Chapter 123: You May Shoot

Chapter 135: You Can Shoot Now

"A spare wristband?" Hollins looked up at Su Feng in frustration. Why would this kid want to borrow his wristband?

Su Feng was not in the habit of wearing protective gear. The mask he wore after a facial injury during last year’s playoffs was the only piece of protective equipment Hollins remembered him using. But today, the kid was hunting for a wristband. Hollins narrowed his eyes, looking for a moment like Conan Edogawa with a pipe in his mouth.

"What? Did you sprain your wrist while playing with your girlfriend yesterday?" Hollins asked, though he wasn't being serious.

"What are you talking about? Are you going to lend it to me or not?" Su Feng shook his head, wondering why Hollins was always so fond of cracking jokes.

"Of course, take it! How could I refuse a request from our number one scorer?" Hollins chuckled and pulled a wristband from his locker, handing it to Su Feng. Su Feng put it directly on his right wrist. Only then did Hollins notice a small bracelet already tied around Su Feng’s right wrist.

"Oh, I see. Trying to use the wristband to cover up your love token. I didn't expect you to be such a romantic, kid." Hollins laughed, and a silent Su Feng returned to his locker to continue changing.

Su Feng had originally intended to take off the bracelet before the game started, but after some thought, he decided to keep it on. Perhaps this little trinket would actually bring him some good luck.

"Buck up, gentlemen! The Thunder are warming up, and they are taking this game seriously because they want to advance right on our doorstep. Get out there later and tell those bastards that’s not happening!" Carlisle shouted, slapping the tactics board, though in truth, all the plays on it were already ingrained in their minds.

At this point in the series, there were no secrets regarding tactics. The key to success wasn't the play-calling; it was who could execute better and who could hold on until the end.

"Also, how does your body feel? Any discomfort?" After discussing the tactics, Carlisle pulled Su Feng aside to check on his condition. Su Feng was currently the Cleveland Cavaliers' most potent weapon. If he were "broken," the Cavaliers would have no room for a counterattack. There was no other way. William Adams Miller, the basketball player, was no longer the juggernaut that blocked the gods last year. Without Su Feng, Carlisle truly didn't know what to do.

"Everything is normal." Su Feng’s reply was as concise as ever, never wasting words.

"Good... if you feel anything uncomfortable, don't force it. We need you for the long run." Carlisle smiled and patted Su Feng on the shoulder. The weight that shoulder was bearing would only grow heavier and heavier.

...

"Hello, basketball fans. I'm Kenny Smith. Today, it’s me, Shaq, and Charles, bringing you the commentary for this game! The series has reached Game 6. Charles, do you think the Thunder can seize the opportunity to advance to the Western Conference Finals tonight?"

"They want to advance, but the Cavaliers won't let them through easily. Although the Thunder have a 3-2 lead, the truth is that the margins in every game have been razor-thin. In five games, the total point differential between the two teams is minimal. Several games were decided in the final seconds. Therefore, the Thunder don't actually hold an overwhelming advantage. I don't believe they will seize the opportunity in every critical moment. I still favor the Cavaliers. As long as William Adams Miller and Su Feng perform to their standard, the Cavaliers will win."

On the court, the players were taking their positions. Su Feng glanced at the stands; the fans were looking at him with anticipation. Yes, the team had been pushed to the edge of the cliff. All he had to do was pull them back up!

Su Feng gently touched the bracelet on his right wrist. *Come on, let’s have a real fight!*

The Cavaliers wanted to climb up from the cliff, and the Thunder naturally wanted to push them into the abyss. This was evident from Perkins’s intensity during the tip-off. He wasn't as tall as the Thunder's center, nor as tall as Haywood, but when the referee threw the ball, Perkins summoned enough energy to compensate for his height disadvantage.

Haywood had once been a "spring-loaded" type of center, but now he couldn't even jump over a parking space.

The Thunder won the opening possession. Just as Westbrook received the ball, a deafening roar erupted from the Cavaliers' fans!

"I don't care about the color of your skin. If you have the ability to play, you have a spot. That’s why I need you."

This was what Brad Stevens, the current Celtics coach and former Butler Bulldogs coach, had said to Su Feng years ago. As Su Feng had proven in college, the color of one's skin in the basketball arena meant nothing. Today at the Staples Center, he would prove it again!

After the game began, the Cavaliers' momentum was impressive. They planned to take the lead right from the start. Paul called for a screen, and after the pick, he drove inward. It was a simple, effective play.

The Cavaliers scored on their first possession. Then, they immediately adopted a defensive stance. The reason they had lost so badly in the previous game was that, in addition to the Thunder’s violent dunks, Su Feng’s jump shots had been the most lethal blow. Today, the Cavaliers were prepared to play physical basketball. On the defensive end, even if they had to tear their jerseys, they were determined to stop the Thunder from scoring.

Su Feng tensed up as he went down the court. This man was like a god of death slowly approaching; you knew he would kill, but there was nowhere to run.

Paul didn't stick to Su Feng, instead giving him a few steps of space. Compared to jump shots, Paul was more worried about Su Feng’s ability to drive.

Su Feng saw that Paul was playing a risky game, not following the standard defensive rules. He approached the basket, leaned into Paul’s shoulder, and then jumped into the midrange, as if he were going to shoot!

An unexpected shot was the shooting guard's specialty.

But Su Feng caught the ball in mid-air, seemingly intending to pass it to the midrange.

"Is the fake-shot-into-a-pass going to work?"

The defense rushed to intercept the pass. But in truth, could they really see through Su Feng’s intentions so easily? Su Feng swung his hand in the air as if to pass, but just as the defender prepared to steal it, Su Feng brought the ball back and flicked his wrist. The ball didn't fly toward the rim or the intended teammate; it changed direction and zipped to William Adams Miller, who was completely unguarded.

Adams could only be described as having excellent aerial awareness. He was just that talented.

When Su Feng went up, many thought he would shoot. But when Adams caught the ball, the defense found that the ball hadn't gone through their hands at all. Adams finished the play, and the referee's whistle provided the most beautiful accompaniment.

"Wow, another score! Today, neither side is compromising."

There was no need to worry about William Adams Miller’s free throws. He was a shooting-oriented interior player; free throws were not a problem for him.

"Su Feng" passed the ball to Adams on the right side. At this moment, the defense was occupied, and Adams easily lifted the ball to the rim, signaling the Cavaliers' counterattack.

Adams scored again, his eighth point of the game. His relentless impact was the most important reason the Cavaliers were still hanging on. Although Adams scored again, the Cavaliers' fans didn't seem worried. They were all waiting for Su Feng to create another brilliant play, but after bringing the ball into the half-court, Su Feng found that the Thunder’s defense wasn't as porous as before.

Through Su Feng’s eyes, he tried to see a path to the basket. Was there an effective passing lane? He couldn't see one.

Su Feng was still thinking about how to play when the defender suddenly raised his arms, almost poking the ball away. Fortunately, Su Feng responded in time, pulling the ball behind his back and switching hands to avoid a turnover. But the defender had just sent Su Feng a signal: *Our defense is tight, don't get distracted, big guy.*

After holding the ball for a while, the Cavaliers were still moving actively, but everyone was covered. Su Feng had to pass the ball to a teammate while trying to create an opening. The ball was passed successfully, and Su Feng immediately made a run. But the defense held tight, preventing Su Feng from picking up speed. The Thunder stopped Su Feng’s movement in a near-brutal fashion, and the referee tacitly allowed it.

"The Thunder’s defense on this possession is perfect. The 24-second shot clock is about to expire, but the Cavaliers still haven't found a scoring opportunity. If this defense can last until the end of the game, the Thunder will have no problem turning the situation around."

As they spoke, the shot clock showed only 3 seconds. A desperate shot was taken, but it clanged off the rim. The ball was rejected by the basket. This shot seemed to break the Cavaliers' new momentum.

"Damn it!" Su Feng blamed himself. The smooth rhythm of the game was disappearing, and the Cavaliers' offense would only get harder.

The Thunder immediately pushed to the offensive end. They used their strong bodies to pressure the Cavaliers, and in the blink of an eye, they were at the rim.

The Cavaliers' fans cheered. Today, the more the Thunder struggled, the happier they were.

After the game, the focus remained on the court.

"This team’s tenacity is enough to support them in winning the O'Brien Trophy!" Charles Hollins remarked.

The Cavaliers' stubborn resistance put immense pressure on the opposition. These men seemed to be full of passion. Even William Adams Miller’s high fever didn't slow them down one bit.

As the game drew to a close, the Cavaliers' bench players stood up one by one to applaud. In the stands, fans chanted the names of their stars. Although William Adams Miller only hit four of his shots today, he earned the respect of everyone who kept up with the game.

Once he sat down, the staff draped a training jacket over Adams. He also asked for a few tissues. As soon as his body cooled down, his cold symptoms returned. Countless photographers focused on him; he looked like a weak patient sitting on the bench. Yet, once on the court, his illness seemed to vanish instantly.

Although Adams was the current focus, everyone knew the Thunder were trailing not because of his misses, but because of Su Feng’s stable organization.

All the Cavaliers on the court regained their vitality. Everyone contributed, perfectly filling the gaps.

"Hollins, that kid is still yours. Everyone else, lock down your lanes. Don't let them pass easily. Disrupting their offensive fluidity will naturally break their rhythm. Come on, gentlemen, we are only trailing temporarily! Be the best players in the world!"

"For the best players in the world!" The team roared, and the timeout ended.

The game resumed, and the Thunder’s first possession was once again focused on the paint. As the only superstar playing at his normal level, his breakthroughs today kept Su Feng on his toes.

On the Cavaliers' side, everyone was playing steadily, but they lacked a consistent scoring outlet like their opponent. The Cavaliers' star was playing through illness, but as long as he stood on the court, the team could remain calm.

Both sides were anxious. As the game reached its final moments, they remained deadlocked.

William Adams Miller was covered in sweat and even stumbled while walking. Now, he had to overcome not only his illness but also the double blow of fatigue and fever.

The opposing star had missed eight shots in the game, but he broke through again, trying to help his team break the stalemate at a critical moment. He drove to the basket, and Adams rushed over to help. The sick star immediately became tough, bracing himself against the contact.

The opponent gritted his teeth and moved toward the basket. But under Adams’s desperate interference, his layup was rejected by the rim once again!

"His performance today is absolutely shameful. He plays better when he's sick than he does when he's healthy!"

Hollins’s words were something the opposing fans didn't like to hear, but it was the truth. The opponent had played a terrible game today, but the sick star had gained the upper hand.

The Cavaliers initiated a counterattack. Su Feng didn't think much; he immediately fed the ball inside. The opponent grabbed Adams’s waist, hoping to push him out of his ideal catching position. But Adams, despite his high fever, gritted his teeth and steadied his base.

The ball fell into Adams’s hands, and he felt every muscle in his body protesting in pain. Despite this, Adams beautifully shimmied his shoulders and made a midrange jumper. Protest denied!

"It’s in! This is a critical goal! 82-81, the Cavaliers are ahead in the final moments of this career-defining game!" Hollins gripped his hands nervously. Perhaps this game would have another thrilling finish.

As for the opposing star, with his abysmal shooting performance, he had become a liability to his team.

(End of Chapter)