One Year Left to Play

Chapter 547 - 167: Triple Critical Strike

Off the court, the competition was relentless. The fight for the top spot was intense, but during the game, O’Neal and Anfernee Hardaway had the same target on the net.

Compared to those snide remarks about him not training and competing with him in things O’Neal didn’t want to do, Anfernee Hardaway was quite endearing.

Anfernee Hardaway plainly stated his desire to compete for the top spot, and off the court, the competition was simply about who had more money. O’Neal liked this straightforwardness.

On the other hand, Zhang Hao knew that both of them wanted to compete with him both on and off the court, the reason... well, when playing against Hill, the two of them were just as energetic.

Because they were all superstar rookies who became All-Star vote leaders in their debut seasons.

"But I’m not as strong as Hill!"

Seeing these two opponents, Zhang Hao felt immense pressure rolling in.

Yet he also eagerly anticipated facing off against them, his emotions incredibly complex.

"Shaq O’Neal, ability rating 95... averaging 26.3 points, 11 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 2.2 blocks..."

"Anfernee Hardaway, ability rating 95... averaging 22.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 2 steals, 0.5 blocks..."

Two superstars! And they’re only 24 years old!

Before O’Neal’s return, Anfernee Hardaway almost averaged over 30 points per game; although his performance quickly declined after O’Neal’s return, it proved he had that capability.

As for O’Neal, before Anfernee Hardaway joined, he was nearly scoring champion, but David Robinson snatched it away in a somewhat dishonest manner.

With such two opponents...

"Fortunately, their role player lineup is quite interesting."

Zhang Hao glanced at the man who, during the last moments of the first game of last year’s finals, missed four free throws, leading the Magic to an overtime loss against the Rockets and losing their home-court advantage, causing a complete collapse; Nick Anderson.

"Nick Anderson, 28 years old, 198 cm, 93 kg, ability rating 79, offense 85, defense 73... averaging 14.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists..."

He’s still quite good, a qualified starter, capable of averaging 18 or 19 points on a poor team. His three-point shooting and mid-range shots are quite good, well-suited to the Magic’s dual core, it’s just that his career free throw percentage barely over sixty... is he serious?

With O’Neal averaging 11.6 free throws per game + Nick Anderson averaging 6.2 free throws per game, the Magic are left with a team free throw percentage of under 70 percent, dead last in the league!

"Dennis Scott, 28 years old, 203 cm, 104 kg, ability rating 80, offense 87, defense 76, three-point 90... averaging 17.5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists..."

A very good small forward; his skill level is similar to Gilliam, whom Zhang Hao once partnered with, but he’s a shooter. Playing with Anfernee Hardaway and O’Neal, he averages 3.4 three-pointers per game, with a high shooting percentage of 42%, competing with George McCloud from the Dallas Mavericks for this season’s three-point king.

Zhang Hao’s evaluation of him— a very opportunistic and clever player.

Zhang Hao has studied the resumes of each player on the Magic, among which Dennis Scott seized the opportunity during O’Neal’s first year in the NBA and became a starter for the Magic, creating space on either side of the perimeter.

These two are generally okay; aside from Nick Anderson’s black mark of four missed free throws, and both of them being average on defense, the fact is, as long as their offense is good, it’s enough. Last season, the Magic averaged 110 points per game and made it to the finals, and this offensive and defensive duo was crucial. They don’t have many other advantages, but they’re suitable for Anfernee Hardaway and O’Neal.

But that eyewear-wearing strong man, the opponent Zhang Hao is facing tonight, Zhang Hao truly doesn’t understand.

"Horace Grant, 31 years old, 208 cm, 107 kg, ability rating 79, offense 71, defense 88... averaging 12.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1.3 blocks..."

Quite outstanding, such a power forward, every team would want him.

But they can’t afford him!

During the All-Star Weekend, Zhang Hao saw a piece of news that he found unbelievable.

Now seeing Horace Grant’s specific ability rating, a 31-year-old quality role player, Zhang Hao is even more baffled.

The Magic are still hesitating about giving O’Neal a 7-year, 100 million contract, but they turned around and renewed Horace Grant’s contract for two years, totaling 29 million.

And O’Neal’s request for a 100 million salary, according to the rules, would have a starting salary of less than 11 million.

"Orlando’s media is bizarre, but never mind that; what’s going on in the Magic’s management’s head? Olajuwon’s renewal starting salary was only over 9 million."

...

The Lakers, third in the league with a 51-13 record, faced off against the Magic, second in the league with a 52-13 record. A strong showdown, full of topics, attention exploding.

After the All-Star Weekend, the Magic only lost three games, and those three games were all lost due to Hack-a-Shaq; they won all the other 15 games, with a record better than the Lakers, who had a post-All-Star weekend record of 14 wins and 4 losses.

However, both teams’ excellent records had to do with not facing many strong opponents right after the All-Star Weekend.

From here on, it will get a lot tougher for both teams, just like how the Lakers recently faced a number of strong opponents, the Magic will encounter a slew of strong adversaries towards the end of the season. Before the season started, both teams were favorites to be in the top four of their respective conferences. The schedule is similar: easy at the start of the season, tight in the middle, easy right after the All-Star Weekend, tight at the end.

At 6:58 PM, the starting players of both teams took the court.

Today, the starting lineup of the Lakers had silently changed, and as they took to the court, the Magician stood silently to the side of the player tunnel, along with Anthony Peeler.