Chapter 1 The Curtain Rises

Speaking of the new season, after Big Ben was lured to Toronto by Su Feng's back-rubbing skills...

To fill the void left by Big Ben's departure, the "basketball illiterate" Pat Krause pulled off a divine move before the start of the season.

He signed veteran Kevin Willis from the free-agent market with a three-year, $7.5 million contract.

To be fair, although everyone, including Berlin Berger, thought Krause's head had been slammed in a door when he signed Willis,

when Su Feng heard the news...

Su Feng once again felt the goddess of fate mocking these so-called basketball experts.

Because the 36-year-old Willis was well worth the price.

In the 97/98 season, Willis, who averaged "16+8", was signed by Krause with this three-year, $7.5 million contract, mainly because of his age and the major injuries he had suffered earlier in his career.

Many teams that wanted to bring him in stopped after seeing his injury history.

However, Willis, who had suffered several major injuries early in his career, had unlocked the passive "injury immunity" in the later part of his career.

You know, in Su Feng's previous life, Willis was still playing in the NBA at the age of 45.

Originally, according to the original historical trajectory, Willis, who played for Houston last season, would have joined the Raptors this season.

However, due to historical changes, after the Raptors signed Jordan, Gruwald didn't have enough salary-cap space to sign Willis, which allowed Krause to pick up a bargain by chance.

As a result, Willis, who was good on both offense and defense, quickly conquered Larry Brown, who was worrying about Camby, in just two days after joining the team.

Brown was overjoyed.

Because, when the new season restarted and the whole team gathered for combined training, Brown, who had coached Camby for a few days, found that apart from his seemingly strong stats...

he was useless in other areas.

Perhaps Camby's talent was very good.

But for Brown, who never had much patience with rookies, he didn't want to waste his valuable championship time on Camby.

Therefore, after Willis joined the team, Brown never looked at Camby directly again.

Thus, the 76ers, with Ratliff, Willis, Christie, Iverson, and Snow as their starting lineup,

defeated the Bucks and Pacers successively after the start of the new season, and, like the Raptors, achieved a 2-0 start.

But...

Just as Brown was calmly waiting for people to praise him...

Influenced by the offensive storm set off by the Raptors in the new season, the focus of the 76ers fans, compared with the team's 2-0 start after the start of the new season...

was all on Su Feng, who was traded to the Raptors by the team.

And this made Brown very unhappy.

In Su Feng's previous life, the stubborn Brown didn't just dislike three-pointers, but after his basketball philosophy gradually took shape, he simply didn't like offense.

Therefore, offensive teams like the Raptors naturally had a deep hatred with Brown.

In addition, the head coach of this Raptors team was John Davis, and there was also Su Feng, a rebel who had once torn him apart...

In Larry Brown's words:

If he didn't grind the Raptors to ashes, how could he vent his hatred?

However, after Jordan also joined the Raptors, coupled with the Raptors' 2-0 start in the new season, Brown would not underestimate the Raptors.

Of course, no matter what, in Brown's opinion, Davis' ashes should still be scattered.

In short, after watching the Raptors' two games of the new season, Larry Brown prepared at least a hundred plans for how to torment the Raptors to death in Toronto!

This time, Larry Brown would not only use this game to tell the 76ers fans that he was the savior of the 76ers.

At the same time, he also wanted to tell the world that defense was the capital to dominate this league.

If Brown's mood before leading his team to Toronto had to be described with three lines of chuunibyou (exaggerated delusions of grandeur), it would be roughly as follows:

Die! John!

Wait to confess to me! Su!

Watch closely, you foolish people of Philadelphia, I, Larry Brown, am your king!

…

Larry Brown's inner monologue is temporarily put aside.

On the 7th, after the team won the first two games and returned to Toronto, Jordan, who saw that Su Feng was in a bad mood, specially invited Su Feng to have a simple meal at a Chinese restaurant called "Fu Man Lou" because he was worried that Su Feng's personal emotions would affect the next championship plan.

Originally, Jordan initially planned to take Su Feng to the casino for a couple of rounds, or find a exotic-customs club to experience Canada's exotic customs...

However, in order to avoid being implicated when Boss Qiao was arrested in the future, Su Feng flatly rejected Jordan's proposal.

However, speaking of the meal, when he noticed Boss Qiao trying to comfort him, Su Feng almost burst out laughing.

Because...

What experience could Jordan possibly have in playing against his old team?

In this regard, he was obviously a rookie like himself, okay?

To be fair, playing against your old team is indeed a very special experience.

Su Feng didn't have the heart of a saint, so he wouldn't be soft on his opponents just because the next game's opponent was the 76ers.

After defeating the Wizards, the reason for his melancholy was mainly because of Iverson.

There was no way around it. In the new season, this "Answer" was still carrying everything alone.

As the saying goes, everyone's heart is made of flesh.

How could Su Feng have no feelings for Iverson in this life?

Especially when he saw the lucky ring and plush hat that Iverson gave him, Su Feng would always recall all the good times he had with Iverson.

It was just that the more beautiful that past was...

the more he couldn't hold back when facing the 76ers next.

Because it was time to let people see Larry Brown's true colors.

Therefore, Su Feng, whose heart had never wavered, accepted Jordan's offer to treat him to dinner because he needed someone to comfort him?

From the perspective of "Emotional Investment Studies", Su Feng was making Jordan pay more for the Raptors.

Because the more Jordan invested in this Raptors team, the more restrained he would be in the future, even if he had conflicts with him, because of his previous investments.

In Su Feng's previous life, many boys who paid more during their love affairs were more upset when they broke up. This was the same principle.

"Su, anyway, I'm still very grateful to you for being willing to accompany me to regain my form during this time.

So, if you need anything in the game against the 76ers, you can just ask."

At the dinner, Jordan looked at Su Feng with a "sincere" expression and said.

Don't look at the fact that Su Feng and Jordan only had a superficial relationship, but considering Su Feng's importance to him in getting his sixth championship...

Back then, how willing he, Jordan, was to coax Pippen, and how willing he was now to coax Su Feng.

Houston, I wonder if Pippen, who saw this scene, would cry.

Okay...

After being traded to Houston, Pippen was now out of the picture.

But since Jordan joined the Raptors, he has become a tool for Jordan to please Su Feng.

For example, in order to make Su Feng accompany him for a little longer in private training, Jordan once told Su Feng that Pippen was an idiot compared to him.

For example, when Su Feng beat him again and again recently, in order to save some face for himself, Jordan told Su Feng more than once that Pippen was a piece of trash compared to him.

It's just that...

Jordan, how could he know that Su Feng originally planned to let Jordan help him complete the [Legacy of God] mission by betting and giving money...

But who would have thought that the current Jordan would be so lacking in status...

Bah, his subjective initiative was so strong.

At the dinner, looking at Jordan, who was increasing his borrowing power to God in order to allow him to perform better in the next game, Su Feng pondered for a while and said, "Speaking of needs, I really have one."

Beside him, Jordan nodded with a smile on his face.

You know, Jordan would not refuse to let Su Feng owe him a favor.

Because for Jordan, who had not lost his touch with the world, he knew very well that if he could let Su Feng owe him a favor, he would definitely make a steady profit in the future.

"Michael... if you were to play point guard now, are you confident that you can beat Allen?" Su Feng said to Jordan with a solemn expression.

Hearing this, Jordan was stunned.

Because he never expected that in the NBA, superficial brotherhood was not just between him and Pippen!

"Allen definitely can't defend me, but, the 76ers won't let Allen defend me, right?

Also, if I were to match up with Allen, then in terms of defense, I now...

Cough, cough. Cough!"

After coughing a few times, Jordan gave Su Feng an expression, letting him figure it out himself.

After reading Jordan's expression, Su Feng smiled and said, "Don't worry, Michael, as long as you can organize the team's offense, then even if the 76ers don't want Allen to match up with you, there's nothing they can do.

As for the defense, Michael, trust me, it doesn't matter even if Allen breaks through your defense."

After watching the 76ers' games in the new season, Su Feng knew very well that although Willis and Christie had a certain amount of independent offensive ability at critical moments, under Larry Brown's offensive system, which was even better than Van Gundy's, the space for these two to perform on the offensive end was not much.

Therefore, compared to defense, as long as the Raptors could break through the 76ers' defense, it wouldn't matter even if Iverson could get 50+ points in this game.

Because although Iverson still had the words "side by side" on his arm this season, he no longer had the person who had been silently protecting him by his side.

And if they wanted to break through the 76ers' defense, in Su Feng's opinion, the real key was still on how to break through Iverson.

Relying on the help defense of Snow, Christie and others, Brown still protected Iverson very well on the defensive end in the new season.

However, if the Raptors arranged for McGrady to start, then at that time, unless Brown replaced Iverson, Iverson would have to match up with any one of Jordan, Su, Carter and McGrady.

And because he knew that Tracy's younger brother was not stable enough in terms of ball control, Su Feng proposed to let Jordan control the ball together with McGrady.

Don't look at the fact that Jordan was much stiffer this season than last season, but if you were to say that the dignified God of Basketball couldn't even be a ball-handling tool, then you would be underestimating Jordan too much.

In short, when playing against a team that played four-on-one like the 76ers, a five-core team like the Raptors only needed to have five cores take turns to focus on that one, and then they could only silently watch that one get beaten.

To put it bluntly...

It's already 9991, sir, and you're still playing four-on-one?

Of course, similar to a certain e-sports team in the future, the current 76ers, under Larry Brown's transformation, didn't want to play four-on-one...

but they could only play four-on-one.

…

Because the game between the Raptors and the 76ers was a featured battle, the game would be broadcast live nationally.

The game time for both sides was at 8 p.m. on the 9th, and on the 8th, in order for the team to be in the best condition to torture the Raptors to death, Brown led the team to Toronto a day in advance.

It is worth mentioning that before the start of this game, Su Feng also met with Iverson.

In the new season, Iverson, who was carrying the load alone, scored 33 points and 35 points in the first two games of the season.

If he could continue to play according to this momentum, then with his nearly 27 shots per game, no one would be able to compete with him for the scoring title this season.

Although in Su Feng's previous life, Iverson's first scoring title of his career was also obtained in this season.

However, at that time, Iverson was only able to get 26.8 points per game. The reason why he won the scoring title was because the overall rhythm of the 98/99 season was slow, and everyone's average score was not high.

But in this life...

Su Feng always felt that a 30+ average score scoring title was about to come out ahead of schedule.

Speaking of meeting with Iverson, after not seeing each other for more than half a year, the two "Ai Feng" didn't have much to say when they met again as opponents.

However, after returning to the team hotel after reminiscing with Su Feng, Iverson was as happy as a monkey who had eaten a peach.

Because Su Feng not only kept wearing the lucky ring he gave him, but also after noticing Su Feng's eyes, for Iverson, who knew Su Feng very well...

he knew very well that Su Feng was ready to fight him with all his strength.

And this was exactly what Iverson wanted.

Although he could no longer return to the way he was with Su Feng before, Iverson was equally eager for this battle with Su Feng.

To be fair...

The stars of the 90s were all extremely proud.

Just like Boss Qiao, who put on many shackles for himself before choosing a team, in the 90s, if you held back against your opponent, you would only be seen by your opponent as disrespecting him.

Iverson didn't want Su Feng to hold back.

As early as when he noticed the schedule, he hoped to have a full-strength game with Su Feng.

It's just that...

Iverson might not believe it if he said it.

Tomorrow night, the tough guy who will fight him with all his strength...

may be a little too many.

Of course, Su Feng couldn't possibly hold back.

Because whether it was out of respect for Iverson or out of awe for the sport of basketball, unless it was a friendly match, victory would always be his only pursuit.

Moreover, if he didn't beat Larry Brown to death, how could he, Su Feng, save this "partner in crime", Iverson?

…

On the evening of the 8th, in addition to the meeting between "Ai Feng", speaking of the pre-game press conference between the two teams, this time Davis didn't give Brown a chance to fool him.

At the 76ers' pre-game press conference, Brown once again demonstrated his superb language skills.

He first praised the Raptors' performance as a whole, and also specifically praised Su Feng's progress. Then, he also believed that Davis would definitely become a famous coach in the future.

Okay...

If you were not familiar with Brown's character, then his words would be quite comfortable to hear.

But for Davis, who had been tricked by Brown once, how could he not know what Brown was plotting?

To put it bluntly, this guy was deliberately raising the Raptors' value.

In this way, whether the 76ers won or lost the next game, he could leave with dignity.

Because if they won, then it would be because he, Brown, was awesome.

After all, he had praised the Raptors so much.

And if they lost...

Wasn't it reasonable to lose to a powerhouse like the Raptors?

However, unfortunately, Brown was smart, but Davis was no longer the idiot who knew nothing about the NBA coaching circle.

He, Davis, has not only gotten fat in the new season.

You know, he also had a lot of knives hidden in his round belly.

So, before the game, when asked by reporters how he viewed Larry Brown's evaluation of Su Feng, Davis replied with a fake smile:

"Here, I think I have to thank Larry, because if it weren't for him, Su wouldn't have improved so quickly."

Although English is not as profound as Chinese, the fact proves that sarcasm has never been limited by national boundaries.

Davis's sentence seemed to be thanking Larry Brown, but in reality...

it was just short of saying thank you for sending Su Feng to Toronto.

And when asked by reporters how he viewed the game tomorrow night, Davis also laid a trap for Brown, saying, "I'm looking forward to the game tomorrow night.

Because in my opinion, the 76ers are the team with the best chance of winning the championship this season, so we will definitely be able to learn a lot from playing against them."

See?

You praise me as a powerhouse, then I will directly raise you to a championship team.

Who said honest people can't improve?

Did they really think that he, Davis, was the quirky Carter?

To be fair, after knowing what Davis said at the press conference, Larry Brown, who was well-versed in "Sarcasm", was almost angered to death by Davis.

Especially when the reporters asked Davis to evaluate him, Davis's sentence that "Even if Brown doesn't win a championship in the future, he deserves the Hall of Fame"...

In Brown's ears, what difference was there between this and cursing himself to have no championship in his career?

If he, Larry Brown, had thought about saving some face for Davis before...

Then now, in Brown's opinion, after defeating the Raptors in this game, he would have to scold Davis to death.

What kind of trash offense?

Just wait and see, John!

It's time for you to experience what it means to be the king of torture!

…