The Lakers started with Van Exel, Anthony Peeler, Zhang Hao, the Magician, and Campbell.

The Warriors started with BJ Armstrong, Latrell Sprewell, Jerome Kersey, Joe Smith, and Ronnie Selika.

Zhang Hao looked over at Tim Hardaway on the opponent’s bench when he came to midcourt.

Tim Hardaway was also sizing up the rookie, who had exploded in his debut season, showing a helpless shrug when he saw Zhang Hao looking at him.

"Shooting Star:

Current trigger target: Tim Hardaway.

Reward: Because Zhang Hao wondered why Tim Hardaway wasn’t starting and this emotion was sensed by Tim Hardaway, Tim Hardaway’s favorability towards Zhang Hao increased."

"..."

Is it done just like that?

How trivial!

Is Tim Hardaway really having such a hard time with the Warriors? Zhang Hao remembered that Tim Hardaway would be selected alongside Jordan in the first team and be a star player in the best lineup before Moning’s kidney disease.

Soon, at 7:30 PM, the Lakers’ away game against the Warriors began. With cheers from the audience that were not particularly enthusiastic, the referee blew the whistle to start the match and tossed the ball into the air. Zhang Hao leaped high, easily winning the jump ball over Ronnie Selika!

Immediately fast break!

Triggered by Single Rider, Zhang Hao quickly dashed toward the opponent’s basket. Joe Smith moved quickly but was a step too slow, only able to watch Zhang Hao receive the ball inside the free-throw line, pushing away BJ Armstrong before slamming down two points with one hand.

As Zhang Hao returned to defense, he brushed past top pick Joe Smith, exchanging glances...

A gloomy personality, delicate features... Joe Smith had a head of dreadlocks, but unlike other extroverted players with dreadlocks, this guy looked like a bad guy!

In Zhang Hao’s future memory, he saw a news article about Joe Smith and Garnett teaming up to bully a rookie teammate with the nickname "Cancer Patient," making fun of him to the point where he became depressed and chose to end his contract and quit professional sports before finishing his rookie season.

Transitioning from offense to defense, the Warriors attacked.

The Warriors are quite unique; they don’t admit they’re bottom feeders because their lineup is actually good. BJ Armstrong is the standard fish-type player, handing the ball off to Madman Sprewell right after crossing midcourt.

Sprewell, a two-way player, was selected to the First Defense team in just his second year of the 93-94 season, starting as an All-Star last season, now 25, in his career’s golden period, with a 91 rating... This was the capability of a Sprewell who hadn’t played comfortably according to Zhang Hao’s observation.

But why wasn’t Sprewell considered Jordan’s successor? He entered the NBA just when Jordan retired.

Sprewell is a very smart player. After receiving the ball, he immediately called for Jerome Kersey to pick and roll, targeting Zhang Hao.

Zhang Hao looked at the two small tufts on Sprewell’s head, itching to intervene! 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

It’s him, it’s him, it’s him... the big boss with his own BGM! Zhang Hao quickly refocused on defense, on high alert!

Sprewell shifted direction after a horizontal pull and accelerated the breakthrough, engaging with Zhang Hao, quickly pulling back.

This rookie’s defense wasn’t as bad as he’d heard! Quick lateral movement, strong build; Sprewell immediately withdrew his underestimation, moving laterally beyond the three-point line. Ronnie Selika got the signal and moved out to help Sprewell screen Zhang Hao. Sprewell did not break through and, before the defending Magician switched over, took a three-point shot off the screen...

This was quite the smart choice—84 rating in three-point shooting was decent for this era, but he missed.

Close by, Joe Smith tried to grab the offensive rebound but was blocked by Campbell! Even Van Exel nearby squeezed over to hold him! He watched as Zhang Hao stepped back from outside the free-throw line to claim the defensive rebound.

No discussion was needed, but teammates knew which aspects to restrict the top pick from. Since he plays inside, just don’t let him grab rebounds.

Currently, Joe Smith has an 80 ability rating, which, while not comparable to previous years’ top picks, is definitely decent. However, in this era, an 80-rated top pick is rather mediocre. In the past few years, Big Dog, Weber, O’Neal, Auntie, Coleman... any of them entering the NBA were top-tier players in their positions.

Joe Smith’s offense and defense are comprehensive, somewhat like a mature Kevin Garnett; his build and playing style are similar, particularly strong on offensive rebounds, averaging 3.7 offensive rebounds per game.

But his weaknesses are also apparent; aside from offensive rebounds and decent defense, he doesn’t have any standout strengths.

The seamless cooperation on rebounds made Joe Smith feel targeted!

No hesitation; missing the rebound, Joe Smith immediately retreated on defense; otherwise, their coach, who he thought lacked sense, would absolutely berate him.

Watching the Warriors quickly retreat on defense, Zhang Hao lamented that the iron-blooded era was troublesome. As the season progressed, any team with winning aspirations improved in defense, rhythm control, and exploiting counterattacks became harder.

Once settled in positional play, Zhang Hao reached the frontcourt, and Jerome Kersey, defending him, had a miserable expression, more pained than Ewing.

After all, he is an offensive player!

Seeing that they really assigned a small forward to defend Zhang Hao, Van Exel commanded Zhang Hao to post up.