal, Moning, Malone, and the pre-weight-loss Ewing, who thrive on spinning layups with their deep post steps.

After scoring, Zhang Hao quickly retreated on defense, feeling a tinge of melancholy while running back...

Who would have thought he’d one day have to learn techniques from O’Neal?

Yet, O’Neal’s technical nuances are truly impressive! The strongest center in history is indeed different from ordinary centers who rely solely on physical attributes!

Who says O’Neal only relies on his physique?

Even if his techniques serve his physical prowess, it’s still technique, just something others can’t mimic...

"Wait, can’t I learn it?"

As Lynch Hunt advanced, Zhang Hao set aside his scattered thoughts and focused on defense.

to 6, the Pistons trailed by two points.

The Pistons weren’t intimidated by their opponent’s strong lineup, nor did they panic after O’Neal drilled in two unstoppable scores. Before the game, Joe Dumars recounted to his teammates how back in the Finals, he outplayed the Lakers, dismantling the team featuring the Magician, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, Worthy, and Jabbar, winning the Finals MVP.

That team also had three of the top 50 stars...

Whether they were tired of hearing it or genuinely believed they had the strength to defeat the Lakers, the Pistons were playing patiently.

After Grant Hill and his teammates positioned themselves, he broke through from the right side.

Barkley, guarding Edith Soper on the right baseline, preemptively double-teamed and blocked Grant Hill on the right arc top. Zhang Hao quickly moved to disrupt Grant Hill’s passing lane to the baseline.

At that moment, Edith Soper proactively moved outside the right three-point line to block Kenny Anderson, allowing Lynch Hunt to slip to the free-throw line and receive a pass from Grant Hill!

Zhang Hao immediately covered Lynch Hunt, who then passed to the right baseline, where Edith Soper, after setting a pick, cut inside. Barkley didn’t dare leave Grant Hill, and Kenny Anderson couldn’t pull Edith Soper back. Edith Soper surged into the paint, drawing a close-range help defense from O’Neal, then delivered a beautiful pass to Ratliff behind O’Neal.

Ratliff jumped and scored with a layup!

The coordination was seamless and smooth!

If Lynch Hunt were switched with Alan Houston, the play’s power would be even greater!

Zhang Hao genuinely felt that a mid-range or three-point shot had a higher probability of scoring than a give-and-go play. It was only because Edith Soper was experienced, bold, thoughtful, and skilled. Otherwise, another center might have opted for a pull-up jumper or taken a shot from outside the three-second zone rather than actively seeking contact and passing within it.

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