There is a critical point between being omnipotent and powerless, it depends on the stage and the player’s determination.
At this mont, the live shot is full, not only capturing Hansen and Tatum high-fiving on defense, but also Jas.
Jas no longer had the smug expression he wore at the beginning of the ga, his face was extrely gloomy.
According to usual practice, he generally guards the opponent’s weakest offensive player. Considering the Kings’ two big n are full-sized and hard for him to guard, among the three on the outside, Tatum is the weakest in ability and the worst performing this season.
What’s more, no one knows his own little fan better than he does.
However, tonight, in this highly anticipated ga, where he intended to redeem himself in front of Hansen, Tatum had scored 5 points under his defense!
This was deliberately going against him!
Jas could no longer stand it, once he got the ball on the front court again, he used his killer move.
With Davis brought up for the pick-and-roll at his beckoning, Jas finally broke into the paint, bypassing Stan to slam the ball into the basket.
Landing, Jas was emotionally stirred, he roared at Tatum.
He knew Tatum was not the kind of player with strong ntal resilience.
Tatum was stunned.
In fact, Jas’ understanding was quite accurate, even the mature Tatum was not a player to be relied upon in critical monts.
"This is the real LeBron." But at this mont, Hansen appeared beside Tatum.
Winning embraces, post-ga player tunnel is one aspect, Jas is a typical utilitarian: when you are of use to him, you are friends, brothers, when you lose value, then to him, you’re no different from a stranger.
The most classic examples are "in history" Anthony and Westbrook’s efforts to join Jas ended in situations more miserable one after the other.
Tatum ca back to his senses, his gaze becoming determined again.
The childhood idol was completely shattered at this mont, yet he felt neither regret nor sadness, but was glad to learn this early on.
On the Kings’ offense, Hansen was imdiately double-tead as soon as he got the ball this ti.
Although Tatum had perford well since the start of tonight’s ga, in the Pelicans’ eyes, the biggest threat was still Hansen, and Tatum was just capitalizing on the opportunities Hansen created.
Judging by that, it was true, but Hansen’s mindset had already changed.
Originally, he was prepared to open the offense with his solo performance as he did in past gas this season, but Tatum’s performance tonight earned his trust.
So once the double-team ca, he imdiately passed the ball to Tatum.
The Pelicans’ defensive rotation was swift, and Tatum didn’t get a direct shot opportunity.
Sabonis proactively stepped up for the high pick, but Davis wasn’t successfully screened by Sabonis.
Hansen was montarily stunned by this.
It wasn’t the stellar Pelican defense that surprised him, but rather the Pelican switched defenders, Jas, who was originally matched against Tatum, went to defend Stan!
It had to be Jas, besides being incredibly injury-prone, he also had a quick mind for matchups.
Tatum’s choice at this point was unexpected, when seeing Davis not screened, he did not give up the attack, instead suddenly changed direction to the left and accelerated through the gap between Davis and Bradley!
No one had expected it, at this mont, Tatum’s decisiveness was unprecedented.
When the Pelicans realized it, it was too late, Tatum had already penetrated inside the free-throw line.
However, just as he was about to accelerate and jump, Jas left Stan on one side and moved under the basket.
Convinced that his previous roar had shaken Tatum, he decided to give his little fan a deep lesson.
He tid his leap to block Tatum’s layup.
Yet once again, his judgnt proved incorrect, Tatum had no intention of making a layup, or rather upon seeing Jas, he abandoned the layup idea.
Hansen also sensed sothing, focusing his gaze on Tatum.
Only to see Tatum suddenly spring up like a bolt out of the blue, taking the ball to the apex in mid-air.
Jas jumped almost simultaneously.
But at that mont, Tatum showed his youthful advantage, jumping slightly higher than Jas.
It was just that bit, which left the ball Tatum elevated higher than Jas’ blocking hand by half a hand length.
"Bang!"
In the incredulous stares of everyone present, Tatum completed a dunk over Jas!
Jas’ blocking hand did not touch the ball, but as it hit Tatum’s shoulder, it couldn’t stop Tatum from finishing this poster dunk.
The scene went into madness.
Honestly, Hansen didn’t expect Tatum to suddenly beco so fierce.
But that wasn’t all.
Landing, Tatum showed extre excitent, directly roaring back at Jas!
What Jas gave him, he returned!
No, not just returned, he even actively bumped into Jas’ body.
At that mont, Hansen truly felt Tatum’s determination.
Tatum used this way to say goodbye to his childhood idol, throwing away that "awkwardness" always tucked in the bottom of his heart.
Jas at this point seed a bit dazed, he was not infuriated by the poster dunk, but instead chanically received the ball from Davis thrown from the backcourt.
Seeing the bad situation, Gentry stretched out his hand to call a tiout.
As they ca off court, Hansen proactively went over and patted Tatum on the head.
"Well done."
This was the first ti since Hansen ca to the Kings that he gave Tatum a direct and positive acknowledgnt.
Tatum nodded vehently, it was clear he was very excited at this mont.
Not just because of such affirmation from Hansen, but more importantly, he truly experienced the impact of the determination Hansen talked about.
Playing with determination would make him stronger than before, it was truly possible to win gas.
After the tiout, Pelicans stepped up their marking on Tatum.
Not only did the previous dunk fully showcase Tatum’s personal ability, but it also demonstrated his hot streak tonight.
In this situation, Pelicans had no choice but to focus defensively on him.
However, doing so ant they inevitably reduced their defense on Hansen.
Then quickly, Hansen showed again his determination to win this ga that he had already exhibited at the start.
Does it matter if there’s a gap in team strength?
Just as with the Grizzlies and Knights before, as long as teammates provided Hansen support, pulled away part of the defense, Hansen beca a player in this league that couldn’t be defended.
Finally, under Hansen’s lead with 48 points, the Kings defeated the Pelicans 108 to 98 in this spotlight showdown.
In a season where scores often reached 120 or even 130 , the level Pelicans showed tonight was top of the league, yet they still couldn’t handle Hansen.
Davis’s empty 31 points and 16 rebounds big double-double now made him the league’s number one interior player.
Jas got near triple-double stats with 20 points, 10 boards, 9 assists.
At the post-ga press conference, Tatum once again attended alongside Hansen.
He made 15 of 10 shots tonight, getting 26 points, 7 boards, 3 assists, another brilliant performance after the previous ga against the Warriors.
"I just wanted to win this ga, I kept reminding myself of that during the ga."
Tatum talked about his determination when discussing his performance tonight.
"Are you worried about your performance fluctuating again?" a journalist pressed on.
Knowing that after the last ga against the Warriors, the outside world briefly thought Tatum had finally arrived.
But the subsequent gas proved it was just a flash in the pan.
"No, I’ve found the way to win." Tatum said, turning his head to look at Hansen beside him.
Journalists also imdiately turned their gaze towards Hansen.
Hansen smiled and nodded, "We will see the real Jason Tatum."
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