Chapter 69

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Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

In the fourth quarter of the game between the Jazz and the New York Knicks, when Jeff Malone, looking exhausted, led the team's bench players off the court, Stockton and Karl Malone watched their old teammate with a mix of emotions. This game was not only frustrating for their starters, who were completely dominated by the Knicks, but even the bench led by Jeff Malone struggled, especially Jeff Malone himself. Although the Jazz had many bench players who could contribute, everyone knew the quality of these players. They could score a few points in easy games, but in crucial or difficult matches, they were unreliable. Therefore, during the Jazz's match against the Knicks, Jeff Malone was almost the only one scoring.

For this veteran, although his playing time in this away back-to-back game was not much, his fatigue and exhaustion were probably far greater than usual. After all, the Knicks' almost wrestling-like defense on the court was truly terrifying.

"Well, we lost, but we can win it back next time," Stockton said with a sigh. The other Jazz players who were about to enter the game felt a sense of relief. However, Lin Han did not show much reaction. He did not follow the other Jazz players around Stockton and Malone but instead walked to the court first.

To Stockton and Malone, Lin Han's behavior was extremely impolite and provocative. After all, even though Lin Han was a young core player that Sloan was focusing on, the team's leaders were still Stockton and Malone. What did Lin Han mean by this? Was he trying to seize power?

Therefore, as Lin Han's subordinates, Aaron Williams and Russell, who were also about to enter the game in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter, were hesitant. They didn't know whether to follow their leader and leave Stockton and Malone behind or continue to follow Stockton and Malone.

"It seems this young guy is not willing to accept defeat," Malone said with a smile after a moment of mixed emotions, though the smile seemed to carry a hint of helplessness and bitterness.

Lin Han's behavior was indeed disrespectful to him and Stockton, and Malone didn't like it. However, he could understand Lin Han's emotions at this moment. After all, he was once a rookie, and he was a very stubborn and competitive player. When he first entered the NBA and faced his first loss, his performance was even worse than Lin Han's.

The helplessness and frustration when facing an impending loss, and the emptiness and bitterness after the loss, he still remembered vividly. Although he had been through many years in the NBA, the repeated wins and losses had smoothed out his rookie naivety and sharpness, but Malone could still imagine how Lin Han felt.

"He's a troublemaker, just like you were back then. I wonder if he'll cry after this loss," Stockton said with a smile, looking at Malone calmly. After saying this, he deliberately glanced at Malone, making him feel very guilty. How did this heartless guy know that he cried after that loss? After recalling the events from eight years ago, Malone's expression changed again.

"No wonder this guy stood there after I left. It wasn't a coincidence; he was standing there the whole time. F**k, this guy is really a pain. He watched for so long and then pretended to be kind, deceiving me for so long."

Thinking about how he was subdued by Stockton, Malone was speechless. He never thought Stockton was so devious back then. At that time, Stockton was just a bench player for the Jazz, while Malone was the team's highly favored potential core. The team's star player was Adrian Dantley, and the starting point guard was All-Star Ricky Green. Stockton was just a young rookie. No one expected this young rookie to have such big ambitions and to recruit him as a subordinate.

"Hey, Karl, can you stop looking at me like that? It's as if I did something wrong to you."

Looking at Malone's suspicious gaze, Stockton was also confused about what his old partner meant. Did he find out about all the things he had deceived him about in the past? Stockton thought to himself.

Every ambitious rookie who comes to the NBA has a dream of being the main character, imagining themselves as the star of the NBA stage, defeating all kinds of strong opponents, and eventually becoming the king.

Although this dream or fantasy is very childish and ridiculous, even Karl Malone, who had such a fantasy back then, feels ashamed when he thinks about it now. It's really embarrassing. However, it must be said that although Lin Han looks mature and more mature than the young Malone, he still has this fantasy of always winning, so he doesn't want to lose.

No matter how ridiculous and childish this fantasy is, Lin Han just doesn't want to lose. He hates the feeling of helplessness when losing and the sense of despair when facing an impending loss.

So, although his teammates and coach have already given up on winning this game, after all, facing the Knicks with only 6 minutes left and a score of 67-79, a 12-point deficit is almost impossible to overcome, Lin Han knows he can still make one last effort. Even if things don't go as planned, he can still try.

"I absolutely cannot lose this game."

When he returned to the court and saw John Starks standing in front of him with a pure smile, Lin Han silently vowed in his heart.

"Kid, this game is over. I won't let you score even a single point in the fourth quarter."

To be honest, if Starks were not an opponent, he would admire Lin Han. This guy's toughness and fighting spirit can earn the respect of all the tough players. But as a tough player, the best gift to those respected is to make them fall on the court. Starks already had this idea, especially if Lin Han still had this spirit and courage.

However, this time, facing Starks' provocation, Lin Han just lightly hummed and did not show much reaction.

It must be said that although the Jazz lost this game badly, almost completely dominated, their defense in this game was indeed very good. Although Malone and Ewing were very different in weight, Malone used his strength to defend Ewing, making the Knicks' offense very difficult. If the Jazz's usual strategy was a simple pick-and-roll mid-range shot, then the Knicks' main strategy was also a simple Ewing-centered offense.

So, although the Knicks might win this game, in the face of the Jazz's strong defense, this team would find it hard to score high. At least, after the timeout, Ewing's mid-range jump shot, which was blocked by Malone, did not hit.

"John, I'll move to the three-point line in a moment."

After Aaron Williams grabbed the backboard and passed the ball to Stockton, Lin Han walked to Stockton's side and whispered. After hearing this, Stockton's eyes lit up.

In this game, Lin Han had not shown any intention of shooting three-pointers. After the game against the 76ers, everyone in the Jazz knew that Lin Han's three-point shooting was excellent, but no one knew why he didn't shoot in this game. Moreover, Jerry Sloan had not yet formulated a three-point strategy for the team, so there was nothing he could do about Lin Han not shooting three-pointers.

Now, it seemed that Lin Han was ready to make a last effort. In the NBA, if the shooting percentage is the same, three-pointers are the fastest way to catch up.

"Good kid, I'll play with you in this game."

Looking at Lin Han running to the front court, Stockton said with a smile.

"What, trying to get away from me? I said I wouldn't let you score in the fourth quarter, so you won't even get a chance to shoot."

When Lin Han moved from the back court to the front court and entered the three-point line, Starks immediately stuck to him. This guy had reduced Jordan's shooting percentage to 33% in the first three playoff games last year. Last year's biggest discovery for the Knicks in the playoffs was this Starks. In such a situation, even Jordan could be locked down, let alone a rookie like Lin Han?

Moreover, this guy's defense was already very good, and with his various small tricks and fearless spirit, Lin Han felt very uncomfortable, even more so than when he faced Payton.

Of course, at this moment, Lin Han felt very uncomfortable with Stockton's defense, but Starks was also not much better. Although Lin Han's defense was more about eye contact, in the offensive end, Lin Han put in a lot of effort. Especially the skill of the back turn and jump shot, which comes with a fake move, including the fake move in the positioning. This constant, irregular, small-range movement to shake off the defender is almost identical to Jordan's move, and the direct back turn and jump shot after receiving the ball is also the same.

So, although Lin Han was less experienced and less skilled than Jordan, it was extremely difficult to completely lock him down and prevent him from shooting.

Especially, after the fourth quarter resumed, Malone did not do the pick-and-roll with Stockton but started to set screens for Lin Han. The team's leader giving up his own offense to set screens for Lin Han? What kind of spirit is this?

"Bad!"

So, when Lin Han brought Starks around Malone twice and slightly shook him off, the Knicks' defender immediately felt something was wrong.

After being delayed by Malone for a moment, Lin Han was already in position to receive the ball at the 45-degree three-point line. Starks did not think that Lin Han would not receive the ball after making the receiving motion. The Jazz's point guard was Stockton, not just any player. Although Stockton was also very uncomfortable in this game, he had no problem with passing and ball handling.

So, Stockton did not take any chances. Although he was a bit behind Lin Han, he immediately accelerated. In his view, although the situation was not good, he could still catch up with Lin Han and prevent his mid-range back turn and jump shot.

"What? How is this possible?"

The actual situation was as Starks had predicted. When he accelerated again, he indeed came behind Lin Han after he received the pass from Stockton. However, just as he was about to stick to him, Lin Han received the ball and turned, but did not jump to shoot.

Instead, he directly received the ball, turned, and dribbled, then took a step back. Lin Han was already outside the three-point line, and at this moment, Starks, who had misjudged the situation, had already jumped.

"Bad, three-pointer!"

Although Starks jumped, as a small player, he was very agile. Before he reached the highest point, he changed his body and landed again. After landing, Lin Han had already jumped from outside the three-point line.

At this moment, Starks was helpless. Although he tried his best to defend, his body was not well adjusted, and he lost balance and fell to his knees when he lunged at Lin Han.

In the end, he could only watch as Lin Han shot the three-pointer. After Lin Han shot, he seemed to smile as if he were suspended in the air, and Starks felt a chill.

When Lin Han landed, Starks looked back and saw the basketball he had thrown flatly fly to the basket and directly fall into the net, scoring a three-pointer.

With this three-pointer, the score between the Jazz and the Knicks became 70-79, reducing the deficit to within 10 points.

"This, this, actually went in."

At this moment, Malone, who had just set the screen for Lin Han, and Stockton, who had passed the ball to Lin Han, both looked at the rolling basketball on the ground with disbelief.

At this moment, Starks, who was kneeling on the ground and looking back at the basket, was almost trembling all over.

"Three-pointer, three-pointer."

At this moment, the Knicks' defender could only repeat these words in a low voice, because he knew that after Lin Han scored, his points had reached 15, and he had been pushed to the edge of the cliff. Even if the Knicks eventually won, his result would not be good.

"Although I shot this beautifully, you don't have to be so afraid, are you going to kneel and beg for mercy? Or do you hope I will stop and not exceed 15 points?"

Looking at Starks, who was kneeling in front of him and trembling, Lin Han felt extremely satisfied.

At this moment, Starks, whose eyes were filled with a dead look after being interrupted by Lin Han's extremely harsh words, made Lin Han pause.

"Kid, I'll make you leave Madison Square Garden on a stretcher in this game."

Biting his teeth, truly biting his teeth, Lin Han knew that the Knicks' defender had been thoroughly provoked. However, facing Starks, whose face was already distorted, Lin Han did not feel afraid.

"I'll wait and