blogombal Chapter 89 Crazy Ranking Up
Chapter 89 Crazy Ranking Up
2009年3月15日，晚7:30。
Madison Square Garden, New York.
Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks.
In the locker room before the game, the usual deafening hip-hop music and the players' banter were absent. A suffocatingly low atmosphere hung in the air, as quiet as a church that had just held a funeral.
Li Xiangbei sat in the corner, silently wiping the black arm guard. His movements were slow and meticulous, as if he were polishing a knife about to drink blood. His eyes were cold and devoid of warmth, as if everything around him was irrelevant.
Wilson Chandler looked in the mirror, repeatedly adjusting the position of his headband, a fierce look in his eyes.
This is the Knicks after their "baptism of shame." They are no longer a group of mercenaries who only know how to enjoy themselves, but a pack of hungry wolves driven to the brink of despair.
Their opponent was the Atlanta Hawks, a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference. At the beginning of the season, it was this team that taught the Knicks a lesson with their rough defense on the road, like an adult disciplining a child.
"That Chinese rookie?" Hawks star Joe Johnson scoffed after the game. "All he can do is jump shot. In real competition, he's like a freshly baked dough ball, it crumbles at the slightest touch."
That sentence was printed out by Li Xiangbei and posted on the locker room door. Every player who came out of the locker room had to take a look at it.
……
The moment the ball was tipped over, the 20,000 spectators at Madison Square Garden felt something different.
The Knicks' defense has changed.
It was no longer a passive defense, waiting for the opponent to attack, but a proactive and aggressive bite.
"Mad Dog Defense" system!
The Hawks are on offense. Joe Jensen has the ball and, as usual, tries to use his strong physique to back down Wilson Chandler.
But today, Chandler was like a plaster stuck to him, pushing, squeezing, and even pressing his chest against him.
During a scramble for a loose ball, the two men became entangled. Joe Jensen's elbow swung unintentionally, striking Chandler squarely in the eyebrow.
"Bang!"
Chandler collapsed to the ground, blood flowing down his face instantly, staining half of his face red.
The referee blew the whistle. The team doctor rushed over to stop the bleeding.
Just when everyone thought Chandler was going to leave the game to rest, he shoved the team doctor's hand away, haphazardly pressed gauze against his wound, and roared at D'Antoni on the sidelines:
"I'm fine! Don't let me go down! I'm going to kill him!"
This scene was broadcast live across the entire venue on the big screen. The audience was stunned for a second, then erupted in deafening cheers! This kind of fighting spirit, this fearless drive, is exactly what New Yorkers crave to see!
The pampered Hawks were stunned by this scene. Joe Jensen, who had just been so arrogant, showed hesitation for the first time in his eyes.
On the offensive end, Li Xiangbei showed a completely different side.
The Hawks are still wary of his 50-point scoring ability, and as soon as he crosses half-court, he is immediately double-teamed by two or even three players.
This time, however, Li Xiangbei did not forcefully take action.
He was as calm as an anatomist, using the crazy off-ball movement brought about by **[Unlimited Stamina]** to slice through the Hawks' defense like a scalpel.
Draw a double team, then pass the ball.
"Swish!" David Lee scores a basket under the rim.
"Swish!" Harrington hits an open three-pointer from the outside.
The first quarter ended. Li Xiangbei had 0 points, but he delivered an impressive 8 assists. The Knicks had multiple players contributing, scoring 35 points in the quarter and leading the Hawks by 12 points.
By the middle of the third quarter, the score had widened to 20 points. Joe Jensen's mentality completely collapsed. He tried to regain his pride by going one-on-one against Li Xiangbei.
But in the instant he changed direction, Li Xiangbei reached out like a ghost.
"Snapped!"
Cut off the life!
After Li Xiangbei stole the ball, he launched a fast break. Joe Jensen, his eyes red, chased desperately behind, trying to salvage his dignity with a chase-down block.
Li Xiangbei charged into the penalty area and jumped.
Instead of dodging, he actively sought confrontation in the air!
"Bang!"
The two collided in mid-air.
Li Xiangbei used his body to push Joe Jensen aside, and then slammed the ball into the basket with one hand!
"boom!!!"
After landing, Li Xiangbei looked down at Joe Jensen, who was lying on the floor looking disheveled.
"Now."
Li Xiangbei said coldly.
"Who is the soft dough?"
The final whistle blew.
115:85.
A brutal 30-point massacre. The Knicks announced their return in this most ruthless way.
……
The Knicks embarked on a crazy season-ending run in the following month.
In preparation for the playoffs, they held nothing back. The Raptors, Wizards, Pistons... these teams that were already out of playoff contention became the perfect practice targets.
Toronto.
Bosh looked at the scoreboard and shook his head in resignation, lamenting that they were down by 25 points.
Detroit.
The former gang of bad kids was decimated by this new group of bad kids.
Finally, the regular season came to a close.
New York Knicks: 48 wins and 34 losses.
It ranks fourth in the East.
They secured home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Boston, Celtics training facility video room.
The defending champions are studying their potential semi-final opponents.
Head coach Doc Rivers pressed the pause button.
The screen froze on the image of Wilson Chandler, his face covered in blood, still clinging tightly to Joe Jensen.
Rivers frowned and turned to look at Pierce and Rondo beside him.
Originally, I was only worried about Li Xiangbei.
Rivers pointed at the screen.
"If we just shut him down, the Knicks would fall apart. But now..."
Pierce chewed his gum and nodded gravely. "These guys have changed. Their eyes are different."
"They used to have just one madman," Rivers sighed. "Now... they've become a pack of mad dogs. If we meet them in the semifinals, it's going to be a brutal battle."
……
On April 16, all regular season games concluded.
The various data rankings have been officially finalized.
All eyes were on the young man wearing the Knicks' number 8 jersey.
Average points per game: 31.4. (Leading scorer)
Steals per game: 2.9. (Winner of the steals title, leading Paul by 0.2 steals)
Assists per game: 7.6.
Rebounds per game: 4.8.
On this day, Sports Illustrated released their latest cover.
The cover features Li Xiangbei wearing the number 8 jersey from behind. Overlaid behind him is a huge, black-and-white phantom – the ancient mythical beast, Wilt Chamberlain.
The title consists of only one striking line of large text:
THE SECOND COMING: A Cycle Half a Century Later.
It was written in an almost frenzied tone:
"Since Wilt Chamberlain in the 1959-60 season (37.6 points per game), there hasn't been a rookie scoring champion in the NBA for a full 50 years. Michael Jordan didn't do it, Allen Iverson didn't do it, and LeBron James didn't do it either."
"But today, Li Xiangbei did it."
"He didn't break Chamberlain's record, but he restarted the miracle. He dominated the season in a way that modern basketball can't explain."
In the ESPN studio, a renowned analyst presented an even more alarming data panel.
[Single-time scoring champion and steals champion]
Historical list:
Michael Jordan (3 times).
Allen Iverson (2 times).
New additions to the list:
Li Xiangbei (rookie season).
"This isn't just about scoring ability, it's about dominance." The analyst pointed to the stat sheet. "He's Chamberlain on offense and Jordan on defense. That's why we call him 'The Monster.'"
Following that, the NBA officially announced Li Xiangbei as the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for April.
This is an official endorsement of his perfect performance in the final stage, and the ultimate recognition of his ability to lead the team single-handedly.
In the locker room.
Li Xiangbei looked at the pile of newspapers and trophies on the table, his face expressionless.
Randolph sidled up, beaming, "Boss! The MVP votes are practically guaranteed now, right? First in stats, scoring champion, steals champion, and the team's record isn't bad either (fourth in the East). If they don't give us the MVP, that would be a total rip-off!"
Li Xiangbei did not answer. He turned his head and looked out the window at the bustling New York night view.
He knew that the game of capital was not so simple.
Nike, the league, the media... the interests involved here are far more complex than the wins and losses on the court.
"The data doesn't lie, Zach."
Li Xiangbei said softly.
"But people will."