The fans at the scene were ignited once again!
Tonight's game was so exciting. After being defeated by the Kings in the last game, the fans didn't have high expectations for this game against a stronger opponent, but there was a sense of tension from the start.
The Pacers took the initiative to stir up the tension, but before it could spread, Zhang Hao stopped it.
When Zhang Hao locked Almon Gilliam's shoulders, covered his mouth and pulled him away, there was laughter at the scene.
I originally thought that this game had the potential to be a funny game, and the Nets were the ones being used to make fun of them.
Who knew, after that timeout, the Nets played even harder!
Thanks to Zhang Hao's three-pointer, the score was tied at the end of the first quarter!
On the court.
Zhang Hao then noticed that it was actually a three-pointer! When he shot in a hurry just now, he tried his best to throw the ball out, and he couldn't even maintain the shooting action, so how could he pay attention to the shooting position?
First three-pointer in career!
It came a bit suddenly!
Zhang Hao turned and ran towards the bench. Suddenly, a subtitle prompt came and he immediately braked to read it.
On the other side, Almon Guillem kept staring at the ball after Zhang Hao shot it. He was so excited when the ball went in - that casual throw just now actually turned into an assist!
After the referee confirmed that Zhang Hao made the three-point shot, Almon Guillem rushed towards Zhang Hao. This time, he had to hug him!
He knew that Zhang Hao didn't like to celebrate, so he didn't call his name in advance. Instead, he rushed forward directly, predicted Zhang Hao's movement, and pounced on the path Zhang Hao was moving... and pounced in front of Zhang Hao!
"FUXK..."
Almon Gilliam, whose feet were already off the ground, pounced into nothing! Looking at Zhang Hao who suddenly braked, Almon Gilliam cursed in the air with a short sentence starting with F, and fell to the ground...
"what's going on?"
Zhang Hao was originally concentrating on the subtitle prompts, but was suddenly attracted by the failure of Almon Gilliam. At the same time, he heard the laughter gradually spreading from the scene.
Taking a step forward to the left and squatting, Zhang Hao poked his teammate lying on the floor and asked, "Are you performing a stunt, Almon?"
"You're the one doing the stunts! Go away! Let me lie down, I don't want to bother with you!" Almon Gilliam didn't move, but he was roaring.
Seeing that Almon Gilliam was full of energy, Zhang Hao knew that everything was fine, so he said, "Oh... OK."
After saying that, Zhang Hao stood up, walked around Almon Guillem, and returned to the bench.
When Zhang Hao walked back to the bench, his teammates who had originally planned to rush up to hug or high-five Zhang Hao and Almon Guillem were staring at him in amazement one step inside the sideline of the court.
They saw with their own eyes that Almon Guillem excitedly rushed up to celebrate Zhang Hao's performance in the first quarter, but Zhang Hao seemed to have eyes on his temples and stopped to avoid him...
Feeling the strange looks from his teammates, Zhang Hao thought for a moment and said, "He's fine."
"oh……"
The teammates turned around and returned to the bench.
On the other side, Almon Gilliam lay on the floor in despair - You really don't care about me! Pull me up!
Almon Gilliam feels like he is experiencing social death.
The fans at the scene have collapsed with laughter!
Fortunately, PJ Brown came up from behind at this time and gave Almon Gilliam a reason to stand up...
…
“Really…”
Randy Whitman was having a headache and couldn't help grinning, but he immediately forced himself to hold it back.
He is professional.
The game became tense as the game went on. It was Zhang Hao who came up with the solution. Randy Whitman would of course have to find a way to continue the current good situation during the rotation phase.
Randy Whitman certainly wants to win this game.
But it's hard to win!
Although they played so well in the first quarter, it was obviously Almon Gilliam who broke out and scored 11 points in a single quarter. In addition, Zhang Hao made two mid-range shots, a counterattack layup 2+1, and the last three-pointer for 10 points. Only then were they able to keep the score close with the Pacers.
It is difficult to predict what will happen next, after all, the Pacers are the most stable team so far this season.
With the desire to win, naturally there are more concerns.
However, seeing the interaction between Zhang Hao and Almon Gilliam... Randy Whitman felt a lot more relaxed.
"Who cares? Just fight. It's not like we haven't lost before. What if we win?"
Zhang Hao returned to the bench and looked at the triggered task.
"The best shooter (shooting star):
Goal 1: Under the guidance of the host, special signing player Zhang Hao helped the team defeat the Pacers in this game.
Goal 2: Under the guidance of the host, special contract player Zhang Hao must make more mid-range shots than Reggie Miller in this game.
Reward: After completing goal 1, the host will receive a 15-day life bonus.
Complete goal 2 and be rewarded with the most suitable three-point shooting action package for special contract player Zhang Hao. Reggie Miller's favorability towards the host will increase and he will become interested in him. "
Looking at this task, he was stunned just now, because the shooting star task with Reggie Miller was suddenly triggered.
"After I beat Reggie Miller, did his favorability towards me increase? I remember he wasn't a masochist, but the guy who wore No. 8 two years later seemed to be one.
Never mind, it's not important, but what is the best three-point shooting posture? "
"Zhang Hao's career three-point shooting action was determined to be the most suitable shooting action package for Zhang Hao. The system determined that it was matched with the shooting package of three-point masters in NBA history. It was determined to be the shooting package of Hornets player Michael Adams."
Seeing this, Zhang Hao recalled that even in the preseason, he had never made a three-pointer. He had taken shots but missed.
In the first six games of the regular season, he took two three-pointers, but neither went in.
Zhang Hao has an impression of Michael Adams. They had played two games against the Hornets before. This player played in both games, but he was old and his strength was not that good. Zhang Hao had some impression of him but it was not deep. Zhang Hao really could not remember his three-point shooting action.
Zhang Hao recalled the action of shooting the three-pointer just now... "Fuck!"
…
Triangle attack!
The Nets actually played a triangle offense!
Larry Brown reviewed the first quarter and found that the Nets did play the same triangle offense that the Bulls used in their first three games.
Almon Gilliam drives into the inside, Edwards passes the ball or plays one-on-one from the outside, one of them gets the ball, and the other has certain shooting ability, and the point guard shoots mid-range and long-range shots.
When the Nets played very well on the offensive end, it seemed that the Pacers' offense was not enough.
Too steady, but not enough drive.
But he really has no way to continue to strengthen the offense. Their offense is stable, not because of his offensive tactics changes in recent years, but because of the introduction of Mark Jackson...
Look, the Pacers didn't make any substitutions in the first quarter. Larry Brown didn't know if he could maintain his offensive level after the rotation. When the opponent targeted the weak defense of the center, there was not much room for adjustment on the defensive end. Therefore, Larry Brown used the starters to death...
How to adjust in the second quarter?
Mark Jackson needs to rest. Larry Brown also knows that Mark Jackson is the brain of the team's offense. Their stable efficiency in positional warfare depends on Mark Jackson.
In that case, then it’s simple, just defend to the death!
…
Both teams made personnel adjustments.
The Nets sent out the tactical core combination of Charles and Jason Williams, Vaughn Fleming was also substituted, while Zhang Hao and Edwards remained on the court.
The Pacers sent out a combination of Haywood Workman, Travis Best, Reggie Miller, Dale Davis, and Antonio Davis.
Zhang Hao quickly took a look at the ability evaluation of the players sent by the opponent - "Except for Miller, Best, who has the weakest defense, also has an 83 defense!"
This lineup feels a bit like the 2004 Pistons—is this the only dish Larry Brown can cook?
Who cares? Zhang Hao wants to win now!
15 lives! And a shooting bag...
Comparing with Thunder Miller for the number of mid-range shots, Zhang Hao looked and saw that Thunder Miller made two mid-range shots in the first quarter, and so did he.
The second quarter began and the Nets attacked first.
It is obvious that the opponent's defense has been strengthened!
With both Davises on the court, the Pacers' weak interior defense is no longer a problem.
Zhang Hao, Vaughn Fleming and Edwards opened up the space, and Jason Williams missed the layup after a pick-and-roll.
However, with Mark Jackson and Smits not there, all the offensive pressure was focused on Reggie Miller.
When it comes to holding the ball, Reggie Miller is not outstanding, but he is okay. Larry Brown puts him at the small forward position to avoid the defect that he is not particularly fast. Although he is not proficient in offense, Larry Brown still has this vision.
But... Reggie Miller looked at Zhang Hao in front of him. Is this really the inside player? Is he really the center who defended Schmitz in the first quarter?
He is similar in height, but he is faster and more flexible than a shooting guard... That's fine, but why did this guy come to the outside, and that bastard Vaughn went to the inside to defend Antonio Davis?
No matter the height difference?
This was Vaughn Fleming's initiative. He knew best how foul-mouthed the two Davises were, having played for the Pacers for the past 11 seasons. He watched these two players grow up and knew their characteristics.
Reggie Miller and Antonio Davis set a pick and roll, preparing to pass and cut, but Vaughn Fleming guided Zhang Hao to directly clamp Reggie Miller before Antonio Davis set the pick and roll. Vaughn Fleming was responsible for the push, while Zhang Hao was responsible for covering the passing route with his body.
Reggie Miller had no way to continue the pick-and-roll, and couldn't squeeze past these two people, so he could only pull sideways to a position close to the sideline, turn around and shoot a three-pointer... and was almost blocked by Zhang Hao who pounced on him!
Before shooting, Reggie Miller adjusted the arc and took a three-point shot... and missed!
Jason Williams secures the rebound!
After several rounds, the offensive success rates of both teams were extremely low. Zhang Hao watched Reggie Miller's hit rate drop from 4 of 5 to 5 of 9, and finally understood why the Pacers' offensive success rate was so high and Reggie Miller's hit rate was not high. When it came to the rotation stage and playing defense, Reggie Miller had to do it alone. After 6 rounds, Reggie Miller did not pass the ball once. Unless his teammates had a good opportunity, he would shoot by himself. In 6 rounds, the Pacers only got 4 points with 2 of 6 shots.
But their Nets team was not much better. Charles tried very hard. He wanted to rely on pick-and-roll to create space and create shooting opportunities, but the Pacers' defense was really good. There was no defensive three seconds, and although they could not play a zone defense, the Pacers' lineup could form an iron wall of defense below the free throw line, that is, in the elbow area.
Haywood-Workman and Travis Best are both brave enough to fight, and they have excellent physical fitness, although on the offensive end...but the defense is really good under the leadership of the two Davises.
The two Davises are also a well-known mid-range and short-range iron gate combination in the league.
The Pacers made 2 of 6 shots, and the Nets also made only 2 of 6 shots. One was a baseline shot by Zhang Hao, the other was a tip-in by Jason Williams, and another attack was intercepted by Reggie Miller. Fortunately, the Pacers did not launch a counterattack.
After 6 rounds, the Nets and the Pacers played a brutal 5 to 4, and these six rounds took 5 minutes...
Finally, at 5:08 in the second quarter, Reggie Miller finally succeeded in getting a pick-and-roll. After using Antonio Davis as a backup, he didn't wait to completely bypass the pick-and-roll. With his vision blocked, he jumped directly based on his feeling and shot a three-pointer...
In!
34 to 32, the Pacers overtook by two points!
Jason Williams picked up the ball and passed it to Zhang Hao, who passed it to Charles and ran to the frontcourt.
That does not work!
The offensive success rate is too low, which is exactly what Larry Brown wants. Compared with the Heat, the Pacers' defensive configuration is much better. Moreover, Larry Brown has been coaching the Pacers for the third year. He laid a good defensive foundation in the first year. With Mark Jackson last season, the offense is guaranteed. They have become a member of the championship team and a 50+ win team. It is too difficult for the Pacers to be dealt with by team offense.
Looking at his teammates on the court, Zhang Hao went outside the three-point line, clapped his hands, attracted Charles' attention, pointed to the mid-range on the left baseline, and then ran over to defend Antonio Davis.
Charles understood and passed the ball to Zhang Hao who was leaning against Antonio Davis to ask for the ball.
Charles came to the 45-degree angle on the left to receive the ball, Edwards took a step inside the top arc to receive the ball, Vaughn Fleming was in the mid-range at the weak side baseline, and Jason Williams was on the right side of the three-second zone and stood still.
The Pacers players also stood still, and Zhang Hao began to attack Antonio Davis!
Antonio Davis had felt Zhang Hao's strength in the previous rounds and knew why Schmidt couldn't hit Zhang Hao, so he lowered his center of gravity and held on.
Zhang Hao adjusted his rhythm and pushed Antonio Davis again. After feeling that the opponent had lowered his center of gravity, Zhang Hao stepped forward with his right foot. When his right foot landed on the ground, his left foot began to turn. His right foot landed perpendicular to the baseline and his body turned into a position facing sideways to Antonio Davis.
Take off!
He turned around during the jump, facing the basket, and shot a mid-range shot while floating backwards...
When Antonio Davis stood up and rushed forward, Zhang Hao had already thrown the ball.
The ball went into the basket!