Chapter 99: Buddha Mode Shooting Baskets

Chapter 111: Zen Shooting

“I’m serious, Kenny. If I can surpass Chris Paul to join the league, then the sports journalists who vote must be blind. Maybe it’s a three-team squad, but the best one? Come on, that’s not a place for young people.”

“Why do you always look so down?” Now even William Adams Miller sees Kobe Bryant as a booster.

“Why? If this top player can be dominated so easily by young talent, what does an experienced veteran need?” Kobe Bryant spread his hands, looking grave. This historical monster does not hate Su Feng, yet he refuses to admit that he and everyone he knows are growing old.

Su Feng leads his “Westbay” toward a luxurious seaside villa. Golden sands, vast blue sea, endless sky, and the woman beside him make the just-emerged Su Feng from the tense basketball game burst into laughter.

“Kobe Bryant arrives in Dallas for the trial the day after tomorrow. In the coming days, we will also dispatch scouts to closely monitor his performances elsewhere.”

“Have the drills finished?”

“Fine, I’m heading home to rest.”

“That’s wonderful. I called merely to remind you: don’t go overboard practicing because of tomorrow’s matchup. How, how?”

“Are you spying on the enemy?” Su Feng jokingly replies to Kobe Bryant with a cool tone.

“Okay, if your body feels off, tomorrow I’ll send fewer defenders to watch you.” Kobe Bryant continues the jest. It seems the Dallas Houston Rockets have truly changed him. In the past, this gloomy youth spoke little at college, let alone joked.

Kobe Bryant is pleased by Su Feng’s recent evolution.

“So, my health isn’t great.”

“Haha, you won’t fool me! Tomorrow is a great showcase. We’ve been in Lanqiu together for ages. Play a wonderful game! After this match, few remain, so cherish every moment.” Kobe Bryant mentions neither win nor loss. A fine basketball contest is what he seeks, and both sides must co-create it.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Su. I won’t disappoint you.” Su Feng clenches his fist. Only a stellar performance tomorrow earns Kobe Bryant’s greatest endorsement and reward.

Hanging up, Su Feng feels the fire within ignite. Tomorrow’s game, he is eager to begin…

On February 9, 2014, the league scheduled eight games, featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers, Clippers, and Thunder’s surging squad. Yet most eyes fixate on the lost garden north of the river.

Inside the main locker room of TD North Bank Garden Stadium, Kobe Bryant’s players methodically change gear, tense enough that not even ten points register. Kobe Bryant remains calm and composed, yet no score or locker-room tension touches him.

That is Kobe Bryant. Do not be surprised; it is his signature. Even against the Jordan Bulls, he would show no nerves.

“Robert Henry, Rondo—remember what you said yesterday.” Kobe Bryant eyes his two point guards, who nod in reply.

As Rondo and Robert Henry align simultaneously, the media hardly expects Kobe Bryant to attempt this. Both stand 1.85 and 1.88 meters, playing the perimeter and absorbing heavy height penalties.

Typically, a double-guard unit pairs with a taller-than-average defender who shoots and guards well. Su Feng and Kidd’s setup met this standard. Yet Robert Henry and Rondo fall outside it.

Still, Kobe Bryant believes no rigid formula exists for Ranju tactics. Must the interior tower? Must the wings dart? Without a rulebook, every pairing deserves a trial!

At Westbay, eight o’clock: the awaited game commences. Su Feng and Kobe Bryant’s Cinderella tale shocks the nation; no one knows their bond.

If anyone steers Kobe Bryant now, it defines the entire contest. Houston Rockets glide to victory, Kobe Bryant silently endures the streak’s end. Yet he fights on. Trailing by eight, a simple tweak flips the script.

Kobe Bryant shifts Jeff Hardy to small forward, taxing Dirk Nowitzki’s defense.

Jeff Hardy stands 2.06 meters yet moves like a wing. Such versatile three-four players once irked club owners, but Kobe Bryant’s alchemy lets him operate anywhere.

Jeff Hardy’s range stretches from deep three-pointers to half-court shots, draining Nowitzki’s stamina.

Defense falters, offense sways. Position change levels the score at halftime. Jeff Hardy dazzles under Kobe Bryant’s watch. This marks his finest seven-game stretch since entering the league.

In college, Kobe Bryant astonished Su Feng and Hayward with his Midas touch. Now he transforms the unremarkable Jeff Hardy into a gem. Jeff Hardy becomes Kobe Bryant’s premier shooter; the veteran’s orchestration shines.

They wear proud green shirts.

That evening, Kobe Bryant studies Su Feng’s game tapes over dinner.

He cannot relax; Su Feng trains intensely.

As Hayward notes, Kobe Bryant’s faded glory does not make them invisible. Even the Heat’s elite defense yields to his control. Utah Jazz twice fall to the green army.

Thus, facing the second-place East squad, Su Feng trains with grim focus.

“Seemingly we take tomorrow seriously too.” Assistant club chairman Armstrong shakes his head at the drenched Su Feng. Retired five years, he recalls professional life’s toll.

Yet like Su Feng’s dedication, he rarely watched full games.

“No, it’s not Rondo, but Kobe Bryant.” William Adams Miller eyes the court while advising his aide.

“Kobe Bryant? Your rival?” Armstrong grins.

“He is, yet he seeks Kobe Bryant’s peak to honor him best!” After four games, William Adams Miller grasps Su Feng’s allure. The more courteous the foe, the fiercer the court victory.

“Kobe Bryant’s schemes are inscrutable.” Armstrong strokes his chin. Yesterday’s Salinger game-winner guess eluded Westbay eyes.

“Because he resembles** Vic.” William Adams Miller smiles, clearly intrigued.

Tactics like triangle, motion, Princeton, never** Vic’s daily routine. Kobe Bryant’s play bears no label. Lanqiu evolves, force shifts, water flows. Essence endures. This is** Vic and Kobe Bryant’s edge: no universal fix for the flexible.

Hearing the analysis, Armstrong feels overwhelmed. Much remains before he claims the chair.

Post-practice, Su Feng shoots two hours to preserve rhythm.

Morning flight to Boston; Su Feng avoids late drills. Rest sustains peak form.

As he packs to leave, the phone beneath the Lanqiu rack rings. Su Feng checks the name, stunned.

“Hello, chief.” He answers, calling out.

“Chief? … Hahaha, haven’t heard that in ages.” Kobe Bryant laughs. Teammates call him club chairman or Mr. Bryant, never “captain.” Yet he cherishes the word.

William Adams Miller marvels at the defiance. Violating norms can work; Robert Henry’s five-position fluidity proves it.

Sadly, Jeff Hardy remains himself. Kobe Bryant cannot mold him into Anthony.

Hardy troubles Houston Rockets, yet Su Feng’s squad cannot face him alone.

Third game opens with Houston Rockets dismantling Kobe Bryant’s scheme.

Gopel dueled Su Feng in air games; inside touches feel like bullying. The Frenchman’s leap forces Kobe Bryant’s players to watch.

Houston leads by twelve after eight games. Later, Kobe Bryant seeks Robert Henry’s steals for shots. Tony Allen denies the save.

Correct? Brad Kobe Bryant club chairman.

Two men, 1,768 kilometers apart, share uncanny thoughts…

Boston Kobe Bryant’s performance matches dread. The Big Three’s end marks rebuilding. 18-33, a weak record. Only Rajon Rondo remains an All-Star. His playmaking needs support; no scorer leads them.

Past stars like Ray Allen, Garnett, Pierce thrived on Rondo’s passes. Now the roster hampers him.

Jeff Hardy, once famed, fades. Brandon Bache’s burden crushes him. Shocked Salinger threatens daily weight loss; Avery Robert Henry’s hidden talent emerges after losing to Su Feng in college.

Four plus quirky Rondo form Kobe Bryant’s rookie core.

A clear top prospect. Even** Vic’s chairmanship might not surpass Kobe Bryant.

Hostile media blame Stevens. Young Lanqiu struggles with pro rhythm, cannot curb millionaires.

Placing Kobe Bryant’s rebuild on a youth is foolish!

Kobe Bryant and Su Feng share striking similarity. From day one, unseen by others.

Yet neither listens to myths. Kobe Bryant knows top-league success demands effort. Su Feng’s O’Brien Cup in year one is rare fortune.

Kobe Bryant believes no instant transformation occurs. Currently satisfied, he leads with 18 wins, impressing versus rebuilt 76ers.

Three straight Kings wins do not breed complacency. Kobe Bryant honors every game. Anji and Kobe Bryant’s policy: rebuild without ruin. Victory culture’s loss is unwelcome.

Power gap shows: Kobe Bryant invests freely, yet Su Feng’s organization and defense thwart every ploy.

Su Feng delivers. Twenty-seven points, thirteen threes. Targets outpace Rondo by three in an explosion.

Three days out, Su Feng exits for Kerry. Garbage time nears.

Kobe Bryant rejoices in Su Feng’s ball-handling, yet mourns the loss he cannot fix.

Thus, the Thunder open the record, falling 11 points to Houston Rockets.

Houston wins five straight at North Bank 102-91. William Adams Miller’s early exit widens the margin.

“Your team excels, tactics flawless, ten points! Better in years!” Post-game, William Adams Miller shakes Kobe Bryant’s hand, respect shining. He pairs humor with the veteran’s short stature, advising youth.

If he knew a 1.75-meter guard would dazzle Kobe Bryant’s hands next year, what thought?

Su Feng then embraces the chairman most vital to his life.

Houston Rockets’ record evokes Nash’s two straight titles. Sun without Nash, two tiers apart. Dallas Houston Rockets—why not?

Nash snatched the trophy from beasts twice. Su Feng—why not?

Most poignant are Memphis Grizzlies fans, facing MVP contenders in playoffs, unlikely to prevail…

April 17, 2013, Westbay 10:30 p.m., legendary William Adams Miller unleashes a 17-11-20 triple-double to topple Houston Rockets sans Kobe, securing the final playoff spot for Los Angeles with its F4 core.

Cleveland’s fight signals regular-season close. East-West standings lock. East mirrors preseason; Kobe Bryant seventh yet playoff-bound. Miami’s arrogance aligns.

West chaos reigns. ESPN projected Cleveland first, Thunder second, Spurs third. Houston eighth, per experts: work hard, seize luck.

Now? Cleveland claims playoff scoring lead. Houston defeats Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, James Harden 57-3 in the West.

Not Nowitzki or Mayo. Su Feng’s 28.8 points, 11.3 threes, 2.2 steals—key to Houston’s fall—make the magic. Jeff Hardy

Su Feng’s stats surge: 0.1 points behind Anthony this season, 62 in one game. Targets reach 11.3; he leads the league. Rondo plays 38 games, averaging 11.1. Steals trail Paul’s 2.4 slightly.

Nash could seize from Hardy; James Ben leads efficiency yet not the title. As fourth All-Star regular-season champion, this leap for Westbay and Asia!

Su Feng’s stardom fuels playoff buzz. Media speculate Houston’s poor season yields a Finals clash with Heat. Three giants—win or lose twice?

Outside optimism clashes with pre-game scorn.

William Adams Miller advances no O’Brien Cup quest: Robert Henry’s new low, Mayo’s “hard-soft” days, Mayo’s 35-year double-digit scoring, Darren Collison’s 12-point role.

Yet the translation maintains the story’s dramatic, humorous basketball tone throughout.