Chapter 80: A Display of Power

Chapter 92: A Lesson in Humility

"Alright, O'Haddon Miller's approach is truly unfettered. If not for keeping Spain healthy, Gasol would have broken through the Cavaliers' interior defense," Stevens recalled Mark's wild performance in the paint. He made four out of five shots for eight points. For a teammate like Gasol, scoring eight in a quarter is no small feat.

"If you were coaching the team, how would you stop Mark?" Now it was Hayward's turn to ask Stevens.

"Besides a double-team, what else can you do against this towering force?" Stevens glanced at Kobe Bryant. What did the bald coach say to his teammates?

"Clips! In the second quarter, as soon as Mark got the ball, they put him straight into a double-team! That's it. I know Zach Randolph's mid-range shooting is equally dangerous, but if we keep playing one-on-one, without Randolph, our interior will rot away!" Kobe Bryant waved his hand, opting for a double-team strategy against Gasol. All of this, just as Stevens had predicted.

On the other side of the Rockets' bench, Lionel Hollins seemed quite dissatisfied with Su Feng's frenzied scoring. Such players are hard to rely on single coverage. Even throwing O'Haddon Miller at Su Feng might not work. So Hollins was thinking about double-teaming as well.

Unconsciously, both Pau Gasol and Su Feng were added to the list. Both coaches knew whoever controlled the opponent's star teammate first would seize the initiative in the game.

So, at the start of the second quarter, the Cavaliers' fluid offense vanished instantly. Instead, Su Feng faced a tough pass.

When Su Feng got the ball outside the three-point line, Conley and O'Haddon Miller spread their arms wide, trapping him. Su Feng had no chance to break through, so he passed the ball to William Adams Miller, who was knocked down by O'Haddon Miller.

But William Adams Miller's ball was still unsteady, and Tony Allen, a stubborn defender, knocked it away again. The Rockets' double-team defense was far more efficient than other teams'.

Unable to do anything else, William Adams Miller had to pass it back to Su Feng. As soon as Su Feng got the ball, he saw the Rockets' defense shrink. Now it wasn't just O'Haddon Miller watching him, but the Rockets' entire defensive focus shifted towards him. No matter which direction he drove, he'd encounter a collective defense.

Seeing this, Su Feng waved for everyone to clear out—he wanted to go one-on-one! This scene in the top league stunned William Adams Miller, who often watched Su Feng play.

"He just signaled for an isolation play!" Though he's had a high scoring desire this season, it's the first time he's started an isolation.

O'Haddon Miller hesitated. He wasn't sure whether to stay in position waiting for Su Feng or follow William Adams Miller outside. With help defense, William Adams Miller had a chance for a three-pointer. Only Conley had no chance to stop Su Feng.

As O'Haddon Miller hesitated, Su Feng raised the ball towards the paint. So the league's best perimeter defender decided to stay put, choosing to abandon William Adams Miller!

The "old flyer" was no longer as dangerous as before. His three-point shot lacked consistency, his drives more deliberate and feeble. But don't forget, William Adams Miller has settled down for years—it's not just about threes and dunks.

Seeing Su Feng break through, O'Haddon Miller opted for the double-team. Old William Adams Miller tried to run left from beyond the arc, swung his arm, and slanted towards the hoop.

Su Feng's eyes never glanced at William Adams Miller. He judged the veteran's position from his peripheral vision. During the drive, Su Feng palmed the ball behind him, sending it out carefully.

When Su Feng chose to pass, no one knew who it was going to.

Only when William Adams Miller arrived and received the ball for a two-handed dunk did the fans at the American Route Center go silent for a second, then erupt in screams.

"That was an incredible pass!" followed by William Adams Miller's signature passionate shout.

Renowned for their defense, the Rockets were dunked on twice in positional offense by the Cavaliers today. It could only be said Su Feng's passes had extraordinary penetration.

"Everyone thinks he'll score; the Rockets believe if they limit him, they'll win. Wake up! Even if he averages just 0.1 points, he'd be the best shooter this season, but his real skill is passing!" William Adams Miller

William Adams Miller benefited yet again from Su Feng's brilliant pass. A slight cut, then a dunk. Playing around Su Feng was so relaxed and comfortable.

In the first round, the Rockets' double-team defense fell to Su Feng.

Rondo knew Su Feng was excellent off the ball, so he immediately followed him, not wanting to give him any space.

Just as Su Feng charged towards the lower left corner, Heng Liwell suddenly rushed out, blocking Rondo's path.

Even Kobe Bryant was shocked by this scene. Heng Liwell had just joined the team today, not even knowing many of their usual plays. Yet the timing of his screen and roll was so precise, it was as if Heng Liwell knew all their strategies.

In fact, Heng Liwell didn't know the play. He simply knew he and Su Feng had done it together at the Asian Games.

Heng Liwell set a screen without the ball, blocking Rondo. This time, Kevin Garnett couldn't wait and proactively switched his defense! A mismatch, and now Su Feng faced Garnett one-on-one! William Adams Miller watched the court with interest—Su Feng versus Garnett. A truly unique matchup.

Garnett's limbs were slender. When he stretched his arm towards Su Feng's face, Su Feng felt like he couldn't see a thing.

"Come on, softie! Give us one, and let's get tougher!" Garnett jawed at Su Feng, spraying trash talk. But Su Feng's icy heart didn't waver.

Alternating dribbles through the legs, the tempo sped up. Experienced Garnett nervously licked his lips, unable to guess which way Su Feng would go.

Just as Garnett was still guessing, Su Feng suddenly lunged to the right! Garnett wasn't as strong as before, but his reactions were quick. Seeing the "Wolf King" stride forward, a "wall" immediately appeared before Su Feng.

But Su Feng didn't panic. Just as he was about to collide with Garnett, he sent the ball behind his back. Switching hands, Su Feng slid past Garnett like an eel.

But Garnett wasn't the Celtics' last line of defense. After breaking through, Paul Pierce stood behind Garnett, waiting for Su Feng.

Pierce's defense seemed perfect, but it was nearly useless—the opponent was Su Feng.

Facing Pierce's help, Su Feng twisted sharply, skillfully slipping past him. After consecutively beating Garnett and Pierce, the fans at North Shore Garden Stadium were all open-mouthed.

"Too fast!" Pierce gritted his teeth, muttering to himself. Su Feng had just spun away. He seemed to have a direct connection to lightning.

Three steps, leap, raise the basketball, prepare for the basket—Jermaine O'Neal's defense was a little late. As he started to take off, Su Feng was already at his peak.

In the air, Su Feng didn't push the ball to the basket. Instead, he flicked his wrist to the side, passing the basketball away.

"A fake pass and drive almost drew all the Celtics' attention. Heng Liwell receives the ball at the zero-degree angle midrange! What will he do?!" Seeing the connection between the two Spaniards, William Adams Miller held his breath in excitement.

First a feint, then instantly Rondo was on him. For these defenders, Su Feng admired them as much as anyone.

But admiration is one thing. On the court, you have to beat them!

Su Feng saw he hadn't fully escaped Rondo, so he tossed the ball behind him, passing it to William Adams Miller, who had been dragged to midrange.

Su Feng ran under the basket, suddenly braking, changing direction, and sprinting out to the three-point line.

"Don't think you'll shake me!" Rondo muttered to himself, conceding that Su Feng's movement was beautiful. But if you want to get rid of him, it's still not easy! William Adams Miller

Su Feng's move seemed to be for another pass from William Adams Miller outside the arc. William Adams Miller raised the basketball to mid height, watching Su Feng's run, ready to continue as planned!

Just as Su Feng's toe touched the three-point line, Dallas's number one guard suddenly spun again! Su Feng, twice in succession, darted outside the arc, now leaping back into the paint! William Adams Miller

This time, even Rajon Rondo couldn't react quickly enough. Seeing Su Feng pull away from his troublesome teammate twice in succession, William Adams Miller at midcourt sent a pass, landing right in Su Feng's hands.

With the ball, Su Feng wasted no time. He attacked the rim in three steps. William Adams Miller rushed to help, but as they both jumped, William Adams Miller instantly regretted it.

This Spaniard might leap even higher than his younger self.

At this moment, Su Feng was like a falcon, blocking out all the lights.

"Unfortunately, Ray missed his third consecutive shot tonight. In the last game against the Pacers, Kobe Bryant shot four-for-five from the three-point line, scoring a team-high 23 points. But Ray's touch seemed exhausted in that last game." William Adams Miller shook his head in disappointment. At that moment, there was some commotion beneath the basket.

Garnett and William Adams Miller tangled for the rebound. To protect the defensive board, William Adams Miller tried to shake off Garnett, wrapping his arms around him.

As a result, through William Adams Miller's effort, Garnett "cleverly" got entangled. The referee immediately blew the whistle, calling William Adams Miller for a rebounding foul!

"What!" Seeing the call, Kobe Bryant immediately rose from the bench and shouted at the referee.

"Are you kidding? Kevin's got Dirk!" On the court, Marion rushed to the referee, protesting.

Everyone knew Garnett's reputation on the court, but the referee only trusted his own eyes.

The Cavaliers' teammates complained, but once the penalty was called, it couldn't be changed. In the first quarter, William Adams Miller was hit with two fouls in just six minutes by Kobe Bryant.

When William Adams Miller left the court, Kobe Bryant went over to Odom, hoping the versatile brawler would give it another try.

But looking at Odom's empty eyes, Kobe Bryant suddenly changed his plan.

The college coach stopped in front of Heng Liwell, patting the shoulder of the player who had only joined that morning.

"Go on, don't be nervous, do your best!" Heng Liwell hadn't expected to get playing time so soon. Clearly, he wasn't ready.

Seeing Heng Liwell stand up and take off his warm-up jacket, William Adams Miller at the commentary desk couldn't stay seated.

"Kobe Bryant is subbing in Heng Liwell! This is interesting, because it's the first time in top league history two Spanish teammates are on the same team at once. Let's see if the two can stir up a storm on the court!"

No one knew if this Dirk substitute could handle the job.

"Dirk Nowitzki had to sit early with two fouls, which is not good news for the Cavaliers. However, we see Coach Kobe Bryant isn't turning to Odom, whose spirits have been low lately, but instead to Heng Liwell, a Spanish teammate who just joined this morning. Now, the Cavaliers have two Spanish teammates on the court at the same time—a first in top league history.

Though Heng Liwell isn't a star in the league, the cameraman gave him a close-up. For Spanish basketball, having two out of five starters from Spain was once unthinkable!

At this point, the first quarter was drawing to a close. Both coaches called for substitutes to prepare at the scorer's table—rotation time was coming.

Garnett looked at the scoreboard. The Celtics were trailing by seven. Whatever happens, he had to be wary, at least preventing the bench from gaining momentum.

Su Feng stopped his dribble outside the three-point line. Rondo's defense covered too wide an area; forcing a drive would be the worst choice.

William Adams Miller slipped out of Pierce's pocket, and Su Feng immediately kicked the ball and began running for an opening.

In the shadows, William Adams Miller collided with Su Feng in mid-air. The "Mr. Ray" who couldn't even jump was defeated. Su Feng, Kobe Bryant's legendary shooter, performed a stunning dunk for the Celtics fans.