Chapter 796 - 249: I Didn’t Say You’re Short! (Part 2)

When it comes to exceptions, only the Bulls stand out.

The Bulls’ performance is remarkably stable; even mid-season, they maintain the same level as they did at the start of the season.

On the afternoon of January 1st, the media and fans were enthusiastically discussing Zhang Hao’s outstanding performance in December - three games scoring 50+ points, one game with 60+, and raising his average points per game to 31.3, just behind Jordan’s 31.5. In his sophomore year, he’s already competing with Jordan for the scoring title...

Among active players, who was the last sophomore to start competing for the scoring title?

Lakers’ center Shaq O’Neal.

However, O’Neal lost the scoring title to David Robinson in the last game during his sophomore year and only secured it in his junior year.

What will happen with Zhang Hao?

Not counting the two seasons when Jordan was retired for a year and a half, since Jordan’s junior year, it’s not that no one has competed with him for the scoring title, or that no one challenged him, rather many have tried.

Dominique Wilkins, Chris Mullin, Karl Malone, Darrell Ellis, Ewing... many stars have tried, but all failed.

Moreover, except for Malone, none of them even came close.

Many who aimed for the scoring title started with average scores similar to Jordan, but by mid-season, while Jordan’s average at the season’s start may have been twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty points, it would surge to an average of thirty-two, thirty-three by the season’s end.

Throughout his career, Jordan has played 796 games, averaging 31.9 points per game, ranking first in history, 1.8 points higher than Chamberlain, who used to hold the historical average scoring record.

Although Zhang Hao is currently very close to Jordan in average points per game, based on historical competition with Jordan, most people are not optimistic about Zhang Hao’s chances of taking the scoring title.

...

The media and fans are fervently discussing matters related to Zhang Hao, and in many fans’ minds, NBA players wholly belong to basketball.

But in reality, players have more time not playing basketball than playing.

After playing against the Celtics, the Lakers have 3 days off; on the first day of 96, there’s no game, and only on the 2nd will they start the new year’s first game, the 3rd of four consecutive home games, against the Hornets.

Del Harris did not arrange training on December 30th and 31st; he realized that after 31 games at the start of the season, despite achieving a 26-5 record, the players were very exhausted.

Fatigue, negative emotions toward the game, are all increasing, and not yet at the peak. This will continue to grow through mid-season until the All-Star weekend break...

This is inevitably going to happen; the Bulls’ situation is a rare exception among exceptions.

Even Zhang Hao, with two days of rest, only trains with crossover moves for six hours from 7 am to 2 pm, and in the afternoon, plays video games, goes shopping with his girlfriend, or takes the little girl who ran to him after Christmas to watch cartoons to cultivate her taste...

On the 1st, the Lakers started preparing for the game against the Hornets.

Zhang Hao is very happy to have received the Player of the Month award; every award gives a great sense of achievement.

But...

"Aix, look, how’s my hairstyle?"

After the lunch break, before afternoon training started, Barkley came to Zhang Hao’s side.

Seeing Barkley, Zhang Hao never thought Barkley would care about hairstyles.

Now, he realizes he was wrong!

"Mr. Barkley, is this a wig?"

"That’s right, I went back to Los Angeles last month and got someone to custom-make this wig. Look, doesn’t it fit well? You can’t tell it’s a wig, can you?"

Looking at Barkley proudly showing off his hairstyle, Zhang Hao couldn’t help but quip, "You really can’t tell; wearing this makes you about as tall as Mr. Jordan."

"I am naturally as tall as him!"

"Yes, yes, the same height, though I think you’d look better with a watermelon head... I just realized 206 cm and 198 cm can be a head apart."

"When was I ever a head shorter than you! I can reach your chin! Stand still! Don’t run..."

After a bit of commotion, Barkley ultimately couldn’t catch up to Zhang Hao.

Although he was exasperated, being able to joke with Zhang Hao was quite delightful for Barkley.

This was the rare opportunity to see Zhang Hao’s lively side.

Watermelon head?

The hairstylist suggested that when Barkley went to get a custom wig.

But what’s the point of that?

In the lounge, looking at himself in the mirror with cornrows longer than Ben Wallace, Barkley felt immensely satisfied, thinking he looked really cool!

...

...

On January 2nd, the Lakers’ new year’s first match was underway.

Facing the Hornets, one of this year’s most surprising teams, Glenn Rice averaging 26.5 points per game. Clifford Robinson and Little Anthony Mason, both inside players, average over 5 assists per game, with the team scoring an average of 101 points, conceding 97.2, excelling in both offense and defense. They’re competing for rank with the New York Knicks, Hawks, Pistons, and Heat, with a 21-11 record, currently ahead of the Knicks and Pistons, trailing the Hawks and Heat, ranked fourth.

At 7 pm, the game between the Lakers and the Hornets began at the Lakers’ home court.

Tonight, O’Neal got off to a great start, while Zhang Hao and Kenny Anderson had a poor performance.

The Hornets’ Clifford Robinson and Little Anthony Mason’s inside duo greatly limited breakthroughs, running shots, and cuts, effectively restraining Zhang Hao and Kenny Anderson.