Chapter 782 - 244: This Is the Real Invincible Bulls!

The large cluster of centers hoarded by the Bulls finally paid off. Luke Longley, Robert Parish, and Benoit Benjamin, the three centers, created quite a bit of trouble for the fatigued O’Neal. At this time, O’Neal faced centers from the opposing team who were always full of energy and couldn’t dunk over them anymore; he needed to rely on skills. Yet the Bulls’ defensive adjustments were too quick...

However, the real key wasn’t the defense.

Because the Lakers really played aggressive offense, allowing 60 points in the first half, the Bulls hadn’t suffered like this all season. By now, midway through the third quarter, the Bulls had already given up 71 points, placing this game among the top matches in terms of points conceded in the same time frame this season.

The focus was still on offense!

On the offensive end, the Bulls relied on Jordan’s initiative from the start to create shooting opportunities for his teammates, then used teamwork to execute his attacks.

The familiar and stable cooperation of the Bulls is the key to withstand the Lakers’ overpowering offense and strong three-second area defense!

The Lakers also realized they’d fallen into a trap.

But that’s the nature of the game. Who can notice the subtle defensive adjustments of the opposing team while their own team is leading?

Not saying it’s 100%, but at least 99.9% of the time, a team that holds an absolute advantage can’t do it; otherwise, there wouldn’t have been so many classic comeback wins.

The team in the lead is definitely thinking about how to expand their advantage, how to further utilize the points of advantage they possess.

Like the Bulls, being at a disadvantage and trailing in the score, rather than thinking of launching a counterattack and instead patiently doing what might seem futile, it’s truly hard to find a second team like them!

The official timeout was almost over. Zhang Hao returned to the court, and he was convinced! But this is the Bull’s way!

The reason they can have the strength to push for 70+ wins for two consecutive years and actually convert that strength into success.

After the official timeout, the Lakers sent out the combination of Zhang Hao and Barkley, with Barkley focusing on the inside and Zhang Hao on the outside.

The success of the Zhang Hao + Barkley + O’Neal combination heavily relies on the accurate mid-range shots of Zhang Hao and Barkley. Zhang Hao is better at it while Barkley is slightly inferior but enough to allocate space under the basket where O’Neal is present.

But now, O’Neal is facing the rotational defense of the Bulls’ inside players, Luke Longley, Robert Parish, and Benoit Benjamin, making it difficult to use powerful dunks to counter the opponent’s defense. Barkley is not only worn down physically by Rodman but also has his shooting touch affected.

Currently, the Lakers can only continue playing this way, and Barkley’s main job in the paint isn’t to attack but to contain, giving O’Neal time to rest.

Zhang Hao didn’t need to be concerned about stamina. Under Jordan’s defense, he worked hard to find scoring opportunities, demonstrating excellent finishing ability, and taking advantage of his greater height and wingspan. Zhang Hao performed well in the one-on-one scenario, though he couldn’t break through, his turnaround fadeaway was quite decent.

However, he only did well on the offensive end. At their end, during this critical third quarter, after O’Neal was substituted out, Zhang Hao had to play well offensively, but defensively he could only shrink to the basket, with rim protection not as effective as O’Neal.

In the latter half of the third quarter, the Bulls scored 19 to 10, leading to a score of 91 to 81. The Bulls scored a crazy 40 points in the third quarter, outperforming the Lakers by 19 points in a 40 to 21 quarter!

...

Zhang Hao tugged at his jersey, not even in the mood to bite it, the impact was indeed quite significant.

Originally, they intended to show the Bulls their strength in the third quarter, but... what exactly is a "third quarter beast"?

Zhang Hao felt it!

Why can the Bulls be so strong in the third quarter?

Zhang Hao felt it too!

Because the Bulls have been playing very methodically from the start of the game, adjusting and executing very well, not wavering due to any unexpected factors in the first half, sticking to their gameplay.

And this, is something that last season’s Bulls team didn’t possess.

In other words, for the Bulls, even winning the championship last season was merely a period of cohesion, and this year’s Bulls might be their strongest team overall!

Losing by 19 points in a single quarter, and although Zhang Hao was okay, he felt his teammates were all bewildered, seemingly wanting to give up, thinking of treating this game as an experience lesson...

Just now, Zhang Hao also briefly shared the same thoughts... but!

He couldn’t fathom it!

Aside from the task, facing Jordan, was he to choose to give up?

Impossible!

Even though they lost by 19 points in a single quarter, going from leading by 9 points to trailing by 10, Zhang Hao didn’t want to surrender.

But, he alone recovering physically... Jordan played three quarters, scoring 10 points in the first, 8 in the second, and 9 in the third, totaling 27 points, unbelievably consistent every quarter.

Once his excited emotions were scattered by the opponent, Zhang Hao realized that even during Jordan’s aggressive plays, his stamina management was outstanding!

It’s not just physical fitness; utilizing his stamina effectively is also top-notch!

Suddenly, Zhang Hao thought of the Star Experience Card. After using the Big Bird Card, he finally understood its effect and wasn’t worried or anxious as before.

"Super Giant Card for same position players, Nash Card, 3J Card... Should I use the Super Giant Card? This is the treasure in the bottom of the box... Eh, I still have a Silver Lottery Opportunity and a Bronze Lottery Opportunity?"

Due to the need to go all out, even though the probabilities for drawing a skill, Star Experience Card, or Stage Burst Card in the Silver Lottery are low, combined with his current focus on developing skills around the Medal, he hadn’t rushed to draw.

"Let’s try it first, draw a Bronze? Draw!"

With the thought, the system prompt came!

"Special signed player Zhang Hao is in a match. Is this Bronze Lottery specifically for Zhang Hao’s current match?"

"Yes."

"The host uses a match-specific lottery, using a Bronze Lottery. The item obtained is an exclusive item for Zhang Hao’s current match, consuming one Bronze Lottery Opportunity, costing 30 days of life..."

"Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Special Card: Star Experience Card Special Usage Plan."

"Star Experience Card Special Usage Plan: There’s always a situation where the match of a Star Experience Card with the signed player is inadequate. Usage is a loss while not using it feels like a waste. The system has specially launched the Star Experience Card Special Usage Plan.

The special signed player for the ongoing match is Zhang Hao. The Star Experience Cards available for the host with too low a match rate are the Peak Steve Nash Star Experience Card and the Random Player Peak Star Experience Card from the Dallas 3J Era.

Please choose to use the Star Experience Card Special Usage Plan or give up."

This maneuver! Zhang Hao was quite surprised!

Originally, he was skeptical about whether to use that treasure of a Star Experience Card.

"Of course use it... Use the Nash Card! 3J isn’t as powerful as me, experiences their ability later..."

After Zhang Hao’s mental confirmation, the subtitles changed again.

"Please immediately go back to the locker room for the Star Experience Card Special Usage Plan, the special signed player Zhang Hao. Do not speak with anyone..."

"Eh? Go back to the locker room directly at this moment?"

This prompt left Zhang Hao in a daze, should he stay or go?

Zhang Hao gritted his teeth and walked directly towards the player tunnel, hesitating was just wasting time, be decisive.

At this moment, the Lakers’ player’s frustration gradually spread. They felt the power of a full team with perfect synergy, realizing they were lacking significantly.

At this time, the teammates wanted to see that face, that face always calm and composed... yet they saw Zhang Hao clenching his teeth, directly walking to the player tunnel.

They had seen this scene before when facing the Magic and Anfernee Hardaway had left after three quarters, beaten down!

What on earth?

Not only the Lakers’ players, but even the Bulls and the fans on site were also stunned!