Chapter 849: Enemy of 183

Chapter 849: Chapter 264: Enemy of 183

Zhang Hao thought about using the Star Experience Card, but they weren’t exactly at a complete disadvantage. The game was really tight, and it was difficult for a single star player to break the deadlock. Tim Hardaway led his team to a 9-2 run to regain the lead for the Heat, not just relying on himself, but on teamwork.

You have to admit when you’re not playing well, take the hits standing tall.

Zhang Hao didn’t make excuses; tonight they just didn’t defend as well as the opponent. In crucial moments, they didn’t perform as well as the other team. A loss is a loss; learn from the experience and lessons, and aim to play better against these types of teams next time.

This, you could say, was an early taste of the playoff-level defense from the toughest Hard Corps in the Iron Age…

Just as Zhang Hao adjusted his mindset and was leaving the court, a system notification popped up…

“Special contract player Zhang Hao lost the match against the King of Cross Step, Tim Hardaway, and encountered an ambush from 183 Club. Mission: Foe of 183 triggered.”

“Foe of 183:

Trigger match: Second regular season meeting between the Lakers and Heat this season.

Goal 1: Zhang Hao must complete at least one successful crossover to score in each quarter.

Goal 2: Zhang Hao must complete at least one block against Tim Hardaway’s crossover.

Goal 3: Zhang Hao needs to help the team win the game and avoid a regular season sweep by the Heat.

Reward: Designated Skill (King of Cross Step) Upgrade Card.”

Damn!

There really is a 183 Club!

Zhang Hao thought, why did Tim Hardaway seem extra fierce tonight? Although there was the “Taunt” buff, he and Tim Hardaway didn’t have any grudges or grievances, so why did the opponent go berserk upon seeing him? Turns out the opponent wanted to reclaim some pride for 183 cm players!

This kind of thing isn’t that hard to understand. Sometimes the grudges and feuds in this world aren’t due to anything special; people start fighting just from a glance.

But thinking of 183, Zhang Hao remembered that his own team also had a 183 cm player.

At this time, the 183 cm team boss also happened to walk into the player tunnel.

Seeing Zhang Hao’s offbeat expression in the dimly lit tunnel, Kenny Anderson reassured, “Aix, don’t be too down. The other team is really tough, they might even take down the Bulls and be our opponents in the finals. We’ll play them hard next time we meet!”

“Uh…” Zhang Hao looked down at his own boss and replied, “Boss Kenny, I don’t think they can make it to the finals; they may even struggle to reach the Conference Finals.”

“Why?”

“I noticed something.”

Kenny Anderson was curious why Zhang Hao had such a prediction, but Zhang abruptly changed the subject, and still he asked, “What is it?”

“If a team has a 183 cm player, it’s hard for them to make it to the division finals.”

“What kind of logic is that? I recall an assassin was also 183 cm.”

“Then it must be a personal issue…”

“????”

Kenny Anderson was bewildered. What’s his little brother trying to imply?

Also, he himself is 183 cm! Can’t you stop with the jinxing!

…

…

The Heat defeated the Lakers on the road, making headlines for the time being. This season, they have beaten the top three teams in the West, and they have also triumphed over the Bulls, Hawks, and Hornets in the East, with only the Knicks left to beat.

The Heat’s last game before the All-Star weekend is visiting Madison Square Garden to challenge the Knicks. They previously lost to the Knicks once, so now interest in that rematch has surged, with major TV networks already starting to heavily promote the game.

On the Lakers’ side, they faced their tenth loss of the season by a five-point margin, but there wasn’t any negative news, just a regular season game.

Moreover, in such a game, it’s about who seizes more opportunities and who can score more with individual ability.

However, it seems the Lakers aren’t accustomed to playing a team like the Heat, one that focuses entirely on defense and doesn’t care about offense. This was noted by some experts in their newspaper or magazine columns, but it didn’t cause much of a stir, because by January 31st, the NBA All-Star starting vote results were announced!

Michael Jordan, with 2.65 million votes, broke the historical record of 2.18 million votes set by Zhang Hao last season, becoming the All-Star vote leader for 1997.

The highest votes in the West went to Zhang Hao, with 2.31 million votes, ranking third in the league. Barkley, with 1.67 million votes, narrowly beat Kemp’s 1.33 million votes to become the 1997 Western Conference All-Star starting forward.

In the West guard position, Gary Payton received 1.91 million votes, ranking first among Western guards, while the Magician, with 1.32 million votes, narrowly beat Stockton’s 1.17 million votes to be selected again as an All-Star starter.

In the West center position, Olajuwon, with a slightly higher popularity of 1.48 million votes, surpassed O’Neal’s 1.39 million votes to be selected as an All-Star starter.

In the East center position, Patrick Ewing, with 1.44 million votes, beat out Alonzo Mourning’s 1.17 million votes and Dikembe Mutombo’s 550,000 votes to be named an All-Star starter.

In the forward positions, Grant Hill received 2.39 million votes, second in the league and first among Eastern forwards, joining Scottie Pippen with 1.68 million votes as All-Star starters.

With the center, forward, and the vote king Jordan at guard, these four being named All-Star starters was not surprising, but the final starting position, the other Eastern guard position… Allen Iverson, with 1.29 million votes, narrowly beat out Anfernee Hardaway’s 1.21 million votes to be an All-Star starter!

During the second voting period, Iverson’s popularity was also high, the highest among his rookie class, but he was still trailing Anfernee Hardaway by nearly 300,000 votes. However, in the last ten days, Iverson’s vote count almost doubled, overtaking Anfernee Hardaway and becoming another rookie All-Star starter!