Chapter 25 This Is Just the Beginning

　　On the night the Chinese men's basketball team successfully entered the Olympic semi-finals, the entire Zhonghua family was shrouded in brilliant fireworks and crackling firecrackers.

　　For veterans like Liu Yudong and Li Xiaoyong, at this moment, their feelings could only be described as extremely excited.

　　Just as Zhang Zhidao said in his post-match summary...

　　The history of Chinese basketball had opened a new chapter on this night of September 22, 2000.

　　Only by being in this situation could you truly understand how happy Chinese basketball fans were on this day.

　　After the game, Yu Jia, a young CCTV commentator, interviewed Su Feng. Su Feng said something to him that left his heart unable to calm down for a long time.

　　That is...

　　"This is just the beginning."

　　Yes...

　　This is just the beginning.

　　Yao Ming at 20, Su Feng at 22, Wang Zhizhi at 23, Battier at 25...

　　In the next eight to ten years, Chinese basketball fans don't need to worry that the men's basketball team will have no successors after the golden generation.

　　They don't need to worry that this Chinese men's basketball team, which has been labeled with Su Feng's name, will not be able to replicate the grand occasion of today in the future.

　　If the golden generation of men's basketball team members led by Hu Weidong and Liu Yudong at the end of the 20th century allowed Chinese fans to appreciate the charm of a glimpse of the top of the world basketball scene...

　　Then now, it's time for Chinese fans to boldly use their imagination and follow Su Feng and Yao Ming to see what the top of the world basketball scene looks like.

　　On the 25th, that is, two days later.

　　Sydney Basketball Stadium, Australia.

　　Although tonight's game will only be an Olympic men's basketball semi-final.

　　But in the eyes of many people, this game is the basketball final of this Olympic Games.

　　Because tonight, the two sides playing against each other are the top two teams in terms of odds of winning this Olympic Games.

　　The American Dream Team IV led by Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, and Kevin Garnett.

　　And the Chinese Dream Team I led by Su Feng and Yao Ming.

　　Before the game, the American broadcaster of this game specially invited Barkley to be the commentary guest.

　　Barkley also bluntly said: "Although in the eyes of many American fans now, Michael Jordan is still an insurmountable 'god'.

　　But here, I must say a fair word for Su.

　　That is, in my opinion, in the FIBA arena, Su is definitely the most valiant player I have ever seen!"

　　What kind of international joke is Kenny Smith's wife, Shaquille O'Neal's grandmother making...

　　Michael Jordan?

　　That was just a friend Barkley used to play with in his early years.

　　To talk about true brothers and true friendship, in Barkley's opinion, only Su Feng can be regarded as his friend in life and death!

　　"Alas, considering how much I'm hyping him up, won't Su have to show his Shaq-beating form next season to lead me to the championship?"

　　On the commentary seat, while praising Su Feng, Barkley happily thought in his heart.

　　On the court, after the two teams' appearance ceremony, the big screen also showed the starting lineups of the two teams tonight.

　　American Men's Basketball Team: Mourning, Garnett, Carter, Ray Allen, Kidd.

　　Chinese Men's Basketball Team: Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi, Su Feng, Hu Weidong, Guo Shiqiang.

　　On CCTV, Zhang Zhidao said while popularizing the starting players of the two teams to Chinese fans: "Wow, today's game is amazing...

　　Because today, 9 of the ten starting players on the court are from the NBA.

　　Well... except for Guo Shiqiang."

　　To be fair, if Guo Shiqiang could hear Zhang Zhidao's commentary, he would definitely feel like he had been screwed over.

　　Because tonight, he, who is responsible for playing against Kidd, is already under great pressure...

　　But, Zhang Zhidao, why do you have to persecute me?

　　On the court, before the game started, Su Feng, who saw that Guo Shiqiang was a little nervous, patted him on the shoulder and smiled: "Lao Guo, don't be too stressed.

　t Kidd is nothing great, and besides, for this Olympic Games, we are all used to the fact that you will always be blown up."

　　Guo Shiqiang: "..."

　　"Xiao Su is right, anyway, Lao Guo will not lose if he can score a goal tonight."

　　And on the side, Hu Weidong also encouraged Guo Shiqiang after subconsciously pushing the bridge of his nose where he was not actually wearing glasses.

　　Guo Shiqiang, who was doubled-down on: "..."

　　"Only score one? Lao Hu, you underestimate Lao Guo too much. I think no matter what, Lao Guo can definitely score two."

　　On the other side, Wang Zhizhi also came to join in the fun.

　　Guo Shiqiang, who was hat-tricked: "..."

　　Oh heavens!

　　Can't you guys wish me well?

　　To be honest, in Guo Shiqiang's opinion, only Yao Ming can be considered a good person in the current national team.

　　However...

　　Just as Guo Shiqiang sighed and prepared to do his best to prove himself...

　　Xiao Yao, who was preparing to go to the center of the court to jump the ball with Mourning, suddenly turned his head and said to him as he passed by: "Lao Guo, I am different from the three of them.

　　In my opinion, you just need to be able to dribble the ball past the half court and not make more than 10 turnovers."

　　Guo Shiqiang, who was quad-killed: "..."

　　Who is the lower-ranked of the Chinese men's basketball team's point guard and the Los Angeles Lakers' point guard?

　　On the court, at this moment, Guo Shiqiang hated that he should not have embarked on the path of a basketball player in the first place...

　　However, perhaps Guo Shiqiang himself did not notice...

　　After four teammates had "encouraged" him, the nervousness he had before the game had disappeared at this moment.

　　And in the center of the court, after the players of the two teams were ready, under the gaze of Chinese and American fans in front of the TV, along with the German referee Marin, one of the three referees, throwing the ball high...

　　The Sino-US battle began!

　　Previously, Mourning, who had bet with his teammates in the group stage, but lost the bet himself, made a new bet with his teammates before the start of tonight's game.

　　It's just a pity that the game had just started, and Mourning lost this bet.

　　Because in the jump ball, he failed to defeat Xiao Yao.

　　On the court, the Chinese men's basketball team launched the first attack.

　　Tonight, on the American team's side, the player responsible for marking Su Feng is Carter, his assistant in the Raptors.

　　Therefore, as soon as he came up, after reaching out to Guo Shiqiang for the basketball, Su Feng began his practical teaching of beating Carter without even thinking about it.

　t know that Carter's defensive habits have always been a problem that restricts him from becoming a top defensive player.

　　Look, as soon as he faced Su Feng, Carter wanted to directly reach out to steal the ball.

　　As a result, Su Feng first dribbled the ball behind him, then changed hands behind his back, and in the blink of an eye, he opened up the distance between himself and Carter.

　　In Su Feng's previous life, this was a skill that his nephew Curry loved to use.

　　And like Curry, Su Feng likes to pull up and shoot after opening up space.

　　Swish!

　　3 to 0.

　　Because FIBA's three-point line is shorter than the NBA's, even if Su Feng pulls up half a meter away from the three-point line, he is not actually shooting from very far.

　　In Su Feng's original timeline, Anthony and Durant had also left famous scenes of shooting three-pointers as mid-range shots when playing in FIBA, which is the same reason.

　　Because for FIBA's three-point line, which is as short as a certain eggplant, Su Feng's shot is, in Cantonese:

　　————It's just a piece of cake.

　　And on the other hand, it was the American team's turn to attack.

　　Carter, who was unwilling to be unilaterally beaten by Su Feng, also took the initiative to reach out to Kidd for the ball.

　　However, after Kidd noticed that Garnett had already come over to screen, Kidd chose to ignore Carter without even thinking about it.

　　On the other side, Su Feng felt that the Lakers would be quite terrifying next season after seeing this scene.

　　Because with Kidd's status and position...

　　He is not really afraid of the death stare.

　　At the high post, Wang Zhizhi's help defense was not fast enough, and Garnett found an opportunity to pull up for a jump shot.

　　Swish!

　　3 to 2.

　　At this time in 2000, compared to the slender wolf of that year, Garnett was already a mature wolf king.

　　It's just a pity that even if the Timberwolves were not punished for Joe Smith's illegal contract in this life...

　　Garnett would still find it difficult to lead his group of huskies out of the West.

　　But...

　　In this life, with Duncan most likely retiring in Boston, Su Feng was very curious, who would Garnett become friends with in the future?

　　And on the court, before Su Feng could continue to think, Carter's signature taunt arrived as scheduled.

　　"If you are still looking around, then tonight, I will use practical actions to tell you...

　　Su, me guarding you is as easy as Tracy guarding Kobe." Spreading his arms, Carter grinned.

　　Su Feng: "..."

　　Hiss————!

　　I don't know why, but Su Feng always felt that Kobe's reputation had been damaged recently.

　　Because just before the start of this Sino-US war, McGrady had just spoken to him on the phone.

　　And in the phone call, McGrady confidently stated that Kobe, after gaining weight, was still a little brother.

　　Because in a recent one-on-one real man duel between the two, McGrady had miserably abused Kobe.

　　In addition, in order to prevent Su Feng from disbelieving him, McGrady also said that he had recorded no less than ten tapes of him knocking out Kobe from various angles.

　　So...

　　Listening to Carter's ridicule, Su Feng was very clear that McGrady had definitely repeated what he had said to him to Carter again.

　　Then, Kobe has now been reduced to a unit of measurement.

　　However...

　　Carter and Su Feng might not believe it if he said it...

　　In Los Angeles, Kobe, who was watching this Sino-US war with Vanessa while eating melon seeds, was completely intoxicated in his terrifying power.

　　"Honey, why are you so happy?" Lying in Kobe's arms, Vanessa asked curiously.

　　Hearing this, Kobe said after showing a wretched smile: "Haha, it's nothing, it's just that the results of this summer's special training have exceeded my expectations.

　　In the bullfight between me and Tracy these past two days, our win-loss ratio is probably eight to two."

　　Vanessa: "..."

　　To be fair...

　　Vanessa really couldn't understand the happiness of men.

　　Because...

　　Isn't this too freaking childish?

　　The camera returns to Sydney.

　　In the first half of the game, with Carter's help, Su Feng, who had successfully activated various buffs, had already become a headache for American men's basketball coach Tomjanovich.

　　In order to stop Su Feng, Tomjanovich even took off Ray Allen and replaced him with Payton, so as to form a siege against Su Feng in a local area.

　　As a result, Su Feng was dragged down, but Hu Weidong stood up.

　　However, in the first half of the game, the American men's basketball team still had the upper hand.

　　Throughout the first half of the game, Wang Zhizhi's performance was very average, because Garnett's defensive area was wide enough, so it was difficult for Wang Zhizhi to exert his advantage in range.

　　As for footwork...

　　Garnett's small forward-like lateral movement speed made it so that even if he was faked out, he could always continue to entangle Wang Zhizhi in the next second.

　　As for Xiao Yao...

　　Although he had a height advantage in the match-up with Mourning, before Mourning suffered from kidney disease, the current Xiao Yao was obviously unable to completely beat Mourning on the offensive end.

　　At the end of the first half of the game, the Chinese men's basketball team trailed the American men's basketball team by 9 points with a score of 36 to 45.

　　Of the 36 points scored by the Chinese team, Su Feng and Hu Weidong joined forces to score 28 of them.

　　In the second half of the game, Zhang Bin took the initiative to make adjustments.

　　He replaced Wang Zhizhi with Battier, and formed a more solid inside double tower with Yao Ming.

　　And this move also instantly opened up the deadlock for the Chinese men's basketball team as soon as the second half started.

　　Don't look at Battier as just a tool man in the Raptors, but when he plays in the CBA, he is a veritable core.

　　Under FIBA rules, it doesn't matter even if inside players move slowly.

　　Therefore, Battier's advantage in strength allowed the Chinese men's basketball team to regain their living space in the paint.

　　It's just a pity that although the Chinese men's basketball team once tied the score in the second half of the game, in the second half of the game, with Tomjanovich's various five-up-and-five-down Sao operations, the American men's basketball team still regained the initiative in this game.

　　In the final moments of the game, in addition to Su Feng, the other main players of the Chinese men's basketball team were all close to their limits.

　　And in order to avoid being taken away by a wave of Su Feng suddenly turning on the switch of the gods descending to earth, Tomjanovich even sacrificed the classic big move of four-on-one in the final moments of the game.

　　In front of the TV, countless rabbits were in tears when they saw this scene.

　　And on the court, the young Xiao Yao was even more remorseful.

　　Because if he could be stronger...

　　That would be great?

　　There was no way, even though the Chinese men's basketball team had made a lot of personnel rotations in the previous games in order to prepare for this game, in the face of absolute strength, that chasm, Su Feng still failed to lead the team across it on this night.

　　In the end, after Su Feng scored 13 points in the last 5 minutes, scaring the American men's basketball team into a cold sweat, the Chinese team lost this semi-final with a score of 85 to 91, missing the gold and silver medal competition of this Olympic Games.

　　Su Feng scored a game-high 41 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and 1 block.

　　And on the American team's side, in addition to Carter, who was self-isolating after the game while looking at the technical board, Garnett scored 18 points, Mourning scored 12 points, Ray Allen shot five three-pointers and scored 15 points, Kidd scored 10 points, and Houston also scored 10 points, which can be said to be a multi-point bloom.

　　After the game, Su Feng took all the responsibility for the loss.

　　Because if he had not only scored a mere 41 points, then in this game, the Chinese men's basketball team would have had a chance to complete the comeback.

　　And when he saw Brother Feng who was so "sad and heartbroken"...

　　In this game, Xiao Yao, who was unable to give Su Feng more help because he had 4 fouls in the second half, secretly made up his mind in his heart.

　　That is...

　　Before the start of the next Olympic Games, he must become Su Feng's most reliable shield.

　　Because in this way, Su Feng can recklessly charge into battle and kill the enemy.

　　"No, Comrade Su Weiguo, the Olympic game hasn't ended yet, why would I be so stupid as to commit suicide?

　　Huh? You and Grandpa just watched my interview?

　　No... I'm sad, but it's not enough to be so depressed, and besides, there's still a bronze medal waiting for me to bring back to Grandpa."

　　Su Feng was speechless.

　　Because he didn't know if it was because he was used to having a poker face, but he was rarely sad, and as a result, the whole world thought he was extremely sad and about to get depression.

　　What kind of Barkley's butt Malone's elbow international joke is this?

　　Su Feng was regretful that he had not been able to beat the American team.

　　But he was even more clear that after he helped Larry Brown complete his whitewashing, as long as he could find a way to make the American people believe that Larry Brown was the future of American basketball...

　　Then with the combat effectiveness shown by the Chinese team in this Olympic Games...

　　Su Feng felt that the Chinese team had a chance to compete for a gold medal at the Athens Olympics.

　　In addition, he might not even have to wait for the next Olympic Games...

　　In the 2002 World Championships held in Indiana, how could that American team fight against the Chinese men's basketball team?

　　Admittedly, the star-studded American men's basketball team is very strong.

　　But...

　t even reach the level of Dream Team IV, then why would they be scary?

　　Unfortunately...

　　On the 29th, before the start of the bronze medal competition between China and Lithuania, because they were worried that Su Feng was too sad, many overseas student fans at the Sydney site even put up banners in the stands that read "Brother Feng, don't cry, we'll fight again next time"...

　　To be honest...

　　If it weren't because he knew that many literal meanings at this time were just literal meanings, then Su Feng would have almost thought that these fans were sarcastically mocking him.

　　For example, hehe.

　　At this time, hehe is a complimentary term to express goodwill to others.

　　And on the court, after Su Feng showed that his game state was not affected by the previous semi-final...

　　In front of the TV, many Chinese fans were even more saddened.

　　Because in their opinion...

　　Su Feng must be playing with an extremely sad mood.

　　"This is Su Feng! He never shirks responsibility!"

　　"Why wouldn't we love Brother Feng like this?"

　　"Brother Feng, fly with confidence, Honey will always follow!" (Honey refers to the fans of Su Feng.)

　　As a result, the Chinese men's basketball team, which fought with "grief," successfully avenged Lithuania in the bronze medal competition, whom they had lost to in the group stage.

　　Because two of the main players were injured in the semi-final against Yugoslavia, this game was relatively easy for the Chinese men's basketball team to win.

　　In the second half of the game, Lithuania, which had been trailing the Chinese men's basketball team by 10 points, failed to catch up with three-pointers. In the end, with a score of 85 to 74, the Chinese men's basketball team won the third place in the Sydney Olympics for the first time in history.

　　According to the usual practice, the Chinese team will ascend the podium with these two teams after the end of the final between the United States and Yugoslavia.

　　And at that time, China's five-star red flag will also be raised for the first time in the award ceremony of the Olympic men's basketball game.

　　On CCTV, when reviewing the Chinese men's basketball team's trip to this Olympic Games, Zhang Zhidao bluntly said: "This is definitely a surprising result. At the same time, Su Feng also fulfilled his promise to Chinese fans when he returned to China.

　　At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the Chinese men's basketball team successfully realized the breakthrough of zero medals in the three major men's ball events for Chinese sports in the three major men's ball events of the Olympic Games!"

　　And it is worth mentioning that...

　　Just after the end of this bronze medal competition, Su Feng suddenly received a call from Kobe.

　　"I know, you don't need to explain too much, Su, losing to Vince is indeed a very sad thing...

　　Uh, it's not really losing to him, after all, you have almost beaten him into the Tracy he has been facing these days.

　　But... anyway, Su, don't forget what you said to me at the end of the Finals before.

　　The most glorious day in life is not the day of success.

　　But the day when you continue to challenge life from sorrow and despair, and bravely move towards the will.

　　Okay, there's nothing else to this phone call, I just want to tell you that I've gotten off the plane, and I'm in Sydney now."

　　Su Feng: "..."

　　In all the scripts he had previously about how he and Kobe had reconciled, Su Feng had thought of many routines to coax Kobe.

　　However...

　t he imagine that because Kobe was worried that he would not be able to bear the pain of losing to Carter...

　　He himself had already run to Sydney.

　　"No... Am I such a sore loser?"

　　On this day, looking at himself in the mirror, Su Feng was silent.

　　…

　　ps: I heard that Qidian has been acting up again recently, causing you to not see the likes I gave you... Heavens, heaven knows how many likes I gave with three accounts on my computer and phone these past few days! Crying, begging for monthly tickets and recommendation tickets!