Chapter 282 Some Are Happy, Some Are Sad

As the saying goes, some are happy, some are sad.

18-year-old Kobe didn't sleep well all night after talking to Su Feng.

Young people always like to overthink...

That night, Kobe was both happy for Su Feng becoming an All-Star starter and troubled by the growing gap between him and Su Feng.

When the past fades away, the glory of Lower Merion has long become a memory. Fate played a not-so-small joke on the Philadelphia twins last summer.

The hero of Philadelphia stayed, while the son of Philadelphia transformed into the future of Los Angeles.

Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, Kobe didn't want to be a spectator anymore...

The scene returns to the 76ers.

After defeating the Magic, the 76ers flew to Milwaukee overnight.

This was their second-to-last game before the Cleveland All-Star Weekend. During the flight, the players were seizing the time to rest.

However, Jones, the disciple of Maxson, the editor-in-chief of the *Philadelphia Evening News*, who accompanied the 76ers, took a picture on this trip that would become widely circulated in the future:

The "Golden Double Guns" sat side by side, Iverson's cornrows quietly resting on Su Feng's broad shoulders. They shared a blanket, their snores rising and falling.

At that moment, no one doubted that the 76ers would flourish under the leadership of the "Golden Double Guns."

Three years, five years?

That didn't matter, because they were young enough, they had plenty of time to create history.

After getting off the plane, Jones excitedly called Maxson to tell him that they had their front-page picture for tomorrow.

A harmonious backcourt duo, they were inseparable, without the secret rivalry that troubled the team's management, nor the headache of forming factions within the team.

They complemented each other. In fact, as early as this winter of 1997, they had already conquered America.

…

February 1st, at the Bucks' home court, Milwaukee fans enviously watched the 76ers with their "Golden Double Guns."

"The Answer" Allen Iverson, "Little Sweet Melon" Su Feng.

"Big Dog" Robinson had a long-standing hatred for Su Feng, and after Su Feng officially became a starter for the Eastern All-Star team, looking at Su Feng's final vote count, which was ten times higher than his, Robinson felt that he had to do something tonight.

And then...

What then?

Vin Baker and Ray Allen cried again.

Bro, could you please install your damn passing button?

Do you think you're Michael Jordan?

Su Feng was happy.

Because he found that since he became a starter for the Eastern All-Star team...

He didn't even need to turn on his taunt skill.

It was 100% passive taunting.

Robinson's individual ability was indeed strong. In this game, he scored 19 points with outside shots and inside attacks in the first half.

But in the second half, the situation suddenly changed.

Robinson, feeling his legs getting heavier and heavier, found that Su Feng, standing opposite him, seemed to be getting faster and faster...

In fact, if Glenn Robinson could have just respected the talent that God gave him a little more, his achievements would have been more than that.

"The Grinding King" Su Feng completely collapsed Robinson in the third quarter. It's worth mentioning that Su Feng found that Ray Allen's missed shot rate seemed to be increasing a bit too fast recently...

Hmm...

Hmm!

Su Feng felt that it was time to have a showdown with Ray Allen on the court!

Compared to Robinson, who was standing still, Su Feng felt that a rapidly growing star guard like Ray Allen deserved his Iron Blood Defense more.

94 to 84, relying on Robinson's assists in the second half, the 76ers won against the Bucks in a back-to-back, and on the Eastern Conference standings, they officially surpassed the Magic, reaching a position that "Old Rogue" was very satisfied with:

—Seventh in the East.

Next, the team would return to Philadelphia for rest, and on February 5th, they would face the Spurs at home, who were currently busy accelerating towards Duncan.

…

After returning to Philadelphia, Su Feng didn't idle, because for him, no time was wasted.

With Grover's guidance, Su Feng's progress was obvious.

Even his potential for dribbling and ball control had risen to an astonishing 69.

It's worth mentioning that while guiding Su Feng, Grover found that Su Feng's left and right hands were very balanced.

Therefore, after carefully observing Su Feng's dribbling skills, Grover decisively abandoned teaching Su Feng those fancy rhythm changes.

He decided to train Su Feng into an unparalleled breakthrough player!

In his previous life, the two classic GIF images of Hill shaking past Jordan and Pippen were both breakthroughs on the left side.

And his future younger brother Tracy was also a player who was very good at left-handed step-overs.

As everyone knows, due to defensive inertia, when an offensive player breaks through on the left, it is often difficult for the defender to shift their center of gravity immediately.

Therefore, left-handed breakthroughs are a compulsory skill for many speed-type players.

Take Su Feng's teammate Iverson as an example.

Iverson's preference for breaking through on the right doesn't mean he can't break through on the left. In fact, the principle behind Iverson's unparalleled breakthrough method is to use rhythm changes to trick the defender into blocking his left hand.

Tough, durable, simple, and aggressive.

Under Grover's hellish training, when Mancias and the others came up to act as defenders, they said that Su Feng's Middle Eastern-style breakthroughs were significantly harder to defend.

Think about it, if Su Feng is dribbling with his left hand, what is his right hand usually doing?

Of course, it's always ready to aim for the basket!

Grover suggested that Su Feng practice more pull-up jump shots, which was very similar to the set he would teach McGrady in the future.

During his time with the Magic, Tracy's first-step breakthrough was more of a deterrent. In reality, the dead-angle pull-up jump shot was McGrady's trump card.

Don't think that Su Feng's left-handed breakthrough currently only has two variations: breakthrough to the death and pull-up jump shot. But in actual defense, ordinary defenders can no longer stop him from shooting bricks as he pleases.

Under the guidance of these top trainers, Su Feng continued to cultivate the most top-level external skills.

Of course, Su Feng is still far from Grover's ideal of unparalleled, but don't forget, Su Feng is only 18 years old right now.

In this way, in addition to team training, before the 5th, Su Feng was immersed in the joyous special training of beating up the trainers.

…

On the 5th, the 76ers welcomed their last game before the All-Star Weekend at the Zhongzhou Arena.

As Su Feng remembered, not long after Robinson returned from injury, Popovich, who was no longer content to stay behind the scenes, officially stepped onto the stage.

Popovich, who held both the general manager and head coach positions, firmly believed that Robinson's "terrible" foot injury might affect his career. So after taking office, he sent Robinson home to rest.

In addition, due to Wilkins' recent good performance, after leading the Spurs to win two consecutive games, Popovich also sent this "Human Highlight Film" home to watch movies, citing Wilkins' old age.

Face?

Didn't exist.

Not to mention tanking this year, just take Su Feng's previous life as an example, if Popovich had any sense of shame, Stoudemire wouldn't have been so angry for Nash's sake when chasing the championship in the future.

In Su Feng's previous life, there was a famous joke:

No one can stop Carter's UFO from flying out of space, but Popovich can.

As the "famous coach" who successfully "helped" Carter return to Earth from outer space, in the face of Duncan's thighs, anyone who dared to stop Popovich from tanking was his mortal enemy.

Even the 76ers fans at the scene were stunned by this game.

Because after the first half of the game, the score between the two teams had already reached 36 to 68.

The reason why the 76ers fans were stunned was because tonight, the Spurs...

Were really making whoever played well go down to rest.

Whoever dared to defend seriously would go down to watch the water cooler.

Iverson made 7 of 10 shots in the first half, Su Feng made 5 of 7 shots, Stakhouse made 5 of 6 shots...

The Philadelphia Iron Trio was finding it a luxury to even shoot bricks on this night.

The player who played the full first half for the Spurs was Fron Maxwell.

A member of the Rockets' two-time championship team, the mastermind behind Stakhouse's provocation of Jordan last year, which led to Jerry being publicly executed by the "Old Rogue."

The reason why Maxwell played the full first half of this game was simple, because he made 1 of 11 shots in the first half, performed excellently, and Popovich was willing to give him a high score of 9 points.

In the second half of the game, Davis subbed off the "Ai-Feng" duo not long after play, considering that they were going to participate in the All-Star Weekend.

What is called everyone happy?

Popovich happily led his team to a loss, and the 76ers further consolidated their seventh position in the East.

Far away in Chicago, Jordan, who had just educated the Lakers without O'Neal, wanted to give these two teams a big thumbs up.

94 to 118, after defeating the Spurs, the 76ers team disbanded. Su Feng and Iverson, carrying the hopes of the entire village of Philadelphia, officially embarked on the Cleveland All-Star Weekend journey.

…

Speaking of which, in addition to the main game, Su Feng and Iverson will also represent the Eastern Rookie team in the Rookie Challenge this All-Star Weekend.

The Rookie Challenge during this period, like the main game, was divided into two teams, East and West.

The head coach of this year's Eastern Rookie team is the famous Auerbach, while the head coach of the Western Rookie team is New York's legendary coach Reed Holzman.

From the fact that the NBA executives arranged two famous coaches to coach the Rookie Challenge, you can see how much the NBA executives value this All-Star game.

In Su Feng's previous life, this All-Star game was called the "Torch of Inheritance" All-Star game. In the Rookie Challenge, Kobe and Iverson would have a fierce confrontation.

In that game, Kobe would score 31 points, while Iverson would lead the Eastern team to the end.

Many future topics related to the Kobe-Iverson duel basically started from the Rookie Challenge of this All-Star game.

And if Su Feng remembered correctly, Kobe's nickname "Little Flying Man" was obtained at this All-Star game.

As Su Feng remembered, Kobe participated in this year's Slam Dunk Contest.

However...

In this life, due to Su Feng's appearance, Iverson, who became an All-Star starter in advance, has no interest in the Rookie Challenge.

On the plane to Cleveland, Iverson told Su Feng that he would leave the stage for performance to Su Feng during the Rookie Challenge.

And after looking at the Eastern Rookie team's roster, Su Feng really wanted to pass the heavy responsibility of leading the Eastern Rookie team to win to Ray Allen.

Don't ask, asking is because a dignified All-Star starter, who would care about a mere Rookie Challenge?

Who would treat the Rookie Challenge as the Finals like that Lakers substitute?

Su Feng couldn't wait to see Kobe.

Because just reporting the good news to Kobe over the phone wasn't enough for Su Feng.

Happiness must be shared with the best friends to be called happiness.

…

On the 6th, after arriving at the NBA's official designated hotel in Cleveland, Su Feng "got his wish".

After asking an NBA staff member for Kobe's room number, Su Feng took off his coat as soon as he entered the door.

Wearing the 76ers' No. 23 jersey, he put his hands on his hips, looked at Kobe, and said, "Oh, my dear Kobe!

I'm already an All-Star starter, and in a few days, I'm going to fight side by side with the great Michael Jordan!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

Wait a minute...

I'm already acting so over the top?

Why doesn't Kobe have any reaction at all?

Looking at Kobe's tired face and weak body, Su Feng hurriedly put on his coat and stepped forward to touch his forehead. "Do you have a fever?"

Kobe nodded, then said somewhat sleepily, "Congratulations... Su."

"How many days have you not slept?" Su Feng asked in surprise.

"It's been a few days..." Kobe replied weakly.

"Did you see a doctor?" Su Feng asked with concern.

"I saw a doctor. Insomnia, plus I caught a bit of a cold a few days ago, so I have a cold. I'll take some medicine and sleep for a couple of hours and I'll be fine," Kobe said, slumping on the sofa in the hotel room.

"No, in your condition, how are you going to play the Rookie Challenge the day after tomorrow?" Su Feng asked.

"Don't worry about me... You're an All-Star starter, you should be doing a lot of interviews, right?" Kobe waved his hand and said.

"What interviews? In your condition, how can I rest assured?"

Su Feng paced back and forth anxiously, and after thinking for a while, he looked at Kobe and said, "How about this? Let's find a Chinese restaurant later, and I'll borrow their kitchen to cook you some porridge or something..."

Hmm?

Hmm!

"Then I'm a little hungry now!"

Hearing that Su Feng was going to cook for him, Kobe instantly recovered 50% of his energy.

Actually...

Kobe's insomnia was real, because he couldn't sleep for two consecutive nights when he learned that Su Feng had become an All-Star starter.

As for the cold...

That was also real.

Because Kobe, who couldn't sleep those days, braved the cold wind of Los Angeles in the winter and got up at four in the morning to shoot bricks for several rounds.

However, in reality, he was already almost recovered before coming to Cleveland.

However, Kobe, who knew Su Feng's personality well, knew that Su Feng would definitely stab his heart in person after arriving in Cleveland.

So, he decided to continue to "be sick" because he felt that only in this way could he escape Su Feng's heart stabs.

But...

Kobe never expected that he could trick a big meal out of it this way?

"Alright, put on your clothes, dress warmly, I'll go ask around, see if there's a Chinese restaurant nearby," Su Feng said, patting Kobe's shoulder.

"That... Su, actually I don't like to drink porridge, I want to eat pizza and steak," Kobe said, looking at Su Feng before going out.

"Pizza and steak?" Su Feng was stunned, then looked at the energetic Kobe, and he immediately realized.

A trap!

He was actually tricked by Kobe?

Su Feng was shocked because he never expected Kobe to be like this!

Su Feng shook his head helplessly, no way...

This was no longer the simple-minded Kobe of the past!

But after seeing that Kobe's condition was fine, Su Feng was relieved a lot.

After all, in this life, Kobe was his best friend.

Su Feng didn't want his relationship to cause Kobe to miss the upcoming All-Star Weekend.

Perhaps because he felt that he shouldn't use pretending to be sick to "trick" Su Feng into making him a big meal, Kobe took out a gift he had specially prepared for Su Feng before walking out of the hotel with Su Feng.

"This is your birthday gift, because we'll both be playing games at that time, and I won't have time to give it to you, so I brought it with me during this All-Star Weekend," Kobe said with a smile to Su Feng.

Su Feng smiled, thinking, at least you have a conscience.

Then, after opening the box, Su Feng found that the box contained a pair of sneakers...

A pair of A T-Mac 3s.

But unlike the A T-Mac 3s that Su Feng had worn before, this pair of shoes had...

Michael Jordan's autograph and a birthday blessing.

"This..." Su Feng looked at Kobe in surprise.

Kobe smiled and said, "I specifically asked Michael to sign it for you after our game against the Bulls yesterday."

On the 5th, after the Bulls defeated the Lakers, Kobe found Jordan as soon as possible after the game.

And when Jordan saw Kobe, he felt that this kid had a connection with him, so he signed a pair of A T-Mac 3s for Kobe without thinking.

Then, at Kobe's request, Jordan also added a birthday blessing. At that time, Jordan looked at Kobe curiously and said, "Is your birthday in April?"

Kobe shook his head, "No, my birthday is August 23rd, this is a gift I'm giving to a friend."

Jordan patted Kobe on the shoulder and said, "Your friend is lucky to have a friend like you."

In this way, Kobe came to Cleveland with these A T-Mac 3s.

And now, these shoes belong to Su Feng.

For Su Feng, who had become an All-Star starter, it wasn't as if he couldn't get Jordan's autographed shoes, but Su Feng knew that this was Kobe's intention.

As the saying goes, what the gift is isn't important, what's most important is the friendship.

Just like the notebook Kobe gave him when he graduated from high school.

Su Feng felt...

That O'Neal and the others would definitely cry after they knew about these things in the future.

"Let's go, it's time for me to show you my true cooking skills," Su Feng said with a smile, hooking Kobe's shoulder after accepting the gift.

And just as Su Feng was about to take Kobe out for a good meal, Cleveland, which was already enveloped in the All-Star Weekend atmosphere, had a group of boys from Akron looking around on the street...

The 1997 All-Star Weekend was an especially grand year.

Looking at the NBA's 50 Greatest Players posters hanging all around, the excitement in the hearts of these boys from Akron couldn't calm down for a long time...

…

ps: The next few chapters are not easy to revise. Today, A Qiao will try to get the baseline done. The first update will bring 5,000 words, the next update will be gkd!