Free Web NovelChapter 598: Chapter 184: Why Don’t You Just Read Out My ID Number!
Apart from the first-round matchup possibly leading to a fast pace, this season the strong teams have adapted to the shorter three-point line and the more lenient referee calls, which has created a polarization in the strength gap, as can be seen in the playoffs.
Three teams have already advanced to the second round in just one night.
Over with the Spurs and the Blazers, it’s the only remaining series on the night of April 28.
Despite David Robinson being injured, the Spurs are still somewhat stronger as Robinson can consistently play with an average of 20+10+3+2 even while injured.
With a score of 105 to 99, the Spurs, in an away game, managed to narrowly defeat the Blazers, turning the series score to 2 to 1, thanks to All-Star level forward Sean Elliott’s 31 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals, coupled with David Robinson’s 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
Soon, as a day flew by, it was April 29, the third game day for the other four series.
In the morning, the Lakers came to the Sleep Train Arena for preparations. Del Harris repeatedly emphasized not to be complacent.
Although it is visible that Zhang Hao’s offensive performance in the playoffs is still adapting, and one can see his improvement on defense in the games, playing an additional one or two games might further enhance it. But if they can advance directly with a 3-0, of course, advancing directly is better.
After the morning pre-game meeting and the 60-minute tactical training session, Zhang Hao was intensely focused on watching the TV in the visitor’s locker room...
Yesterday, the voting for the Best Rookie and Best Rookie Team had ended, and today the awards will be announced.
Although it seemed utterly certain, a surefire win, foolproof...
But when it really came time to announce the awards, he was still a bit nervous.
No unexpected scenarios arose. At 12 noon, the NBA officially announced on a live program of the American Cable TV Station that Mr. Zhang had won the Rookie of the Year!
Also announced was the Best Rookie Team.
In the first team of rookies, led by him, also selected were Damon Stoudamire, Michael Finley, Jerry Stackhouse, and Arvydas Sabonis.
The second team, led by top draft pick Joe Smith, also included Teus Edney, Brent Barry, Kevin Garnett, Antonio McDyess, Rashid Wallace, Bryant Reeves, with Garnett and Rashid Wallace tying for votes, and Antonio McDyess being placed in the center position, tying with Bryant Reeves.
But for the votes, after Zhang Hao saw the announcement of the Rookie of the Year and Best Team lists, the TV screen switched to the voting results, and as he was frowning, Jason Williams, who was watching, spoke up first: "Aix, you weren’t unanimously chosen?"
This was exactly why Zhang Hao was frowning. freёwebnovel.com
He was unanimously chosen with 125 first-place votes in the Best Rookie Team among the 10 players selected, being the only one with an unblemished score.
For this year’s Rookie of the Year voting, with 125 voters, there were only 125 votes in total. It’s not determined by total points but calculated by vote count.
In the Rookie of the Year voting, Zhang Hao received only 124 of the 125 first-place votes!
Jason Williams, after being briefly surprised and seeing Zhang Hao’s unchanged expression, thought maybe Zhang Hao didn’t mind such a minor thing and made a quick quip before heading off to lunch.
The other Lakers team members weren’t worried at all about the Rookie of the Year going elsewhere; Zhang Hao already won the Player of the Month, so not getting the Rookie of the Month would indeed be baffling.
But who said he didn’t care?
Unanimously winning Rookie of the Year is very difficult; in NBA history, only the top draft picks Jabbar in ’69, Ralph Sampson in ’83, and David Robinson in the ’89-’90 season have done it.
But he was quite confident in winning Rookie of the Year unanimously. Combining records with stats, he thought he surely had it.
Yet, he only got 124 votes, and one vote was taken by Damon Stoudamire!
Really frustrating!
If it was a difference of a dozen or twenty votes, Zhang Hao might not feel anything.
But missing by one vote, it’s like scoring 99 points and having the last point deducted because there was a slight smudge between the two dots of the colon in a problem’s solution!
To calm himself, he looked at his rewards. Just as the award was announced, he received a notification for task completion, but he got distracted by the voting results shown on the TV.
"This is my stage (Finale): Special contract player Zhang Hao must prove to fans that he is the best rookie of the 1995 class.
Objective 1: Zhang Hao must score more than any higher-ranked rookie he encounters in upcoming games and ensure his team defeats the opponent’s team. (Terminated)
Objective 2: Zhang Hao must win the 1996 Rookie of the Year award. (Completed)
Congratulations to the host for earning: 1 Golden Lottery Draw Opportunity."
"Special contract player Zhang Hao failed to receive unanimous Rookie of the Year due to Damon Stoudamire getting one vote, activating the task: Rat Exterminator."
"Rat Exterminator:
Objective: Zhang Hao must win every encounter against Damon Stoudamire.
Task Reward: Zhang Hao will earn as many extra days of lifespan as the number of consecutive victories he holds against Damon Stoudamire, with the potential for the final lifespan reward equaling the number of consecutive wins multiplied by the number of seasons spanned if it crosses seasons."
