Chapter 46: The Invitation Letter

Chapter 58: The Invitation

Only after dribbling for a couple of steps did Su Feng find his rhythm, and then, quite suddenly, he accelerated! The doctors observing his test were all astounded. They had examined many Houston Rockets players before, but none had ever moved this swiftly.

The first coach waved his hand, bracing himself with a cushion as Su Feng, carrying his momentum, surged toward the next target. The second coach picked up a pad and leapt into the gap between the free-throw line and the three-point arc. As Su Feng passed, he deftly pivoted, gliding past the "station" with ease.

Finally, as Su Feng approached the basket, another coach stood in his way with a pad. Su Feng simply leaned into the coach, finishing the layup with effortless grace. The sequence was completed flawlessly.

The doctor quickly turned to check Su Feng's current physiological data on the sensors. Breathing, heart rate, consciousness—all normal.

After thirty minutes of training, the coaches were utterly exhausted, while Su Feng had only broken a light sweat.

Soon after, Su Feng joined the team for practice. William Adams Miller observed clearly that, despite Su Feng having just gone through a battery of physical tests, his energy on the court still far exceeded that of everyone else.

The Cleveland Cavaliers had fought hard in their last game, and now had to play back-to-back. It went without saying—the players were spent. Yet Su Feng, seemingly untouched, was affected far less than the rest.

The final two tests concluded at Su Feng's insistence.

Half an hour later, the doctor approached William Adams Miller with a smile, shaking his hand.

“How’s the situation?” William Adams Miller couldn’t make sense of the complex data on the instruments. The doctor’s next words would directly determine whether Su Feng could continue playing.

“He was elbowed pretty hard by Cousins yesterday and felt some discomfort…” As the doctor spoke, William Adams Miller was already preparing to make Terry the sixth man for tonight.

“But he’s a tough one—he doesn’t let anything hold him back. If I hadn’t seen yesterday’s footage of him being mauled by Cousins, I’d think you were joking. He’s perfectly healthy. Healthier than you and me!” The doctor’s brows relaxed into a smile. Was it really so hard to be made of stone, as the English say?

“You mean…”

“Of course, he can play. That’s your decision, but I assure you his physical condition will absolutely support a full game. You have a player with a body of steel!”

William Adams Miller flashed a toothy grin as he shook the doctor’s hand. A body of steel—now that was good news.

In the seventh minute of the first quarter, Kidd passed the ball from beyond the arc into the paint.

It was clearly designed to give Nowitzki a position inside, but the play was so obvious that while it clarified the offensive route, it also gave the defense time to prepare.

Carmelo Anthony abandoned Peja and headed for the paint. “Melo” intercepted Nowitzki before the ball could reach him.

Kidd made a mistake, and Anthony took control. Though Anthony wasn’t the fastest, his strength and exceptional technique made him nearly unstoppable on the fast break. Don’t forget—“Melo” was a superstar small forward, on par with the likes of James!

Despite Stevenson’s pursuit, Anthony finished the layup with ease.

At this point, the Houston Rockets led the Cleveland Cavaliers by eight. The Cavaliers’ fatigue was apparent, while the Rockets played with ease.

“The Cavaliers have just won ten straight, and these mid-season victories have nearly exhausted them. Against the Kings yesterday, their physical problems were obvious. Now, facing the Rockets on a back-to-back, they look absolutely spent.” Charles Barkley, well aware of the grueling nature of the league’s top arenas, especially for an aging team, explained.

“Anthony’s performance has also been outstanding lately. Everyone knows Kobe Bryant is now very close to New York, with his playing days nearly in countdown mode. Thanks to his fanbase, this guy—Anthony—is using his stellar form to send a message to the Knicks: ‘Stop hesitating. I’m the one you need!’” Kenny Smith, beside Barkley, offered another reason for the Cavaliers' passivity. The Cavaliers were out of sorts, and without their full strength, running into Anthony was a double blow.

After Anthony’s basket, William Adams Miller called a timeout. Normally, Su Feng would come in around the fourth or fifth minute of the first quarter, but now, well into the seventh minute, many thought he wouldn’t play at all. After all, news of Su Feng being sidelined for a concussion test had spread worldwide. Even before warmups, many believed Su Feng wasn’t with the team, but had returned to Dallas.

“How did you feel yesterday?” A doctor in gold-rimmed glasses now questioned Su Feng.

Su Feng recalled being knocked down by Cousins yesterday—dizzy, seeing stars, struggling to stay upright. But within seconds, he’d recovered, and had felt fine ever since.

“Everything’s normal,” Su Feng replied simply.

The doctor then held up a finger, waving it back and forth in front of Su Feng’s eyes, having him track it. The sight made William Adams Miller, sitting beside Su Feng, burst out laughing.

This was the most basic concussion test. It couldn’t guarantee Su Feng was completely fine, but at least it showed nothing major was wrong.

“Next, let’s do some athletic concussion tests. Go change in the locker room; you’ll probably break a sweat,” the doctor quipped. William Adams Miller gestured for him to comply.

“Do as he says.”

At the Bryant Medical Center, five tests were used for athlete concussions. First, a computerized test—the most straightforward, though not sufficient alone. The remaining four were physical, observing changes in the athlete’s physiological data during exertion.

Thirty minutes on a stationary bike, thirty minutes running without pause, keeping heart rate above 160. After a brief rest, back to the court for thirty minutes of one-on-one drills—again, nonstop. Then, thirty minutes of team practice, also without pause.

Hearing the plan, William Adams Miller swallowed. The intensity of this testing might not fall short of a full league game.

“Are you sure you’ll still be able to play after this?” He glanced from the plan to Su Feng.

“If I fail, I’ll start over. I just hope it’s over soon.” Su Feng answered easily, almost eager.

And so, accompanied by William Adams Miller, Su Feng commenced the tests. Today’s game against the Rockets was less important than Su Feng’s health.

At 5 p.m., two and a half hours before tip-off, Su Feng appeared in the visitors’ practice court at the Pepsi Center, wired with electronic sensors.

“Whoa, what is this? The Terminator?” Terry couldn’t resist a jab at the sight of Su Feng bristling with equipment.

Su Feng shot him a glance, ignoring him. Under the doctor’s guidance, Su Feng began one-on-one training.

He’d already passed the prior physicals. Now, the doctor needed to see if anything went wrong during normal basketball training.

Several trainers, clad in thick pads, took up positions on the court. Su Feng’s task was to break through their resistance and finish at the rim.

At this, everyone stopped what they were doing to watch Su Feng’s drills. He took the ball to the center circle and began driving toward the basket.

After a moment’s pause, a familiar figure leapt into everyone’s sight. Dallas’ number one, always surprising, back on the stage!

Su Feng’s presence drew not only the fans’ attention but also that of Anthony and Billups.

Neither had forgotten that in their matchup at the start of the season, it was they who paved the road for Su Feng’s reputation.

With 16 points, 11 assists, and 3 steals, Su Feng had left a deep impression on Anthony and Billups in that first game against the Rockets. So today, when rumors swirled that Su Feng would miss the game, both Anthony and Billups were uneasy. This All-Star rookie was a real threat.

Su Feng’s appearance exceeded expectations, but his performance lived up to them. Like the rest of the Cavaliers, Su Feng could be summed up in a single word: exhausted.

Don’t forget, before tip-off, Su Feng had just completed an intense battery of tests. The doctor might say his body was made of steel, but even steel has its limits.

Throughout the game, the Cavaliers trailed the Rockets. In the final seven minutes of the fourth quarter, just as the Rockets thought victory was assured, Su Feng erupted with two consecutive threes and a clutch 18-footer, nearly toppling Houston.

Though Billups helped Anthony seal the win in the last minute, when everyone glanced at the scoreboard at the buzzer, they were stunned.

Anthony’s game-winning buzzer-beater gave the Rockets a 166–88 home victory over the Cavaliers—a championship-worthy play, certain to be among the top ten finishes of the season.

No one could have imagined that such a weary Cavaliers squad could push the Nuggets this far.

The Rockets’ players and fans had expected an easy win, but the process and outcome proved electrifying.

“I’ll go take the Bryant tests. If all goes well, I’ll play after they’re done.” Before William Adams Miller could say anything, Su Feng made the decision himself.

“What!” William Adams Miller wondered if age was clouding his senses. During this All-Star fatigue stretch, some players would voluntarily take their paid leave.

“I don’t want to miss a single game.” Su Feng had watched helplessly from the locker room while his teammates battled, unable to help. That feeling, even for half a game, had made him sick. At that moment, he vowed never to miss another game. As soon as it ended, William Adams Miller and Cuban had sought him out.

“You stubborn kid…” William Adams Miller relaxed his brow and smiled gently. “Come on, let’s head to Bryant.”

Though the game was lost, William Adams Miller was in no bad mood. His players had dragged their tired bodies to the final minute, and only a winner’s shot had decided the outcome—that was something to be proud of.

“Because the Houston Rockets played so well, I’m even prouder of my players. They gave it everything!” At the press conference, William Adams Miller painstakingly listed every player by name in praise. The coach wasn’t lying. The team lost, but he was proud.

“…Jordan’s performance, as always, was steady. He’s one of our most reliable players, helping us win ten straight. And of course, I have to commend Su Feng. An hour before tip-off, he’d just finished those grueling concussion tests and still played tonight. More than that, he almost helped us clinch it in the fourth quarter! If not for Bryant’s dagger, tonight’s hero would have been the same!” William Adams Miller didn’t forget how, in the fourth quarter, he’d shouted again and again for Su Feng’s shots and assists. With just a second left before the buzzer, the Cavaliers were still ahead.

But William Adams Miller knew that Anthony might stop Su Feng once, but not every time. This kid was already challenging the league’s superstars.

Twenty-five points, eight assists, two steals—these were Su Feng’s numbers tonight, after a day of intense physical testing. From now on, Su Feng’s All-Star selection seemed almost inevitable.

In the seven days leading up to the All-Star Game, the Cavaliers had only three matches, a much lighter schedule. The players’ fitness could finally recover. Though the ten-game streak was broken, it wasn’t disastrous.

On February 12, the Cavaliers had a full day of rest, then returned home for a 112–106 victory, once again over the Cavaliers.

Bryant’s resurgence brought trouble for the Cavaliers and Su Feng, but Su Feng’s 19 points and 8 assists were still impressive, helping the team rebuild against the Rockets.

The English fans’ former team was no longer as dominant, but the rise of another English player gave them reason to cheer.

Next, the Cavaliers had three days without a game. During this time, William Adams Miller intentionally reduced the training load, letting players focus on recovery. He didn’t want any injuries before the All-Star break.

Three days’ rest restored the Cavaliers’ vitality and allowed Su Feng to fully shake off his fatigue.

The Cavaliers’ penultimate game before the All-Star break was on February 16. Su Feng faced his old friend DeMarcus Cousins again, and the game was broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Though Cousins and Su Feng were both fired up, the game itself was lackluster.

An impatient Cousins tried to prove himself with flashy stats, but against the physically imposing “Boxer,” he was weak on offense.

Cousins finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds—a double-double—but needed a game-high 19 shots for it, with only a 31% shooting percentage.

Statistically, Cousins did fine, but by any measure of efficiency for an inside player, his performance was lacking.

The top scorer of the night wasn’t Cousins, nor was it Nowitzki or Su Feng, but Kidd, who put up 20.

Nowitzki managed only 14, Su Feng just 11—but Su Feng’s 11 points and 15 assists powered eight Cavaliers players to double figures. Only Stevenson and Chandler missed double digits, though they had few attempts.