Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Chapter 905 905 549 Remember These Disrespects_2

?Chapter 905: Chapter 549: Remember These Disrespects_2 Chapter 905: Chapter 549: Remember These Disrespects_2 In the clash of strong teams, the team with the better chemistry stood to gain the greater advantage.

Yu Fei took the initiative to challenge Odom first.

Despite both playing the power forward position, Odom, a seasoned power forward, was defenseless against Yu Fei, who was only temporarily filling in the position.

Odom couldn’t stop Yu Fei’s drives.

When Yu Fei backed him down in the post, Odom barely put up a hand in a symbolic gesture of defense.

Once Yu Fei set a pick and rolled out, Odom could read the offense but couldn’t keep up with his footwork.

The man had only been away from the Lakers for a few years, and his decline was startling.

Yu Fei alone broke the game wide open.

The Supersonics started with a lead of 11 to 5.

The Brooklyn Nets called a timeout, and afterwards, they subbed Odom out for the veteran Al Harrington, acquired during the offseason.

Anthony began demanding the ball and scored repeatedly with jump shots over Durant’s head.

Of course, Durant couldn’t accept this, and he wanted the ball to score in return.

However, there was a paradox about Anthony.

Anthony seemed to be a terrible defender in every aspect, as the stats showed, but when he actually wanted to stop someone, his defensive power would skyrocket.

Anthony played such strong defense on Durant that he missed his shots, and then Anthony slapped the ball out of Durant’s hands and out of bounds.

“You’re not in my league,” Anthony arrogantly said, “Bring Frye here! Did you hear me? I told you to bring Frye!”

Yu Fei laughed and said, “You’re from New York after all. Do you want to settle the score just after a couple of rounds?”

Anthony confidently replied, “Even if we played 11 rounds, he wouldn’t be my match!”

This was certainly something Durant’s camp couldn’t understand.

Logically, with the Supersonics securing three consecutive championships, Yu Fei establishing himself as the Greatest of All Time, and Roy becoming the League’s top combo guard, why hadn’t Durant received the respect he deserved?

Yu Fei went out to receive the ball, and Harrington followed.

Then, Yu Fei called for Durant to set a pick and roll, forcing Anthony to switch onto him.

Anthony was overjoyed.

He could almost imagine how many eyes were watching him at that moment.

The lenses of the media, the spotlight at the courtside, and the fans’ discussions over who was stronger — these symbols of a sporting hero had never included him, because he had wasted too much time in Denver. He was a fool.

How could someone build a legacy in a place like Denver?

Even New Jersey was a bit lacking, but what was that saying? Beggars can’t be choosers.

New Jersey was average, but with The Big Three, New Jersey possessed infinite possibilities.

Driven by the ambition to become a superstar like Yu Fei, Anthony went all out on defense against him.

His defense even surprised Yu Fei.

If this guy took defending seriously, not to mention making the All-Defensive Team, he definitely wouldn’t be seen as a defensive liability like he was now.

What’s more despised than being an unstoppable offensive player but a complete mess on defense? It’s knowing you could be unstoppable on offense and solid on defense, yet you choose to play defense seriously only when it suits you.

Yu Fei and Anthony grinded for ten seconds before Yu Fei suddenly exploded with one step, switched the ball behind his back to his left hand, tearing through Anthony’s defense, and stepped back to the left wing to create shooting space, launching a fadeaway jumper that smoothly left his palm.

Anthony did his best, but Yu Fei’s skill was just too good.

Someone who usually doesn’t focus on defense can’t suddenly become a lock-down defender by just playing hard.

“Swish!”

That shot made Anthony realize that no matter how hard he tried, he would never be able to stop Yu Fei.

Instead of expending effort on a task that wouldn’t yield a return, he decided to focus on offense.

“Come guard me, Frye!”

Anthony yelled.

Yu Fei voluntarily switched to guard Durant, advising him, “Their power forward is a terrible defender; you have to seize this chance!”

“And remember this lack of respect.”

Durant nodded and replied, “No problem.” Then it occurred to him, no problem? Giving up the chance to be the center of attention by guarding Anthony to Frye, was that really okay?

How can someone who always calls for their parents when in doubt win the respect of their opponents?

Anthony couldn’t shake off Yu Fei’s defense, or rather, he wasn’t adept at creating shooting space with various dribbling techniques like Yu Fei was.

His trump card was to seize fleeting moments, instantly transitioning from dribbling to gathering the ball, lifting it, jumping, and shooting.

Anyone who watched Anthony shoot would involuntarily remark on how silky smooth it was.

Compared to Howard’s visibly freakish athleticism, Anthony’s indescribable coordination between quick technical movements and ball handling was truly one in a million.

“Frye, I’m not LeBron!”

After responding, Anthony said smugly.

Yu Fei just huffed with amusement.

Anthony really showed him what a narcissistic and haughty person looked like after being stifled for many years on a small-market team, then suddenly bursting out.

It was quite reminiscent of the ridiculousness of Clay Bennett supporting small-market teams with a 47% profit share for the players’ camps.

“Come on, Frye, keep it going!”

Anthony actively defended Yu Fei, hoping to continue the one-on-one.

However, Yu Fei didn’t comply with his wishes.

Yu Fei received the ball but only as an intermediary, quickly passing it back to Roy, while setting a screen for Hill who was cutting toward him.

Hill found space, took the pass from Roy, and hit a three-pointer.

“Frye, I don’t remember you being the kind of man to spoil the fun,” Anthony recalled the glory days in the Night High Alliance, “When I doubted you couldn’t handle two women at once, you chose three, to prove me wrong. Tell me, are you still the same man?”