No.1 in basketball scoring-Chapter 838 - 360. Unexpectedly Achieved Tactical Objective

Howard looked bewildered as Zhang Yang scored back-to-back chasing threes right in front of Morris Evans and Turkoglu, leaving them cracked.

Even though they saw Zhang Yang make such shots last round, they still couldn’t react in time this round; as they rushed up, Zhang Yang had already lifted the ball and jumped, completely undisturbed.

This environment for a chasing shot felt no different than training to Zhang Yang, who had just made one!

The Magic Team players were dumbfounded, while the Bobcats players were thrilled to no end, high-fiving and chest-bumping with Zhang Yang after transitioning back to defense.

Mike Miller: So three-pointers can be this exciting!

He seemed to have opened the door to a new world, but upon seeing this new horizon, he felt a bit disheartened, knowing full well he couldn’t enter this new world.

His speed was never enough to be the spearhead of a counterattack; he could only trail to respond, and his stop-and-go ability was quite average... Fortunately, after experiencing the most cruel setbacks last season, he merely felt a bit downhearted without a complete mental breakdown.

As Turkoglu came over, he immediately focused on defense and did everything he could.

When it came to the Magic Team’s offense, Howard wouldn’t let his draft mate mess around anymore and positioned himself low, relying on Brad Miller to demand the ball.

Seeing this, Nelson, who wanted to force it, had no choice but to lob the ball to Howard.

Brad Miller suddenly stepped back the moment Howard caught the ball.

With the support behind him gone, Howard instinctively jumped, dunking the ball with both hands into the basket!

Big White Bear: ???

Beast: I have no idea how I scored...

Mainly about how the body’s reaction is faster than the brain!

Zhang Yang ran over and urged to throw in the ball, and Howard, who didn’t have time to celebrate his beautiful dunk, quickly retreated on defense. Seeing Zhang Yang force another fast break, the Magic Team players also retreated with all their might.

Zhang Yang pushed hard on the fast break but didn’t score; however, a mismatch was created, and he passed the ball to Felton, who had Lewis blocking him!

Felton took a step and sprinted past, while Lewis couldn’t even manage a minimal block to slow him down. Turkoglu, intercepting from the middle, missed, leaving only Howard under the basket to shift towards the right side of the three-second zone line to block Felton’s floater.

Felton hit the ground with the ball, and Okafor cut in from the left side, took the pass, and flew for a slam dunk to score two points.

The Bobcats team scored 3 consecutive successful baskets, leading 8 to 2 at the start!

Beast was quite helpless with this shot. For him, the most challenging aspect to defend on the Bobcats wasn’t Zhang Yang or Okafor, but Felton’s close-range floaters!

Felton’s floating shot distance, developed over three years, is just inside the elbow zone distance. This is his limit position after three years of practice.

This distance is very awkward for Howard guarding the basket alone. If the opponent is a bit further, the wings can help block in time, and Howard doesn’t need to extend all the way to the sideline; if closer, he can disturb them stepping on the arc of the charge circle.

Howard doesn’t need to worry about normal offense; Nelson can’t get past Felton in one-on-one play, and Felton can’t get past Nelson one-on-one either. But in this mismatch, Felton charges forward, and Howard has to move up preemptively, leaving someone uncovered behind.

On the sideline, Carlisle gives a thumbs up for Zhang Yang’s offensive choices this round: "Jack’s playing style is just comfortable to watch. He always knows how to leverage advantageous situations."

Vincent responds: "Yes, his aggressive fast break this time leveraged the threat of those chasing threes he scored in the last two rounds, disrupting the opponent’s transition defense. Both the second and third positions rushed to stop him, while Nelson had to front Mike for the pass, creating a perfect solo opportunity for Raymond."

Carlisle: "But what I like more is his execution capability. I merely suggested he try chasing shots more tonight; he saw the opportunity at the start and striked decisively. He learns a skill and is confident enough to use it in the game. That’s probably why he went from zero to Scoring King in just five years!"

After practicing chasing shots for half a month, Zhang Yang began being confident to use this move in the game, though not typically during counterattacks. In the past few games, there were 5 chasing shots from long twos and threes combined, averaging less than one per game with a mediocre hit performance, making just 2 of 5.

Because in the previous two games with the Magic Team, Howard grabbed offensive rebounds with surprising leaps, Carlisle had already focused heavily on these two matches against the Magic Team since the Bulls game, thinking hard to limit Howard’s offensive boards, losing another circle of hair in the process.

During the game against the Toronto Raptors, he came up with the idea when he saw Bosh miss a three-pointer, and Zhang Yang leap for the rebound, pushing for a counterattack and making a chasing long two-pointer.

This season, Zhang Yang averages 5.3 rebounds, considered quite good for a guard, and has strong rebound-driving counterattack skills... Therefore, whenever feasible, have the two center forwards focus solely on preventing Howard from getting offensive rebounds, letting Zhang Yang handle the boards.

The typical Coach couldn’t come up with such a plan, but influenced by Bikstaff...

Vincent: "Maybe he’s always wanted to play this way, using the game to enhance this skill, merely worried about missing affecting the team’s offense. Now that you’ve instructed him to play this way, he’s got no worries. Even if he misses, it’s your directive."

Carlisle pondered for a moment before agreeing: "Jack... it’s... possible..."

On the court, the Magic Team, trailing 2 to 8 at the start, did not lose heart. The confidence gained from winning the previous two encounters with the Bobcats let the Magic Team, predominantly composed of young players, withstand the pressure Zhang Yang imposed.

Howard moves to the low post for the ball and continues one-on-one with Brad Miller.

There’s always media and fans saying Howard’s one-on-one ability isn’t great, but they mostly compare him to O’Neal and Yao Ming. Naturally, his offense seems full of flaws compared to them.

Peak O’Neal could play 40 minutes per game and get 30 points, and the currently peaking Yao Ming can average 25 points in just over 30 minutes. Even if Howard shoots to exhaustion, he only gets around 20 points a game, so you can’t really compare.

But compared to most centers in the league, Howard’s explosive power before his decline is top-notch!

Brad Miller can’t hold up at all, luckily Okafor double-teams in time, Howard quickly grabs the ball to avoid a turnover, he wants to pass to the wing, but can’t see anyone!

Considering that Howard only makes direct passes and has poor vision, passing across people results in turnovers nine times out of ten; Okafor’s double-teaming was very effective this time.

But Howard has Turkoglu!

Turkoglu willingly rounds to the right side of the free-throw line, receives the pass from Howard, facing Mike Miller’s chase defense, Turkoglu swiftly swings the ball to the right sideline, Lewis shoots from the right side three-point line... it’s a score!

5-8, Magic Team closes the gap!

Howard maintains his rebounding posture and watches the ball drop into the hoop. As he lowers his head to prepare for defense back, he sees Zhang Yang rushing in!

The defensive rebound enthusiasm like he fell into a drain stunned Howard for a moment, and when he reacted, Zhang Yang had already picked up the ball, retreated out of the baseline, and threw the ball to the free-throw line!

Howard missed the chance for interception and steal!

Felton receives the ball to push the counterattack, the speed not so fast, and gets blocked outside the top arc. Nelson and the chasing Howard double-team from front and back, he passes to the right side... Zhang Yang follows straight into the paint, Lewis, Morris Evans, and Turkoglu proceed to triple-team.

The Double Guns draw the opponent’s defense to the top arc and right side area, Zhang Yang jumps up... passes!

Mike Miller just reaches the left sideline, the ball arrives, he takes it, chasing three-point shot... also in!

11-5, Bobcats lead by 6 points again!

Transition between offense and defense, after acting as a spot shooter for two rounds, Nelson finally calms down, stops stubbornly wrestling with Zhang Yang and Felton, and signals for a pick-and-roll.

Turkoglu steps up to block Felton for Nelson, Nelson breaks in, Howard and Lewis dilate the defense inside and outside, Nelson passes to the left side... Morris Evans receives the ball for a layup and scores!

This time, Howard retreats directly when Morris Evans shoots without trying to rush for a rebound, he backs off directly.

Picking up the ball for a quick release, Zhang Yang feels somewhat regretful after just rushing for a few rounds, there’s no more chance to keep pushing.

No choice, their lineup’s counter attack speed is just like that, unlike the Nuggets Team, Phoenix Suns, Warriors Team with the ability to keep fast-break alive constantly.

However, Zhang Yang is the only one regretting, the coach and other players are happy, he too feels happy amidst the regret as a side goal is unexpectedly achieved – using counter-attack threats to lessen Howard’s rebounding.

Actually, they didn’t hold high expectations for this goal, including Zhang Yang, Magic Team’s ability to defend fast-breaks is quite good, Howard is arguably the league’s fastest center nowadays, his ability to lead a defensive retreat ranks first among all centers, surpassing all others. Completing this goal purely relied on Zhang Yang’s two irrational chasing three-pointers at the start.

Falling into a set battle, Zhang Yang stops holding the ball, switching to a running mode looking for shooting opportunities.

Felton at the top arc initiates an attack with a pick-and-roll with Brad Miller.

Magic Team defends pick-and-roll passing cuts very well, actually, their rotational defense is quite standard, not excellent but not bad, just ordinary.

But Howard covers for two alone, staying underneath the basket, Magic Team dedicates four players on mid-to-far defense, their rotational defense target is singular – double-team the ball handler.

Van Gundy’s defensive strategy might be rough, but it brings out Howard’s defensive capacity to the maximum, Bobcats suffered a lot in previous encounters with Magic Team’s defense, their scoring performance wasn’t great.

But this time it’s different...

After Brad Miller receives the pick-and-roll from Felton, impulsivity passes it back, pauses, and lobs the ball... towards the mid-range on the right baseline!

When the Big White Bear passes, no one was there, but as the ball reaches, the wing for Zhang Yang’s off-ball screen rotates Mike Miller just in time to the position.

Ball arrives, player arrives!

Mike Miller receives Brad Miller’s lob, spins at the right baseline, takes a mid-range shot... misses, but this shot put considerable pressure on Magic Team players.

Set battle, slow-paced offense, opponents used only two passes to create an open mid-range shot opportunity!

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