One Year Left to Play-Chapter 255 - 90: Let’s Charge Ahead!

When Zhang Hao made his mid-range shot, there were 58 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Heat started playing impatiently and their defense became rough, although the Brooklyn Nets weren't defending as well, they could be just as aggressive.

In the last 58 seconds, neither team scored.

At the end of the first quarter, the Brooklyn Nets led the Heat by 8 points, 21-13!

Zhang Hao played the entire first quarter, scoring 11 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block!

His back-to-the-basket play left a very deep impression on everyone who saw it, but in reality, he only scored two points from post-ups.

But that didn't affect the threat he posed.

Returning to the bench, Zhang Hao felt that he had already played to his fullest ability.

However, those few post-up plays weren't actually exhausting, indeed, this move is very effective.

"But it's only effective against that guy, against someone with experience, it might not work as well. I might use it more against the perimeter players... Who should I find to learn post moves from? This is equivalent to the '90s Celestial Mandate!"

Sitting on the bench resting, Zhang Hao couldn't help but ponder who he should learn from.

"Even if I find someone, they might not teach me. The aura of power doesn't matter..."

He focused his attention on the game as he was substituted out to rest.

Although he felt like he could continue playing, the game was still long, so he had to learn to distribute his stamina well.

The second quarter started with a lineup of Chales, Vaughn Fleming, Almon Gilliam, Jason Williams, and PJ Brown.

The Heat sent out Kevin Jambor, Rex Chapman, Pete Myers, Kurt Thomas, and Kevin Willis.

After the second quarter began, Zhang Hao noticed a significant issue—the Heat's rotation wasn't stronger than their Brooklyn Nets!

Specifically, with Chales being energetic since he just started playing in the second quarter, and Almon Gilliam having played the whole first quarter but consuming less energy due to fewer post-ups, the Heat's rotation wasn't even as good as the Brooklyn Nets!

Comparing the rotation of the similarly-performing Blazers in the West to the six main players plus the injured Boggs of the Hornets seen in preseason, Zhang Hao's eyes suddenly lit up!

"When we face the Bulls, Pacers, Magic, and Cavaliers—teams very likely to win at least 50 games—we seem to have a significant strength gap, but against these lower-seeded playoff teams, we might have a chance.

We have the draft geniuses of the future to thank for that, from '91 to '93, he drove quite a few stars to the West…"

With the opponents' Moning and Owens taking a rest, Zhang Hao's teammates on the court clearly took the initiative, even though the opponents still had the starters, Rex Chapman and Kevin Willis. The Heat couldn't gain a lead in the first quarter, and evidently, in the last two plus minutes of the first quarter, the Heat's morale nearly crumbled. During the timeout, their Divine Calculator was incessantly chattering, and while they regained their defensive discipline, the Heat didn't hold any advantage in lineup, while the Brooklyn Nets had higher morale,

With the entrance of Chales and Jason Williams' pick-and-roll ability, they created great opportunities for Almon Gilliam to score inside.

Without Moning, Almon Gilliam was effective again.

Though the Brooklyn Nets couldn't extend their lead significantly, the Heat didn't have an opportunity to shorten it either.

"We have 54 games in a season against Eastern Conference teams. If you look at it this way, except for the top five strong teams, against other Eastern playoff teams, as long as we get through the main phases, we have a chance to win..."

Zhang Hao felt happy, but he knew he couldn't be careless or impulsive, and the players on the court weren't in a rush either, just dragging it out like this.

By the time the second quarter hit 6 minutes and 33 seconds, the Brooklyn Nets were up 32-21 after an 11-8 run, expanding the lead to 11 points, prompting the Heat to bring Moning and Koels back on.

But the Brooklyn Nets didn't bring back their starters during the rotation, instead, they sent out Jason Williams and Robert Wodan. Jason Williams was to secure the rebounds, while Robert Wodan was to battle physically with Moning. This 230,000 US Dollar muscle man finally had his moment. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

If they didn't have a lead, Randy Whitman, keen on winning, wouldn't have sent Robert Wodan out, but since they had an 11-point lead, it was time to wear down Moning first to create opportunities for the starters.

The defense was… so-so, Moning went one-on-one four times in three minutes, hitting 2 out of 3 shots, earning two free throws, and making both, scoring 6 points, and in those three minutes, the Heat put together a 9-5 segment, which brought the Brooklyn Nets to call a timeout!

37-30, with a 7-point lead remaining.

With 2 minutes and 27 seconds left in the second quarter, Randy Whitman, nearly two meters tall, made a sweeping gesture, sending in Kenny Anderson, Edwards, Vaughn Fleming, Zhang Hao, and PJ Brown!

The Heat dispatched their starting lineup with Koels, Rex Chapman, Owens, Kevin Willis, and Moning.

Back from the timeout, the ball was in the Brooklyn Nets' frontcourt, and Kenny Anderson received the inbound pass and decisively passed it to Edwards when faced with Koels' defense. Whoever Rex Chapman guarded would go one-on-one, with others ready to support.

This strategy wasn't highly efficient, but it was effective!

When Edwards drove near the free-throw line, Kevin Willis blocked him, cutting off the passing lane to the left baseline, but Zhang Hao immediately cut in towards the basket, and Edwards passed the ball just in time.

As Zhang Hao cut into the paint facing Moning's help defense, he didn't exactly have the confidence to shoot, but with PJ Brown trailing Moning into the key, Zhang Hao threw the ball towards the right side of the basket... PJ Brown caught and dunked it for two points!