One Year Left to Play-Chapter 239 - 82: I’ve Always Been Lucky

The role of that review session was then very prominent. That night, he analyzed every one of his moves. Sometimes, there were opportunities he didn't notice; after all, playing on the court, no matter how good his awareness and positioning were, he couldn't seize every opportunity in each play.

"Before the opponents start researching me and figure me out completely, I need to make progress quickly, hopefully avoiding the rookie wall..."

Zhang Hao set a short-term goal.

The rookie wall boils down to three points: the physical strength not being adapted to the NBA, opponents figuring out one's style of play, and no longer being the strongest mindset from student days.

Regarding physical strength, Zhang Hao is confident. Although not as good as Kenny Anderson and PJ Brown, he has top-level stamina. With his current playstyle, it's absolutely enough; with more experience and a better plan for utilizing his stamina, his off-ball playstyle will make his stamina look even better.

Regarding his mentality... he's quite relaxed.

The focus is his simple playstyle, which could be figured out by opponents.

Therefore, his goal is clear.

If his mid-range shots and fast breaks become the strongest or one of the strongest in the league, even being figured out wouldn't matter.

Like Reggie Miller, who doesn't know that his scoring near the basket and within close range is less than 4 points on average, with eighty percent of his scoring from mid-range and threes?

But he's strong enough that even when opponents figure out his playing style, they can't stop his shots.

...

...

The Continental Airlines Arena, lively after a long time.

Previously, when Coleman was around, the Brooklyn Nets didn't have low attention. Before that, when they made the playoffs and Kenny Anderson was selected as an All-Star starter, the team's popularity was even pretty good.

However, last season the Brooklyn Nets had considerable media attention, but not many reporters came here for interviews.

Because for a player like Coleman, there was no need for an interview. Just catching some gossip, one could freely write exaggerated news about his misdeeds.

Reality often surpasses imagination; who could have thought that some of the reporters writing about Coleman's various misdeeds might never have even seen Coleman?

More fantastical is that what they wrote wasn't enough to fully describe Coleman's acts...

For a team like this, no one genuinely wants to know them.

But now it's different. Whether in interviews or showing sharpness on the court, reporters can see that the Brooklyn Nets have transformed!

And primarily, it's because there are now figures who can create topics.

He is the first Asian player to officially step into the NBA stage and play a formal game, a high-school rookie with a high draft pick, and in the opening game, broke the debut record set by Chamberlain...

With a new season, veteran players of the Brooklyn Nets feel the team's change and the numerous media outlets arriving at the arena for interviews or filming, which is quite exciting.

Even though there's no live broadcast — live broadcast resources are scarce — two bottom-feeder teams, in the view of major TV stations, aren't worthy of adding a nationwide broadcast, but Time Warner Cable Sports does have a broadcast in Ontario, Canada, and New Jersey.

This is already exciting for the Raptors and Brooklyn Nets players.

On the Brooklyn Nets' side, after a morning tactical training session, Zhang Hao, Kenny Anderson, Chales, Jason Williams, Edwards, Vaughn Fleming, key players responsible for passing, were discussing detailed coordination issues based on the Raptors situation.

Against the Raptors, they definitely have to win.

Edwards has been steady since his rookie season, a supporting-type player who knows a bit of everything; not mastering anything but is experienced enough to highlight key points.

Mainly, Kenny Anderson, Chales, and Vaughn Fleming discussed the details. Most players on the Raptors are veterans, drafted by the team outside the core eight players of each team. Though they didn't get truly strong players, the Raptors certainly targeted those veterans who fit well with rookies.

So, they were quite familiar with most players of the Raptors.

Zhang Hao focuses on listening, only talking about matters related to him, as learning from veterans in such situations is important.

He has his own way of analysis, but for things related to experience, he needs to listen, see, and understand more.

Jason Williams is also one of the tactical cores, though he basically doesn't engage in these aspects, merely because he's the pick-and-roll core.

Sitting there, he's always thinking about how to get money from Zhang Hao.

However, he's only asking for 500 US Dollars.

As several were discussing, PJ Brown returned to the locker room, joined the group, and said: "Aix, that rookie on the other side says you're only lucky..."

...

For Zhang Hao's first impression of PJ Brown, he thought he was a rather solitary, quiet person.

But after spending more time, Zhang Hao's understanding of PJ Brown completely overturned.

This guy is quite mischievous and loves to strategize.

Apparently, it was him who proposed the suggestion for Mr. Zhang to play center on defense in the last game.

Also, this guy loves sneaking around, eavesdropping on interviews and the like.

After eavesdropping on interviews and returning, it wasn't long before reporters came to interview their Brooklyn Nets.

Before morning training, there was already a group interview. This time it's a one-on-one interview.

Previously, Zhang Hao had already done a one-on-one interview with Imperial Channel; the enthusiasm of domestic media was very high, so high that Zhang Hao was already used to domestic reporters coming over for interviews every few days; not every interview guarantees airtime or publication, but interviews consistently happen.

After all, news resources are precious; what's reported must be fresh or a matter with explosive points to repeatedly hype.

This time it's the more familiar American Cable TV Station for the one-on-one interview.

After Zhang Hao joined the Brooklyn Nets, the first interview he gave to American media was with American Cable TV Station, at that time doing a "NBA High School Rookie Feature".

Being familiar, there's no need to go through the formalities, a handshake and greeting, then straight to the interview.

"Aix, you scored 44 points in your debut. Do you have any expectations for this upcoming game?"

"I hope to win the game."

Still so simple and direct; it's hard to extract any topic-worthy responses from Zhang Hao in such flat questions. The American Cable TV Station reporter wasn't surprised as he had interviewed him several times already and knew Zhang Hao's excellence in this aspect.

Then let's be straightforward, the reporter asked: "We just interviewed Damon Stoudamire; he said breaking Chamberlain's debut scoring record was just luck. What do you have to say about that?"

"I also think it was by luck."

Backing down? Even if having some understanding of Zhang Hao, the reporter found this surprising.

After a pause of a few seconds, Zhang Hao continued: "I've always been lucky, but others might not be. Many of my rookie peers may never be lucky enough in their lifetime to score 44 points!"