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Chapter 410 - 191. Better to believe it exists_2

Chapter 410: 191. Better to believe it exists_2

By the end of the third quarter, the Bobcats were trailing the Knicks Team by 11 points, 78 to 89. In the final quarter, the Bobcats launched a counterattack, scoring 30 points, but the Knicks Team sustained their firepower with 25 points, thwarting the Bobcats’ attempt to turn the game around.

Marbury scored 19 points and had 7 assists, Crawford 23 points and 6 assists, Eddie Curry 17 points and 8 rebounds, Frye 12 points, Q 17 points, David Lee 12 points... Of the nine Knicks players, six scored in double figures, defeating the Bobcats 114 to 108 and improving their record to 28 wins and 31 losses.

Scoring was more concentrated on the Bobcats’ side, with Zhang Yang making 14 out of 27 shots, including 1 of 4 from three-point range, and 7 out of 8 free throws. After more than a month, he scored over 30 points again, finishing with 36 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Okafor’s performance was also impressive with 23 points and 11 rebounds; Felton contributed 20 points and 4 assists.

Newcomer Jarett Jack had an excellent debut, scoring 12 points and 2 assists, and Rondo for the sixth time in his career reached double figures in assists, scoring 4 points and 12 assists.

However, missing Matt Carroll, who excelled in low resistance and open space shooting, the entire team managed only 6 out of 18 in three-point shots, unable to outshoot the Knicks Team, and suffered their second consecutive loss, bringing their record to 39 wins and 20 losses.

...

When a team loses a game because of a player trade, criticism is inevitable, and the Bobcats were no exception.

Particularly after Matt Carroll scored in double figures in two consecutive games for the Trail Blazers, the second game scoring 23 points, the criticism towards the Bobcats became even harsher.

The next morning, Zhang Yang saw that multiple newspapers were criticizing their trade.

About last night’s defeat, Zhang Yang was also frustrated, as having Matt Carroll against the Knicks Team in the playoffs would definitely have made the game much easier.

While considering the trade itself, without taking into account mystical factors, he believed it was a good move. Jarett Jack had faced Marbury head-on last night without any fear, and both his offensive and defensive performances were decent. Come playoff time against other opponents, Jack would definitely be more useful than Carroll.

Last night’s loss wasn’t without its benefits. When he arrived at the arena at 10 am, he saw Alan Anderson, Herrmann, and Jarett Jack already practicing under Ingles’ guidance.

Bickerstaff had made a determined decision to trade the team’s best open shooter because he saw the potential in first and second-year players like Alan Anderson and Herrmann, who had the talent to play key roles. After the trade, the coaching staff communicated with them, and both players were highly motivated. Now, as they struggled with their shooting, contributing to the team’s loss, both felt profoundly ashamed and trained even harder.

Alan Anderson had always been diligent and eager to prove his efforts to others; Zhang Yang was not surprised by his vigorous practice.

Seeing the artist Herrmann work so hard wasn’t a shock to Zhang Yang either. Coming from a wealthy background with a position in Spain’s royal society and still choosing to dive into the grueling world of basketball, even making it to the NBA, could only be attributed to his passion for the game.

However, Herrmann’s introverted nature and melancholic temperament meant that even Zhang Yang had not considered his potential dedication and enthusiasm for basketball.

Today, Zhang Yang saw another side of the team’s artist.

It was easier to understand why Jarett Jack was practicing so hard—having been criticized for the trade, he was undoubtedly the most upset and eager to prove himself.

Zhang Yang sent a text message to Big Fatty, asking him to take the three teammates out for a couple of drinks to unwind. While effort was crucial, with 15 games in March, training excessively could lead to poor performance in games or even injuries, which were a greater concern.

He couldn’t join the drinking himself as he had other commitments.

Close to noon, Zhang Yang borrowed a custom large muscle car from Okafor and went to pick up Yao Ming from the hotel where the Rockets were staying, and they headed to his father’s newly opened farm on the outskirts of town for lunch.

Since Yao Ming had treated Zhang Yang to lunch at Yao’s restaurant, and Zhang Yang’s family also owned a restaurant, it was only natural to reciprocate.

During the meal, Zhang Yang and Yao Ming chatted about amusing events as usual.

Zhang Yang ’caused’ the Rockets to lose a significant number of sponsors, but this did not upset Yao Ming... At first, he was concerned about its impact on his commercial value.

Subsequent developments not only dispelled any resentment Yao Ming might have held against Zhang Yang but also made him grateful. The commercial value of the Rockets plummeted, yet Yao Ming’s personal commercial value increased instead.

Previously, the promotion of the Rockets was mostly attributed to the prowess of the management.

Terms like ’gold-digging’ and ’draft sleeper’ that Chinese fans heard started with the Rockets, leading them to believe that the Rockets’ ability to secure 50 wins or even the enhanced performance of Yao and McGrady teaming up for 55 wins was due to the Rockets’ management and owner.

Now, Chinese fans realized it was primarily the contributions of Yao Ming and McGrady. Yao Ming’s reputation in China was better recognized, and both the number and the fees of his endorsements increased.

However, what was most crucial for Yao Ming at the moment was that Aleksandar had talked to him several times, saying he would invest more capital to bring in more support for him... Yao Ming did not blindly optimist about this, so he ’accidentally’ let Aleksandar’s promise slip.

If Aleksandar continued to be stingy in the future, he would have a justifiable reason for making some changes.

This mindset developed primarily because the Rockets’ reputation in China had deteriorated significantly, which lessened the constraints on Yao Ming from his team...

Additionally, seeing Zhang Yang do whatever he wanted made him truly envious!

...

After lunch, Zhang Yang and Yao Ming returned to the arena for interviews.

Yao Ming wouldn’t be able to play in tomorrow’s game... So far this season, he had only played 35 games, but he was still considered one of the top two choices for the first-team center, which was contingent on the possibility of the league positioning Stoudemire as a center.