Chapter 1 Phoenix's Contractor

The north wind howled, snowflakes fluttered.

Although it was November in Phoenix, the sun was still shining brightly...

But at this moment, McGrady's heart felt as cold as if he were streaking naked through freezing Minnesota!

As one of the only perimeter players in the NBA who could be compared to Su Feng in the past two years (in his own opinion)...

How could McGrady have imagined...

That his handsome and dashing image at the Rabbit House would collapse overnight?

And all of this...

Had to start with the contract discussion with McGrady's agent this summer.

"Oh, my dear Tracy, do you know that in addition to the United States, you also have a large number of fans in China.

So, don't you want to expand your popularity in China?"

See, what is called an international superstar?

That day, listening to his agent's flattery, McGrady immediately felt his growing and terrifying reputation.

"So, my shrewd agent, please tell me, how do you think I should repay my fans in China?"

McGrady asked, looking at his agent.

And hearing this...

McGrady's agent immediately introduced him to a big deal.

"What does this company that wants me to endorse do?"

Listening to his agent tell him about the sky-high endorsement fee, McGrady asked curiously.

"To be specific, I'm not sure...

But they said that this endorsement is a one-time buyout, and we only need to send them two photos." McGrady's agent replied.

"Only two photos? What about commercial activities?" McGrady asked in surprise.

"Yes, only two photos, my dear employer."

Holy crap!

So money really does fall from the sky?

Listening to his agent's introduction to this deal, McGrady agreed without thinking at the time.

The saying goes, not making money when you have the chance makes you an idiot.

What's more...

This deal only required two photos?

No complicated commercial activities, not even shooting commercials...

"Wait, this company's reputation in China isn't bad, is it?" Looking at his agent, McGrady raised his last question.

"Although I haven't learned much about it, according to the intermediary...

This company seems to be an institution responsible for training professional talents in China, and its reputation among the people is quite good."

Hiss!

Good heavens!

Patting his agent on the shoulder, who knew how happy McGrady was inside that day?

Tsk tsk!

Being able to earn money while lying down, this kind of good thing...

No exaggeration, okay, let alone taking two photos, McGrady would be happy to take a whole set of photos!

But a few days later...

After formally signing a cooperation agreement with the other party and receiving their down payment, McGrady was puzzled by the other party's photo requirements...

Because in McGrady's mind, shouldn't the photos of spokespersons be taken as "handsome" as possible?

For example, take a picture of himself dunking.

For example, take a picture of himself doing a smooth, fadeaway jumper.

You know, because the money came too easily this time, McGrady even had a special hairstyle done on the day of the photo shoot.

However...

"Why... why do they want me to take pictures wearing a hard hat?"

McGrady asked the photographer and his agent in confusion.

"Maybe it's because they want to promote and publicize safety knowledge?"

McGrady's agent explained to McGrady.

And now...

Although he felt that he looked a little low-class with a hard hat, McGrady still actively cooperated for the sake of the other party's "sincerity."

And so, just like that...

On the Rabbit House's Internet, the jokes about the "Phoenix Contractor" quickly became popular.

And after learning from Kobe and Su Feng about his true status in the minds of Chinese fans...

How could McGrady have the face to go to the Rabbit House in the future?

But fortunately...

That day, watching the little fan named Durant come from afar to ask him for an autograph, McGrady's mood suddenly improved a lot.

Because the facts proved...

He, McGrady, still had a lot of weight in the minds of young American fans!

...

November 28th, America West Arena.

As the focus of the national live broadcast on the 28th, the Phoenix Suns welcomed the Miami Heat, who had recently won 10 consecutive games, at their home court.

Inside the TNT television studio, while enjoying the explosive opening dance of the Phoenix cheerleaders, Barkley said:

"As of now this season, I think the most attention should be paid to Tracy and Su...

Who will be the first to become the second player after Oscar Robertson to achieve a season of "30+ triple-doubles" on the NBA court."

And on the side, Smith rarely echoed Barkley, saying: "That's why we've been saying recently that the players of this era are constantly refreshing our views.

Because whether it's Su or Tracy, they are changing our perception of basketball little by little.

And young players like LeBron are telling us that there are still many miracles happening on the NBA court that we have not witnessed."

"To be honest, I feel that the level of competition and the personal ability of the players in this era have completely surpassed when I was still playing.

I have no intention of offending those stars who have left the NBA stage like me...

But as a player who was Su's teammate for three years, I have personally witnessed Su's greatness in countless nights in the past!" After a pause, Barkley added.

And on the court, as the "cheerleaders" exited, the protagonists of tonight also stepped onto the "miracle-happening place" in Barkley's mouth one by one.

As the two NBA teams with the most fiery names, the Heat led the Eastern Conference with a record of 12 wins and 2 losses so far this season.

And the Suns led the entire Western Conference with a record of 10 wins and 4 losses.

In addition, in the team's average offensive firepower list, the Suns and the Heat also rank first and second with an average of 114 points and 113 points per game this season.

Thanks to the NBA's early entry into the "three-point era," Mike D'Antoni's offensive basketball this season is even more outrageous than the Suns in Su Feng's memory.

Although in terms of playing style, Su Feng loves the Suns that set off an offensive storm in the NBA under Nash's skillful hands.

However, after McGrady gradually became Deng Hua...

You know what, if you put aside the competitive relationship, Su Feng is really looking forward to seeing what kind of data McGrady can put up every night.

In the center of the court, the starting players of both sides have gathered in the center circle.

Heat: Miličić, Odom, Su Feng, Butler, Alston.

Suns: Ostertag, Jamison, Marion, Hill, McGrady.

Compared with the "Great White Bear" who fought against O'Neal in those years, in the past two years, with the trouble caused by injuries, Ostertag has shown a clear decline in both athletic ability and physical fitness.

While jumping for the ball in the center circle, watching Ostertag's legs that were firmly bound by gravity...

In a trance, Su Feng always felt that O'Neal and Yao Ming were two monsters.

Because in fact, when most players discuss O'Neal and Yao Ming's physical fitness, they forget that these two weigh more than 140 kilograms.

In the center circle, Miličić jumped for the Heat to get the ball.

On the court, Alston was responsible for dribbling the ball across the half court.

As a result, before Su Feng could pull up to the high post to be a playmaker, Marion gave him a friendly elbow to his waist.

At this time, the referee next to Su Feng directly ignored Marion's...

hand.Check. on Su Feng when defending him, as if nothing had happened.

"Hey, Shawn, I'm not your wife, can you not hug me so tightly?"

As the NBA's current number one player, Su Feng, who knew that his whistle was different from others, turned around and said to Marion.

And hearing this, Marion showed Su Feng his ET-like smile and said, "But I'm your fan, Su!"

Su Feng: "..."

Good heavens!

Who started all this?

Since when did the young people in the NBA want to beat their idols to death on the court when facing their idols?

In the Heat's first offense, Su Feng's reception was not very smooth under Marion's entanglement, but relying on his model advantage, he still took the hot potato from Alston.

Compared with the young man who was beaten by him on the court in those years, Marion at this time has gradually had the demeanor of his future hacker.

In Su Feng's view, if this Suns team can stay healthy under the blessing of their miracle doctor...

Then they are indeed the number one favorite to win the championship this season.

On the court, because it was not a wise decision to attack Marion by force, Su Feng decisively changed to taking it intelligently.

After passing the ball to Miličić, who had come out of the inside, Su Feng took the initiative to run to the wing and made a cross screen with Odom there.

And now, because Marion and Jamison's attention were attracted by Su Feng, after making a fake screen for Su Feng, Odom slipped into the basket.

However, the Suns' frontcourt players, who had long been on guard against the Heat's give-and-go tactics...

Soon used their exaggerated rotation speed to tell the Heat...

What is called the nemesis of give-and-go tactics!

But...

Who told the Suns' frontcourt guards, who were going to help defend Odom, that the Heat's attack would be completed by Odom?

At the high post, the "Great White Bear" was too late to remind Marion!

Because after creating an opportunity for Odom to attack the basket, Su Feng did not stop his pace.

He took the initiative to wander near the top of the arc.

And when Jamison and Hill rotated to Odom's side, he completed a hand-off pass with Miličić!

On the basketball court, the situation changes rapidly, so Su Feng would not be foolish enough to execute every ball according to Riley's tactical board.

And in today's league, may I ask, who has the ability to capture opportunities better than Su Feng, whose career misses are close to 6,000 times?

You know, this is Su Feng's valuable wealth that he has gained with every miss!

On the court, after performing a hand-off pass with Miličić, relying on Miličić's screen, Su Feng immediately opened his eight-times scope on the outside!

And as the basketball flew over the heads of these muscle men...

At the moment when it brushed the net, Su Feng also used his strength to tell people that if you can't shoot in the cracks, then you are too embarrassed to say that you are a shooter?

3 to 0!

On CCTV, Director Zhang smiled after seeing this scene: "There's a change. Tonight is still the rare occasion so far this season where Su Feng has turned on his offensive mode in the opening stage."

And on the side, Director Sun, who was partnered with Director Zhang, looked at the data he had collected before the game and said: "Statistical records show...

This season, in the games where Su Feng made a three-pointer for the Heat, and the Heat averaged more than 100 points, and the opponent averaged less than 100 points, the Heat has maintained a perfect record."

In an instant, because his mind had not completely turned around, after listening to Director Sun's rare and reasonable analysis, Director Zhang nodded repeatedly in agreement and said: "Then it seems that the Heat has already achieved one of the conditions for victory tonight."

On the court, it was the Suns' turn to attack.

At America West Arena, as Su Feng appeared in front of McGrady, nearly 20,000 Suns fans instantly climaxed!

At this moment, even McGrady's sleepy eyes unconsciously widened a little.

Because in McGrady's view, this was tantamount to Su Feng's recognition of him!

And in front of the TV...

Looking at Su Feng's serious expression when guarding McGrady, in a trance, Kobe suddenly didn't want to continue watching this game so much.

"Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?"

Clenching his fist, Kobe muttered to himself.

And on the court...

Under Su Feng's death entanglement, McGrady almost made a dribbling error!

Compared with all the defensive experts he had encountered in the past...

In terms of giving him a sense of oppression, no matter how much progress he had made in the past two years, in McGrady's view, Su Feng was an insurmountable chasm.

But...

Today, how could he, McGrady, still be the younger brother who would only follow behind Su Feng and Carter and shout "good ball"?

Dong, dong, dong!

What a flash breakthrough after a Crossover!

This is Tracy McGrady.

In Su Feng's previous life, after Grant Hill and before Derrick Rose, the man with the fastest first step in the NBA.

But...

On the court, just when McGrady thought his flash had crossed Su Feng's, who would have thought that Su Feng would pull out a Blink Dagger from his equipment library?

Just like the future innocent players always think that they have crossed Leonard...

On the wing, while quickly sliding to catch up with McGrady, at the moment when all of McGrady's attention was on how to attack the basket, Su Feng used a backhand steal to touch the basketball out of McGrady's control!

However, because McGrady's hand was also very long, therefore, after McGrady reacted, he and Su Feng failed to grab the second landing point of the basketball in the first time!

However, no sooner said than done!

Just as the basketball was about to fly out of bounds, Su Feng actually made a desperate dive, like a goalkeeper making a save on the football field!

On the court, watching Su Feng, who was playing so desperately, McGrady's eyes suddenly magnified countless times.

Because...

Could you believe that in an "ordinary" regular season game...

The current number one player in the NBA would actually play so desperately for the sake of fighting for a ball?

However, what McGrady didn't know was...

At this moment, Su Feng, who was so great in his heart, was thinking about the word "data" in his mind when he made the save...

Bang!

Unfortunately...

Because the ball fell too fast, so when Su Feng put the ball into his hands, he and the basketball had already flown to the...

cheerleading girls on the sidelines.

Ah, this!

On the sidelines, when Su Feng and the basketball flew out of bounds together, he didn't know why, but he always felt that his face had hit something very soft.

And when he reopened his eyes...

Subconsciously, he blurted out a sentence...

"What big, evil things!"

Holy crap!

Is this the legendary "facial cleanser"?

On the court, after inexplicably washing his face, Su Feng suddenly became energetic.

And in front of the TV...

Britney, who noticed this scene, hated that she didn't have a knife in her hand at this time.

In fact, even if she didn't understand the game, Britney also knew that Su Feng's behavior of hitting the cheerleader just now was not intentional.

But...

Who was he making that "happy" expression on his face for after he got up?

Bro, may I ask, what are some places where I make you dissatisfied?

"Lily, please take a leave of absence for me for the next few days, I'm going to Miami." Britney said, looking at her best friend next to her.

And hearing this, as Su Feng's undercover agent next to Britney, when she thought of the Super Bowl ticket that Su Feng had promised her...

Lily always felt that she had to take some time to send Su Feng a text message.

At America West Arena, after this small interlude, the game continued.

On TNT television, Barkley laughed: "Seriously, if every flying save could have such a blessing, then I would rather die on the basketball court."

And on the side, Smith said: "I agree with your point of view, Charles."

Suns' ball possession.

Because the Suns had little offensive time left, Hill had to complete his shot at the top of the arc while facing Alston after sending out the sideline ball.

Clang!

In a hurry, Hill, who failed to adjust his shooting posture, gave Su Feng his first rebound of the night.

And at this time, the cameraman on the scene also gave a close-up shot to the cheerleader who had just been hit by Su Feng with a super headbutt.

Since Old Buss introduced the cheerleaders in those years, the cheerleaders have long become a beautiful scenery on the NBA court.

And because of an AIDS tragedy caused by a certain person in those years, the entire Lakers team (including cheerleaders and staff) were forced to undergo a post-event examination...

Therefore, in order to protect the most important property of the NBA, that is, the players, the NBA has always forbidden players from having deeper exchanges with cheerleaders.

Of course, as a group of creatures with excess hormones, behind the scenes of the NBA, stories of players and cheerleaders cheating are not uncommon.

In addition, if Su Feng remembered correctly, Riley's chief disciple in the future, Erik Spoelstra, married a Heat cheerleader who was more than ten years younger than him.

But...

I don't know why.

Although Su Feng did steal a few seconds of joy when he was being facial-washed just now, his mind was soon occupied by Britney's figure.

"It's strange... why is this girl's figure getting better and better, and her skin is getting more and more delicate after giving birth to a child?" Recalling the scene when he last had an English lesson with Britney, Su Feng thought silently.

And on the court, because Su Feng was distracted for a few tenths of a second, Marion almost snatched the ball from him!

Whew!

Focus!

Focus!

Focus!

Important things are said three times!

Although he really missed Britney a little in his heart, for Su Feng, what could be more important than the sewers at this moment?

On the court, after Su Feng dribbled the ball to the high post, relying on a simple screen that Miličić made for him, Su Feng once again made a three-pointer from the outside!

See...

When you play complicated routines on the court too much, sometimes playing such a simple ball, your opponent just can't react.

6 to 0.

It was the Suns' turn to attack.

Under Su Feng's interference, McGrady's face-to-face fadeaway three-pointer also went in!

Because the height of McGrady's calves when he does his fadeaway is extremely unfriendly to male defenders, Su Feng could only grit his teeth and watch this Tracy little brother complete this sneak attack in front of him.

6 to 3.

Heat's offense.

This time, after receiving the ball in the low post through the triangle offense, Su Feng, who attracted the Suns' perimeter double-team, sent a wonderful pass to Miličić, who almost broke the "Great White Bear's" legs.

Left wing, 45-degree angle, Miličić hit a fadeaway at the high post, 8 to 3.

So far this season, under his careful feeding, Miličić has been able to get an average of "14+4+3" data.

As a center, although the 18-year-old Miličić still seems a little "thin" when fighting for rebounds...

However, based on the data he has played so far...

Coupled with his age and talent, his trading value has been invisibly maximized.

"Teacher... I don't understand, since Darko is performing so well, then why don't we just keep him?" On the Heat's bench, Spoelstra asked curiously.

And hearing this, after sighing deeply, Riley pointed to Su Feng on the court and said: "Because right now... the next few years will be the most golden stage of Su's career.

Admittedly, give Darko another 4 or 5 years, and he will definitely become an independent star center.

But... Erik, we no longer have time to continue waiting for Darko to grow."

As a head coach and general manager who is extremely good at building a team...

Riley knew very well that in the cruel and ruthless league of the NBA, there are three things that those in high positions must avoid.

One is to hesitate in tanking.

The second is when your star player is at his peak, not thinking about building a championship-contending team around him, but constantly delaying his youthful years.

And as for the third...

That is, you must be cautious when renewing the contract of an old player.

Therefore, no matter how tempting Miličić's talent is, as long as he can exchange Su Feng for an excellent "Pippen," then how can he, Riley, not bear it?

You know, there are also many big fish in the free agent market in 2004.

For example...

Kevin Garnett, whose contract with the Timberwolves is about to expire.

For example...

According to his informant in Los Angeles, the Lakers, who have already considered trading O'Neal next summer.

See...

As long as Riley can get one of these two...

Then why should the Heat worry about the damn championship?

...

ps1: Thanks to This Book Is Very Halal for rewarding the alliance leader! Thanks again to This Book Is Very Halal for crowning this book as a great moe.

ps2: 6200 big chapters are here! Continue to beg for subscriptions, monthly tickets, and recommendation tickets!