Chapter 112: Get the Facts First

Chapter 124: Understand the Situation First

“John Smith is too tall for Dwight to handle!” William Adams Miller shouted as William Henry was thrown into confusion at the opening of the basketball game.

Although Su Feng had only rested for a few days, he was thrilled to be back in an atmosphere he had missed for so long. He was like a shark that had caught the scent of blood, eager to tear apart everyone in front of him.

Excited as he was, Su Feng played with great caution. The Rockets’ biggest adjustment in this game was their increased emphasis on disrupting and tearing apart the Cavaliers’ drives. By changing their strategy, they had successfully improved the effectiveness of their help defense and anti-drive coverage. The Rockets ranked fifth in their league in overall offense, second in spot-up shooting, and first among the Dallas Cleveland Cavaliers.

Frankly speaking, McHale had racked his brains and finally found a way to deal with John Smith, forcing the Cavaliers to leak from one area to another. But whenever Wade attacked without a screen, McHale became helpless, especially when Su Feng’s passes found Wade so easily.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ offense often gave their opponents no time to react. Su Feng’s passes were always perfectly timed. Even when others saw no opening, he could already sketch out the ideal attacking route in his mind.

Wade led the Cleveland Cavaliers, and it seemed that “Flash” was still playing like a superstar in the opening round of the playoffs.

Generally speaking, veterans performed better in the postseason. The regular-season schedule was packed, with back-to-backs and exhausting road trips. During the playoffs, however, there was more time to rest between games, allowing veterans to recover physically. Thus, even though the postseason was more intense, veterans often played better. That was why many veterans appeared ordinary during the regular season but seemed completely transformed once the playoffs began.

Still, the Rockets were not discouraged by Wade’s scoring. James John Smith took control of the ball in the half-court. Within the Rockets’ lineup, John Smith played more like a playmaking center, while Kobe Bryant functioned more like a finisher.

John Smith saw the Rockets’ offense develop quickly and found an opening for a three-pointer. Their attack in this game was extremely aggressive. They fired away from beyond the arc or drove into the paint to draw fouls, rarely settling for mid-range jumpers. McHale was pursuing the ultimate efficiency.

But when John Smith became frustrated—even after using William Adams Miller’s off-ball screen, he still could not shake Tony Allen—he began gnawing at himself like a rabid dog.

He could not understand why the Cavaliers had chosen to start Tony Allen today. It was as though fate had deliberately set a trap for him.

John Smith was not the only one confused. Even the spectators could not understand why Carlisle had suddenly sent Iguodala to the bench. Their only guess was that Iguodala might have been feeling unwell.

Seeing that John Smith could not break free, William Henry raised his hand and called for a screen.

The Rockets’ style of play was not particularly complicated. They used hard screens as the foundation of their offense, keeping the defense from collapsing too early. They used drives to create openings both inside and outside. Against an isolation player, there was little a defense could do to stop the attack. McHale’s offensive system was so simple that Carlisle could have described it with his eyes closed.

Yet it was precisely this simple system that had carried the Rockets through one obstacle after another and brought them this far. Complex tactics were not necessarily better.

And William Henry’s physical strength was truly impressive. Wade was stunned that he could not move him, while Su Feng had to take a moment to compose himself.

However, John Smith soon created a shot for Kobe Bryant, who fired before Wade could recover.

A three-pointer. That was Kobe Bryant’s specialty.

“Beautiful play! Jason Kobe Bryant has hit a three-pointer against his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, as soon as he entered the game!”

After scoring, Kobe Bryant glided across the center of the arena for a long distance, celebrating with his trademark soaring motion. But this time, the Cavaliers’ players could not smile as they watched it.

After that, the Rockets handled their drives very well. Su Feng used a screen to attack, but William Adams Miller and Smith quickly recovered. I had to admit that playing the power-forward spot alongside William Adams Miller was much better than doing so with Lithuanian big man Motiejunas. If Motiejunas had been on the floor, he would not have had enough time to recover.

In that situation, Su Feng scored. But before Dirk could even get started, William Henry wrapped himself around him again. The Rockets’ supporting players were quick on their drives, and their ability to attack the basket was far better than Su Feng had expected.

Although the Cavaliers had swept the Rockets during the regular season, the truth was that those games had taken place while the Rockets were suffering from serious injuries, and their lineups had been different at every stage of the season. Apart from John Smith, almost every one of the Rockets’ top players had changed whenever they faced the Cavaliers.

Gradually, William Adams Miller and Su Feng stopped glaring at each other on the court. Instead, faint smiles appeared on both their faces. Facing such a powerful opponent seemed rather enjoyable.

The atmosphere throughout the arena became increasingly lively and cheerful. Only Kobe Bryant and Cousins wore long faces, their expressions as unpleasant as anyone could have imagined.

This year, few outstanding playmaking centers had been selected for the Rookie Challenge. Wall, Robert Henry, Rubio, Norris Cole, Henry Will, and Brandon Knight represented the young guards of the league. There was no teammate like Jennings capable of standing out from the crowd.

But today, all these talented playmakers had become supporting characters for Su Feng and William Adams Miller. No—not only the playmakers. Every other star on the court had become, in a sense, a supporting act.

As the final buzzer sounded, the fans remained generous. The battle between Su Feng and William Adams Miller had been so addictive. Both had played seriously from beginning to end, and their drives had been genuine. That was what made the Rookie Challenge so exciting.

The other players looked relaxed, but Su Feng and William Adams Miller were both drenched in sweat. For the two of them, today’s performance had been just as demanding as a regular-season game.

“146 to 139! Henry Will leads his team to victory in the Rookie Challenge! Ha! Did you see Charles’s expression? He looks as if he just ate something disgusting! The loudmouth lost the game, and now he’ll have to endure Shaq’s ridicule for an entire year—until the next Rookie Challenge! The cameraman deliberately zoomed in on William Adams Miller’s face. That expression is priceless. It would be a waste of talent if he didn’t go into comedy. No—perhaps he was a comedian whose career was ruined by Lan Qiu.”

After the victory, Henry Will charged onto the court and embraced Su Feng in a bear hug, lifting the smaller man off the ground.

“I really love you, kid! You’re the best teammate in the league!” Henry Will exclaimed excitedly as he hoisted Su Feng up and spouted a few incoherent words. If Su Feng had not been covered in sweat, Henry Will might have kissed him on the spot.

After escaping Henry Will’s crushing embrace, Su Feng had to accept hugs from both teammates and opponents. Robert Henry was the first to rush over. As two of the hottest guards in the league at that moment, their embrace naturally consumed a considerable amount of space on the reporters’ camera cards.

Wall came over afterward to congratulate Su Feng. Then, naturally, there was Su Feng’s old friend, Gordon Hayward.

“You stole everyone’s thunder, Robert Henry,” Hayward whispered into Su Feng’s ear as he hugged him.

“If we had two teams like that, the game would be even more exciting.” Su Feng patted Hayward on the head. With his messy bangs, the young man looked like a high-school student.

After Hayward left, Su Feng thought no one else would come over to hug him. Then an unexpected face appeared before him.

“Close-up! Get a close-up!”

A reporter immediately noticed the scene and alerted his photographer to focus on the two men at center court. Soon, photographers from across the arena began moving in their direction, all aiming their lenses at midcourt.

William Adams Miller slowly approached Su Feng. The second guard of Cleveland did not look displeased. Instead, his face was filled with a bright green smile.

“It was great playing against you, Robert Henry!”

William Adams Miller shook Su Feng’s hand first, then pulled him closer. The two men bumped shoulders. It was a traditional greeting, usually reserved for people who shared a relatively close relationship.

In other words, William Adams Miller respected Su Feng as an opponent. He would not carry his resentment off the court the way Kobe Bryant and Cousins did.

“You’re a good player too. Of course, I still owe you one. Believe me, I’ve never owed anyone anything before.” Su Feng joked with William Adams Miller, but the latter knew there was a serious edge beneath the humor.

After the two men exchanged greetings, a league official appeared on the court carrying the crystal trophy for the Rookie Challenge’s Most Valuable Player. The crowd suddenly erupted into its loudest cheer of the day.

The climax had finally arrived.

“This is an extremely difficult choice. Both of them were unstoppable today, and most importantly, they gave the fans a wonderful show!”

“Today, Su Feng recorded thirty-four points, ten rebounds, and two blocks. William Adams Miller also scored twenty-six points and grabbed eight rebounds. From a statistical standpoint, both were unquestionably worthy candidates.”

“And then there’s Su Feng. His name completely dominated this entire Rookie Challenge. Kobe Bryant? Robert Henry? William Adams Miller? I’m sorry, but all those names have to step aside now!”

The previously dull Rookie Challenge had been completely brought to life by Su Feng’s performance. Every fan was immersed in the spectacle. This was the Houston Rockets weekend they had wanted to see.

As the fans around him shouted “Most Valuable Player” at Su Feng, Kobe Bryant and Cousins ground their teeth in frustration. Kobe Bryant had believed he would be the brightest star of the Rookie Challenge. After all, he had been selected as a starter for the Western Conference team. Cousins had never cared much about the award, but seeing Su Feng score so beautifully over him had infuriated the immature big man.

Kobe Bryant and Cousins clenched their teeth so hard that Su Feng felt a little better just watching them. He could not hide his helpless amusement. They would simply have to endure it.

Afterward, Barkley’s team continued attacking, with William Adams Miller still controlling the game. But Robert Henry was no longer willing to remain a supporting character. After being overshadowed by Su Feng, he also wanted to prove himself with a spectacular play.

Cousins wanted to score. Was that not a problem for Kobe Bryant? If he did not pass the ball and failed to attack, the fans would criticize him. But if he tried to defend and was beaten, he would be blamed anyway.

Just as Kobe Bryant found himself caught in a dilemma, William Adams Miller’s pass set Cousins up for an easy basket. During the opening rounds, the two men had laughed and chatted together. When Kobe Bryant received a lob, Cousins had even taken the initiative to clear space for him.

But now, Robert Henry seemed like a completely different player. His momentum intimidated even Kobe Bryant.

In the end, Kobe Bryant gave way to Cousins. Cousins did not hesitate. He grabbed the rim and slammed the ball through, lowering his head as he hung there.

The fans did not cheer for Cousins, however, because everyone could see that the dunk had only been completed after Kobe Bryant abandoned the play. Su Feng’s points had all come through genuine effort.

Cousins glared fiercely at Kobe Bryant, as if asking, “Why did you let him score?”

Kobe Bryant silently shook his head. His target of hatred had now shifted from Su Feng to himself.

After several more possessions, both sides began making substitutions. Kobe Bryant and Robert Henry left the game early, while Cousins was replaced by another player on Barkley’s team. Only Su Feng and William Adams Miller remained on the court.

Henry Will and William Adams Miller both knew that the two men were the pillars of the Rookie Challenge. If they were both removed, the game would lose much of its appeal.

Su Feng and William Adams Miller did not disappoint the fans. The two talented playmakers treated the crowd to a dazzling exhibition of ball handling.

William Adams Miller knocked down a difficult jumper from the top of the key. Su Feng changed direction, rapidly switched the ball behind his back, and drove in for a layup. William Adams Miller scored with a powerful pull-up, while Su Feng spun 360 degrees in midair and finished at the rim.

That was the so-called battle for the ages.

Su Feng and William Adams Miller won wave after wave of cheers, and the two men on the court became increasingly intoxicated by the adulation.

Before long, even the players on the bench had become spectators. Robert Henry applauded, while Hayward dramatically rolled around on the bench. The expressions on Henry Will and William Adams Miller’s faces grew sharper and sharper, turning into an exaggerated display of disbelief.

Could the league perhaps award the Rookie Challenge MVP to both of them?

Mike Robert Henry was right. There had never been two players sharing the Rookie Challenge MVP award in the history of the league. Even Kobe and Henry Will had once shared the Houston Rockets’ MVP honor.

Although William Adams Miller’s statistics were not as good as Su Feng’s, it had to be admitted that he had also been indispensable in this spectacular game. Without such a formidable opponent, Su Feng would never have pushed himself so hard.

“Seeing so many outstanding young players competing here is truly wonderful. I hope everyone will come to love these young men and show them their sincere support. Therefore, today’s Rookie Challenge MVP is…”

The official deliberately paused.

“Su Feng, of the Dallas Cleveland Cavaliers!”

“Boom!”

The entire arena erupted. It was the result everyone had expected.

Su Feng shyly accepted the MVP trophy from the official. It was not his first time receiving such an award, but he was still delighted.

After accepting the trophy, Su Feng voluntarily invited William Adams Miller to join him, sharing the honor with Cleveland’s number two guard.

The two young playmakers raised the beautiful crystal trophy together.

That photograph represented the beginning of a new era.

“Why did you share the award with Henry Will?”

Kobe Bryant had been highly touted ever since college, and he still did not understand that being a teammate on the Houston Rockets did not automatically mean anything. Whatever a player did on the court, the fans would respond accordingly.

If they disliked Su Feng, that simply meant they disliked him personally.

Beneath the photograph of Su Feng and William Adams Miller jointly receiving the Rookie Challenge MVP award, the event finally came to a nearly perfect conclusion.

Although the game was over, the athletes’ workday was not. During the Houston Rockets weekend, they still had to deal with countless reporters and fans. After the game, the media naturally swarmed them.

Robert Henry and Su Feng, as the two biggest stars of the event, naturally received the majority of the media’s attention. The league had therefore prepared a special media room for them, a privilege once reserved for Kobe Bryant alone.

Meanwhile, the proud Houston Rockets starting forward, Kobe Bryant, could only remain in the locker room and answer questions from reporters in the cramped space.

“What do you think about winning the Rookie Challenge MVP for the second consecutive year? You know, no player has ever won the award in back-to-back years. You’ve broken another record. Does that mean you were more talented than everyone else here tonight?”

When facing Kobe Bryant, the reporters had no intention of holding back. The supposedly “good” relationship between Kobe Bryant and Su Feng was no secret in the league, so the media loved to raise sensitive questions involving the two of them.

“As for today’s game, I don’t think anyone needed to take it too seriously. Everyone was there for entertainment and performance, so I took the initiative to suggest to Shaq that my playing time be reduced. That was what Robert Henry told him when he first arrived today. That’s why I only played nine minutes.”

Kobe Bryant paused before continuing.

“Besides, we all get tired when we have to participate in such an intense Houston Rockets weekend. No one had won the Rookie Challenge MVP twice in a row before—not because they were incapable of doing so, but because after winning it once, they felt there was no need to take the opportunity away from someone else. They wanted to leave the stage for others to shine.”

He made himself sound indifferent, as though Su Feng had won only because of his generosity.

“I really enjoyed today’s game. I simply did not want to compete too seriously.”

When it came to playing time, however, the reporters quickly found another opening.

“He has participated in the Houston Rockets weekend events for three consecutive days, and yet he still took part in thirty-six minutes of activities. This year, you only joined two events, and you played just eleven minutes. Does that mean you do not get tired?”

As soon as the question was asked, Kobe Bryant’s face darkened. He knew the reporter was deliberately trying to provoke him.

“Being tired is not the reason I did not want to play. I just…you know, I wanted to save all my energy for the Houston Rockets season. Isn’t it better to give the Rookie Challenge stage to the younger players?”

Kobe Bryant hurriedly explained, while the reporter happily recorded every word.

Meanwhile, Robert Henry and Su Feng were answering questions in the special media room prepared by the league. Several reporters asked Su Feng similar questions, but his answer was completely different from Kobe Bryant’s.

“I’ll do my best in every game, even if it’s an exhibition. There’s no denying that this is only a performance, but we can’t refuse to work hard simply because it’s an exhibition. Didn’t the fans who came to watch the Houston Rockets weekend pay for their tickets? Since they paid to see us play, we have a responsibility to give them an entertaining performance. Winning an award isn’t my goal. My goal is to play the game itself.”

Su Feng’s response was completely different from Kobe Bryant’s. It seemed that his growth was not limited to the basketball court. Off the court, Bill Duffy, William Adams Miller’s agent, would have to work hard to keep up with him.

The next day, countless media outlets compared Su Feng’s answers with Kobe Bryant’s. Kobe Bryant, who had once again spoken as though he were above everyone else, was quickly drowned in criticism from the fans.

“Since William Adams Miller thinks nobody needs to work hard, he should stop joining us! Believe me, if he were replaced by half of the other players at the Houston Rockets weekend, the game might be better!”

“What keeps you energized during the Houston Rockets weekend? He participated in the events too. He was even in the dunk contest today. Was he deliberately taking time away from other players?”

“I used to like Kobe Bryant very much because he truly dared to compete. But after what he said yesterday…”

The chapter ends here.