Chapter 343: Chapter 100: [We Are the Fucking Champions]
ESPN was broadcasting the game live across the United States. Despite many Americans claiming they wouldn’t watch this year’s gold medal game because the Dream Six Team hadn’t made it and they disliked watching Su Xi’s swagger.
But in reality, the game’s ratings surpassed those of the bronze medal match.
Their mouths said no, but their bodies were honest.
As the game’s intensity ratcheted up, the network’s ratings skyrocketed, even surpassing this year’s Finals.
And this year’s Finals had already set the record for the highest-rated NBA event of the new millennium.
Just then, Su Xi shook off a double-team, drove to the basket, and plowed through Scola to sink the shot.
The commentators on TV couldn’t help but cheer for Su Xi, their voices ringing with passionate shouts.
And in front of TVs everywhere, the reaction was just as wild.
"That’s our Finals MVP! That’s the Finals MVP, my man! Argentina doesn’t have a Finals MVP..." Chatford repeated on air.
"If Scola wants to play in the NBA, he’d better not lie on the floor throwing a tantrum like a little bitch. The NBA won’t put up with that."
When the camera zoomed in for a close-up on Su Xi.
He was speaking English.
They could clearly read his lips. Su Xi’s pronunciation was crisp and standard, with no slang.
Still dominant. Still Little Sheep Su Xi.
"He’s actually daring Argentina to triple-team him! Is that a taunt?"
"No, that’s not a taunt. That’s just pure dominance. Nobody knows Little Sheep Su Xi better than I do. He just wants to take on all three of them, simple as that. It’s like he’s thinking, ’So what if Yao Ming isn’t here? Is that going to stop me from destroying Argentina?’"
The ESPN commentators couldn’t help but side with Su Xi. As long as he wasn’t going up against the Dream Team, they were more than happy to get behind him and see things from his perspective.
Though these high-and-mighty pundits usually ganged up on Su Xi and nitpicked his every flaw, in reality, they understood him better than anyone. This particular commentator’s analysis, for instance, was spot-on.
Besides, Su Xi was the NBA Finals MVP.
With the Dream Team having been eliminated, his success felt like a small victory by association.
They certainly weren’t going to root for Argentina, the team that had knocked out their Dream Six Team.
Su Xi probably never imagined that the very same ESPN that relentlessly trashed him on a daily basis was now singing his praises, or that tens of millions of American viewers were glued to their TVs watching this game.
The game continued.
Ginobili brought the ball past half-court. Argentina was down by one, but he wasn’t rushing.
He controlled the tempo, setting up a half-court offense.
He drew Su Xi toward him at the top of the arc and passed to Delphino, who then swung the ball to Nocioni. Nocioni drove toward the free-throw line and quickly passed it off to Scola. Scola sold a beautiful pump fake that turned into a pass, fooling Wang Zhizhi completely. He dished the ball to the side while sliding over to set a screen on Zhu Fangyu, who was chasing Nocioni.
Nocioni hit the floater.
On a technical and tactical level, Argentina was far superior to the Chinese Team.
The "European Caesar" hadn’t brought a true tactical system to the Chinese Team. Their strategy was still based on some superficial, rigid defense, with the offense boiled down to "give the ball to Yao Ming and Su Xi and let them figure it out."
When Yao Ming and Su Xi were on the court together, this brand of "hero ball" was undeniably simple and effective.
But with Yao Ming now injured and resting, this style of play was not only exhausting for the remaining superstar, but it also left the other players looking lost and unsure of their roles.
’After this game, I’m definitely going to recommend that the federation fire Yonas. He can’t help the Chinese Team build a long-term system, much less establish a real, sustainable talent pipeline.’
Su Xi brought the ball past half-court.
Argentina’s Coach Ruben shouted from the sidelines, "Get a stop on this possession!"
With the clock ticking down inside the final minute, every possession became crucial.
Ginobili was the primary defender on Su Xi. He used his quick hands to harass him, denying him any comfortable driving lanes.
But Su Xi didn’t bother engaging with him. He attacked directly, and Delphino immediately flew in from the side to help.
As Su Xi took a step inside the free-throw line, Nocioni cut off his path.
The three of them completely surrounded Su Xi, forcing him to pick up his dribble.
He turned and bumped Ginobili with his body, but the triple-team only closed in tighter.
Just then, Su Xi suddenly leaped. From within the tight trap, he tossed the ball out.
The ball didn’t fly toward the basket, but out to the left side, beyond the three-point line.
Possessing the super spatial awareness of Magic and the super sense of distance of Big Bird Bird, Su Xi had a solution for dealing with the trap.
Li Nan caught the ball, and Ginobili scrambled to close out on him.
But he was a step too slow.
Back in China, Li Nan was known as "Xiaoli Flying Knife." His three-pointers were deadly accurate, and he had a tough, resilient style.
He wasn’t about to waste the opportunity Su Xi had created for him.
He shot the ball with confidence... SWISH!
Nothing but net.
Li Nan’s shot gave the Chinese Team a one-point lead with 43 seconds left in the game.
He was still a bit nervous; he had shot it with his foot on the three-point line.
If he had been just five centimeters further back and hit a three, the Chinese Team would have been in a much more commanding position.
At this stage of the game, every point was critical.
BEEP!
Argentina called their final timeout.
They needed to draw up one last play.
FIBA rules were different from the NBA’s; the clock didn’t stop after a made basket, and the shot clock was 30 seconds instead of 24.
This meant fewer possessions per game.
Given the situation, Argentina would likely try to run down the clock and go for a high-percentage shot.
Then hope to get a defensive stop against the Chinese Team.
"You’re definitely going to lose this game. Definitely!"
As they headed to the benches, Delphino passed by Su Xi and issued another confident taunt.
Su Xi just scoffed.
’A pathetic clown,’ he thought. ’Not even worth my time.’
