Chapter 149 Making Shaq Cry All the Way Back to Los Angeles

Speaking of which, after arriving in New York with Iverson on the morning of the 7th, Su Feng hadn't seen "the Answer" since.

The previous few times Iverson visited New York with the team, he was either locked in the hotel by Su Feng or absent due to injury. This time, taking advantage of the All-Star Weekend being held in New York, Iverson felt he had to have a blast in the Big Apple.

The 76ers didn't have any players participating in the Rookie Challenge this year, but Su Feng's future Pippen, McGrady, was a starting guard for the Eastern Rookie team this year.

And Kobe, who became a noble Western All-Star starter, had messed with McGrady's mentality at least three times before Su Feng even arrived in New York.

Fortunately, McGrady managed to shake off Kobe on the afternoon of the 7th due to the Eastern Rookie team having a joint practice.

There was nothing he could do about it. This was already Su Feng's second time playing in the All-Star game, so Kobe couldn't show off in front of Su Feng at all.

After all, Kobe couldn't possibly run up to Su Feng and say:

I was an NBA All-Star starter at the age of 19, what about you?

Only to be retorted by Su Feng:

I was an All-Star MVP at 18 and had already single-handedly defeated Jordan at 19, what about you?

To be fair, with Su Feng's current reputation, you wouldn't necessarily be able to suppress him unless you brought out a Top 50 player.

And if the Top 50 player you brought out was someone like Pippen, then fans would likely think you were insulting their intelligence.

There was nothing to be done, reputation was just like that.

Because Su Feng was too young, fans were full of expectations for his future.

It's just a pity...

Little did these people know that Su Feng felt so much pressure this season that he was about to go bald.

On the evening of the 7th, Su Feng and Kobe watched this year's Rookie Challenge together at Madison Square Garden.

Due to historical changes, this year's Rookie Challenge had changes in the lineups of both the East and West teams.

Duncan withdrew from this year's Rookie Challenge because of a "toe injury" in a game not long ago.

Generally, for rookies with All-Star game duties, Stern allowed you to find an excuse not to play in the Rookie Challenge.

Of course, Stern was even happier if there were workaholics like "Ai Feng" last year.

On the court, after the players from both teams finished warming up, the big screen showed the starters for both teams tonight.

Eastern Rookie Team: Big Z, Van Horn, Thomas, McGrady, Knight.

Western Rookie Team: Cato, Taylor, Fortson, Williams, Billups.

Before the game, Kobe once again displayed his poison milk prowess.

Because he actually made a bet with Su Feng that the Western Rookie team would win 100%.

Honestly, if the game was originally an 80-20 situation...

Then, after Kobe's blessing, in Su Feng's view, the game had become a 100-0 situation.

And next, the progress of the game also confirmed Su Feng's conjecture.

John Davis, the head coach of the Eastern Rookie team this year, arranged an extremely scientific set of tactics...

You had to know that Zydrunas Ilgauskas, "Big Z's" height was a real 221 centimeters.

Before his knees gave out, "Big Z" was much faster than he would be in the future.

He and Van Horn joined forces, using pick-and-pop plays to make the Western Rookie team's inside cry.

Kevin Cato was strong, but the height of the Eastern team's lineup was simply outrageous.

Williams couldn't get around Big Z and Van Horn's screens, and Cato, who switched defenses with Williams twice out of desperation, became the backdrop for McGrady to show off his skills.

On the Eastern team's side, both Thomas and Knight were players who could run the fast break. Although the Rookie Challenge was a real battle, and the fast break couldn't be played as smoothly as in the future, the Western team couldn't stop the Eastern team's group of crazy "swingmen".

And Billups, the Spurs' young guard who Kobe had high hopes for, looked like he "hadn't woken up" yet.

If Su Feng wasn't mistaken, Billups must have gone for "group activities" last night.

Don't be surprised, Billups in his early years was such an absurd playboy.

In Su Feng's previous life, the Celtics traded him to the Raptors shortly after drafting him in a three-way trade, largely because Auerbach, who was planning to retire at the time, no longer had the patience to tutor this kind of "problem child".

During his brief years in Boston, Billups left behind an astonishing set of statistics:

Called to the police station twice, used drugs and played 3p with teammates Dee Brown and girls several times, arrived late and left early countless times...

Honestly, it wasn't without reason that Billups was able to win over Anthony in the future.

Because on the court, he could create a comfortable isolation environment for Anthony, and off the court, he could teach Anthony how to have fun.

It's just that, in this life, after being drafted by the Spurs, Billups wasn't so "lucky".

Popovich, who didn't draft Duncan, was very strict with Billups.

And as the saying goes, good fortune lies within bad, and bad fortune lies within good fortune. Under Popovich's military management, even though he still needed to level up, Billups' growth was indeed faster than Su Feng remembered.

This season, he averaged 13.1 points and 5.8 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of 37.8% and a three-point percentage of 37.5%.

In Su Feng's previous life, Billups' career field goal percentage was never high, but he was the type of player who had a very high shooting efficiency.

At his peak, his scoring was mainly based on three-pointers and free throws, and his true shooting percentage was ridiculously high.

In the new season, without Duncan, the Spurs were still able to reach fifth in the West, thanks to Billups' rapid growth.

However, in this game, even if Billups learned McGrady's "sleepy eyes", he still couldn't solve McGrady.

Billups, who belonged to the power-guard type, was tormented by Paopao in Su Feng's previous life, and tonight, Tracy's younger brother beat him up miserably.

Because Kobe messed with his mentality, McGrady didn't go anywhere after arriving in New York.

You had to know that the head coach of the Eastern Rookie team in this game was his mentor, John Davis, who usually patiently guided him.

Wanting to put on a masterpiece for his mentor to prove himself, McGrady secretly got up to practice his shots at four in the morning.

The red-hot McGrady scored repeatedly on the court tonight, and his performance stunned the Raptors' management who came to watch the game.

Originally, Glenwald, the Raptors' head honcho, was somewhat dissatisfied with Davis's favoritism towards McGrady...

But after a half-season leveling period, in this life, McGrady, who didn't have the early experiences of his career, was more than just a carp leaping over the dragon gate after meeting John?

Perhaps he was still slightly green when facing Su Feng and Kobe before, but tonight, he had already shown a talent that far surpassed others when facing his fellow rookies.

In addition, after his touch was smooth, he also frequently assisted his teammates in scoring.

On the Eastern Rookie team's bench, Davis, who was using this Rookie Challenge as an experiment, also became more determined in his judgment.

That was, as long as they continued to violently feed a swingman like McGrady, he would be able to come out in no time.

Van Horn and Thomas, the twin stars from the Nets, had already developed excellent rebounding skills in the Nets, and "Big Z", as an international player, diligently screened and boxed out for McGrady on the court.

Off the court, Kobe, who was sitting next to Su Feng, became restless...

Because he always felt that he had seen McGrady's style of play somewhere before.

Ahem, no need to doubt it, young Kobe, you were told to play like that by someone when you were in Lower Merion.

In the second half of the game, after the Eastern Rookie team gradually widened the score, the teammates who had benefited from McGrady's passes in the game intentionally fulfilled him in terms of statistics.

Everyone spontaneously boxed out for him, helping him to successfully put up a luxurious "30+" triple-double in the Rookie Challenge, becoming famous in one battle.

In the end, the score of the game was 124 to 84, and the Eastern Rookie team defeated the Western Rookie team by a full 40 points.

McGrady, who had 37 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists, ushered in the peak of his life for the first time, because he became the first player in the history of the Rookie Challenge to put up a triple-double.

Glenwald, the Raptors' head honcho who came to supervise the battle, had made up his mind. He decided to let Davis continue to increase his support for McGrady after returning to Toronto.

Because for the Raptors, who were currently lacking star players, they really needed a symbolic player to attract box office revenue.

And McGrady, who successfully won the Rookie Challenge MVP, first thanked John Davis in his acceptance speech, and then mentioned Su Feng's usual encouragement to him.

Of course, under the gaze of a certain someone's death stare, McGrady also mentioned a certain someone in passing.

"How is it, I told you, right?

In another two years, it won't be easy to say that you and I will be able to steadily win against Tracy in one-on-one games." Off the court, Su Feng said with a smile, with his arm around Kobe's shoulder.

"So... is that why you made me record the footage of us playing one-on-one against Tracy?" Kobe asked curiously.

"Nonsense, when Tracy becomes an All-Star player in the future, he will be our underdog," Su Feng said with a wicked smile.

"An underdog who has never won against us in one-on-one games?" Kobe felt that he was about to lose control of his smile.

Just like that, on this day, 18-year-old McGrady had just stepped onto the peak of his life, and he was arranged by his two best friends...

……

On the 8th, Su Feng routinely attended the press conference before the All-Star Game.

Because the Slam Dunk Contest was canceled this year, there weren't many highlights on the second day of All-Star Weekend.

The only thing worth mentioning was that Su Feng's "father-in-law," Hornacek, successfully won the Three-Point Contest.

This year, the Jazz had been leading the Western Conference standings all the way. After losing to the Hawks in the Finals last year, the Jazz, who were also holding their breath, were clearly the number one boss in the West this year.

Hornacek, who won the Three-Point Contest, was in a good mood. When receiving the trophy, he also held Su Feng's future "wife" and showed off his baby to the fans at the scene.

At that time, Abby, who was being held by Hornacek, "awoo, awoo"ed, successfully attracting the attention of the broadcast cameras.

On the morning of the 9th, Su Feng participated in the joint training of the Eastern All-Star team.

This year's head coach of the Eastern All-Star team was Phil Jackson.

For the All-Star Game that was about to be held tonight, "Zen Master" chose to meditate as always.

Since arriving at the training hall, "Zen Master" had been quietly staying on the sidelines as a mascot, making it clear that he would leave the game to the players tonight and let the players play on their own.

Speaking of which, the Eastern All-Star team's seven-man bench this year was Pippen, Kemp, Rice, Schmitz, Steve Smith, Mutombo, and Tim Hardaway.

Mutombo, who had already risen to the ranks of the Four Great Centers, was simply a winner in life in this life. In the new season, the Hawks, who had no desires, even played happy basketball, can you believe it?

And the more brilliantly Mutombo smiled during the Eastern All-Star team's joint training, the more painful Pippen and Jordan's hearts became.

The most interesting thing about the All-Star Game was this...

Those mortal enemies and rivals in your mind had to turn enemies into friends and join hands to play the game together in the All-Star Game.

And Duncan, who was also in the ranks of the Four Great Centers, was a little shy.

If Duncan's inner voice at this time was described in network language, it would probably be like this:

There are all big shots here, so scary!

In Su Feng's previous life, the wonderful shots that Duncan left in the All-Star Game were not as memorable as his smile.

After all, Duncan's style of play, like Yao's, was destined to be the type of player who was not suitable for performance.

And the somewhat shy Duncan, compared to how to communicate and exchange with his teammates, what he was more worried about at this time was obviously...

Tonight, his main defensive target:

— Fine, short Shaq.

As everyone knew, the All-Star Game at this time was a real battle.

Therefore, under the premise that "Zen Master" made it clear that he would let the players play freely tonight...

Duncan panicked.

Who am I, where am I, what am I going to do later?

In Duncan's view, shouldn't the coach arrange a...

A double-team on O'Neal?

Somewhat unsure of what to do, Duncan looked curiously at Mutombo after thinking hard for a while and asked, "How... should we defend Shaq?"

And at this time, Mutombo, who had gone further and further on the road of happiness, smiled at him and said, "Tim, good luck, I have faith in you."

In the training hall, looking at Mutombo's heartfelt smile, Duncan...

He always felt that he wouldn't survive three seconds tonight.

Because as early as yesterday's press conference, O'Neal, who liked to liven things up, had already said that he was looking forward to the contest with Duncan.

In this life, after Ewing and Robinson successively became the "Fifth Center", how could O'Neal, who was eager to get the No. 1 position in the new Four Great Centers, let Duncan, this background board, go?

If you have watched the documentary "Year of the Yao", then you know how "arrogant" this needle-counting shark was when facing Yao, who had just entered the league...

It was true that O'Neal was good at socializing and had a high EQ, but if you said that this shark was "broad-minded", then you were probably an author who dared to write basketball articles just by watching highlights...

Before O'Neal became good friends with you, usually, you either had to be defeated by him, or you had to defeat him first.

In Su Feng's previous life, Duncan and Yao both built a deep friendship with O'Neal after fighting him in the paint.

But in this life, with Duncan's current prestige being praised to the sky by Auerbach, in O'Neal's words, it was:

Hehehe, just wait to die, Tim!

"Huh? You said you wanted me to help you double-team Shaq?"

In the training hall, after failing to seek help from Mutombo, Duncan placed his last hope on Su Feng.

"Yes... I think we... should be considered friends, right?" Duncan scratched his head, looked down at Su Feng, and said.

Su Feng laughed, looking at the gay-looking Duncan, honestly, in Su Feng's opinion, the only unreasonable thing about this reasonable system was that he and Duncan were actually "arch-rivals".

To be fair, based on the friendship between Duncan and him, shouldn't it be a "turning enemies into friends" kind of bond?

"Of course, there's no problem with double-teaming Shaq, after all, you definitely can't deal with him alone, don't worry, leave it to me." Su Feng patted Duncan on the back and smiled.

Speaking of which, this shark also made a joke about Su Feng at yesterday's press conference.

At that time, this shark actually said that if he threw it to his grandma fifty times, his grandma could also get fifty points in the NBA.

Although Su Feng knew that O'Neal was doing this to liven up the upcoming All-Star Game, how could Su Feng, this prophet, not investigate and kill O'Neal with this kind of Carter-Iron-Wolf-style statement?

So, since Duncan wanted to join forces with him to mess with this shark, then in Su Feng's view, why not?

You say, what right does he, Fatty Fish, have to be arrogant in front of Feng Ge?

"Su, thank you."

In the training hall, seeing that Su Feng agreed to help him defend, Duncan was overjoyed, and then subconsciously, he actually grabbed a handful of Su Feng's head...

Su Feng: "..."

Well, after preventing it thousands of times, how could Su Feng be able to prevent Duncan every time?

But never mind...

Being grabbed by Duncan once, in Su Feng's opinion, shouldn't be a big deal.

And just as Su Feng was silently enduring Duncan's big hands stroking his head, suddenly...

"Ding————!

[Make Shaq Cry All the Way Back to Los Angeles] task has been activated.

As an idol player with both strength and good looks, you have accepted the request of the young Duncan.

Please work with Duncan to give Shaq O'Neal a night he will never forget!

Task requirements: In the All-Star Game, cause O'Neal's negative emotions to reach 100,000 points.

Task completion reward: 58 million Iron Points, and one Shooting Motion Synthesis Card (unique). [Click here to view the effect of the Shooting Motion Synthesis Card]

Note: If the host chooses to accept this task, then in the All-Star Game, the host and Duncan's "arch-rival" bond will temporarily change to "destiny" bond.

At that time, the host and Duncan's offensive and defensive attributes will be slightly enhanced.

Task failure penalty: deduct 58 million Iron Points from the host."

"!!!"

It's coming, it's coming!

Last year, it was James and Kobe who triggered tasks for him back and forth, but this year it became Duncan?

And...

This seems to be the first task that Su Feng has ever received that has a failure penalty.

It's just that, looking at the Shooting Motion Synthesis Card (unique) that was rewarded after the task was completed, Su Feng felt that he simply couldn't refuse...

"Interesting, interesting, this task doesn't look at winning or losing, nor does it look at my shooting percentage...

But it's just about whether I can mess with O'Neal's mentality..."

Honestly, although there will be a penalty after accepting this task, for Su Feng, who is very good at messing with people's mentality, this task is simply giving him a benefit.

In addition, "Destiny Bond"...

That is to say, if he chooses this task, then he and Duncan will usher in a small increase in strength in tonight's game.

And this kind of increase, you can probably understand it as Su Feng and Duncan's state will be better than usual.

As for the failure penalty...

58 million Iron Points, Su Feng's heart ached, but as the saying goes, you have to work hard to win, and he, Su Feng, can still afford to lose these 58 million Iron Points.

Isn't it just messing with O'Neal's mentality?

Let's do it!

"By the way, Tim, do you have any ideas for tonight's game?" After lifting Duncan's big hand, Su Feng looked up at Duncan and smiled wickedly.

And for some reason...

At the moment when Su Feng smiled at him, Duncan couldn't help but smile too.

Honestly...

It was a pity that O'Neal didn't see this scene.

Otherwise, just this scene of Su Feng and Duncan smiling wickedly while discussing something would definitely make O'Neal regret all the things he said at yesterday's press conference...