Chapter 70: Not So Good

Chapter 82: Not So Good

“Boss, I’m going in!” Su Feng had been sitting quietly beside William Adams Miller, but suddenly he shouted at him.

William Adams Miller glanced at Su Feng, then at the score on the big screen, and reached for his assistant.

“Stoltz, tell the tech table we’re making a substitution!” William Adams Miller called out, and Su Feng quickly took off his warm-up jacket.

“The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing terribly. They have no consistent offensive weapon. Their resistance is scattered at best.” As the Cavaliers floundered, Barkley shook his head. This team might not be destined to win in the playoffs.

“No, maybe things will change. Look, Charles.” Kenny Smith smiled, raising a finger toward the court.

Barkley followed Smith’s gesture. Su Feng was already in his jersey, sitting at the scorer’s table, waiting to check in.

“Are you really going to stake it all on this rookie? Good luck, Cuban!” Barkley muttered to himself as he watched.

In the eighth minute of the third quarter, Camby was too aggressive with Tyson on offense, and the referee warned both big men during a defensive foul, trying to keep their emotions in check.

At the sound of the whistle, Su Feng felt a jolt like an electric shock. He leapt off the scorer’s table and bounded into the arena.

“Hold up, man, we’re not done yet!” Kidd came over to give Su Feng a high five and murmured a few words before dragging his sweaty body back to the bench.

Four minutes for the desperate Cavaliers to score seven points? McMillan didn’t believe a rookie could pull that off. Everyone wants to be a hero, but today’s hero won’t be a Spaniard!

Hendley Weir was ashamed of his poor performance and safely inbounded the ball to Su Feng. As the point guard took control, the Houston Rockets’ defense immediately tightened.

Andre Miller disrupted Su Feng’s rhythm, spreading his arms wide to cut off passing lanes. Su Feng’s expression was unreadable. Old Miller had no idea what the rookie intended.

The moment Su Feng’s toe touched beyond the arc, he moved like a machine stepping on a pedal. Suddenly, he reacted, pushing the ball with both hands to Terry, who had just come off the bench.

As the ball swung, Su Feng followed it. Old Miller hustled after him, but Chandler’s off-ball screen gave Su Feng room.

“Bang!” The old vet collided with Chandler, freeing Su Feng from his harrying. Seeing this, Camby rushed to switch his defense, creating a mismatch.

When Su Feng caught the ball a step behind the free-throw line, he quickly passed it to the wing. Marion trailed, caught the ball, and took three steps straight to the paint.

Everyone assumed this would be a fast break, that Marion was doomed. Almost all the Houston Rockets players fell back to defend.

But Marion was only bait. The savvy forward faked a layup, then, midair, changed hands and passed under the basket!

The ball found its way to none other than Su Feng, who had cut for Marion.

When Su Feng received the pass, there was no defender within three meters of him. He calmly launched a three-pointer. Before the ball even swished through the net, Vigneri shot to her feet with arms raised. In the next instant, the ball snapped through the net and a roar of cheers erupted behind Vigneri. The girl felt her long hair flutter in the wave of excitement—he scored!

“Ha, maybe I’ll trust his three-point shot now. I’m not sure we can win!” Hayward said, but couldn’t help raising his arms to cheer for his friend. As for Stevens, the young general just let out a relieved smile.

Minutes later, both teams’ offenses stalled. The Rockets couldn’t score, and neither could the Cavaliers. After Su Feng’s two consecutive baskets, the Rockets locked down on him defensively. With his energy reserves running low, Su Feng was nearing exhaustion.

In the last three minutes of the third quarter, Su Feng broke through Hendley Weir’s screen again, widening the gap. Aldridge cleverly switched positions, unthreatened by Bryant’s lackluster performance today.

Facing intense pressure from Bryant, Su Feng lost his footing during the drive and fell hard.

The whistle blew, and Hendley Weir and Chandler rushed over to help Su Feng up.

Under normal circumstances, Su Feng would have gotten up on his own. But today, drenched in sweat, he lay on the court gasping, unable to muster the strength to rise.

“Damn it!” Hendley Weir cursed, reaching down to haul up the exhausted Su Feng. He knew the Spanish rookie was hitting his physical limit!

It looked like Matthews’ layup was inevitable. But Su Feng leapt surprisingly high, flying out from under the basket—he must have scored!

Of course, Su Feng had no strength left to control his landing. After blocking the shot, he tumbled into the press row and lay sprawled on the floor, “enjoying” the few seconds left.

Su Feng’s struggle left a deep impression on Bryant. The German star endured harsh criticism. When Su Feng was spent, as the team’s superstar, shouldn’t he step up?

By the end of the third quarter, Su Feng was falling again and again, pulled up by teammates. The Houston Rockets still led 76–75. But Su Feng looked spent.

“Physical fitness is now the Cavaliers’ biggest problem! They’re almost running on empty. If they have to chase alone in the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers’ luck will run out.”

“You think someone will step up after three dry spells? This is reality, Kenny, not a fairy tale. In the fourth, as long as the Rockets don’t self-destruct, they’ll win!” Barkley hammered home the point that the Cavaliers weren’t playoff material—yet in that round head, was there some hope? Was he hoping for the Cavaliers, third in the West, to pull off a miracle?

Are the Cavaliers really so fragile? That would be a shame. After all, they’d played so well in the regular season…

“Are you feeling any discomfort?” During the break, William Adams Miller didn’t start with strategy, but checked on Su Feng’s condition.

Su Feng didn’t answer, just waved his hand weakly. If this were the regular season, extended minutes wouldn’t matter. But in the playoffs, it was overwhelming. More importantly, this was Su Feng’s first playoff game.

Looking at the disarray on the Cavaliers’ bench, McMillan felt relieved. It looked like the Rockets would win. Leading an away game would be huge for the series.

“Brother, this is tough for you.” During the break, Hendley Weir stood and patted Su Feng’s shoulder.

“In the fourth, can you give me the ball?” Bryant furrowed his brow, deadly serious.

A superstar has the right to request the 31st shot, even if he missed the first 30. Besides, Bryant hadn’t shot that extravagantly today.

Su Feng nodded slightly at Hendley Weir’s request. Hendley Weir glared at the court. He didn’t want to lose!

What separates great teams from ordinary ones? It’s not always the coach, or the tactics—it’s having a superstar who can take over the game.

“Twelve minutes left! The story isn’t over!” Hendley Weir suddenly stood up, shouting to all the Cavaliers.

“We’ve done enough. Let’s do something for him and for this team.”

William Adams Miller was a bit surprised by Hendley Weir’s outburst; normally mild-mannered, he rarely did this on the court. Was it… because of Su Feng?

He hoped that kid could bring out the best—even the worst—of Bryant.

At the start of the fourth, the Rockets were brimming with confidence. They led by only one, but the game was in their hands. For the Cavaliers to win, it would take a miracle.

But the Cavaliers’ first possession of the quarter made McMillan break out in a cold sweat.

This time, Su Feng didn’t initiate. They went straight inside. Hendley Weir didn’t try to muscle his way in, but pulled up for a jumper from midrange.

Aldridge didn’t hesitate, blocking instantly, his hand right in Bryant’s face. It looked like Hendley Weir’s shot would go astray as before under such tight defense.

After all, Hendley Weir had only 10 points in the first three quarters, shooting a poor percentage.

But just as Camby moved for the defensive rebound, the ball fell cleanly through the net, barely touching the rim!

“Kobe Bryant Hendley Weir, a tough basket! Is this guy really coming back at the end of the day?”

One lucky shot could be a fluke, but twice in a row—maybe not.

Thirty seconds later, the Cavaliers attacked again. Hendley Weir fought his way into the paint, and Bryant countered. In the lane, Hendley Weir scored high off the glass, and drew a hard foul. The Cavaliers had a chance for a three-point play!

It was Su Feng’s twelve minutes of grit that kept the Cavaliers in front. Without him, things might have unraveled.

How long could this guy hold out? William Adams Miller didn’t know. Could Bryant take over in the second half? William Adams Miller didn’t know.

Everyone was celebrating, but William Adams Miller and Su Feng both felt worried…

At halftime, the Cavaliers led by four as they headed to the tunnel. Despite the lead, the outcome had been unexpected.

The Cavaliers hadn’t played as well as expected. Everyone knew William Adams Miller’s Cavaliers were a mature team, but for the entire half, they looked like a team rebuilding, carried by rookie Su Feng.

Players like Peja, Kidd, and Terry would occasionally step up, but today, everyone except Su Feng was inconsistent.

After hitting three consecutive shots to start the second quarter, Peja went cold. Kidd played well in the first, but scored nothing in the second. Terry—now the team’s sixth man—did little besides a few passes and shots.

Of course, the biggest issue was Hendley Weir. By halftime, the Cavaliers’ star had only six points, shooting just 32 percent. His delayed scoring was why Su Feng had to play so many minutes in a row.

Fans cheered Su Feng’s buzzer-beater, but worried about the next game. Without that shot, the Cavaliers wouldn’t even have their four-point cushion.

William Adams Miller was troubled too, watching the little guy gasping on the court. But for the sake of victory, Su Feng couldn’t come out! At least the Cavaliers still led, and Su Feng’s effort hadn’t been in vain.

So during the break, Terry didn’t joke with Su Feng.

Watching Su Feng slumped in the corner, eyes closed against the locker, chest heaving, Terry knew it was Su Feng’s stellar play that had kept the Cavaliers in it. Every second of rest was precious. The intensity of top-league playoff basketball was no joke, and playing this many minutes was a huge strain.

“Jason, you’ll start the second half. Bryant, try to shoot from outside. Today, Bryant’s been too aggressive defending the rim.” Seeing Su Feng still panting as he returned to the tunnel, William Adams Miller decided to sub him out.

Exhaustion was one thing; an injury from overexertion would be worthless.

“I’ll blow him up!” Hendley Weir knew he had to step up. Su Feng had done enough. The German didn’t want another “soft” label in the playoffs.

“Let’s drive and get you open looks!” William Adams Miller started sketching on the tactical board. Su Feng opened his eyes and listened closely.

“And, in the second half, I’ll have you play another—”

“No, I’m fine. Run it as usual,” Su Feng’s cold voice cut in before William Adams Miller could finish.

“But you didn’t rest in the second quarter, and your minutes are already over the normal rotation.”

PS: Hahahaha, thank you all…………