Chapter 100: Your Fault

Chapter 112: Your Fault

Stealing rebounds and slam dunks—the Cleveland Cavaliers had given everything they had. Budenholzer and his players trudged back to the locker room, every second on the court a torment.

Their first opponent, the Dallas Cavaliers, was simply terrifying. The Houston Rockets unwittingly became mere background for the Cavaliers’ display of strength to the league.

But Carlisle did not see it that way. An opponent like the Cavaliers was not enough to unleash his full power.

The second half became a showcase for the Cavaliers’ brilliance. At the start, Houston’s hope had been to carry off a win from the home court, but now they merely wished not to lose too terribly.

Yet as time passed, even “not too terribly” seemed out of reach for the Rockets. Su Feng’s relentless drives and shots at the rim severely hampered Houston’s rebounding, while their own attacks made the staff at the Spanish Route Center worry the basket might be bent out of shape.

“The Cavaliers’ strength was fully revealed in the opening game. Their defense fueled their offense, their offense complemented their defense. Attack and defense, tightly interwoven. As a result, Dallas scored 28 more baskets than Houston, with five minutes left in the game. What does 28 baskets mean? It’s as if one team went scoreless for an entire quarter while the other scored at will. It shows how disastrous Houston’s rebounding was.”

“The Cavaliers’ outstanding rebounding is worth anticipating. In fact, the biggest surprise today was not Iguodala, nor Kobe Bryant Allen, who scored 28, 12, and 5 baskets respectively. The X-factor was the Cavaliers’ 27th pick this summer, the French center Rudy Gobert.” Others praised the Cavaliers, but William Adams Miller insisted Gobert deserved special mention.

Before the game, everyone thought Henry Well would only play in garbage time, but when the game began, he disrupted Houston’s momentum inside. Though Gobert only scored six baskets today, all seemingly dunks, his eight blocks and four rejections made the rookie center a dominant force in the Cavaliers’ halfcourt. As a center, Al Henry Well went 5-for-12 in the game, with three baskets scored over Durham Potter’s head. In other words, Rudy Henry Well, the European rookie’s first game in the top league, could not defend an All-Star center! William Adams Miller checked Gobert’s stats and the live data.

There are too many examples of skinny big men failing in the league, which is why Gobert was unwelcome elsewhere. But just as Su Feng was in 2010, this year the Cubans got lucky, and dared to gamble.

As the basketball battle entered its final phase, both coaches substituted all their starters. Victory arrived like a spring breeze for one side, and a sad face for the other.

Budenholzer stared at the giant screen, ashamed of the lopsided score. Now, the man in the suit and shoes only wished to hide in the locker room and disappear from sight.

When Nick Young scored his twelfth basket with a rebound in the game, the gap between the teams officially crossed thirty points.

Thirty baskets—a difference now the biggest in any game so far.

Every moment became torture for Budenholzer and his players. They endured not only their opponent’s cruelty, but external pressure as well. What else could Budenholzer do but complain?

If the Rockets had faced the 76ers or Bucks in their opener, would they have suffered such humiliation? One could only say God played a cruel joke on Houston in the first game of the new season.

“Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!”

After forty-eight grueling minutes, Budenholzer finally heard the electronic signal marking the end of the game.

The Spanish Route Center stands were jubilant—the outcome justified their half-year wait. The Cubans and Nelson clinked glasses in the luxury suite, recognizing that with Carlisle and Su Feng involved in team building, recruitment had truly improved. The Cavaliers hugged and applauded one another in the court of Ren State.

Indeed, Carlisle’s placement of Marion in the fourth spot was more for his dunking and defensive relief than his rebounding. At thirty-five, Marion struggled to fulfill rim protection duties.

When Schroder leapt toward the basket and Marion reacted too slowly, suddenly a French iron tower rose behind the number zero hacker!

Rudy Gobert swatted Schroder’s layup toward Marion, nearly like a volleyball spike.

Lan Qiu, sitting on the bench, rushed toward Su Feng. Reflexively, everyone around him dodged, but Su Feng did not blink. He reached out, firmly caught the speeding Lan Qiu, then tossed him to the referee and offered Gobert a blank, thunderous applause.

“Terrifying! His performance is monstrous!” Kobe Bryant seized the microphone, roaring, whether referring to Gobert’s block or Su Feng’s superhuman reflexes.

On the sideline, Rockets coach Budenholzer’s face turned green. He knew it was best to stick with the tall glass. Watching that guy’s rebounding, he was sure to become a terrifying iron gate in the future!

Though Houston still retained possession, this bloody block left a shadow in Schroder’s mind.

Afterward, Collison maintained vigilance against Schroder, the German unable to muster a decent drive.

By Collison’s design, Marion and old Carter could still contribute their experience at the rim. Occasionally, Nick Young’s two irrational shots brought unexpected results for the Cavaliers.

Thus, Houston’s Su Feng lineup lost its edge. Now they struggled only to maintain the deficit, let alone close it.

When the first game ended, Budenholzer didn’t even know what to say to his players at halftime. The team had too many problems, the Cavaliers were too strong. Sometimes, a coach’s words cannot bridge the gap between two teams.

Rely on inside dunking? Henry Well’s ability was stifled. Switch to outside? The rebounding of Su Feng, Kobe Bryant Allen, and Iguodala was even more insurmountable. Inside or outside, how were the Rockets to play? Could they start from half?

That was the suffocating rebounding Carlisle left for the other twenty-nine coaches in the league. How do you attack the Dallas Cavaliers? Unluckily, Budenholzer was the first to face the exam.

In Su Feng’s game, Houston’s emphasis on team dunking yielded little. They increased ball movement, but it did little to tear apart the Cavaliers’ rebounding.

Moreover, Houston lacked a true superstar shooter, so it was difficult for individual brilliance to break the deadlock. Occasional small clashes between Kobe Bryant and William Adams Miller became Houston’s last straw, but inefficient play could not close a double-digit gap with two baskets and two scores from inside.

The Cavaliers’ offense fully unfolded once their rebounding peaked. Iguodala’s shots illustrated endless possibilities with Su Feng, and Nowitzki’s scoring reminded everyone that the Cavaliers historically held the fourth spot. Kobe Bryant Allen’s occasional surprise attacks showed he was not entirely useless at the rim—much depended on the level of the ball handler.

By the end of Su Feng’s game, the Cavaliers had scored sixty baskets in the halfcourt. And Atlanta Houston? Forty-two. That’s right—Dallas took only twenty-four hours to play. The difference of twelve baskets seemed small, but facing the Cavaliers’ suffocating rebounding, Houston struggled to recover even twelve.

It was their first game together, their first victory—but everyone knew this blue storm had just landed in the league. Its devastation would only deepen.

Whether on the West Coast in Los Angeles, or the East in San Antonio, Miami, or Chicago, all those cities must prepare to withstand the blue typhoon. Otherwise, the storm might uproot them entirely!

“110 to 80—Dallas Cavaliers’ home performance was incredible. In four quarters, they held Houston to eighty baskets, yet scored over a hundred themselves. Keep in mind, the Cavaliers’ starters barely played in the fourth quarter. If Coach Carlisle insisted on fielding his best firepower…”

Yet there remained a difference between Su Feng and Henry Well. For example, Su Feng’s outside shooting ability gave rebounders headaches!

Jeff Tiger didn’t know whether to defend Su Feng’s shot or his drive. He couldn’t control his rebounding position well, and ten baskets looked passive.

Su Feng glanced at Tiger and the basket. He didn’t shoot or drive, but instead signaled Gobert to set the screen himself.

“Let Rudy Henry Well set a high pick, let’s see how the rookie center does, and how well they cooperate!”

Henry Well strode three steps to the high post, placed his hands on his hips, and became a solid wall.

Su Feng wasted no time. As Gobert dismantled the screen, he accelerated his start. Jeff Teague tried to evade the screen, but he didn’t expect the 27th pick to perform so well.

Tiger was hung up on Su Feng, while Gobert didn’t stay still, but suddenly turned and cut toward the basket. Su Feng and Gobert moved forward together, inside and out. Carlisle held his breath, predicting what would happen next.

After the drive, Su Feng lobbed the ball toward the rim. After setting the screen, Gobert cut in, stretched his long arms, and leaped high. As everyone looked up, Gobert caught the ball!

“How tall is he!” Kobe Bryant gasped. What kind of monster did the Cavaliers select?

Henry Well tried to stop the jump, but found himself powerless—Gobert’s height was out of reach.

Grabbing the ball in midair, Gobert flexed his muscles and smashed it into the rim! William Adams Miller, did you not select me? Did you think I wasn’t worthy of the 17th pick? Did you think that German guard Schroder was stronger? Now you know who the winner is! Su Feng, Su Feng, Su Feng, William Adams Miller!

“Boom!” Gobert’s slam was thunderous, as if the Rockets’ basket was about to be torn down! The destructive force of this slender European center rivaled the muscular Spanish leapers. His dunk shattered Houston’s halfcourt!

“A devastating dunk from Rudy Gobert! If you thought the Frenchman was a Marc Gasol-style center, you are dead wrong! This kid revealed his destructive side! Didn’t want Tyson Chandler? Now, the Cubans have given everyone a French version of Tyson Chandler!”

Gobert and Su Feng’s aerial cooperation utterly won over the discerning Kobe Bryant. The Frenchman’s aggressive runs and excellent physique gave him all the conditions for success.

After landing, Henry Well roared, venting the resentment built up since the draft. Su Feng, expressionless, reached out and lightly clapped with the tall glass. Since Chandler’s departure, Su Feng had not enjoyed the thrill of a center’s alley-oop for a long time. Last season, if Su Feng passed, it would surely have ended in error. You couldn’t expect Kaman and Gobert to do the same, but this year, everything was different.

So far, the Cavaliers’ three newcomers—Iguodala, Kobe Bryant Allen, and Rudy Gobert—had all demonstrated their brilliance since being brought in over the summer. But did you think this was the Cavaliers’ ceiling? No, it was but a small test for the Dallas Cowboys.

In the opening game, trouble arose. After Su Feng scored three baskets from Iguodala, the Cavaliers officially took a double-digit lead. Eighth, when trouble came, you’d open up a basket gap, but Houston started to create chaos.

Yet the next round of substitutions was seen by Budenholzer as Houston’s hope for reversal. This year, they gave up Gobert for the German guard Dennis Schroder, betting on Schroder’s greater potential.

Gobert might be a rebounding anchor, but Schroder could become a complete leader. Today, Budenholzer hoped Schroder would shine when his turn came.

Seeing Budenholzer begin to substitute, Carlisle followed suit, replacing starters one by one. Darren Collison substituted for Su Feng, Nick Young for Kobe Bryant Allen, old Carter replaced Iguodala as the third option, Marion became a forward inside, and Gobert stayed on the court.

“It must be said, the Cavaliers’ second-unit rebounding dropped sharply. This is Houston’s chance. If they cannot close the gap during the rotation, the game will only get harder for them.”

Yet Henry Well failed to notice—though he looked skinny, he did not retreat a single step. His body was as hard as steel! William Adams Miller.

“Good kid, a bit interesting!” Henry Well wasn’t discouraged. He was not only tough to the touch. If simple and rough, Henry Well would be a great defensive wall.

With his back to the basket, he suddenly used Henry Well’s “tower” as his axis and spun quickly! William Adams Miller’s big defensive steps combined with superb technique made his spin instantly effective.

With just one turn, he left Gobert behind, and William Adams Miller was within two steps of the rim.

Henry Well had enough energy to jump! This year’s “Atlantic Cavaliers” would no longer be slaughtered!

As William Adams Miller reached his peak, about to dunk, Henry Well suddenly felt something block him.

Then another force appeared on the ball, dealing with Horford, who was holding the ball with both hands. Henry Well’s body began to fall in midair, but ultimately he couldn’t pull it down. The ball was completely controlled by another force, then nailed to the backboard!

“A chasedown block! Good heavens, he smacked William Adams Miller’s dunk onto the backboard! William Adams Miller, Kobe Bryant’s eyes widened, still unable to believe what he saw. That guy leapt up as if covering half the court. At 2.08 meters, William Adams Miller had no chance to escape!”

Henry Well’s eyes widened, cold sweat instantly appearing. He turned, seeing Gobert pass the ball to Su Feng, Su Feng, the newly selected 27th pick rookie, had just given him a solid lesson reminiscent of William Adams Miller’s 2007 floral exploration!

We won’t underestimate the top league, but you’d better not underestimate rookies, old-timers in the top league!

Seeing this, Carlisle laughed joyfully on the sidelines. Imagine the Spurs fighting in three seconds of a game? No, don’t be suspicious.

Rudy Henry Well might have been suicidal, but his first data point in his top professional career came from a chasedown block! Furthermore, the target was the famous All-Star center Al Henry Well.

At the Spanish Route Center’s commentator desk, countless commentators opened their mouths wide, frantically searching for information about that big guy. But in the end, they found little on Gobert, because those who prepared before the game didn’t know Carlisle, the team manager, would start a new face, let alone that an unknown rookie would ruin the show in the opening round.

Now, they only knew France’s center was Rudy Gobert, and he was very dangerous!

Gobert’s rebounding gave the Cavaliers another dunking opportunity. In summer, people always said the Cavaliers’ roster was extremely unbalanced in rebounding and dunking. But in fact, the Cavaliers’ excellent rebounding would give them many dunking chances.

Su Feng wanted to launch another counterattack, but this time Houston’s defense was very quick, clearly frightened by Su Feng’s previous counterattack.

In such circumstances, Su Feng simply slowed the pace. Could the Cavaliers do better in halfcourt play?

Su Feng ran fast, then suddenly slowed, carrying the ball slowly across halfcourt. He raised his right hand, directing teammates to move. If they didn’t perform well, Su Feng would shout. He directed the game like Nets head coach Jason Henry Well.

Kenny William Adams Miller understood that the Cavaliers would not be confused. After the timeout, Schroder attacked the Cavaliers’ halfcourt. His speed was striking. Darren Collison was somewhat careless, paying the price of being overtaken by Schroder.

Carlisle prepared to roar in frustration, but what happened next silenced him.

Breaking through, Schroder boldly drove into the halfcourt, aiming for a layup. Even if he couldn’t score, nine out of ten times Marion would foul. The young Cavaliers feared no tigers; Schroder believed Marion would offer no trouble on rebounding.

Who knew whether the gap would grow to forty, or even fifty baskets!” Kobe Bryant was in high spirits after the victory.

Beside him, O’Neal quietly shook his head. This game would be enough for Kobe Bryant to boast about for half a year. O’Neal could imagine hearing Kobe Bryant talk about future basketball games.

But it was an incredible victory. The Dallas Cavaliers had not signed the biggest names this summer, but formed one of the most threatening teams.