When pride still matters

Chapter 398 Everything
Due to the extremely fierce competition in the Western Conference this season, although the teams in the lower zone and the teams in the upper zone are ranked differently, the real strength is not as big a difference as shown in the rankings.

Among the four teams in the lower zone, the Rockets are considered the most suitable first-round opponent for the Sonics.

Although they had an epic 22-game winning streak after Yao Shuan was retired for the season, the Rockets' strength at that time was no longer the lineup, but the team's cohesion and chemical reaction.

It wasn't until they fell in front of the Celtics that people would realize that this team looked so deformed after losing Yao Huang.

They basically have no defense, and the scoring and organization tasks all fall on McGrady. The inside offense mainly relies on older rookie Luis Scola. Once the inside is broken, or McGrady has problems on the outside, the Rockets don't even have a chance to fight back.

April 4, Game 19 of the Western Conference first round.

SuperSonics vs. Rockets at home.

The Rockets asked Battier to guard Yu Fei, and then asked McGrady to face Roy.

Durant faced veteran Bobby Jackson.

As soon as the game started, the situation fell into the hands of the Sonics.

McGrady replied: "You're absolutely right."

But this does not affect McGrady's significance.

The Rockets' strongest defensive point on the wing was broken into a flaw, and McGrady was obsessed with outside shooting. Not only did he fail to break through his opponent like Yu Fei, but Roy made him a breakthrough.

For the Rockets, the most uncomfortable thing was Battier's quick single-point breakthrough by Yu Fei.

He was the number one player in the Eastern Conference at the time, with an unbeatable first step, comprehensive skills, and a cool attitude.

When Yu Fei used the exact same action to pass McGrady, but ignored the help of Scola and Carl Landry to dunk and score.

In the second quarter, the Rockets changed their formation.

The once omnipotent self flashed in Maddie's eyes.

After the first quarter, the Sonics had a 10-point lead.

Yu Fei imitated Tracy McGrady, but soon developed his own style.

The kid who followed Jordan back then is now someone out of McGrady's reach.

Yu Fei has "feelings" for McGrady.

Battier couldn't guard Yu Fei, so he guarded Roy. McGrady was beaten by Roy, so he tried to face Yu Fei.

Battier's blind defense doesn't work well against Fly.

But this sentiment does not come from a previous life and has nothing to do with Yao, Mai and the Rockets. This sentiment comes from his rookie season. When he first entered the NBA, McGrady's light was extremely dazzling.

Because Yu Fei's shooting speed is always faster than his blinding speed.

The Rockets fought fiercely for four quarters, but ultimately lost by 20 points.

When McGrady broke through Yu Fei with a lightning first step and then missed a simple layup, his opponents only realized how much the injury had affected him.

"Tracy, the hardest thing in the world is time, isn't it?"

But this way of change is simply a combination of counterpoints.

The most realistic meaning and warning this person gave Yu Fei is that even if he is extremely talented and has the potential to be the number one in the world, once he encounters an injury and does not know how to change, when his personal opportunities are exhausted, he can only stay in the so-called first place. The endless circling in the chakra spell.

"MVP!"

"MVP"

The Key Arena was filled with cheers from the crowd, which was given to the best player of the night.

Yu Fei scored 32 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. In a sense, the MVP call is building momentum for him.

But in fact, he no longer needs it.

According to the information he received, the MVP is basically inseparable. What he has to do now is to play well in the playoffs.

Yu Fei waved to greet the scene.

"Frye, this is your first playoff game you've won at KeyArena, how do you feel?"

"No different, maybe the fans will be a little louder?"

"Do you think the Sonics are here to stay?"

"Of course, that's why I came back."

"So, you're not at all worried about Clay Bennett requesting relocation at the league meeting at the end of the month?"

What Yu Fei now knows is that by the end of the regular season, he has generated 100 million US dollars in revenue for the team. Excluding expenses, the SuperSonics has achieved profitability this season.

Moreover, it is not ordinary profit.

They're profitable just like a popular big-market team.

Bennett already had a tacit understanding with him, and as a businessman who could hang himself for profits, after seeing the current profits of the Sonics, he really couldn't think of any reason for Bennett to backstab him in this situation. Own.

"There's nothing to worry about. Trust me, everything is going on the right track."

Yu Fei came to the sidelines and prepared to enter the players' tunnel through the aisle.

Crazy fans screamed.

"Fry!"

"We love you Fry!"

"Fry~~!!!" "!#!￥%￥"

Yu Fei deliberately stayed in the aisle to sign autographs for those holding jerseys.

That's something he never did in Milwaukee.

Because every time I do this, I waste half an hour.

But he is willing now. From a public relations perspective, this is to show his affinity. For the team, the first man in the league has no airs and is patient with the fans. In theory, every fan who comes to the scene has a chance. Get up close and personal with him and get an autograph.

That's why there aren't any empty seats at KeyArena every home night this season.

It took Yu Fei an extra 40 minutes to leave the scene.

"It's really unjustifiable for Bennett not to pay you dividends, right?" Kevin Lin joked in the aisle, "At least 50% of this season's income is created by you."

Yu Fei said arrogantly: "I don't like this little money."

Thinking about Yu Fei's private investment, Lin Kaiwen believed that he did not say this just to show off.

"Okay, here's the plan for tomorrow."

"So many schools?" Yu Fei was shocked when he found out that tomorrow's event was to distribute playoff souvenirs to students from multiple schools.

Because this gathers almost all the high schools near the city center.

"Of course, as the hero of every Seattle under-16 player, you have to perform well tomorrow."

"How to behave?" Yu Fei asked, "Tell me how I stole the MVP from Kobe?"

"Kids are probably more interested in what you did to LeBron in Vegas," Lin said.

"I swear, I really didn't step over him."

"The kids wish you had."

"What a great group of kids."

The next day, while Yu Fei was busy with community activities, the NBA announced the winners of many regular season awards.

Among them, the most talked about is the first team of the best team.

This season’s first team is: Paul, Kobe, Yu Fei, Garnett, and Howard.

James, who had been selected to the first team for several consecutive years, fell to the second team.

This sparked heated discussions.

You know, James averaged 30 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists per game this season. This kind of data can be selected for the first team in most seasons.

But this year, they fell to the second team.

why? Because Yu Fei, who used to sign up as a defender, signed up for the forward position this year.

Garnett's statistics are not good, but his team's record and his role in the team are all in his eyes. Yu Fei's statistics cover all James, and the team's record is also the first in the Western Conference. In this way, the pitfall of two forwards The seat is occupied.

Therefore, even if the James camp is dissatisfied in every way, the only point they can question is why Yu Fei, who has been playing the guard position in previous years, suddenly moved to the forward position.

But the accusation is bound to elicit laughs.

Because in the past, when Yu Fei entered the first team as a guard, those serious traditional point guards complained endlessly.

In any case, it is too perverted for a 6-foot-8 man to insist that he is a point guard.

Except for James causing trouble for a while after losing the draft, everything else was normal.

Roy edged out Ginobili and was selected for the second team, and Marion felt respected for the first time.

During those years with the Suns, his existence was ignored. He was clearly one of the top five defenders in the league but never entered the defensive formation. However, in half a season with the Sonics, he made the experts who ignored him repent and take the initiative. Put him on the All-Defensive Second Team.

However, the biggest winner is Yu Fei.

In addition to being selected for the first team for six consecutive seasons, Yu Fei was also selected for the first defense. The most incredible thing about this is that not many people question him.

Yu Fei has never been famous for his defense, because he really just defends casually. He relies on his talent and prediction to block two blocks per game, grab one or two balls, and then defend his opponent casually.

However, his matchup advantage against stars trumps all advanced statistics.

When voting, voters remembered how he defeated Kobe and James, and how he turned a low-level team like the Sonics into a league strong team with both offense and defense.

The improvement on the offensive end can be said to be Roy's growth, but what about the defense? Marion has only been here for half a season, but the Sonics' defense has always been very good. It can't be the fault of Kwame Brown, right? What is this arrogant man who pretends to be powerful? What is he capable of?
If "be famous by being famous" is the rule for celebrities like Paris Hilton.

Then Yu Fei's Law is "Being considered to have huge influence in any aspect because of its huge influence."

Anyway, Yu Fei is the winner so far.

One team, one defense, scoring champion.

This is on the field.

The savior of Team USA, the savior of professional basketball in Seattle.

This is off the field.

Honor, reputation, he got it all.

He has walked more than half of the road to becoming a god, but there is still the last 100 meters to officially become a god.

(End of this chapter)