Chapter 45

"These two guys thought they could get some cheap shots by starting, but in the end, they were defended by Payton like dead dogs. Lin, I bet they won’t have the nerve to compete for the starting position with you anymore."

Watching Benoit and Humphries, who were dejectedly substituted off the court, Aaron Williams showed no respect for these two seniors and whispered disdainfully in Lin Han’s ear. The rookies had been bullied by these seniors who had joined the Jazz a year or two earlier. If it weren’t for Lin Han’s status on the team, these rookies would have been reduced to fetching tea and water.

"If it were Malone, Stockton, and Chambers, we would be willing to fetch tea and water for them, but who are Benoit and Humphries? One is a rookie from last season, and the other is a high-salaried player who didn’t perform last season, and was the biggest culprit in the team’s first-round playoff exit."

"Shut up, they’re still teammates. Don’t let anyone hear and cause trouble."

Although he also had some disdain for Benoit and Humphries, Brian Russell was much more composed than Aaron Williams. Before Lin Han made any statement, this player, who was playing his first NBA start thanks to Lin Han, quietly reprimanded Aaron Williams.

"The team’s situation is really tough right now."

Although Benoit and Humphries were the players who disliked Lin Han the most, as Russell said, they were still teammates. By the end of the third quarter, the Jazz had turned a five-point lead into an eight-point deficit, losing 13 points in the quarter. This highlighted the importance of Lin Han and Jeff Malone, the team’s two key scorers.

Although Jeff Malone was finally substituted in by Jerry Sloan halfway through the third quarter, it only slightly stemmed the bleeding. With such a deficit entering the fourth quarter, the Jazz would have to rely on Lin Han to turn things around. Sloan had planned to use Lin Han and Jeff Malone together in the fourth quarter, but with Jeff Malone already used, the burden fell on Lin Han.

It must be said that the Jazz’s other small forwards and shooting guards were not reliable in high-stakes games. Most of these players lacked the toughness and ability to be key pieces of a championship team.

"Lin, get ready to play. Russell, Aaron, Tom, Tyrone, you guys get ready too."

At the end of the third quarter, with the Jazz trailing 69-77, head coach Jerry Sloan immediately made a five-man substitution. Although the Jazz had a deep bench, with players like Tyrone Corbin, a capable reserve forward, who earned $1.4 million a year, in the NBA, a veteran guard earning over $1 million a year would be considered a bust if he couldn’t average at least 15 points per game. However, since Corbin was mostly a reserve, he didn’t get many scoring opportunities. In the regular season and playoffs last year, he averaged 12 points, making him one of the few Jazz players whose performance didn’t drop in the playoffs.

"Lin, it’s all on you."

Although he was one of the few veteran players on the team, the 31-year-old Corbin patted Lin Han on the shoulder as he came onto the court, encouraging him. The Jazz’s lineup lacked a point guard, so Corbin would have to handle the ball. Knowing his own limitations in ball handling and playmaking, and with Sloan’s decision to use this lineup to score, not to play conservatively, the lineup was designed to maximize Lin Han’s scoring. Aaron Williams, although lacking in other areas, was a strong rebounder, especially on the offensive boards. This was a lineup designed to score quickly, with Aaron Williams grabbing rebounds, Brian Russell defending the opponent’s bench star, Ricky Pierce, and the others focusing on scoring.

Compared to the other Jazz guards, who could match Lin Han’s scoring ability? This lineup was specifically designed for Lin Han, who was the main focus. Corbin understood this clearly, which was why, besides the three rookies, only he and Tom Chambers, who had no grudges against Lin Han, were in the lineup.

"I’ll do my best."

Sloan’s trust deeply moved Lin Han. The game was now in his hands, and the outcome would depend on him. As a rookie, being entrusted with such a crucial role by the coach and the team was rare and deeply touching.

"Coach, I’m ready to play."

When Lin Han walked back onto the court, he was deeply moved. On the sidelines, the Supersonics’ Gary Payton, who was breathing heavily, gritted his teeth. Lin Han was too cunning, deliberately timing his appearances to avoid facing Payton in the second half.

"Gary, sit tight. You’ll have your chance."

Looking at his starting point guard, George Karl frowned. He had seen through Sloan’s strategy. By benching Lin Han for the third quarter, Sloan wasn’t just concerned about his stamina; he wanted to conserve Lin Han’s energy for the crucial moments without the constant pressure from Payton. Sloan believed Lin Han’s scoring ability would be even more explosive without Payton’s defense, so he was willing to accept a slight deficit to achieve this.

"I want to see if this kid is really worth your gamble."

Just as Sloan disliked Karl, Karl looked down on Sloan. Both believed there should only be one top mid-career coach in the league.

"Jack, do you think Sloan’s decision to start Lin Han in the fourth quarter can close the eight-point gap?"

When Lin Han and the Jazz’s bench players took the court, the Supersonics fans were stunned. The young rookie had left a deep impression in the first half, and Payton’s defensive transformation in this game had amazed and delighted the fans. Payton’s defense was intense, but Lin Han had still managed to score “easily” despite the pressure. Now, with Payton off the court, Lin Han’s opponent was Ricky Pierce, who was a strong scorer but a questionable defender.

"It’s hard to say. Pierce is a reliable bench player. As long as he’s on the court, the team rarely experiences scoring droughts. Without a scoring drought, it will be tough for the Jazz to catch up. I also doubt that Lin Han, who has been cold for a quarter, can still perform at his best."

Jack Sikma said uncertainly, having been thoroughly embarrassed by Lin Han earlier. Despite his position, he couldn’t avoid commenting, and he felt uneasy, sensing something bad was about to happen.

As if confirming Sikma’s premonition, on the Jazz’s first possession, Lin Han received a pass from Corbin, turned around, and hit a fadeaway jump shot without adjusting, a move reminiscent of Jordan.

The move, which had been less fluid in the first half due to Payton’s defense, was now executed perfectly.

"Jack, I think your luck is really bad today."

Seeing Sikma’s awkward expression, the other commentator was helpless.

Sikma wasn’t the only one feeling helpless; Pierce was also stunned. He knew Payton, the team’s best defender, had struggled against Lin Han, but he hadn’t expected Lin Han to be so formidable.

The incredible jumping ability, the stability and balance in the air, the extreme backward lean, and the long arms made Lin Han a nightmare to defend.

The fadeaway jump shot is a move that almost every basketball player can perform, but few can execute it as well as Lin Han. Most players can’t control their balance and shooting accuracy at the peak of their jump, so they have to jump less high to perform the move. Lin Han, with his high jump, large lean, and excellent shooting accuracy, was in a league of his own, rivaled only by Jordan.

"This guy is so short, yet he makes it look so easy."

After the shot, Lin Han shook his head. Pierce wasn’t short, standing at 6'4" like Payton. Lin Han had allocated 11 points of joy to his wingspan, extending it to 7'6", nearly matching Jordan’s. While Pierce was the same height as Payton, his wingspan was much shorter, and he didn’t have Payton’s relentless defense. Payton could afford to score less, with his teammates compensating, but Pierce couldn’t afford to focus too much on defense.

In this situation, Lin Han felt incredibly comfortable.

Sloan, seeing Lin Han’s first shot go in smoothly, breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Han’s touch hadn’t cooled, and Sloan was eager to see if he would start a Jordan-like scoring spree.

In the two games before facing Payton, whenever Lin Han made his first shot, he would often go on a scoring tear. This was why Sloan had placed so much faith in him.

With his current burst of good luck and a 70% chance of making his second shot, as long as he didn’t face Payton, Lin Han had a high chance of hitting the next three shots, and possibly even more.

Indeed, when the fourth quarter began, the Jazz and the Supersonics’ bench players went on a scoring frenzy. The game, which had been a defensive battle, turned into a fast-paced offensive showdown.

Ricky Pierce, a two-time Sixth Man of the Year, was still able to score easily despite Russell’s defense, making the game exciting.

The fans were thrilled. While a high-intensity defensive game is enjoyable, a fast-paced offensive battle, especially with Pierce and Lin Han trading “answer balls,” was even more exciting.

"Lin Han hits again, his fourth consecutive shot. His scoring ability is incredible. Pierce’s fourth attempt is blocked, and the Jazz have cut the deficit to six points. They still have the ball, Lin Han receives the pass, and it’s another fadeaway jump shot. Oh, my God, it’s a swish! In one and a half minutes, Lin Han has hit five consecutive shots, scoring 10 points! The deficit is now four points. What will George Karl do? Will he make a substitution, adjust the defense, or double-team Lin Han?"

"Incredible, truly incredible. I can’t think of anyone besides Jordan who could hit five consecutive fadeaway jump shots. It’s unbelievable."

Sikma could only shake his head as Lin Han hit another shot.

On the sidelines, Payton was restless. If the previous quarter was about Payton’s defensive dominance, this quarter was about Lin Han’s offensive dominance.

"The chance of hitting the next shot is down to 50%, but it’s still a good chance."

Unlike others, Lin Han was calculating the probability of his next shot after hitting five in a row.

Lin Han’s performance was a huge boost to the Jazz’s players and a major disruption to the Supersonics’ bench. While Pierce tried to match Lin Han’s scoring, the Supersonics’ players couldn’t keep up with Lin Han’s rhythm.

Lin Han’s sixth consecutive shot in the fourth quarter cut the deficit to two points.

His seventh shot, with a 45% chance of hitting, also went in, keeping the deficit at two points.

His eighth consecutive shot, with a 40% chance of hitting, tied the game. By this point, only a little over three minutes had passed in the fourth quarter.

"Is this guy a perpetual motion machine? Doesn’t he feel his hands getting sore from all the shooting?"

Looking at the 85-85 score, the entire Supersonics crowd fell silent. In the NBA, scoring 16 points in a stretch isn’t unusual, but what was remarkable was that Lin Han had done it with the same move, like a continuous loop, making it seem as if his opponent didn’t exist.

"Too scary, this guy is too scary. If he can maintain this efficiency, no team will let him have one-on-one matchups. Teams will need to assign a specific defender to him, just like they did with Jordan, to prevent him from getting easy shots."

"Although Payton has only rested for a little over three minutes, the decisive battle between the Jazz and the Supersonics has been accelerated by this young rookie."

With 9:30 left in the fourth quarter, Supersonics coach George Karl called a timeout, and the decisive fourth quarter began.

"Today’s luck has been really good."

As Lin Han came off the court, he received cheers from most of the Jazz bench, even from team leader Karl Malone, who exaggeratedly handed him a towel.

To them, this kid had really avenged them, erasing the frustration from the third quarter.

However, while the Jazz were excited, Lin Han was constantly examining his hot hands, surprised that he had hit eight consecutive shots, something he hadn’t done in the previous two games.