Usually, in this situation, Malone is next to the opponent’s counterattack arrow, guarding against the opponent’s counterattack. If he can keep up with the speed, he will use rough physical pressure. If not and the team is trailing and needs to reverse the situation, he will make a rough foul to interrupt the opponent’s counterattack.
But this ti, Malone didn’t!
On the Lakers’ side, the morale was sky-high!
In this ga, Zhang Hao learned sothing new—besides using dunks to boost team morale, it seems his words also have quite an effect...
Rough, fierce, it’s indeed a very effective defense strategy. The Lakers limited the Utah Jazz’s pick-and-roll offense in the third quarter!
In the last few minutes, the Lakers defended very well. After three quarters, the Lakers led 78-68 by 10 points against the Utah Jazz!
The entire third quarter, the Lakers only allowed the Utah Jazz to score 14 points, while they scored 26 points, netting 12 points in this quarter!
Finally, in the final quarter, after the break, the Utah Jazz started to play rough.
Having been suppressed for an entire quarter, the Utah Jazz finally began to explode.
When both teams started playing rough, what was the result?
After playing for more than 8 minutes, the Lakers had 11 free throws, and the Utah Jazz had 10 free throws. The rough defense from both sides led to a lot of free throws.
At 8 minutes and 22 seconds into the fourth quarter, Zhang Hao received his sixth foul of the ga, and when switching defense on Malone, he collided with him... Upon hearing the foul, Zhang Hao imdiately rembered he had already committed six fouls and was going to be ejected. He instinctively slapped Malone’s shooting arm.
This ti, Malone was completely angry. He pushed Zhang Hao’s chest and then bumped into Zhang Hao, who steadied himself and bumped back.
The two n were head-to-head, refusing to back down, and neither side could pull them apart!
But the two didn’t fight; they just head-butted each other for a while before being pulled apart by their teammates.
The saying "a newborn calf is not afraid of the tiger, and the horizontal fears the sudden" was vividly demonstrated at this mont. When the sudden, young one cleverly takes advantage of this point, the fierce old tiger will retreat... They can’t afford a mutually damaging outco!
The referee once again warned the players on the court, indicating Zhang Hao’s sixth foul, and ejected Zhang Hao.
The Lakers’ bench was bustling, wildly cheering to welco Zhang Hao being ejected by the referee.
to 84, the Lakers are still leading by 9 points!
Returning to the bench, Zhang Hao felt he was utterly exhausted. Just now, patching up on Malone, he couldn’t control his body, otherwise, he wouldn’t have collided to receive his sixth foul. He rembered his foul count very clearly.
However, that last slap on Malone’s arm seed to have an effect. Malone stood at the free throw line and missed both shots again! This was the second ti Malone missed both free throws tonight!
The importance of a top shooter was demonstrated in the Lakers’ first attack after Zhang Hao was ejected.
Magician replaced Zhang Hao and ca back on the court. The Lakers’ whole team’s offensive movent stalled!
Although morale was high, the positioning was still not smooth.
Van Exel made a strong mid-range shot and missed!
At a critical mont, with no rim protector and no scoring ability; currently, the team is not playing much on pick-and-roll. Jason Williams was replaced after the official tiout in the fourth quarter. On the court now is the combination of Van Exel, Doug Christie, George Lynch, Magician, and Campbell, focusing on defense.
Jason Williams sat next to Zhang Hao and worriedly asked, "Aix, can we win?"
Playing with Zhang Hao for half a season, Jason Williams was gradually infected by the joy of winning and the desire for victory, growing deeper day by day.
A bit by bit, Zhang Hao felt the change from Jason Williams’ question this ti.
Zhang Hao had no idea; he didn’t know what the outco would be. He really wanted to get back on the court, and was annoyed that he didn’t manage to hold back and collided during that last defense... But it was too late, and he couldn’t do anything but hope his teammates could win the ga.
However, seeing the expectation in Jason Williams’ eyes, Zhang Hao paused and said, "Jason, you must believe in the existence of light."
Jason Williams thought about the ga tonight up to this point, having played for 27 minutes, committed 5 fouls, scored 7 points, grabbed 13 boards, and made 1 steal... What’s it all for? Why fight so fiercely in the second half?
For justice!
Jason Williams took Zhang Hao’s "light" to an justice.
Unlike Zhang Hao, who liked to sit quietly on the bench, Jason Williams got the answer he wanted and stood up to loudly cheer for his teammates, which also encouraged other teammates who were anxious after Zhang Hao was pulled out, and they all loudly cheered for their teammates.
On the Utah Jazz side, strong as ever, they seized the opportunity after Zhang Hao was substituted and launched a 7 to 2 run!
Seeing the score chased to 91 to 96, only 5 points behind, the Utah Jazz’s defense beca more focused!
No matter the process, no matter the obstacles faced along the way, as long as they win in the end, they are the winners! The opponent is just a clown!
At 11 minutes and 23 seconds into the fourth quarter, Stockton made a crucial three-pointer, as the Utah Jazz narrowed the score to 94 to 96, with the gap shrinking to only two points!
Defend, then make the last shot, drag it into overti, and the win will be theirs, the Utah Jazz’s!
At this critical mont, the Magician stood up! Leaning against Malone at the low post to ask for the ball!
A very beautiful spin, Magician spun and secured a shot space on the baseline, grabbed the ball, lifted it, locked his wrist, applied force with the palm, and along with the upward jumping motion, Magician’s close-range hook shot threw the ball out...
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