The Best Point Guard

Chapter 336: Chapter 96: [I’ll Teach You How to Win an Olympic Gold Medal]

As Team USA watched Su Xi lead the Chinese Team to completely dismantle Puerto Rico, they didn’t feel the slightest bit of happiness.

The more dominant the Chinese Team was, the more pathetic Team USA looked in comparison.

The damn media back in the United States had already started calling them the ’Nightmare Team,’ the disgraceful team.

Everyone had been hoping for revenge. After all, they had only placed fifth at the last World Championship, losing face on their home turf. If they didn’t win the gold medal this year, the Dream Team’s golden reputation would be utterly destroyed.

So, the more decisively the Chinese Team won, the more irritated they became.

But what could they do about it?

Just suck it up.

They’d just have to get used to it.

With the combined efforts of Su Xi, Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi, and the others, the Chinese Team exploited every advantage—using their speed against the slow, their height against the short, and their strength against the weak.

They thrashed Puerto Rico by a full 28 points.

It was another exhilarating victory, another unstoppable advance in the tournament.

The Divine Land was in an uproar.

As the tournament progressed, the Olympics were drawing to a close.

The Chinese Team was second only to the United States in the gold medal count, holding firm in second place.

The men’s basketball gold medal had originally been considered a lock for the Dream Team, but based on the current situation, they clearly lacked the strength to dominate the competition.

The Chinese Team, on the other hand, was starting to look like a truly dominant force.

This was the Chinese Team’s historic first trip to the final four.

The entire nation was celebrating. Having come this far, everyone dropped the pretense. The fans’ hopes converged into a torrent on the internet: "Someone has to win the Olympic gold medal, so why can’t it be the Chinese Team?"

After the victory over Puerto Rico, a CCTV reporter asked Su Xi directly, "Su Xi, do you think we have a chance to win a gold medal this year?"

Su Xi was taken aback for a moment.

"We’ll do our absolute best to win it," Su Xi replied.

With Su Xi’s words, the reporter was relieved, and the viewers at home felt more confident as well.

For the fans back home, Su Xi’s words were gospel.

’Since Su Xi said they’d do their absolute best, he must be confident.’

’Besides, even if they don’t get the gold, winning silver or bronze would be great, too.’

’The Chinese Team had never even made the final four before.’

Shortly after the Chinese Team advanced to the final four, Argentina also secured a spot by defeating Lithuania, the top seed from Group B.

Then, Italy defeated the host nation, Greece, to advance to the final four.

After a grueling battle, the Dream Six Team defeated Spain, becoming the last team to qualify for the final four of the Athens Olympics.

Spain was incredibly unlucky; their stamina was completely drained in the final stages, leading to their defeat.

Moreover, they had only lost one game in the group stage, only to run into the Dream Six Team. Who could have expected Team USA to be this pathetic?

With the final four decided, the semifinal matchups were set. fгeewebnovёl.com

The Chinese Team would face Italy.

Team USA was matched up against Argentina.

Italy. The Chinese Team had already played them once in the group stage. They were tough, but not *that* tough.

Ever since Italy defeated Greece, the Divine Land had erupted with joy. Not only were the fans ecstatic, but television commentators were also saying, "A silver medal is in the bag now."

No one was taking Italy seriously.

It felt just like Italy in World War II.

The Dream Six Team, in contrast, had nothing to smile about.

The American media were even saying with sour grapes, "The Chinese Team’s luck is just too good."

When Su Xi saw that comment on ESPN, he laughed in exasperation.

’You call this good luck? Why don’t you just admit you guys are weak? You lost to Italy in Germany, you lost to Puerto Rico in the group stage—aren’t these the very teams that have already beaten you? Do you just complain about the "environment" everywhere you go? Getting scared before the battle has even begun... that’s not the Dream Team way.’

’Where’s your old swagger? You guys need to get it together.’

Interestingly, before the semifinal between Argentina and the United States, Su Xi happened to run into Carlos Boozer, LeBron James, and Carmeron Anthony in the players’ tunnel.

The three of them were stretching off to the side.

Seeing Su Xi, Anthony waved a greeting, and Ah Bu even ran over to give Su Xi a high-five.

Only James pretended not to see him.

’Logically, all three of them were my former teammates, so we should all have a good relationship. Why can’t the Little King get along?’

"Jack, you guys are on a serious roll," Carlos Boozer said to Su Xi. "Beat Italy, and you’re in the finals. The Chinese Team has never been to the Olympic finals before, right? You’re a real lucky charm—you win wherever you go."

Su Xi chuckled.

Carmeron Anthony, standing nearby, chimed in, "Yeah, Jack, keep it up. I’m waiting to take you down in the finals! I’ll get the gold, you’ll get the silver."

Su Xi smiled and replied, half-joking and half-serious, "Carmeron, you were the third pick in the draft. Maybe you’ll get the bronze medal this year."

"Oh, shut up."

Anthony grumbled, emphasizing loudly, "By that logic, we also have the first pick! LeBron was the first pick, so we’re definitely getting gold."

Hearing this, James’s ears perked up. He wanted to hear Su Xi’s response.

But... hehe.

Su Xi just chuckled twice.

Everything was left unsaid.

This drove the Chosen One, the Little King, absolutely mad. ’Just say something! If you have a problem, say it! What do you mean by chuckling like that? What’s so funny? Are you looking down on me?’

’Yep.’

Su Xi said goodbye to Anthony and Carlos Boozer and wished them luck.

But the Argentinians made America weep.

The Dream Team was stacked with talent, and their players held a much higher status in the NBA than the likes of Ginobili. Hell, Duncan was even Ginobili’s team leader.