Hu Weidong, pulling Li Feng with one hand and Yao Ming with the other, was full of relief.
"Coach Hu, do you have any suggestions? Please tell us, we'll make changes!" Yao Ming knew that Hu Weidong had a solid understanding of tactics, so he took this opportunity to seek advice.
Hu Weidong clearly understood the principle of not interfering in matters outside one's purview, so he shook his head and said, "My methods are outdated, they're no longer useful!"
Da Yao shook his head and replied, "No, the experience of the older generation is very valuable, and besides, Coach Hu only retired a few years ago, so you can't be outdated."
Li Feng also said, "Coach Hu, please give us some advice. The knockout stage is very cruel, and your suggestions will definitely help us!"
Seeing their sincerity, Coach Hu couldn't help but offer a few words.
"Then I'll be frank. Your tactics today were spot on, especially how Da Yao's offensive range expanded, creating more space for his teammates. But there's one thing, Da Yao's defense..."
Seeing Hu's hesitation, Yao Ming immediately pressed, "Coach Hu, please speak frankly, it's alright."
"Da Yao, your help defense needs to be more active, and your anticipation needs to be more accurate."
Da Yao nodded vigorously, completely agreeing.
As the era of small ball was dawning, Da Yao had already keenly sensed it.
The defensive responsibilities of a center were becoming increasingly difficult.
Yao Ming's weight meant he couldn't have that much mobility, so he needed to rely on anticipation.
But anticipation wasn't something that could be mastered in just a day or two.
"Coach Hu, please rest assured, I will work hard to improve my defensive capabilities."
This was Da Yao's strength. Even though he was now the undisputed core and backbone of the national team, he was still focused on self-improvement.
The three chatted for a while longer before concluding the interview.
When Da Yao and Li Feng returned to the locker room, as soon as they opened the door, water poured down from all directions, followed by the cheers of their teammates.
It turned out that while Da Yao and Li Feng were being interviewed, their teammates had already agreed in the locker room to have some fun when they returned.
It was a team tradition to lightly "tease" the heroes after a victory.
Only teammates who were well-liked were subjected to this teasing.
This kind of scene was even more common in the NBA, where teammates would sometimes douse the MVP with water during interviews.
Yao Ming and Li Feng, laughing and dodging the water, embraced their teammates in celebration, making the locker room a lively scene.
As the Chinese players celebrated their victory, Jonas walked in.
As expected, Jonas also received the treatment, with players dousing him with water.
Jonas mingled with the players for a bit, wiped himself dry, clapped his hands, and said, "Children, I am truly overjoyed today. You are all the best, and I am proud of you!"
"Our next opponent is Croatia, who just defeated Lithuania. They are a strong team, so everyone needs to be mentally prepared!"
Jonas's intention was clear: while celebrating victory, he wanted to prevent complacency and arrogance.
Although China had staged a comeback to defeat Lithuania in the group stage, it hadn't been easy.
Croatia, having eliminated Lithuania, was undoubtedly a stronger team, and China needed to face them seriously.
"We won't be training tomorrow, but we need to come to the video room to watch Croatia's games. Alright, you can continue!"
After saying that, Jonas high-fived the players one by one and left the locker room.
...
Li Feng returned to his accommodation, still excited and in a great mood. He immediately pulled up the system, eager to see what rewards he would receive after this resounding victory.
"Ding, notification: Congratulations to the host for unlocking the Glory Point Draw System!"
"Refresh this week's prize pool!"
The system's voice echoed, and Li Feng was a bit bewildered, wondering why there was a lottery element. This didn't seem like King of Glory...
Why was there crystal drawing?
He then checked the rules and prerequisites for the draw, and only then did he understand.
When the host Li Feng achieved in the game...
...
Just as Li Feng was about to rest for the night, his phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was Curry.
Their communication had increased significantly recently, partly due to the media.
The nickname "Splash Brothers" was becoming increasingly popular, and they were generating widespread discussion even before entering the NBA.
Of course, Curry couldn't have imagined at the time that he would ignite a three-point revolution in the NBA. Now, all he thought about was fighting alongside Li Feng and helping Davis Academy win the championship.
Previously, Li Feng was just a substitute for the Wildcats, so Curry hadn't paid much attention to him.
However, Li Feng's outstanding performance in this Olympics, leading the Chinese team to victory alongside Yao Ming, had shocked Curry.
Coupled with the recommendation from his mentor, Mike Krzyzewski, Curry was even more convinced that to achieve something in the NCAA, he had to team up with Li Feng.
"Hey, Li Feng, you guys won again!" Curry shouted excitedly as soon as he started, his slightly hoarse voice sounding somewhat comical.
Li Feng smiled and replied, "Yes, we played pretty well today, didn't we? Were you watching the game just now?"
"Of course, I've watched all your games, not a single one missed! I can't believe you locked down Ginobili, my goodness, that's an NBA superstar!"
Although he couldn't see Curry's expression, he could fully sense his astonishment from his tone.
"Perhaps he was in a bad state, and he's getting older. If it were a few years earlier, it wouldn't have been like this."
Li Feng, being respectful of his seniors, offered a few humble words.
Curry agreed, "Indeed, Ginobili definitely has the skill, but undeniably, you played really well today. I need to learn from you."
Seeing Curry's humility, Li Feng felt a bit sheepish.
"Don't say that. You'll definitely become a superstar when you enter the NBA," Li Feng said meaningfully.
Curry didn't have such grand ambitions and thought Li Feng was flattering him, so he shook his head and replied, "I'm still far from it. But as the head coach says, basketball is a team sport, and we must play team basketball in the future!"
The concept of team basketball was deeply ingrained in Curry's mind, which would greatly influence his future professional career.
Li Feng also felt deeply, especially in this Olympics, where he realized that personal performance sometimes needed to compromise with team needs.