Chapter 218

The internet in North America and Rabbit Country crashed the night the dunk contest ended.

Jim Buss, who watched Su Feng's four dunks at the Staples Center, immediately found his good buddy Jerry West afterward.

This season, the Logo Man, who resigned from the Lakers, joined the Grizzlies management as Su Feng remembered.

"Jerry, did you watch the dunk contest?

My God! It's incredible!

The whole Staples Center was chanting 'king, king, king' when he appeared!" Little Buss said excitedly on the phone.

"I watched it, I watched it. It was indeed a very exciting dunk contest." West said in a slow and unhurried tone.

As the number one "Raul Marion CP fan" in the league, Little Buss felt that Logo Man's reply was quite perfunctory.

"You've changed, Jerry." Little Buss said sadly.

West: "......"

"Since leaving the Lakers, you've not only been unwilling to communicate with me as you used to...

Even at such a happy moment, you are unwilling to patiently listen to me express the joy I feel!" After a pause, Little Buss added.

West: "......"

Jim, Jim!

Are you a fool?

Don't you know even now that the reason I chose to leave the Lakers management was so you could take over?

You know, "Everyone only knows West, no one knows the Lakers' front office," was the most widely circulated saying in the league management circle in the past few years.

As a smart man, Logo Man knew very well that when Old Buss was in his prime, he could safely give him the power and let the Lakers operate according to his wishes.

However, as Old Buss's health deteriorated year by year...

West knew that even if he didn't take the initiative to leave the Lakers, Old Buss wouldn't keep him to avoid his family business from being usurped by outsiders.

Also, Jim Buss had always been close to him...

So last summer, after shouldering the blame for the Lakers' poor performance, wasn't West also telling Old Buss through such actions:

Look, I have no interest in the Lakers at all.

On the contrary, that Phil Jackson guy has been getting closer and closer to your daughter recently.

Therefore, shouldn't you pass the "crown prince" position to Jim Buss?

Facts have proved that West not only has the vision of a "time traveler" in running a team, but also is more astute than anyone else in the league when it comes to team politics.

Because in Su Feng's original timeline, from then on, before Jim Buss was forced to step down by Jeanie Buss, Jim Buss had actually grasped the greatest power within the Lakers at that time.

"By the way, Jim, do you remember what I told you during the Finals last year?"

Although he knew that Jim Buss had limited intelligence, as a brother who had fought alongside him in the past...

West knew that if Jim Buss didn't just want to live in a dream as a "Raul Marion CP fan," then the Lakers had to start planning as soon as possible.

"You mean... do you mean the possibility of us recreating the 'Raul Marion Twin Stars' combination at the Staples Center?" Hearing this, Jim Buss's heart instantly began to beat wildly.

"Jim, because I have left the Lakers management, I shouldn't be inquiring about the internal affairs of the Lakers." West suddenly said on the phone, sensing that Little Buss had become emotionally out of control.

"What's wrong with that? You are a Lakers legend, a hero who helped us defeat the Celtics back then!

Even as a Lakers legend, shouldn't you know what's been happening inside the Lakers recently?" Hearing West's words, Jim Buss immediately exploded.

"Jim, some things you can only say to me, but you must never say in front of your father..." West kindly reminded.

"I know, I'm not that stupid, Jerry." Little Buss said.

West: "......"

Okay...

If you weren't so stupid, why would Kupchak and I have to worry so much about you behind your back?

In Logo Man's eyes, the only good thing about Jim Buss was that he was willing to listen to advice.

As his trusted aide left behind to assist Jim Buss after his departure from the Lakers...

Judging from Kupchak's feedback, although Little Buss often said some inexplicable things to Kupchak, he was still willing to patiently listen to Kupchak's advice on professional basketball matters.

"Okay, Jerry, tell me quickly, is it really possible for us to recreate the Su and Kobe combination at the Staples Center in the future?" Little Buss asked impatiently on the phone.

"It's up to us." West replied.

"Then... what should we do to make up for the regret in your and my hearts that the Lakers didn't go all out to select Su and Kobe in the draft that year?" Little Buss continued to ask.

"Jim, if I'm not mistaken... Shaq's agent has come to you many times recently, right?" Hearing this, West didn't directly answer Little Buss, but instead asked him a question.

"Yes, Shaq has been wanting to extend his contract to 2009 recently...

But Jerry, you also know that now because of the 'super luxury tax'...

So without winning the championship, my father can't possibly choose to contribute to the league every year." Little Buss replied.

Listening to Little Buss's reply, West nodded and said, "Then do as your father says."

"But Jerry, following my father's intentions... what necessary connection does this have with our future?" Little Buss said in confusion.

West smiled and said, "Everything in the world is connected.

Oh right, I remember you were scolded by your father for cheering for the Raptors in last year's Finals, right?"

"Don't mention it! It's all Jeanie's fault!

She actually ran to my father and criticized me in every way."

In Little Buss's view, wasn't it just because Su Feng played wonderfully in last year's Finals that he accidentally revealed his fifty-year honey identity?

What's wrong with that?

Although he is indeed the future helmsman of the Lakers, as a basketball enthusiast, doesn't this world allow him to be a fan of Su Feng?

What happened to freedom, peace, and democracy?

"I understand, Jerry, you mean I should pay more attention to my identity in the future, right?" Little Buss said after imagining the deeper meaning behind West's words.

"No... on the contrary!

Jim... if there's a chance in the future, I would rather you show your father as much as possible that you like Su." West said.

Little Buss: "......"

No...

I just got scolded, why do you want me to run to my father and praise that man who is regarded as a "demon" by the Staples fans?

Little Buss was stunned.

"Believe me, the Lakers' chances of getting Su in the future... will depend entirely on how much you like Su at this moment." West suddenly said to Little Buss on the phone.

And now, although his head was dizzy after talking to West on the phone...

Logo Man's words, "The Lakers' chances of getting Su in the future will depend entirely on how much he likes Su," had become a trump card for Little Buss.

So, shortly after hanging up the phone with Logo Man, Little Buss, with excitement written all over his face, ran to his father and, as a honey fan, described the greatness of Su Feng on the just-passed night to his frowning old father.

And just as Little Buss, who was prepared to be criticized, thought that Old Buss would scold him as usual...

An unexpected scene happened.

He saw that Old Buss, who was extremely tired at the time, listened patiently to his every word and suddenly said to him earnestly, "It seems that you really like... Su and Kobe."

Little Buss: "......"

Then, after sighing, Old Buss looked out the window and said, "If the Lakers can't win the championship this year, I don't know how long I can last...

Jim, in the next few years, you have to learn how to be the owner of a team as soon as possible."

Little Buss: "......"

That night, for Little Buss, whose brain capacity was limited...

He couldn't understand why his father's attitude towards him had suddenly changed so much.

And in Memphis, after staring at the Heat's lineup for a long time...

West was immediately amused.

Pat, is that why you chose Milicic in '03?

However, if you want to eat this shark in one bite...

You have to know...

The gifts fate gives you have already been marked with their price in secret.

……

On the 22nd, affected by Su Feng's nuclear explosion at the Staples Center last night, the attention of the NBA All-Star Weekend instantly returned to the grand occasion that Stern thought he would never see again.

That night, before the game between the Eastern and Western All-Star teams began, the NBA's overseas ratings set a new high.

At the Staples Center, looking at the twenty-four All-Star players from the East and West on the court, there had never been a moment when Stern had been as excited as he was tonight.

On the court, as the song and dance performances ended and the starting players of the Eastern and Western All-Star teams appeared one by one, many fans in front of the TV thought that this was definitely the most powerful All-Star game in NBA history.

Eastern All-Star starters: Yao Ming, Duncan, Su Feng, Carter, Iverson.

Western All-Star starters: O'Neal, Garnett, Nowitzki, Kobe, McGrady.

On the court, all ten Eastern and Western All-Star players were at their peak.

And off the court, those star substitutes sitting were also recognized as ruthless characters.

Stars shone brightly.

Constellations were dazzling.

On the court, in the tip-off, Yao Ming, who had always had a back-and-forth record with O'Neal in the tip-off segment, won the first offensive possession for the Eastern team.

Compared with when Su Feng first joined the NBA, the All-Star game at this time would no longer be as serious in defense as it used to be.

However, before the All-Star game had completely evolved into a purely entertainment event, Su Feng was given an elbow by Kobe as soon as he came up tonight.

"Tonight, you're mine!"

Sticking out his tongue, Kobe thought that even if the sky fell tonight, he would have a good fight with Su Feng!

However, just as Kobe thought that Su Feng would ask his teammates for the ball to go one-on-one with him...

Philadelphia fans in front of the TV suddenly shed tears!

At the high post, Su Feng completed a pick-and-roll with Iverson and quickly cut to the basket, slamming the ball in with one hand.

2 to 0!

Because the starting players of the Eastern All-Star team were very familiar with each other, when Su Feng and Iverson were playing the pick-and-roll, Duncan and Little Yao didn't forget to block the Western All-Star players who were preparing to help defend.

No way...

Although Little Yao had proven at the All-Star game before, according to Su Feng's suggestion, that his technical style could also please fans at the All-Star game.

But instinctively, he and Duncan both belonged to the kind of players who preferred to treat the All-Star game as a real game.

Back on offense, the Western All-Star team took the first offensive possession.

As Su Feng remembered, knowing that he was definitely out of the running for the regular season MVP, Fatty Fish was very enthusiastic tonight.

It's just a pity that in the past two years, as Yao Ming's weight has reached 135 kilograms, it is not so easy for O'Neal to easily bully him in the low post.

Moreover, who said that the Eastern All-Star team was planning to let Yao Ming and O'Neal go one-on-one tonight?

In the low post, just as Yao Ming withstood O'Neal, Duncan's help defense came as soon as it was said.

O'Neal: "......"

No!

Am I really playing in the All-Star game, or am I playing in the playoffs?

Dear Yao, dear Duncan...

Can't you let me perform?

Helpless, before the passing line could be blocked by another bastard, O'Neal had no choice but to throw the ball to the other side.

Garnett hit a jump shot at the high post.

2 to 2.

As the coach of this year's Eastern All-Star team, Carlisle emphasized to the Eastern team players before the game that they should play more transition offense.

Therefore...

On the court, looking at the resentful eyes O'Neal cast at him, Su Feng always felt that he had been misunderstood by his future Pippen.

At the Staples Center, only 6 seconds after Garnett hit a jump shot at the high post, the Eastern team scored two more points again by Iverson and Su Feng, the "Hurricane Brothers".

I'll just throw it.

You just dunk it.

This was the tactic that the first-generation Philadelphia Twin Stars loved to play on the court back then.

4 to 2.

Fortunately, the quick-witted O'Neal did not choose to retreat after noticing the Eastern team's fast-break speed.

So, in the Eastern team's half, O'Neal immediately waved his hands to his teammates.

However...

Since the "Ai-Feng" duo could handle the fast break, why would Duncan and Yao Ming want to run up with them?

After sending out the baseline ball, looking at Duncan and Yao Ming's positions, McGrady refused O'Neal's request for the ball without thinking.

A mere sidekick of Kobe dares to ask me, the "Sun King," for a basket?

On the Western All-Star team's offense, after falling into the half court, McGrady decisively handed the ball to Kobe.

O'Neal: "......"

On the wing, Kobe shot through Su Feng's defense right in front of him.

4 to 4.

At the Staples Center, in the first quarter, O'Neal always felt that he felt the world's malice towards him.

Since the coach of this year's Western All-Star team was D'Antoni, McGrady and Kobe naturally gained more firing rights.

Moreover, because Old D only knew how to attack and pass, pick-and-roll, and one-on-one in set plays besides running and bombing, O'Neal was not only incompatible with this Western team?

He was simply the person who was separated from the court!

Relying on the pick-and-roll with McGrady and Kobe, Garnett and Nowitzki had a great time in the first quarter.

The former made 4 of 5 shots at the high post, plus a dunk in the paint, scoring 10 points and 5 rebounds in the first quarter alone.

The latter ate four open shots from beyond the three-point line, hitting three of them, plus a jump shot after forming a mismatch with Su Feng on the wing, relying on his height to play a long-handed shot. In the first quarter alone, the "Little King" scored 11 points and 2 rebounds.

At the end of the first quarter, the Eastern team led 44 to 38.

Unlike the Western team, whose main points were concentrated on Garnett and Nowitzki, the Eastern team's first-quarter points were mainly concentrated on Su Feng alone.

In the first quarter, Su Feng, who made 8 of 13 shots, scored 21 points, including three-pointers and free throws.

Because Yao Ming and Duncan were not very interested in the All-Star game data, plus after beating Carter before the game, he reminded this guy who was his boss...

Therefore, Su Feng naturally treated this Eastern All-Star team as his own team.

And at this time...

Su Feng, who previously thought that the Heat's lineup was quite strong, instantly felt the joy of playing on the court after having a strong lineup.

No need for complicated cooperation.

Nor did he need to guide his teammates to run positions himself.

Often, with just a look, these superstars knew what he wanted to do.

And the most important thing was...

He didn't need to worry about being double-teamed on the court.

Because of these Eastern five tigers...

Who would D'Antoni dare to leave open?

On TNT, Barkley said when the game entered the second quarter: "Allen and Su's chemistry is really good.

You won't get tired of watching these two people's cooperation no matter how many times you watch it."

In the second quarter, in order to take care of the experience of every star player participating in the All-Star game, both teams made a lot of personnel rotations.

As a result, under the crazy feeding of the pie by Nash and Kidd, Kirilenko, Gasol, Peja, Hill and others all gained an unprecedented experience on the field.

It wasn't until 3 minutes were left in the second quarter that Su Feng and Iverson were replaced on the court by Carlisle.

At this time, under the counterattack of the Western team's substitutes, the Eastern All-Star team became the lagging side.

At the end of the first half, the Eastern All-Star team trailed 79 to 83.

Under the high-tempo offensive battle, except for Artest and Marbury, who were terribly iron tonight, the players on both teams gained a lot of opportunities to perform.

And as the recognized current first center in the league...

During the halftime break, looking at his technical statistics of only 4 points and 4 rebounds...

O'Neal didn't even have the heart to play treasures on the field.

And on the live commentary seat of CCTV, Zhang Zhida's commentary at the time was very real.

"Oh, so there is an O'Neal on the Western All-Star team!"

After the halftime break, in the third quarter, Su Feng, who transformed into a labor model this year, began to act as the offensive core on the court.

Although Su Feng had exposed his intention to win this year's All-Star MVP not long after the game started tonight.

But as the saying goes, it is better to enjoy the fun together than to enjoy it alone.

On the court, under Su Feng's dispatch, Yao Ming, Duncan, Carter, and Iverson all had good performances in the first half of this quarter.

And on the Western team's side...

Everyone is showing off tonight, only Brother Shark is being beaten.

Under the "destined bond" between Su Feng and Duncan, and Su Feng's restraint as the "Shark Buster", plus Yao Ming's great strength to create miracles...

No one knew how much O'Neal, who originally wanted to brush an All-Star MVP and go home tonight, wanted to take a knife and chop Su Feng to death at this moment.

However, due to the increase effect and restraint effect brought by the iron-making system, it is always determined by the player's own state...

So in fact, the reason why O'Neal did not perform well tonight was mainly because D'Antoni's tactical focus was not on him.

In the 07/08 season, in order to solve the team's long-standing predicament of not being able to beat the Spurs in the playoffs, the Suns used Marion to trade for O'Neal.

As a result, although O'Neal was no longer at his peak at that time...

But after O'Neal joined the Suns, the Suns, who had always been able to play like mercury pouring to the ground on the court, suddenly seemed to not know how to play.

In Su Feng's eyes, it would be useless even if you gave D'Antoni a peak Chamberlain.

Because this little D...

He only knows how to use super guards.

Center?

Even Stoudemire, under D'Antoni, is just a tool for eating pie.

And if you put aside Little Si's mid-range and personal strong offense...

Then look at the future Capela, and you can probably understand what the center's position is in D'Antoni's tactics.

On the court, in the third quarter, the Eastern All-Star team, which led in the first half, was pushed back by Nash and Kidd in the second half.

And when it came to the fourth quarter...

D'Antoni simply did nothing and sent out a large four-small lineup consisting of Garnett, McGrady, Kobe, Kidd, and Nash.

As a result, this lineup once dazzled the Lakers fans at the Staples Center.

Because after watching the Lakers' lengthy and slow half-court offense and defense practice for most of the season, the Lakers fans were so envious of this kind of open-minded offensive battle tonight.

However, in this era when Yao Ming, Duncan, and others were at their peak...

This kind of small lineup showed its anxious side in the interior defense after Su Zhidao led the two major beasts of the Eastern interior back to the court.

Even Garnett in his prime was more adept at helping defense rather than one-on-one defense.

In the low post, facing Yao's hard凿, Garnett, who was iron-blooded and no matter how violent, could only let him do whatever he wanted.

On the other side, McGrady was also made to cry by Duncan's fancy board.

In terms of height and wingspan, McGrady can actually play from the one to the four position...

However, due to the strict control of the Suns team doctor, among the four major guards, McGrady is the only one who has not chosen to gain weight.

In the last moment of the final quarter, seeing that the Eastern team was about to catch up, D'Antoni hurriedly invited O'Neal back.

However, this time, it was really not that O'Neal was deliberately being lazy on the court because D'Antoni did not use him properly.

But as soon as O'Neal came back...

The Western All-Star team's offensive rhythm was completely disrupted.

On the other hand, on the Eastern All-Star team, Carlisle also experienced the treatment that only John Davis and Pat Riley had enjoyed tonight after entering the decisive moment.

Anyway, just pull it away and let Su Feng hard凿!

Kobe was in good shape tonight, but in one-on-one, he couldn't control Su Feng's unreasonable shot.

In the end, with Su Feng's one two-plus-one and six free throws at the last moment, the Eastern All-Star team defeated the Western All-Star team 161 to 155.

And it is worth mentioning that in this game, without any "deliberate" data brushing...

Su Feng unexpectedly played a technical statistics of 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Ah this!

Is this the legendary...

The "hard power" that can play a triple-double with "do whatever you want"?

On TNT, Barkley said with emotion, "As another 'triple-double' night born on the All-Star stage...

Compared to Michael Jordan, who relied on the help of all the Eastern team to get a triple-double back then, Su proved to the world with his strength on this night how comprehensive he is now."

And on the side, Smith said: "This is also the best counterattack against those who always questioned his unreasonable choice of shots on the court before.

Because tonight, after scoring 21 points in the first quarter, Su has been happy to share the ball with his teammates on the court."

At the Staples Center, after watching this high-quality offensive battle, Stern also announced this year's All-Star Game MVP with a smile on his face.

On the Eastern team's side, Su Feng, who played "30+ triple-double", and Iverson, who got 21 points and 12 assists, jointly lifted the All-Star Game MVP trophy this year.

As the existence who likes to create "CP" to please fans the most in this league, on this night of "everyone is happy, only Brother Shark is in pain"...

If you say that Stern is not deliberately messing with the mentality of the Sixers fans, then Su Feng would not believe it even if he was beaten to death.

And after the game, when asked who would keep this MVP trophy, Iverson took the lead and replied: "Just give it to Su, this can also be regarded as a gift for his son."

Su Feng: "......"

Good fellow!

Although Su Feng didn't "care much" about the ownership of this MVP trophy, but seeing that Iverson took the initiative to give it away, how could Su Feng refuse Iverson's kindness?

"I think my son will like this gift."

After touching Iverson's dirty braid, Su Feng, thinking in his heart that his daughter had one more toy, said to the reporters.

So far, the 2004 Los Angeles All-Star Weekend has officially come to an end.

And then, what followed was the 03/04 season entering the final stage...

And...

The question of how far the Heat can go this year, which the world is very curious about...

And on this heart-wrenching night...

Perhaps O'Neal's only comfort at this moment is that since this year's game is being held in Los Angeles, he only needs to go to the parking lot to find the fastest way home.

……

Fa Biao De Wo Niu