Chapter 149: The Secret to Three-Point Shooting

Chapter 160: The Secret of the Three-Point Shot

Once the duo known as "England" joined forces in the premier league, it seemed, despite initial skepticism, they were about to unleash a new storm.

In the history of the premier league, the most formidable two-man teams might be a subject fans casually boast about. Yet, not everyone remembers the most disappointing duos the league has seen.

Take, for example, the 2005-06 basketball season, where Stephen Marbury and Francis were, without a doubt, perennial disappointments. Both had reached the twilight of their careers, naturally leading to underwhelming performances.

The pairing of Shaquille O’Neal and Robert Henry King is barely remembered by many. Though terrifying on paper, O’Neal’s age prevented them from meeting expectations.

Edward Kaleman’s famed “Golden Duo,” once composed of Anthony and Iverson, boasted the most compelling nickname among such partnerships. Yet when they came together, one “Langqiu” was simply not enough to carry the scoring load.

Throughout premier league history, there have been countless disappointing duos—some regrettable, others lost to time. Most share a common thread: one partner had already passed his prime.

Su Feng and Robert Henry fall squarely into this category. In fact, their previous basketball showdown earned them the dubious distinction of being labeled the “most beaten duo” by many experts. But today’s battle forced those so-called experts to reconsider.

In the third quarter, as you were busy with the fifth quarter’s tactics, Su Feng drove to the basket and was challenged by Leonard. With fouls not yet at the limit, Su Feng couldn’t take free throws, and the Cleveland Cavaliers could only settle for an inbound play.

Coach Carlisle called a timeout, substituting the drenched Marion. The Spurs players watched the tall, blond-haired man stride back onto the court with hunger.

“How was your rest?” Su Feng patted Robert Henry on the shoulder.

“Enough energy! Let’s keep going!” Robert Henry swung his arm and signaled Gobert to inbound the ball.

Standing near the free-throw line, Su Feng, after the whistle, subtly nudged Parker and then hit a three-pointer on the catch.

Parker was momentarily pushed, and as Su Feng dashed forward, he accidentally collided with a screen set by Robert Henry for him.

“Damn it!” the Frenchman cursed in his tongue, as Su Feng swiftly grabbed the sideline ball and accelerated his drive, catching Parker off guard.

Danny Green tried to recover, but Su Feng’s speed was simply too much.

Anticipating Su Feng’s drive, Split stood under the basket, while Duncan pursued, hoping to block the shot.

Facing the defense of the England center, Su Feng showed no fear. He leapt up, almost tauntingly!

But instead of dunking or laying it up after elevating Langqiu and faking Duncan, Su Feng gently passed the ball off from under his arm. Langqiu flew straight to the waiting Robert Henry.

Against Parker, who stood under 1.9 meters, Robert Henry immediately opened fire on the “tram” defense.

Dirk released the ball just a step beyond the three-point line. Langqiu was still airborne; Duncan felt trapped. As soon as Robert Henry moved, their defense was breached.

“Swish!” Just as Duncan expected, Robert Henry sank the mid-range shot.

Su Feng pointed at Robert Henry and ran over to pat the German on the back. Their connection wasn’t as secluded as Paul and Griffin’s, nor as aesthetically pleasing as Wade and Robert Henry’s, but it was genuine. Robert Henry had just scored his 24th point of the day, cutting the Cavaliers' deficit to single digits.

“Since Dirk’s return, their cooperation has been seamless. After five plays at the start of the third quarter, the Spurs narrowed the gap to single digits, but once Dirk appeared, they stretched it again!” Mike Breen shook his head, impressed by Su Feng and Robert Henry’s performance.

Since Dirk and Su Feng began scoring early in the game, the two have been relentless. Dirk dominated mid-range shots, while Su Feng attacked the Spurs’ interior defense.

The latter charged the basket before the battle’s end, colliding with the rim and sending Spanish Air Center stadium fans into a sweat. Yet Langqiu didn’t drop into the net. The red light flashed—Edward Kaleman’s Cavaliers had suffered consecutive losses but relied on Su Feng's steals and calm passes at critical moments to even the series at 3-2 on home court.

Faced with another defeat, Leonard Henry Will looked helpless. Today, the Houston Rockets clearly played better. They were the stronger team. Unfortunately, Edward Kaleman’s Cavaliers possessed the best star.

“We’ve saved the Cavaliers again. It’s hard to imagine what they’d be without this. They might not even have qualified for the playoffs. But at this moment, Kaleman’s England has begun to influence the Western Conference semifinals!”

After the game, Su Feng showed little excitement. He knew the series wouldn’t end until they won the fourth game. The Cavaliers hadn’t won yet; they just held a temporary lead. Celebrate later—return to Memphis, bring down the Rockets, then celebrate slowly.

When people thought the Rockets had found a way to control the Cavaliers after two straight wins, they were struck unexpectedly.

It turned out the Rockets' strategy of dragging the series to the finals and then striking decisively didn’t match up against the Cavaliers, who often killed the Rockets at critical moments.

Su Feng’s willpower was stronger than the Rockets had imagined. He was a clutch player. Five times, the Rockets were defeated by Su Feng in crucial moments.

This left the Rockets, who struggled to attack Langqiu, at a dead end. Defensively, they had to drag the game out, but prolonging the battle meant they might not be able to finish it off.

Henry Will couldn’t solve the Rockets’ systemic problems in two days. It was unclear if he had just been beaten. The sixth meeting began again in Memphis.

After the previous loss, the Rockets players seemed lacking in confidence today, hesitant to take the court. In contrast, the entire Cavaliers team was lively, eager to end the first-round series.

Robert Henry finally impressed Randolph today. His hunger for victory was so fierce that the Rockets’ proud interior defense was torn apart.

Robert Henry opened the interior, naturally easing Su Feng’s burden. Henry Will hoped the Rockets could tie the series at home again, but didn’t expect Memphis to become their graveyard.

Just into the third quarter, Robert Henry caught Su Feng’s pass and nailed a precise shot beyond the three-point line, extending the lead to 20 points. The Rockets appeared to be sleepwalking, seemingly not recovered from the last game’s shock. A Cavaliers comeback to the second round seemed only a matter of time.

The Rockets’ stubborn resistance tested the Cavaliers’ patience for a long time. Today, they gave Memphis no chance. After three games, Lionel Henry Will replaced all five starters, signaling his surrender of the entire 2012-2013 season.

Will’s surrender was a helpless move. The Rockets ranked 19th in offensive efficiency, unable to score more than 20 points in a game.

He still believed his Rockets were strong, but unfortunately, they had met a damn top-tier contender!

Fans in Memphis could only watch helplessly as their team was slaughtered.

Su Feng and Robert Henry combined for 53 points, helping Kaleman’s Cavaliers survive the first-round crisis.

The Western powers saw the Cavaliers advance again but didn’t consider “Is the Soviet Summit a threat to us?” That was the question.

Because this year, Su Feng had become a threat to everyone!

“Average 22 points in the series, 55 shots made, 2 assists, 9 steals, 9 blocks, 3 turnovers, and a fadeaway shooting percentage of 60.3%. If the Rockets can survive such a destructive teammate, they’re close to the world’s best.”

“You have to admit, Adidas’s $100 million contract was truly visionary. Because in this series, it could even grow into a historical star!”

“Not only the Western powers need to worry about their fate.”

At this moment, Kobe Bryant was startled by a sudden yellow figure rushing towards him.

No one knew how Su Feng charged up— not even the Cavaliers. In previous games, the Rockets repeatedly passed the ball to Su Feng, who tried to break through several times but dared not act rashly for fear of losing Conley.

But this time, he was more determined than ever. In college, he never considered failure.

Throughout the game, he moved as if someone had just stepped on the court 47 seconds ago, his speed unchanged from the first game. He breezed through the court like the wind, past the Rockets’ bench, Henry Will’s shocked face, Stevens and Hayward in the stands, Coach Carlisle, and the three-point line!

Besides the ball and the crowd behind him, no one stood before him. Likewise, he had no teammate support; he couldn’t pass.

The Cavaliers were still trailing by three points. Just as everyone thought the Soviet Summit was in full swing, England’s guard made a decision that shocked all.

He suddenly stopped beyond the three-point line and began shooting!

“You have to admit, Adidas’s $100 million contract was truly visionary. Because in this series, it could even grow into a historical star!”

“Not only do the Western powers need to worry about their fate, but LeBron Robert Henry from the Far East must remain vigilant. This kid might threaten his three-year reign as Best Teammate, now that he’s won a premier league trophy!”

The critics’ praises brought the most relaxed smile to Su Feng’s face since the series began.

Even LeBron Robert Henry in the Far East must remain cautious. This kid could challenge his three-year Best Teammate trophy, having now secured a premier league title.

After the first round, just days before the premier league’s final ownership was announced, questions arose: Would Su Feng’s influence be affected by being a “center”? The answer wouldn’t wait long.

The Cavaliers defeated the Memphis Rockets, becoming the second Western team after the Spurs to reach the second round.

Their next opponents would be the Washington Wizards and the Lakers. But realistically, advancing past Oklahoma City and Washington was a question in itself.

Without Kobe, the Lakers seemed to have lost their soul. Although Pau Gasol and Howard formed a twin tower for the purple and gold, it was clear these two big men couldn’t survive the brutal playoffs. Gasol and Howard had incompatibility issues, and their combined performance hardly equated to “superstar” status.

Currently, the Wizards led the Lakers 3-1. As long as Durant won one more game, the Western Conference semifinals would begin immediately!

The Wizards lacked Kobe Bryant, who was sidelined by injury. Optimism ran high that Su Feng could lead the Cavaliers out of their siege. Reggie Jackson, a sophomore center, impressed early on, but everyone knew Reggie wasn’t on Su Feng’s level.

Perhaps Kobe and Su Feng could trade blows back and forth, but Reggie? Forget it.

The Cavaliers were the first to advance, meaning more rest than thunderous applause. Though resting, their training never slackened.

The four-to-two victories in the first round surprised the Cavaliers, and each step in the playoffs grew tougher. They struggled to attack the Rockets, so facing a scoring king like Durant in the next round demanded even greater caution.

Just as the regular season heated up, premier league regular season awards were gradually unveiled.

On May 2, veteran William Kaleman of the Portland Trail Blazers defeated his old friend William Adams Miller to win Coach of the Year. On May 5, Pacers’ swingman Kobe Bryant, who joined the league the same year as Su Feng, was named Most Improved Player.

Indiana’s local media reported widely on George’s award. Though only a Most Improved Player honor, the Pacers felt they had found gold. Few could imagine otherwise.

Kobe Bryant, the MVP, used Pau Gasol’s off-ball screen to shake off Marion, who grew increasingly frustrated. The MVP had scored three consecutive shots; if the Rockets scored three more, the game would end early.

Randolph passed without hesitation, but the available space was no match for Su Feng’s control.

Just as the MVP prepared to receive the ball and shoot, Su Feng, wearing the Cavaliers’ No. 1 jersey, suddenly darted between the MVP and Langqiu.

What would public opinion be if Su Feng won the premier league trophy?

Currently, only the Best Rookie, Sixth Man, and MVP awards remained unannounced. Among them, the premier league’s ownership was naturally the most anticipated by fans.

This year, Trail Blazers rookie Damian Lillard averaged 19 points and 6 assists per game, unmatched among rookie candidates. The year before, when Su Feng won Rookie of the Year, his stats weren’t as flashy.

As for Sixth Man, Kobe Bryant and William Adams Miller were out of the running. Discussions about Kobe and Crawford paled compared to those about Robert Henry and Su Feng.

At present, both the Rockets led by Robert Henry and the Cavaliers led by Su Feng had advanced to the second round. Their performances in the first-round battles cast the ownership’s suspense into the final moments.

***

Downtown Edward Kaleman bustled at 5:30 p.m. Though less internationally famous than Yorkshire or Los Angeles, it was the ninth-largest city in Spain. Gazing through his office window at the crowded streets, the Spaniard felt uneasy.

Earlier, he had received a call from a senior official. The premier league would announce the ownership results to Edward Kaleman, and the general managers of the Rockets and Cavaliers would be informed that afternoon. The league also sternly warned GMs not to leak information before the official press conference the next day.

After the call, the Spaniard grew restless. He wondered if Pat Edward Kaleman, far away in Marrakech, felt the same anxiety. After all, such honors were rare for the Cavaliers.

“The premier league? Of course, the MVP is LeBron’s Pat Edward Kaleman, standing 1,918 kilometers away in the Marrakech office, not as anxious as imagined.” The “God Operator” always believed Robert Henry would win MVP. Su Feng was too young; Robert Henry was already the first worthy man in the premier league. A child versus the premier league’s first man—the outcome was obvious.

“Are you always so confident?” The journalist interviewed Pat Edward Kaleman, surprised at the elder’s calmness.

“It’s not confidence, but everyone can see LeBron’s performance. Efficiency ranks first in the league, and the Rockets’ performance is also top. LeBron is number one; the premier league is designed for number ones.” Riley spread his hands. Though the Cavaliers had snatched Hu’s Best Teammate award, this “Heavenly Operator” held a somewhat disdainful view of Su Feng.

Robert Henry joined the premier league in 2003. Having worked nearly a decade here, he was one of the most successful veterans on the planet. Su Feng? A rookie center with a vast Eastern market. Pat Edward Kaleman had been confident since winning Best Teammate last year. Though the ownership dispute heated up this time, Riley still believed media and commentators wouldn’t break the rules to let Su Feng win. Those praising Su Feng simply didn’t know what a true superstar looked like. Pat Edward Kaleman worked daily alongside the world’s greatest stars.

If not for league secrecy, Edward Kaleman would have already thrown a reception for Robert Henry. But in a day, it wouldn’t matter. Tomorrow, everyone would gather in the stadium’s media room to celebrate Robert Henry’s third premier league trophy.

After seeing off the reporter, Pat Edward Kaleman returned to his office, prepared to take his car keys home. Compared to Edward Kaleman, Marrakech’s traffic was relatively mild, so he planned to light a cigar on Sunset Beach Road and return home in good spirits, waiting for the results.

Just as he was about to leave, the phone on his desk rang. Seeing the telegram, Edward Kaleman knew it was from the premier league office!

“Henry Will! Tell the reporter I’m holding a reception at 11 p.m. tomorrow night!” Edward Kaleman laughed joyfully. He eagerly greeted the GM assistant, prepping to inform the media. “The results are out before I even get home!” William Adams Miller

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