Chapter 1 The Beginning

Madison Square Garden, after the two teams finished warming up, the big screen showed the starting lineups for both teams tonight.

Raptors: Ben Wallace, Jordan, Su Feng, Carter, Nash.

Knicks: Ewing, Kurt Thomas, Johnson, Houston, Ward.

In Su Feng's previous life, the 98/99 season could be said to be Van Gundy's coaching peak.

That season, after ranking only eighth in the regular season, the Knicks staged the famous "Black Eight Miracle" in the playoffs.

Moreover, despite losing Ewing in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks, with everyone contributing, eliminated the Pacers and successfully entered the NBA Finals.

There's no way around it, the Knicks and Van Gundy were just that magical at this time.

In the future, there will be specialized technical statistics to review the Knicks of this period, and the results will reveal a statistic that will be very embarrassing for Ewing.

That is, the Knicks often played better when Ewing was absent.

In this life, in terms of roster, the Knicks are almost the same as Su Feng remembered.

Except for Oakley staying and Camby not arriving, Sprewell became Van Gundy's favorite player this season, just like Su Feng remembered.

However, Sprewell's main task this season is to serve as the team's sixth man, coming off the bench to score points.

In addition, in the new season, Van Gundy boldly used Thomas, whom the Knicks management had poached from Dallas, at the starting power forward position.

In Van Gundy's vision, Thomas, with his outstanding athleticism, would be able to help Ewing with his aggressiveness.

However, Ewing, who had been busy with labor negotiations during the offseason and hadn't trained much, had a terrible performance this season.

And Johnson, whose butt got even bigger during the offseason, was still arranged by Van Gundy at the small forward position this season, which also caused the Knicks' frontline to lack speed extremely this season.

In the future, after Ewing was injured, Johnson immediately stood up to save the world, not because Johnson and Ewing really had a conflict.

But precisely because Van Gundy would only remember to put "Grandma" inside after Ewing was injured.

Of course, even with many problems, the cards Van Gundy had in his hand were definitely a god-tier lineup.

It's just a pity that Van Gundy's stubbornness gave this Knicks team a certain floor, but it lost its higher ceiling.

Tonight, facing the Raptors, who have been very popular recently, Van Gundy stroked his little bald head and first scratched a big question mark to John Davis when he saw the Raptors' starting lineup.

John, you're such a genius.

You actually let Jordan play power forward? And you even dare to field three swingmen at the same time, with only one Ben Wallace, whose actual height is less than two meters, at center?

Obviously, if Van Gundy could understand the Raptors' starting lineup, he should change his name to Pat Van Gundy.

Miami.

Riley, who was preparing to lead the Heat into the new season, after seeing the Raptors' starting lineup on the TV in the team's locker room...

Although Jordan's appearance at the power forward position had been surprising when the Raptors announced their roster before, Riley still wanted to curse when this scene really happened.

Because this is the swingman lineup that he, Riley, wanted to play the most.

Die, John!

If I don't send someone to assassinate you, then I'm not Pat Riley!

Back to the scene in New York, on TNT, after seeing the Raptors' starting five, Smith guessed, "The Raptors are fielding a small lineup tonight. Could their intention be to speed up the game and use fast breaks to kill the game?"

Knight, who was co-commentating with Smith, laughed. "Are you kidding me? Playing run-and-gun against the Knicks' defense?

Hey, buddy, have you ever played in the NBA?"

Smith, who was retorted by Knight, spread his hands. "Then what else? Did you give me my two championship rings?"

"Okay, great Kenny, please tell me, how can this Raptors team beat the Knicks with fast breaks?" Knight said to Smith.

"I don't know, but I once..."

Originally, Smith wanted to say that the 76ers had beaten the Knicks with fast breaks during his season with the 76ers, but before he could finish his sentence, Knight interrupted,

"Since you don't know, then as a professional commentator, Kenny, you must maintain a fair and objective attitude when commentating.

You can't favor the Raptors so much in your commentary just because you like Su so much." Knight, whose relationship with Smith was strained, took the opportunity to criticize Smith.

As TNT's former ace commentator, Knight's commentary has often been criticized by fans since Smith joined TNT.

To put it bluntly, if this guy had any real skills, then the future TNT wouldn't be the Big Three, but the Four Emperors.

In Knight's opinion, Smith's former NBA championship player status was the reason why he was able to win fans' favor.

So now, whenever he has the opportunity, Knight will seize the opportunity to attack Smith.

However, how could Smith, who has an excellent mentality, be as knowledgeable as Knight?

Smith, who had worked with Davis and Su Feng, knew very well that maybe other teams couldn't play run-and-gun in this era, but this Raptors team was different.

And in the center of the court, when "Big Gorilla" saw Jordan unexpectedly appearing in front of him as the Raptors' starting power forward, Ewing, who had a feud with Jordan that could be written into a novel, couldn't help but sigh to Jordan at this moment,

"Michael, it seems we're both getting old."

In Ewing's opinion, Jordan was playing power forward because he could no longer run like he did when he was young, so he had to accept this change.

It's just...

Ewing's warm face was destined to be pressed against Jordan's cold ass.

Because the only reason Jordan was willing to accept the change was that he wanted to win another championship.

Ewing, who was ignored by Jordan, wasn't annoyed either. Anyway, this big gorilla felt that he had seen through life since the end of the lockout.

A minute later, to the cheers of nearly 20,000 New York fans, Ewing won the tip-off for the Knicks' first possession.

Van Gundy's favorite son, Ward, was responsible for dribbling the ball across the half-court.

On TNT, Knight laughed, "The Knicks have absolute height in their starting lineup. As long as they can pass the ball to Patrick, their offense will be completed easily."

On the court, perhaps having heard Knight's commentary, Ward passed the ball to the wing after crossing the half-court, and then the Knicks player on the wing passed the ball to Ewing.

However, just as everyone thought Ewing would receive the ball and use his signature bunny hop to score the Knicks' first point of the new season, the Raptors had already completed their defensive rotation.

Jordan quickly double-teamed Ewing, while Su Feng went inside to box out Thomas for Jordan.

Only Houston was truly worth noting on the outside for the Knicks, and Carter was watching him closely at this time.

Therefore, in the Raptors' interior, Ewing froze after trying to push past Ben Wallace.

Pa—!

Ruthless and quicker.

A steal from the "Old Rogue."

Honestly, it's just that Jordan isn't as fast and agile as he used to be now, otherwise, the Raptors' first possession of the new season would have been taken by him, Jordan, with a fast break all the way to the basket.

And on the court, because the Raptors were playing a small lineup tonight, the Knicks players quickly retreated after Ewing's turnover, not giving the Raptors a chance to fast break.

It's just that a true seven-second fast break is never just the first transition.

After Jordan passed the ball to Nash, Nash suddenly accelerated, using Su Feng's screen, and swept past Ward like the wind.

And Su Feng, who screened for Nash, also quickly cut straight into the Knicks' paint, following closely behind Nash.

Now, with Ewing not yet back, the Knicks weren't even in a pseudo-zone, and they hadn't even gotten their positioning right.

Fortunately, although Su Feng used his movement to create distance between himself and Johnson in the first instance, Houston cleverly rotated and stayed with Su Feng.

But...

Just as the Knicks players thought the Raptors' offense should transition into a set play, on the court, Nash, while continuing to watch Su Feng, lobbed an alley-oop toward the basket.

It was a no-look alley-oop!

"Steve, Su has already run past, are you trying to pass the ball back to Patrick?"

On TNT, Knight, with his astonishing speaking speed, would regret his habit of speaking too fast in two seconds.

Because how could Ewing, who had just retreated back, receive Nash's "pass" at this height?

In the Knicks' paint, Ewing, who was still a small arm's length away from the basketball after jumping, thought that Nash had simply made a passing mistake.

After all, even if Su Feng hadn't run past, he couldn't have reached it at this height.

Moreover, Jordan was still leisurely wandering around the three-point line, and Ben Wallace had just finished screening for his teammate.

Eh...

Wait!?

What was the name of that kid who ran in from the other side through Ben Wallace's screen?

Don't worry, Ewing will have plenty of time to recall this man's name for a long time to come.

"The Mecca of Basketball," when Vince Carter appeared above Ewing's head, the entire Madison Square Garden instantly fell silent.

This...

This is impossible!

Looking at the shadow that completely blocked his huge body, Ewing's pupils dilated countless times in an instant.

Similar to Su Feng's "Meteor Dunk," Carter fully extended his body at this moment, like a big bow flying in the sky.

But, unlike the "Meteor Dunk," after catching the basketball firmly with his big hand, Carter chose to continue sailing forward with his powerful explosiveness!

Warning!

An unidentified flying object has appeared over New York!

Bang—!

If one-on-one is a wide-open shot for Jordan, then in Carter's dunking philosophy, having only one defender in front of him is no different from a wide-open shot.

2 to 0.

The silent Madison Square Garden was the best compliment to Carter's dunk.

And on TNT, Smith excitedly said, "Ohhh, Vince dunked on Patrick!

Nine seconds, this attack only took the Raptors nine seconds from start to finish!"

Smith's first sentence was because his heart had been shaken by Carter's dunk.

And his second sentence was to remind Knight, who had just said it was impossible to play fast breaks against the Knicks' defense...

Is a nine-second offense a fast break?

On the court, after landing from the dunk, Carter arrogantly raised the corners of his mouth, looking as if he was the most handsome guy in the arena, looking at the petrified Ewing.

"Su, I've completed my bet!" Also, regardless of what others might think of this sentence, Carter shouted loudly at Su Feng.

At this time, Ewing, who had just been released from his petrified state, immediately petrified again...

A bet!?

Damn it!

Was this rookie using dunking on me as a bet?

It must be said that this was definitely the fastest Ewing's brain had ever reacted.

But, before Ewing could argue with Carter, Thomas, who was preparing to inbound the ball, was already stunned.

Because...

The Raptors were playing a full-court press.

Su Feng and Carter were responsible for stealing, Jordan was sitting in the back, and Ben Wallace was intercepting high balls. This was the Raptors' version of the full-court "112 I'll Help You Speed Up Defense."

Anyway, if you don't want to play fast, then we'll force you to play fast.

Ward wasn't prepared to receive the ball, and Thomas's inbounds pass was also very "magical."

Because the latter actually made a bounce pass, can you believe it?

On the court, Su Feng was quicker than the blink of an eye. After reaching out to steal Thomas's inbounds pass, Su Feng took one dribble and jumped directly!

Ewing, who had been petrified by Carter, because of his excellent help and recovery habits, hurriedly opened his arms to block Su Feng's jump after urgently releasing his petrified state.

Okay...

As an excellent background board, Ewing really had the self-awareness to be a background board.

Because if he had chosen to pull, hug, elbow, or trip him, he might have had a chance to ruin Su Feng's dunk.

But, in the NBA, this kind of help defense where centers open their arms is the easiest to be dunked on.

After all, the supermen here won't give up the opportunity to perform just because there are obstacles in front of them.

So, only a few seconds after Carter had dunked on Madison Square Garden...

As Su Feng held Thor's hammer, like a bolt of lightning cutting through the sky over New York, Smith, who hadn't caught his breath yet, said with difficulty, "Su... also dunked on Patrick!"

"This... if I remember correctly, this is Su's third time dunking on Patrick in his career, right?" Smith added a few seconds later, after recovering a little bit of strength.

As the saying goes, if you don't have enough bounce, use your wingspan.

Although Su Feng's one-handed slam dunk was far shorter than Carter's in terms of height.

However, having gained weight to 102.9 kilograms in the summer, the power of this dunk was also full.

And unlike Carter, who only arrogantly raised the corners of his mouth, Su Feng pounded his chest and stomped his feet after landing, and was much more brutal than Carter just now in terms of momentum.

Pa—!

At the sidelines, the coffee in Knicks' famous spectator Spike Lee's hand had already fallen to the floor.

4 to 0.

In Slam Dunk, Sannoh's point guard has a classic saying that dunking and mid-range shots are both worth two points, and there's no difference.

But, on the basketball court, the meaning of dunking is different from mid-range shots.

Because the shock and deterrence brought by dunking, even if you don't think it exists, it will objectively exist.

Carter's first dunk was so mesmerizing.

And Su Feng's second dunk was more like a domineering declaration.

On the Raptors' bench, Tracy McGrady, who had also participated in the bet to dunk on Ewing before the game, was uneasy.

Because the progress of Carter and Su Feng's mission was too fast, right?

To be honest, both of Carter and Su Feng's dunks had a certain degree of chance.

However, a bet doesn't care whether it's accidental or not.

McGrady began to panic.

Because if only he couldn't dunk on Ewing after the game, according to the bet, then he would have to give Carter and Su Feng 10,000 US dollars each.

For Tracy McGrady, who usually spends money lavishly, he doesn't have a single extra penny...

And if McGrady's inner thoughts were translated into Chinese, then at this moment, his self-deprecating inner thoughts would be roughly as follows:

I, Tracy McGrady, wasn't born to be strong, I was just born to be forced to the brink by two monsters.

……

On the court, after Su Feng's dunk, Van Gundy hurriedly called a timeout.

See, this is the impact of two dunks.

Van Gundy knew that after these two dunks, Ewing's mentality might directly explode.

Therefore, Van Gundy decided to let the players relax and also let the Raptors' surge of enthusiasm subside.

However, Van Gundy never dreamed that this timeout, which he called from Ewing's point of view, completely changed the trajectory of the game.

On the other side, on the Raptors' bench during the timeout, after noticing McGrady's aggrieved expression, Su Feng secretly elbowed Nash.

And the sensible Nash immediately looked at Coach Davis with a painful expression while holding his knee and said, "Coach, I feel a little pain in my knee and may need to rest."

Well...

With Nash's acting skills, maybe he can deceive Jordan, but how could he deceive Davis?

Davis had also heard about the bet between Su, Carter, and McGrady before the game, so he knew that Nash was creating an opportunity for McGrady to play.

Of course, although Davis saw through Nash's acting skills, he didn't expose it.

Because in Davis's opinion, this was a symbol of the Raptors players' good feelings.

And if McGrady could also complete his mission in this game, then Davis knew that tonight's game would definitely become a classic tale.

So, just like that, the timeout ended and Van Gundy was stunned again.

Because...

Davis actually took down Nash, who had performed well at the start, and replaced him with McGrady!?

No...

John...

Are you really planning to swing to the end?

On the court, after the timeout, the Knicks gave the ball to Ewing, wanting to help "Big Gorilla" get back at them.

It was the exact same script as the Knicks' first possession.

And the only difference this time was that the player double-teaming Ewing on the court had become Su Feng.

Because Su Feng's double-teaming timing was very clever, Su Feng and Ben Wallace had already forced him into a dead corner before Ewing could launch an attack and think of a way to pass the ball.

Helpless, the witty "Big Gorilla" wanted to protect this possession by smashing the ball on the defender and bouncing it out of bounds.

However, just as he smashed the ball at Su Feng, Su Feng, who had already prepared to catch the ball, smiled and gladly accepted Ewing's "pass."

To be honest, no matter where this Raptors team goes in the future, Ewing will definitely be qualified to get a piece of the pie.

Because this "Big Gorilla" is simply an honorary Raptors player.

Su Feng, who stole the ball, passed the ball to McGrady.

And the latter almost made a mistake in a fast break because he was a little anxious.

As the saying goes, you can't dunk on "Big Gorilla" if you're impatient.

In the Knicks' frontcourt, after slowing down a bit with the dribble, McGrady, recalling that performance at the media open day not long ago, once again showed his imagination with this ball.

This attack was similar to the one where McGrady wore a Magic jersey and dunked on the Raptors in his previous life. After decelerating and then accelerating, he suddenly threw the ball towards the Knicks' backboard.

And then, Ewing, who had frantically retreated, had just turned his head when McGrady had already completed a self-alley-oop against him.

Ewing: "......"

On TNT, Smith, scratching his little bald head, didn't know how to comment anymore.

Because tonight, the Raptors had only used three attacks to detonate the entire North America.

In Madison Square Garden, Stern felt that he needed a bottle of fast-acting heart-saving pills right now.

Three attacks, three dunks.

Carter, Su Feng, McGrady.

On the Raptors' bench, although Dell Curry didn't bring his two sons to the away game tonight, at this moment, he felt like he had already heard Stephen and Seth clamoring in his ear for him to teach them how to dunk.

In a daze, Old Curry sighed.

And on the court, watching the three young men who had made a bet on Ewing before the game and completed the bet after only three attacks at the start, if you were to ask Jordan what the best thing he had ever done in his life...

In his opinion, it must be that he announced that he was joining the Raptors on January 25, 1999.

"Patrick, did he do something anti-human in his previous life?" Jordan thought silently while putting his hands on his hips.

6 to 0.

I don't know if Ewing cried tonight.

Anyway, after being silent for a while, "The Mecca of Basketball" had already defected.

On the Knicks' bench, Van Gundy didn't understand why New York fans always liked to cheer for the opponents.

It's just that Van Gundy might not believe it if he said it...

At this moment, it wasn't just New Yorkers who were cheering for the Raptors?

Super-fast rotation defense, a terrifying full-court press, if it was the Knicks in their prime, they might still be able to cope with it calmly.

But compared to this excellent Raptors team, the Knicks, who were still being weakened by the lockout, were soon in the first quarter, in the midst of wave after wave of the Raptors' artillery fire...

Completely annihilated.

Maybe, even if this game was played 10,000 times, the trio of Su, Carter, and McGrady wouldn't be able to replicate their three dunks at the start.

However, there wasn't much chance in the rest of the game's process.

31 to 17.

On TNT, Smith didn't care about objectivity or fairness at the end of the first quarter?

He revealed his hand.

He was a fifty-year Raptors die-hard fan.

"Hey, I'm saying, if you still can't like them after watching such a wonderful performance by the Raptors, then basketball is really not for you!"

Smith, who quoted Su Feng's previous "bold statement," made his voice as loud as possible at this moment...

……

ps: Second update, 6100 words delivered!
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