Chapter 98: I've Given Up on You

Chapter 110: I’ve Let You Go

Wen Xue sat quietly to the side, listening to the conversation between the two, and couldn’t help but smile. This silly child hadn’t changed at all.

After an “enjoyable” exchange with the Adidas staff, the company immediately set to work producing the signature shoes.

Su Feng’s commercial value was now beyond measure. With the launch of his branded shoes, Adidas was sure to make a fortune.

Once the matter of the signature shoe was finalized, it also meant that Su Feng could officially begin his holiday. Training, endorsements, the Asian Championships, even team recruitment—Su Feng had become so sought after that the only problem was how little time he now had to himself during the break.

“Travel to Spain for a celebrity basketball game?” When Su Feng heard Daffy’s “instructions” over the phone, his heart was filled with resistance. He had wanted to travel to Spain with Vignali, but now it seemed their trip would have to be postponed.

“It’s an event arranged by Adidas. If you want, they’ll let you bring Vignali along. It’s like… think of it as a top celebrity exhibition match! Men and women alike, the outcome doesn’t matter; they just want to see the stars putting on a show, that’s all,” Daffy explained over the phone. Hearing he could bring Vignali, Su Feng’s brows relaxed at once.

“If I remember correctly, the Spanish are more interested in football.” Another trip to Europe reminded Su Feng of his earlier experiences with Vignali in Italy. In Italy, many people didn’t even know who he was, as most Italians didn’t watch basketball! Now, another football-crazy European country was suddenly hosting a commercial basketball game?

“Basketball’s market isn’t as hot as football’s in Spain, but it’s not completely unknown. Adidas has partnered with the La Liga team Sholley, who are hoping to boost their commercial value. So, they’re hosting a celebrity basketball game. Adidas is recruiting stars to play an exhibition match against Sholley. And since you’re Adidas’s biggest celebrity endorser, you have to attend. Don’t worry, it’s just a trip to Spain—the game won’t take up too much of your time.”

Su Feng shook his head. Spain’s wild beaches? It seemed he’d have to wait for another chance.

When he thought of Spain, the first thing that came to Su Feng’s mind was football, and the second was still football. Yet upon arriving in Sholley, his attention was captured not by the sport, but by the town’s charm, so different from America and England.

Sholley, a small town of 52,000 on the Muwana River in northwest Spain. In America, such a place would be considered a rundown backwater.

But as Su Feng and Vignali stepped out of the airport, they were captivated by Sholley’s vintage scenery.

Though not Spain’s most famous city, Sholley was the northwest’s transportation hub. Many railways converged here, and historically, Sholley had always been a strategic location.

During the Spanish bourgeois revolution, battles were fought here. To this day, ruins from those conflicts remain as local attractions.

There were no sun-drenched beaches, no tropical atmosphere, no lively bikini-clad women or swaying palm trees in the sea breeze. Yet the town’s peaceful, serene appearance made Su Feng feel utterly at ease.

Life in this little town seemed always tranquil. There was no need to worry about the damned championship finals, the pesky San Antonio Spurs, annoying reporters, or pretending to be elegant at some fake business dinner. Here, people lived for life itself!

“In a place like this, to have their own professional basketball team—it’s unbelievable. And it’s a Spanish team!”

La Liga is Spain’s top-tier league. Cleveland, with nearly two million people, is already considered a small market among the elite teams. But Sholley, with just 52,000 people? What words could describe their team? It’s worth noting that Sholley also competed in the EuroLeague. Clearly, a team’s strength isn’t necessarily tied to the size of its city.

On their first day in Spain, Su Feng didn’t meet with the Adidas team but instead took Vignali for a tour of Sholley. That evening, they joined a local bonfire party along the Muwana River.

Feeling the cool breeze off the water and soaking in the exotic atmosphere, Su Feng thought that visiting such small places from time to time was a truly wonderful experience.

On the court, Su Feng made a beautiful basket. William Adams Miller knew how to utilize his players’ strengths, and Su Feng did too. Su Feng fully exploited Kobe Bryant’s height advantage inside.

As Kobe scored, William Adams Miller smiled. This guy, Su Feng, had elevated passing to an art form.

After the goal, the Cleveland Cavaliers quickly transitioned to defense. From the backcourt to the paint, the Houston Rockets were at a height disadvantage. Miller believed that positional play was the best way to maximize his team’s height advantage.

Robert Henry, 2.03 meters tall, prepared to set a screen, while the solid Bass lingered midrange, looking uncharacteristically soft. Kobe didn’t dare let down his guard, keeping close on defense.

Despite not having the traditional interior presence, Bass’s screens were surprisingly effective. Blocked off by the big bus, Su Feng found it hard to get around quickly.

At that moment, Rondo had already concealed Su Feng. Kobe couldn’t switch his defense in time!

Rondo wanted to take on Kobe one-on-one, but that wasn’t easy, especially since he hadn’t meant to score anyway. In motion, Rondo used his waist and abs to swing his arm for a powerful pass—so fast that even Su Feng couldn’t reach it.

A power forward shooting over a point guard’s head would normally be unchallenged, but Bass’s shot met a fate worse than being disrupted.

Su Feng leapt almost simultaneously with Bass, but their jump height and speed were on completely different levels. When height isn’t a decisive advantage, it can become a liability.

Bass took the shot, but Su Feng had already covered Houston’s entire offensive force! The ball didn’t go far, smacked away directly by Su Feng!

“Brandan Bass’s shot is blocked by Sophie Peak! Houston’s play was beautiful, but unfortunately, it didn’t finish!” Kobe shook his head. Against Su Feng, Bass had no edge.

Miller could do nothing more. His tactics were sound, but he couldn’t give his players more height or weight.

A coach can teach you everything, but physical attributes can’t be learned.

Bass having his shot blocked by a point guard was a blow to Houston’s morale. They tried a sideline play, attacking again, but Bradley’s three-pointer missed once more. His shot selection was too tense—currently his biggest point of criticism among the fans.

Seeing this, Houston players immediately abandoned the fight for the rebound, wary of a Su Feng fast break. In fact, they could barely manage an offensive rebound.

The big man passed the ball directly to Su Feng, who slowed in the half-court, seemingly uninterested in attacking.

Kobe jogged over. Just as everyone thought Su Feng was waiting for Kobe to settle in for a pass, Su Feng kicked off his right foot and burst forward.

Rondo reacted quickly, cutting across, but ran straight into Kobe, who was setting a screen. In truth, Su Feng wasn’t waiting for Kobe to get open, but for him to set that pick.

Bradley hadn’t expected Su Feng to break through so suddenly, so his defense was slow to respond. As he tried to catch up, Su Feng had already brushed past him.

At 2.06 meters, Hendley Will hardly seemed like an interior player to Su Feng. If not for his solid build, Su Feng would have mistaken him for a small forward.

Su Feng leapt directly over Hendley Will. The latter jumped too, but was already out of position. This time, Su Feng pressed down, his palm nowhere near the ball.

Despite the mid-air contact, Su Feng maintained his balance and laid the ball in.

The Cavaliers led 4–2 with ease. Miller frowned—even with Bradley and Rondo working together, it was hard to contain Su Feng. Their team really was undersized.

Barely twenty seconds later, Houston attacked again.

This time, Rondo’s drive drew Dalembert’s defense. Though Rondo averaged just 11.7 points per game, he was always dangerous in the paint.

When Dalembert stepped up, Rondo slipped a between-the-legs pass to Hendley Will, who was left open under the basket.

Having just been blocked by Su Feng, Hendley Will was eager for redemption. He jumped in place, ready to dunk, but was blocked again by the “second injury” from the Cavs.

Miller shook his head. Rondo and Bradley, seemingly full of holes, were in fact his masterpieces.

Only by working together could these two hope to contain Su Feng. Miller was truly adept at identifying and maximizing his players’ strengths.

In Boston’s Garden, the fans roared. No doubt, the Cavaliers had seized the initiative.

In Boston, victory was never easily won!

Yet Miller remained grim-faced, dissatisfied with his team’s performance. He knew Su Feng’s allies wouldn’t be so easily dispatched. Now was no time for celebration.

Bradley and Rondo double-teamed Su Feng. Before the game, no one believed Miller could successfully defend Su Feng with his lineup. But in the very first possession, Houston managed it.

Hendley Will’s lack of shooting range was one reason Miller dared to send Bradley to double up. Bradley and Rajon Rondo were top-tier defenders, even one-on-one.

If they teamed up to guard a point guard, their strength was undeniable.

Su Feng quickly experienced Miller’s power. He knew Miller was a coach who emphasized teamwork—not just on offense, but on defense as well.

There was no doubt Miller had brought the style he developed at Butler University to Boston. Fortunately, without a true superstar in Boston, Miller could implement his system fully.

Su Feng wasn’t discouraged by his early mistake; instead, he was energized. If Houston could be dealt with so easily, it wouldn’t meet his expectations. This kind of challenge was exactly what Su Feng relished.

Regaining possession, Su Feng advanced into Houston’s half. Bradley was already moving—if Su Feng broke past Rondo, Bradley would immediately rotate over, with no margin for error.

Su Feng could feel it—two mountains, one Bradley, one Rondo, stood before him. Back in college, Bradley’s defense was the toughest Su Feng had faced. When he first entered the league, Rondo’s defense also gave him fits.

But now, even with both defending at once, Su Feng was no longer afraid. After three and a half quarters, they hadn’t managed to contain him.

Su Feng slowly advanced beyond the three-point line, Rondo and Bradley tense and alert. Yet Su Feng didn’t move. He simply lifted the ball high into the paint, at an arc so high it seemed almost unnatural.

Miller had specifically assigned Hendley Will to guard Kobe in a roundabout way. Will was an average player, but his sizable backside was as practical as Barkley’s. Against Will’s “devastation,” Kobe found it hard to receive the ball.

But Su Feng’s pass was so high that Will kept retreating, trying to cut it off.

As Will tracked the ball’s arc, Kobe suddenly spun off his hefty opponent, breaking free and instantly shaking the defense.

The pass landed. Without even looking back, Kobe caught it, planted on one leg, and took the shot.

Kobe lifted his knee high—Will didn’t dare challenge him. In truth, even if he did, his height wouldn’t affect Kobe’s shot.

Mindee Lambert was a few steps away, but given Will’s lack of height and leaping ability, it was surprising Dalembert returned in time to contest.

Once Will’s dunk was blocked, the interior collapsed. Could defense really be that easy?

“Miller’s lineup is just too short. Even with average height inside, both bigs are under 2.10 meters—much too short!” Kobe shook his head. He could see Miller had a good idea. The coach blurred the traditional five positions into guards, forwards, and bigs, making his tactics versatile and maximizing player strengths, unbound by positions.

But what if Will were replaced by Horford, two centimeters taller?

The mentor-student duel made the game fascinating. Su Feng understood Miller; Miller understood Su Feng. What kind of sparks would fly when they became opponents? Everyone was eager to see.

After the basketball showdown, Dalembert scored a rare opening basket for the Cavaliers. Miller continued to start Will at center, but at 2.06 meters, the “little fatty” couldn’t compete with Dalembert.

Thus, the Cavaliers began their first real offensive set. Su Feng was focused. He knew Rondo’s defense was tough to beat.

He wanted to pass, not get tangled up with Rondo, but every passing lane was sealed by Houston. He had no choice but to break through and tear up their defense himself.

Su Feng didn’t call for a screen, instead executing a series of rapid crossovers, suddenly shifting his body and shaking off Rondo’s balance as he darted past number nine.

Su Feng’s ball-handling was dazzling—quick, steady, and explosive. You’d never know when or where he’d suddenly accelerate.

But after passing Rondo, Bradley’s tough body awaited him.

Bang! Su Feng crashed into Bradley, not even realizing when his opponent rotated over.

Bradley was known for his defense since college, and Su Feng had suffered at his hands in the NCAA. Three and a half quarters later, his defensive technique had only sharpened.

Blocked by Bradley, Su Feng looked to pass to Will, but Tony was entangled with Jeff Green. Kobe was too far away, and a careless pass would likely be stolen.

As Su Feng considered his options, Rondo, quick as a flash, darted in and cleanly swiped the ball away.

“He stole it! Oh my, that kind of mistake is extremely rare from Yi Yi!” Kobe’s mouth fell open—someone had stripped Su Feng clean. In the league, only a handful could do this. Rondo was certainly among them.

Miller’s double-team tactic worked immediately. Rondo stole and ran, with Su Feng close behind, leaving him little space.

Rondo knew that, with Su Feng hot on his heels, a chase-down block was coming. But that was fine—number nine was best at creating opportunities out of nothing.

Entering the paint, Rondo leapt for a layup as Su Feng rose up to contest.

But in midair, Rondo twisted awkwardly and bounced the ball off to Bradley beneath the rim.

Seeing the ball “vanish into thin air,” Su Feng sensed something was wrong, but could only glide helplessly through the air.

Bradley caught the pass and finished an easy layup. Right at the onset, Miller’s Houston Rockets used their best defense-to-offense transition to seize the lead against the Cavaliers.

If only Miller had a Carmelo Anthony at the four—perhaps Houston’s offense wouldn’t be like this now.

Houston’s biggest problem was that the players simply couldn’t execute Miller’s tactical vision. But the kind-hearted coach took all the blame himself. That’s why the media always criticized Miller’s strategies.

Will was blocked twice in a row, setting up Miller’s defense for a successful counterattack.

Su Feng pushed the ball forward quickly, Bradley hot on his heels. Everyone wondered if Bradley could keep up with Su Feng’s speed.

But speed alone wasn’t enough inside. As Su Feng took off, Bradley was clearly a head shorter. Although Bradley fought hard in the air, Su Feng steadied his upper body and scored another basket.

“See? Though we always say height isn’t everything in basketball, it’s still a crucial factor. Bradley’s defense is good, but he’s still lacking in height,” Kobe sighed. Miller couldn’t solve his team’s height disadvantage. After all, he wasn’t a magician who could conjure up three to five centimeters of height out of thin air.

Thus, Houston’s initial spark at the start of the game soon faded, and they fell completely on the defensive.