The Best Point Guard

Chapter 334: Chapter 95: Rampaging Chinese Team

Chinese fans sat in front of their televisions, unable to hide their excitement.

In all these years, they had never seen such a powerful Chinese Team.

In past matchups against Spain, the Chinese Team had always been at a disadvantage. But tonight, they had been dominating Spain from the very beginning.

Moreover, Yao Ming had been subbed out for an early rest just six minutes into the first quarter.

Su Xi led the Chinese Team as they continued their rampage.

Previously, Yao Ming was the cornerstone of the Chinese Team; him leaving the court was equivalent to the beginning of a collapse.

But this time was different. After Yao Ming was subbed out, although the Chinese Team’s offensive threat in the paint and their defense were both diminished, Spain still couldn’t stop Su Xi when he ramped up his offensive assault.

Furthermore, with Su Xi orchestrating the offense, the Chinese Team’s shooters continuously applied pressure from the perimeter.

Spain still couldn’t break free from the pressure.

Anyone who knew even a little about basketball could see clearly that if you could just shut down Su Xi, the Chinese Team would be finished. Their entire offense and defense revolved around Su Xi alone.

Spain had tried, but they couldn’t succeed.

This sent the Dream Team’s meeting room into silence.

It was also a resounding slap in the face to all those so-called experts in the United States.

Because they had been constantly promoting the narrative that Su Xi’s success was built entirely on the foundation of the Pacers’ inherent strength. That on any other team, Su Xi could never succeed. They claimed he was just the icing on the cake, utterly lacking the strength to turn the tide and carry a team on his own.

But now, wasn’t this the best proof to the contrary?

The ESPN commentators tried to comfort their American fans: "The FIBA system is conducive to amplifying Little Sheep Su Xi’s abilities, and Spain’s strength isn’t on par with an NBA team’s."

Faced with having to eat one of two piles of shit, they chose the less disgusting one: admitting that Su Xi was perfectly adapted to the FIBA system. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

The first quarter ended.

The Chinese Team led 25-19, up by 6 points.

Yao Ming came on in the second quarter. He played for 7 minutes, and his two-pronged attack with Su Xi extended their lead to as much as 13 points.

Before the first half ended, Spain managed to cut the deficit back to just 10 points.

The second half was a carbon copy of the first. Spain was constantly pinned down by the Chinese Team. They attempted to fight back, but their efforts were immediately met with an even more brutal suppression from Su Xi. Su Xi was like a demon king, rampaging across the court. His powerful physique, incredible speed, and sublime dribbling skills allowed him to penetrate deep into the paint.

The European leagues emphasized physical contact, but they had never seen a Point Guard who could send a center like Gasol flying.

98-81.

The Chinese Team effortlessly took the win in their first game of the group stage.

Securing 2 points in the standings.

Su Xi played the entire game, finishing with 15 points, 11 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks. An incredibly all-around performance. And these were stats under the FIBA system; converted to the NBA, they’d be multiplied by at least 1.3, since NBA quarters are 12 minutes while FIBA’s are only 10. Moreover, NBA stat-keeping is more professional and generous than FIBA’s.

Yao Ming played 23 minutes in this game and scored 28 points, his efficiency completely maxed out.

After the game, he said with a grin, "I’ve never fought such a well-supplied battle in my life. Today felt amazing, just like drinking an ice-cold Coke."

It wasn’t just Yao Ming who felt like he was drinking an ice-cold Coke, but also the tens of millions of basketball fans across the Divine Land.

For them, today was like New Year’s.

They had never seen the Chinese Team look as powerful as they did today.

To think they beat a powerhouse like Spain so badly that they were powerless to fight back.

The fans were growing more and more excited for the upcoming games.

While Yao Ming was giving his interview, the Dream Six Team’s meeting room was silent. The Chinese Team winning felt even worse than if they themselves had lost.

Many of the players in that room had come with vengeance on their minds.

And even the players who had no personal grudge against Su Xi couldn’t accept him becoming the Finals MVP.

Therefore, "teaching Su Xi a lesson" was the basic consensus within the Dream Six Team.

And yet, and yet...

...

「The next day.」 The Dream Team faced their first opponent in the group stage: Puerto Rico.

Before the game, the American media had been hyping up how incredibly strong the Dream Six Team’s roster was, and how powerful their will to win was.

But as soon as the game started, their weakness was exposed.

Larry Brown was not a flexible or adaptable head coach. He stubbornly stuck to his set tactics, forcing his players into his system. He also obstinately weakened the authority of his superstars, always insisting that the head coach was the team’s ultimate authority, and that not even an assistant coach could sway his commands.

He was always like this.

This was why the Dream Team lost their first game to Puerto Rico.

The Chinese Team won, Team USA lost.

This stark contrast led many fans in China to start thinking bold thoughts: ’Why can’t we beat the Dream Team?’

Perhaps this idea was too shocking.

In their second group stage game, the Chinese Team lost to Argentina. The eagles from the Pampas Plateau defeated the Chinese Team led by Su Xi and Yao Ming. This was Argentina’s golden generation.

Ginobili, Scola, Nocioni, Delphino, Felman, Oberto... a group of elite, fierce players who defeated the Chinese Team with their dazzling and swift style of play.

Although Su Xi and Yao Ming had very strong performances—Yao Ming put up a huge double-double with 26 points and 15 rebounds in 32 minutes, while Su Xi recorded a super triple-double with 15 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals—Su Xi bricking two consecutive shots in the final moments was seen as the direct cause of the Chinese Team’s loss.