Chapter 135: Manipulating the Outcome

Chapter 147: Over-the-Top Performance

Before the basketball game began, the players of the England team were warming up in high spirits. When fans saw Su Feng running into the stadium wearing the red England training gear, some could hardly believe their eyes.

The hottest rookie in the top league, an All-Star point guard, and the floor general of the league’s top-performing team—at this moment, he was wearing an England jersey, ready to fight for England in the Asian Championship.

This overwhelming sense of happiness, which seemed almost surreal, enveloped the England fans completely. Since the retirement of Henley-Will, the England team finally had a world-class superstar once again!

During the warm-up, the cheers from the fans completely drowned out the stadium. Even before the game, the England team, playing on home soil, was already popular. Now, with Su Feng’s blessing, the fans were ready to lift the stadium's roof with their roaring.

"This is Su Feng’s first time wearing the England national team jersey, and his first time playing England-style basketball. But I believe Su Feng will definitely perform brilliantly! It shouldn't be difficult for him to adapt to the Asian Championship." Before the game, the club owner also hyped up Su Feng in front of the cameras.

Initially, this national team was not very popular. However, after Su Feng joined, the atmosphere shifted in an instant. This is the role of a star, and this is the confidence Su Feng brings to the people.

After a while, the warm-up ended, and the club owners were asked to leave the court. Players from both sides gathered around their coaches for final instructions before the showdown.

"There’s not much to say about this game. We don’t just want to win; we want to win beautifully! Also, just let loose! This is your stage, don't hold anything back!" Dunwald didn't make any complex tactical arrangements, as he felt the England team didn't need any special strategies to defeat Bahrain.

Amidst the fans' cheers, Su Feng walked onto the court wearing the fiery No. 1 England jersey. The young point guard looked down and saw "England" written on his chest instead of "Dallas." The feeling was completely different. He was fighting for his country. Although Su Feng’s emotional attachment to this "homeland" wasn't deep, the sensation of playing for the nation still made him clench his fists.

The game began quickly. The referee tossed the ball into the air. Yi Jianlian easily tipped the ball into Su Feng’s hands. Seeing Su Feng in control, the fans were so excited they nearly fainted.

Many commentators didn't even mention the name of the Bahraini player defending Su Feng. In Su Feng’s eyes, the players of the Bahrain national team were likely on the same level as street ballers at Venice Beach.

Consequently, Su Feng drove straight to the basket. Sure enough, the opponent couldn't withstand his impact. When he broke through to a step inside the free-throw line, Su Feng suddenly stepped back and decisively launched a three-pointer from a step behind the arc.

If any other England point guard played like this, they would surely be shredded by the fans and the media. But not Su Feng. The reason was simple: even if the choice seemed unreasonable, Su Feng could actually make the shot!

"Swish!" The crisp sound raised the volume of the fans' cheers by an octave. The England point guard wasn't restricted by the basket; he intentionally drifted away from the three-point line just to simulate the feeling of shooting threes in the top league.

"Too easy! Su Feng hits a three-pointer right out of the gate. The Bahraini players have no choice but to double-team him. The two sides are simply not on the same level!"

Seeing this, Dunwald couldn't help but smile. The England team could finally experience what it felt like to have a superstar.

After the start of the game, Su Feng’s wild performance continued. The 1.9-meter-tall point guard even successfully blocked the opponent’s layup twice in a row.

On the offensive end, Su Feng’s shooting and breakthroughs were completely unstoppable. By the end of the quarter, the score was 64-4. At this point, the game had lost all suspense.

"This isn't a basketball game; it's a complete massacre!" The CCTV commentator used a rather graphic term to describe the proceedings.

It was a fact that the semi-professional Bahraini team couldn't fight back at all. Su Feng didn't just score; he also connected the team with brilliant passes. Many of his plays were beyond what his teammates had even anticipated.

The Cleveland Cavaliers made an error, and the offensive momentum shifted. The fans were thrilled because Su Feng and Henley-Will were about to start their show!

Although Su Feng and Henley-Will had some tension during training two days ago, Su Feng wouldn't let personal matters affect the game. When Henley-Will created space through a screen, Su Feng immediately passed him the ball. Honestly, it depends on one's perspective—everyone is a professional basketball player, so there's nothing to dwell on, right? What I’m saying makes sense, doesn't it?

Henley-Will made a decisive shot from an open three-point opportunity, but everyone could clearly see that his form was off. He didn't even complete his shooting motion, rushing the attempt.

Sure enough, the ball clanked off the rim. Henley-Will’s shot missed, merely adding to Kobe Bryant’s rebound tally.

Despite the missed first shot, the Cleveland Cavaliers fans didn't seem worried. Who could guarantee a hundred percent success rate from behind the three-point line? Henley-Will just hadn't found his rhythm yet. He would succeed. After all, he and Su Feng were the strongest backcourt duo in the club right now!

But five minutes into the first quarter, fans finally waited for Henley-Will’s first basket. Su Feng penetrated the defense, and Henley-Will hit a mid-range jumper. The ball danced on the rim for a long time before finally dropping in.

"Although William Adams Miller’s defense is good, we have to admit that the passing also gave Henley-Will plenty of chances. It’s just... I have to say Henley-Will wasted his own opportunities; it has nothing to do with William Adams Miller Bryant’s low shooting percentage." Mike Breen hit the nail on the head. He didn't want to let Henley-Will off the hook for his poor performance against William Adams Miller.

William Adams Miller Bryant’s defense on Henley-Will today wasn't even that tight. Henley-Will scored his first goal late purely due to his own issues.

Henley-Will had just scored, but it wasn't time to celebrate. On the defensive end, the 40-year-old William Adams Miller Bryant broke through easily, spotted a gap in the crowd, and finished with a smooth layup for two points.

"Henley-Will’s legs are like they’re filled with lead. Maybe this guy spent all his energy on the four girls he took home with him." William Adams Miller couldn't help but laugh; Henley-Will’s tabloid news was now widely known across the country. It was hard to say whether his poor nightlife was affecting his game.

The shooting slump didn't improve for Henley-Will. Even a selfless player like Su Feng didn't want to pass him the ball in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Because when the ball reached his hands, nine times out of ten, it wouldn't go in!

"Henley-Will’s touch is terrible today—5 for 17. That’s not the shooting percentage a team’s primary scorer should have! Fortunately, as always, the Cleveland Cavaliers have withstood the situation with great performance. Otherwise, this game might have already entered garbage time! Hehehe."

Thanks to Su Feng’s efforts, the game didn't enter garbage time. But Henley-Will kept wasting his chances, allowing the Cleveland Cavaliers to maintain their lead.

With 0 seconds left before the end of the game, the Cleveland Cavaliers were down by 10 points. Carlisle ordered the substitution of Su Feng and Henley-Will. The two guards walked off, frustrated, contrasting sharply with their earlier glory.

Su Feng sat on the bench, gritting his teeth while staring at the court, while Henley-Will leaned back like a man without a care in the world.

Like a stranger—perhaps that’s the feeling...

As the game ended, an electronic buzz echoed through the stadium. William Adams Miller raised his right hand amidst the boos of the Cleveland Cavaliers fans.

7 wins and 7 losses! The Los Angeles Cleveland Cavaliers secured a hard-fought victory at the West Spain Route Center Stadium. Every victory is valuable for the Cavaliers now, with only 10 games left.

"It’s incredible. At the start of the game, we didn't expect the Cleveland Cavaliers to win. Today, we thought the Cleveland Cavaliers would lose, but they didn't. Carlisle’s team doesn't seem to like playing by the book. Look at William Adams Miller’s excitement. Even he knows how incredible this victory is." William Adams Miller shook his head. He had hoped to see Henley-Will and Su Feng in the backcourt today, but he didn't expect the Cavaliers to end up like this.

"Today, he scored 5 goals, 8 assists, and 1 steal. His performance was as stable as ever. But the other revolver in the Dallas Cowboys' hands seems to have jammed."

Twenty years later, Su Feng flew to block Henley-Will’s layup, knocking him down, and Henley-Will’s emotions completely exploded.

"What are you doing, you scum!" Henley-Will roared after falling, his voice echoing through the entire training court.

"Look, I’m training like a professional player." Su Feng wasn't afraid of Henley-Will’s roar. He spread his hands, acting as if everything he did was normal.

"If you're angry, take it out on tomorrow’s game! What’s the use of being so fierce with me?" Henley-Will refused to show weakness. It’s hard to convince someone who thinks differently.

"Hey! What are you doing?! Look at the logo on the front of your training jersey. If I’m not dizzy, you’re both wearing Dallas Cleveland Cavaliers jerseys!" The more they argued, the more Carlisle had to rush onto the court to intervene.

Carter and Marion, the two veterans, acted as peacemakers. They didn't push Su Feng and Henley-Will toward each other, hoping they would shake hands and make up.

"Physical contact is normal in contact sports. Henley-Will, don't be angry. He definitely didn't mean it. Come on, shake hands. After training, we’ll go to the steakhouse on North River Avenue. I’ll treat you, hehehe." Carter intentionally used laughter to cover the awkwardness. Henley-Will reached out, shook Su Feng’s hand lightly, and his expression relaxed.

"It’s fine, everyone continue training, continue training!" Marion waved for everyone to disperse and get back to work.

Although there were no further conflicts between Su Feng and Henley-Will during training, they continued their routine in the locker room. Once the crack of contradiction appeared, it was hard to heal as it was before...

In the blink of an eye, two days of rest passed. Henley-Will’s tabloid news continued to spread in every corner of Dallas, and Su Feng’s brilliant performance still made fans feel proud. But this backcourt duo remained the talk of the Cleveland Cavaliers fans.

On November 4, the powerful Purple and Gold Legion met the Cleveland Cavaliers once again. Only this time, the battlefield moved from Staples to Dallas.

Since the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first game, they had been having bad luck. Not only did they lose Edward William, but their results were also unsatisfactory.

So far, the Cleveland Cavaliers, with their super-luxury lineup, had only scored 6-7. Except for Edward William, who was out due to injury, William Adams Miller, William Adams Miller, Kobe Bryant, and Gasol were all superstars. But when they put the three together, they couldn't play.

Gasol was pushed out of the three-second zone by Kobe Bryant, and he struggled. Kobe Bryant lost his absolute leadership in the magic and seemed somewhat off-balance. And facing poor results, William Adams Miller was often paranoid.

Such a bad Cleveland Cavaliers team was considered to be in Dallas to "give people a head" before the big game. Although the combination of Henley-Will and Su Feng was cheap, totaling less than $10 million, these two guys were much better than the Cleveland Cavaliers' F4.

After the game started, Kobe Bryant committed an incredible mistake at the West Spain Route Center that made the fans laugh. When he turned to break through Caman, he actually tripped over his own feet!

For William Adams Miller, "Black Mamba" just shook his head helplessly. What else could he say? Go and fight Kobe Bryant?

1 goal, 1 goal, 1 goal, 4 turnovers, and a shooting percentage of only 9. If this were the last game, Henley-Will’s performance wouldn't surprise me at all. But this year, I never thought he would fall back to the bottom.

"Maybe J Henley-Will is just that kind of player, Kobe Bryant. The words 'high rise, low fall' have run through Henley-Will’s entire career! I think his honeymoon with the Cleveland Cavaliers might be over. After all, he is one of the few top stars with more tabloid news than sports news."

William Adams Miller had seen many examples of geniuses falling. If Henley-Will were willing to put half the energy he spent in nightclubs into the training court, he wouldn't have been defeated by William Adams Miller today.

After the game ended, Henley-Will was the first to enter the player tunnel. Su Feng stayed on the court, refusing to leave. William Adams Miller’s performance today was actually very ordinary, with a 4% shooting percentage and 1 goal—not his best moment.

In other words, Su Feng and the Cleveland Cavaliers didn't lose to William Adams Miller today, but to a teammate with a bad professional attitude.

In the post-game club owner reception, the room was almost broken through by club owners. This wasn't the first time the Cleveland Cavaliers lost, but it was the hardest loss they had suffered.

Su Feng and Henley-Will both sat down; the smug smiles were nowhere to be seen on the faces of the two young men. Henley-Will looked disdainful, as if losing a game wasn't worth mentioning. Su Feng kept his face set, giving the impression of being rejected.

Thinking of this, the point guard with the name "Curry" on the back of his shirt couldn't help but smile like a child.

After defeating the Trail Blazers, Hao won four times in a row. Nearly a month into the new basketball season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were still doing well. So far, they had only lost one game. Compared to the game back then, when everyone was still looking forward to the return of Robert Henry, the prospects for the Cleveland Cavaliers this year were undoubtedly much brighter.

After Su Feng defeated Kobe Bryant twice in a row and helped Iguodala complete his revenge against Robert Henry’s Trail Blazers, the club needed a new topic to accuse a target of squeezing Su Feng’s commercial value.

It was impossible; as a superstar, the club needed you to constantly create topics and news. In recent days, the most discussed topic in the club was undoubtedly the confrontation between Su Feng and Curry!

"Kobe Bryant Henley-Will entered the club a year earlier than him, but it wasn't until the game that he really caused a sensation. Since the Houston Rockets penalized Monta Ellis, Kobe Bryant Henley-Will has become the team’s top star. It turns out the Warriors made a very correct choice. This seemingly thin point guard is full of spirituality on the basketball court. Most notably, he is a defender who can use three goals as a regular weapon. In the last game, Henley-Will hit an incredible 45 in three goals. Even in the game, I couldn't reach such a high average with one player. As a rising star, Kobe Bryant was once very popular at Davidson College. He can play basketball, which made him famous when facing others? I am very much looking forward to this showdown between young point guards; it will be a performance like Mars."

"Kobe Bryant and I have both proven that physique and stature do not prevent you from succeeding in the league. These two thin defenders are not strong in physical confrontation, but they are both smart and know how to effectively enhance strengths and avoid weaknesses. In tomorrow’s game, the two point guards will definitely give us a wonderful brainstorm!"

"The Golden State Houston Rockets are definitely one of the most promising teams in the club after the Oklahoma City Cleveland Cavaliers. Although they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in the last game, the young people showed extraordinary strength. The Houston Rockets’ style of play is very novel. Coach William Adams Miller tries to control the game by jumping three times from outside the goal line. If this idea had been proposed a few years ago, it would have surely made people laugh. But honestly, the Houston Rockets are doing a great job. They are climbing step by step. Perhaps, for others, the three-pointer is just icing on the cake, but can it truly dominate the basketball game?"

The day before the game, many clubs and magazines scrambled to publish articles to warm up for the match. The private duel between Su Feng and Curry attracted a lot of attention. William Adams Miller’s innovation and Carlisle’s conservative thinking also made fans eager to see which was better.

It seemed that not only Su Feng had drawn a red circle for this game, but fans around the world knew it would be a wonderful performance.

The Houston Rockets’ current record isn't very good, with 9 wins and 6 losses, putting them on the edge of the top eight in the top league. However, William Adams Miller believed that this ranking wouldn't follow the Houston Rockets throughout the game. As the team gets better and tactics become more mature, the Houston Rockets’ results will follow.

For the Dallas Cleveland Cavaliers, what Su Feng must do is avoid capsizing in the gutter. The four-game winning streak was hard-won, and the 1-1 record was also hard-won, with only ten goals. As the league's top, Su Feng didn't want to be dragged down by a team in the top eight of the top league.

Just like that, the Houston Rockets’ away game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 5 was selected by S for national broadcast. Although the ranking between the two teams was relatively wide, this couldn't hide the many highlights of this game.

The day before the game, Su Feng was invited by William Adams Miller to participate in a basketball tournament. Although Su Feng wanted to refuse, Duffy told him that the basketball tournament only needed one hour, so Su Feng reluctantly agreed.

In fact, the content of this basketball tournament was very simple. Su Feng only needed to wear William Adams Miller’s equipment and play in the newly built stadium sponsored by William Adams Miller. Taking photos for club owners and fans was enough. That was it; he didn't even say a word.

Su Feng held the ball, practicing in the stadium. The fans and staff around him picked up their phones one by one to take photos frantically. This was what William Adams Miller hoped to achieve.