One Year Left to Play

Chapter 540 - 164: What Kind of God-Tier Mismatch Is This?

Pass to Anthony Peeler?

No!

Zhang Hao decisively goes for a mid-range shot!

Sure enough, Kemp rushed up to block Zhang Hao’s passing space to the right, but this predictive defense was seen through by Zhang Hao!

Zhang Hao used Jose Hawkins’ defense as a launcher and hit the mid-range shot!

Failed to defend again, it’s 0 to 6! It’s the SuperSonics’ turn to attack, Kemp got anxious, and when he saw Payton looking for a breakthrough opportunity, he quickly shouted: "Damn it, Gary, ignore that rookie!"

Payton, who was stubbornly wanting to go one-on-one with Zhang Hao, was startled by Kemp’s anxious roar, gestured to Kemp, and then drove into Kemp’s direction.

Zhang Hao moved sideways... blocked by Kemp, Magician switched to defend Payton, Payton passed the ball to Kemp, Kemp’s face-up play was outstanding, he pushed through after catching the ball without pausing, got an opportunity, floater... have you ever seen a floater with a pull-up?

Common among Jordan, Drexler, Anfernee Hardaway, but Kemp, a power forward, jumped and clashed with Campbell’s defense without losing balance, gracefully flicked the ball, and scored with a floater!

This scene immediately made Zhang Hao think of a tyrannosaurus, if it was that guy, even with the same or better skills, this shot would have been blocked by Campbell.

Kemp is like a smarter, more focused inside player with a better wingspan than Griffin!

Kemp’s successful offense finally broke the scoring drought at the start for the SuperSonics.

Although Zhang Hao unexpectedly managed to restrict the one-on-one breakthrough without minding Payton’s shooting... a defense like backing off two meters and Campbell might still get in place, but he just managed to defend it.

But once Payton calmed down after Kemp’s shout, the Lakers’ defense was still like in the last game, unable to defend at the start.

Following a similar pattern like the last game, with Payton and Kemp’s pick-and-roll plays, all opportunities centered around them, forcing the Lakers to start double-teaming, limiting their shooting attempts, then the SuperSonics’ overall offense started to unfold...

However, as the game progressed, the SuperSonics discovered their perfect control from the last game was ineffective tonight!

Although the SuperSonics’ interception of the Lakers’ many passes was still commendable, forcing the Lakers to struggle to fully connect their team offense.

However, it wasn’t like the last game, where the Lakers’ offense was completely shattered, only partially disrupted.

Zhang Hao always managed to seize some opportunities!

And the opportunities Zhang Hao seized were areas that the SuperSonics defended well in the last game—interfering with passing.

The SuperSonics couldn’t force the Lakers into isolation two out of every three possessions like last game by cutting off passing lanes. The Lakers were also creating more opportunities for Zhang Hao to receive the ball.

Zhang Hao’s calm mind made him pull out and wait for passes when he shouldn’t force himself, but when he realized he should actively make a move, he resolutely did so.

The SuperSonics’ advantage wasn’t huge initially, being inherently restrained by Van Exel, but there was still an edge. With clear defensive strategies, they would gradually take the initiative, widen the score gap, and secure victory.

But because of the X factor Zhang Hao, the Lakers, unable to defend against them and their team offense still restricted, besides Van Exel, now had Zhang Hao scoring stably! Moreover, the SuperSonics couldn’t completely block the Lakers’ team offense as they did before, allowing occasional decent cooperation!

When Doug Christie replaced the Magician on the court, the Lakers gained another player who could score steadily. By the end of the first quarter, the SuperSonics scored 26 points, performing well, but the Lakers also had 25 points!

In the previous game, the SuperSonics led the start 25 to 19! Meaning, they barely gained an advantage in this game!

Zhang Hao... Payton watched the rookie calmly return to the bench and wipe his sweat, besides making him gritting his teeth in hatred, his talent was also terrifying!

Payton saw it, many players on-site saw it, and many fans at the venue and in front of TVs listening to the commentators analyzed it, Zhang Hao improved compared to the last game!

Zhang Hao scored 8 points and 1 assist in the first quarter, the assist being unexpected as he passed to Van Exel, who immediately shot and scored...

Reflecting on what he did in the first quarter—analyzing his team’s offensive routes, analyzing the opponent’s defensive movement routes, creating double-team opportunities, then predicting the opponent’s response to being attracted to the double-team... primarily saw from the last game’s review, too many areas where he didn’t do well, and had been focusing on addressing that in the past few days.

Facing a strong team like the SuperSonics was unique, the two games had a short interval, and although the opponent was stronger, they weren’t at a huge disadvantage because of Van Exel’s presence against Payton, it was mainly due to the SuperSonics’ original defensive strategy being identical to the last game...

Many coincidental factors gave Zhang Hao new ideas on utilizing review mode, and he decisively implemented them.

He didn’t think too much about it, the moment the game started, based on his poor performance last game, after judging that the opponent’s defensive strategy was the same as last time, he decisively executed, anyway they had one poor game already, if this game also went badly, he’d just be seen as underperforming compared to Kemp, a near-superstar level power forward, being not as good is normal.

The result was very smooth! He scored in consecutive possessions!

And this, in others’ eyes, was incredible!

Last game’s start saw Zhang Hao making three misses and one turnover, all covered by Van Exel.

Just a few days later, Zhang Hao could score consecutively at the start, both shots were contested, not open.

That’s improvement!

The American Cable TV Station commentator exclaimed—genius is genius! No wonder he’s the super rookie with an average of 26+ points per game!