area51novel Chapter 41 The Green Nightmare
Chapter 41 The Green Nightmare
2009年1月12日，晚7:00。
Madison Square Garden, New York.
Knicks vs. Boston Celtics.
Just half an hour ago, the NBA officially announced the final voting results for the 2009 Phoenix All-Star Game.
Eastern Conference guard with the most votes: Li Xiangbei (New York Knicks).
Votes: 2,653,892.
This number not only surpassed Wade and James in the same division, but even exceeded Kobe in the West. In this era when online voting was just emerging, Li Xiangbei reached the peak of popularity by virtue of the terrifying boost from the Chinese market and the traffic effect of the "villain generation".
As a time traveler, Li Xiangbei was already aware of the terrifying power of the Chinese market, but when this moment truly arrived, the exhilarating feeling of being lifted up by hundreds of millions of people still shot straight to the top of his head.
"260 million votes... This is insane."
On TV, Barkley looked like he'd just swallowed a fly.
"Okay, okay. I give up. Because of Yao Ming and Li, the All-Star Game can be renamed the 'Chinese Spring Festival Gala' from now on. But I must admit..."
Barkley pointed to the highlight reel of Li Xiangbei's iconic "throat-slitting" move on the screen, as well as the scene of him dunking over Howard.
"Although the vote count is outrageous, this kid deserves it for his performance. He pulled New York out of the gutter, he gave this lousy team a new soul. I don't deny that."
In the locker room, David Lee looked at the news on his phone. "Dude, you're an American icon now."
Li Xiangbei was tightening his specially made "Rogue Generation" combat boots when he heard this, and he just smiled faintly.
"An idol? In that old man's eyes, I'm probably just a joke."
He looked up at the television screen on the wall.
That was a live broadcast of a pre-match interview.
Garnett was sitting in the Celtics' locker room, fiddling with a championship ring in his hand.
"Kevin, Li Xiangbei has just become the all-time leading vote-getter. What do you think?" the reporter asked.
"The top vote-getter?"
KG snorted dismissively.
"That's candy for little kids. In Boston, we only look at one thing—championship rings."
"Nobody cares who gets the most votes. He's just a spoiled brat. Tonight, I'll show this 'China's King of Votes' that this is a men's league. I'll teach him how to behave in the adult world."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Li Xiangbei stood up, stretched his neck, and made a cracking sound.
"Then let him give it a try."
……
Game start.
The defending champions' defense was an impenetrable net.
Kendrick Perkins held off Randolph in the paint, Rondo guarded Duhon like a mad dog the entire game, and Pierce and Ray Allen took turns wearing down Li Xiangbei.
The most terrifying man was the one standing at the heart of the defense – Kevin Garnett.
He swept across the half-court like crazy. His defensive awareness was historic; no matter where the ball went, you could always feel his shadow looming over you.
Li Xiangbei attempted to reposition himself.
Just as he was about to start moving, Pierce delivered a sharp elbow to his lower back. It was an extremely subtle move that the referee couldn't see at all.
Li Xiangbei endured the pain and used a reverse run to receive the ball.
But before he could turn around...
Garnett was already in position to help defend. His long arms blocked out the sky, and he kept spewing trash talk:
"Don't even think about shooting! Don't even think about passing!!"
Li Xiangbei was forced to stop the ball, wanting to pass it to Randolph in the paint.
"Snapped!"
Rondo burst out, intercepted the ball, and launched a counter-attack.
This is the Celtics' defense. It's not just physical confrontation, but also mental torture.
The Knicks' offense was completely paralyzed. In the first six minutes, they managed only a paltry four points. Randolph was so badly defended by Garnett that he couldn't even hold onto the ball and even committed a basic traveling violation.
End of first quarter.
Knicks 15: 28 Celtics.
Trailing by 13 points.
……
The match entered a more brutal, hand-to-hand combat phase.
Li Xiangbei realized that if no changes were made, tonight would be a massacre.
He decided to intensify his individual offensive efforts.
Li Xiangbei received the ball at the top of the arc, faced Pierce's defense, made a sharp change of direction, and forced his way into the paint.
This is an opportunity!
But he underestimated Garnett's speed in getting back on defense.
Just as Li Xiangbei jumped to prepare for a layup, Garnett also jumped up.
The two people collided violently in mid-air.
This was a confrontation with no reservations whatsoever.
"Bang!!"
This time, Li Xiangbei did not gain the upper hand. Garnett's toughness was astonishing.
The enormous reaction force caused Li Xiangbei to lose his balance in mid-air and crash heavily to the floor.
The audience gasped in surprise.
Li Xiangbei lay on the ground, his lip slightly scraped and bleeding.
Garnett did not leave.
He walked up to Li Xiangbei, bent down, and looked down at him.
Then, he made that famous humiliating gesture—
He started doing finger push-ups right in front of Li Xiangbei!
One, two, three!
While doing it, he kept spewing trash talk:
"Falling already? The top vote-getter? Get up! Don't crawl on the ground like a woman!"
"Is this all you've got? Did you buy your votes? You coward!"
The Celtics fans erupted in wild cheers. This is their Wolf King, this is the indomitable Celtics!
The referee gave Garnett a warning but did not call a technical foul.
Li Xiangbei wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and slowly got up from the ground. He didn't refute, didn't get angry, and didn't even glance at Garnett.
He simply walked back to the halfway point silently, his eyes eerily calm.
Halftime is over.
Knicks 35: 52 Celtics.
Trailing by 17 points.
……
Halftime. Locker room.
The atmosphere was oppressive. Randolph sat in his chair, a towel over his head, saying nothing. Duhon and Chandler dared not even look up. They were terrified by the Celtics' defense; the all-around pressure filled them with despair.
Li Xiangbei sat in front of his locker, while the team doctor disinfected the wound on the corner of his mouth.
The alcohol swab stung as it was applied to the wound.
But he didn't even frown.
"Boss... are we going to lose?" Nate Robinson asked in a low voice.
Li Xiangbei pushed away the team doctor's hand and stood up.
He looked at himself in the mirror, at those still bright eyes.
Li Xiangbei turned around and looked at his dejected teammates.
"lose?"
Li Xiangbei chuckled softly, a hint of bloodlust in his smile.
"Kevin just asked me if I'm a coward."
He walked to the tactics board, picked up a pen, and drew a circle around the 17-point difference.
"I'll tell him the answer in the second half."
"Whether it's his defense or his trash talk."
Li Xiangbei threw the pen on the ground with a crisp sound.
"I will repay him double."