Finally over!

In the third quarter, he was practically coasting the whole time, defending under the basket, got dunked on by Kemp, becoming part of the picturesque backdrop. It was all thanks to Van Exel and Doug Christie combining for 19 points in a single quarter to hold the line. In the final quarter, he finally had the energy to help his teammates.

This is the benefit brought by improved game experience. After playing for so long, facing a team as unique as the SuperSonics, Zhang Hao made good use of many things.

Zhang Hao just felt the SuperSonics were very unique. Throughout the game, he was worried that George Karl would make a major adjustment, and then the opportunity that the Lakers had worked so hard to seize would completely collapse.

In terms of strength, the SuperSonics are the superior side. The opportunities that the Lakers can seize are tactical flaws of the SuperSonics. Although there aren’t many of them, they are not easy to fix. But if the SuperSonics change their approach and make tactical changes, the Lakers would be at a loss.

Zhang Hao has experienced the true strength of a championship-level team with the Bulls. They are really super strong.

But the SuperSonics made no changes at all...

This reminded Zhang Hao of the Nuggets knocking out the SuperSonics in the first round two years ago. That upset was simply unbelievable. The SuperSonics lost 2-3 in the first round, and in the two games they won, they won by at least 24 points. Yet, the SuperSonics steadfastly refused to address the holes exposed in the games and ended up being taken advantage of by the Nuggets, who turned a 1-2 situation into a 3-2 victory, accomplishing the upset.

This time was the same. Seizing the flaws in SuperSonics’ tactics, and after Payton’s reckless play in the first quarter gave them a small lead, they withstood the fierce offensive of the SuperSonics in the first quarter, only trailing by 1 point. Created an advantage in the second quarter, kept the score tight in the third quarter, withstood the counter-attacks in the fourth quarter... and won smoothly!

The SuperSonics made no changes!

"No wonder the SuperSonics’ roster is no worse than the Bulls, their teamwork is no worse than the Bulls, and their defensive execution is no worse than the Bulls, yet the difference in their records is so vast..."

He was very focused during the game. After the final buzzer, Zhang Hao noticed Kemp, who kept laying hands on him during the game, and Payton, who couldn’t help but curse, were staring at him.

Specifically, it’s the increased physicality he encountered after the second half of the second quarter and the more aggressive defense he faced in the third quarter, which was why he coasted in the third quarter, simply to draw attention away.

As for Payton, who isn’t even as good as a nagging woman, Zhang Hao ignored him. As for Kemp... it’s said that the SuperSonics plan to give Kemp a big contract when it’s time to renew next year. By then, Kemp would be done for, not important.

After catching his breath, Zhang Hao was about to head back to the locker room for therapy when reporters, who had just interviewed Fan the Madman—Van Exel—and saw Payton lose his temper, stopped him.

"Exel, Nick said you easily found a way to deal with the SuperSonics’ defense, that it was your coordination that linked up the offense well in the second half, and said you are the strongest high schooler in history... Are you using actual actions to refute Kemp’s words that you’re not as good as him?"

Found a way easily... Zhang Hao really wanted to complain!

Three days!

Do you know how I spent the past three days?

Every day, whenever I had time, I researched during the day and even studied it in my sleep.

Indeed, the SuperSonics didn’t change, but that was just a pleasant surprise. While doing that research, I had to worry about the SuperSonics making targeted changes during the match, and the research would all be in vain, but still had to grit my teeth and push through the research...

And the title of the strongest high schooler in history, why has it come up again?

Zhang Hao felt his combat power should have increased from 8000 to 8500...

At this moment, on the side of the court while getting ready to head to the parking lot to wait for Zhang Hao, Aprile Clark felt someone was talking about how beautiful she is...

After a moment of silence, Zhang Hao told the reporter: "Kemp hasn’t gotten into college yet? He’s been playing for so many years; he shouldn’t neglect his studies. Be careful not to go bankrupt after retiring."

...

...

wins 13 losses, the Lakers avenged themselves against the SuperSonics and regained the top spot in the West!

It certainly is surprising.

From the perspective of the two teams, it’s Zhang Hao’s progression + Lakers’ well-timed strategy, SuperSonics’ rigid adaptation, and the Lakers narrowly won the game.

But to others, the idea that the Lakers could defeat a strong team like the SuperSonics at this point was unexpected.

However, the topic of whether the Lakers can do something in the playoffs hasn’t yet heated up, but the trash talk incident of Zhang Hao VS Payton and Kemp got really popular!

Zhang Hao is a bona fide rising star in Los Angeles’ sports scene. Even the Los Angeles Dodgers plan to invite Zhang Hao to participate in the opening pitch ceremony on April 2nd.

For the Lakers’ home game against the SuperSonics, and the last regular-season matchup with them, many people with cameras came to take photos or video before the game.

The scene where Zhang Hao and Payton were talking at the scorer’s table before the game was captured, coincidentally, the photographer could lip read, didn’t notice at the time, but later did, and sold the conversation content to a newspaper...

"Unlike you, spending my salary on a Ferrari doesn’t hurt. Be careful not to go bankrupt."

"My Ferrari was a gift from a sponsor."

This conversation, once published in the morning paper on March 15th, instantly went viral!

Incidentally, Zhang Hao’s post-game comment to Kemp about studying hard to avoid going bankrupt was bundled together!

After another night of game reviewing, Zhang Hao got up in the morning, ate Aprile Clark’s lovingly prepared breakfast, and read the news on the newspaper, feeling quite speechless.