Chapter 1137: Chapter 1137
Zhang Yang seized the opportunity and, before being trapped by Sefolosha, took a step to the left, reached the free-throw line, jumped, and took a mid-range shot... and scored again!
to 6, Zhang Yang scored three consecutive baskets to help the Bobcats gain a 4-point lead, prompting the Chicago Bulls to call a timeout!
Yao Ming and his teammates were all taken aback by Zhang Yang’s consecutive scoring.
On the Bobcats’ side, the pressure on the young trio was also significant, though they didn’t show it directly. The teammates were all excited by Zhang Yang’s consecutive scoring and celebrated the lead they established.
After Carlisle made lineup and tactical adjustments, when the excitement cooled down, Felton said to his teammates: "We gained the lead thanks to Jack’s breakout performance, but we can’t be complacent. We need to continue working hard, seize every opportunity, create better shooting conditions for ourselves and others. We have Jack to solve problems, but we can’t be his burden; we need to be his support!"
When the teammates were excited, Felton didn’t dampen their spirits; instead, he waited until the last minute before they were about to play, when the sense of tension hit, to speak. He delivered his speech in a passionate and inspiring tone rather than a lecturing one, which not only didn’t annoy his teammates but also motivated them.
Zhang San: Not only is Little Fatty doing a better job as the boss, but he’s also become more composed. Who pushed my Little Fatty Boss to this point?
Little Fatty: Who knows how I’ve gotten through these years...
After the timeout, it turned out that Felton’s concerns were correct; the Bobcats did not truly gain the upper hand just because of Zhang Yang’s consecutive scoring.
Zhang Yang’s scoring bursts were troubling for the Bulls, but the more they struggled to deal with Zhang Yang, the more determined they became to focus on defense.
Moreover, Zhang Yang’s explosive scoring state couldn’t be maintained indefinitely, and the Bobcats were dragged back into a hard-fought battle by the Bulls, with no increase in pace.
Fortunately, the Bobcats weren’t complacent and continued to steadfastly execute their established game strategy, choosing to actively engage defensively rather than passively suffer, and the two teams once again fell into a fierce defensive battle.
As the first quarter came to an end, the Bulls relied on Ben Wallace’s putback and Hinrich’s buzzer-beater three-pointer to go on a 5-0 run and tied the game at 19-19 against the Bobcats!
After the intermission, the Bulls deployed a lineup of Hinrich, Sefolosha, Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas, and Ben Wallace.
Skiles placed Ben Wallace on the bench, prioritizing Tyrus Thomas’ development, and also because Big Ben, despite declining athleticism, occasionally performed well as a center mid-season.
The Bobcats fielded a lineup of Felton, Zhang Yang, Hill, Ibaka, and Brad Miller.
The second quarter began with the Bulls on the attack; Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas initiated a pick-and-roll play, with Hinrich decisively breaking through after the screen, leaving no chance for the opposition to trap him.
Hinrich reached the right side of the paint and passed to the middle, where Tyrus Thomas caught the ball and went for a dunk... only for Ibaka, who had caught up, to palm it against the rim!
Before Ibaka got closed out, his athletic ability was no less than Tyrus Thomas’s!
In the scramble with Hinrich, Zhang Yang snatched the ball. Just as he controlled it, Hinrich grabbed him, and the referee blew the whistle.
With the middle wide open, Hinrich opted for a tactical foul to prevent Zhang Yang from launching a fast break.
But the foul was for naught; in the half-court attack, Zhang Yang received the ball at the high post, backed down Sefolosha, turned, stepped back, and hit a mid-range shot!
When Luol Deng guarded Zhang Yang, he had enough physicality and height advantage, but his defensive skills were lacking, and he suffered in terms of speed... However, he at least managed to contain Zhang Yang’s mid-to-long-range shots one-on-one, allowing teammates to create double-team opportunities.
Sefolosha, now in his third year, had excellent defensive skills and might even join Hinrich in the All-Defensive Team this season, but his physique was at a disadvantage against Zhang Yang.
On the Bulls’ attack, Nocioni tried to make a move, demanded the ball, and aggressively drove on Hill, stopping for a short-range jump shot... but it was off.
Coming back, Felton lobbed the ball to Zhang Yang at the high post leaning on Sefolosha, and Hinrich immediately double-teamed Zhang Yang, who passed back to Felton at the three-point arc... and it went in!
Hinrich’s bold decision to leave his match-up player open for a double-team resulted in being forced to call a timeout just after a minute... The 5-point run at the end of the first quarter was immediately given back at the start of the second!
Back on the bench, Hinrich got the expected scolding from Skiles, which calmed him down, and he returned to patiently waiting for opportunities like in the first quarter.
In the ensuing time, the Bulls insisted on a steady approach, while the Bobcats lacked a strategy against this and could only follow slowly. Yet, compared to the Bobcats, the Bulls were having a harder time.
With Hinrich and Yao Ming, the Bulls had the capability to seize opportunities, narrowing the gap or even overtaking the lead at certain moments. But they had Zhang Yang facing them! Content orıginally comes from 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁
Each time they narrowed the gap or overtook the lead, Zhang Yang would step up and lead the team to reclaim the advantage.
Sefolosha and Luol Deng were always proud of their defensive prowess on the wing, but facing Zhang Yang, their defensive flaws were thoroughly exposed.
Not only that, but Zhang Yang was like a snake lurking in the shadows, mostly putting up bricks and consuming possession time, suddenly coming alive to score two or three times in quick succession. Although this couldn’t break the Bulls’ defense, it continuously tormented the players’ nerves.