Chapter 117: Overdue Payment

Chapter 129: Overdue Payment

“Everyone has been working hard this month. We had several back-to-back grueling games; it was tough. But we survived, and we remain the best team in the league! Here, I want to thank the media and experts who claimed we were in decline. Without your foolish remarks, our eleven consecutive wins wouldn’t have been such a show-off!”

In the media reception room at the Amway Center, home of the Magic, Su Feng sincerely expressed his gratitude to the media experts.

Reporters in the audience gave awkward smiles, while Su Feng responded with a brilliant smile, as brilliant as ten perfect shots.

The whole of January was truly addictive!

Rewind to January 7th: the swift signing of Shelvin Henley Will significantly bolstered the Cleveland Cavaliers’ bench strength. With his arrival, the rotation flexibility of William Adams Miller within the Cavaliers increased as well.

The game against the Trail Blazers marked Henley Will's full integration into the team. He had long been a golden figure between the two squads, always ready to shine if given the chance.

After the game, people praised “Cuba’s” performance, though 24 hours earlier, hardly anyone favored this roster. Henley Will had silenced all the media in a single night.

“What a wonderful night!” Shelvin Henley Will smiled—a rare sight—as he faced the reporters’ microphones after the basketball battle.

Henley Will’s membership fees were in the hundreds of thousands of pounds, but it was worth every penny. The presence of this small player stabilized the Cavaliers’ record noticeably.

Thus, the Cavaliers lost only one game in January.

After resting for two days following the game against the Trail Blazers, the Cavaliers flew to Los Angeles on January 10th to challenge the Houston Rockets.

The Los Angeles Houston Rockets were undoubtedly one of the Cavaliers’ deadliest rivals. Whenever the Rockets faced the Cavaliers in the playoffs, they were destined to come up short.

Chris Paul and Su Feng, Griffin and Dirk—whenever they clashed, sparks flew.

Because of this rivalry, the Rockets always brought their best game to matches against the Cavaliers, and today was no exception. Paul and Griffin elevated the game to near playoff intensity.

Griffin was particularly bold today. His achievements in both basketball and mid-range shooting were remarkable. A 73.3% shooting percentage was his highest ever against the Cavaliers.

Today, Griffin was unstoppable. Internally, he displayed some refined skills beyond mere brute strength.

His mid-range accuracy was also improved. Coupled with Paul’s exquisite passing, Griffin was a perfect scoring machine.

Notably, Griffin's court organization was surprising. LeBron James's offensive orchestration was no longer shocking, but Blake Griffin—a supposed “big goof” who could organize plays—left Su Feng somewhat incredulous.

You have to admit Griffin’s passing and ball control as a fourth-position player were excellent. Today, on several occasions, Griffin controlled the ball for more than half the possession.

Thus, Griffin proudly posted near triple-double numbers. With 15 shots made from 11 attempts, 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists, Blake Griffin finally stepped out from William Adams Miller’s shadow.

Under Griffin and Paul’s guidance, the Rockets were highly efficient. Six players scored in double digits, five shooting over 45%. With such efficiency, the Rockets were nearly impossible to beat today.

On the Cavaliers' side, the teammates played normally, but the Rockets’ brilliance forced them to end the game five baskets behind.

At 115–120, Su Feng scored 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists but still couldn’t stop the rampant Houston Rockets.

The Rockets ended the Cavaliers’ nine-game winning streak, becoming the fourth team in the league with the “privilege” to defeat the Cavaliers in a basketball game.

After the game, Paul and Griffin embraced excitedly, roaring as if they had just won the O'Brien Cup.

For the Cavaliers, this was just another regular-season game. But for the Rockets, beating Cleveland meant a great deal.

Having just defeated the Trail Blazers and then losing to the Rockets, the Cavaliers were immediately thrust into the spotlight. At the start of their 22-game winning streak, many experts predicted the Cavaliers would face a slump in January.

Based on their scoring analysis, the Cavaliers were expected to grow tired, with injuries beginning to surface during this period.

Initially, the Cavaliers’ consecutive wins on January 5th had made the experts nervous.

Usually, this would have been the perfect time for the Trail Blazers to catch up. However, Shelvin Henley Will’s emergence erased the Trail Blazers’ second-string advantage.

The magical Detroit Trail Blazers reverted to form in Dallas, but their feeble offensive firepower exposed the gap between them and top-tier teams.

Thanks to this game, Shelvin Henley Will officially debuted in Dallas. His massive defensive blocks and offense made the Cavaliers the “bench robbers” of the substitutes.

“This morning, almost all media graded Cuba’s performance as a C-level game. But from a basketball standpoint, Cuba’s contribution deserves recognition. Shelvin Henley Will is an excellent guard for the Cavaliers. Su Feng was his college teammate, so he knows how to work with an MVP. This is a super team belonging to Cuba, and Cuba truly works here to build the team,” said Mike Kobe Bryant, impressed by Henley Will’s performance.

In subsequent games, the Trail Blazers still found no chance to retaliate. Su Feng consistently scored, securing victories for Cleveland. When Su Feng was off the court, Henley Will and Tony jointly fortified the defense, preventing the Trail Blazers from stirring up any storm.

Whether Su Feng was present or not, the Trail Blazers were less than half as strong. Such games could easily be won by the Cavaliers, so long as the team didn’t overthink.

Finally, the Dallas Cavaliers ended the Trail Blazers’ winning streak in a thoroughly “inhumane” manner. A 108-95 victory, a thirteen-basket difference, truly reflecting the game’s flow.

Josh Smith must have been delighted at this moment. After the game, who would dare call him the most valuable teammate?

“At the end of the game, the Trail Blazers realized what true advantage meant. By the way, 32 points and 11 assists kept Jennings’ shooting percentage at 28%. That is the role of a true leader on the court. The Trail Blazers may have tried to cut down Josh, but they still lacked a leader who could make decisive calls. Kevin Harlan naturally focused on Su Feng, who was undoubtedly the brightest star at that time.”

“It’s worth mentioning that Shelvin Henley Will, playing for the Cavaliers for the first time today, also performed excellently. Six points, two assists, and one turnover—Henley Will’s stats may not be eye-catching, but he silenced Augustine completely, which was his biggest contribution today. I think Henley Will and I won the NCAA Best Teammate trophy together. I don’t know if their successful cooperation will continue to reach new heights,” said Mike Kobe Bryant, full of praise for the small but mighty man.

With nine consecutive wins and three losses, the Cavaliers prevented any surprises. Even the magical Trail Blazers left the Amway Center honestly, taking nothing with them.

“Is Henley Will very defensive? Yesterday, he lost to me while singing!” Facing the cameras and reporters, a good-humored Su Feng joked rarely.

But now, after losing to the Houston Rockets, his demands were undoubtedly “met.”

Unfortunately, Su Feng and his team had never been “good boys” who collaborated well with the media.

“Slump? We’ve played 40 games and lost only four. Who dares say we’re in a slump? Haha, wait and see who the clown really is.”

Su Feng responded to the postgame “experts” harshly but received much criticism. Some even called him a stubborn, loudmouth duck.

Yet no one expected that the loss to the Rockets on January 10th would be the Cavaliers’ only defeat that month.

From then on, the Dallas Cavaliers continued their furious streak!

In the January 13th game against the Kings and the back-to-back games against the Nuggets, scoring 14 and 16 points respectively, the Cavaliers easily won three consecutive games against two teams outside the Western Conference’s top eight.

Notably, after the game on the 16th, William Adams Miller’s ankle was in poor condition and required five days of rest.

Such fatigue caused by injury was inevitable in every game, and William Adams Miller had no good solution.

Experts who predicted the Cavaliers’ low point cheered, believing the team should now collapse.

You big-headed fool!

On January 19th, Su Feng led the Cavaliers on a Western Spain expedition, missing Dirk and Baria. Before the game, the media’s belief that the Rockets could beat an incomplete Cavaliers squad was one-sided.

The result: Su Feng and Wade combined for 55 points, and the Rockets’ big-foot defense was in shambles.

It was widely speculated that Su Feng’s endorsement deals would reach £2.2 billion in ten years. If people knew his endorsement earnings far surpassed Derrick Rose’s £3.3 billion, they would likely spend everything they had.

Before Su Feng’s signature shoes officially went into production, many rumors and petitions circulated on William Adams Miller’s official website: “Give us the shoes too! Hurry!”

This world-class influence was exactly the outcome William Adams Miller hoped to see. Their frantic promotion and momentum seemed to have turned Su Feng into a true superstar.

However, sports and entertainment are different. Stars need publicity and packaging, but sports stars can never rise solely by marketing. Your status in the league and the world depends entirely on winning games!

In the second playoff game between the Rockets and the Cavaliers, Su Feng’s £100 million endorsement attracted great attention. Before the game, Rockets coach Hollins declared they would show stronger big-foot defense today and not allow the Cavaliers’ smooth offense.

Though trailing 1–0, the Rockets had not given up. They wanted to fight back, climb over Su Feng’s dominance, confident in their strength.

“Our team didn’t play well, but they did. Our big-foot defense wasn’t as good as usual; many adjustments are needed. But we will forget the last loss and return to our level,” Zach Randolph expressed his determination in an ESPN interview.

No one wanted to see this happen, as their opponents were so beloved for beating them. The Rockets not only wanted to reclaim their city in the playoffs but also their dignity.

Before the battle, weren’t you happy to sign a £100 million deal with William Adams Miller? Now, I’m going to make this newly minted “£100 million man” taste defeat!

At the start of the second game, even William Adams Miller experienced the change in big-foot defense intensity from the sidelines. The Rockets abandoned double-team tactics against Su Feng, opting for the best man-to-man big-foot defense.

No matter who held the ball, the Cavaliers found it hard to attack. William Adams Miller played more fiercely than in the previous intense game with Randolph. Without the strongest firepower support from the “German war machine,” Su Feng struggled to lead the team’s offense.

Thus, Su Feng could only compensate for his teammates’ shortcomings with his own mad scoring, just like in the second half of the regular season. Under the Rockets’ tight big-foot defense, Su Feng was exhausted.

In the eighth game, during the third quarter, as Su Feng drove inside for a layup, he was directly knocked down by “Black Bear” Randolph.

Su Feng fell to the ground but, unlike usual, didn’t get up immediately. This scene shocked William Adams Miller. However, when Miller and Robert Henry came to help, they found Su Feng wasn’t injured but simply too tired, wanting to lie on the floor to catch his breath.

After being helped up by teammates, Su Feng missed a free throw, making only one out of two. It was clear that severe physical wear was beginning to affect his accuracy.

In contrast, the Rockets were all soldiers today. They launched attacks through defense. Randolph, Gasol, Henley Will, even Robert Henry played excellently on offense.

It seemed the Rockets truly had the impetus to pull the Cavaliers down. The first game after becoming “Mr. Yuan” might face defeat. Many unfriendly people awaited Su Feng’s downfall.

The Rockets did not disappoint, holding on until the last minute against Su Feng’s fierce attacks. In the latter half of the fourth game, Su Feng’s shooting percentage dropped significantly, and his breakthrough speed slowed dramatically. If Su Feng hadn’t trained at William Adams Miller’s facility for two consecutive summers, he might not be able to move now.

Just as Su Feng’s accuracy declined, the Rockets launched an attack, shocked by their own ability to score more points.

With 30 seconds left, the exhausted Su Feng passed the ball to William Adams Miller. Under Randolph’s tight big-foot defense, Miller lost the shot, and the Rockets gained possession!

Henley Will called for a screen; Black Bear and White Bear moved to the high post, a double screen making it hard for Su Feng to predict Henley Will’s breakthrough direction.

Ultimately, Henley Will chose to head toward Randolph. Su Feng, drained of energy, failed to quickly navigate past the big-foot defense, allowing Shelvin Henley Will to...

Four insulated flasks clinked crisply together. At sunset by White Cloud Lake, a magical endorsement quietly came into being.

Sponsorship deals are usually confidential unless legally required to be disclosed. Both parties must keep the details secret, just like Su Feng’s deal.

Yet in sports, commercial deals are often leaked. Athletes and sponsors must realize and accept that these deals aren’t as strictly confidential as written in Chinese contracts.

The day after William Adams Miller’s successful contract renewal, many news reports emerged.

Su Feng signed a ten-year deal with William Adams Miller, worth over £100 million!

“Big update! William Adams Miller officially announced it will also collaborate with Derrick Rose as a main spokesperson! The Cavaliers…”

“£100 million deal signed, William Adams Miller will soon launch Su Feng’s first exclusive signature basketball shoes!”

Though unrelated to the playoffs, this news was no less hot.

Kobe Bryant was the only Chinese teammate to launch signature shoes after entering a top league. But Kobe’s cooperation with Reebok was not a success. There was no breakthrough. Even legendary centers like Shaquille O’Neal faced the embarrassment of unsold center shoes.

But this time, as a point guard, Su Feng had no such worries. If his signature shoes sold explosively, it would set an unsurpassed record.

Su Feng, newly pushed to the spotlight’s peak, led his team to capture the Rockets, and now continued to prosper with a high-priced renewal with William Adams Miller.

Western Spain prepared to celebrate the game’s victory.

“William Adams Miller might be the company to regret signing a £100 million deal with a teammate the fastest,” local commentators in Western Spain joked. Even after signing a big deal, Su Feng lost the game. What could be more embarrassing?

The Rockets would surely win, while Su Feng had to drag his exhausted body forward once more. The Cavaliers performed as usual, with the Rockets blocking all of Su Feng’s routes, always placing a big-foot defender before him.

Su Feng gasped heavily, sweat dripping into his eyes, but he didn’t dare blink, fearing his misstep might cause Henley Will to snatch the ball.

After adjusting his breathing, Su Feng used one hand’s strength to pull Henley Will off balance. Henley Will didn’t dare to reach easily, as even at the free-throw line, this situation was deadly for Su Feng.

Just as Su Feng was about to break through, he suddenly slipped. He had stepped on freshly spilled sweat on the hardwood floor!

Losing his balance, Su Feng pitched forward. If he lost the ball, it would have been a fatal mistake!

Yet despite the loss of balance, Su Feng amazed everyone by stabilizing the ball and passing it out, nearly parallel to the ground. William Adams Miller attracted Su Feng’s attention but failed to see Marion well. The latter had the chance to fill the gap, throwing the ball to the strange spot, and the American Route Center erupted in cheers.

“If you completely lose balance, the ball can still get through! My God, who can stop that guy?”

William Adams Miller sadly held his head in his hands. His big-foot defense error put the Rockets in a good position!

With 33 seconds left, the Rockets trailed by two points. Su Feng’s crucial basket instantly shifted momentum.

However, after the game, the Rockets refused to give up. They would never allow themselves to return to Western Spain down 0-2; such a series would be too steep for them.

Su Feng’s popularity soared, sparking envy in many. They all wanted to see someone break Su Feng’s magical performance.

In the final 33 seconds, the Rockets could drag the Cavaliers to the brink of death, even if only to force overtime.

William Adams Miller, the Rockets’ undisputed top teammate in Western Spain, decided to take responsibility. But as a seven-foot center, Gasol couldn’t be expected to dribble past Carmelo on a jump shot in the half-court.

To complete the offense, Gasol needed a teammate’s help—the man was Henley Will, who controlled the ball.

Henley Will issued commands beyond the three-point line. He gestured for Robert Henry and William Adams Miller to separate, then called Randolph out for a screen. The Rockets seemed determined to break the deadlock involving Henley Will and Randolph.

Su Feng’s attention was fixed on Henley Will; William Adams Miller’s focus was also on Henley Will. Everyone in the arena watched Henley Will.

(End of Chapter)