One Year Left to Play-Chapter 184 - 59: Dancing with God

With O’Neal and Anfernee Hardaway on the Magic, and Reggie Miller on the Pacers... the public opinion wasn’t quite optimistic about Jordan winning the championship again.

In such a situation, Jordan was fired up and constantly pushing his teammates. They wouldn’t slack off in any game, and they didn’t want to lose any match.

Tonight, Jordan was interested, so he was ready to play, and his interest was the interest of everyone on the Bulls, accompanying him in the game.

Jordan thought he had already crushed the spirit of the Brooklyn Nets players.

With a team this weak, he believed his operations in the first half were enough to make them unable to muster the will to fight when facing them again for the rest of the season.

Especially the rookie, who was mentally dazed in the first half.

But now, it seemed the group of players on the other side were actively discussing how to play in the second half!

This added a hint of admiration from Jordan.

Just admiration, not every player in the NBA is a star. Many players work very hard and keep striving but never become stars.

But those who don’t become stars aren’t important? Clearly not, during the tough times in the 80s, Jordan deeply understood the importance of every player on the team.

Whether they are diligent or can persist is very important.

With these two points, Jordan felt it was worth his admiration.

Although the strength was different, he once persisted under the pressure of the Pistons and climbed over that mountain.

But how long can that weak team persist against them? Anyway, Jordan intended to crush that weak team in the preseason, so they wouldn’t dare entertain thoughts of defeating the Bulls.

Everything that needed to be done in the first half was done, in Jordan’s experience, no need to play around anymore, directly exert force to end the game, and the opponent will be completely crushed.

As for how the opponent’s mindset will be, whether their future career will be affected... what does it matter to him?

...

The second half was about to start, and the Brooklyn Nets dispatched Kenny Anderson, Graham, Zhang Hao, Jason Williams, and PJ Brown, their lineup with the best athletic ability.

The Bulls started their primary lineup, featuring Ron Harper, Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Langley.

Everyone else was okay but arrogance was written all over Rodman’s face. Tonight, Jordan kept trash-talking to Zhang Hao, but the loudest on the court was always Rodman.

It was time to crush the Brooklyn Nets, and the most important part was scoring, secondly defense, and in these two aspects, Rodman would be one of the key players. Naturally, missed shots would occur, and even Jordan, despite being the current scoring king, was also the current iron king. With missed shots, Rodman had space to shine as the strongest current rebounder.

On defense, Rodman, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, was the best forward defender in the league last season, making the All-Defensive First Team.

Sure enough, after the game started, Rodman had his chance to shine. The ball passed from Ron Harper to Jordan, and seeing Jordan’s position, Rodman immediately prepared to grab the rebound.

Judging the possible landing position of the missed shot based on the shooter’s position was Rodman’s forte, and his ability in this aspect was unique even in NBA history!

Jordan missed the first shot of the second half overly badly, but fortunately, Rodman judged the position correctly, displaying strong positioning ability, managing to wrestle the ball away from Jason Williams, the top rebounder.

After grabbing the ball, Rodman’s first target wasn’t a second attempt but passing to a teammate with a chance. Over the past few years, he averaged a couple of assists, which was quite impressive, but he was baffled by how Jordan’s previous dominance over Zhang Hao resulted in such a bad miss this time. Once he sent the rebound to his first target, Jordan, he immediately understood.

Jordan was surrounded by Zhang Hao, Graham, and PJ Brown!

Earlier, as Jordan was screening for Pippen and Pippen had just passed the ball to him, Graham instantly jumped and double-teamed with the ball. Jordan was naturally unafraid of a two-man team but when preparing to jump and shoot, PJ Brown abandoned Langley and joined the double-team.

Without any backward space, Jordan had to jump and force the shot. Although Zhang Hao’s strength and weight were less than Jordan’s, the static strength difference was barely there, and with solid lower-body support and PJ Brown, a finalist with impressive physical attributes much less intercepted in midair, the key was Jordan hadn’t expected such defense and hurriedly shot, resulting in such a bad miss!

Rodman immediately passed the ball to the open Langley, who stepped forward and shot a floater.

The Nets’ defense was terrible as they were hit with a second attempt catch and open basket floater, but Jason Williams didn’t hesitate, quickly picking up the ball and passing it to Kenny Anderson.

All of this happened within two to three seconds, and when the ball was sent out, Zhang Hao had already started the fast break!

Jordan, confused by the triple-team, reacted quickly to charge to the other half of the court alongside Zhang Hao... fast!

Jordan realized Zhang Hao was even faster than before!

Jordan sprinted to catch up, but Zhang Hao stopped abruptly after receiving the ball, leaving Jordan behind!

Zhang Hao didn’t hesitate, grabbed the ball and stopped abruptly for a long two-point shot...

Finally... it went in!

Finally, a field goal was scored!

In the first half, Zhang Hao only got two points from free throws, missing all six other attempts. Finally, at the start of the second half, Zhang Hao scored from the field!

Jordan hadn’t processed what had happened in the past seven seconds, as the opponent’s operation in the first play of the half left him puzzled.

But soon he figured out what they were trying to do.

"Mr. Jordan, now it’s my turn.

All of us will come to defend you, can you continue to score?"

Zhang Hao said this expressionlessly, then immediately turned to retreat on defense.

Captions had already appeared, telling Jordan what they were going to do, and it was up to him whether to accept the challenge.

But Zhang Hao didn’t have to think to know what Jordan would choose, and after hearing Zhang Hao’s words, Jordan paused, then laughed.

He laughed!

How could Jordan not know what that rookie wanted to do?

How much the opponent wanted to beat him? Even if it’s just him alone, the whole team is willing to work together.

At this moment, instead of being angry, Jordan enjoyed the feeling of the opponent’s whole team challenging him.

Interesting! Very interesting!

Whether to also have his teammates target that rookie?

Jordan chose no.

He chose to defend Zhang Hao himself, then face the opponent one-on-one.

He believed this was fair for that rookie on the other side.

This is what Jordan considered fair.