Chapter 840: Half the Team Is Composed of Coaches (6K)

Chapter 840: Chapter 262: Half the Team Is Composed of Coaches (6K)

Anyway, try each perimeter player and see who can defend against Payton better because the previous players didn’t work well.

…

Zhang Hao went to the scorer’s table to get some magnesium powder and stepped onto the court.

The SuperSonics sent out a lineup of Payton, Nate McMillan, Schramm, Sam Perkins, and Kemp.

Zhang Hao immediately understood their intention—strengthen the offense.

As the second in the West, their Lakers’ average points allowed per game is 104.4, nearly three points higher than the SuperSonics’ average of 101.5 points per game.

However, the Lakers’ average of 112.1 points scored per game is also outstanding in the league.

After the timeout, the SuperSonics attacked.

Zhang Hao watched Nate McMillan fishily advance and quickly glanced at the players on the court, realizing both teams have surprisingly many future head coaches!

Putting aside these scattered thoughts, Zhang Hao followed Kemp, who was running over, feeling a bit frustrated.

Although Kemp hadn’t scored any points directly against Zhang, Kemp had already scored 14 points in the over 18 minutes he’d been on the court, second only to O’Neal!

After the timeout, Kemp was calling for the ball for a face-up attack, driving towards the basket with a spin move layup and scoring!

With McIlwai as the set starter for the SuperSonics, although he averages only 18 minutes and 3.4 points and 4 rebounds per game, he has been a starter from the start of the season till now.

After gaining weight, McIlwai’s block efficiency has increased significantly, as he can withstand perimeter impact and guard most centers. His average of 18 minutes per game yields 2.1 blocks, very efficient, so starting him isn’t necessarily a bad idea.

But considering tonight’s situation, with O’Neal not playing in the starting lineup and McIlwai as a starter, it did affect the SuperSonics’ initial offense.

Now, the SuperSonics are following the Lakers’ lead on offense, no longer struggling, sending out three players who can play the 5 position, all between 206-208 cm. The offense has made substantial improvements as tall players naturally become a key point inside, but with a height of 216 cm and weight of 122 kg, it not only blocks opponents from scoring inside but also hinders teammates from scoring inside.

Without McIlwai on the court, Shawn Kemp’s powerful face-up attacking ability became more prominent.

Offense swapped to defense, and the Lakers are on offense.

Zhang Hao picked up the ball and passed it to Fisher, running to the frontcourt.

Kemp had only scored two points against him so far, but his state had already been built up since O’Neal came on, making him extremely difficult to guard.

After advancing to the frontcourt, Fisher passed the ball to Zhang Hao, who moved to the corner, with his task completed, waiting to cut or receive the ball for a shot.

Zhang Hao didn’t go for a perimeter one-on-one against Kemp but instead lobbed the ball to Barkley, who was posting up Sam Perkins in the low post, and Barkley went to work!

After seeing O’Neal complete three dunks since his return, Barkley couldn’t hold back his inner excitement either, making two pivot steps and then explosively jumping, completing a two-handed slam!

After landing, Barkley pushed the pressing Sam Perkins gently, and they exchanged smiles before turning away, one picking up the ball, and the other retreating on defense.

Both top-five picks in the class of ’84 and both inside players, Sam Perkins, the fourth pick, never matched up to Barkley, the fifth pick, throughout his career.

Sam Perkins had a rough career, being the fourth pick with Jordan ahead of him and Barkley behind him, both making the All-Rookie First Team, yet his career achievements paled compared to Olajuwon, Jordan, and Barkley, leaving him almost forgotten like the other All-Rookie First Team player from ’84, Sam Bob, who retired in ’95, leaving Perkins the only forgotten one among the five.

The worst was in 1991 when he played as starting power forward for the Lakers against Jordan in the finals; nobody recognized him as a player from the ’84 class, even though he was the fourth pick right after Jordan.

He wasn’t weak, nor was Sam Bob weak, both reaching borderline All-Star level at their peaks with sufficient career and peak durations, but the brilliance of the other three was just too dazzling!

Moreover, there were also powerful late bloomers from the same class like Stockton, quadruple-double man Elvin Robertson, All-Star & All-Defensive Team player Kevin Willis…

’84 had so many great players that guys like him, Vaughn Fleming, Edith Soper, Michael Cage, Sam Bob, etc. who had peak borderline All-Star levels—Michael even led in rebounds in the ’80s—ended up as mere embellishments of the class.

But Sam Perkins didn’t give up and was striving to become another champion from the class of ’84, with Charles Barkley right in front of him being his competitor!

The SuperSonics attacked; Zhang Hao couldn’t defend Kemp. As Kemp caught the ball and drove forcefully, Barkley immediately helped, checking Kemp’s drive. Barkley blocked the lane, Zhang Hao shielded overhead, leaving Kemp with no chance to either turn or shoot, but Sam Perkins moved to the corner.

Kemp passed the ball, and Sam Perkins received it at the corner, shooting before Magic’s defense could reach him, hitting the three-point shot!

In his first nine seasons, Sam Perkins made just a little over a hundred three-pointers, but after joining the SuperSonics, under George Karl’s requirement to shoot threes, he managed to hone his three-point shooting to a top level. Over three and a half seasons, by early January, his career three-point shots made exceeded 500, and during his time with the SuperSonics, his three-point shooting percentage reached an impressive thirty-eight-point-nine percent!