Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

The Bucks gave the Magic no chance.

In the first round's fourth game, despite McGrady scoring 34 points, the previous three games had already proven that even 40+ points from him wouldn't suffice, because they were facing one of the league's top offensive teams.

In terms of offense, the Bucks could even compete with the Mavericks from the West.

McGrady left with amazing average stats and the praise of a glorious defeat, still being called the best player in the Eastern Conference after the first round's conclusion.

"If he's the best from the East, he should at least win one game by himself," Anthony Mason said disdainfully, "Being called the best in the East by scoring a high number of points through a lot of shots in a weak team? That doesn't get my approval!"

Yu Fei, who usually had a big mouth in front of the media, on the other hand, maintained his respect for McGrady.

Because there was nothing wrong with how McGrady played, he performed as expected; there was a clear gap in pure strength between the two teams.

Every time he faced McGrady, Yu Fei would study the opponent's footwork and movements in actual combat, which brought him great benefit.

Now that McGrady had been smoothly dispatched, Yu Fei expressed his regrets like a crocodile shedding tears, "The playoffs were torture for him. It would've been better if the format hadn't changed; his pain would have ended in the third game."

"You hear that, right? I told you before, Frye is a good guy," George Karl said with a mocking smile, which brightened the atmosphere at the scene.

The Bucks advanced to the second round of the playoffs without any pressure.

Their opponent didn't keep them waiting long.

The Philadelphia 76ers, ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference, defeated the fifth-ranked Indiana Pacers, advancing to the semifinals to many people's surprise.

The 76ers were one of the strangest teams in the league and also the favorite subject of discussion among critics.

When would Larry Brown pack his bags and leave? Hadn't the 76ers reached his "threshold"? Did Allen Iverson's life collapse due to the assault incident last summer? What made the 76ers decide to transform their bloodline in one summer—from a pure defensive team to a pure offensive one—and still make it to the semifinals?

Yu Fei didn't pay much attention to the 76ers' behind-the-scenes stories; playing against them meant that he and Iverson would face off in a serious confrontation on the playoff stage.

Yu Fei hoped that Iverson would still be the amiable big brother after the series was over.

Iverson certainly had every reason to go all out in the series.

Yu Fei's meteoric rise not only cast doubt on Jordan, it also shook Iverson's status as Reebok's top basketball star.

From Reebok's perspective, Yu Fei had a future as bright as Iverson's.

The popular culture phenomenon led by Iverson had vanished with his tarnished reputation, and for all non-black children, Iverson was not only the biggest badass under 1.9 meters in the NBA, but also a thug who chased his wife with a gun.

Yu Fei's progress in Milwaukee goes without saying; he not only entered the discussion for the best active player with his solid performance, but considering he was still not yet 21 and had scored 60 points in three quarters against Jordan in their ultimate showdown, nearly ruining His Airness's reputation, Reebok had reason to believe he was the next superstar.

Bradley Center

George Karl watched the 76ers' training from a distance.

Iverson jogged back and forth as if preparing for battle, occasionally finishing a catch-and-shoot layup.

His demeanor was relaxed, but his expression was tense.

As for Karl's senior, Larry Brown, he looked more serious than ever, as if he were pondering where to jump ship after the 76ers collapsed.

If Brown left after the season was over, Karl wouldn't be surprised.

Honestly, would anyone be surprised?

Just because the jokes about Larry Brown and his luggage hadn't been heard in the league for six years, didn't mean he had reformed. The moment a team was on the brink of collapse or stagnating, Brown would think about leaving, just like he did in New Jersey, San Antonio, San Diego (Clippers), Denver, and Indiana.

As his junior, Karl felt he should take the initiative to say hello, so he approached Brown.

Just past the halfway line, Karl said to Iverson, "AI, if you pass the ball more, the 76ers might win a game or two in the semifinals."

"Mind your own Frye!" Iverson retorted coldly, "You have no right to tell me what to do!"

Karl could hardly believe Brown had tolerated someone like him for six years.

Six years. What concessions did his senior make to coexist with Iverson?

How could a 62-year-old white grandfather bridge the cultural gap with a 28-year-old rebellious rapper to make progress together? It's not just a disagreement between a superstar and a rigid coach, but a huge chasm between old philosophies and youthful rebellion. Karl didn't believe such extreme generational and philosophical surprises could be bridged by other means.

"Larry, that must be tough," Karl said with a teasing tone.

Brown looked at his junior with a complicated gaze, whose receding hairline had gone further than his own, suggesting that Karl might have a tougher time than himself.

"Hasn't Frye caused you any trouble?"

"He has," Karl admitted with a suppressed laugh, "But AI is on another level."

Brown instinctively resented all negative comments about Iverson, and he didn't know why.

Ever since he took over the 76ers, he'd thought about trading Iverson at least five times every season.

Why hadn't he done it? Brown asked himself every day.

Then one day in 2001, his elderly mother came to watch a 76ers game and, after witnessing an argument with Iverson, she whispered, "Larry, take care of that boy, you two are the same."

Brown snapped back to reality from his memories, "AI at least led us to the Finals two years ago; Frye might not be able to do that."

"Maybe, but if you don't win, what's the use of just reaching the Finals?" Karl said self-deprecatingly, "I've also been to the Finals, but now everyone only remembers MJ winning the championship on Father's Day. No one cares about that year's runner-up. By contrast, getting rid of AI could put you back on track."

Larry Brown would always only talk about trading Iverson.

He knew he would never trade that man.

If the day ever came that they had to, the one leaving would be him.

Karl revealed this reality, and Brown looked quite agitated, "George, don't be too meddlesome. Until you win a championship, you have no right to tell me how to manage my team!"

Karl returned to the players.

He saw Yu Fei telling the others to stop training, giving him a minute to play one-on-one with Devean George.

They played three possessions, Yu Fei ending each one with a pull-up jumper, a step-back three-pointer, and a euro-step past the defense for a dunk.

"DG, do you like to go easy?"

"You can't defend even one of three? That's outrageous!"

Yu Fei glared at the person who shouted loudest, "Old timer, if you're not convinced, come and try for yourself!"

"No way!" Mason retorted stubbornly, "Such one-on-ones are meaningless. In a real game, do you think they'd give you that much space?"

Yu Fei hit where it hurt, "With a liability like you who poses no offensive threat outside the paint starting for us, of course I don't get that kind of isolation space."

"Damn it!" Mason directly AOE'd all the space in the interior, "Soft egg power forwards are the ones who go out to shoot!"

Ratner didn't care.

Yu Fei responded to Mason's words indifferently.

They often argued, but it was always Yu Fei who won.

Mason would often be so irritated he turned red, yet their relationship wasn't much affected. The more Yu Fei pissed Mason off, the better their on-court chemistry became.

It was a strange phenomenon.

After the warm-up, the starting players from both teams entered the court.

Karl made a slight adjustment to the Bucks' starting lineup. Since the 76ers' starting center was Keith Van Horn, Karl didn't think it was necessary to put Dan Gadzuric in to compensate for height. Instead, he specially called up Tyrone Hill, a veteran acquired at the trade deadline, to start at center.

At the jump ball to start the game, Van Horn lost to Hill.

Yu Fei crossed the half court and immediately fed Mason the ball.

Mason received the ball and forced his way to the hoop, invincible in collision but rough in touch. It looked like a good chance, but the layup missed due to excessive force.

Iverson caught the pass from his teammate and swiftly launched a counterattack. As he dashed forward, Sprewell faced him.

Iverson didn't wait for his teammates to settle, quickly dribbled twice with a large change of direction, shook off The Madman, and crashed under the basket for a hard air contest against Hill, going for a layup.

He missed but drew a foul from Hill.

"Don't pass the ball around like a soft egg," Iverson said to Yu Fei as he got to the free-throw line.

Yu Fei replied, "That's because you're too short to see the passing opportunities."

For someone like Iverson, who was often targeted on the court because of his height, this was their most familiar weakness, but they didn't like hearing others mention it.

Just like Napoleon, who was said to desire beheading those taller than himself to make up for their difference in height, Iverson glared fiercely at Yu Fei, "Just you wait."

After saying that, Iverson made both free throws.

He looked very angry, a visible rage that made Yu Fei unusually wonder, "Did I go too far?"

Then Yu Fei dismissed that thought.

The act of reflecting with one's head down should be avoided.

Perhaps finding it insufficient to settle scores with Yu Fei on offense alone, Iverson astonishingly waved his teammates away, deciding to personally teach a lesson to the disrespectful Mr. Yu.

To the Yu Fei from the past, his knowledge of Iverson was limited to his poor performances when he came to China for the money grab, as well as James calling him the "toughest sub-six-footer" during his Hall of Fame induction speech.

This might have been James's typical rhetorical style; after all, with enough qualifiers, there could be hundreds, if not thousands, of "toughest" players in the basketball world.

But Yu Fei thought that a sub-six-footer known as the "toughest" would definitely play fiercely.

This idea was correct.

After experiencing Iverson's style of play first-hand, Yu Fei's impression deepened. To describe Iverson's style as "fierce" would be less accurate than "crazy." He had a special kind of game energy, treating every offensive and defensive play as if it were his last.

This aggressive approach made him gamble unreasonably on offense, trying to outplay bigger opponents, and made risky plays on defense.

Attempting a decisive blow, Iverson was shaken off by Yu Fei's deft behind-the-back move, instantly losing his defensive position.

Not only that, but Iverson's excessive charge nearly sent him sprawling to the ground.

Yu Fei, after shaking free, rose for a jump shot from the spot.

"Swish!"

2 to 2

Yu Fei turned around and glanced at Iverson, "What were you having me wait for? To see you make a fool of yourself?"

"It looked great, keep it up."