Chapter 127: The Pause

Chapter 19: The Standoff

Kazan Romande screamed from the sidelines, urging his teammates to stop celebrating and rush back to defend against the fast break. To win, the Cleveland Cavaliers were serious! Although the Houston Rockets’ fast break had been neutralized, Su Feng’s effortless scoring exceeded everyone’s expectations. After all, the Houston Rockets possessed a twin-tower duo of Gasol and Howard, with Williams-Adams Miller ready to rotate and defend at any moment.

However, Su Feng was no longer a rookie who could be casually defended or double-teamed. With his outstanding performance in the previous basketball season, Su Feng was now a true top-tier player for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Perhaps in terms of team tenure, Su Feng was not yet equal to Kobe Bryant, but in terms of tactical importance and contribution on the court, Su Feng had already surpassed Robert Henry and taken the lead. It was difficult to contain him with simple defensive adjustments.

"Breaking through the Houston Rockets’ defense is as easy as tearing paper. We won’t even comment on Steve’s defensive effort, but the recovery speed of the others was too slow. The Houston Rockets face the same problem; this isn't some unknown kid they are facing," Barkley shook his head. When the Houston Rockets announced they had formed their "F4" roster, Barkley had fiercely criticized the move. These men might be famous, but basketball is not a simple game of arithmetic. Most people wanted to see how the Houston Rockets would perform today, and Barkley wanted to see how they would lose.

"Buck up, the basketball war has only just begun!" Williams-Adams Miller clapped his hands, signaling everyone not to be discouraged. Su Feng was fierce, but he didn't have three heads and six arms. Under the encouragement of Williams-Adams Miller, the Houston Rockets’ offense began to get on track. After Howard received the ball in the paint, he drove directly toward the basket, dominating the center of the key.

Following an offensive sequence, Williams-Adams Miller fed Howard again. Although Kaman had a height advantage, his strength and athleticism were far behind Howard’s. After holding the ball, Howard faked a shoulder move to confuse Kaman, then executed a beautiful spin, stepping past the heavy-footed center for an easy, thunderous dunk. By now, Howard had scored four consecutive baskets for the Houston Rockets, and the fans were cheering wildly. This was the 2.0 version of the "K-Combo."

After Howard finished his play, Williams-Adams Miller entered his own scoring mode. Today, Williams-Adams Miller really wanted to prove himself to fans worldwide. He was in excellent physical condition, not looking at all like a veteran. Between Howard’s rampaging style and Williams-Adams Miller’s series of plays, including two midrange jumpers from Gasol, the Houston Rockets scored their first 17 points.

The Houston Rockets’ offense was beautiful; Mike Brown had coached the team under the Princeton tactical system, and the players were executing well. Enthusiastic fans couldn't help but look up at the big screen, only to be stunned: the score was 17-15. Despite their beautiful offense, the Houston Rockets were only leading the Cleveland Cavaliers by two points. The Cavaliers were holding firm under the intense pressure of the "Big Four."

At this moment, the Cavaliers attacked again, with Su Feng bringing the ball up. The point guard raised his hand to shout orders—this was why the Cavaliers were still in the game!

"He truly is the kind of teammate who makes everyone around him better! Can you imagine? Elton Brand has scored twice over Gasol’s head! That breakthrough also left Gasol with no choice; once he commits to the paint, Brand is open for the midrange shot. In a sense, Brand is doing a great job filling the void left by Robert Henry!" Barkley was not surprised by the close score. People only saw how well the Houston Rockets’ Big Four played, but they ignored the equally brilliant Su Feng!

This time, Su Feng didn't call for a screen; instead, with a sudden change of pace, he easily blew past Howard. Howard’s lateral movement wasn't very fast, and in the physical confrontation, he was overwhelmed by Su Feng. Gasol hesitated as he saw Su Feng drive into the paint. Help him? Brand had already scored twice from the same spot. Don't help? The paint was essentially an open gate. Howard was still tangled with the experienced Kaman, and heaven knows if he could get back to Su Feng in time to block the shot.

Just then, Williams-Adams Miller seemed to see his prey; he locked his focus, bared his fangs, and lunged toward Su Feng. Seeing Williams-Adams Miller chasing him, the Houston Rockets fans cheered—the "top-tier" duel had officially begun!

Howard was not in a rush after scoring. His composure seemed at odds with the frantic fans who had seen ten goals scored. Last winter, he had trained with Su Feng at the Brickley camp. He knew full well that if you didn't settle down and play slowly, you were certain to lose!

Although Su Feng had a good personal relationship with Howard, he showed no mercy on the court. Just past the first half, Howard was entangled by Su Feng. "Steve is working hard on defense, too. It seems difficult for him to shake the entanglement. Williams-Adams Miller stepped up, and Steve passed the ball."

When Williams-Adams Miller received the ball, he signaled for Howard to clear out. Howard hadn't performed any magic tricks in his early years, but usually, the ball returned to him after a screen. However, for the Houston Rockets, led by Williams-Adams Miller, the "Beast" wasn't always treated that way. After the screen, Howard received the ball in the paint, but Williams-Adams Miller, from the midrange, didn't follow any rules—he simply pulled up for a jump shot!

Howard rushed to the basket, hoping to score. "Williams-Adams Miller’s individual ability is still very strong; the collision and brilliance between him and Howard!" What Williams-Adams Miller didn't know was that Howard himself was stunned. During practice, it was clear the ball would come back to him. How could Williams-Adams Miller shoot directly in an official game?

Williams-Adams Miller scored as soon as he stepped onto the court. In terms of fast-break defense, the Cleveland Cavaliers were powerless against the Houston Rockets.

"Brand, serve!" Elton Brand, a top-tier forward who had replaced Kobe Bryant, was shocked by the helplessness he had just experienced. But Su Feng’s cry brought him back to the court. As he recovered, Brand threw the baseline pass. Amidst the boos of the Houston Rockets fans, Su Feng attacked the basket defended by the F4.

Howard’s fast-break defense had always been a key issue, so today, Williams-Adams Miller paid special attention to Howard behind him. Once Su Feng broke through, he would immediately shift his defense to him. Su Feng stopped above the three-point line. He raised his hand and shouted, urging his teammates to run. It seemed as if Howard had already scored several baskets.

Dallas ran a circle and headed toward Kaman again. It seemed he wanted to use his hands to fight Kaman. However, just as Su Feng was about to hand the ball to Kaman, he suddenly turned back, threw Howard aside, and cut into the basket. During training camp, Kaman and Su Feng had developed some chemistry. He passed it down, allowing Su Feng, who had cut into the basket, to receive the ball!

Williams-Adams Miller had just turned to defend, but Su Feng, halfway through his run, turned his head to look at the three-point line and passed outward.

"J. William Carlos!" The name flashed into Williams-Adams Miller’s mind immediately. Although Muna hadn't had a good game recently, that didn't mean he could be left completely open. Williams-Adams Miller still felt deeply proud of his intuition regarding Su Feng; he stopped his pursuit and turned his head. As he reached to steal the ball, Su Feng looked forward again, turned his head back, and in mid-air, battled Gasol’s body to gently lay the ball in!

"Great play! Haha, once again, using his signature pass-fake to deceive the Houston Rockets’ defense, scoring the first goal of this game against the Cleveland Cavaliers! It’s worth mentioning that this pass-fake used to be Steve Howard’s killer weapon, but now Howard’s team has been defeated in a familiar way." Williams-Adams Miller laughed excitedly; the duel of top-tier teammates was truly wonderful!

When the first round ended, neither side had conceded. The Houston Rockets had more stars, while Su Feng had his own way of winning. It turned out that the Cleveland Cavaliers were not entirely helpless against the Houston Rockets. Faced with the defense woven by Howard, Williams-Adams Miller, Howard, and Gasol, Su Feng did not feel helpless.

Gasol immediately pressured Brand, denying Su Feng any chance to pass. But this time, Su Feng’s target was not Brand. That guy had likely been waiting for a long time. Su Feng, having snuck into the restricted area, didn't look at the mid-air pass. He whipped the ball side to side and sent it to William Carlos, who was wide open.

Mebon’s basketball contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers was only a two-year low-cost deal, far from what he had imagined. Next year, he could choose whether to continue executing the Cavaliers' contract. Therefore, William Carlos also hoped to win the first big contract of his career through excellent performance in the basketball game. He would seize every opportunity the Cleveland Cavaliers gave him.

Kobe Bryant, who had played 14 basketball seasons at the top level, had never missed more than 9 games in his career. Now, suddenly, there was a 6-8 week injury layoff. No one knew if the Cleveland Cavaliers could hold on.

"Damn it, what the hell is happening now!" Upon learning from the team doctor that Kobe Bryant would be out for six to eight weeks, the Spaniard clutched his head tightly. At first, Cuban wanted to build a team of four giants this winter, but now it was a good thing that Su Feng’s team had at least one star left. For J. William Carlos, there was at most one and a half.

"This is not something we can control. Robert Henry’s treatment will also be beneficial to his future development. You don't want to see Robert Henry retire due to injury in a few years." Nelson comforted Kere in the office. It was a blow when something like this happened, but there was no way around it. The new basketball war was imminent; even with only Su Feng, the Cleveland Cavaliers had to play!

It was precisely because of this injury that the atmosphere in the Cleveland Cavaliers' locker room suddenly turned somber. Although Robert Henry was no longer the super forward who could find the Big Three in the north, without him, the Cavaliers would inevitably be greatly affected.

In addition to internal pressure, the outside world naturally put pressure on them. Some media even joked that the opening game was just an exhibition match prepared by the league to promote the Houston Rockets. Although Su Feng was strong, facing the Houston Rockets’ F4, the Cleveland Cavaliers were suspended.

With the whole team preparing under immense pressure, the atmosphere was as tense as a high school classroom. On October 30th, the Cleveland Cavaliers were pushed into the Houston Rockets’ center after losing Kobe Bryant. In the eyes of many fans, the Cleveland Cavaliers were completely bound for the guillotine, with no choice but to die.

But Williams-Adams Miller didn't think so. He knew too much about the strength of Su Feng’s colleagues. The "Black Mamba" still hadn't forgotten how he was eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the California semifinals last year.

Because this was the first basketball game of the new season, the Houston Rockets’ center had prepared a special introduction ceremony for the fans today. The goal was to give the Houston Rockets’ F4 a shining entrance. As the visiting team, the DJ introduced the Cavaliers' starting players in a flat tone, as if he were a college teacher. When others took the court, the Houston Rockets’ point guard didn't react, as if the Cavaliers' players were empty.

However, when Su Feng was called by the DJ, the entire Houston Rockets’ center was shaken by the violent boos!

"Haha, California doesn't seem very popular. The Cleveland Cavaliers eliminated the Houston Rockets the year before last, and they ruthlessly defeated the California Clippers in the last basketball game. This winter, the Houston Rockets also rejected transfer invitations. If California fans were to choose their most hated top-tier team now, their name would definitely be included." Seeing this scene, commentator Williams-Adams Miller laughed. California fans were very vengeful.

Subsequently, the DJ on site shouted the names of the Houston Rockets’ Big Four one by one with a passionate voice. Every player on the court sparked fire on the racks of the Houston Rockets’ center. Before the game even started, the four Houston Rockets stars pushed the atmosphere to the first climax.

"It’s incredible. A few months ago, who would have thought the California Houston Rockets would be like this? Howard, Gasol, Dwight, and Williams-Adams Miller—my god, even in the top-tier league of the kilometer, I couldn't imagine such a lineup!"

"Speaking of the Houston Rockets’ top-flight game, the Houston Rockets’ top-flight game endorsed by three players will also be released soon. Let’s see if cover spokesperson Su Feng can take on the heavy responsibility without Robert Henry?"

The atmosphere of the basketball war had spread to every corner of the stadium, and the Houston Rockets fans stood up to witness the first step of the Houston Rockets’ massacre.

"Look at the crazy atmosphere of the Houston Rockets; I told you you should have come here." Before the basketball game started, Williams-Adams Miller hugged Su Feng as usual. The Houston Rockets’ flag-bearer was still lamenting that Su Feng hadn't agreed to his invitation. This might not be great, but Howard was indeed the successor to the Houston Rockets after Su Feng.

"Thank you for your kindness, Williams-Adams Miller, but I’m not interested in your super team. Of course, if you want to come to Dallas, I would be very welcome."

"After winning the best teammate award with the Trail Blazers, do you still believe this is an era where a single-core team can win? If I remember correctly, you and I were eliminated in the California semifinals last year. That is also reality," Williams-Adams Miller hugged Su Feng, his expression becoming serious. "Today, we will prove that to you."

The basketball war, destined to be turbulent, was about to begin again. I wonder what kind of performance Su Feng will bring to the world this year. Don't be too happy for the Californians. The Dallas No. 1 has always been the best teammate in California.

With the approach of the new basketball game, the atmosphere of the Cleveland Cavaliers' training camp became increasingly tense. Everyone had recovered from the leisure of the holidays, ready to fight at any time. In the past few days, the teammates’ training on the court had been getting better and better, even exceeding Kazan Romande’s expectations. Over the winter, Su Feng hadn't just been busy "feeding dog food" to Vigna; compared to the last basketball season, the kid had improved a lot. His stability outside the three-point line had risen, and after breaking through, his offensive means had become more varied.

What surprised Kazan Romande most was Kobe Bryant, who could only cut down the Spanish chariot with 17 goals and 5 goals on the basketball court, creating his lowest data since his first basketball war. But in the training camp, Robert Henry showed some signs of "revival." Kobe Bryant’s state seemed better than it had been in the game. He seemed to have just married in July and wasn't confused by the intense sense of happiness.

As the team got on track, Kazan Romande dared not say that the Cleveland Cavaliers could compete for the best teammate in the basketball game, but their strength was definitely much stronger than what they looked like on paper. In this way, fans and teammates were looking forward to the first game of the regular season. The whole world wanted to see what the Houston Rockets’ F4 could do, and the shooters were curious about a nearly brand-new Cleveland Cavaliers team.

However, just three days before the start of the new basketball season, an unexpected event changed the fate of the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a practice three days before the basketball game, Kobe Bryant felt some discomfort in his wrist. After an examination, the doctor found that the injuries accumulated over the years had overwhelmed Kobe Bryant’s wrist. The wrist is undoubtedly an extremely important part for professional athletes. If you can't move the knife, try not to. So, Kobe Bryant had never had wrist surgery over the years.

However, the doctor admitted that if Kobe Bryant continued to avoid surgery, his career would certainly be greatly shortened. As you age, your legs and feet might become inflexible. This eventually led Kobe Bryant to decide to undergo wrist surgery to clear the wounds left on his wrist over the years. At the same time, Cleveland Cavaliers officials also announced when Kobe Bryant would leave the team. Six to eight weeks before the start of the new basketball season, Kobe Bryant would definitely miss many basketball games!

"I will try my best." Su Feng turned and walked to his own half. A basketball war—if you could win or lose just by looking at the roster, what was the meaning of the sport?

Howard jumped into the center circle; he was very excited to see himself becoming a Houston Rockets teammate for the first time. Seeing Howard standing on the court in a Houston Rockets uniform, the Houston Rockets fans cried with joy, saying it was nothing but a goal. This was a great point guard who had brutal dominance after O'Neal, and he had just won the best fast-break teammate, screen teammate, and scorer in the last few years. The Houston Rockets of the post-Williams-Adams Miller era could also make a perfect transition with the addition of Howard!

Therefore, in the process of fighting for the ball, Kaman, the "floor flow," naturally couldn't match Howard. Howard jumped very hard, patting the ball with his hand half a step in front of Kaman. William Carlos did it slowly and standardly. When Williams-Adams Miller suddenly jumped, William Carlos had already thrown the ball. The basketball spun crazily in the air and then fell into the hoop without bias!

"Haha, did you see that?" This is what I want them to do. The combination of William Carlos and William Carlos has great potential. At home in Dallas, the Spaniard raised his arms and cheered at the TV screen.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ three goals silenced the Houston Rockets’ point guard for a few seconds. They couldn't believe that the Cleveland Cavaliers, having lost Kobe Bryant and Robert Henry, could go back and forth against the Houston Rockets’ four giants. At the end of the first basketball season, if Gasol hadn't insisted on playing well, the Houston Rockets’ four giants might have become the laggards. 9-5, the Houston Rockets were expected to lead, but the process was not worrying at all.

At halftime, Kazan Romande applauded for the next halftime. Although there were always such problems in training, the Cleveland Cavaliers played well on the court today. Kobe Bryant finally showed some talent, and Robert Henry seemed to replace Howard better than Howard, who was older in basketball.