Chapter 827 - 259: This Is My Horse! (6K)

The head coaches of both teams are not changing their tactics, despite the pressure, the players are playing with high spirits.

Zhang Hao and Grant Hill have both gotten into the groove.

Zhang Hao has adjusted to the rhythm of the game, making assists as soon as he passes, feeling great, occasionally utilizing his excellent judgment on teammates’ and opponents’ movements to facilitate team offense, feeling even better when teammates make the shot.

Grant Hill’s playstyle is completely different from Zhang Hao’s, focusing mainly on orchestrating the team’s offense, not caring much about whether his passes count as assists. He also needs to take tough shots or seize fleeting opportunities to score when necessary.

Off the court, they’re gentlemen, but on the court, both Zhang Hao and Grant Hill see each other as the biggest rivals, since they entered the NBA in the same era, just a year apart.

In comparison, Zhang Hao clearly has an advantage with teammates, having both Kenny Anderson and Barkley as All-Star level teammates, although other teammates are a bit weaker, mostly specialized roles. Grant Hill has more capable role-player teammates but no All-Star level teammates; Joe Dumars is barely All-Star level. So, in terms of teammates, Zhang Hao holds the advantage.

But fairness or not doesn’t matter, even Jordan had Pippen and Rodman by his side. Zhang Hao never denied that his excellent performance in the NBA up to now has largely depended on his teammates.

Both are fully immersed in the duel against each other. Zhang Hao faces Jerome Williams’ dogged one-on-one defense and Grant Hill’s help defense. Grant Hill needs to deal with Zhang Hao’s interference on outside shots and double-team defense in mid-range areas. Both need to connect the team offense under such defense.

In organizing the offense, Grant Hill finds teammates better, but Zhang Hao has Barkley and Kenny Anderson, achieving higher success rates.

The situation remained tense until the end of the third quarter, with the Lakers leading the Pistons by 81 to 80, coming back with a third-quarter score of 28 to 25 against the Pistons.

However, in crucial moments, individual abilities become more important, especially the personal abilities of outside stars often have a greater impact than those of inside stars.

Since the second quarter, Grant Hill focused on helping defend Zhang Hao, showing greater experience in energy distribution than before. In the beginning of the fourth quarter, he launched an all-out attack, leading the team to a 13-5 run, putting the Pistons ahead 93-86, leading the Lakers by 5 points just 3 minutes into the fourth quarter!

Kenny Anderson unsuccessfully attempted a stop-and-jump shot against Joe Dumars. The Pistons steadily advanced, executing a three-point play, with Joe Dumars, who just made a defensive play, receiving the ball for a three-point shot...

It looked like they could start the fourth quarter with a run to widen the gap, but unfortunately, Joe Dumars missed the shot.

Just as Del Harris prepared to call a timeout and sub Barkley back in after securing their rebound, a figure shot towards the frontcourt like lightning, with Grant Hill, Jerome Williams, and Joe Dumars giving chase... the distance grew bigger!

The Magician grabbed the defensive rebound and made a long pass to Zhang Hao. Zhang Hao activated his "Single Rider" at full power; after taking a breath at the start of the fourth quarter, he recovered the energy he had right after halftime. This finally paid off, completing a fast-break dunk for two points!

Grant Hill exerted all his strength, attempting to widen the gap before Barkley was subbed back in at the start of the fourth quarter. After painstakingly creating a 7-point lead, Zhang Hao’s fast-break dunk reduced it back down to 5 points.

Crucially, Grant Hill needed to catch his breath at this moment. In the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, the Lakers scored only 6 points, with no free throws made and no three-pointers, shooting 3 of 7. It wasn’t particularly bad, mainly due to Grant Hill’s dominance, as the Pistons scored in the first 6 possessions of the fourth quarter, roaring with 13 points to a 13-7 stretch, a product of Grant Hill’s full effort, contributing 8 out of those 13 points himself.

But when Grant Hill experienced a drop in stamina from his fierce attack, Zhang Hao still appeared energetic, even seeming faster than when the previous quarter ended!

This situation has arisen again! It wasn’t the first time Grant Hill has encountered this!

In fact, the Pistons have been cautious from the beginning, intending not to allow themselves to be worn down by the Lakers or overpowered by Zhang Hao in the end. They made many preparations, aiming to establish an advantage during regular time.

Yet tonight, Zhang Hao with 8 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, Barkley with 27 points, 9 rebounds, and Kenny Anderson with 22 points, amid the disadvantage of role players, the Lakers managed to keep the score tight—now we’re entering Zhang Hao’s moment!

Subsequently, Grant Hill scored again, making a turnaround floater in the paint, boosting his personal score to 33 points, and the Pistons reclaimed a 7-point lead.

But as soon as he took the shot, Zhang Hao burst towards the frontcourt. Although Jerome Williams’ playstyle resembles that of one of the Pistons’ best former defenders—Dennis Rodman, adept at sticking to opponents and tirelessly defending, his skills are far from Rodman’s level.