Chapter 97: This Isn’t Fun

Chapter 109: This Isn’t Fun

“They’ve lost—Houston Rockets are in the lead!”

From then on, everything became straightforward. Gobert sent a long pass from the backcourt, and Su Feng, leveraging his height advantage, easily caught up with Lanchou, then dunked with both hands!

In less than five seconds, the Cleveland Cavaliers launched a counterattack, showcasing their most lethal weapon! William Adams Miller shook his head. It wasn’t that Little Thomas wasn’t good enough. In this league, no defender could have succeeded against the kind of defense Su Feng just displayed.

Think about how Culiburn performs against others; yet, in front of Su Feng, he was twice blocked from beyond the arc, his shooting percentage dropping below thirty percent.

This setback became a turning point for the Celtics. In another possession, Little Thomas again tried to break through with screens and speed. He managed to outrun most, but Su Feng was clearly not among them.

On another drive, Gobert felt utterly helpless in the face of such pickpocketing. If you don’t jump, you can’t contest the shot; if you do, it’s an easy foul.

Just when Little Thomas thought the basket was his, Su Feng soared from behind and mercilessly swatted the ball into the stands.

After landing, Su Feng didn’t even celebrate—he simply commanded his teammates to press on the inbound pass. That kind of ruthlessness, on the contrary, exerted an oppressive aura!

“The Celtics’ offense is starting to look a little chaotic. Coach William Adams Miller’s tactics are sound, and Little Thomas executes well. The problem lies in the presence of a super defensive specialist on the other side.

Luckily, William Adams Miller’s mid-range shot temporarily stopped the Celtics’ bleeding. But scoring wasn’t part of the tactical plan. The Celtics couldn’t rely on those shots to sustain the game.

After a stunning start, the Celtics began to look ordinary. Thomas only made two field goals after the first quarter. He had never encountered a defender like Su Feng, capable of locking someone down so completely.

26-21, the Cleveland Cavaliers led by five at the end of the first quarter.

William Adams Miller looked up at the big screen. Five points was a deficit, but still within reach. At least it proved the Celtics weren’t lagging behind either offensively or defensively.

Glancing along the whole bench, the Celtics now had only one reliable scoring option like Little Thomas.

If they wanted to create more on offense, the entire team had to serve Little Thomas. Because in the latter half of the first quarter, after Su Feng only scored twice, he began to create scoring opportunities for Thomas.

“Henry Wall, Henry Robert, you two—start from the second quarter!” William Adams Miller waved his hand. It wasn’t over yet.

Henry Wall and Henry Robert weren’t superstars. Compared to Carter and other bench players on the Cavaliers, they were far less well known.

Before the draft, Henry Wall was even touted as “the great white center’s hope.” Of course, that hope hadn’t yet materialized. Henry Robert made his name early in the European leagues, but in the NBA, he was too slow for small forward and too soft for power forward, making the word “star” irrelevant.

These two average big men didn’t seem helpful for chasing a win. But they had one thing in common—that’s why William Adams Miller substituted them in: three-point shooting!

Both were excellent shooters who could stretch the floor and guarantee outside scoring. Now, with William Adams Miller, Little Thomas, and Evan Turner, the Celtics had five players on the court capable of making threes.

This was William Adams Miller’s strategy!

After the second quarter began, perhaps to rest Su Feng, Carlisle didn’t send him back out, instead letting Shelvin William Adams Miller, who had performed well in the first quarter, continue playing.

Shelvin William Adams Miller was well known to William Adams Miller. They’d been teammates the longest on the Bulldogs. After Su Feng and Hayward left the NBA, William Adams Miller and Shelvin led the Bulldogs to the finals for a second straight year, but unfortunately, they didn’t win a championship.

Shelvin was also William Adams Miller’s closest confidant. Now that William Adams Miller had established himself in the NBA, Shelvin was genuinely happy for him. But it must be admitted that Shelvin’s talent and effort were far below Su Feng’s, especially defensively. He was solid, but not nearly as monstrous as Su Feng.

Carlisle had his reasons for choosing Shelvin. His strong body could overpower most guards. Ironically, though, Thomas most feared power guards!

“I call him ‘Robert the Later.’ Now I’m panicking.”

After seeing Robert’s expression, Chinese fans joked online.

With the game paused again, Houston’s players seemed to have lost confidence in what had just happened.

Su Feng drove Mayo with his stomach, astonishing Kobe Bryant. He wasn’t as soft as Murphy indoors, nor as much a kite flyer as Yi Jianlian outside. He stunned everyone, pushing Houston to the brink of despair!

Everyone was shocked. Even Henry Will, always a Cavaliers and Su Feng supporter, hadn’t expected this. The Cavaliers had only made seven shots, but all three-pointers were connected to Su Feng—one direct, two assisted.

But if not for Murphy’s leisurely shooting, Yi Jianlian’s brave blocks, and Jack Lord stretching the defense from the three-point line, Su Feng couldn’t have done it.

The Cavaliers had just demonstrated why Su Feng could be MVP. Beyond his own scoring, he made everyone around him better. In the regular season, he’d led a group of aging veterans to the West’s top three. Now, with teammates few others valued, he forced Houston to call a timeout.

Su Feng had just blown by Robert for a layup on the big screen. Through slow motion and close-up, people realized how rich Su Feng’s array of fakes was. Even Robert was left flustered.

“You never know what this guy’s going to do next—not even his own teammates!” Henry Will shook his head. A guard like this was truly terrifying!

The Houston players filed off, Brooks surveying the tough crowd, but all their faces seemed to say: “Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?” Their collapse from a 17-point lead to 2 points left them bewildered, as much as the fans watching.

Early on, the Cavaliers’ erratic play gave Thunder fans a sweet taste. Now, they’d become merciless grizzly cowboys, slaughtering the Thunder with impunity. Against a fully awakened Cavaliers, the Thunder were simply overwhelmed.

“Hey, pick it up! Defense—where’s our defense gone? The Cavaliers aren’t just one star. How can you leave their teammates open?” Brooks knew that only man-to-man defense could slow the Cavaliers’ run. Letting the Cavaliers open up was even worse than letting Su Feng score alone.

If Su Feng scored alone, Robert and Su Feng could compete. But if the Cavaliers as a team got going, Brooks would have a hard time stopping it.

As Robert gradually regained his composure, he remembered his promise to Westbrook and his determination not to lose to the Cavaliers. Now, Robert needed to forget his previous 17 points and treat the game as a fresh start. Psychological issues sometimes affect a player’s performance. Su Feng was so steady because his mindset rarely wavered. What Robert needed now was a clear head.

However, when Houston returned to the court, Carlisle had already sent the starting lineup back on. The “firefighters” had done their job; next, the Cavaliers starters would take over the game!

Chapter Two

Houston’s morale had hit rock bottom. They’d just been beaten by the Cavaliers’ bench. Now, they had little confidence in their starters.

William Adams Miller was running out of time. He feared the Cavaliers would erupt again and intercept the ball. Jackson drove himself mad, only passing to Robert with eight seconds left on the shot clock.

By then, Robert had lost the best scoring opportunity. Now, he wanted to get rid of Marion. Time was running short.

Marion, with his long arms, couldn’t fully contest Robert, but Robert couldn’t shoot cleanly given the distraction. Thunder’s attack failed again. Finally, after being overwhelmed in the half, the Cavaliers got a scoring chance!

At this point, every Cavaliers player wiped their hands, hoping for a good comeback. Houston’s players were starting to panic, worried their 17-point lead would evaporate.

But Su Feng remained considerate. He solved the problem, not letting Houston fret for long. On the next possession, Su Feng delivered a high lob; Lanchou soared through the crowd.

Old Carter leaped unexpectedly, catching the ball midair.

Lanchou scored, cutting it to just two points. Scott Brooks immediately called a timeout, no longer amused by the Cavaliers’ “ridiculous” lineup.

And Robert? He stared blankly at Su Feng, then at Jack Lord. One shot missed, and now only two points remained?

“How’s that?” Carter’s alley-oop dunk.

“Boom!” The basket rattled loudly, as if it were 2000 again. Back then, Carter made such acrobatic plays routine. But now, to see the white-bearded Carter finish an alley-oop was surprising.

“Right after crossing half-court, he threw a beautiful pass that set Carter up for a dunk in time and space. Houston’s defense is full of holes! This is the eighth possession of the second quarter. The game is tied for the first time!” Mike Breen wiped sweat from his forehead. The Dallas Cavaliers were not a team to wave the white flag. Now, Houston’s players had no choice but to accept the tie—it had already happened!

Individual defensive lapses aren’t terrifying. Who can claim their defense is flawless? Worse is facing a guard who can turn any opening into a basket at any time!

Moments ago, all eyes were on what the Soviet leader would do next. No one cared where Carter was. Yet, that neglect allowed Carter to shine. Teammates were willing to stay in the game because of Su Feng’s halftime speech.

When you see someone younger and more talented than you working harder, doesn’t it embarrass you into wanting to be better?

After Houston’s counterattack, Robert was still the executor. Granted unlimited shooting rights, the small forward finally hit a shot, ending Houston’s scoring drought. But Robert’s three-pointer came too late. The Cavaliers’ momentum had already surged—pressing again would be futile.

It was brutal—Robert’s tough play, Marion’s defense gave him a direct taste of it. The red-eyed cowboy didn’t care anymore. If not for league rules, Marion might’ve been defending with a knife.

Robert scored, but he couldn’t relax. Deep down, he was terrified—afraid of the Cavaliers and Su Feng’s partnership. Fear… afraid to lose this dominant home game.

There’s a saying in China: what you fear will come to pass. In America, it’s called Murphy’s Law—if you worry about something, it’s more likely to happen!

Robert kept telling himself the Cavaliers shouldn’t score—so William Adams Miller’s shot went through the net, Ibaka fouled, and it became a three-point play!

Robert insisted Dirk shouldn’t make the free throw—so William Adams Miller calmly silenced the crowd and scored again.

“Dirk’s classic pick-and-pop—he may not be an invincible tank that kills the Heat single-handed, but Nowitzki can still make an impact.”

Now, a bad shot was offset. The Cavaliers, like a pack of bloodthirsty killers, were carving up Houston, savoring the torment.

Robert didn’t want to be the backdrop to the Cavaliers’ comeback. In the first half, he gave up precise outside shooting, choosing instead to drive.

But was storming the paint against a crowd really a wise decision?

Kaman wasn’t a top-tier rim protector, but at least his size and height were up to par. When Robert finally broke through, he crashed into Kaman, a massive meat shield, whose arms were like noodles—Lanchou made no progress!

“No!” Thunder fans clutched their heads in agony—God gave them candy, then slapped them hard.

Robert still couldn’t finish at the rim. Su Feng, with a majestic presence, slowly and calmly dribbled past half-court. It seemed he intended to break Houston’s defense with passing, too.

As Houston focused on cutting off his passing lanes, Su Feng transformed himself into a bullet, piercing Houston’s heart.

He leaned into William Adams Miller in the paint, charging bravely toward the hoop. After Su Feng took off, Congo’s Ibaka accidentally tripped Dallas’s No. 1, and Su Feng’s inertia nearly sent him out of the arena.

Of course, the referee blew the whistle, and Chesapeake Energy Arena erupted in cheers. But a second later, the place fell silent. The official signaled an offensive foul on Houston.

“Offensive foul! Hahaha, Yi Jianlian has made a huge contribution! The player we thought was most useless is showing his value!”

Yi Jianlian’s brave charge drew cheers from his teammates. Su Feng and Murphy reached out, pulling up their Chinese teammate, the best China had to offer. Who said he was useless in the NBA?

Offensive foul—Cavaliers’ ball. Su Feng advanced again; if they scored, Houston’s advantage would vanish.

This time, Houston focused on Murphy and Yi Jianlian, not letting the two bigs get open for threes.

The paint was cleared—perfect for Su Feng’s drives.

William Adams Miller? He was the one sitting back, waiting for help D. Su Feng didn’t even change direction—just shifted gears and blew by him.

Robert came to help, angry over the offensive foul.

Su Feng looked as if he had no intention to avoid him. He stared at the rim, eyes locked, preparing to launch a powerful three-step attack.

As Su Feng took the first step, his eyes fell on Jay Kobe Bryant, standing in the corner. Robert’s eyes flashed with fear, and he rushed back to defend. Jay Kobe Bryant was a spot-up shooter—leave him open, and it’s like handing him three points! Su Feng—such a cunning guy!

But this time, your drive won’t succeed!

If anyone in the league could read Su Feng’s eyes, it’d be like predicting the future. Does anyone in this world truly predict the future? Who knows—but it definitely isn’t Robert.

Su Feng’s gaze at Kobe Bryant was just a feint!

As Robert sagged off, Su Feng never passed. With Robert hesitating in panic, Su Feng slipped right by.

A beautiful three-step layup—nothing flashy, but Robert was completely fooled by Su Feng’s fake.

Su Feng crashed into the referees’ group, even knocking over a few. This attack was a direct assault. After losing his balance, Lanchou was flung high, dropping into the net as if guided by unseen eyes. Su Feng sacrificed himself for an and-one.

This time, Houston’s players were truly demoralized. How do you expect to win against such a bunch of lunatics?

William Adams Miller and Carter rushed to the press area, pulling Su Feng from the crowd. He lay on the ground, pain written on his face, but upon seeing Carter and Dirk, his first question was, “Did the shot go in?”

“I think you’d better get up and see their faces—full of despair!” William Adams Miller laughed. Su Feng’s question proved he was fine.

His teammates “fished” Su Feng out of the crowd. He winced, rubbing his chest, then headed straight to the free-throw line.

In Dallas, countless fans cheered for Su Feng’s every move. In Oklahoma, the moment had passed.

Houston fans booed with all their might, pounding their thundersticks, making a racket. More than that, they played up Vinelli’s sex appeal, trying to distract Su Feng. But in Lanchou Pavilion, none of it fazed him.

Compared to past humiliations, sneers, and racist taunts, what was this paltry interference?

Su Feng took two free throws, calmly sinking both. The Cavaliers scored three points on consecutive possessions, widening the gap. Most frighteningly, Houston’s confidence was crumbling.

After the battle, few remembered the highlights of Su Feng and Robert’s duel. Even Robert seemed lost on the court.

In just 48 minutes, how many can maintain such composure through so many ups and downs?

With 30 seconds left, Su Feng assisted William Adams Miller on his third made shot of the night, extending the lead past ten. For the first time, Oklahoma’s Thunder trailed by double digits!

“28 points, 13 assists, 2 blocks, 4 steals! Hail the new king of this league! This is the end of the contest with the NBA!” Henry Will watched Brooks, dazed on the bench.

Su Feng had truly brought the team’s resilience to NBA level!

Thunder made one last push, Robert firing with impunity.

Jack Kobe Bryant, though energetic, was a decade younger than Robert. This time, Robert’s convincing fake shook Kobe Bryant completely. Rookies always get eaten up.

Robert’s signature: after faking out Bryant, he took a decisive step, raised his long arms, and attacked the rim.

Yi Jianlian hustled to help, but Robert didn’t hesitate—how could one Yi Jianlian stop him?

They collided. Yi, though strong by Asian standards, still couldn’t withstand such a wiry force.

“Ah!” Yi cried out deliberately, falling to the floor. Lanchou for help, Robert signaling for an and-one to the referee.

Suddenly, you couldn’t help but pity Houston’s journey this year.

Losing Westbrook was tough enough. Facing this opponent, things couldn’t get worse.

Houston’s players adjusted quickly, then… “There’s always next year…”

An hour ago, Houston led by 17 at halftime—no one thought the final result would be like this.

Robert was brilliant, the Cavaliers were in trouble, and a home win for Houston seemed a certainty.

Yet, Su Feng and his teammates pried out points, one by one, in the second half.

“The game is over—Dallas Cavaliers, under their leader’s guidance, completed a miraculous comeback, erasing a 17-point halftime deficit to beat Oklahoma’s Houston Rockets. Without Westbrook, Houston’s decline is obvious. Their role players pale in comparison to the Cavaliers at crucial moments. Even Troy Murphy, nearly forgotten, hit three clutch threes tonight. You have to admit, the Cavaliers played a brilliant second half. Who knows what Coach Carlisle said at halftime, but the Cavaliers were a different team. Charles Henry Will was delighted to see the Cavaliers create yet another miracle. In the stands, the disbelief on Thunder fans’ faces gave Henry Will an inexplicable sense of delight.

Henry Will always relished such moments when he played. That’s why he enjoyed empathy so much.

After leaving the court, Robert flung his towel to the ground. He couldn’t believe the Cavaliers had stolen his win. 35 points, 15 rebounds, 50% shooting, 26 shots—Robert had done all he could, bearing the responsibility of being a star.

Yet the Cavaliers, with five players scoring in double figures in the playoffs, had proven their system. The playoffs are truly a stage for teammates, and Su Feng’s role was to make his teammates better.

Though the game was held at Chesapeake Energy Arena, after the final buzzer, the Cavaliers became the darlings of the crowd. They were surrounded by reporters, even Yi Jianlian was no longer ignored by CCTV.

When the media asked William Adams Miller how he scored 18 points under Ibaka’s suffocating defense, the German smiled. Why? As long as the spacing is right, the pass will always arrive on time. All I need to do is shoot.

The German extended his hands, counting all the baskets made thanks to Su Feng’s assists. William Adams Miller had long since fulfilled his promise to entrust the Dallas Cavaliers to Su Feng.

His praise for Su Feng before the media was no exaggeration. Without Su Feng’s halftime speech, without his sacrifices and those lingering, crafty looks and passes, the Cavaliers would never have overcome a 17-point deficit.

Robert was incredible tonight, with unlimited shooting rights, unlike anyone else on the court. Fortunately, the Cavaliers had a teammate who could compete with Robert’s three-point barrage.

Losing at home through a comeback hit Houston’s morale hard. Without Westbrook, were the Oklahoma Thunder truly destined to struggle in the West?

Houston’s players and fans naturally refused to accept this, but from the outside, their collapse had long been foreseen.