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Chapter 210: Jack made an interception!

Chapter 210: Jack made an interception!

Big Z entered the court to protect the basket, with the incredibly mobile Gooden beside him. Without a wing three-point shooter, it was very difficult for the Bobcats to score in the paint.

Felton, who had been playing for over 40 minutes, couldn’t make his outside three-pointers anymore and could only rely on Gerald Wallace and Okafor to chisel their way inside. Zhang Yang seized medium-range and fast-break opportunities, but both weren’t going well.

The Knight’s set offense was just as poor, with Ronald Murray being closely guarded by Zhang Yang. Gooden’s average mid-range shots had lost touch due to the physical play, Snow’s long shots weren’t a threat, and only Big Z’s mid-range shots were somewhat steady, but Big Z’s limited mobility meant he could only take set shots...

James had no choice but to keep charging headfirst into the breach. When his shots didn’t fall, he chose to persist, clinging to the score because he did not want to give up.

Mainly because he couldn’t accept it!

He was KING James! America’s son! Determined to replace Iverson as the future Black leader!

How could he let this newly established team trample on his dignity!

Perseverance, never giving up, would ultimately be rewarded!

After both teams scored only 3 points each in a span of 3 minutes, the defensive display started to slide with the declining stamina.

On the Bobcats’ side, mainly Felton, who had played for 45 minutes, started to lag behind James’ pace.

James had completely worn out Felton!

With 9 minutes and 11 seconds left in the final quarter, James successfully ’wore down’ Felton, drove to the basket, three steps to the hoop... and made the layup!

to 92, the Knights reduced the deficit to 3 points!

On the Knights’ side, the stamina issue was even more critical, with Gooden playing 40 minutes, Big Z for 28 minutes, Snow aging and lacking stamina, Ronald Murray’s defense being just average, and James now relying on instinct to defend.

When the Bobcats went on the offense, Zhang Yang ran around the screen to receive the ball, blocked by Snow. He didn’t force a difficult shot, instead seeing the opponent’s interior defense positioning, he decisively passed the ball, with Gerald Wallace cutting in to receive and soaring for a layup... drawing the foul, and making both free throws!

to 89, the Bobcats continued to maintain a 5-point lead.

On the Knight’s offense, Felton truly couldn’t keep up anymore, unable to follow James’ drives, Okafor had to shrink back early to join Perkins in double-teaming James’ layup attempt, James passed the ball... and Big Z made the mid-range shot!

After Zhang Yang broke the deadlock last time, neither side managed to open up the offense from that opportunity, the Knight called a timeout after he scored two consecutive baskets.

This time James broke the deadlock, and it was as if the valve for scoring was opened, with both teams hitting consecutive baskets.

At this point, James’ individual talent came to the fore, as he followed up with another drive and a floater, and even dished out a three-point assist to Damon Jones, who had replaced Snow.

The Bobcats’ offense in these several rounds was good, netting 6 points.

But the Knights scored 9 points!

With 11 minutes and 33 seconds left in the final quarter, the Knights closed in to a 96 to 98 scoreline, trailing by just two points, and they had possession of the ball!

On the Knights’ offense, James advanced to the frontcourt, the man defending the top of the arc had changed and he was feeling pumped!

Jack!

That 17-year-old rookie who had broken many of his ’youngest records’! The rookie who had vied with Kobe for the spotlight during the All-Star game! That rookie whom a few people claimed had more talent than him!

The crowd grew excited seeing Zhang Yang match up against James, but they also worried if their Jack, only 17 years old, might get hurt by the burly James.

But all they could do at that moment was shout "Defense!" and cheer for Zhang Yang.

Unlike Felton, Zhang Yang stood in a normal defensive position, one step inside the top of the arc.

James pursed his lips, ready to power through directly, using his body to crush the 17-year-old rookie in front of him, showing that small group who truly had the most talent!

He couldn’t just bulldoze his way through Felton, as the opponent’s stocky build really did absorb the impact and he was too short, raising his elbows might result in hitting the opponent’s head, who was recklessly stubborn to avoid it, earning James an offensive foul in the first half.

Zhang Yang was different, with the height of a standard point guard... It’s on!

James’ eyes turned towards the hoop, as if there was no one in front... The ritual began!

Spotting his teammate moving into a position to execute strategic play, James accelerated directly towards the right front, and at that moment, he could no longer suppress the smirk creeping onto his lips...

The confrontation came, but it lacked the familiar sensation of bulldozing past a frail guard; he only grazed something with the left side of his body.

A "slap" rang in James’s ears, followed by the realization that his hand whiffed the air on his next dribble!

James, looking up and flaring his nostrils at Zhang Yang, failed to notice that as he took off towards the right, Zhang Yang had circled around to his left rear!

Zhang Yang slapped the ball from behind as James dribbled, seizing it and launching a counterattack!

The crowd was instantly electrified, chanting "gogogo" frantically!

Time Warner Cable Sports commentator Bill Walton was also shouting the familiar phrase known to old Celtics fans—"Steal! Jack’s got the steal!"

Charge!

Zhang Yang dashed toward the frontcourt with all his might!

After crossing the free-throw line, Zhang Yang grabbed the ball, took a couple of strides, and jumped. A layup? No! He leaped with full force, slamming the ball into the basket with one hand!

The crowd gasped as Zhang Yang lifted the ball, then erupted into cheers!

Just as Zhang Yang slammed the ball through the hoop, a hand reached out over his head... but it swung at nothing!

James, after a whiffed steal and staggering nearly to a fall, turned around in a fury to give chase, and actually caught up!

Had Zhang Yang hesitated during his three steps or chosen a layup instead of a dunk at the last moment, James would have blocked him!

With 11 minutes and 46 seconds left in the final quarter, the score was 100 to 96, Bobcats leading by 4 points!

The Knights called a timeout, planning a quick three-point play: score, foul, and hope the opposition missed their free throws to set up a game-winning shot, or aim for a 6-2 run to tie the game and force overtime. That was the common tactic when trailing by 4 points in the last dozen seconds.

However, upon returning from the timeout, the Knights failed to score. James, now guarded by Felton, was left open at the top of the arc, but he didn’t shoot; instead, he passed to Damon Jones, who missed a three-pointer under Zhang Yang’s close defense... When he was a fan, Zhang Yang could not understand why James wouldn’t take such critical shots, but when actually facing off, he could understand.

For the 21-year-old James, shooting a three-pointer at the last moment was definitely a miss, a forced shot would just be wasting chances. Better to pass to a teammate with greater three-point ability... Of course, this was an understandable choice for the 21-year-old James.

After Damon Jones missed the three-pointer, Okafor outmuscled Gooden to secure the defensive rebound.

With no basket scored, the Knights naturally didn’t foul anymore. Zhang Yang collected the ball from Okafor and pushed it past midcourt, not pressing the play further.

If he were close to scoring 30 points, he might pretend to casually dribble to the opposite three-point line and fake a nonchalant toss as the game neared its end... but at only 22 points, it wasn’t worth it.

At 8:24 p.m., the final buzzer sounded.

James made 13 of 31 shots, including 2 of 7 from three-point range, along with 6 of 8 free throws, scoring 34 points with 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 5 turnovers. Tonight, he performed much better than in the last encounter with the Bobcats, playing more patiently and showing more variations in his game.

But his inability to score when forced to the low post, and his failure to attract a double team even when backing down Felton one-on-one, proved crucial to the Knights’ loss.

Zhang Yang made 8 of 19 shots, including 1 of 2 from three-point range, along with 5 of 6 free throws, scoring 22 points with 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.

Felton added 19 points and 5 assists, sinking 4 three-pointers; Gerald Wallace contributed 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 4 blocks; Okafor had 16 points and 14 rebounds, Brezec added 12 points and 7 rebounds, Perkins scored 2 points and grabbed 5 rebounds...

to 96, the Bobcats narrowly defeated the Knights, claiming the franchise’s first-ever five-game winning streak!

After the final buzzer, James, who had been thinking about what to say when hugging the Bobcat players with more than 20 seconds left in the game, quickly walked towards the players’ tunnel.

Anger and frustration filled his heart.

If only his three-point shots were a bit more accurate, those many open opportunities he passed up, and the five times he did shoot but missed.

If only he’d had a better touch in the low post back down...

Stepping into the players’ tunnel, he turned his head to glance at Zhang Yang and Felton surrounded by teammates... He’d remember these two rookies!