manynovel Chapter 30 Altitude Sickness? No, it's Despair Sickness.
Chapter 30 Altitude Sickness? No, it's Despair Sickness.
2008年12月18日，晚8:00。
Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado.
Knicks vs. Denver Nuggets.
This is a competition not only against opponents, but also against nature. At an altitude of 1606 meters, the oxygen content in the air is nearly 20% lower than at sea level.
From the start of the game, the Nuggets demonstrated their dominance.
Chauncey Billups, the Finals MVP, steadily controlled the pace. He didn't blindly increase the speed, but rather, like a surgeon, precisely delivered the ball to every open position.
Meanwhile, Cameron Anthony began his solo performance.
As an offensive virtuoso of the 03 draft class, Anthony received the ball with his back to the basket in the low post at the right 45-degree angle. He seemed to handle Li Xiangbei's defense with ease.
Catch the ball, turn around, face the basket.
A textbook example of the three threats.
Anthony quickly moved his right foot forward, a very deceptive jab step.
Li Xiangbei subconsciously shifted his weight backward.
In that instant, Anthony pulled up!
That kind of pull-up jump shot in a very small space, the movement is as smooth as silk.
"brush!"
Hollow-core netting.
Next round.
Anthony positioned himself again. This time, he didn't mince words; he directly used his broad shoulders—enough to push aside James's tank-like physique—to slam into Li Xiangbei.
"Bang!"
Although Li Xiangbei was tough enough, Anthony's strength and weight still managed to force open a small space.
Anthony used the momentum to turn and dribble past the defender, easily making a layup.
In the commentary booth, Reggie Miller exclaimed in admiration: "This is an offensive kaleidoscope! Cameron is teaching Li Xiangbei a lesson! Li is physically strong and physically tough, but he seems a bit stiff against Anthony's delicate technique. That's the difference in experience!"
End of first quarter.
Nuggets 32:22 Knicks.
Li Xiangbei wiped away his sweat, his brow furrowing slightly. Anthony's feints were too numerous, and with that muscular build, he was indeed difficult to defend against.
……
Middle of the third section.
The worst thing happened.
Altitude sickness arrived as expected.
The Knicks players began to feel as if their legs were filled with lead, and each breath became extremely difficult.
Zach Randolph put his hands on his knees during a dead ball situation.
"Coach... I can't go on... I need oxygen..."
Randolph was substituted off the field and immediately slumped into his chair, inhaling oxygen from his mask.
The Nuggets seized the opportunity.
"Run! Run them to death!"
Billups yelled, and the Nuggets began to accelerate furiously. Nene and Kenyon Martin charged at the Knicks' fragile defense like two wild beasts.
The point difference quickly widened to 18 points.
The Denver fans erupted in cheers; they were all too familiar with this rhythm. This was the "high-altitude bonus" of the Pepsi Center.
however.
When the Knicks were on the verge of collapse, one figure stood out from the crowd.
Li Xiangbei.
He was still running at full speed.
Anthony dribbled the ball on a fast break, thinking the Knicks players behind him were exhausted and he was ready for an easy dunk.
But just as he jumped...
A series of rapid and forceful footsteps came from behind.
Li Xiangbei sprinted from the backcourt, his "steel lungs" operating at full power.
He leaped into the air behind Anthony!
"Get down here!!"
*Smack!*
A solid, hard block!
Anthony was knocked off his balance by the enormous force and fell out of bounds.
Li Xiangbei gained control of the ball.
But he didn't stop.
Land, turn, dribble forward.
One-stop service!
The Nuggets players tried to get back on defense, but their legs couldn't keep up. Li Xiangbei's speed was still as fast as it was at the start of the game.
He charged to the frontcourt and jumped just inside the free-throw line.
"boom!!!"
One-armed tomahawk dunk!
After landing, Li Xiangbei did not bend over and pant like the others.
He stood at the baseline, watching Anthony, who had just gotten up from the ground and was panting heavily.
He looked at Anthony and gave him a devilish smile.
"Cameron, the air's really fresh. Why did you stop running? Was my pace too fast?"
Anthony looked at Li Xiangbei, who was still sprinting like he did in the first quarter, as if he were looking at a monster.
They're already in the third quarter, is this guy made of iron? Doesn't he get oxygen-deprived?
……
The final 40 seconds of the fourth quarter.
Knicks 105 : Nuggets 105
In the fourth quarter, Li Xiangbei single-handedly filled that 18-point hole.
Anthony was exhausted. Several of his shots in the fourth quarter hit the front of his body, a typical sign of his leg muscles failing to engage properly due to exhaustion.
Knicks ball.
Li Xiangbei holds the ball and faces Anthony.
The stadium opened.
"Come on, Cameron. I'll show you what a real three-threat is."
Li Xiangbei dribbled the ball, striking that classic ball-handling pose.
Step forward with your right foot, a probing step.
Anthony didn't react to the fake. But it wasn't that he didn't want to move; rather, his legs were truly immobile. Lactic acid buildup was slowing his reaction time.
[Guaranteed credit limit: 1/5 (activated)]
Li Xiangbei retracted his right foot and took a direct, high jump.
His jumping height remains astonishing, and he is still full of explosive power.
Anthony could only symbolically extend his hand.
The basketball traced a perfect arc in the air.
"Whoosh—!"
Three point hit!
108:105.
But it's not over yet.
The instant the ball went in.
Li Xiangbei did not return to defense. He stood in front of Anthony, raised his right hand, and extended three fingers.
Then, he used those three fingers to poke his temples three times.
Three-finger headshot!
This is Carmelo Anthony's most iconic and flamboyant celebration!
Tonight, on the high plateau of Denver, Li Xiangbei humiliated Anthony in the same way Anthony did!
In the commentary booth, Reggie Miller instantly went into a frenzy:
"Oh no!! What did he do?! He stole Melon's actions! He killed Melon in the way Melon did on the Denver Plateau! This is blatant humiliation! This is killing someone and destroying their spirit!!"
The Nuggets fans in the arena booed deafeningly, but there was more of a sense of helplessness in their boos.
……
competition is over.
The Knicks rallied to defeat the Nuggets 112-108.
Anthony stood at center court, hands on his hips, staring helplessly at the scoreboard. He had lost, lost to that monster whose stamina seemed to have no bottom.
Li Xiangbei walked over and patted Anthony on the shoulder.
"Good move, Cameron. I like it very much, I'll recruit him from now on."
Li Xiangbei pointed to his temple.
"Besides, I think the air in New York is definitely better than here. The oxygen content is higher, so it's less tiring."
"Come to New York sometime. You might like it there."
Anthony paused, looking into Li Xiangbei's eyes. Was it mockery? Or recruitment?
he does not know.
All he knew was that after tonight, the name Li Xiangbei would become a nightmare for the entire city of Denver.
After the game.
Li Xiangbei sat in the locker room.
A system notification sounded.
[Congratulations, host! Mission complete: Highland Hunt.]
[Reward: Offensive Skill Pack - "Triple Threat Master (Anthony Edition)"]
Your jab step deception is increased by 30%, and your mid-range shooting consistency is increased by 20%.
Li Xiangbei looked at the panel and smiled.
"We've got the kaleidoscope technology."