No.1 in basketball scoring

On the morning of April 20th, the Bobcats arrived at the United Center Arena for preparations.

Spectator Qiao Tu watched the training for a while and said, "Taking a week off really makes a difference; their motivation is much higher."

Playing against his former team, and with a high chance of winning, he naturally had to be at the scene to watch the game with the team.

Looking forward to seeing the game with the Little Giant, veteran Bickerstaff replied, "It's not just the rest that's helpful; we've achieved a 43-9 record so far, such a great record, everyone wants to fight hard in the remaining games. This year might be our best chance to achieve the best record in team history; we might not get such a good opportunity again."

Jordan nodded and agreed, "Yes, this half-season record, even for me, the Magician, and Big Bird, we'd only see the likes of it once or twice in a career. O'Neal and Kobe only saw it once... Do you think I should give them a bit more motivation? Set a higher goal?"

Carlisle responded as if in reflex, interjecting, "Michael, do you want to raise the target again? Please don't!"

"Again?"

Qiao Tu felt a pang in his heart, knowing that this wasn't good, he took the secretary to the office arranged by the Bulls for their coaching staff and asked the secretary to open the computer and randomly open a mainstream sports media website.

Sure enough, the headline was Zhang San's interview!

"70 wins? We have the capability, but it's somewhat challenging. I don't want us to bear unnecessary pressure; let's set a smaller goal and secure 65 wins first..."

Qiao Tu: Damn Zhang San, stealing my thunder!

...

At 7:40 PM, Zhang Yang and his teammates entered the court amidst boos from the fans at United Center Arena.

Although the Bulls are currently only ranked fifth in the East, media experts, in their half-season summaries, still consider them one of the top two championship contenders in the East, ahead of the Cavaliers and Magic Team.

The other team, naturally, is the Bobcats.

This undoubtedly deepened the hostile atmosphere between the fans of both teams, and this was precisely the purpose of the media hype.

When the home team entered, Zhang Yang's gaze fell on the newly joined player on the opposite side — Tim Thomas.

Felton was also looking at Tim Thomas, saying, "I thought he would come here to us; didn't expect him to go to the Bulls. I really can't understand."

Tim Thomas was previously with the Knicks Team, playing under D'Antoni to run and gun, with impressive offensive efficiency. In the first half of the season, he played 36 games, averaged 14 minutes per game, and scored 7.5 points and 2.3 rebounds, with particularly notable three-point performance, averaging 3.5 attempts and hitting 1.5 per game, throwing a three every 4 minutes with a very high shooting rate of 42.1%.

During the All-Star weekend, Tim Thomas applied to the Knicks for a buyout, wanting to join a championship-contending team, and Knicks owner Dolan accepted the application, allowing this 97-year-old veteran in the twilight of his career to pursue the championship dream while he still had the chance.

After the buyout was completed, Tim Thomas sparked a scramble among many teams. Naturally, the Bobcats were also among them, and public opinion generally believed they had the best chance to acquire him, thereby enhancing the three-point capability of their front line.

But unexpectedly, Tim Thomas did not choose the Lakers, Spurs, Grizzlies, Nuggets Team, nor did he choose the Bobcats, Cavaliers, Magic Team, choosing instead the Bulls, who were the worst-performing championship contenders.

Hill then said, "I actually quite understand his thinking. We are already number one in the league. Even if he came and greatly helped us, when the championship is won, people wouldn't credit him; they'd just see him as a leg-hugging veteran. But going to the Bulls, who are struggling and in dire need of reinforcements, is different. If he helps improve the Bulls' performance and wins the championship, he'll be seen as a 'crucial mid-season acquisition.'

Felton still didn't get it, saying, "Is he really so confident in himself?"

Hill: "He was almost Duncan's replacement; maybe he thinks of himself as in Duncan's tier, there's always some pride."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang recalled the information he found on Tim Thomas during the All-Star weekend.

Tim Thomas once received a near-max salary in 2000, his annual salary only $1 million short of Duncan's, which brings up the Magic Team again.

In the summer of 2000, after acquiring McGrady, Hill, and missing out on Duncan, the Magic Team, still with max salary space, figured they had to spend the money somehow, so they offered a 6-year, $66 million contract to fellow 97 draft class player Tim Thomas, which led the Bucks management to curse while matching the offer.

Supposedly, at just 23 years old, Tim Thomas indeed seemed full of talent, averaging 15.4 points with 49.2% shooting in the first-round matchup against the Pacers, helping the Bucks fight the eventual runner-up Pacers to a Game 5 decider and losing narrowly by just 1 point in Game 5... 15.4 points was quite high in that series, the highest among all interior players from both teams, with the second-highest scoring interior Dale Davis averaging only 9 points.

His playstyle, considered quite 'new' back then combined with playoff performance, made him a coveted player in the free market that summer... though not to an annual salary of tens of millions.

And the creation of this contract also led the 'Oracle' to make a misjudgment when prying the Trail Blazers' backup power forward Brian Grant, resulting in an absurd 7-year, $86 million contract.

From another angle, Rivers' refusal to let Duncan's family ride the team's charter plane led to the salary bubble of summer 2000... Zhang San: Turns out, everything can be blamed on Kobe... oh no, blamed on Duncan.

Felton, hearing this, raised his chin, his eyes contemptuous, his tone disdainful, saying, "Then let him retire without a championship with that pride. He won't even touch the ring from leg-hugging!"

Zhang Yang's eyes lit up, giving a thumbs up: "The boss is mighty!"

Felton couldn't help but scratch his head and chuckle, "Did that look cool just now? I've practiced for a long time, do you guys think I should use that expression next time in front of the camera?"

Zhang Yang: "..."

Hill: "..."

...

At 8 pm, the game between the Bobcats and the Chicago Bulls began on the road.

The Bobcats' starting lineup remained unchanged: Felton, Zhang Yang, Pietrus, Millsap, and Okafor, the most agile combination.

The Bulls' starting lineup had changed compared to before the All-Star break. Hinrich, Sefolosha, Luol Deng, and Yao Ming remained the same, but Tyrus Thomas replaced Ben Wallace as the starting power forward.

Skiles announced the decision to change the starting lineup after signing Tim Thomas, which was very much in line with his style of not giving face to veterans.

Okafor defeated Yao Ming to win the tip-off, and the Bobcats were on the attack first!

Zhang Yang received the ball on the right side high post, going one-on-one against Luol Deng. Faced with tight defense, he changed direction to the left, breaking through the middle and attracting Tyrus Thomas's double team before passing back to the high post.

Millsap caught the ball, and Hinrich moved early, sticking to Millsap. Millsap then passed again... Felton cut in to receive and attack the basket! A very beautiful triangle offense coordination, but...

Yao Ming soared in for the block, swatting Felton's ball that was about to reach its peak away with one hand!

The ball slammed "bang" out of bounds, scaring the courtside fans into dodging away.

Luol Deng stuck tight to limit shots, Tyrus Thomas used his superb athleticism to double team and force the pass, with side support defending the high post tightly and restricting the passing angle to the corner... combined with Yao Ming protecting the basket.

Zhang Yang ran through the Bulls' defensive coordination in his mind in an instant, the opponents maxed out their intensity on the very first defense!

Bobcats' frontcourt ball, continuing the offense, only 9 seconds left on the clock. Zhang Yang moved to receive Millsap's inbound pass, then passed it to Felton, who actively called for the ball to go one-on-one.

It wasn't because he got blocked earlier and wanted to regain face, but rather compared to Zhang Yang's one-on-one with Luol Deng at the high post, Felton felt he had a slightly better opportunity.

After receiving the ball, Felton charged Hinrich to get close, came to a stop, stepped back, and took a short-range jump shot... but it hit the rim!

Yao Ming secured the defensive rebound!

Felton immediately turned and retreated on defense, clenched his small fists with both hands, "Eh," he actually had a good opportunity, but Tyrus Thomas's flying double team affected his shooting rhythm.

These two defenses showcased the Bulls' formidable defensive strength.

Third-year Sefolosha already had an All-Defensive Team level defense; Luol Deng made significant improvements in one-on-one defense, along with his already excellent help defense, considered the next Gerald Wallace; adding Hinrich, who had long been selected for the second defensive team and was in his prime; along with the league's best rim protector, the young giant... if Ben Wallace could maintain his form for another year, the Bulls' defense this season would be unstoppable.

But nothing is ever perfect; when the Bulls signed Big Ben to a four-year max contract in 2006, he was already 32-years-old, a short athletic big man, so having two years of peak performance was already commendable.

However, Tyrus Thomas, who replaced Big Ben as the starter, did well too, although lacking in skills, judgment, and experience, compared to last season's Big Ben, he fell short in many aspects, but his defensive enthusiasm was high, and his athletic ability was exaggeratedly strong, averaging 1.2 steals and 1.9 blocks in 25 minutes off the bench before the All-Star break, with quite decent help defense intimidation when playing alongside four elite defensive players.

Moreover, before the All-Star break, Bulls head coach Skiles had been adjusting the way the defense coordinated, enhancing the utilization of the three major perimeter defensive experts' one-on-one and double-team abilities, and weakening the power forward's role in linking up the defense within the defensive system, so now Tyrus Thomas, 22 years old and still quite immature, was barely making do.

Offense and defense switch sides, Hinrich received a pass from Yao Ming, advancing to the frontcourt and encountering Zhang Yang's defense.

Facing an opponent taller, stronger, faster, with an excellent defensive awareness and very good defensive fundamentals... Hinrich had no intention of contending with Zhang Yang, directly calling for a pick and roll.

Tyrus Thomas came out to block Zhang Yang, Hinrich wanted to use the screen for a three, Zhang Yang directly went around the three-point line, pursued Hinrich's defense, Hinrich drove to the inside, Millsap saw Zhang Yang went around to the high post and didn't stick up, immediately followed in Hinrich's steps, clamping Hinrich within a step of the three-point line with the pursuing Zhang Yang!

Hinrich's vision was completely covered, couldn't get through, couldn't pass; had it not been for his solid fundamentals, he would have traveled!

He decisively turned around and ran out toward the three-point line, Millsap immediately moved horizontally, going back to aid Tyru Thomas, Zhang Yang also returned to the three-point line, guarding Hinrich in front.

Hinrich watched their movement, feeling like a million alpacas galloped through his heart—what kind of godlike defensive rotation is this?

He originally thought of playing a move of 'seeking wealth in danger,' taking the risk of a turnover with a 'reverse drive,' pulling the two out to the perimeter, seeking a passing opportunity, but Zhang Yang and Millsap directly abandoned the double team, returned to their respective defenders in front.

The opponents' defense seemed in vain, but actually, it was him who wasted a large amount of offensive time!