out of 9 shots from the field and 8 out of 11 from free throws, scoring 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists, together with Zhang Yang forcing Okur into 6 fouls and out of the game.
The second biggest beneficiary was Mike Miller, who used Felton, Brad Miller, and Millsap to assist him in scoring 5 three-pointers, totaling 18 points.
Felton only scored 10 points and 6 assists tonight, and Okafor managed just 6 points and 15 rebounds. Both had poor scoring performances but showed excellent man-to-man defense.
Although Boozer scored 21 points, he was held by Okafor to just 9 out of 25 shots and only got 8 rebounds. Deron was also disrupted by Felton’s intense defense plus wing attack, making only 5 out of 13 shots, ending up with 12 points and 11 assists.
Although the Jazz Team utilized the new Double Killers’ restraining power, resulting in Korver scoring 20 points, Ronnie Brewer 12 points, Kirilenko 13 points, and Okur 14 points, with six players scoring double-digits, they couldn’t surpass Zhang Yang, who scored eight mid-range shots in a single game.
to 102, the Bobcats defeated the Jazz Team at home, avenging for the last match!
The next day at noon, Zhang Yang left Charlotte with the team; after playing the Jazz Team, next comes a two-game away streak, first against the Bucks, then against the Knicks.
On the plane, Zhang Yang overheard Felton discussing with a few teammates where to hang out when they visit New York for the away game.
Defeating the Jazz Team directly with star power, he clearly felt the teammates’ confidence boosted greatly.
He heard Felton mention that some teammates complained about why such a big adjustment was needed when they could still easily win 55 games or even compete for 60 without doing so.
Felton explained to the teammates that this was for further improving the team’s power and competing for the championship, which the teammates agreed with and were striving for.
However, building a tactical framework is relatively easy, but optimizing the details on a successful and familiar tactical system is quite torturous for the players.
Winning and losing becomes secondary at this point, mainly feeling the cooperation in tactics does not play as well as the accustomed approach.
There’s also worry whether these adjustments will have any use, if they might end up not becoming stronger and instead affect their original strength.
During this adjustment period, the coaching staff and core players can’t prove concretely yet that they will become stronger after it’s completed; mere words can no longer justify it.
So, they can only seek confidence from other aspects, and the Jazz Team came as the perfect opponent.
When the Bobcats played against the Jazz Team, the system was restricted, so it was just right to display a wave of star personal ability, Zhang San and Fatty Boss, Little Duncan successfully took down Deron, Boozer, and Kirilenko, boosting the team morale greatly.
In the upcoming period, the Bobcats continued to train, compete, and refine tactical details through adjustments.
Zhang Yang suppressed the impulse to rely on wild shooting to solve problems and focused on cooperating with teammates in games to help them adjust.
Outside the game, he focused on improving three-pointers, dribbling, and utilized the time to develop chasing shots.
Carlisle was also observing Zhang Yang’s progress in chasing shots training, considering whether to incorporate this aspect into defense counterattacks.
Two weeks passed quickly, arriving at March 17th.
During these past two weeks, the Bobcats played 8 games, including two back-to-backs.
On the 5th, they narrowly lost 99-104 to the Bucks in an away game, Zhang Yang scored 30 points.
On the 7th, visiting hit the Knicks Team hard, winning 123-100, Zhang Yang scored 22 points and left after three quarters, as Hill unleashed his youthful vigor, scoring a season-high 23 points, along with 7 rebounds and 7 assists, once again causing fans to lament how great it would be if Hill weren’t injured.
On the 9th, at home, they narrowly beat the Mavericks 104-99, where Zhang Yang scored 33 points. Currently, the Mavericks are particularly low in morale, players have internal conflicts, the coach is mistrusted, plus trade rumors; with their current state, there’s no way to make it into the top five.
On the 10th, an alternating home-away back-to-back led to facing the Grizzlies away and losing 92-99, Zhang Yang got 27 points. Gerald Wallace faced his old team, showing no mercy on the night of receiving his ring, he scored 16 points, with 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Parker obtained a game-high of 29 points plus 9 assists.
On the 12th, back home, beating the visiting Timberwolves steadily by 110-98, Zhang Yang scored 25 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals, a comprehensive stat line, Perkins led the inside defense against Bynum quite well, making Bynum score only 14 points with 10 rebounds from 15 out of 6 shots.
On the 14th, a home game against the Grizzlies again, the Bobcats completed their revenge winning 109-103, Zhang Yang scored 26 points, Felton 20 points, Mike Miller 21 points, all three above 20 points. Okafor, Millsap, Brad Miller, Perkins, Muhammad’s inside rotation lineup this time made Gasol, Gerald Wallace, and Milicic quite exhausted, Parker scored 31 points and led the outside teammates to open their shots but all in vain, the Grizzlies’ wing shooters level was rather lacking, even when shot opened, it’s just like that.
On the 16th, at home, slaughtering the SuperSonics Team by 119-97, Zhang Yang shot 14 out of 20, including 3 out of 3 from three-pointers, plus 4 out of 4 free throws, scored 35 points, heavily defeating Durant who scored 20 points.
After Ray Allen was traded away, Durant saw a surge in scoring because he had more shot opportunities, with a data freak Camby in the inside, his average score is running towards 20+, likely becoming the first rookie to average over 20 points since James and Anthony.
Tonight, the Bobcats overwhelmingly defeated the Miami Heat 115-100 in a home-away back-to-back, Zhang Yang scored 41 points.