Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

David Robinson, the veteran who announced early that this was his last season, thought that this was where the Spurs truly excelled.

In a pre-game interview, Robinson spoke about the phenomenon of Popovich roaring at Duncan, "If Tim accepts that, then everyone else will too."

The veteran was unhappy last year for being forced to take a pay cut to stay with the Spurs, but now, he had moved past that spirit-draining compensation struggle.

Before the game started, Robinson hugged each of his teammates, spreading the word like an apostle of God.

When he got to the second-year guard Tony Parker, he said, "Thou shalt not steal,' except on defense."

"Right, captain," Parker replied with a grin.

The Silver-Black Legion was ready to put on a good show on this away game.

Team core meeting, warm-ups, head coach's final talk.

All the procedures were complete, and the starting players from both teams came onto the court.

ABC's Brad Nessler said, "This game is truly the center of attention, the strongest team in the Eastern Conference and one of the best in the Western, we always think the Western teams can win, let's see what's different tonight!"

The game started with the jump ball, an area where Bucks' starting center Dan Gadzuric excelled.

He leveraged his physical fitness to his full advantage, jumping with all his might, and slapped the ball to Yu Fei.

Yu Fei caught the ball, with Stephen Jackson appearing in front of him.

Usually, the Spurs would have Bruce Bowen guard him, but today they switched to this problem player known as the Martial Saint in China.

The title of Martial Saint carried weight, but his defense was far from Bowen's.

Fei moved to the frontcourt and saw that Mason had already secured a position in the low post, a threatening spot even against Duncan.

Without hesitation, passing the ball was the way to go. Read exclusive chapters at empire

If Mason broke through Duncan's defense in the first round, it would boost the Bucks' morale.

Fei passed accurately, and Mason didn't waste the trust, using his strong body to hold off Duncan. Both players were unable to jump with full force, he banked the shot with a push.

2 to 0

Next, Parker went head-to-head with Sprewell, using his speed to break through and quickly cut into the paint to dish the ball to Duncan, helping him to score easily.

2 to 2

In the following rounds, it became a showcase of the organizational skills of Fei and Parker.

Fei stood at the top of the arc without much movement, just relying on team tactics to predict opportunities and releasing the ball early.

Ray Allen received the ball for a three-pointer; then, Parker broke through Sprewell again, passed the ball to the corner where Bowen responded with a three-pointer of his own.

5 to 5

Sprewell, who was being exploited by the sophomore guard, demanded the ball from Fei, drove hard, stopped suddenly, and shot — a basket, still an assist for Fei.

Afterwards, no longer probing Parker, Sprewell fully exploited the advantage of his older-generation style by using hand movements to prevent Parker from gaining speed, and finally stopped the fast French sports car.

Duncan had to move out high to receive the ball.

Mason followed suit.

Facing Mason, Duncan had a height advantage, but usually, he wouldn't take advantage of the height difference with a jump shot from the free-throw line.

Duncan chose to fake left and drive right, but met a double-team from another Bucks' big man in the paint.

Unable to find Robinson, Duncan had to shoot before the double-team closed in, launching a floater from the paint that missed, and then, Fei anticipated the rebound, grabbing the ball the moment it came down, not giving the Spurs any respite, passing the ball like a cannonball to the frontcourt.

Sprewell scored on the fast break.

9 to 5

The difference between the organizers was clearly demonstrated here.

Parker was a typical point guard, able to use his own advantages to change the opponent's defensive formation, thereby creating scoring opportunities.

If his personal offense was limited, he would struggle to organize effective attacks.

Yu Fei possessed a natural instinct as an organizer, having already foreseen the possible outcomes the moment he got the ball.

Popovich really couldn't believe that Jordan would trade this guy just because he was insubordinate. Was it really necessary?

On the other side, George Karl was thrilled.

As long as Yu Fei didn't hog the ball, his style perfectly matched Karl's basketball aesthetics.

Tough, versatile, fast, agile, smart.

He was like a combination of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp.

When Yu Fei played like he was organizing now, it was as if Karl was in heaven.

Having failed to score with a face-up play against Mason, Duncan decided to try a second time.

This time, it was a low-post backdown, receiving the ball on the left block, backing down, turning, and going for a hook shot, which missed. No matter, Duncan grabbed his own offensive rebound on the spot and went up again, this time Mason couldn't interfere.

"Good defense."

Leaving that comment, Duncan slipped away.

9 to 7

"Is he insulting me?" Mason asked.

Yu Fei took the inbound pass from him, "Obviously, he doesn't respect you at all."

"Give me the ball!"

"No."

"Trust me!"

"Don't trust."

"!￥!#￥"

"Stop yelling."

Yu Fei and Mason continued up the court like this.

Provoked by Yu Fei's words, Mason set a screen for him right there.

Duncan decisively stepped up, joining Jackson to trap Yu Fei, and although Mason rolled to the basket, with David Robinson underneath, he had no worries.

Even though Mason had a good opportunity, with Robinson there, passing the ball out wasn't an easy score. Moreover, Yu Fei wasn't a team-first player who would pass the ball just because a teammate had a chance.

He feinted, with his feet inside the three-point line, but then jumped to the left, launching a three-pointer before Duncan and Jackson could react.

"What the hell is this playing at?!!!" Karl jumped up, just as Yu Fei had been playing well before suddenly pulling this move.

"Bang!"

The ball bounced high off the rim.

Then, "Swish!"

Yu Fei insultingly taunted Duncan, "You guys are really tight on defense, keep up the good work."

Afterward, as Yu Fei was getting back on defense, Karl said, "Frye, it would have been better to pass the ball just now!"

"Shut up, George. Did it go in or not?"

If Duncan and Popovich's coach-player style symbolizes the most harmonious, most enviable cooperation in NBA history, then Yu Fei and Karl's relationship was nothing of the sort. They were the antithesis of Duncan and Popovich, more like a butler and young master rather than husband and wife.

The young master is always capricious, and the butler is responsible for pulling him back when he throws a tantrum.

When they got back to defense, Mason also complained to Yu Fei about running open but not getting the ball.

To those who coveted the ball like old scoundrels, Yu Fei bluntly said, "Quit nagging. Don't think you're the only cancer on the team; I am too. Otherwise, would I have been traded to Milwaukee?"

PS: I'm taking a day off tomorrow. Recently, the later it gets, the more I write, and that would be fine if my word count increased, but it hasn't. These days I've been writing until I get sleepy, then the sleepier I get, the slower I write. I'll take tomorrow off to reset my biological clock a bit.