manynovel Chapter 33 The Sixth Bullet
Chapter 33 The Sixth Bullet
2008年12月28日，上午8:00。
Li Xiangbei's apartment in Tribeca, Manhattan, New York.
The morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows onto the floor, where Li Xiangbei was sitting on a yoga mat doing core strength training.
Before his eyes, only the pale blue system panel that he could see was flashing.
Current Status: Peak Performance
[Guaranteed winning amount: 6/6 (refreshed)]
Looking at the number that changed from "5" to "6", Li Xiangbei's lips curled up.
To outsiders, this might just be the difference of scoring one more goal. But for a tactical linchpin like Li Xiangbei, it's a qualitative leap.
Previously, he only had five attempts, so he had to be very careful with his selections. In the first half, he had to use at least two attempts to stay close or create an opening. He would then use two more in the crucial third quarter to close the gap. In the end, he could only save one attempt for a game-winning shot or a critical play. The margin for error was extremely low; if he wasted it earlier, he would have to fight tooth and nail for the rest of the game.
But now, there's this "sixth bullet."
This means he has more luxurious tactical options.
When the opponent is just gaining momentum and the whole stadium is cheering, he can directly use an unreasonable, forceful answer ball to extinguish the opponent's hopes like a bucket of cold water.
He could even use this opportunity to try an even more insane long-range logo three-pointer, or a shot from a negative angle that is extremely demoralizing.
"I feel more free now," Li Xiangbei said, wiping his sweat.
Just then, the Blackberry phone lying next to me vibrated.
Caller ID: Scarlett.
"Good morning, big star." Scarlett's slightly languid voice came from the other end of the phone, with some background noise, like being on a film set. "I heard you got criticized by the entire American media for missing that open layup? ESPN said you're a madman who doesn't care about winning or losing when it comes to stats."
"A madman?" Li Xiangbei laughed. "The line between genius and madness is thin. And I won, didn't I?"
"But I love that shot." Scarlett's voice lowered, carrying a hint of seduction. "That arrogance of toying with your opponent...it's sexy. Really sexy."
Li Xiangbei's Adam's apple bobbed slightly: "Are you implying something?"
"No need for hints," Scarlett chuckled. "I don't have any engagements in New York on New Year's Eve. Perhaps we could... find a quiet place to celebrate your new record?"
"A quiet place?" Li Xiangbei thought of that long kiss on the top of Hollywood Hills last time. "I'm not sure if I have the stamina to hold on."
"Why don't you try and see?"
……
3:00 PM. Madison Square Garden Press Conference Room.
The Charlotte Bobcats arrived in New York.
Although this team has a mediocre record, it has attracted a lot of attention because of one person – their head coach, Larry Brown.
This 70-year-old coach is a renowned "academic" coach in the NBA and a defensive mastermind who led the Pistons to victory over the Lakers' "F4" in 2004 to win the championship. What he hates most is individual heroism and flashy offense.
At the press conference, Larry Brown's wrinkled face was as serious as a piece of dried tree bark.
When a reporter asked Li Xiangbei about the play in the Christmas game where he "didn't shoot a three-pointer even with an open layup," the veteran coach's anger instantly flared up.
"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"
Larry Brown slammed his fist on the table, his voice stern.
"If that play happened on my team, no matter which player it was, even if it were Jordan, I would immediately substitute him and kick him out of the arena! It's an extreme disrespect for the game! It's an insult to the sport of basketball!"
"Young people these days only know how to shoot three-pointers, show off, and please the audience. They have no idea what proper basketball is or what team discipline is!"
Brown pointed at the camera, like a teacher scolding a bad student.
"Tonight, we'll show him what real basketball is. I'll make him understand that a clown can't win a championship in the NBA."
When the interview video was played in the locker room, the Knicks' young players looked somewhat helpless. Larry Brown's reputation, after all, was undeniable.
But Li Xiangbei simply tightened his shoelaces casually.
"The right way to play basketball?"
Li Xiangbei stood up, facing the camera with disdain in his eyes.
"Is Coach Larry still living in the era of black and white TVs? There weren't three-point lines back then, were there?"
"Tell him to have some nitroglycerin pills on hand. The pace will be fast tonight, and I'm worried his old heart won't be able to handle this kind of 'wrong basketball'."
……
7:00 p.m. Madison Square Garden.
The match is about to begin.
Tonight, a very important person is sitting in the first row of the stands.
Michael Jordan.
As the co-owner of the Bobcats, he personally accompanied the team to oversee the games. Although smoking was strictly prohibited in the arena, he still had that thick cigar in his mouth, and his imposing aura made no one dare to sit within several meters of him.
"...That's MJ..."
During warm-up, Zach Randolph kept glancing in that direction. "He's staring at us. That's my idol, the one I had a picture of on my wall when I was a kid. What if he comes down and beats me up if I don't play well?"
Li Xiangbei clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention back.
"Don't be nervous, guys."
Li Xiangbei glanced at Jordan on the sidelines; the "God of Basketball" was wearing sunglasses and had no expression.
"MJ is here to select people," Li Xiangbei suddenly laughed.
"You know, Michael's eye for talent... well, it's always been quite unique."
"If we beat him to a pulp, it means we're strong, that's fine."
"But if he takes a liking to any of us, or even nods and smiles at one of us..." Li Xiangbei paused, his tone turning serious, "then you need to be careful. That could mean your career is about to decline."
The team paused for a second, then burst into laughter. Randolph laughed the loudest: "Hahaha! Kwame Brown! Adam Morrison! Boss, you were right! I'm not nervous anymore!"
The laughter dispelled the tense atmosphere.
Li Xiangbei turned around and looked at the figure on the sidelines with a cigar in his mouth.
Is he watching?
Li Xiangbei touched the soles of his "Rogue Generation" shoes.
"Then let him see how basketball is played in this new era."
"Tonight, I'm going to shoot him a ball that will make him shake his head in disbelief."
Before the match began.
Larry Brown was giving instructions on the sidelines. He pointed at Li Xiangbei and yelled at Gerald Wallace, the Bobcats' defensive stalwart:
"Stick to him tight! Don't give him any space to shoot! If it's a layup, let him in, we have interior help defense. But he absolutely cannot shoot threes! That's his Achilles' heel!"
Larry Brown thought he had found Li Xiangbei's so-called weakness of "only shooting three-pointers".
Li Xiangbei watched this scene with a smile on his face.
"Let me break through?"
"Old man, you know nothing about my power."