Chapter 883: I Just Put the Ball In

Looking at Zhang Hao’s expressionless face standing under the basket, the New York Knicks players felt a sudden surge of pressure!

It was that simple, the opponent scored in such a straightforward manner!

Fortunately, after O’Neal’s injury and leaving the court, the New York Knicks played with a significant advantage and had strong confidence. They were not affected by Zhang Hao’s three-pointer.

Chales steadily advanced past half-court, waited for his teammates to get into position, and then lobbed the ball to Larry Johnson.

Larry Johnson received the ball and posted up on Zhang Hao. Clearly, Zhang Hao couldn’t guard him, so Barkley came back for the double team. Larry Johnson passed to Charles Oakley on the right side of the key. The Lakers’ defense collapsed back, Charles Oakley passed back out, and Alan Houston received the ball, spun, and hit a mid-range shot over the approaching Kenny Anderson!

In terms of shooting stability after intense confrontation, after entering his career golden period at 25 years old, few in the NBA could match Alan Houston in this area!

“Shrink under the basket, defend Houston, and others are free to take long shots.”

Zhang Hao said and immediately ran to the frontcourt.

None of his teammates were surprised or questioned Zhang Hao’s instructions. They knew that if there was no need, Zhang Hao wouldn’t speak, and since he did, they just needed to execute.

Zhang Hao reached the frontcourt. As Kenny Anderson advanced to the frontcourt, Larry Johnson directly fronted him on the three-point line.

In this type of defense, Zhang Hao directly used his arms to turn and cut in against Larry Johnson!

Kenny Anderson released the ball immediately, and as Zhang Hao rushed to close range, the defense was already in place.

Without passing, Zhang Hao jumped in the face of the double team, adjusted… at this time, he felt that he should lift the ball and flick it with his fingers, without hesitation, he did so!

The ball left his fingertips, floated, just avoided Larry Johnson’s long arm behind him, hit the backboard, bounced once, and fell into the basket!

73 to 71, the Lakers led again by two points.

Returning the other way, John Starks hit a corner three.

The Lakers were on the offense again, Zhang Hao cut in under Larry Johnson’s perimeter fronting, and this time as Zhang Hao just received the ball, he was double-teamed. A strong shot might be blocked, and Charles Oakley covered quickly.

However, the whistle blew, the New York Knicks’ defensive violation!

Kenny Anderson hadn’t even passed the ball yet when Charles Oakley moved towards Zhang Hao, forming a double team with Larry Johnson, an off-ball double team violation!

The Lakers continued with the offense.

The Magician inbounded from the left sideline to Kenny Anderson, who quickly passed to Zhang Hao, receiving the ball on the right baseline of the key, turned and made a mid-range jump shot… after the shot, Zhang Hao was knocked down by Charles Oakley’s defense.

“Beep”

The referee whistled!

Even with tonight’s lenient calls, this had to be called.

As the referee blew the whistle, the ball Zhang Hao had shot fell into the basket, scoring again!

Zhang Hao’s personal score increased to 31 points, with an additional free throw to come, and the Lakers retook the lead over the New York Knicks by 75 to 74.

The New York Knicks players were about to collapse!

Prohibiting early double teams greatly helped Zhang Hao in his “King of Understanding” phase!

Originally, because they had Alan Houston and Ewing, they liked the rule prohibiting early double teams.

But this rule hadn’t benefited Alan Houston as much as Zhang Hao!

The New York Knicks tried to double-team Zhang Hao as soon as he received the ball, but such defense surely couldn’t prevent Zhang Hao from making shooting moves.

Going to double-team early would result in a violation call!

Watching Zhang Hao, expressionless after scoring 7 consecutive points, walk to the free-throw line, the New York Knicks players were almost blowing a fuse.

Their defense in the final period was no worse than in the first three. With lots of players available, stamina wasn’t much of an issue for them, or they wouldn’t have been able to hold the opponent to just 7 points in the first half of the fourth quarter.

Yet, like this, Zhang Hao still scored 10 points in a single quarter, and with Zhang Hao’s free throw hitting, his quarter points increased to 11, and total points to 32, the New York Knicks called for a timeout!

The crowd was already going wild!

On the sidelines, even a middle schooler holding an Ultraman X transformation device got slapped in the head by a man who looked like a gorilla, yet continued to cheer for Zhang Hao.

What does it mean to turn the tide?

Zhang Hao is the answer!

With O’Neal injured and off the court, playing 3 quarters with defensive collapse, and the entire team’s offense worse than the first three quarters, Zhang Hao stepped up to carry the entire team against them!

During the timeout, the Silver Fox on the Lakers’ side had nothing to plan, just give the ball to Zhang Hao, done.

The Silver Fox thought of disappointment but remembering Zhang Hao’s “serious” play, he wanted to find a deserted corner to disco dance.

On the other side, Jeff Van Gundy made clear tactical arrangements.

After the timeout, the New York Knicks rotated with John Starks, Alan Houston, Larry Johnson, Charles Oakley, and Ewing on the court.

But the New York Knicks missed on their first possession back after the timeout!

It was unclear what Jeff Van Gundy set up, as the New York Knicks players seemed flustered by Zhang Hao’s continuous scoring, just aimlessly shooting on offense, and John Starks’s close-range floater directly hit the backboard, with Barkley securing the defensive rebound!