Chapter 89

"Ron, what do you think of the new Chinese player's skills? Is he really that strong?"

In the game between the Jazz and the Nets, although it cannot be considered a match between two strong teams, Jerry Sloan took this game very seriously because the Nets' head coach was Chuck Daly. Who is Chuck Daly? He is the idol of all NBA coaches known for their toughness and iron discipline. In the NBA coaching world, Chuck Daly's prestige is even higher than that of the top coach, Pat Riley. This creator of the "Bad Boys" team had once beaten Jordan, assaulted Larry Bird, and defeated Magic Johnson. More remarkably, this former Pistons coach not only defeated these three NBA legends but also made them extremely impressed, which is no easy feat. Who doesn't know what these three guys are like? They are all guys with their eyes set on the top.

Of course, for Chuck Daly, after leaving the Pistons, he has been in semi-retirement. His health is not good now, and he is more enjoying basketball. At his level, as long as he doesn't want to, no team owner in the league would dare to fire him. Therefore, for him, the NBA's performance is no longer the most important thing. This is also why he dared to use the Jordan Rule on Lin Han in this game, regardless of the other Jazz players. The Jazz is not comparable to the Bulls of the past. Apart from Jordan, the Bulls had no other player at the level of Karl Malone. In this situation, even though everyone now knows that Lin Han's passing is not good, few teams dare to double-team the Jazz first. But this old man is different. He still has a childlike heart and wants to see if this "Second Jordan" who has been causing a stir in the NBA is really that strong. The Nets players are actually quite helpless about their head coach's perverse interest, as the team's former core player Dražen Petrović, who could average over 20 points per game, died in a car accident after last season's playoffs, leaving the Nets with no one at the shooting guard position.

At the beginning of the season, the Nets' starting lineup has always been P.J. Brown, Benoit Benjamin, and Derrick Coleman in the frontcourt, plus a 1.83-meter point guard Kenny Anderson and a 1.91-meter shooting guard Kevin Edwards, who was hastily brought in from the Heat to replace Petrović. This lineup has serious flaws: the guards are too short to defend the perimeter, and the forwards are too slow. Although the defense in the paint is good, the wing defense can be easily exploited. Despite the team's total salary of over $20 million, making it one of the biggest spenders in the NBA, the team's performance this season has not been good. The players are strong, but they haven't gelled yet. In this situation, the Nets players are very frustrated to encounter Chuck Daly's childlike heart. Who knows how long it will take for the team to gel.

However, it must be said that although the Nets players are very frustrated, they are very meticulous in executing Chuck Daly's requirements. Since the old man wants to see Lin Han's performance, they will work hard to let Lin Han show his skills. From the starting shooting guard Kevin Edwards to the backup guards Ron Anderson and Roy Rogers, whoever is available will go up against Lin Han. This is not only the first time Lin Han has encountered a double-team in the NBA but also the first time he has faced a rotation defense. Edwards goes first, then Rogers, and when Rogers is done, Ron Anderson takes over. This makes the game extremely exciting, even exciting enough to make the Nets' bench player, the rookie David Wesley, itch to get on the court.

"Haha, this guy is really good. I'm much taller than him, but every time he shoots, I can't touch it. Not only can't I touch it, I can't even limit his basic offense. This guy's offense is too easy, and I'm completely not his match."

When Ron Anderson, a rookie from the 1984 draft, came off the court, he said with a somewhat awkward smile, facing David Wesley's eager eyes. Lin Han is indeed strong. Even when double-teamed, he can still create good offensive opportunities, which is not easy. In the NBA, how do you distinguish a star from a superstar? It's simple: look at how they handle the ball when double-teamed. If they can still handle the ball calmly, whether it's to attack or organize the offense, then they are a superstar. Such players are extremely capable and have a significant impact on their team. If they panic when double-teamed, their offensive efficiency drops, and they make frequent mistakes, then no matter how good their stats are, they are just a regular star. So, even though the Nets have a frontcourt player, Derrick Coleman, who can average 20+11 and a point guard, Kenny Anderson, who can average 19+10, these two players' stats are very impressive, but neither of them dares to call themselves a superstar because they haven't been double-teamed to the extreme to prove themselves.

Clearly, Ron Anderson's evaluation of Lin Han is very, very high.

"This Jazz kid is not simple, really not simple. When Jordan faced such a double-team, he didn't have such a ruthless determination. His eyes are only on the basket, and not only that, his back-to-the-basket ability is very strong. His turnaround jump shot is not only unstoppable by two people, but even with one more, it's hard to truly stop him. This kid will be someone in the future."

After Ron Anderson finished speaking, David Wesley was stunned. Even the team's two main players, Coleman and Kenny Anderson, have never been so highly praised by Ron Anderson. David Wesley, a 1992 undrafted rookie who only got the chance to play in the NBA in 1993, looked at the Jazz's No. 8 player on the court with a burning heart.

"If I could be like him one day, that would be great."

At this moment, the young Nets player said enviously, but after David Wesley finished speaking, Ron Anderson burst out laughing.

"Ha ha ha, David, your effort is indeed good, but some people are destined to be successful as soon as they enter the NBA, while others may not achieve much even after a lifetime of effort. However, having such a dream is always good."

After laughing, Ron Anderson looked a bit melancholy. Clearly, David Wesley's words reminded him of his past. In 1984, he was a second-round draft pick, while that man was the third overall pick. When they entered the NBA, he couldn't even get playing time on a weak team, while that man effortlessly became the core of an NBA team and the focus of the entire NBA. After years of effort, he had finally established himself in the NBA and was beginning to dream of higher goals, while that man had already become a legend in the NBA. As time passed, his career had reached its twilight, and his dreams ultimately failed. His career was always that of a bench player, while that man stood at the peak of the NBA, and his decisions could make the whole world go crazy.

This is the NBA, this is reality. Everyone who plays here is a genius, and since they are geniuses, no one is willing to be a supporting role forever. However, the reality is that 99% of the players here will always be the stepping stones or supporting roles for the 1% of the players.

"No matter what, I will succeed!"

At this moment, David Wesley couldn't fully understand Ron Anderson's words, but he knew that he very much wanted to become a player like Lin Han, the core of a strong NBA team, the focus of all the media, and the darling of the fans.

This game between the Jazz and the Nets was very interesting. Although Lin Han faced double-teams, due to Jerry Sloan's pressure, he didn't hold back. Since it was like this, he decided to go all out. It's worth noting that this move, although it currently has a high rate of missing due to the character's low personality value, is extremely effective at breaking double-teams. Whether it's 1v2, 1v3, 1v4, or even 1v5, as long as Lin Han gets a little space, he feels he can use this move, and the posture will be even more graceful and beautiful, making it highly entertaining.

So, after the game, Lin Han finally understood why Ai Li said that this skill is one of the most explosive scoring skills in NBA history. This skill not only doesn't consume stamina when used, but as long as the physical conditions (height and wingspan) are met, and he isn't unlucky enough to get blocked, even a double-team or more won't be a problem. A skill that can almost infinitely shoot and isn't afraid of double-teams is bound to have strong scoring power. Originally, after acquiring the purple skill "Tracy McGrady's Pull-Up Jump Shot," which comes with the almost invincible "McGrady Moment," Lin Han naturally considered it much more important than this skill. He even thought that McGrady's skill was a notch higher. Now, it seems that it's not that simple, and he underestimated this skill of Kobe's.

At least in this game, facing the Nets' double-teams, Lin Han's mid-range shots using this skill of Kobe's were very satisfying, while the skill of McGrady's was somewhat limited.

"Kid, keep it up, the future of the NBA will be yours."

After the game, despite the Nets' crazy double-teams, Lin Han actually shot 24 times, making 8 of them, with a decent shooting percentage. It must be said that although Lin Han's shooting was abnormally bad due to his low personality value, this skill of Kobe's had an abnormally stable shooting percentage, whether in open space or double-teams, or even multiple double-teams, with a hit rate of around 30%. This is very rare, so after the game, not only did Chuck Daly praise Lin Han highly, but it was clear that he truly recognized Lin Han as the "Second Jordan."

Not only did Chuck Daly praise Lin Han after the game, but the team's head coach, Jerry Sloan, was also very satisfied with Lin Han. The admiration and surprise in his eyes, as well as some other subtle emotions, made Lin Han's legs tremble subconsciously. If he didn't know that his head coach had no special hobbies, Lin Han would have been a bit scared. Clearly, Jerry Sloan was so satisfied because Lin Han's ability to break double-teams was extremely excellent. Even Karl Malone might not have been as calm as Lin Han when facing such crazy defense. Lin Han's Kobe-style turnaround jump shot, with its highly entertaining effect, made it clear that his shots were never awkward.

"Ah, what kind of world is this?"

In the end, Lin Han was speechless. After being double-teamed by Chuck Daly, he actually felt the benefits and pleasure, and gained a new understanding of this skill of Kobe's. He even looked forward to other teams double-teaming him.

Clearly, this was also a very good excuse for his low shooting percentage.