85: 77.
Even More Arrogant than Big Bird: The Buzzer-Beater_3 85: 77.
Even More Arrogant than Big Bird: The Buzzer-Beater_3 With only 58 seconds left, the Celtics led the Chicago Bulls by six points, 116-110, having outscored them 35-25 in the final 11 minutes of the ga!
Just when everyone thought the Celtics had secured the win and the fans were ready to celebrate the co-from-behind victory, Jordan exploded!
Jordan began with a face-up mid-range jumper over Zhang Yang, followed by consecutive steals and fast-break scores against Dennis Johnson.
As the clock hit 11 minutes and 48 seconds left in the final quarter, Jordan scored six points in 46 seconds, helping the Bulls tie the ga!
Jordan, who racked up 16 points in the first quarter, 15 in the second, 8 in the third, and 10 in the first 11 minutes of the fourth, added these final six points for a total of 55 points, the third-highest in history, trailing only Baylor’s 61 points and Chamberlain’s 56!
And he still had a chance to score more!
With only 12 seconds left, the ga might go into overti!
The Celtics called a tiout to set up a play for ‘Bird.’
But after the tiout, it was Jordan who took on the defensive task against ‘Bird.’ ‘Bird’ barely caught the pass from his teammate with Oakley rushing up imdiately.
The Bulls’ two best defenders double-tead ‘Bird’!
‘Bird’ first looked for McHale, but the interference from Jordan and Oakley on the pass, as well as the tight coverage on McHale, made it challenging.
Then ‘Bird’ saw Dennis Johnson open and was about to pass to him, but then he noticed Zhang Yang running from the wing toward the top of the key, trailed by the opposing point guard…
Without hesitation, ‘Bird’ decisively passed it to Zhang Yang, who was closely guarded!
With 8 seconds still on the clock, Zhang Yang didn’t rush, facing Kyle Macy’s tight defense.
He steadied the ball, cald his breathing, synchronized the rhythm of his body, and took ti off the clock.
Oakley dropped back toward the paint, rejoining his defensive assignnt and ready to secure the rebound.
Impatient to double-team and prevent ‘Bird’ from getting the ball again, Jordan was anxious.
How could Macy possibly contain that guy?
But he dared not leave ‘Bird’ wide open…
As the clock dwindled to 3 seconds, Jordan couldn’t resist anymore; he lunged toward the free-throw line.
Zhang Yang made his move at that mont, faking a step forward, which caused Macy to step back half a step.
Then Zhang Yang pulled back, collected the ball, and jumped!
Jordan flew past in front of Zhang Yang, contorting his body in mid-air, stretching out an arm in an attempt to disrupt the shot; he knew he couldn’t reach the ball, but perhaps he could startle his opponent?
But Zhang Yang wasn’t fazed in the slightest, his step-back jumper steady and true.
As soon as the ball left his hands, Zhang Yang knew it was good.
After landing, Zhang Yang turned and put his hand behind his ear, listening…
Accompanied by the long buzzer signaling the end of the ga, the ball swished through the net, and the crowd erupted in an instant, cheers boiling over!
“Jack…
Jack…
Jack…”
For the first ti, the ho crowd chanted Zhang Yang’s English na in unison, thoroughly riled up.
A buzzer-beater as the shot clock expired, and Zhang Yang turned to celebrate even as the ball descended…
such audacious confidence from the rookie…
no!
Their rookie had always been audacious!
Daring to challenge ‘Bird’ right after joining the team!
As much as they still held grievances against this rookie — who ca from the place that longed for Los Angeles and idolized Chamberlain — at this very mont, they fell in love with him!
Jordan watched Zhang Yang listening with his back turned, furious and powerless.
He thought he was destined to make a big play, indeed having a crazy 46 seconds with 6 points and 2 steals…
Only to beco part of a most dramatic backdrop!
His teammates were also shocked.
This rookie was truly as arrogant as ‘Bird’!
‘Bird’ stared at Zhang Yang’s back…
damn, he got completely outplayed by that annoying rookie!
How co he hadn’t thought of celebrating straight after a ga-winning shot?
Shit!
He couldn’t do that anymore either; doing so would be imitating the rookie.
At that mont, he was more incensed than Jordan!
…
24 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and a ga-winning shot — Zhang Yang successfully won the ho crowd’s affection…
a mix of love and hate.
Perhaps when he really brings great honors to the Celtics, the fans will be able to turn the story of his first day on the team challenging ‘Bird’ into a topic of laughter.
But he didn’t care about that; his mind wasn’t on the fans.
He didn’t even attend the post-ga interview; he was ready to show no sha.
After the first two gas were done, it was ti for alternating between ho and away gas.
The first round of the best-of-five series had three days of rest during the first ho and away switch, and the Celtics were scheduled to travel to Chicago the day before the ga.
On the 20th, the first rest day, Zhang Yang still got up early.
Following the ga, he underwent ice therapy with Larry Bird, which had a pretty good effect.
Last night, he had asked the video analyst for so clips of Bird’s ga, which he watched all morning.
Approaching noon, the ‘mole’ he had paid for…
that is, the security guy, called to say Bird had entered the arena.
He picked up a dozen items that the supermarket had delivered that morning and ran to the arena.
When he got to the practice court, he saw Bird warming up.
Seeing Zhang Yang, Bird’s mood soured even further, “Wow, isn’t this Mr.
Big Heart who celebrated the buzzer-beater in advance?
I thought you’d be so happy that you wouldn’t be able to sleep for two or three days, but I didn’t expect you to be training the day after the ga…”
Zhang Yang shot back imdiately, “Did you celebrate for two or three days and couldn’t sleep after your first playoff buzzer-beater?
Sorry, maybe I’m just too cool.
Please remind in advance next ti, so I can put on an act and make you feel better.”
He saw the news at breakfast; the Boston station said he was better at showing off than Bird.
That was sarcastic.
Although he needed a favor, he still had to clap back when necessary.
Bird really wanted to curse out loud but that would an losing his composure.
This ti he really felt defeated; the guy had just scored a buzzer-beater, and it was such a domineering one too.
Jordan’s clawing action in the air was the headline background in the newspapers, and Jordan’s third-highest playoff score of 55 points in history beca a joke…
Next ti he would definitely win!
Just when Bird was about to give up arguing and continue warming up, Zhang Yang said, “Bird, teach how to post up!”
Bird turned around and then turned back, his expression full of disdain, “Teach you?
What’s in it for ?
No way.”
Zhang Yang lifted up the dozen items he was carrying, “Teach how to post up, and I’ll treat you to beer.”
Bird watched Zhang Yang for a while, stepped forward, and reached out for the beer…
Zhang Yang handed the beer to the trainer standing by.
Bird: “What do you an by this?”
Zhang Yang: “During the playoffs, the Red Auerbach banned drinking, I’ll join you for drinks after we send Jordan on vacation.”
Bird, tilting his head and stroking his beard, grunted and said, “You’ll drink against ?
That isn’t enough.”
Zhang Yang: “I have dozens more cases at ho, enough for you.”
Bird: “You’re looking for trouble, book a hospital in advance for a stomach pump.
I’ll teach you, but don’t expect to treat you with kid gloves like I would a little brother.
I’ll practice the post-up footwork in high-low positions more these few days.
You watch and learn; whether you get it or not is up to you.”
Zhang Yang: “Heh…”
That laugh again, Bird wanted to smack this rookie to death with a stool, but he held back.
If he really did it, he’d be the one getting smacked to death…
…
Zhang Yang followed Bird for two days practicing post-up moves.
True to his word, Bird only demonstrated the moves during training.
Zhang Yang wasn’t picky; he was happy just to have sothing to learn.
After arriving in Chicago in the morning of the 22nd, Bird went to the Bulls’ gym that afternoon.
Once Zhang Yang got the news, he too went, and seeing that Zhang Yang really ca along, Bird’s satisfaction with his teammate’s effort went up by 1, and his annoyance level also went up by 1…
On April 23rd, the Celtics faced off against the Bulls in the third ga of the away series.
Zhang Yang was already psychologically prepared, waiting for Jordan’s rampage…
After scoring 41 points in one ga and 55 in another, Jordan faltered in the third ga.
He made only 12 out of 33 shots, including 1 of 5 from beyond the arc; together with 6 of 8 free throws, he scored 31 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Zhang Yang seized the opportunity to counter-attack furiously, scoring 8 field goals off fast breaks alone.
With 14 of 26 shot attempts made, including 2 of 6 three-pointers and 4 of 5 free throws, Zhang Yang set a new personal playoff high with 34 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals.
119-100, the Celtics took down the Bulls with ease, completing a 3-0 sweep and advancing to the second round!
This trial did not imdiately end after the series was over.
Zhang Yang thought there would be more…
but the next day, after returning to Boston with the team, he and Bird drank dozens of bottles of beer in his apartnt, and both ended up vomiting like dogs.
That’s when the feeling of the trial being over hit him…
it was quite sothing!
…
…
5800 characters~ I made up for the 1500 words I missed yesterday, asking for monthly tickets!
And recomndation tickets!
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