svetikya Chapter 10 The Steel Torrent of Boston
Chapter 10 The Steel Torrent of Boston
2008年11月7日，晚8:00。
Madison Square Garden, New York.
Knicks vs. Boston Celtics.
The defending champions, the Boston Celtics, are here.
That iron-willed team, comprised of Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen, was crushing the league like a sophisticated killing machine, radiating championship-caliber pressure.
In the Knicks' locker room, in order to maintain a semblance of stability, or rather, to give Marbury one last chance to "prove himself," D'Antoni still included him in the starting lineup.
"Listen up!" D'Antoni was outlining the play. "The Celtics have the toughest defense in the league! The ball has to move! Don't stop! If you stop, we're doomed!"
Marbury, tying his shoelaces, gave a casual hum, clearly not taking the words to heart.
……
Game start.
Just five minutes later, D'Antoni's worst fears came true.
Marbury seemed to be venting all the frustration he'd accumulated over the past few days, refusing to pass the ball after receiving it. He attempted to challenge the Celtics' defensive system with one-on-one plays.
But he was up against Rajon Rondo.
This long-armed monster not only has a top-notch defensive instinct, but also has Garnett, a historically great help defense master, standing behind him.
"Snapped!"
On his first strong run, Rondo poked the ball away.
"Bang!"
In his second back-to-the-basket post-up, he turned around and crashed right into Garnett's arms, getting blocked and knocked to the ground.
"beep--!"
The referee indicated that there was no foul.
Marbury sat on the ground, arms outstretched, and roared at the referee, "You didn't call that?! Are you blind?!"
Meanwhile, the Celtics launched a counterattack. Ray Allen received a pass and hit a three-pointer.
"brush!"
4:15. The Knicks' start was disastrous.
A few boos rose from Madison Square Garden, and then grew louder.
Li Xiangbei stood in the corner, watching the chaotic scene with a furrowed brow.
As a shooting guard, he barely touched the ball in those few minutes. But he didn't throw up his hands and complain like Marbury did.
Since we don't have the ball on offense, let's focus our energy on defense.
He was like a piece of sticky taffy, clinging tightly to Ray Allen as he ran off the ball. With every screen, every push, Li Xiangbei fought with all his might.
"This rookie... he's got some skills." Ray Allen wiped his sweat; he found it difficult to catch the ball.
But individual efforts couldn't make up for the team's collapse. At the end of the first quarter, the Knicks were down by a full 18 points.
……
There are 3 minutes and 24 seconds left in the second quarter.
Knicks 32: 52 Celtics.
The entire stadium fell silent. This was no longer a competition; it was a massacre.
Marbury dribbled the ball across half-court and, facing Rondo's pressure, attempted a flashy behind-the-back dribble to get past him.
That's courting death.
Rondo's long arm reached out.
"Snapped!"
The ball was intercepted!
Rondo intercepted the ball and accelerated immediately, rushing towards the front like a green lightning bolt. There was a wide-open space ahead, undefended.
Marbury paused for a moment, then stood still and cursed at the air, "Fxxk!"
He didn't retreat. He didn't even bother to pretend to run a few steps. He just stood there with his hands on his hips, watching Rondo's back, his face completely indifferent.
however.
A white figure suddenly rushed out from the bottom right corner of the field.
That's Li Xiangbei!
He started his run the instant Rondo intercepted the ball.
Rondo drove to the basket and easily jumped for a layup. He thought it was just a routine two points.
But behind him, the wind howled.
Li Xiangbei leaped into the air just inside the free-throw line, his body stretched to its limit, like a predator hunting its prey.
"Get down here!!!"
"Bang!!!"
Li Xiangbei slammed the basketball hard against the backboard with his large hand!
A spiked hat!
However, due to his excessive sprint speed and the mid-air collision, Li Xiangbei lost his balance upon landing. Like an out-of-control race car, he crashed heavily into the camera position at the finish line.
"Clang!"
The camera fell to the ground, and Li Xiangbei also fell into the crowd.
"hiss--"
The entire audience gasped.
When Li Xiangbei looked up from the pile of equipment, blood was already flowing down his left brow bone, instantly staining half of his cheek red, a shocking sight.
"beep--!"
The referee immediately stopped the game.
The team doctor rushed onto the field carrying a box.
At the same time, the large screen above the stadium began to replay the scene that had just occurred.
The screen was split in two.
On the left is Marbury's nonchalant shrug, hands on hips, watching the show after the ball was stolen.
On the right is a picture of Li Xiangbei sprinting thirty meters from the bottom corner, making a flying block, and then getting blood on the court.
This is a stark contrast. This is the difference between professional attitude and toxic behavior.
The DJs at the scene fell silent.
One second later.
"Replace him!!!"
I don't know who shouted it first.
Then, the sound turned into a roar from the entire audience of 20,000 people, sweeping in like a tsunami.
"Replace Marbury!!"
"Get out of New York!!"
"We need real warriors!!"
Marbury stood at center court, listening to the overwhelming barrage of insults, his face pale. He wanted to refute, to explain, but faced with the stark contrast on the big screen, any words seemed utterly powerless.
……
Near the bottom line.
"This wound is a bit deep and needs stitches, Li, you need to go back to the locker room..." The team doctor looked at the cut on Li Xiangbei's brow bone with some concern.
Li Xiangbei pushed away the staff who were preparing to lift him onto a stretcher.
He casually wiped the blood off his face with the hem of his jersey, revealing his once handsome face now to be contorted and ferocious.
"Stitching? I don't have time for that."
Li Xiangbei's voice was hoarse but firm.
"Put a bandage on me, or wrap it with a bandage. Just don't block my view."
"But……"
"This is an order!" Li Xiangbei glared, his domineering aura mixed with the smell of blood, which sent a chill down the spine of the team doctor.
The team doctor didn't dare to waste any words and quickly applied a thick butterfly patch to his skin, then wrapped it with a white bandage.
Li Xiangbei stood up, still wearing his blood-stained jersey.
He turned around, his uninjured right eye scanning the Knicks' bench.
Gallinari shrank back in fear, David Lee clenched his fists, and Randolph, the usually fearless thug, instinctively avoided looking at Li Xiangbei, whose face was covered in blood.
That marked the establishment of the new leader's position. That was a pledge of allegiance written in blood.
……
The second half of the game has begun.
Marbury never appeared on the court again. He was firmly relegated to the very end of the bench by D'Antoni, without even taking off his practice clothes.
Li Xiangbei played with an injury and switched to point guard.
"Run!"
Li Xiangbei roared on the field.
Without the toxic ball-hogging problem, the Knicks seem to have unlocked their full potential.
Li Xiangbei no longer focused on individual scoring. Facing the Celtics' solid defense, he used his boundless energy to continuously accelerate, break through, and pass the ball.
"Whoosh!"
A bounce pass found Randolph inside, who used his big back to push past Perkins and score with a powerful shot!
"brush!"
The ball was passed to the outside, and Wilson Chandler hit a three-pointer!
The Knicks unleashed a fluid and relentless offensive onslaught.
Of course, in critical moments, you still have to rely on brute force.
With 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the gap was narrowed to just 8 points.
Pierce dribbles and goes one-on-one against Li Xiangbei.
"Rookie, have you bled enough?" Pierce trash-talked as he backed down the opponent. "This is a man's battlefield."
Li Xiangbei pressed his grip firmly against Pierce's lower back, panting as he whispered in his ear:
"Paul, your movements are a bit stiff. Is the burrito from last night acting up again? Hmm... I think I smell... the scent of truth."
Pierce's expression changed instantly, his anus tightened, and his hand movements visibly stiffened.
"when!"
He missed his turnaround jump shot!
Li Xiangbei grabbed the rebound and launched a fast break.
Facing Ray Allen's retreating defense, he pulled up suddenly beyond the three-point line.
[Guaranteed Credit Limit: Activate]
[Forced pitching]
"brush!"
Three point hit!
The difference has narrowed to 5 points!
The crowd erupted! Chants of "MVP" echoed through Madison Square Garden for the first time! All for a second-round pick!
……
competition is over.
Knicks 98: 104 Celtics.
Ultimately, the gap in skill level remained a factor. The Celtics secured the victory with their seasoned experience and consistent free throw shooting.
But the Knicks outscored the defending champions by 14 points in the second half.
The moment the whistle blew, Li Xiangbei braced himself on his knees with both hands, sweat and blood mingling and dripping onto the floor.
Although they lost, not a single person left the stadium. Twenty thousand fans stood up and applauded for a long time.
Garnett walked over, the wolf king who never praised anyone, patted Li Xiangbei on the shoulder, and pointed to the bandage on his head:
"You're crazy. But I like crazy people. Next time we meet, I'll open up your other brow bone too."
Li Xiangbei smiled, revealing a set of blood-stained white teeth: "I'll be waiting anytime."
Back in the locker room.
The atmosphere was quiet; there was no sense of dejection after losing, but rather a strange sense of unity.
Randolph, the troublemaker in the locker room, was sitting next to Li Xiangbei's locker at that moment.
Everyone thought the black bear was up to no good.
Unexpectedly, Randolph stood up and walked over to Li Xiangbei, who was applying ice to his skin.
He extended his fist, which was as big as a bear's paw, and gently bumped it against Li Xiangbei's chest.
"A tough guy."
Randolph's voice was muffled, but sincere.
"Next game, give me the ball. I'll set screens for you, and if anyone dares to touch you, I'll take them down."
Li Xiangbei was stunned for a moment, then stretched out his fist and bumped back.
"Deal, Zach."
In the darkest corner of the locker room.
Stephon Marbury watched this scene and listened to his teammates chatting and laughing around Li Xiangbei, then silently lowered his head.
He knew that his New York era had come to a complete end that night.