Chapter 775 - 242: Who Can Have a Merry Christmas? (Part 3)

However, before these two games were over, just halfway through the fourth quarter, Time Warner Cable Sports and Fox Sports had already used the latest picture-in-picture technology to switch to the live broadcast of the Lakers vs. Bulls game.

On this fine Christmas Day afternoon, the first three Christmas showdowns were incredibly dull, so now the fans’ expectations for the Lakers and Bulls game were even higher!

On the court, as always, the few top 50 superstars started chatting and taking photos upon entering the arena.

Zhang Hao could only stand aside.

The Lakers have three top 50 superstars: Magician, Barkley, and O’Neal, and the Bulls also have Jordan, Pippen, and Robert Parish.

To this scene, Zhang Hao was already numb...

"Jordan’s ability rating is 103, averaging 30.6 points, 6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.8 steals... Down a bit from last year, but still the strongest.

Pippen’s ability rating is 93, averaging 20.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.9 steals... Pippen as the second-in-command is even more perfect, seemingly better than last year’s performance.

Rodman’s ability rating is 84, averaging 5.8 points and 16.6 rebounds... Damn! This is going to be his sixth consecutive rebounding title, even more rebounds on average than last year!"

For the three major stars of the Bulls, whether from ability ratings, scouting reports, or coaching staff analysis, Zhang Hao’s conclusion was that these three, compared to last season, showed no decline in performance. After analyzing, it was clear that they were even more stable than last year.

The overall Bulls lineup hasn’t changed much from last season, and the core lineup remains intact.

Kukoc, Langley, Ron Harper, and Steve Kerr, all four high-quality role players remain, and Jason Caffey, who the Bulls selected with the 20th overall pick in the first round in 1995, has made significant progress this year, becoming a strong forward substitute for the Bulls.

Randy Brown, Bill Wennington, Dick Simpkins, Judy Buichler—these four players, not very strong but with distinct characteristics, also stayed, and Zen Master likes to use such players with characteristics and often entrusts them with heavy responsibilities.

Zhang Hao recalls that in the future Lakers 5 championship seasons from the original timeline, there were often players like this, who often had miraculous performances in some games, like Vujacic’s crucial free throws in the finals.

Apart from these 12 players, the Bulls also forgave some unimportant players and made reinforcements during the summer.

Looking at those three players, Zhang Hao knew the Bulls’ intent with their reinforcements—to guard against their Lakers reaching the finals!

Robert Parish, the evergreen tree, a veteran center with 20 years of experience.

Benoit Benjamin, once had a double-double season, averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds in 20 games last season with the Grizzlies, and 8.6 points and 7.2 rebounds for the entire season.

Art Levies, averaged 5.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks last season.

All are veterans over 30, all big centers at 213 cm tall.

Along with Luke Longley, Rodman, Bill Wennington...

Zhang Hao observed a moment of silence for Big Fatty.

Just looking at the lineup, it felt highly pressured!

Just as Zhang Hao was examining the opposing lineup, a task prompt came!

"Michael Jordan’s dominance on the scoring leaderboard has lasted for 10 years, and a new decade has begun. Countless people expect Jordan to continue his scoring king dominance, but countless others do not want to see his dominance continue.

Specially signed player Zhang Hao has made Bulls fans and Michael Jordan feel threatened and has become the hope of those who do not want to see Jordan continue his scoring leaderboard dominance.

Task: Reverse Battle Scoring Leaderboard Triggered."

"Reverse Battle Scoring Leaderboard:

Goal: Specially signed player Zhang Hao to clinch the scoring king of the 1996-1997 season.

Reward: Michael Jordan’s first scoring king season star experience card."

"Contend for the scoring king?"

Zhang Hao looked at this task... he hadn’t even thought about competing for the scoring king.

The team has O’Neal, Barkley, Kenny Anderson... huh?

Thinking about it, Zhang Hao suddenly realized he seemed to have very favorable conditions to compete for the scoring king!

O’Neal and Barkley are both lazier than the other, Kenny Anderson can score, but Boss Kenny isn’t that passionate about scoring; he’s a team player whose team approach outweighs scoring.

Don’t want to compete?

Of course not!

Zhang Hao previously thought there was no possibility of competing for any scoring title on such a team with these teammates, and wasn’t concerned about stats; winning was the most crucial.

But now, with the conditions and opportunities realized...

Compete!

Of course, compete!

Besides the task reward, such a grand scoring title should have a longevity reward just like an All-NBA Team recognition!

Must compete!

At this time, the system subtitle content changed.

"The specially signed player Zhang Hao will face the Bulls in the Christmas showdown; the West’s most championship-like team faces the East’s most championship-like team. Will the Lakers fans where Zhang Hao belongs enjoy the most pleasurable Christmas night or will the Bulls fans with Jordan have the most pleasurable Christmas night?

Task: Merry Christmas Triggered."

"Merry Christmas:

Goal 1: Zhang Hao needs to help the Lakers win the Christmas showdown.

Goal 2: Zhang Hao needs to score the highest points in the Christmas showdown.

Reward: Complete one goal to receive a 15-day longevity reward, complete two goals to receive 1 Bronze Lottery Draw Opportunity."

The scoring king is a seasonal task, so it’s set aside for now; it’s not about one or two games—the immediate game’s task is the most important.

Just after Zhang Hao had finished looking at this task, another task arrived!

"In the world of basketball, there are various inheritances, with technical inheritance being one of them. The specially signed player Zhang Hao had learned Michael Jordan’s turnaround fadeaway technique and developed it as one of the main scoring means, task: King of Turnaround Jumpers triggered..."