One Year Left to Play

Chapter 517 - 157: This Rookie Is a Good Guy!

Very beautiful defense and counterattack!

Zhang Hao was very excited about this defensive play, he did it! He even couldn’t help but throw in a little fancy dunk.

After the All-Star weekend break began, Del Harris identified the Rockets as a potential opponent in the first or second round because the Rockets are indeed the most likely opponents to meet in the first or second round. This is the most likely opponent for the Lakers to encounter, so of course, thorough preparation is needed.

In the few games after the All-Star weekend, the Lakers only prepared for the game on the same day, and Del Harris’s coaching staff has been preparing for the game against the Rockets, and tonight, it’s time to put it into practice.

As for Zhang Hao’s task in the tactical preparation, it’s not really complicated, but definitely not simple.

One point is to use his mobility and wingspan to cut off Kenny Smith’s passing lanes at the top arc area where he averages 1.4 three-pointers per game this season. Also, he needs to seize counterattack opportunities at all times, because with Olajuwon’s dominance in close-range defense and the mid-range defense of both Drexler and Horace, Mr. Zhang’s scoring area coincides with the Rockets’ defensive strengths, even Jordan had a hard time against them a few days ago, so Mr. Zhang is sure to find it tough as well.

So he must seize counterattack opportunities, as this is the most likely aspect for him to become an offensive focal point.

The first defense was a bit poor, didn’t shrink in time, but in the second round, Mr. Zhang performed excellently!

"The Silver Fox is really outstanding, worthy of the big boss who led a 40-42 team to the finals and nearly created a miracle..."

This successful defense led by Mr. Zhang brought great confidence to Zhang Hao!

Seeing Zhang Hao running back with a calm face and looking at the excited faces of the other Lakers players, although Olajuwon didn’t understand why the Lakers players were so excited after Zhang Hao’s dunk, despite it being a good dunk, it’s not worth such excitement...but that’s the fact, Olajuwon felt the pressure!

Compared to the Lakers, the Rockets’ play style and player characteristics are definitely more well-known. As two-time defending champions, even though their record has not been great, the media’s attention to them, including analysis, is at the same level as the Bulls.

If not for the attention paid to their team, Kenny Smith might not be targeted in such a way, but the Lakers will definitely exploit it.

Olajuwon originally intended to use his personal ability to hit a wave at the start, as their strongest offense initiates from his inside play, but with the Lakers having a power forward like Zhang Hao, with such size and athleticism, and with Zhang Hao’s improved defense, the opposing coach’s defensive strategy worked!

This Lakers defensive strategy looks simple, but is actually extremely difficult. In past few games, a team has managed to do it, and that team is called the Bulls, and the co-defense core that executed such a defensive strategy is named Scottie Pippen.

Combining his size, strength, movement speed, and threat of disruption, Pippen’s disruption threat is his pressing defense and steal ability, while Zhang Hao is among the league’s top ten in blocking per game.

As Kenny Smith pushed forward, Olajuwon stepped out from the inside, and Kenny Smith immediately understood and passed the ball to Drexler.

At this point, Olajuwon stood one step outside the free-throw line, while Kenny Smith moved to the top arc on the right side, not far away.

This positioning is ingenious, commonly known as the "darkness under the lamp" principle, utilized very well and even more deeply.

With Olajuwon’s significant threat and Kenny Smith’s shooting threat in this area, Lakers players instinctively thought Olajuwon was creating an opportunity for Kenny Smith, setting up a double-team draw with Olajuwon while Kenny Smith shoots, thus unwittingly placing more importance on Kenny Smith.

However, after Drexler received the ball and broke through on the left side to pass to Olajuwon, Olajuwon did not choose to pass, but instead held the ball and attacked inside!

On the weak side, inside the three-second zone on the right, Zhang Hao’s attention was on Kenny Smith at the top arc on the right side, but Van Exel also focused on Kenny Smith and did not double-team, the Magician couldn’t defend against Olajuwon’s breakthrough. As Olajuwon penetrated inside, Campbell, who was left inside to switch and defend Drexler, couldn’t shuffle over in time, and Olajuwon maintained his stability and converted a layup using his strong core strength despite being tightly defended by the Magician.

A standard small forward play!

Indeed, Olajuwon doesn’t have as strong pure inside play as Ewing, doesn’t have as excellent counterattacking ability as David Robinson, doesn’t have as wild strength as O’Neal, but he is the one with the best all-around ability and the most comprehensive skills, almost every skill is top three at the center position!

Lacking a second line of defense, there’s no way around it, Del Harris knew that to establish an advantage at the start, unless Olajuwon was in poor form, but he wasn’t too disappointed, it was expected.

But Zhang Hao completed the defensive task he set in the last round, which surprised him. He initially intended to use this as an opportunity to scold Zhang Hao...

"Sure enough, I still hate this brat!"

However, that defensive play was so strong, making Olajuwon open like a startled bird and pull to a high position like that was actually better than expected.