One Year Left to Play

Chapter 533 - 162: Championship Culture

This was even more specific than considering how to deal with the Rockets before, representing that the Lakers were starting to truly prepare for the playoffs.

Although from the beginning of this season, neither the Lakers’ management, coaching staff, nor players considered winning the championship as this season’s goal... it’s still the same now, even though they are currently first in the West, but since it’s come to this, the necessary preparations must be made.

So, at the beginning of this afternoon’s strategy meeting before the preparation, Del Harris told the players, "Our goal is to take first place in the West, the SuperSonics are second, and we will likely meet them in the Western Conference Finals. The upcoming game with them, and the rematch when we return to Los Angeles, are equivalent to a Western Finals preview..."

After saying these words, which are almost of no positive effect on the game the day after tomorrow but rather give more pressure, Del Harris started to explain the strategic plan, tactical arrangements for the game against the SuperSonics the day after tomorrow, and today’s and tomorrow’s training plan, etc.

After the meeting, Zhang Hao was thinking about what Del Harris said at the beginning of the tactical meeting, unable to understand why the old fox would say such a thing at this time.

When you don’t understand, just ask, and the person to ask is, of course, the smiley Magician.

The Magician answered quickly, "The coach is cultivating our championship culture, letting us start getting used to the journey of contending for the championship."

"Oh?"

"We can contend for first place in the West, and having sat at first place in the West for so long, the future goal is definitely the championship... it has to start this year, it has to start immediately, and by adjusting our mindset to that of a championship-contending team, we might truly become a championship-contending team."

Got it... Zhang Hao thought for a moment and asked, "Mr. Johnson, wasn’t it inappropriate for you to directly tell me what the head coach wants to achieve?"

"Haha, you’re so smart, you’ll definitely figure it out soon."

...

After the afternoon training, Zhang Hao didn’t go back to the hotel with the team. Tonight, Schultz was treating them to dinner.

While leaving through the staff passage, Zhang Hao happened to run into the SuperSonics players coming out from the home team’s training ground.

Not familiar, didn’t even exchange greetings, neither side paid attention to the other.

Zhang Hao wanted to meet Payton, but the other party, due to their casual meeting at the All-Star game, didn’t show a good attitude towards him, acting like he didn’t see Mr. Zhang, so Zhang didn’t greet him either.

Payton, known for loving to bully rookies.

For some reason, when Zhang Hao was about to pass the employee parking lot, Payton, who was talking to Kemp, raised his voice: "Sean, I just picked up my car this morning. Come on, let’s go for a spin and compare our driving skills!"

"Wow, Gary, your car is really cool! Is it really a Ferrari? Is this the latest F355? So cool!"

Zhang Hao took a glance at the SuperSonics duo, whose voices were getting louder, and then left.

"Do superstars always talk so loud?"

...

On March 10th, a highly anticipated game started at 7:30 in the evening.

The matchup was between the Lakers and the SuperSonics. The Lakers rested for three days starting from the 7th, and the SuperSonics, after playing the Hornets on the evening of the 7th, also rested on the 8th and 9th. Both teams had plenty of time to prepare for this game.

This was the third meeting between the two teams this season. In the first two matchups, each team won once. In the first game, the Lakers were crushed by the SuperSonics 103-79, with only Campbell scoring 29 points, Sibaros 21 points, and the rest combined for just 29 points.

In the second game, the Lakers won 100-98, with Sedale-Srte hitting a three-point buzzer-beater to win it in the last four seconds.

In those two games, Zhang Hao had not yet joined the Lakers.

Tonight marked Zhang Hao’s career debut against the SuperSonics, encountering the past two years’ Second Team All-NBA power forward Shawn Kemp.

Zhang Hao vs Kemp was one of the hot topics in the matchup between the Lakers and the SuperSonics.

Both are high school rookies, and with Zhang Hao emerging, he naturally would be compared to this top power forward in the league.

In the game, Zhang Hao got crushed...

How strong is Shawn Kemp this year?

An average of 19.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.6 blocks doesn’t seem particularly outstanding, but looking at higher-level stats, when he’s on the court, the SuperSonics score 111 points per 100 possessions and only give up 97, contributing at an elite level offensively and ranking first in defensive contributions among power forwards, even more formidable than Rodman, who limits opponents to 98 points per 100 possessions.

Thus, with full enthusiasm and a positive attitude stepping onto the court, Zhang Hao played 33 minutes, made only 7 out of 18 shots, missed all 3 three-point attempts, but was decent from free-throw, making all 3, yet with 18 attempts, only managed to get 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal.

While Kemp made 6 out of 8 shots, 6 out of 7 free throws, scoring 18 points with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks!

Despite Van Exel scoring 26 points, his assists were limited by Payton to only 3, and the Magician had only 7 assists. Apart from Zhang Hao, Van Exel, and the Magician, the rest of the Lakers combined for just 3 assists, with the team totaling only 16 assists!

And the Lakers this season are averaging 26.4 assists per game, leading the league!

In this game, the Lakers’ offense was dismantled by the SuperSonics’ defense, reduced to countless isolations!