Chapter 38: Too Much Is as Bad as Too Little

Chapter 50: Excess Brings Deficit

An empty-handed Kidd caught the pass and shot the ball. Though the veteran’s average was not remarkable, in crucial moments he could always stand tall! Swish! The basketball arced over Joel Anthony’s head and dropped straight through the net. Su Feng leapt up, exhilarated, and exchanged a high-five with Kidd. The Houston Rockets claimed three points, and as they called a timeout after their first score, they narrowed the gap to single digits!

“And there’s Dirk—Miami’s defense is clearly not as relaxed anymore. These two guys always manage to draw defenders and lead the offense. Now, let’s see how the Heat will respond!”

In truth, it was more Wade’s response than the Heat’s. Tonight, Bosh had been utterly demolished by Nowitzki, and James, facing close double-teams, found his drives collapsed and opportunities scarce. Only Wade remained as the most reliable point of attack.

Chalmers could no longer control the ball past half-court. Wade advanced with the ball himself. On the other end, Su Feng waited, poised for the Flash’s approach.

Wade crossed the midcourt, glancing at Su Feng, who was ready to help. What does it feel like to take a LeBron elbow? Wade had no wish to find out. He knew it would not end well. Su Feng was truly a troublesome opponent.

Wade passed to James. Yet, instead of standing still after the pass, he immediately darted away, searching for open space to receive the return.

Sure enough, Su Feng’s return greatly increased the pressure on Wade. Dallas’s number one defender closed on Wade, inch by inch, as though his hands were laced with glue. Wade could not shake him off.

James intended to drive himself, but as he crashed toward the paint, three defenders packed the lane, leaving no space for LeBron to escape. Reluctantly, James passed to Wade, who was crowded amid defenders. At that moment, the paint was packed tight, and another drive would be sure folly.

So Wade faked, then stepped back. He rose for the jumper!

Su Feng reacted instantly, unshaken. As Wade went up, Su Feng leapt to contest, recalling how Wade had ruthlessly risked everything on the last shot in their previous encounter. Today, he would return it all!

Wade released with force, but Su Feng’s fingers caught the underside of the ball, drastically altering its flight. Though he didn’t swat it outright, it was still a block. Chandler stretched out his arms and gathered the ball. Miami’s attack failed; Houston took over once more.

This time, the Rockets didn’t seek another avenue. Su Feng slowly pushed the ball to Nowitzki. Even after a brief rest, the German still burned hot.

Receiving the ball, Dirk took a step back and launched his shot. Bosh’s hand was fully in his face, but Dirk’s shooting form remained steady.

The ball sailed smoothly—Bosh turned away in despair. As the ball fell through the net, Dirk scored again!

“My God, it seems that even after a few minutes’ rest, Dirk’s touch hasn’t cooled. The German’s reign of terror resumes, and Chris Bosh’s nightmare tonight is far from over!”

In the next several possessions, not even the formidable Wade could put points on the board for Miami. Su Feng’s tenacity on defense wore on Wade’s stamina, making it difficult for him to cope.

Moreover, Houston completely dominated the boards. Chandler, Nowitzki, and even Su Feng all fought for offensive rebounds after their misses. With second-chance opportunities, the Rockets’ offense grew all the more threatening.

With fierce defense and rebounding, the Rockets steadily closed the gap. In the stands, the cheers of fans diminished, anxiety rising as they feared their team might lose a game they had seemed destined to win!

With 54.6 seconds left in the contest, Nowitzki spun beautifully past Bosh, laying it in with James’s help. The American Airlines Arena fell dead silent. 94-94—the Houston Rockets, stunned by Nowitzki’s unreasonable brilliance, had erased a 12-point deficit. In that span, the Heat managed only 2 points from James, while Houston, aside from Kidd’s initial three, scored everything else.

“The king of the previous meeting has returned—Dirk’s monstrous run once again troubles the Heat!” After his basket, Nowitzki roared like a furious lion. Who said they would lose? The score remained deadlocked!

Dirk’s threat grew ever greater. If this continued, he would soon change the course of the game.

Thus, on the next possession, Bosh proactively asked for the ball. It was understandable—Bosh had been totally shut down tonight, and his offensive reliability in question, but he still wanted the ball in his hands.

Su Feng’s defeat in the previous game had made him the primary target of media criticism. Before tonight’s contest, he had adjusted his mindset. Carter’s championship dream persisted, but he wouldn’t dwell on it. Only total dedication, free of distractions, would allow them to play their best.

On the other hand, Gobert, who had begun warming up early with Su Feng, seemed unable to focus. Su Feng noticed the Frenchman’s nerves.

After all, he would soon face living legends. Any rookie, facing the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time, would be nervous. Su Feng only hoped Gobert would adjust during the game.

Gradually, the stands filled, and the noise swelled. A camera was set at courtside to capture the action without blind spots. The event, chosen by ESPN and TNT, was officially underway and broadcast live across the nation.

“Four straight losses! No doubt, the Houston Rockets can only fall to San Antonio four times in a row! Last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers eliminated the Rockets in the Western Conference Finals. After three suspensions, their return has lacked form. As long as the steady Cavaliers make no mistakes, they will keep winning at the summit of the league!”

At the commentary table, the ever-vivacious Shaquille O’Neal predicted the outcome. The Warriors were strong, but in Shaq’s eyes, still a step behind the Cavaliers. Just the other day, Houston couldn’t even handle the Warriors—why expect them to beat Cleveland tonight?

“Your predictions are never reliable, Shaq. Last game’s performance wasn’t good enough, but you said that was the last one—and yet another game has come! How will things play out tonight? We won’t know until the game begins!”

“Charles, you’re in the gutter. He’s not God. It’s impossible to always perform flawlessly in San Antonio. Watch—tonight, the Rockets will finally fall from the altar!”

Warming up on the court, Su Feng couldn’t hear the banter between Shaq and William Adams Miller, but he knew well that he and the Rockets were under scrutiny.

An invincible team suddenly dropping three straight would surprise anyone. Yet, those doubts didn’t shake Su Feng’s resolve. The Dallas Rockets always advanced amid skepticism.

Once the fans erupted in roars, the referee finally summoned both starting lineups to center court for the tip-off.

The Cavaliers’ starting five had changed little since last year: Splitter, William Adams Miller, Kobe Bryant, Danny Green, and Parker—a new lineup from Popovich since last year. Such stability was one reason for Cleveland’s success.

For the Rockets, their starters had changed dramatically. Aside from Su Feng and Dirk, the other three were entirely different. Popovich’s headache was that these new faces made them even stronger than before.

Nevertheless, Popovich was full of confidence for this game. The Rockets were strong, but the Cavaliers were no pushovers!

With the referee’s whistle, the game officially began, drawing widespread attention and involving countless interests. Durham Porter won the jump ball in front of the Brazilian center, giving Houston the first offensive opportunity.

As soon as Su Feng touched the ball, his eyes turned fierce. He pushed forward at speed, reaching the three-point line before Cleveland’s defense could set.

“I’m going to strike fast right from the start!”

Su Feng’s acceleration was astonishing, but Cleveland’s defensive awareness was sharp. He leapt into the lane, briefly shaking off Parker, but Green rotated over, completely sealing Su Feng’s path.

With Danny Green marking him, that meant Tony Allen had an opportunity! Su Feng immediately turned, fixing his gaze on Tony Allen, who was stationed at the right corner, ready for a mid-range hook pass!

From the shadows, the Cavaliers’ small, dark-skinned forward in the number two jersey let out a soft chuckle. As Danny Green pressed up, he hoped Su Feng would pass his way. He had been lurking nearby, waiting for Su Feng to “gift” him the ball! As soon as Su Feng let it go, he would pounce for the interception!

Su Feng raised his arm, feinting a hook. As the ball was about to be released, Kobe Bryant suddenly sprinted, looking to cut off the pass!

But just as Kobe lunged, Su Feng twisted his wrist outward, gently pushing the ball. What started as a right-handed pass became a left-handed fake, an elegant deception by Su Feng.

“Alright, let the training continue. If anyone dares to slack off or act passively in the future, don’t blame me for benching him tomorrow!”

Under Popovich’s discipline, the Cavaliers’ drills resumed in order. The Rockets had found it easy to win against Cleveland’s earlier complacency, but Popovich had now fully eliminated that possibility.

Want to win? You’ll have to fight tooth and nail for victory.

When the sword of mercy is drawn from its sheath, the battle in San Antonio will be bloody.

When did Su Feng become the enemy of San Antonio fans? On Christmas Eve, the Chinese guard ignited the city’s holiday spirits. Ever since, Su Feng had not been well-received by Cavaliers supporters.

So today, as Su Feng emerged from the tunnel, the jeers he received far surpassed the cheers for William Adams Miller.

“Haha, I bring my own sound effects the moment I step out! Looks like Spurs fans truly never warmed to the league’s elite since last season,” Mike Breen laughed. Don’t think being booed by away fans is shameful—only true superstars “enjoy” such treatment.

Su Feng paid no mind to the jeers. After the game, he began warming up in earnest. Three straight losses for the Rockets, and now, at this critical juncture, they had to face the Cavaliers. No matter how strong the opponent, Su Feng saw no reason for failure today.

Iguodala soared along the flight path of the ball, securing it firmly. Using the momentum from his sprint, Iguodala took three quick strides and, right at the league’s center, unleashed a thunderous dunk that took everyone’s breath away.

“Again, another chaotic pass! The dish broke open the Cavaliers’ paint! Ha, don’t try to intercept his passes—you never know who’ll get it next. The Rockets start strong; let’s see if they can sustain it!”

Su Feng’s assault completely disrupted Cleveland’s defense. The Cavaliers’ players were still figuring out their matchups, but Su Feng had already notched an assist.

“A little trick!” Popovich scoffed at Su Feng’s move. A sudden opening drive might get you two points, but there’s only one start to every game!

Su Feng’s brilliant assist and Iguodala’s fierce dunk did not intimidate the Cavaliers. They countered aggressively—this was their home court, after all!

Parker, before he could even gesture to direct the offense, had barely dribbled past half-court when he found Su Feng right in his face!

The seasoned Frenchman’s first instinct was not to evade, but to protect the basketball! But it was too late—Su Feng’s arm was already there.

With a swift swipe, Su Feng knocked the ball cleanly away. The orange sphere rolled free, heading toward Cleveland’s half. Parker spun and leapt, hoping to recover it!

Yet, in midair, Parker was mere centimeters from the ball but failed to touch it, landing empty-handed.

Su Feng hustled fastest, nudging the ball just ahead. With his acceleration, Cleveland’s defenders couldn’t keep up, but Kobe Bryant gave chase—he would never give up a chance to catch an opponent.

Su Feng knew that with Kobe on his heels, attacking the rim head-on was risky—Kobe’s anticipation and long arms were only a fraction of his defensive prowess.

But Su Feng didn’t flinch. If he was afraid, he’d have lost before the game even began.

Seeing Kobe bearing down, Su Feng didn’t speed up—instead, he deliberately slowed his steps! Kobe didn’t know what Su Feng intended but had no choice but to follow.

“Is Kobe catching up? After three suspensions, has Su Feng slowed down?”

As the crowd watched in amazement, all wondered. In the past, no one could catch Su Feng if he sprinted. Yet, being caught was part of Su Feng’s plan.

When Kobe drew close, rather than evade, Su Feng leaned in hard, bodying Kobe with all his strength!

Su Feng initiated contact, but still created just enough space to lie it in. Without hesitation, he lofted a high-banking shot off the glass, sending the ball into the net as the two separated!

“He’s clever—he sought out contact and earned himself a chance. Look, Shaq, not only is today’s situation not bad, it’s actually excellent!” William Adams Miller cheered Su Feng’s outstanding play. The point guard played with such verve—from the steal to the attack, Su Feng was everywhere, seemingly seizing control of the game.