One Year Left to Play-Chapter 181 - 58: The Villain Team

"What’s the meaning of this?"

Zhang Hao didn’t have time to think; Jordan was already coming at him! He quickly squared up to Jordan.

However, the external confrontation that Zhang Hao found favorable in the past two games against the Hornets was suppressed this time!

Jordan, standing at 198 cm, 99.7 kg, with a strength rating of 93... Zhang Hao was pushed back half a step. Using the feedback force, Jordan turned around, sprang back, and in mid-air, launched a steady two-pointer as if leaning against a wall...

Swish!

Zhang Hao’s defense barely interfered!

And Jordan was not avoiding confrontation; he actively challenged Zhang Hao’s biggest defensive advantages — static resistance and height and wingspan.

Landing, Jordan tilted his head and said to Zhang Hao, "Having you defend is as useful as placing a chair here."

Zhang Hao felt as if his heart took a stab. Before the game, Kenny Anderson was rambling about how Jordan was the league’s superstar fond of bullying rookies, without exception.

He was prepared mentally, but it still hurt!

After taunting, Jordan quickly retreated in defense, and Zhang Hao also rushed back.

Zhang Hao found no fast-break opportunity; the Bulls did an excellent job retreating!

"They even researched a team like us? Hmm... something feels off."

Slowing down, while running toward the front court, Zhang Hao quickly thought about how to deal with the Bulls’ switching defense, but no matter how he considered it, based on team tactics, and teammate lineup, he sensed no opportunity! Their regular tactics are hard to create chances for shooters against the Bulls’ defense!

Then find a way to create a breakthrough scoring opportunity for Kenny Anderson!

That’s what Zhang Hao thought and intended to do once reaching the front court.

But after the Bulls defensively handled one possession, they defended even better this time; Kenny Anderson utilized an opening exposed from tight chasing during Zhang Hao’s run, but Jordan, who switched the defense, blocked him. Kenny Anderson passed the ball to Graham at a wide-open right sideline, Graham attempted a three-pointer...

No good!

When Graham shot, Zhang Hao decisively cut to the inside, luckily the ball flew in his direction, just as he was about to leap for the ball, Rodman appeared!

Rodman’s maneuver startled Zhang Hao; jumping and spreading his legs wide in mid-air, close to a split. As Zhang Hao jumped up and crashed into Rodman’s legs, Rodman grabbed the ball before Zhang Hao, tumbled once upon landing...

The referee blew the whistle — Zhang Hao committed a pushing foul while vying for the rebound!

It’s just a foul; Zhang Hao was too distracted to argue about it. His mind was flooded with questions — It’s just a rebound contest, yet this guy full of tattoos, with nose rings and lip rings... a uniquely styled man, putting in so much effort for a mere preseason game?

In the first half of the period, this guy wasn’t this intense! Once Zhang Hao joined, it seemed the opposing team became different?

Zhang Hao sensed something was amiss, and determined something inexplicable after several possessions — This Bulls team he regarded as invincible actually targeted him, a mere rookie!

When he ran, they used switches to completely block him; when he launched a counterattack, they committed tactical fouls; during positional battles, even if he accelerated the rhythm upon receiving the ball, they closed in for a double-team steal...

On defense, Jordan specifically attacked him, isolating Zhang Hao using switches; even when the Nets attempted a double-team, Jordan wouldn’t pass, playing one against two — what’s the difference compared to facing an open spot?

Even during rebounds, Rodman acted as if he encountered an archenemy!

Score-wise, it quickly shifted too. The Nets scored 11 points in the half; by the end of the first quarter, the score merely rose to 18, nearing 6 minutes during which the Nets only gained 7 points!

During Jordan’s solo performance in this stretch, he scored 13 points!

to 18, first quarter concluded; the Bulls easily turned a 5-point deficit into a 5-point lead!

During the break, Zhang Hao was substituted, sitting on the bench dazed.

Feeling utterly powerless... which isn’t the main issue. He considered that against the Bulls he might not stand a chance at all.

But definitely not like this!

Reflecting on the first-quarter situation, sensing his teammates’ emotional shifts, Zhang Hao suddenly understood what had transpired.

Deliberate! The Bulls intentionally played "casual" defense at the start!

Rodman leading the charge was a ruse; although the Bulls aimed at practicing against a weaker Nets team, their primary goal was making the Nets players complacent!

Once the Nets perceived a chance... any chance, the Bulls then shattered their confidence entirely!

Zhang Hao considered this and found it incredible, but it might be true! The Bulls, facing such a weak Nets opponent, wanted to crush them to the point where they lose faith, fighting spirit, and the thought of ever recovering!

Why?

Zhang Hao couldn’t fathom: "Is it necessary for them?"

None of the Nets players imagined their team to be better than the Bulls; they were just endeavoring, trying to seize any winning opportunity, similar to the past two games against the Hornets.

Not just the Bulls, against any opponent, they’d opt to do that, possibly succeeding.

But ironically, the Bulls weren’t playing by the rules at all!

Facing this, Nets head coach Butch Baird and chief assistant Randy Whitman were helpless.

The gap in strength was immense, the opponent was in form, this wasn’t something coaching could resolve, and the opposing coaching staff was highly skilled.

But during the opening of the second quarter, it seemed like the Nets found a chance again...

The Bulls subbed out three players except Steve Kerr and Bill Wennington, switching in a pure bench lineup, returning to "polishing the tactics" phase, with Kukoc becoming the tactical core.

During this stretch, Chales and Gilliam led the team, catching up on scoring, hitting a streak of 12 to 6 at 4:47 in the second quarter, overtaking the Bulls 30 to 29 by 1 point!

Bulls called a timeout!

Hesitatingly, Randy Whitman and Butch Baird conferred, planning to substitute Zhang Hao, but Butch Baird vetoed it.

"Butch, in this situation, Aix might break down!"

"Let him try."

"But..."

"Perhaps he can manage?"

"If he mentally breaks down, don’t blame me; I don’t prioritize him as much as you do," Randy Whitman snorted after speaking.

Talent exists, but what about resilience? These are aspects Butch Baird must evaluate, especially since it’s only preseason, if Zhang Hao falls short of current expectations, preserving job security will be the priority during the regular season.

Such decisions must be made early.

Since changing course requires substantial sacrifice.

The timeout ended, and the game resumed.

Once Zhang Hao hit the court, he saw the opposing team surprisingly reinstated their starting lineup!

Assuming Jordan wouldn’t return after scoring 13 points in the first quarter, not only did Jordan return but Ron Harper, Pippen, Rodman, and Langley did too!

A gut feeling suggested to Zhang Hao — they were targeting him...

"What did I do wrong to deserve this?"

Zhang Hao’s hunch was accurate; the Bulls initiated the offense and Jordan continued to attack him.

This time Zhang Hao played at power forward along with Chales, Vaughn Fleming, Gilliam, and Jason Williams, yet Jordan opted for Rodman’s off-ball screen, forcing Zhang Hao to switch onto him, then received the ball from Zhang Hao.

"Where’s your mid-range shot? I’m truly disappointed, thought it was impressive, yet you haven’t scored a point..."

After Jordan’s murmur, without perfecting fake moves or confrontation, before Jason Williams approached, he executed a turnaround fadeaway...

Nailed it again!

points now!

Zhang Hao kept silent, running towards the front court, but noticed Jordan didn’t leave, meaning Jordan chose to man-mark him!

Moreover, the whole Bulls team intensified the confrontation!

Previously, Zhang Hao merely struggled with finding opportunities while running; now even locating a running rhythm became difficult! Jordan’s physical confrontation was equally vigorous as most power forwards.