One Year Left to Play

Chapter 592: Chapter 182: A Legend Is Being Born!

The one who should be cooperating with your performance, I’m doing my best to act.

Xu Jicheng played this role very well.

Just like during the regular season opener, Zhang Hao had no idea he could play like this tonight.

He was just trying hard to think, make use of all available conditions, and do what he thought would help the team the most. The comeback in the final quarter, he thought it might happen, but he didn’t expect it to be so fierce: 6 out of 9 shots in 7 minutes, and 5 out of 5 free throws!

Scoring 21 points in a single quarter, this is also the only 20+ point quarter in a playoff debut in NBA history since detailed data has been recorded.

So, there’s a need to make some noise to relieve the excitement.

Otherwise, what if the excitement causes a collapse of his persona?

Mr. Zhang is a popular idol after all!

After making some noise, Xu Jicheng’s excitement also subsided; the questions he just asked weren’t professional at all, more like a brainless fan.

After adjusting his state, Xu Jicheng entered professional mode: "Aix, tonight you made history. Are you proving with your actions that you are just as excellent in the playoffs? Proving that Asians can also play basketball?" ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

"I am not proving anything, just playing the game well, not getting discouraged if I don’t play well, and not thinking I’m so great if I do. I can’t represent a skin color or a country, I’m just a basketball player. I hope I can play well and inspire some people, regardless if they’re athletes or not. I hope to become a spiritual pillar for a group of people, but I don’t think I’m something extraordinary."

Zhang Hao felt from Xu Jicheng that at some point, this truly basketball-loving sportsman’s basketball dream had been entrusted to him, Mr. Zhang.

It’s not just Xu Jicheng; such emotions, Zhang Hao could also feel from the fans on site.

He even believes that many people in front of the TV, just like he once wished his dreams and immersion onto an NBA star, are viewing him as a spiritual pillar.

Similarly, he realized a sense of responsibility in his heart at some point.

This kind of responsibility is joyous. Pressure? There is, but unlike other pressures, this one is more about motivation.

Xu Jicheng heard genuine feelings in Zhang Hao’s words, and a thought arose in his mind—supporting such a person and athlete is really great!

...

After Zhang Hao finished his interview with the Imperial Channel, a large group of reporters still waited for interviews. Apart from spending 10 minutes taking a shower, from the end of the game at 7 PM to 9:30 PM, there were reporters by his side continuously, whether a group of reporters or exclusive interviews from major media outlets...

They couldn’t get many answers, but the reporters were so persistent.

The game itself was tiring enough, first with frantic defense draining his energy to the limit, then gulping his own sweat, and going all out for more than half a quarter on defense and counterattack... by the time he rested on the bench, he was almost exhausted.

But the post-game interviews were even more exhausting!

Luckily, it’s finally over. But back home, since Britney came over, Aprile Clark and Britney, who somehow became best friends, wanted to sleep together, so Zhang Hao couldn’t find anyone to give a head massage.

Luckily, there were rewards to find solace in.

"Specially signed player Zhang Hao played 34 minutes in this game, helping the Lakers defeat the Kings. Congratulations to the host for earning 5 days of longevity rewards in total.

Since this game was a playoff, the winning rewards are doubled. Congratulations to the host for earning an additional 5 days of longevity rewards."

"Specially signed player Zhang Hao broke the playoff single-game scoring record held by the original three-second zone king George Mikan. Congratulations to the host for earning a reward: Bronze Medal: Zone Dominance."

"Zone Dominance (Bronze) (Exclusive to Zhang Hao): When Zhang Hao shoots within a 3-foot (0.91 meters) radius centered around the basket, it’s always easier to find his shooting rhythm."

Another exclusive medal...

Zhang Hao felt a bit regretful. The exclusive medals look impressive, but in reality, when he finally becomes a coach, ordinary medals might be more effective. It’s like the difference in a game between equipping something that’s bound upon wearing or not—equipment that’s bound is always less valuable.

"Is this preparing for the day when I can’t bear it as a head coach and rip off my suit to play?"

Regarding the distance given by the skill, Zhang Hao knew that at the beginning of basketball games, the set offensive three-second area length was only half the current distance to the free-throw line, roughly just over 2.8 meters, same as the basket height. Due to George Mikan, the league extended this distance to about 5.7 meters.

Furthermore, the width of the three-second area, meaning the distance of the baseline, was 6 feet, or 1.82 meters long. Because George Mikan was so accurate with his hook shots in this area, the league also doubled this width to 12 feet. The distance from below the basket to the edge of the three-second area became 1.82 meters.

Later, because Chamberlain could directly leap from outside the three-second area for alley-oop dunks, the league was forced to widen the three-second area again, leading to today’s 4.9-meter-wide three-second area, finally curbing Chamberlain’s direct dunking from outside.

The next three-second area rule change would probably wait until O’Neal’s peak period when his weight exceeded 145 kilograms, establishing the defensive three-second rule to prevent O’Neal from staying in the basket area for too long, maintaining the most terrifying rim protection deterrent, and allowing for early double-teaming to cooperate with the offensive three-second rule to prevent O’Neal from easily receiving the ball for a dunk...