Walking onto the free throw line and listening to the 'MVP' call from the fans on the scene, Zhang Hao felt strange.

There is still a difference between the regular season and the preseason. The preseason is mainly for adjustment, and the regular season must determine the playing style.

This game has been played for three quarters, and the adaptability of the new rules brought to Zhang Hao in these three quarters is deeper than the entire preseason combined... Of course, this is directly related to previous training and preseason adjustments. Those training and similar training competitions are the key preparations for the improvement in the future.

This shows that one thing, competition and training are two different things.

It is difficult for a player to make real progress without training in formal competitions, and vice versa.

For example, now, the Pacers, which are in the beginning and have very good use of the new rules, under the heavy pressure, Zhang Hao himself can feel his progress in this game.

It is not an improvement in technology, basic skills, etc., but an improvement in adapting to the new competition environment based on current rules.

It's very happy to meet an opponent like the Pacers in the opening game.

The game is dangerous...

Under the crisis, Zhang Hao chose to face the difficulties... The result...

When the free throw was executed, no one thought there was something wrong with the ball just now.

But Zhang Hao felt a little ashamed...

With a little bit of stimulating shame, Zhang Hao scored both free throws!

78 to 88, the score difference narrowed to 10 points.

Zhang Hao's data has been increased to 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.

When the Pacers attacked, Al Harrington responded to the pass, Fred Jones received the ball from the right sideline and made a three-pointer... missed!

Kirilianko's defense was in place! Running from the dotted arc in the free throw line to the right side line interfering with it!

In this picture, Supersonics fans seemed to see the best defensive player in their team's history... It's a bit different, this one is a little higher.

Artest protects the defensive rebound and passes it to Marquez Daniels.

Daniels did not advance, had a clear idea, observed the opponent's retreat and defended the ball to Kassel, and Kassel controlled the rhythm.

The Pacers put Jermaine O'Neal in the center position, and the Pacers' lineup's retreat speed is quite fast.

Running and playing skills... Zhang Hao chose to give up and went directly to the middle distance of the bottom line on the left side of the three-second zone!

Kassel advanced to the frontcourt and hung the ball to Zhang Hao, who was trying to get the ball to Al Harrington.

Seeing this long-lost picture, the fans on the scene screamed wildly!

As an opponent's Pacers player, especially Reggie Miller, who fought with Zhang Hao in his early years, was really numb to see this scene.

The moment Zhang Hao received the ball, he bent his knees and then exerted force, hitting Al Harrington...

This trick is rarely used, but the skills are still there!

Al Harrington was ready to prevent back-attack, but Zhang Hao's back-attack was so rapid that Al Harrington had no time to react, and was knocked back and took a big step back, and his whole body soared into the air. Then another moment, Al Harrington had already entered the three-second zone!

Before he could stand still, Al Harrington was stuck. Except for moving out of the bottom line, he couldn't even move back. When Al Harrington was knocked back, Zhang Hao quickly turned around, with his left foot as the axis, turned 180 degrees, and his right foot stuck behind Al Harrington!

Al Harrington was powerless to stop him. He even felt that he was about to foul after he moved. He could only watch Zhang Hao get up and make a layup before Jermaine O'Neal even took it back!

The attack was decisive and the singles were very fast... Al Harrington had already defended very hard, but he didn't immediately press it up and press it down, so it was too late. When Al Harrington was hit and controlled his body, Zhang Hao had already jumped.

In the face frame, Al Harrington played alone, Zhang Hao was very uncomfortable, Al Harrington himself could not defend himself, and the interference effect was not as good as Garnett, Odom and others.

However, Al Harrington did a good job of defensive cooperation with his opponents.

However, if the Pacers rely on the team to defend well, then Zhang Hao can just not play like that, and he will still have a back-to-back attack!

80 to 88, the score difference narrowed to 8 points!

Zhang Hao's 4-0 wave brought hope to the Supersonics!

It was the Pacers' offense again, and it was not affected because Zhang Hao scored 4 points in a row. The Pacers' team's offense was still good. Reggie Miller received the ball and turned around and made a three-pointer... hit!

91 to 80, the score difference widened to 11 points again!

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Hao hit the back from the baseline, and the attack came quickly. Zhang Hao passed the ball to Artest who cut in. Artest was fouled in the shooting and walked onto the free throw line... One of two free throws was made.

81 to 91, the score difference narrowed to 10 points.

If tactics are done well with a foundation of strength... Zhang Hao thought of the Pistons in the original 2005-06 season in time and space. At that time, Larry Brown had finished picking the Pistons' peaches, and the players' peak period was almost over. Ben Wallace was old, but Philip Sanders led the team to win the best 64 wins in the Pistons' history. At that time, the entire NBA history was in the top ten.

The Pacers, the players have strength, and Philip Sanders...

The current lineup on the field, Zhang Mouren + Artest + Cassel, should be stronger than the opponent's lineup. The opponent is led by Reggie Miller and Jermaine O'Neal.

But the Pacers have clear ideas, clear play style, and good grasp of their advantages... And when their Supersonics and Artest hit this time, their peripheral shooting was extremely unstable, and even the free throws that caused fouls were not very accurate. The Pacers decisively took advantage of these points.

Give Marques Daniels and Kassel who have no three-point ability, give Marques Daniels and Artest the opportunity to shoot in the middle, Kirilianko who can do everything, blocks it, Zhang Hao attacks...

Zhang Hao feels that the regular playing style is not easy to do!

Just now, he caught the ball and hit the opponent with a single shot. He chose to pass the ball, but his teammates failed to score well.

The game continued to go deeper, and it was 4 minutes and 31 seconds in the fourth quarter. The Supersonics called a timeout, and the score was 99 to 88. The Pacers maintained an 11-point lead!

T.N.T Sports commentator Kenny Smith said: "The Gentleman did a good job of adjusting this time, stabilizing the situation with the Supersonics. He used defense and his full singles score, so he did not allow the gap to continue to widen."

Generally, Barkley always plays Zhang Hao, but this time the opposite is Barkley: "Aix did a good job, but Sanders was too good. Aix did a good job in the fourth quarter, which is multiple-choice questions, not how good the tactics are."

“What’s the difference?”

"Aix just made an excellent coach's choice when facing the current situation and handed over the offense to the strongest star. This is a good choice, but compared with Sanders' tactical response, the Pacers have not sent out the best lineup yet..."

...

As Barkley said, on the court, Zhang Hao clearly understood this and felt very stressed when he returned to the bench.

Changes in teammates, changes in rules... ‘I chose the most difficult time to be a coach? If you really wear the No. 24 jersey, you will have no difficulty and create difficulty, and you will have to go to the point?’

‘However, if the conventional style of playing and the star attack is not useful…that is the strength is not as good as the opponent?’

When Zhang Hao thought of this, his first reaction was to object to his own ideas.

However, the fact is right in front of them. The Supersonics may have really reached the worst year in four years, and will only be better than they did when he just joined the 99-00 season.

When Zhang Hao wanted to object to his own ideas, he already knew that when he had such ideas, he had actually confirmed his ideas.

He tried his best to attack the small half of the quarter, but he just didn't let the Pacers continue to widen the gap.

This feeling is quite subtle.

The players would not feel that the young players of the Supersonics felt that they were not doing well enough, and that they would be suppressed by the Pacers.

But having such a "feeling" does not mean that you can really do better, it is just a manifestation of insufficient ability.

Some of the things Zhang Hao has been accustomed to in the past few years, and some of the things he feels that he can do can’t be done.

Zhang Hao felt this from the coach's perspective, and the rest of the Supersonics coaching team also felt this.

At this time, the rest of the coaching staff had a new idea tonight, not that Zhang Hao did not do well in coaching, but that he did not have the basic conditions to achieve better results in the Pacers!

That is, Zhang Hao's "coaching debut" may be better than it seems!

But the game is about to lose...

The opening game after three consecutive championships, the loss... This is still quite unacceptable, although it is just a regular season game.

Also, Zhang Hao has never lost the opening game of the regular season...

Thinking back to the attack at the beginning of this quarter, Zhang Hao tightened his fists.

...

The two teams made personnel adjustments.

The Supersonics replaced Kirilenko and Kassel, and replaced Marquis Daniels, Ginobili, Artest, Zhang Hao and Chandler.

What is talent? The comparison between Marquez Daniels and Arroyo can be shown well.

Entering the NBA, Marquez Daniels is stronger than Arroyo, who has been in the NBA for two or three years... If the battle is needed, it is still very interesting to send Arroyo and Ginobili together.

Philip Sanders on the opposite side was shocked to see the changes in the Supersonics lineup... 'Is this giving up team defense?... It's interesting...'

The Pacers sent Jamal Tinsley, Spreville, Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O'Neal and Ratliff.

Zhang Hao looked at Reggie Miller, who scored 5 points in the first half of the quarter to help the Pacers support the team's attack, and was replaced at the critical moment. He was a little sad and shook his head. This is something that can be seen every year.

After the timeout, there are 7 and a half minutes left in the game.

It seems that the game is almost suspense. Zhang Hao led the team to score 12 points in the first four and a half minutes, which was very fierce, but the Pacers were not the strongest lineup and also scored 11 points.

The Supersonics attacked and the frontcourt ball was played, and Zhang Hao sent the ball to Ginobili.

Ginobili decisively started to work, took a three-pointer and made a move... missed!

Marquez Daniels was very brave and rushed into the inside to ramble out. Zhang Hao was very active and keen to receive the ball. The Pacers' team defense surprised Zhang Hao again.

The first time the ball was lost, the Pacers shrank to both sides of the three-second zone, preventing breakouts, preventing cuts, and preventing passing to the basket.

Chandler can only leave the three-second zone and will have to attack for three seconds.

On Zhang Hao's side, Stephen Jackson and Ratliff immediately hit Zhang Hao who had grabbed the ball.

Stephen Jackson is famous for his fierce style of playing. The best blocking master in the Ratliff League. As soon as he stepped up, Zhang Hao immediately made a judgment. He slapped the ball hard and took a step. The ball popped out and fell on the hand of Zhang Hao who was fitting. Zhang Hao lifted the ball with the opportunity... Stephen Jackson continued to defend against the attack, and Ratliff jumped...
To be continued...