Chapter 77: Now This Is More Like It

Chapter 89: Now This Is More Like It

"It's like saying, the best player."

The collision between two number ones was destined not to end quickly.

Su Feng spun and jumped for a shot. Kobe Bryant forced his way to the basket and scored a three-pointer. With no transition, the game seemed to have reached its climax immediately.

Regardless of whether Kobe Bryant was willing, and no matter how experts criticized the physical toll on him, in truth, only the most brilliant rose was the most dangerous.

Kobe Bryant’s breakthrough at the three-point line undoubtedly lifted the morale of the Houston Rockets, and during his younger years, Kobe was most susceptible to the influence of morale.

Thus, in the next round, the fired-up Kobe committed a second consecutive foul, yet still managed to break through with difficulty. Just two minutes into the game, Rudy Hellywell had already committed two fouls—an unfavorable sign for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"The Houston Rockets have a great start. They forced Rudy into two early fouls. Without Hellywell, Cleveland's interior defense loses much of its deterrent. Kobe Bryant and Jimmy Butler are truly desperate tonight!"

Without Hellywell, Houston found a fertile ground for attack. Pau Gasol began dominating the paint, and in the absence of Hellywell’s help defense, Gasol frequently emerged victorious inside.

Although Gasol's performance for the Lakers last season was lackluster, since transferring to Houston this season, his form hadn't improved either.

It proved that a truly excellent team could influence the level of its teammates.

With Kobe Bryant, Jimmy Butler, and Gasol all firing, Houston led by five at the end of the first quarter.

Yorkshire's Houston Rockets played brilliantly today, leaving the defending champions gasping for air in the first quarter. Rudy Hellywell had to leave after only two minutes, which was one reason Houston’s offense ran so smoothly.

Mike Breen reviewed the first quarter statistics. Without Hellywell to share the load, Nowitzki struggled to attack inside. It was clear that Nowitzki’s position wasn’t a mere one for six. Iguodala edged ahead of Nowitzki with 6.2 points, but this clearly didn't meet Kyrie's standards.

In the first quarter, apart from Su Feng, none of Cleveland's players had a shooting percentage above fifty percent. Houston’s Thibodeau was a defensive coach, with both defense and offense in his arsenal. The Rockets’ fierce attack in the first quarter crushed the Cavaliers.

At the start of the second quarter, Cleveland finally welcomed Hellywell back. Their interior defense was immediately strengthened, halting Kobe Bryant’s breakthroughs.

Kobe seemed to struggle here. Under Su Feng’s tight defense, Kobe’s speed and explosiveness dropped sharply, leaving him no opportunity to break through.

In the first quarter, the rose flashed in the pot; in the second, Su Feng stopped him, forcing Kobe to fire from mid- and long-range.

However, Kobe’s shooting percentage from distance was hardly pleasing. This season, his three-point average soared to 5.3 attempts per game, the highest of his career, but his accuracy was only 28.9 percent, the third lowest of his career.

His inefficiency from mid- and long-range frustrated Thibodeau. Midway through the second quarter, Thibodeau replaced Brooks with the Rockets. But Brooks was nearly ten centimeters shorter than Su Feng, making it seem as if Su Feng was always in the wrong place on every attack.

In the first quarter, Houston blossomed from the third row. In the second, it was Su Feng’s turn to perform.

Nowitzki and Iguodala continued to play as "First Middle School." The two made five shots over two quarters. Fortunately, Barea and Bazemore played well off the bench, allowing Cleveland to overtake the score.

At 60 to 48, the Cavaliers reinforced their defense, and Su Feng carved through the Rockets' points like slicing vegetables, forcing Houston to face reality.

If Cleveland could be defeated so easily, they wouldn’t have lost by such a margin.

In the third quarter, Kobe Bryant showed no signs of slowing down. He still sought to break through and score, but Su Feng’s tight defense repeatedly forced him into a wall.

The youngest MVP’s confidence was shaken by repeated setbacks.

Kobe had already put in enough effort defending Iguodala tonight, so in the third quarter, Iguodala focused on defense too, causing Butler’s shots to frequently clang off the rim.

Pau Gasol played only five minutes in the third quarter due to physical concerns. Though he scored five points in those five minutes, he was efficient. But in the final battle of the fourth quarter, Thibodeau needed to preserve his strength.

When Nowitzki and Iguodala found it hard to score tonight, Su Feng stood up without hesitation. This time, Su Feng scored twelve points, relegating Kobe Bryant to the bottom.

If the game continued like this, Houston could have conceded after the third quarter. Unfortunately, even fate didn’t want the match to end so abruptly today. So he donned Dunleavy’s number 34 jersey.

Perhaps Kobe Bryant had no physical issues now, but his heart had yet to heal.

Yet despite this, Kobe remained the most dangerous man in Yorkshire. Su Feng wouldn’t underestimate his opponent, for Kobe was the youngest MVP in top league history. Thanks to the "Kobe Bryant clause," he had signed a $100 million contract with Cuba this summer.

Regardless, Kobe was a tough character whose name would be etched into the history of the top league. He seemed harmless to people and animals, but if you dared to make a move, you’d better be ready for your neck to be wiped clean.

Tonight, both sides warmed up early. As Su Feng entered, he saw Kobe practicing his long jump. Seeing the array of protective gear on Rose’s legs, Su Feng felt a pang of heartache.

William Adams Miller’s legs were already uncomfortable, but that was due to age. As for Kobe Bryant? He was just twenty-six, barely two months over.

At twenty-six, that was the peak of a teammate’s physical condition. Yet Kobe had already begun learning the "elderly game."

As the game time approached, on-site reporters headed to the arena for pre-match interviews. To this day, they hadn’t disturbed Su Feng, instead finding a new member of the United Center. This season, in his eleventh year, rookie Kobe Bryant averaged twenty points and five rebounds per game.

"Jimmy, could you spare a few minutes? With William Adams Miller injured, do you think Houston can hold onto a home victory tonight?"

Butler glanced at William Adams Miller, who sat courtside in suit and leather, watching the number one guard who had just shed his training gear across from him.

"Honestly, Cleveland is still formidable. But this is the United Center. We have the final say." Kobe Bryant smiled confidently at the camera. No matter Cleveland’s 18-0 record, he didn’t care how the media painted them as terrifying.

He knew only that Houston needed the win—they needed to be stars!

Thus, amid the cheers of Houston fans, the referee tossed the ball into the air and the game began.

Joakim Noah, a burly man, had to lose today to Hellywell’s new hairstyle. Hellywell got half a palm ahead of Noah, tipping the ball into his own half. As soon as Su Feng caught the ball, everyone in Houston went wild. Every team in the league knew Su Feng should never have a chance to surprise!

"The game has finally begun. You know, Kevin, there’s a very interesting phenomenon in tonight’s match." At the start, Mike Breen chatted with his old partner Kevin Harlan.

"What phenomenon?"

"In ESPN’s ten thousand random online surveys, up to ninety percent of people support Yorkshire’s Houston Rockets to win! I think the other ten percent must be Cavaliers fans or Cleveland fans. Otherwise, the number might be a hundred percent."

Kevin Harlan laughed—now it seemed the Cavaliers had replaced Houston as the “villains” everyone in the league was racking their brains to beat. Too strong, and you naturally invite hostility.

But for Cleveland and Su Feng, ten percent was enough.

As they spoke, Su Feng was already facing Kobe Bryant outside. Kobe took defense very seriously, knowing the game itself would inevitably be compared to Su Feng.

Su Feng had surpassed Kobe Bryant by 1.5 points in personal honors, but Kobe refused to give up. If he could beat Su Feng, defeat this guy, the past would repeat itself! Second, second, second, the second chapter.

Su Feng seemed unwilling to tangle with Kobe Bryant. He passed the ball to the lower right corner. There, Tony Allen, back at the starting line, received the ball steadily.

Duke’s traditional shooter Dunleavy used Tony Allen’s two steps directly. He didn’t believe that guy would shoot from distance.

However, because Dunleavy didn’t choose to defend, Tony Allen could play easily. The high lob pass sent the ball over Dunleavy’s head, landing behind him.

The ball wasn’t hanging from a goblet, but passed to Su Feng!

Su Feng cradled the ball and raised his arm as if to go straight to the basket! But it was actually a fadeaway jumper, deceiving Kobe Bryant for a steady hit!

"Beautiful footwork, and he’s become increasingly versatile on offense. Now he’s just lacking a refined post-up technique!"

"Come on, Mike, don’t give me any ideas. If he can also attack with his back to the basket, the league is truly doomed. No one can beat him!"

Su Feng scored the first basket, which didn’t discourage Rose—instead, it fired him up!

Later, Kobe Bryant broke through, giving himself a chance outside the three-point line.

Kobe fired a shot, and Su Feng took a big stride forward. Yet, at Su Feng’s moment of focus, Kobe chose to drive with the ball!

"Derrick, this time he didn’t choose to step out beyond the three-point line!" Kevin Harlan clenched his fist. That was Derrick Kobe Bryant.

"Yorkshire will end the Cavaliers’ winning streak!"

Before the game began, they announced victory with excitement.

This match had indeed caught the attention of many fans. Tickets went on pre-sale, and within five minutes, they sold out. Houston fans hoped to see their team beat Cleveland and prove they were elite too. Those who weren’t fans of either team also hoped Cleveland would lose.

After all, as McHale said, Cleveland was now threatening the entire league.

Though this was just a regular season game, the hype had enveloped Yorkshire in a warlike atmosphere.

The whole world was waiting for Cleveland to fall, and this time, in Yorkshire, their incomplete lineup at the United Center made it possible.

Of course, that was only what others thought. The Cavaliers teammates didn’t believe so…

When Cuba’s private jet landed at O’Hare International Airport in Yorkshire, William Adams Miller stared out the window, as if trying to imprint every scene around him.

Yorkshire—he had finally come home.

When the Cavaliers players stepped out of the airport, they received the usual media welcome. But unlike before, Su Feng was no longer the focal point. William Adams Miller had always been Yorkshire’s brightest star.

For today’s "homecoming," William Adams Miller got a haircut yesterday. After cutting the sides short, he had two horizontal lines shaved into the right side—one long, one short. Though a simple touch, it truly gave him a fresh look.

As for Hellywell, Su Feng couldn’t help but glance at the big Frenchman beside him. He was still round, but now had a wave shaved onto the right crown of his head. Another simple change, but it transformed Hellywell’s image from a rookie cowhand to a vicious character.

"Rudy, you and Devin are going to be great today," Su Feng joked, as reporters’ microphones kept pointing at Hellywell.

Hellywell touched his head and smiled. It seemed William Adams Miller, the top league’s big teammate, knew how to package himself. Miller’s haircut proved highly beneficial for Hellywell.

Meanwhile, William Adams Miller was surrounded by reporters. Although news that he wouldn’t play tonight had long since spread, it didn’t diminish his popularity in Yorkshire.

"Kobe Bryant, what will happen to the Cavaliers after you miss the game due to injury?" Reporters thrust microphones to William Adams Miller’s mouth, the question everyone cared about most.