CHAPTER 1257: CHAPTER 509: YOU HAVE JI BUGONG? I HAVE THE STRONGEST HIGH SCHOOLER IN HISTORY! (PART 3)

The trio, possessing almost all offensive methods of perimeter players, can play one-on-one, pass, understand cooperation, and are extremely fierce in the playoffs, even more suited to target the Lakers than the Nuggets Team, whose defense is virtually nonexistent. The Hawks team, with their three stars, along with the Bobcats, Lakers, and Bulls, ranks as one of the four top defensive teams in this year’s playoffs.

However, the Hawks team has a fatal flaw—their offensive ceiling is high, but the floor is extremely low, even lower than the Bulls team, which combines Yao Ming and Hinrich inside and out.

Zhang Yang ate a few pieces of whole-grain bread to supplement his stamina. After a while, once the teammates returned to the locker room, Carlisle emphasized some necessary points on both offense and defense and then left time to the players.

Zhang Yang actively engaged in discussions with teammates and, together with Hill and Brad Miller, helped teammates refine the adjustments they needed to make.

Actually, with the situation so tense, many players on the Bobcats feel quite pressured, especially with the goal of ’not letting the finals return to Charlotte.’ However, seeing Zhang Yang in such a cheerful state, they felt much more at ease.

Also, having the team’s best tactical minds help them organize what needs to be done, they didn’t have to expend as much mental effort...

During the interval break, Zen Master sent out a combination of Fisher, Kobe, Ariza, Garnett, and Gasol, while Carlisle sent out Felton, Zhang Yang, Afflalo, Millsap, and Okafor.

The third quarter began with the Lakers’ offense.

Fisher completed the advance work and passed the ball to Kobe, who was ready to make a quick sneak attack, but just as he was about to receive the ball, he was closely defended!

Kobe secretly thought it was not good, pressed his body to the left side, accelerated the catching action, but lost due to short hands...

Zhang Yang’s fingertips first touched the ball, poking it away!

Kobe’s motion to catch the ball overshot because he didn’t receive the ball, lunging half a step forward. Zhang Yang slipped past Kobe’s back, sprinted forward, seized the ball before the turning and chasing Kobe, and launched a counterattack!

Kobe closed in for a reverse steal, unsuccessful, but forced Zhang Yang to slow down his behind-the-back dribble. Kobe retreated into the three-point line first, not staying at the top arc to defend Zhang Yang. The two other Bobcats’ perimeter players rushed over, with Afflalo entangled by Ariza, but Fisher couldn’t block Felton.

Blocking might lead to being bypassed, leaving the basket unguarded and conceding two points; pressing up may not successfully interfere, potentially conceding three points, or allowing Felton to grab an offensive rebound to score two. Not pressing up, guarding the board might result in a missed shot from the opponent, defending against this turnover-induced counterattack. Kobe instinctively made the best choice.

But the best choice doesn’t always yield the best results; Zhang Yang stopped and collected the ball outside the three-point line, hitting a chased three-pointer!

Felton, dashing into the lane, heard a "shit," old Ironsmith cursing directly? How rare! Why does it feel so delightful?

Oh, it’s because the lead extended to 5 points, certainly not because anyone broke the defense.

The score reached 59 to 54, with cheers and sighs resounding simultaneously from the crowd.

Fisher ran back to receive the ball inbound, advancing and passing to Kobe, who had set a screen stance.

This receiving manner indicated Kobe had abandoned the thought of playing fast.

Facing Zhang Yang’s defense and wanting to play fast required reducing other actions, like screening when catching the ball, which might lead to another forced steal encounter. Zhang Yang’s swift reaction made Kobe dare not risk it again.

He could only bear down through defense, but Kobe wasn’t afraid of that, even if the opponent was a defensive big shot. Playing fast and sneak attacks were just offensive options for him. The previous offensive choice leading to a turnover wasn’t a big deal after all, just a bit embarrassing, but he wasn’t new to embarrassment either.

What really made him unable to hold back from swearing and increased his pressure was the 5-point gap. At least two shots were needed to catch up. Initially, he thought of scoring one at the start of the second half to tie the game, then continue the tug-of-war, waiting for the opponent’s mistakes or fighting for key shots at the end.

But now it’s not possible, they must find a way to fill this two-shot hole and can’t let the opponent turn these 5 points into a ’fixed difference’.

He studied the Bobcats’ playoff games many times, especially the series between the Bobcats and Hawks. Once the Bobcats gained and fixed an advantage, the Hawks had no chance. The Hawks won those few games because they didn’t let the Bobcats maintain a 5-point lead for long... Of course, for any team, fixing a lead is a significant advantage, but the Bobcats’ ’team priority, individual secondary’ defense, with its high stability, excels in utilizing this point.

Having made up his mind, Kobe side-pressed Zhang Yang, turned around, bypassed Zhang Yang, who pressed up for a turnaround shot, drove into the lane, drew horizontally to the left on the right side of the three-second zone to avoid Millsap’s help defense, grabbed the ball, leaped up on the third stride after two steps, and faced Okafor’s block for a layup...it went in!

The crowd was astonished, whether supporting the Lakers or Zhang Yang, all were shocked by Kobe’s agility. Female fans were especially envious of Vanessa...

Another hard drive to the basket was executed fiercely. Kobe retreated, focusing on defense with clear attention. If this play is stopped, following up on the breakthrough just made, there’s a chance to tie the score with one play!

But Zhang Yang didn’t call for an isolation. Felton passed the ball to Okafor in the low post, Okafor turned with a hook shot at a 45-degree angle...it banked in!

Old Ironsmith: Zhang San, do you need to be so steady? At your age, Mamba was fighting with Big Shark for shots. You just give up your unlimited shooting rights so easily?