hotmtlnovel Chapter 9 Donuts at 4 AM
Chapter 9 Donuts at 4 AM
2008年11月5日，上午9:00。
Tarrytown, New York.
The Knicks' official training facility.
Sunlight streamed through the domed glass windows, slicing the arena in two, much like the team's current locker room—the cracks were clearly visible.
Left half – “Hedonism Camp”.
Although Stephon Marbury has been released from suspension and returned to training, his dejected demeanor is even stronger than before. He's wearing his training clothes, but his shoelaces are loosely dragging on the ground. He's sitting on a chair by the sidelines, holding a pink strawberry donut and munching on it.
Sitting next to him was Eddie Curry, who was also out of shape, and the two were excitedly discussing the strippers at a newly opened nightclub in Manhattan.
"I'm serious, Eddie, that girl's waist is absolutely amazing..." Marbury licked the frosting off his fingers and let out a vulgar laugh, completely ignoring the others who were preparing for training.
Right half – "Spartacus Camp".
"One more time! Five more sets to go!"
Li Xiangbei was shirtless, his once fair skin now glistening with sweat, every muscle taut like a sculpture. A small puddle of sweat had accumulated at his feet, proof of the intense training he had undergone.
Behind him, David Lee and Wilson Chandler, panting heavily like two dying dogs, struggled to keep up with Lee's pace as he ran back north.
"Damn it... Lee... are you a robot?" David Lee clutched his knees, feeling like his lungs were about to explode.
Li Xiangbei didn't answer, but instead crossed the finish line with a cold face, then quickly turned around and sprinted again.
[Unlimited Stamina: Now Open.]
This stark visual contrast made head coach Mike D'Antoni frown as he entered the arena.
Marbury had clearly noticed the commotion. He swallowed the donut in his mouth, deliberately raised his voice, and his tone was full of sarcasm:
"Hey! Our 'superstar'! Save your energy! Stop pretending, or your legs will be as weak as a girl's during the game tonight!"
Eddie Curry responded with a burst of laughter.
Li Xiangbei was sprinting across the center line. Upon hearing this, his steps didn't falter for a moment, and his breathing remained steady.
But he turned his head, and his eyes swept across Marbury's face.
"Some people's legs go weak because they pursue excellence in training."
Li Xiangbei's voice wasn't loud, but it was clearly audible in the empty stadium.
"And some people's legs go weak because they've been lying on a woman's belly for too long."
The entire room fell silent instantly.
Li Xiangbei stopped, took a towel and wiped his face, staring directly at his former boss, whose lips still had pink icing on them.
"Stephen, wipe your mouth. You look exactly like a retired old man sitting on a park bench waiting to die, relying on welfare to buy donuts."
"Pfft—"
Nate Robinson, who was stretching, couldn't help but burst out laughing. Several young players next to him were also trying hard to hold back their laughter, their shoulders shaking.
Marbury's face instantly turned from playful to a deep purplish-red. He slammed the donut he was holding onto the ground, splattering cream everywhere.
"Say that again, you fucking idiot?!" Marbury stood up abruptly, and in that instant of anger, he finally looked like a player.
"Alright! Shut up, all of you!"
D'Antoni blew his whistle, and the little mustache trembled with anger. He was fed up with this kindergarten-like bickering.
"Since you guys have so much energy, let's have a competition! The loser has to clean the locker room for the entire week!"
……
Group competition.
Main team (Blue Team): Marbury, Crawford, Randolph, Eddie Curry, Quentin Richardson.
This is a typical "washed-up All-Star" lineup; they have talent, but they are all old and lazy.
Reserves (White Team): Li Xiangbei, Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler, David Lee, Jerome James.
This is a young, fast, and obedient "run-and-gun special forces team".
Game start.
Marbury has the ball. He wants to prove himself.
He lowered his center of gravity and dribbled between his legs repeatedly, trying to shake off Li Xiangbei with those fancy moves.
But Li Xiangbei wasn't buying it. He was like a sophisticated defensive machine, always maintaining a step in front of Marbury, using his long arms to disrupt his vision.
Marbury dribbled for a full 18 seconds, and finally, with 24 seconds left, he had no choice but to force a pull-up jumper over Li Xiangbei.
"when!"
Blacksmithing.
David Lee grabbed the rebound.
The instant David Lee grabbed the rebound, Li Xiangbei had already shot off like an arrow.
"Run!!" D'Antoni shouted excitedly from the sidelines.
Li Xiangbei is too fast.
Meanwhile, Marbury was still frustrated with that shot and hadn't even turned around to get back on defense. Eddie Curry was standing there like a telephone pole.
Li Xiangbei received the ball and had a 1-on-0 advantage in the attacking third.
But he didn't go himself. He heard footsteps behind him.
That was Nate Robinson, the short guy who was only 175 cm tall, sprinting towards them with legs that seemed to be springy.
Li Xiangbei tossed the ball high toward the backboard.
Nate leaped into the air, his head almost touching the basket.
"boom!"
A tomahawk dunk!
Substitutes 2:0.
……
This was just the beginning of the massacre.
Round 5.
Marbury was still grinding out the set when he passed the ball to Eddie Curry in the paint. Before Curry could even post up, Li Xiangbei steals the ball with a ghostly double-team.
Counterattack. Li Xiangbei chased down a three-pointer.
"brush!"
Round 10.
Marbury was already panting heavily, his hands on his knees. Last night's alcohol and the donuts he'd just eaten now felt like the heaviest burden.
As for Li Xiangbei? He barely broke a sweat.
His unlimited stamina allowed him to run freely on the court, and every fast break was like a sprint.
Li Xiangbei dribbled the ball forward and once again encountered a panting Marbury.
This time, he didn't pass the ball.
A super-fast first step has begun!
Marbury tried to move sideways to block, but his legs were too heavy to keep up with Li Xiangbei's pace.
One step at a time! Clean and efficient!
Li Xiangbei drove into the paint, drawing Randolph's help defense, and then casually flicked the ball to David Lee in the corner for a three-pointer.
Substitutes 30:12.
competition is over.
D'Antoni blew the final whistle. His eyes were filled with fervor as he looked at the numbers representing fast break points on his scorebook.
This is the basketball he wants! This is the perfect run-and-gun offense! No need for brakes, just floor the accelerator!
Li Xiangbei slowly walked back to the midfield, passing by Marbury, who was sitting on the ground panting like a dead dog.
He stopped in his tracks.
"Run, Stephen."
Li Xiangbei looked down at the former All-Star with a cold tone.
"Didn't your $2000 million max contract include a clause for defensive rotations?"
Marbury looked up, his eyes bloodshot and filled with anger, but he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal. His throat was thick with the taste of blood, the taste of utter exhaustion.
Standing to the side, D'Antoni watched this scene and had already made his decision.
The sky over New York has completely changed.
……
8:00 PM. Training hall.
The teammates left one after another, and only the cleaners were still cleaning up the site.
"Thump, thump, thump."
The sound of dribbling could still be heard from under the basket in the corner.
Li Xiangbei is practicing his dribbling. Although he has a guaranteed shot and unlimited stamina, his basic dribbling is still not stable enough when facing top-level pressure. This is his weakness.
"Um... Li?"
A hesitant voice rang out.
Li Xiangbei stopped what he was doing and turned around.
It's Nate Robinson. This "Little Potato," who's only 175cm tall, is standing on the sidelines with his bag on his back.
During Marbury's era, Nate was just a clown used for dunking; nobody really respected his skills.
"What's wrong, Nate? Still here?" Li Xiangbei wiped his sweat, his tone gentle.
"Um..." Nate scratched his head, "I see you're practicing your dribbling center of gravity. Actually... when you do a crossover, your center of gravity isn't low enough, and your ball-handling hand is positioned a bit too high, making you easy to steal."
After saying that, Nate regretted it. Scolding the team's new leader? Was he crazy?
However, Li Xiangbei wasn't angry. On the contrary, his eyes lit up.
"You mean this?" Li Xiangbei tried to adjust his movements. "Nate, come here and guard me a few times. Teach me how to protect the ball in front of big men like you do."
Nate was stunned: "Teach...teach you?"
"Of course." Li Xiangbei walked over and tossed the ball to him. "Your dribbling is the best on the team. Even Iverson praised your balance. Enough talk, come on, give me a lesson."
This warmed Nate Robinson's heart. It was a feeling of being respected and recognized.
For the next hour.
The training hall echoed with the sounds of the two players' heavy breathing and the basketball hitting the floor.
"Yes! That's it! Lower yourself! Press your butt against him!"
"Hurry up! Don't look at the ball!"
[System notification: With guidance from renowned instructors and intensive training.]
[Congratulations, host! Your ball control attribute has improved! Your ball protection ability has increased from C+ to B (Stable).]
When Li Xiangbei finally lay on the floor covered in sweat, Nate was also exhausted.
Li Xiangbei took a bottle of Gatorade out of his bag and tossed it to Nate.
"Thanks, bro."
Nate took the drink and smiled a little sheepishly: "It's nothing, Lee. Actually, you learn very quickly."
Li Xiangbei sat up, looking intently at the short guy who would one day win three dunk titles.
"Nate, we're playing the Boston Celtics tomorrow night. Those old guys are tough on defense."
"But," Li Xiangbei said, extending his fist, "if you run into open space like you did today, the ball will definitely be in your hands. I guarantee it."
Nate stared at the outstretched fist, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
That was a desire for the competition, and also a hope for the future.
He raised his fist and bumped it heavily with Li Xiangbei.
"Don't worry, Lee. I'll outrun those Green Shirts."
At this moment, Li Xiangbei not only improved his skills, but more importantly, he completely recruited the most explosive weapon in the team.
Boston, TD Garden.
The Celtics' Big Three are watching Knicks' game tape.
Kevin Garnett stared at the tireless number 8 on the screen, grinned with his signature fierce smile, and tapped his tactical board.
"Run-and-gun offense? Unlimited stamina?"
Garnett roared as he did push-ups.
"Let him run! Let's see if he can still move in my 'iron-blooded restricted area'! Tell Rondo, don't let him dribble past half-court tomorrow!"
In his New York apartment, Li Xiangbei looked at the new mission issued by the system: [Conquer North Shore Gardens].
"The Big Three, huh? Let's see if your shields are stronger, or my spear is sharper."