harleyscars Chapter 87 Clash of Titans
Chapter 87 Clash of Titans
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2009年3月11日，晚8:00。
Cleveland, Ohio, Quicken Loans Arena.
Knicks vs. Cavaliers.
Before the game started, the arena, located in the Rust Belt, was filled with 20,000 fans wearing gold "Witness" T-shirts.
The golden lights, the golden floor, and even the air itself were filled with a fanatical sense of "the inviolability of imperial power."
In the TNT commentary booth, Charles Barkley adjusted his microphone, watched the warm-up on the field, and couldn't help but joke:
"Kenny, tonight is the last time these two teams will face off in the regular season, and it's an MVP-caliber showdown. Look at that Knicks kid standing in center circle, he's like a barbarian barging into a coronation ceremony."
The lights dimmed, and spotlights shone on the players' tunnel entrance.
LeBron James, the absolute king of this season, has stepped out with an imposing stride.
He walked to the technical table, filled his hand with magnesium powder, and then threw it forcefully into the air.
"call--"
White dust filled the air as the entire stadium chanted "MVP! MVP!" in unison.
James was enjoying the kingly treatment, looking relaxed, and even chatting and laughing with Jay-Z, who was watching the game from the sidelines, during a break in warm-up.
When Li Xiangbei appeared, he was greeted by a chorus of boos and raised middle fingers.
He didn't cause any damage like last time, nor did he make any celebratory gestures.
He simply walked to the center circle expressionlessly, stretching as he stared coldly at James, who was applying magnesium powder, with the same look he gave his prey.
"Enjoy the cheers now, LeBron."
Li Xiangbei silently recited in his heart.
"After tonight, I'll make sure you dream about my suffocating face."
……
The referee tossed the ball into the air, and the Cavaliers won the jump ball.
James received the ball on the baseline in the backcourt. He dribbled slowly, preparing to survey the entire court and control the rhythm as usual.
However, just as he took his first step...
A black figure rushed towards him quickly!
Li Xiangbei!
He did not retreat, nor did he wait even for a second.
He charged straight at James and stuck to him tightly!
Full-court press! From the very first second!
This is a tactic that completely defies common sense.
Teams typically resort to this kind of physically demanding, high-risk defensive tactic only in the final, do-or-die moments of a game.
But Li Xiangbei started from the very first second of the first quarter.
Li Xiangbei was like a piece of chewing gum, constantly using his body to put pressure on James.
James tried to create space with his shoulder, but after being knocked back a step, Li Xiangbei immediately bounced back like a spring and stuck to him again.
Moreover, Li Xiangbei's hands were extremely unruly.
His hands constantly disrupted James' dribbling rhythm, forcing James to turn around and protect the ball, requiring a huge amount of energy for each dribble.
Time passed second by second.
The first quarter is over.
LeBron James, a strong contender for the scoring title this season, scored 4 points on 1-of-3 shooting and two free throws!
Because he can't even catch the ball in a comfortable position! It takes him 7 to 8 seconds to even dribble the ball across half-court.
Forced into a corner, the Cavaliers had no choice but to let James relinquish possession of the ball and allow Mo Williams (Little Mo) to orchestrate the offense.
Although Li Xiangbei successfully contained James, the Knicks' weak backcourt was riddled with holes.
Mo Williams and Delonte West hit consecutive open shots against the defense of Duhon and Chandler.
Cavaliers 28:24 Knicks.
The Cavaliers have taken the lead.
……
At the start of the second quarter, the rest of the Knicks players completely lost their way under the suffocating pressure of playing on the road.
David Lee was driven to the brink of madness by the Oscar-winning actor Varejao with his afro, and was repeatedly called for offensive fouls.
Al Harrington kept missing shots from beyond the arc.
Li Xiangbei had to do it all himself.
[Guaranteed winning amount: 1/8, 2/8...]
He activated his killing god mode.
Despite being double-teamed by the Cavaliers, he used a series of incredibly long-range three-pointers and fadeaway jumpers after losing his balance to keep the score close.
He can take on five opponents on offense and also has to fight off LeBron James on defense.
The competition was extremely difficult.
In the third quarter, James, who had been suppressed for half the game, tried to get back on the court with a strong attack.
He charged towards the inside like a tank at full speed.
Li Xiangbei took his position early.
"Bang!!"
The two collided violently outside the penalty area.
Li Xiangbei felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if he had been hit by a hammer.
But James was also forced to grimace, his movements were distorted, and the ball bounced off the front of the rim.
Just when Li Xiangbei thought that he could catch up by stopping LeBron, the Cavaliers' role players went on another incredible run.
Big Z, taking advantage of his height, grabbed an offensive rebound over Chandler and scored on a putback; Gibson caught the ball in the corner and immediately shot a three-pointer; Varejao even drew an off-ball foul in the midst of a scramble.
The score remained between 8 and 12 points.
Li Xiangbei, panting heavily, looked at the cheering Cavaliers players and felt as if he were fighting an army.
The whistle blew to end the third quarter.
James plopped down on the bench and pulled a towel over his head.
His chest heaved violently, a sign of physical exhaustion.
I gulped down Gatorade, but it didn't seem to quench my thirst at all.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the field.
Li Xiangbei stood on the sidelines, not sitting down.
He simply wiped the sweat from his forehead; his eyes remained bright, and his legs remained strong.
Watching this, Barkley couldn't help but exclaim, "Look at LeBron! I feel like he's about to collapse! But Lee... God, this guy guarded LeBron for three quarters? Is his stamina bar bottomless?"
……
There are 5 minutes left in the game.
Knicks 90:100 Cavaliers.
Trailing by 10 points.
Li Xiangbei glanced at the scoreboard, then at the "Emperor" opposite him who was already showing signs of fatigue.
"That's about it."
He unleashed a true "killing mode".
Li Xiangbei began to take full control of the attack and used his physical advantage to press the opponent relentlessly.
James dribbles, trying to control the clock.
However, his dribbling under fatigue revealed a slight flaw.
"Snapped!"
Li Xiangbei made a steal! A one-man fast break and a powerful dunk!
In the next possession, James, exhausted, attempted a shot that missed completely.
Li Xiangbei grabbed the rebound and launched a fast break three-pointer!
"brush!"
In the next possession, Li Xiangbei faced James's block and executed an extremely difficult reverse layup in mid-air.
2+1!
In just three minutes, Li Xiangbei scored 10 points!
108:108 tie!
Li Xiangbei's individual score has exceeded 50 points!
The Cavaliers were forced to call a timeout.
During the timeout, Li Xiangbei deliberately passed by James.
Looking at his opponent, who was supporting himself on his knees with both hands and sweating profusely.
"Is this all you've got, LeBron?"
Li Xiangbei's voice wasn't loud, but every word was piercing.
"If that's all the physical ability you have, you won't be able to lift that MVP trophy."
James looked extremely uncomfortable, but he was so tired that he didn't even have the energy to throw out a single trash talk.
……
The last 8 seconds.
108:108.
The Cavaliers have possession of the ball.
All 20,000 audience members stood up, and the air seemed to freeze.
Everyone thought that at this decisive moment, James would act like a hero, responding to Li Xiangbei's provocations all night with a game-winning shot to defend his throne.
James has the ball at the top of the key.
Li Xiangbei stood opposite him, giving him a step's distance. This was a blatant defense against drives but not shots—he was betting that James simply didn't have the energy to shoot right now.
James has started!
Change direction to the right!
Li Xiangbei moved sideways like a ghost, completely blocking his path to break through.
James stopped the ball.
Dead ball!
He's been contained! This is a victory for Li Xiangbei's defense! If these few seconds are used up, the game will go into overtime, and then a physically exhausted James will have no chance of winning.
but--
In that very instant.
James made an extremely subtle fake shot and pass move in mid-air.
The basketball flew towards the corner.
Standing there was the most inconspicuous backup guard on the court, someone even many Knicks players hadn't noticed—Daniel Gibson.
The moment James passed the ball, Li Xiangbei's pupils contracted.
He realized he had lost his gamble.
He was betting on the dignity of a superstar (taking the shot himself), while James was choosing the probability of winning (passing to an open player).
However, if you're defending against a pass, LeBron's drives are still very dangerous.
Li Xiangbei wanted to go and reinforce the defense, but it was too late.
Gibson catches the ball, with no one two meters in front of him.
Jump and shoot.
The basketball traced a perfect arc in the air.
The light is on.
"brush."
A crisp sound of something entering the net.
111:108.
They were defeated in the final moments.
The entire Cavaliers team rushed towards Gibson like madmen, pinning him down in celebration.
James stood there, arms raised high, roaring to the sky as if he had made the shot himself. The entire arena chanted MVP.
Li Xiangbei stood in the center of the noisy venue, hands on his hips, watching the replay on the big screen.
He defended the best player on the planet, pushed him to the brink, and even held him to just 20 points for the entire game.
But he lost.
They lost to that substitute whose name nobody could recall.
Post-match interview area.
The reporter excitedly asked James, "LeBron, why did you choose to pass the ball on the last possession? It was a chance to win!"
James wiped his sweat and flashed his signature official smile.
"Because that's the right basketball tactic."
James looked at the camera, his tone firm.
"I trust my teammates, and Gibson was fantastic tonight. That's the power of teamwork, and that's why we're number one in the East."
Li Xiangbei, who was in the players' tunnel, heard this.
He stopped and looked back at the golden stadium, watching the figure surrounded by admirers.
His eyes were filled with helplessness and disdain.
"Correct basketball?"
Li Xiangbei cursed under his breath.
"Screw proper basketball."
He lost the game.
But he was certain that tonight, he had beaten that man named LeBron.