One Year Left to Play-Chapter 264 - 94: Because He’s Smart

The confrontation with the Brooklyn Nets has become brutal!

Even Kenny Anderson is frantically chasing and defending Reggie Miller, his movements are quite large, pulling and tugging, and when Schmitz comes out to set a screen for Reggie Miller off-ball, Kenny Anderson squeezes past to catch up.

Mark Jackson makes a gesture, Schmitz sees it and returns to the inside, trying to establish position against his defender Zhang Hao... can't get in!

At 116 kilograms, it's not light for a Center, but at 224 centimeters tall, this weight makes him look very slim. With a strength of 83, he's leaning in but cannot get a deeper position, being firmly blocked by Zhang Hao!

By this time, Mark Jackson's high ball has already been passed in, Schmitz doesn't have time to be surprised that Zhang Hao's skinnier frame somehow has such power, he turns sideways, trying to back down...

Pushing hard... still can't move!

Exerting more force... still can't move!

Darn it!

Schmitz prepares to use footwork, spins around, grabs the ball and attempts to shoot high...

In Zhang Hao's view, Schmitz's turning steps are like slow motion. If it were another Center, they might choose to just hold and interfere, but Zhang Hao relies on his agility, moves half a step sideways, reaches out to cut the ball... the ball Schmitz just lifted is slapped down by Zhang Hao!

Quickly pressed up, Zhang Hao dives onto the floor to grasp the ball, the other Pacers players react quickly, interfering with fast breaks where needed, disrupting pass receivers, focusing on retreating for defense.

Zhang Hao waits for Edwards to come over to receive, and as he gets up, he glances at the opposing coach, Larry Brown.

The framework of the Pacers team capable of contending the 98 Bulls into Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 and losing by just 5 points, reaching Eastern Conference Finals for three consecutive years, is already there.

Perhaps, this coach who established a solid defensive foundation for the Pacers isn't far from dismissal.

Gathering his thoughts, Zhang Hao heads to the frontcourt.

Almon Gilliam receives the ball and starts facing up for a one-on-one, under Dale Davis's spittle-spewing defense, Almon Gilliam pulls horizontally, Dale Davis gets deceived and a gap opens, Almon Gilliam forcefully drives to the basket, this time not backing down, engages in a confrontation with Schmitz, Schmitz can't withstand it, pulls Almon Gilliam, the action is obvious, referee's whistle blows!

As the referee blows the whistle, Almon Gilliam diligently throws the ball towards the backboard, it bounces off and into the basket!

The referee signals to the technical table, the basket counts, plus a free throw!

If in a usual situation, after scoring such a basket, Almon Gilliam would surely wiggle his hips in celebration, but not this time, he goes diligently to the free-throw line, clearly more focused than ever.

He makes the additional free throw!

On the defensive end, it's still quite challenging to defend.

Schmitz stays calm, realizing it's hard to go one-on-one with Zhang Hao unless he can position deeply; otherwise, he'll move to low post again where he has more options and won't force it recklessly.

Schmitz proactively pulls out, using his shooting ability to draw Zhang Hao out of the three-second zone, once again providing a screen for Reggie Miller off-ball.

This time, Zhang Hao and Kenny Anderson do well in switching defense, Kenny Anderson is positioned to potentially intercept, Zhang Hao switches to cover Reggie Miller, but Mark Jackson still passes the ball to Reggie Miller, only Reggie Miller doesn't shoot, he passes the ball toward the middle, Derek McKay uses Dale Davis's off-ball screen to cut in, receives the ball for a layup... made it!

Such a beautiful team play, the Pacers play very deliberately, but with high success rates!

Mark Jackson's excellent team orchestrating ability is exhibited vividly.

It's the Brooklyn Nets' turn to attack, still letting Almon Gilliam play one-on-one, with the guards spreading out to hold positions.

Almon Gilliam continues driving to the basket, the Pacers' double-team is swift, Dale Davis even shuts his mouth, together with Derek McKay, they double-team Almon Gilliam, preventing him from creating more damage underneath.

At this moment, Zhang Hao's role comes into play!

Edwards comes in from the weak side to assist, does a secondary pass to Zhang Hao who's at the left side of the free-throw line.

Zhang Hao receives the ball, facing immense pressure, he knows that he has to make this shot to create better attacking opportunities for his teammates, yet the higher the pressure, the more focused he becomes!

Jumps, mid-range shot... the movement goes smoothly!

Made it!

Zhang Hao's presence is crucial, he understands that he must make the shots during Almon Gilliam's play when he attracts the double-team because ordinarily, unless the opponents double-team the ball handler, otherwise given the Pacers' mid-range defensive capabilities, he seldom can get open, such opportunities shouldn't be missed.

And for Almon Gilliam, having Zhang Hao is important, since during the double-team, he can opt to pass because the player double-teaming him is defending Zhang Hao, freeing up Zhang Hao, thus preventing Pacers from cutting his passing lanes from high positions, otherwise he'd have to go it alone.

The Brooklyn Nets solidified their strategy, Kenny Anderson focuses his energy on chasing defense, despite his lackluster defensive abilities, his exceptional speed and agility make him fearless against screens. In this regard, Kenny Anderson's interference against Reggie Miller is stronger than Graham's.

Given no allowance for double-teaming off-ball players, switching defense wasn't initially strong for the Brooklyn Nets, Kenny Anderson's stubborn and determined chasing defense achieves better results, at least preventing Reggie Miller from getting fired up.

The key still lies in firm attacking decisions, the old impression of Almon Gilliam shrinking back against strong players, trying to avoid being hit, Dale Davis tonight looks to provoke him that way.

Previously, Almon Gilliam would either fire up abruptly, or play erratically, but tonight it's different, he plays very composed!

Almon Gilliam's collaboration with high-position passing, Edwards's assist leading into solo plays or distribution toward either Zhang Hao or Kenny Anderson, PJ Brown's crashing, it's fairly simple but effective.

The scores of the two teams continue to alternate upward, overall the Pacers have a slight advantage, their slow-paced cooperation is very proficient, while the Brooklyn Nets rely on sheer effort in surges.

The stalemate reaches 11 minutes and 39 seconds into the first quarter, the Pacers lead 27 to 24, holding a 3-point advantage over the Brooklyn Nets, with the Nets in possession.

Zhang Hao passes the ball to Kenny Anderson, Kenny Anderson advances with immense pressure.

Just now, Reggie Miller hit a three-pointer over him, they barely managed to catch up, now the point deficit yet again increases to 3 points.

The energy is exerted on defense, momentarily slowing down the offense, unlike previous strategies... essentially shifting the exertion between fronts, yet Kenny Anderson understands this strategy better suits the current game. Upon crossing halfway, he hands the ball over to Edwards.

Using up the attacking time down to 8 seconds remaining, Edwards continues to pass the ball to Almon Gilliam who fires up tonight and already has 11 points, the highest in the game! Even surpasses Reggie Miller's 10-point quarter record!

This time the Pacers' double-team is fast and aggressive, blocking Almon Gilliam's path, Zhang Hao attempts to assist from the back of Almon Gilliam, but Almon Gilliam can't get the pass out!

This allows Mark Jackson to concentrate on cutting off Edwards's receiving routes, while Schmitz also moves toward the free-throw line to disrupt the passing lane to Gilliam's high positions.

No solution left, Almon Gilliam throws the ball towards the three-point line's direction, trying to let the first quarter's remaining seconds slip away, this move can be said as sheer desperation, if intercepted by the opponent, it would lead to a counterattack.

The Pacers have already rushed up to grab the ball, but at this time, a hand intercepts it first! Zhang Hao, who has kept an eye on Almon Gilliam's passing motion, reaches the ball first!

At 11 minutes and 58 seconds, with two seconds left in attack time, Zhang Hao catches the ball, doesn't have time for a shooting motion, grips the ball with one hand, and hurls it towards the basket like a shot put...

Just as the ball leaves Zhang Hao's hand, the buzzer marking the end of the quarter sounds...

Accompanied by the buzzer, the ball falls from the air and drills into the basket!

The referee on the sideline confirms it, three-pointer is valid!

Tied at 27!