Chapter 20 Philadelphia

Watching the news about Duncan next door, who was jumping around and starting to resume training, Su Feng felt that Auerbach and Karl were playing a big game of chess.

"Could the Celtics be letting Duncan rest on purpose because they realized that the Nets were too weak after Van Horn and Francis were injured?"

Before Game 6 against the Philadelphia Thugs, Su Feng already felt unprecedented pressure.

Because even though Carter would likely return in the Eastern Conference Finals...

But one must know that on the basketball court, athletes also need to adhere to the "Basic Law of Finding Your Form" after recovering from injuries.

Therefore, if Duncan's "injury" in the division semifinals was really Auerbach's deliberate act...

Then...

Even if the Raptors could successfully advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, the balance of victory between them and the Celtics would probably be 30-70...

Or even 20-80.

Emmmm.

This time, the Raptors would be the 20 or 30 side.

In short, based on the games played so far this season...

Su Feng knew that he still had a lot of room for improvement.

Such as his breakthrough ability and his organizing ability.

In addition, Su Feng also had room for improvement in his core techniques of pull-up jumpers and fadeaways.

Therefore, despite the outside world constantly praising his performance this season as no less than Jordan's back then, Su Feng, who had played against peak Lao Liu Mang (old scoundrel), knew very well that without another three to five years of hard training, he could not be said to have completely surpassed Jordan.

However, no matter what shortcomings he currently had...

Su Feng, who did not want to leave any regrets for himself, would not use his current shortcomings as an excuse.

At the Zhongzhou Arena, in the center of the court, the two teams, continuing their previous starting lineups, began the game after Big Ben and Yao jumped for the ball.

At this point in the series, even if the Philadelphia fans missed Su Feng, they didn't want to see Su Feng win at the Zhongzhou Arena.

Therefore, whenever Su Feng got the ball on the court, if you didn't understand the origins between the Raptors and Philadelphia, the boos that resounded throughout Pennsylvania would even make you feel as if the fans here had a deep hatred for Su Feng.

The Philadelphia Thugs, with their backs against the wall, showed a good state from the start.

Yao, who continuously made high post pick-and-pop jump shots, scored the first 6 points for Philadelphia.

And on the Raptors' side...

The moment that Auerbach had been waiting for for two and a half years finally arrived.

That was, after three consecutive years of high-intensity, multi-game attrition, "The Grinder" Su Feng finally showed "fatigue" in an NBA playoff game.

"Get ready, Miller!

If the Raptors advance tonight, then we must make sure that we can seize the advantage in physical fitness at that time!"

In Boston, patting his disciple's shoulder, Auerbach said meaningfully.

Hearing this, looking at the glimmer of light emanating from his teacher's weathered eyes, Karl felt for a moment...

That Auerbach's previous half-dead state was indeed an act.

In the first quarter, after a fierce contest, the Raptors trailed Philadelphia by 2 points with a score of 25 to 27.

The pace of the game between the two teams was not fast tonight.

On the one hand, it was because both teams were seeking stability, and on the other hand, it was because both teams, already knowing each other well, played extremely high-quality defense in this game.

In the second quarter, during the stalemate, Su Feng and Iverson had to resort to "suicide attacks" and "Middle Eastern breakthroughs" to help their respective teams score points steadily.

And at this time, where could you still see elegance in these two?

If scars are a warrior's honor...

Then, on this night, all you could see from Iverson and Su Feng was the word "desperate."

And in this high-intensity game, let alone the role players of the two teams standing up to relieve the pressure on these two...

Even holding the ball in their hands, they felt it was too hot to handle.

On TNT, Smith described this game as a "Verdun meat grinder," because during the second quarter, both the Raptors and Philadelphia had injuries.

Aaron McKie accidentally broke his right arm while defending Su Feng and left the court early.

Old Curry injured his knee while helping to defend Iverson and had to return to the locker room for treatment.

And in the second half...

As the game progressed, the state of the game could only be described as tragic.

Not long after entering the game, Yao Ming broke his brow bone while fighting for a rebound with Big Ben.

And on the Raptors' side, Barkley also hit the chair on the side of the court while diving for the ball, and blood splattered on the spot.

At the end of the first half, the Raptors led the Philadelphia Thugs by one point with a score of 45 to 44.

Su Feng scored 22 points in the first half, and free throws accounted for half of his points.

Iverson also had 19 points in the first half, and among them, Iverson scored 10 points by relying on free throws.

In the third quarter, the situation was once favorable to the Raptors.

Iverson felt average and turned on the crazy assist mode on the court.

But in the middle of the third quarter, Nash encountered an accident similar to Curry's future during a layup.

That was, after landing, Nash's left foot twisted outward.

As a result, after receiving emergency treatment from the team doctor, Nash did not return to the court until the second half of the fourth quarter.

And during this period, the Philadelphia Thugs reversed the situation in the game through Yao Ming's "magic 6 minutes."

In the last 6 minutes of the second half of the third quarter, Yao Ming made all 7 of his shots on the court.

Moreover, he also scored 5 points through free throws.

In the final quarter, the Philadelphia Thugs added another injured player.

Eric Snow broke his right arm in a scramble with Big Ben and left the court directly.

Buford, who killed the Raptors in Game 3, was ordered in a critical situation. After his debut, this guy hit two key three-pointers on the right wing in a row.

And Yao, who continued his magical state in the third quarter, also staged a famous scene in the final quarter.

At that time, the tall man grabbed the ball and faked a shot to the baseline, then suddenly turned to the other side and completed a hook shot.

And on TNT, Smith also named this ball the "Shanghai Dance Step."

In this bayonet-to-bayonet moment, the young Yao could actually calm down and play such a wonderful goal...

Aside, at this moment, Su Feng really wanted to take out his keyboard and confront those people who were madly slandering Yao Ming online.

In order to hold on to the last hope of the series, the Philadelphia Thugs were united and showed an even stronger desire to win than the Raptors on this night.

At the end of the final quarter, when Ratliff was fighting with Barkley and Big Ben for a key backcourt rebound, his right foot accidentally stepped on Big Ben's instep. He actually endured the pain and participated in the Philadelphia Thugs' fast break that followed.

Su Feng failed to lead the team to defeat the Philadelphia Thugs in one fell swoop on this night.

In the final quarter, he failed to find the "God Descending" switch. Although he repeatedly relied on strong kills in the interior to score "2+1" for the Raptors, the Philadelphia Thugs, who were stronger in the interior, had the last laugh in the case of the two teams' overall feel being poor.

In the end, the score of this game was 91 to 95.

In the game, Su Feng, who went to the free throw line 21 times, scored a total of 40 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block.

On the Philadelphia side, although Iverson only scored 31 points, Yao stood up.

Yao Ming, who made 12 of 18 shots and 9 of 9 free throws, scored a new high of 33 points in his personal playoff career, plus 10 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Being able to have such a performance in his rookie season, after this game, many fans on the Internet have begun to question the NBA scouts again.

Because of this, you call the 2000 draft the worst year in NBA history?

And it is worth mentioning that because Yao Ming scored 30+ in this game...

Therefore, after this game, Barkley already wanted to have an operation to sew up his damn mouth.

On the 22nd, the two teams returned to Toronto for Game 7.

On the Philadelphia Thugs side, McKie, Snow, and Ratliff were all out of this game due to injuries.

On the Raptors' side, Old Curry also withdrew from this season's playoffs early.

Nash insisted on playing with injuries.

In addition, before the game, the Philadelphia media also made a picture about Iverson's injuries under the hint of Pat Croce.

In the words of the Philadelphia media, before the start of this Game 7, Iverson's body was no longer intact.

And at this time...

Su Feng, who had already made an appointment with Iverson and Yao Ming to go for a massage together after this Game 7, wanted to see...

Where exactly was Iverson broken.

What a joke!

According to the Philadelphia media, Su Feng, except for the halberd of the trident below, was not intact either!

But anyway, the tragic degree of this Eastern Conference Division Semifinals this year has exceeded people's imagination.

In the words of American fans on the Internet...

Compared with the Raptors and Philadelphia, can the Lakers and Mavericks' playoffs also be called playoffs?

At the Air Canada Centre, the Raptors, sitting at home, did not give the Philadelphia Thugs another chance.

Under the impact of Su Feng and his younger brother Jackson's shoulder-carrying dynamite packs, Yao, who lost Ratliff's protection, was plagued by too many fouls in the game.

And Iverson could not have a fairy-level performance in every game.

In addition, after Snow's absence, in the second quarter, the Raptors also repeatedly used Yarich's height advantage to sanction Iverson.

In this game, Yarich, who made 5 of 9 shots, plus free throws and three-pointers, scored a new high of 15 points and 6 rebounds in his personal playoff career.

Jackson made 6 of 11 shots, including 3 of 4 three-pointers, and 7 of 10 free throws, also scoring a new high of 20 points in his personal playoff career.

After three quarters, the Raptors had established a lead of up to 27 points.

However, in the final quarter, Iverson and Yao Ming did not give up.

However, at this moment in 2001, wanting to turn 27 points in a quarter...

Even if you replace Su Feng with Chris Paul, there would be no miracle.

In the end, the score of this game was 88 to 118.

The Raptors ended their series with the Philadelphia Thugs with a 30-point victory.

In the whole game, Su Feng made 12 of 26 shots, including 3 of 8 three-pointers, and 10 of 12 free throws, scoring 37 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals.

Yao Ming, who scored 30+ in the last game, did not have many chances in this game, only scoring 8 points and 5 rebounds.

And Iverson created an embarrassing record in this series...

Because according to ESPN statistics, in this Division Semifinals, Iverson made a total of 144 misses.

And this is also the NBA's...

In a series, the player's new record for historical misses.

No way...

Originally, judging from the number of shots in this series, this record should have belonged to Su Feng.

But just like Iverson said to him back then...

You go conquer the world, and I am responsible for protecting you.

Therefore...

Kobe, take a good look, what is "true love"!

In Su Feng's opinion, it is outrageous that this Kobe has not left his name on the NBA's all-time single-game misses list.

Because obviously, that disgusting list...

Should have Kobe's name.

"Is this the feeling of being hollowed out?"

This day, after the Game 7 battle with Philadelphia, Su Feng no longer wanted to think about the upcoming Eastern Conference Finals with the Celtics.

Because now he...

Just wanted to have a good sleep after the massage.

……

The day after the Raptors and Philadelphia series ended, more and more American fans on the Internet began to think that the NBA's failure to give Su Feng three consecutive MVPs this year was a terrible decision.

And you may not believe it...

Back then, the same people who thought that the 20-year-old Su Feng was not qualified to win the regular season MVP...

Were also this group of people.

In fact, this is also the brilliance of Stern's balancing act.

That is, he can always let you lose something while also making up for it in other aspects.

Look, do people still question the quality of Su Feng's previous two MVPs?

As for O'Neal, who has not even seen the quality of the MVP until now?

Hey...

That's not important.

The important thing is that by "persecuting the Shark," Stern is also helping him to whitewash himself to a certain extent.

In short, looking at this blooming league now, New York, Stern's only regret may be that in this year's playoffs, too many stars have withdrawn from the final championship battle early due to injuries.

Toronto, after the Philadelphia Thugs were eliminated, Iverson and Yao Ming did not return to Philadelphia with the team.

Because in Iverson's words, they must let Su Feng treat them well to comfort their spiritually traumatized hearts off the court.

And now...

Su Feng was really convinced.

Because they actually brought "ceding territory and paying reparations" even after winning?

"Su, I have already thought about it. When the next Olympic Games come, I must represent the United States team and play against you on the international stage." This day, while enjoying the delicious food made by Su Feng, Iverson said.

Hearing this, because he knew that Iverson would also represent the United States team to play in the Athens Olympic Games in the original timeline, Su Feng was thinking in his heart...

Just don't cry then.

"Brother Feng, do you think our Olympic bid will be successful this year?" And aside, Yao Ming chatted with Su Feng about the rabbit country's Olympic bid this year.

It has to be said that 2001 was indeed a year of great joy for the rabbit country.

Because in addition to the national football team successfully breaking into the World Cup, the successful Olympic bid also made the great power dream that many rabbits have been working hard for come true.

After all, where did the "naive" rabbits at this time know that the national football team's breakthrough into the World Cup would become an eternal swan song, and that the rabbit country would dominate the world with a cheat-like speed in the next 20 years?

Don't laugh at the old people's happiness being too simple...

But the people at this time really regarded the Olympic bid as a lifelong dream.

As for the future, what kind of stinky fish and rotten shrimp is the Olympic Games, that is because the rabbit country's national strength really does not need to be shown through hosting the Olympic Games.

"Don't worry, Mingming, I have already reserved the flag bearer for the Beijing Olympic Games in advance, so we will definitely be able to bid for the Olympic Games successfully this year." At this time, looking at Little Yao, Su Feng also joked with him.

But...

I don't know why, Mingming, who felt that the successful Olympic bid was very happy, couldn't be happy anyway.

Because he, who has extremely high EQ, finally understood...

Why Brother Feng would recommend himself to be the flag bearer at the Sydney Olympic Games!

These are all routines!

Damn it!

"Brother Feng, actually, I personally feel that...

This flag bearer position still has to be handed over to the tallest person." Looking at Su Feng, Yao Ming also joked.

Hearing this...

Su Feng immediately became serious.

Because this Olympic flag bearer cannot be joked about.

"If you succeed in the Olympic bid, then in 2008, I also want to go to China to play in the Olympic Games."

Aside, Iverson suddenly interrupted Su Feng, who was educating Yao Ming.

At this time, in a trance, Su Feng's mind was already full of scenes of him being chased and beaten by a group of superstars from the United States team at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Toronto, in the laughter of Su, Ai, and Yao, the Philadelphia fans who were still saddened by the Philadelphia Thugs' loss outside did not know...

After fighting seven games with Su Feng, the young Little Yao and the never-say-die Iverson had already walked out of the shadow of the loss?

Admittedly, failure is a very painful thing.

But as long as you have made the greatest effort for it before the failure, then what is there to regret?

……

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