One Year Left to Play

all!

Transition, Lakers on offense, still giving it to O’Neal in the low post, Zhang Hao is actively moving, and the Pistons are utilizing more pick-and-rolls, as are the Lakers. Zhang Hao uses the screens continuously, coming to the right side of the free throw line, getting his opportunity. O’Neal holds the ball patiently without hurried decisions, using his height advantage to find Zhang Hao and pass it over!

Zhang Hao receives the ball on the right side of the free throw line, fakes a shot, tricking Grant Hill who came to double-team O’Neal and was rushing towards the ball, then drives into the lane!

Ratliff’s awareness and timing in help defense are indeed good, but facing someone as big as Zhang Hao, Ratliff really has no answer, unable to stop him. As Zhang Hao makes a layup with a twisting move, the referee blows the whistle!

Ratliff even hit Zhang Hao on the head, and since Zhang Hao isn’t wearing the number 23, getting hit on the head by a Pistons player is sure to get a whistle.

Basket counts, and there’s a bonus free throw!

After landing, Zhang Hao shakes his head, hit hard, feeling a bit dazed, but with the adrenaline pumping, having been aggressively driving the whole quarter, it doesn’t seem to be a problem.

Zhang Hao steps up to the free-throw line, amidst the boos from the fans, and makes the bonus with confidence!

points in one quarter!

Zhang Hao’s first 20+ points in a quarter of the new season! Also the sixth time in his career to reach 20+ points in a quarter!

His personal score has now reached 48 points!

Pistons call a timeout!

Zhang Hao returns to the bench and calms down a bit, then sees the system notification.

"Special contract player Zhang Hao has suffered a blow to the head, resulting in a mild concussion. Recovery is possible with three days’ rest or two days in deep sleep, or by using an injury card to recover immediately."

Zhang Hao just waved his hand in front of his eyes, noticing the afterimage of moving objects that resembles staying up all night gaming.

Lakers’ trainer Gary Vitti noticed something was off and approached Zhang Hao asking, "Aix, what’s up?"

"Nothing." Zhang Hao shook his head, considering using the injury card?

Forget it!

It’s a minor issue, just need two days of rest, using the injury card now would be wasteful.

Gary Vitti didn’t say much, thought for a moment, and figured out what the issue was.

Having worked with the Lakers for 13 years, Gary Vitti knew these guys wouldn’t leave the game because of such an injury, so he didn’t mention it to Zhang Hao but went to find Del Harris.

However...

"Del, are you sure?"

"That brat is annoying, but if we make him go for a check now, he definitely won’t listen."

Gary Vitti, hearing this, wondered why their head coach seemed so humble?

Anyway, the injury seemed not severe enough to affect the game, so Gary Vitti went to notify the team doctor to get ready.

...

Lakers made adjustments, putting Kenny Anderson, Doug Christie, George Lynch, Zhang Hao, and O’Neal on the court.

Pistons didn’t make any changes; this is currently their best-performing lineup.

The timeout ends and the game continues, Pistons on offense.

This time, Pistons target Kenny Anderson.

The others don’t seem easy to play against, Zhang Hao is also tough now, maybe not as good as George Lynch in defending the forward line individually, but he has great physical advantages.

But unfortunately, Lynch Hunt misses the long two-pointer against Kenny Anderson!

The plan was to score a two-pointer while their three-pointer was guarded, stop the Lakers, and then play a key shot, nothing wrong with that plan, but the shot didn’t go in!

O’Neal just grabbed the rebound, and he got grabbed right away...

No choice, with only 55 seconds left, trailing by 3 points, Pistons commit a tactical foul!

O’Neal makes one out of two, bringing his free-throw to 6 out of 11.

The lead is 4 points, Pistons call another timeout!

Now, the Lakers seem a bit passive, although they hold the advantage that the Pistons cannot tie or surpass with one shot.

The 20-second short timeout quickly ends, Pistons continue their outside isolation.

This time, Joe Dumars doesn’t miss, hitting a three-pointer facing Kenny Anderson after the pick-and-roll with Lynch Hunt!

to 126, Pistons cut the lead to 1 point.

There’s no help for it if they can make it one-on-one from outside!

As soon as the Lakers inbounded, O’Neal got grabbed!

The game changes rapidly, it was just that the opposition couldn’t tie or take the lead with one shot, and now, if O’Neal makes one out of two, and the opponent makes a last three-pointer...

However, O’Neal makes both free throws this time! Pistons call their third consecutive timeout!

After making the free throws, O’Neal walks like a giant crab, almost sideways, excitedly rushing to his teammates, jumps up to greet them with his backside... George Lynch quickly steps aside.

In the previous 9 free throws, 5 were made, but O’Neal made 3 out of 4 during the critical moment, how could he not be excited?

to 125, Lakers maintain a theoretical advantage where one shot wouldn’t be enough for the opponent to surpass.

But, after the timeout, Joe Dumars continues the outside pick-and-roll with Lynch Hunt, receiving the ball and making another three in Kenny Anderson’s face... and it goes in!

all!

Now, it’s Lakers’ turn to call a timeout.

With just over 3 seconds left, it’s tied, and could go into overtime!

In the last 55 seconds, Pistons, thanks to Joe Dumars making consecutive threes, went on a 6 to 3 run, tying the game!

This style, making opponents worry without the ball, is like Zhang Hao, and similarly like Jordan’s post-receiving jump shots becoming more unstoppable. The hardest thing to defend in receiving shooting is you can only switch defense, not double-team, unless you go to double the passer to disrupt his passing route.

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