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Chapter 368 - 171. The Wild Mid-Season

Chapter 368: 171. The Wild Mid-Season

shots, 15 made, including 3 of 8 three-pointers, plus 4 of 4 free throws, Zhang Yang scored 37 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, leading the Bobcats to a 104-97 victory over the Toronto Raptors, improving their record to 24 wins and 12 losses!

Bickerstaff knew he had a wild way about him, and now he realized he had encountered someone even wilder.

At noon, when he and his coaching colleagues and the boss were analyzing what adjustments Zhang Yang would make next, he thought Zhang Yang would counterattack like Kidd during rotation, Jordan said Zhang Yang might increase post-up plays, Ingles thought Zhang Yang would play more pick-and-rolls like Nash... Although everyone had their own opinions, they agreed on one thing: they all believed Zhang Yang would develop into an all-around player and increase his passing.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yang’s response was to increase his shots... the team’s defense had been average recently due to physical strain, and the offense was also affected by stamina and tactical adjustments. In this game, Zhang Yang took over 30 shots, digesting 3/8 of the team’s attempts with a 48.3% shooting rate, indeed increasing offensive efficiency. After several games, they finally broke a hundred points.

But playing this way, stability might become even worse. Zhang Yang’s average shooting percentage for the season was 45.8%; if there were games above this, there were bound to be lower ones.

After the game, he approached Zhang Yang and inquired subtly, had he not considered orchestrating the offense.

Zhang Yang: "Bernie, do you think I’m as good as Raymond when it comes to being the regular tactical core? Do I have a talent for running the offense like Rajon?"

Bickerstaff was decisive in his reply: "No, there are few who can match Raymond’s stability in executing tactics, Rajon... in my memory, only a few possess such a gift for orchestrating the offense. You’re good too, but not as much as they are."

Zhang Yang: "I think so too. Even if Raymond is affected by his physical condition, I won’t do as well as him as the tactical core. I’m learning to organize the offense independently along with Rajon, and I estimate my progress wouldn’t be as fast. Not only would it affect their performance and development, but it would also impact my own playing habits. By the time we recover after All-Star Weekend, it might even affect our original offensive methods..."

After talking to Zhang Yang, who then went for his physiotherapy, Bickerstaff was left deep in thought.

After finishing an interview, Jordan returned and saw Bickerstaff standing there dumbfounded and asked, "How did your talk with Jack go? What did he say?"

Bickerstaff shared his conversation with Zhang Yang with Jordan.

Upon hearing this, Jordan was momentarily stunned and said, "He’s really level-headed about this."

Bickerstaff: "Yes, we were the ones caught in a fallacy. We gave Jack unlimited shooting rights for the sake of the other players; but when considering how Jack should grow, we ignored the other players and the whole team."

Jordan: "Right, that’s our problem, but..."

Bickerstaff: "But what?"

Jordan: "I think he’s just making excuses for his love of shooting."

Bickerstaff: "Boss, you can’t think everyone is like you."

Jordan: "..."

Change the head coach! It must be done!

...

Having confirmed Zhang Yang’s thoughts and appreciating the young friend’s approach, with the boss’s approval, Bickerstaff no longer pondered how Zhang Yang should adjust his tactics for orchestrating the offense. Instead, he continued to find ways to adjust the tactics and to better deliver the ball for Zhang Yang to shoot, bringing coach and players into complete accord.

On top of increasing Zhang Yang’s shots, Bickerstaff also prepared to let Zhang Yang guard the opposing team’s weakest perimeter scorer, preferably a spot-up shooter like guarding Bowen or someone, and in the 06-07 season, Zhang Yang enjoyed the goat treatment.

As days went by, the Bobcats struggled in the tightly packed mid-season schedule.

On the 11th, at home against the 76ers, Zhang Yang scored 35 points on 14 of 25 shooting, and the Bobcats won big at 110 to 92. After Iverson left, Iguodala’s average points per game skyrocketed from 14 points to 21 points in the prior month and a half of the season, but his shooting percentage plunged from 51% to 43%. Tonight, he got hammered by Zhang Yang.

On the 13th, at home against the Hornets, Zhang Yang scored 30 points on 12 of 26 shooting. The Bobcats lost a close one at 98 to 104. His 46.1% shooting was actually not bad. Felton, seeing Paul wildly throw 20 times and only make 7, was the real letdown. Paul shot 7 out of 12 for 20 points and 10 assists, showing up the Bobcats’ duo. Okafor also twisted his wrist and was expected to be out for 2-3 games.

On the 14th, at home on a back-to-back against the Chicago Bulls, Zhang Yang scored 23 points on 10 of 25 shooting, and the Bobcats got thrashed 85 to 100. Since entering 2007, the Bulls had grown stronger. Despite Ben Wallace’s declining performance due to age and system change, he brought rich experience to the team’s young talents, this season defeating many strong teams.

On the 16th, away against the 76ers, Zhang Yang scored 34 points on 13 of 28 shooting, leading the Bobcats to a big victory at 88 to 67, hammering Iguodala again, but Gerald Wallace got injured.

On the 18th, away against the Miami Heat, Okafor came back, Wade and O’Neal were out, Zhang Yang scored 41 points on 17 of 31 shooting, and the Bobcats won big at 113 to 89.

On the 19th, away on a back-to-back against the Timberwolves, Zhang Yang got 19 points on 8 of 26 shooting, and the Bobcats lost narrowly at 86 to 92. It was his first time as the main attacker against the Timberwolves, and he felt the power of someone who could dominate the mid-range, understanding why Kobe was defended the way he was in the ’04 Western Conference Finals.

On the 21st, at home against the Knicks Team, under heavy traps, Zhang Yang scored 30 points and 6 assists on 12 of 22 shooting, an outstanding performance. However, he couldn’t overcome Marbury’s 18 points and 10 assists, Crawford’s 31 points, Eddie Curry’s 25 points; the Bobcats lost 104 to 110 to the Knicks, and the New York media commented that without the Holy Land of Basketball’s buff, Bad Boy Jack just seemed like an ordinary genius, suggesting Jack consider joining if he can’t beat them.