[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-golden-age-of-basketball":3,"chapter-the-golden-age-of-basketball-the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1542":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Golden Age of Basketball",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1445059,1896,"Chapter 1542 - 21: The Silhouette","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1542",1542,"\u003Cp>O’Neal’s long-distance hook shot at the start had an element of luck, but he was definitely not just throwing it recklessly without any confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though O’Neal loved to play, he spent a significant amount of time on the training court to improve his skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After joining the Lakers, O’Neal on one hand further enhanced his physical fitness, and on the other hand, focused on developing and refining his offensive techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t be as versatile as Gan, but he could practice a few tricks like Karl Malone and dominate the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, the hook shot became O’Neal’s focus for technical improvement because he knew he couldn’t drive into the basket for a dunk or layup every time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without much shooting talent, the hook shot was the best choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, O’Neal’s hook shot was different from the traditional big hook shots of Jabbar, Gan Guoyang, and the modified small hook shots of Olajuwon and Duncan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hook shot was more like a toss, or a half-throw half-hook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From O’Neal’s stance, it was evident that general hook shots are side-facing, with the arm away from the defender to avoid interference and blocks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But O’Neal liked to turn face-to-face with the defender and the basket, using his strong arms and huge hands to throw the small ball towards the basket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because his hands were so big, there was no softness to his shots; the ball wasn’t flicked but thrown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball often had a flat trajectory and flew fast, but his hit rate was quite good, which undoubtedly required a great deal of effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that recent play, after receiving the ball, O’Neal turned to the right. If it were Gan Guoyang’s hook shot, a right turn would definitely be a left-hand hook shot; using the right hand wouldn’t be a hook shot but a straight shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>O’Neal didn’t use a left-hand hook shot; he faced the basket, shot with his right hand, half-hook half-throw, which Gan Guoyang found a bit strange but indeed effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, though the shot was taken from near the free-throw line, which wasn’t a common distance for O’Neal, it was part of his daily training range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In prior games, he had also made hook shots from this range, so it wasn’t just a lucky guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nice hook, Shaq, your technique has improved.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they crossed half-court, Gan Guoyang complimented O’Neal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a big man who trained hard to improve his skills, Gan Guoyang was always generous with his praise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plus, O’Neal’s shot was quite intriguing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>O’Neal remained serious, coldly saying, \"Of course, it’s my secret weapon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Secret weapon? You’re using it too early, and I don’t think it’s much of a secret.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While saying this, the Trail Blazers had already set up their formation, with Gan Guoyang at the high post signaling for the ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also near the free-throw line, Brellock got the hint and passed the ball to Mu Lin, who then lobbed it to Gan Guoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang received the ball, also turned right, faced O’Neal, and did a hook shot!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t with his left hand, nor his famous moon hook, but mimicked O’Neal’s half-hook half-throw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Equivalent to a one-handed free throw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Gan Guoyang’s soft touch and strong lower body coordination, the ball smoothly flew towards the basket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>O’Neal had no time to interfere; the ball spun fiercely and went into the net cleanly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang quickly responded with a shot in the same style as O’Neal, seemingly easy to learn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shaq, does this mean I stole your secret weapon? It doesn’t feel very secret,\" Gan Guoyang asked on defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>O’Neal blinked twice and said, \"Uh... I guess you learned it. So, should you call me ’Master’?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This chubby guy was quite thick-skinned; this psychological victory tactic left Gan Guoyang momentarily unsure of how to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he got older, dealing with these cheeky youngsters sometimes really tested his patience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang didn’t have much time to bicker with O’Neal; the pace of the game was very fast, and he had to stay fully focused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year, compared to last, the Lakers didn’t change much in terms of tactics; Del Harris mostly followed Beelman’s approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With O’Neal and Jide as the central axis, complemented by wing shooting and drives, it’s an offense-oriented team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference was that under Del Harris’s leadership, the Lakers had a faster pace, more rigorous tactics, more mature players, and stronger combat power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jide dribbled across half-court and immediately passed the ball to Thorpe cutting to the basket when he saw O’Neal had no opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thorpe used his footwork to shake off Sabonis, cut to the basket, received Jide’s precise pass, and dunked with one hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, the Trail Blazers countered quickly, with Gan Guoyang making a super-fast backcourt throw, sending a long pass to the front-court. Mu Lin caught the ball, paused, and shot directly from beyond the three-point line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball hit perfectly; Mu Lin’s famed \"God’s left hand\" reputation was well-deserved. Such a direct three-pointer during a fast break was rare in the NBA at that time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Larry Bird knew that for a player like Mu Lin, shooting directly on a fast break had a higher success rate than driving to the basket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both teams were scoring rapidly, 5:4, with the Trail Blazers leading by one point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, the Lakers slightly slowed the pace, and O’Neal positioned himself in the low post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang didn’t resort to trickery; he didn’t cut the ball, pull the chair, or front the post, allowing O’Neal to comfortably receive the ball in the low post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Use your strength, kid, didn’t you eat enough for dinner? Your positioning is so soft,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang pressing against O’Neal was quite uncomfortable for the Shark since O’Neal wasn’t used to facing someone who could match him in strength.\u003C\u002Fp>",965,"2026-06-06T01:42:01.245Z",1,"novelbin.me","cac0124c1f8d2e5169b98eb7270757bb59842fca99f0d865e1be03e8259973ce","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1543","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1541",2033,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-golden-age-of-basketball-cover.jpg"]