Chapter 23

On the afternoon of the 23rd, after acupuncture and relaxation, the Chinese men's basketball team welcomed their fourth opponent in the group stage of this World Championship:

Puerto Rico.

In Su Feng's original timeline, this match between the Chinese men's basketball team and Puerto Rico was incredibly infuriating to watch.

Not only did the Puerto Rican men's basketball team, which was very good at using dirty tricks to mess with people's minds, successfully cause Yao Ming and Wang Zhizhi to commit their fifth foul in the final quarter...

But also in overtime, Yi Jianlian bled on the court due to an opponent's foul.

In addition, the referee's repeated disregard for the malicious fouls of Puerto Rican players on the court further made Chinese fans who watched the game feel the so-called "fairness and justice" on the international stage.

Of course, apart from objective reasons...

The Chinese men's basketball team's overly anxious emotions at the end of the game also caused them to lose the good situation they had once led by double digits at the last moment.

However, after defeating the Chinese men's basketball team, the Puerto Ricans, who thought their chances of qualifying were secure, probably never dreamed that...

In the subsequent match between the Chinese men's basketball team and Slovenia, Wang Shipeng's three-pointer would indirectly eliminate their dream of qualifying in the group stage.

Because in FIBA competitions, in the case of the same number of wins, the point difference between teams with the same number of wins will be compared first...

Therefore, in the later battle with Slovenia, the overly relaxed Puerto Ricans not only failed to maintain the advantage they had previously gained, but also, the Chinese men's basketball team completed their revenge against the Puerto Ricans in a self-redemptive way.

But in this life...

Facing the Chinese men's basketball team, which is in excellent form...

After the first quarter, the Puerto Ricans despondently gave up resisting.

Sapporo Arena.

Puerto Rican center Ramos, who was beaten by Little Yao in Athens two years ago, started his harassment mode against Little Yao as soon as he came on tonight.

As the second tallest player in this competition, and also the existence in the mouths of Yao haters who once scored 0 points and 2 rebounds on the international stage and beat Yao Ming, who only got 29 points and 8 rebounds...

In the first quarter, Ramos, who is 222 centimeters tall, repeatedly used his elbows to hit Yao Ming's back of the head when posting up.

Even once, after Yao Ming scored a two-plus-one under the basket, Ramos also directly hit Little Yao's nose with his forehead.

Obviously.

Like two years ago, Ramos, who knew he was no match for Little Yao, came here tonight to mess with Yao Ming's mentality.

On the other side, Santiago, who had tried to undercut Su Feng in the game two years ago but was punished by Su Feng, complained to the referee non-stop like a market aunt when there was a ruling on the court that was unfavorable to Puerto Rico.

As a result, on the court...

Little Yao, who is the "Big Boss of the Chinese Men's Basketball Team," got angry at the time.

Because isn't it obvious that the Puerto Ricans want to benefit themselves through dirty tricks and harmful moves?

However, with his emotions becoming more and more anxious, Little Yao received two consecutive fouls in just the first half of the game.

At this time, on the court, after yawning, Su Feng also grabbed Zhu Fangyu.

Then.

There was no then.

Sapporo Arena, accompanied by His Majesty the King opening his sleepy eyes...

In less than five minutes, Su Feng and Zhu Fangyu joined forces to send three Puerto Rican players to the hospital.

With 4 minutes and 43 seconds left in the first quarter...

Because he failed to hold back his outstretched arm in a scramble, while protecting the second landing point for the Chinese men's basketball team, Zhu Fangyu, who swung his arm back, accidentally broke the bridge of Puerto Rican center Santiago's nose on the spot.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't mean it. I didn't expect you to be behind me."

Seeing this, Zhu Fangyu also showed a look of heartache for his opponent as he looked at Santiago, who suddenly fell on the floor.

The referee, who was successfully deceived by Zhu Fangyu's acting skills, did not call Zhu Fangyu for a malicious foul.

Because at this time, there were not so many rules in FIBA games targeting malicious fouls and flops, so after noticing the unfriendly look that Su Feng, who was standing behind Zhu Fangyu, cast at him...

The three referees from South America tonight can even touch their conscience and say...

They definitely did not choose to favor Zhu Fangyu in this ruling because they were afraid of power.

Moreover...

Just now, Santiago was preparing to pull Zhu Fangyu from behind while tripping him...

If Zhu Fangyu hadn't already developed a unique skill called "Zhan Yi Shi Ba Tie" (Eighteen Sticking Points) under Su Feng's training, then it was very likely that the player groaning on the floor now would have been Zhu Fangyu himself.

In addition, considering those small and bad moves that Puerto Rico made against the Chinese men's basketball team players on the court in the first half of tonight...

To be honest, if they really wanted to play basketball seriously, then they wouldn't have repeatedly used their elbows to hit the back of the heads of the Chinese men's basketball team players when posting up, and used their knees to hit the area between the legs of the Chinese men's basketball team players.

"It seems that the game two years ago still didn't teach the Puerto Ricans a lesson."

On the court, after Santiago was taken off the court for treatment, Su Feng sighed as he looked at Ramos and others who were still complaining to the referee.

So, just like that.

With 2 minutes and 15 seconds left in the first quarter, the second Puerto Rican player to be carried off the court also appeared.

At this time, because the score difference between Puerto Rico and the score was already in double digits after Su Feng turned on his serious mode, on the court, when Su Feng was preparing to break through...

Latimore, nicknamed "Caribbean Ghost Hand," directly gave up guarding Zhu Fangyu, trying to use his shoulder to destroy Su Feng's attack together with the ball.

As we all know, according to the laws of physics, if Su Feng suddenly encounters such a bad move from the side while moving at high speed, then it is very likely that he will experience some accidents due to inertia.

However, Latimore's plan was brilliant.

But before he could start implementing it, Zhu Fangyu, who was rushing over from his side and rear, took the lead and directly knocked him out of bounds.

Moreover, because Latimore's center of gravity and vision were all concentrated on Su Feng when he was preparing to exert force and hit Su Feng, so when Zhu Fangyu came from behind...

He, who is 200 centimeters tall and weighs close to 105 kilograms, was like a kite with a broken string. After losing his center of gravity, his head landed first, and he fell straight towards the advertising board on the sidelines.

On the sidelines, when Santiago, who had just received emergency treatment, saw Latimore's heavy fall...

Even he, who is known as Puerto Rico's chief villain, couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

On the court, in order to stand up for Latimore, the Puerto Rican players quickly surrounded Zhu Fangyu.

It's a pity...

Before they could seek justice for their teammates, Su Feng appeared in front of Zhu Fangyu.

"Guys, this game has just begun.

So if you want to do something, please come at me."

Sapporo Arena, looking at Su Feng protecting Zhu Fangyu behind him, although the Puerto Rican players felt extremely aggrieved, at this moment, not a single one of them dared to step forward and reason with Zhu Fangyu.

You must know, in this timeline, Su Feng is not only the Basketball God of the NBA.

For FIBA, he is also a key protected object.

Therefore, if the Puerto Rican players decide to do something at this moment...

Then, I am afraid that the public opinion after the game alone will be enough to kill these Puerto Rican players alive.

"Brother Feng is too...too..." On the sidelines, on the Chinese men's basketball team's bench, looking at Su Feng who was firmly protecting Zhu Fangyu, at this moment, Little Yao and other Chinese men's basketball team players were already convinced by Su Feng's personal charm.

On the side, Wang Zhizhi also said with emotion: "This is the demeanor of a team's Big Boss!"

Little Yao: "..."

Ahem.

Alright then.

Although after hearing Wang Zhizhi's words, Little Yao always felt that Da Zhi was deliberately implying something...

But...

As Brother Feng's cute Ming brother, and the number one Su Feng protector in the men's basketball team...

Little Yao also felt that what Da Zhi said was very reasonable.

On the court, after noticing that the referee only called Zhu Fangyu for a common foul...

On the Puerto Rican men's basketball team's bench, looking at Latimore, who was being carried away on a stretcher and covered in blood, Ramos, who usually had the best relationship with him in this Puerto Rican team, couldn't bear it anymore.

"Why didn't you guys seek justice for Antonio from that Chinese team's number eight just now?" Ramos asked, looking down at Arroyo and Alfonso.

Hearing this, Ramos's brain doesn't work well, but that doesn't mean Arroyo and Alfonso's brains don't work well.

"Save your energy, Peter. If any of us had really done something just now, then we would have been finished in this game." Arroyo said, shaking his head and looking at Ramos.

For Arroyo, who plays in the NBA, he is very clear about Su Feng's influence on the sport of basketball.

So doing something to the Basketball God on the court...

In Arroyo's opinion, as long as you are not really out of your mind, then you cannot possibly attack Su Feng just now.

In addition, using dirty tricks and harmful moves is also for the Puerto Ricans to win the game.

So Arroyo is very clear...

Just now, Su Feng was also giving the Puerto Rican players a way out.

Because if it was in the NBA...

I'm afraid that half of the Puerto Rican players who surrounded Su Feng and Zhu Fangyu just now would have been lying on the court at this time.

What kind of international joke are you making...

On the surface, Su Feng is the only superstar in the NBA who has never received a superstar whistle.

But in the NBA...

Who doesn't know that even President Stern usually calls him brother?

"I know, I freaking knew it.

Carlos, you've changed ever since you went to play in the NBA.

Okay, since you don't plan to seek justice for Antonio...

Then don't blame me for personally seeking justice for him in the next game!" On the sidelines, after the game was interrupted due to the accident just now, Ramos said, looking at Arroyo.

Just as Ramos walked back to the court with an angry look on his face, Arroyo also grabbed Alfonso, who still wanted to persuade him.

"Let him go.

Although it was very irrational for us to attack Su just now.

But that doesn't mean that there won't be players who get injured due to some accidents in basketball games." Arroyo said, patting Alfonso on the shoulder.

On the Chinese men's basketball team's bench, looking at Su Feng's calm expression, Zhang Bin, who was worried that Puerto Rico would retaliate against Su Feng on the court next, also said to him: "Little Su, why don't I substitute you and Little Zhu to rest for a while?"

"Rest? Coach Zhang, if I rest now, doesn't that mean we're admitting defeat?

Don't worry, Coach Zhang, in this world, especially in the sport of basketball, the person who can plot against me hasn't been born yet." Su Feng said with a smile, turning his head to look at Zhang Bin.

"However, in the next game, for the sake of prudence, I suggest that Little Yao and Da Zhi not play anymore." After a pause, Su Feng added.

At this time, Little Yao immediately became anxious!

"Brother Feng, do you think you are afraid of their style of play that uses small moves and dirty tricks in the game?" Little Yao said, looking at Su Feng with a aggrieved expression.

Seeing this, Su Feng couldn't help but laugh.

Because in fact...

On the international stage, Yao Ming is much tougher than Yao haters imagine.

In fact, in the original game with Puerto Rico, if Yao Ming hadn't stood up for his teammates so frequently, then he wouldn't have received his fifth personal foul.

However, compared to Su Feng, the new generation of "Old Rogue" who had fought with Jordan in his early years...

Little Yao's methods on the court are not "rogue" enough.

But to deal with opponents like Puerto Rico...

If you are not "rogue" enough, then you will only be disgusted by them all the time.

After more than ten years of dominating the basketball world, Su Feng knows very well how to deal with this group of "rogues."

So in this game, protecting Little Yao and the others is what Su Feng, as a leader, should do.

Therefore, after holding down Little Yao's shoulder, Su Feng also said to him in a joking tone: "What's wrong, Ming Ming, are you unwilling to listen to what your Brother Feng says now?"

Little Yao: "..."

On the court, after the game was interrupted for about 10 minutes due to the accident, the game continued.

On the Chinese men's basketball team's bench, patting Little Yao, who looked dejected, on the shoulder, Da Zhi also comforted him: "Don't worry, based on those Finals that I have lost as Old Su's opponent...

Tonight, even if the other side is Rodman plus Laimbeer, plus Oakley, they won't be able to get any advantage from Old Su."

As a former Lakers legend...

I am afraid that no one knows better than Wang Zhizhi what the consequences will be if you are on the opposite side of Su Feng and you plan to use dirty tricks and harmful moves to deal with him.

Sapporo Arena.

In order to ensure that no more accidents occur in the next game, the three referees on duty tonight hurriedly adjusted the scale of the rulings tonight after discussing it.

Noticing this detail, Su Feng also frantically picked up the dynamite bag and charged towards the Puerto Rican men's basketball team's position in the last two minutes of the game.

On the court, with 36 seconds left in this quarter, it was the Chinese men's basketball team's ball.

At this time, the score between the two teams on the court had already reached 31 to 12.

In the past two minutes, because he had not waited for a good opportunity to retaliate, Ramos had been enduring, restraining, and controlling his emotions.

And now...

Seeing Su Feng preparing to cross Alfonso's defense "unprepared" with the ball...

Ramos knew.

The opportunity he had been waiting for.

Had already appeared in front of him.

Two years ago, in Athens, because he was too young, Ramos had been regretting his cowardly behavior on the court afterwards.

But at this moment...

Thinking of the scene where Latimore, who was usually very kind to him, was knocked out of the court by that hateful Chinese team's number eight...

Ramos's brain, which already didn't have enough capacity, had already been occupied by an emotion called anger.

Damn it, Chinese team's number eight!

Didn't Latimore just want to hit Su Feng?

So what if Su Feng was hit?

Would Su Feng die if he was hit?

Also, why did you knock him out of bounds?

Didn't you come to the game to play basketball?

Finally, there's that annoying Su Feng!

Can you tell me what else you can do besides protecting your teammates just now?

On the court, in Puerto Rico's restricted area, watching Su Feng, who had already jumped up, Ramos raised his right arm high and directly chopped it towards Su Feng's handsome face!

At this moment, Ramos, who had successfully brainwashed himself into a "messenger of justice," vowed to seek justice from Su Feng, the grinding king from hell!

However, before Ramos's hand could touch Su Feng's handsome face...

Suddenly, Ramos felt his chest...

Hit the hardest object in the world.

Crack...creak.

Crack...creak.

Listen...

At this moment, how pleasant is the sound of Ramos's ribs breaking in his chest?

Remember, kid.

Brother is a player who has fought with Jordan, had his ribs broken by Malone, wrestled with Oakley on the court, and competed with Barkley to see who has the bigger butt!

Although Su Feng has never used this unique skill called "Opening the Way with Elbows" in a game since he learned it from Malone back then.

But tonight...

Facing Ramos's behavior of wanting to cripple himself just now...

Su Feng knew.

It was time for him to sacrifice his forbidden move like Zi Long ascending to heaven with Shura.

Rumble——!

Sapporo Arena, accompanied by the end of Su Feng and Ramos's aerial contest, although Su Feng also couldn't multitask and dunk the basketball into the basket, at the same time that Ramos "destroyed" his attack, Su Feng's left elbow, which was always only used to protect himself, also smashed towards Ramos's chest like a cannonball!

In an instant, Ramos's huge body fell heavily on the floor.

On the court, without discussion or looking at slow motion replays, the three referees on duty immediately made the most correct ruling.

Beep!

Puerto Rican men's basketball team number 4 malicious foul.

The Chinese men's basketball team will execute two free throws and one throw-in.

"This is my last warning to you.

If you have any more bad moves like just now, then I will directly call the end of this game!"

Moreover, looking at the Puerto Rican men's basketball team's coach who wanted to stand up for Ramos on the bench, Raiola, the chief referee from Brazil, also issued a stern warning to him.

Two years ago, although Santiago never admitted afterwards that he wanted to undercut Su Feng in the game, the image of FIBA was greatly damaged afterwards because of this incident.

Therefore...

Even on the FIBA stage, the referees, like in the NBA, allow you to use some defensive techniques that cannot be used normally when defending Su Feng.

However, fouls like Ramos's just now, which directly targeted people, have long been explicitly prohibited.

"This is definitely premeditated murder!

After our lip-reading experts interpreted it, before this defense, John Ramos had already prepared to cripple Su!"

At the Sapporo venue, after communicating with the rear, the commentators of the American forward broadcaster immediately conveyed this message to the American fans in front of the television.

Two years ago, because Santiago's attempt to undercut Su Feng in the game shocked the world, especially afterwards, lip-reading experts believed that Santiago had premeditated the undercut before undercutting Su Feng, so this year, in order to ensure that Su Feng, the Basketball God, can continue to make money for the NBA in the new season healthy, the NBA official also specially provided two lip-reading experts for the American television broadcaster of this World Championship.

Look, even if you play FIBA, I will protect you.

Although the league's move is to ensure that Su Feng, as the most important asset of the NBA at present, will not suffer losses because of playing FIBA's broken games, but for David Stern...

In today's world basketball scene, whoever wants to use dirty tricks and harmful moves to harm his good brother.

Then whoever is his number one enemy.

And on the commentary table, after learning this key message from his American colleagues, while conveying this message to the rabbits in front of the television, Coach Zhang also said angrily: "We are not afraid of failure, and we are never afraid of failure!

But if you plan to defeat us in such a shady way, then you underestimate us too much!"

"There is no doubt that if the interpretation of the American lip-reading experts is correct, then John Ramos's behavior just now...

Has desecrated the sport of basketball and betrayed his identity as a sports athlete!" Yu Jia also echoed.

Indeed.

In peacetime, modern sports is the war of peacetime.

Therefore, some small moves and behaviors that mess with the opponent's mentality are also naturally recognized as part of the game.

But that doesn't mean...

The Koreans constantly using black feet on Maradona on the football field in order to win...

The Koreans bribing the referee in order to win at the World Cup, causing Italy and Spain to suffer injustice...

And the Koreans boasting afterwards that they are the most "fair, open, and just" country in the world, and the Puerto Rican player Ramos's retaliatory behavior towards Su Feng tonight is allowed.

Sapporo Arena, even if Ramos, whose ribs have been completely broken at this moment, can recover afterwards, I am afraid that he will never have the opportunity to come to the CBA to make money again in this life.

And even if the opponent only wants to murder himself on the court...

When Ramos was carried off the court on a stretcher with a painful expression, Su Feng did not forget to show his generosity to his opponent, "Uh, sorry...

Because my left elbow has always had a very large range of ball protection...

So you just have to bear with it a little bit."

Look, what is sportsmanship?

This is called sportsmanship!

At this moment, in front of the television, watching Su Feng taking the initiative to go forward and care about Ramos...

Basketball enthusiasts from all over the world were all conquered by Su Feng's noble character.

On the court, after losing three players in the first quarter, coupled with the large score difference, Puerto Rico had already lost the ability to fight back in the subsequent game.

In the end, the score of this game was 107 to 62.

After successfully winning against Puerto Rico, the Chinese men's basketball team has already locked in the first place in this group in advance.

After the game, as the interpretation of Ramos's attempt to plot against Su Feng on the field by American lip-reading experts spread all over the world through the Internet, for a time, basketball enthusiasts from all over the world also launched a condemnation of Puerto Rico.

"I don't know why John wanted to do that at the time.

Believe me, since we came to Japan through a wild card, then our goal is to compete with our opponents fairly, openly, and justly."

In order to avoid further damage to the image of the Puerto Rican men's basketball team, the Puerto Rican Basketball Association also announced the news that they had expelled Ramos from the national team the next afternoon.

"Oh my God, I don't even know why he wanted to do that to me!

Fortunately, the referees made the most correct rulings in a timely manner.

Also, I am very grateful to the lip-reading experts for standing up and speaking for me.

Thank you, without your protection, I would probably be lying in the hospital now.

Of course, in any case, I also injured John Ramos in order to protect myself at the time.

So next, no matter how much his treatment costs need to spend, I will provide it for him.

And I have already forgiven him.

Therefore, I hope that my fans can remain rational.

After all, John Ramos's personal behavior has nothing to do with his family."

On the Chinese men's basketball team's side, after learning that Ramos had been expelled from the national team, Su Feng, who knew that his fans had already begun to issue "death threats" to Ramos's family online, did not forget to continue to show his generosity to the world.

"So, that's why we all like Su.

Because he is not only strong, but also has both ability and integrity!

In my opinion, the International Olympic Committee should have given him the Fair Play Award long ago!" Barkley supported Su Feng on a program on TNT on the 24th.

"I hope that FIBA can impose more severe penalties for this kind of malicious fouls on the field.

Because when players represent their country in the game, they are likely to have some unnecessary actions because they want to serve their country too much." On the other side, James, who had finally led the American men's basketball team to overcome the mountain of Argentina, also suggested to FIBA when interviewed.

Uh...

Ramos, who had his ribs broken by Su Feng and had to kneel down to thank Su Feng, will not be mentioned for the time being.

Sapporo, Japan.

On the evening of the 24th, after defeating Slovenia by a score of 88 to 71, according to the schedule, the Chinese men's basketball team, which advanced to the knockout stage with five wins, will face the Brazilian men's basketball team in the round of 16.

Compared to the smooth sailing of the Chinese men's basketball team in the group stage...

The American men's basketball team, which unexpectedly lost to Greece in the group stage, was once again pushed to the forefront.

Facts have proved...

Although Coach K is a little better than his predecessor Larry Brown...

But if they want to reshape their former glory, then the American men's basketball team must recognize the reality that they have been completely lagging behind the world in terms of tactics.

In the five games in the group stage, in addition to losing to Greece by a score of 97 to 105, the American men's basketball team was almost killed by Ginobili, who had turned on the cheat mode, at the last moment in the game against the Argentine men's basketball team.

"We need the best players."

On the 25th, when this World Championship ushered in a rest day, Colangelo, the chairman of the American Basketball Association, said this in an interview.

After successfully advancing to the round of 16, the Chinese men's basketball team, which will move to Hiroshima next, also accepted an interview with American reporters on this day.

"I have heard of Coach K, he is doing very well in the NCAA.

But FIBA and NCAA are ultimately two different concepts.

To be honest, in my mind, the American men's basketball team is still the strongest team in this World Championship.

It's just that they haven't brought out their due talent and talent."

Because Larry Brown's performance in Athens two years ago was too crotch-pulling...

So Su Feng knows very well that he can no longer use Larry Brown to fool the American Basketball Association.

But...

"Wolong" (Sleeping Dragon) is gone...

It doesn't mean that Su Feng can't recommend a new "Fledgling Phoenix" for the American Basketball Association.

"Then who do you think can release the talent and talent of this American men's basketball team?" On this day, the American reporter, who had already been tricked, looked at Su Feng with a curious expression and asked.

Hearing this, after smiling, Su Feng said: "I think Phil Jackson is very good.

Although in recent years, people have always had a lot of opinions on Phil.

But don't forget, in my career so far, the teams coached by Phil have met me three times in the Finals."

Su Feng knew very well that although Coach K didn't have much stuff in his stomach...

But because he is very good at absorbing lessons after failure, so once the American men's basketball team suffers another crushing defeat in this year's World Championship, then Coach K will definitely seriously study the tactics of these world-class strong teams.

After the 2008 Olympic Games, in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016, the American men's basketball team on the FIBA stage was obviously another team.

The reason for this is not only because the American men's basketball team had Durant, a big killer on the FIBA stage at that time, but also because Coach K gradually mastered the rules for winning on the FIBA stage.

Therefore, if he can let Coach K lose his position as coach after this year...

Then for Su Feng, who has been planning the 2008 Olympic Games for a full ten years...

It will definitely be the most positive news.

As for why the coach recommended by Su Feng is Phil Jackson?

Hey...

Su Feng wanted to recommend Popovich to the American Basketball Association, but for this Popovich in this life...

Is he worthy?

In Su Feng's opinion, Jackson, who is trying to make a comeback at this time, will not only take the olive branch handed over by himself...

And his "tri