socalfunplaces Chapter 56 Another Victory Over Australia! 1
Chapter 56 Another Victory Over Australia! 1
On the evening of June 18, at the Harbin Convention and Exhibition Center Gymnasium.
The air was thicker with tension than it had been three days ago. If the match against New Zealand was a "debut celebration," then tonight's match was a "battle for legitimacy."
The streets outside the venue were already congested by 5 p.m. A sea of red enveloped the city, and even roadside vendors selling roasted sweet potatoes were wearing T-shirts with Lin Hao's image on them, shouting, "Eat sweet potatoes for energy! Watch Haozi crush Australia tonight!"
The atmosphere in the Chinese men's basketball team's locker room was so heavy it seemed like water was about to drip from it.
Jiang Xingquan drew complex defensive formations on the tactics board, the screeching sound of chalk hitting the blackboard particularly jarring. "Remember, Australia isn't New Zealand. They're real beasts; their physicality will be NBA level, or even higher. We need to tear them apart with our passing and wear them down with our speed!"
Yao Ming was wrapping his bandages when he looked up at Lin Hao, who was tying his shoelaces: "Haozi, those guys in Australia are ruthless. Be careful."
Lin Hao tightened his shoelaces, tied them into a neat bow, and said without looking up, "It's alright, Brother Yao. If they dare to get rough, I'll show them what 'an eye for an eye' really means."
Just then, a commotion arose outside the door. Through the crack in the door, one could hear the Australian players' distinctive English, slurred with a "r," and their unrestrained laughter.
"Hey, I heard that short Chinese guy is really popular in the NBA?" That was the voice of Australian center Marc Anderson, as loud as a megaphone. "I hope he doesn't end up like that Korean guard last time, with two broken ribs from me."
"Come on, Mark, you'll scare him to tears," another voice chimed in. "I've heard the Chinese like billiards, maybe we should let them win?"
These words slipped through the crack in the door into the lounge. Zhu Fangyu jumped up, ready to rush out: "Damn it, that's too arrogant!"
Lin Hao grabbed Zhu Fangyu's shoulder, pressing down so hard that Zhu Fangyu couldn't move. Lin Hao kept his head down, but a cold smile played on his lips.
"Eight o'clock sharp, start on time," Lin Hao said calmly. "Let them be arrogant for a while. After the match, they won't even have a place to cry."
8 PM, players' tunnel.
The players from both teams entered the field. The Australian team truly deserved the nickname "The Soccer Kings," with each player resembling a towering figure, their muscles bulging high beneath their jerseys. Their star guard, Brett Hogan, led the way; he was a burly man weighing nearly 200 pounds. As he passed the Chinese team's formation, he deliberately bumped Yao Ming hard in the chest with his shoulder.
Yao Ming didn't move an inch, he just frowned.
Hogan walked up to Lin Hao, looking down at the young man who was half a head shorter than him, his tone filled with naked contempt: "Hey, Lin. Heard you scored a lot of points in the NBA? Welcome to a man's game. Here, there are no traveling, no fouls, only survival or death."
Lin Hao stopped and looked up at him, his eyes as calm as a deep pool of water.
"Really?" Lin Hao slowly adjusted his wristband. "Then you'd better pray I don't pull too far ahead. Otherwise..."
He leaned close to Hogan's ear, lowered his voice, and said in fluent English, "Otherwise, I'll have the entire stadium blasting suonas at you during halftime. You know what that means? Hahaha, it's a funeral."
Hogan's face instantly turned ugly.
The competition officially began at 8:10.
The national anthem played. As the "March of the Volunteers" resounded throughout the stadium, Lin Hao stood at the very front of the procession, his right hand on his chest, his gaze resolute. He could feel the gaze of more than ten thousand compatriots behind him, and he could also feel the disdain in the blue eyes of those opposite him.
The referee throws the ball.
Yao Ming takes off! The 226cm tall giant completely dominates his opponent in the air, and with a wave of his hand, the ball lands precisely in Lin Hao's hands.
Lin Hao dribbled the ball across half-court. As Jiang Xingquan had predicted, the Australian team immediately launched a full-court press. Hogan didn't guard Lin Hao one-on-one, but instead formed an angle with another wing player, clamping down on Lin Hao like two pincers.
"Double-team!" the commentator exclaimed. "The Australian team is too cunning. They studied the video from the last game and know that Lin Hao is the engine. They're going to shut down our playmaker right from the start!"
Facing the two defenders, Lin Hao remained calm. He shielded the ball with his back to the goal, glancing around the entire court out of the corner of his eye. Just when Hogan thought Lin Hao would be forced to the baseline, Lin Hao suddenly feinted a behind-the-back pass, causing Hogan to shift his weight, and then flicked his wrist—
The ball wasn't passed to Yao Ming; instead, it bounced off the ground and flew towards the bottom corner!
Du Feng landed right there. He received the ball, adjusted, jumped, and shot.
"Whoosh!"
A clean swish into the net! 3-0!
"Great shot! Lin Hao's vision is amazing! Double-teaming him can't stop him at all!" The commentator excitedly slammed his hand on the table.
As they retreated on defense, Hogan shoved Lin Hao hard: "You better not try anything funny!"
Lin Hao staggered for a moment, steadied himself, glanced back at the scoreboard, and smiled.
Australia attacks. Hogan has the ball and uses his physical advantage to force his way past Liu Wei. Although Liu Wei keeps up with his footwork, he is completely outmatched in physical confrontation and Hogan uses his buttocks to push through a path.
Hogan drove into the paint and was about to go for a layup when a huge shadow loomed over him.
"Snapped!"
Yao Ming's thunderous block! He swatted the ball solidly out of bounds!
"Defense! Defense!" The entire stadium erupted in cheers.
Lin Hao picked up the ball that had gone out of bounds, didn't call a timeout, and immediately launched a fast break. Hogan and another player rushed in to double-team him again. This time, Lin Hao didn't pass the ball; he used his speed to force his way through the two players, like a red lightning bolt piercing straight into the heart of the defense.
The Australian center came to help defend, and Lin Hao folded his body in the air to avoid the block and scored off the backboard!
4 is better than 0!
Hogan was breathing heavily, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes. He hadn't expected this Chinese kid to not only pass well, but also be so tough in singles.
The next few minutes became Lin Hao's personal showcase. Whenever Australia dared to double-team, Lin Hao could get the ball to an open teammate within 0.5 seconds; if Australia collapsed their defense, Lin Hao could use Yao Ming's screen to make a mid-range shot.
With three minutes remaining in the first quarter, Lin Hao had already dished out seven assists. China led 22-18.
Jiang Xingquan nodded in satisfaction on the sidelines, but his brow remained furrowed. He knew this was merely the calm before the storm. Australia's beastly stamina and aggressive playing style often came alive in the second quarter.
Sure enough, the whistle blew to end the first quarter. Australian head coach Gold angrily slammed his tactical board on the ground and yelled at his players. He pointed at the Chinese bench, especially Lin Hao sitting there, spitting as he did so.
Lin Hao sat on the bench, took a towel from a staff member, and wiped his sweat. He looked at the restless "beasts" opposite him, his eyes showing no fear, only the excitement of a hunter seeing his prey step into a trap.
"Haozi, they'll definitely go all out in the second quarter." Yao Ming handed him a sports drink.
Lin Hao unscrewed the bottle cap, tilted his head back, and took a swig, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"Perfect," Lin Hao wiped his mouth, "I also want to try what it feels like to be surrounded and bitten by a pack of mad dogs."
At the start of the second quarter, Australia's head coach, Brownie Gold—the old coach with a short, gray haircut and bulging veins on his neck—waved his hand sharply on the sidelines and roared a barely audible but fierce command onto the court.
Brett Hogan, the Australian point guard responsible for guarding Lin Hao, glanced at the sidelines and gave the coach an OK sign. He was the team's primary outside shooter, having spent two seasons in the NBA's Milwaukee as a backup combo guard. His speed, strength, and physicality were all above NBA average. He had been thoroughly outmaneuvered by Lin Hao's seven assists in the first quarter, and his face was already ashen.
The whistle blows, Australia gains possession.
Hogan didn't try to double-team Lin Hao again—he didn't even glance at Lin Hao. Instead, he passed the ball inside, and the big center Mark Anderson used his elbow to block Battier, forcefully turning his back and taking two steps into the paint. "Bang!" Battier was knocked back and Anderson turned and hooked the ball into the net.
22:20.
Back to the starting lineup, the Chinese team settled into their position. Liu Wei passed the ball to Lin Hao at the top of the arc, intending to run a double cut to the strong and weak sides as they had done in the first quarter. However, Hogan suddenly pulled back two steps, only making a single-player delay, while the other two Australian wingers collapsed into the paint like sharks smelling blood—they were betting that Lin Hao wouldn't make the shot, and also betting that the rest of the Chinese team would collapse first under the high-intensity pressure.
Lin Hao used Yao Ming's high post handoff to pass the ball to Zhu Fangyu at the right 45-degree angle. Zhu Fangyu caught the ball and jumped - "Bang!" Australian forward Ingles (yes, he was already on the team at that time) - directly collided with Zhu Fangyu's hip from the side. Zhu Fangyu lost his balance in the air, and the three-pointer bounced out. The referee did not make any call.
"Black whistle—!" Thousands of Harbin fans in the stands shouted in unison, their boos crashing onto the field like a tidal wave.
Australia grabbed the rebound and launched a counterattack. Hogan dribbled down the court, and Liu Wei chased back, sticking to him tightly. Hogan made a sudden stop and feint, then turned sideways and used his shoulder—not dribbling, but his shoulder—to smash into Liu Wei's chest. "Bang!" Liu Wei felt like he'd been hit head-on by a small truck, flying backward and nearly hitting the backboard with the back of his head. The ball slipped from his hands and went out of bounds.
The referee... still didn't make a sound.
Liu Wei lay on the ground for a couple of seconds to catch his breath, then gritted his teeth and struggled to his feet, his chest a large red patch. Jiang Xingquan slammed his tactical board on the sidelines and protested to the referee with outstretched hands, but the referee simply waved his hand impatiently, signaling for the game to continue.
This is Australian basketball—the most notorious "meat grinder" in the FIBA system. They turn the game into an arena with rough screens, hidden elbows, and loose rules, specifically designed to wear down the patience and confidence of technically skilled teams.
In the next possession, Hogan didn't hold back. He called for a high pick-and-roll, used his strength to drive into the area defended by Battier, and pulled up for a layup near the paint – the ball went in, and he had to make the free throw, drawing a foul from Battier.
22:23.
The Harbin Convention and Exhibition Center fell silent for a moment. Some people whispered nervously to each other.
China attacked, Lin Hao tried to pass the ball again, Li Nan ran to receive it, and just as he raised his elbow, the Australian defender used his forearm to cut it off—the ball bounced out of bounds, the audience cursed angrily, but still—no whistle was blown.
Australia grabbed the rebound and immediately increased their speed. They stopped slowly grinding out the Chinese team and instead accelerated with fast breaks, using their numerical advantage to attack the paint. In two consecutive possessions, they either drove to the basket for layups or drew fouls, gradually chipping away at the lead.
The score of 22-18 in the first quarter was gradually smoothed out and then flipped over in the first five minutes of the second quarter.
24平、26比24、28比24。
当澳洲大前锋在剩余4分12秒时强起隔掉杜峰的补防，打成2+1，比分来到30比24，澳大利亚反超6分。
The sea of red in the stands fell silent for a few seconds, then someone took the lead and shouted: "China team - defend! China team - defend!" The chants resounded again, but the Chinese players on the field could feel the Australians' breath on their ears and elbows pressing against their lower backs. Every off-the-ball movement was subtly blocked, and the referee's whistle seemed to have broken down.
Jiang Xingquan called a short timeout. He gathered everyone together, not even bothering to flip the tactical board, and stared intently into the players' eyes:
"They want to play pickup basketball, so should we just follow suit and play dirty? No. Liu Wei, you take a break, Guo Shiqiang, go up there." He shifted his gaze to Lin Hao, "Lin Hao, they're not double-teaming you anymore, giving you space to play one-on-one. But you have to make them regret letting you out."
Everyone looked at Lin Hao.
Lin Hao spat out the mouthguard he was holding between his teeth and casually clenched it in his palm. He had been smiling slightly the whole time, even when Liu Wei was knocked away and Zhu Fangyu was elbowed in the back—but now, when he lowered his eyes and looked up again, the fire in his pupils had changed from a lukewarm ember to a deep blue flame.
"Understood, Coach." He said only those four words before putting his mouthguard back in his mouth.
The ball enters the center circle, and Guo Shiqiang serves. Lin Hao receives the ball and slowly dribbles across half-court. Hogan is guarding him one-on-one, keeping his body low, constantly harassing Lin Hao's dribbling with one hand, while subtly nudging Lin Hao's waist with the other—a classic Australian dirty trick.
Lin Hao didn't look at him, but raised his hand and pointed to the left side of the arc.
Yao Ming understood and took a heavy step forward to set a high screen. His 126-kilogram body stood in front of Hogan, who felt like he had crashed into a moving brick wall—"Bang!" He was completely stuck and couldn't even get around quickly.
Lin Hao used a screen to accelerate half a body length, forcing the Australian power forward on the weak side to help defend—Lin Hao didn't even lift his eyelids, and suddenly stopped, pulled back, and pulled up for a three-pointer a step inside the three-point line!
The basketball spun halfway between his fingertips, his knees fully extended, and his release point was above his eyebrows—
"Whoosh!"
A three-pointer swished through the net!
30 is better than 27!
The entire audience of 12,000 erupted in cheers: "Lin—Hao—!!"
Hogan gritted his teeth, charged into the backcourt for the ball, wanting to return the favor immediately. Australia set up their half-court offense again, and this time Hogan tried to use his strength to overpower Guo Shiqiang, driving to the free-throw line and pulling up for a jump shot—
Lin Hao made a ghostly diagonal run from the weak side, his long arm reaching out to deliver a crisp "smack!" that sent the ball flying from Hogan's hands!
"Steal—!" The commentator's voice cracked.
Lin Hao caught the bouncing ball with his fingertips, didn't dribble twice, turned and launched a fast break! Hogan desperately chased back, Lin Hao sprinted to the center circle at full speed, suddenly executed a behind-the-back change of direction and accelerated, his whole body like a fully charged spring, sweeping past Hogan—rushing into the penalty area, facing the recovering Australian power forward, he jumped, stretched his abdomen, caught the ball with one hand and spun a large half-circle—
"Bang—!!"
A tomahawk dunk! The rim vibrated from the impact, and the backboard visibly shook!
He landed less than half a meter from Hogan, his mouthguard gleaming slightly: "That's it?"
32 to 30! They've taken the lead!!
The roof of the Harbin Convention and Exhibition Center was almost blown off by the cheers, and the red flags were waved like a sea of waves.