The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!
Chapter 106 - 96: Special Agent 99 Blows Up the MCI Center_2

Chapter 106: Chapter 96: Special Agent 99 Blows Up the MCI Center_2

These explosive performances, on such a night, were "catalysts."

The second half began, and Eddie Jordan shouted, "Let’s take down the Pacers, we can definitely do it!"

The Wizards had an average score of 100.5 points and conceded 100.8 points per game this season, a mere difference of 0.3 points between points scored and conceded. These figures explain their team characteristic and how most of their games were won or lost this season.

They fought with all the teams to the last moment, irrespective of whether they were first in the league or at the bottom.

As long as they played their game, this season’s Wizards team wasn’t afraid of any opponent.

Just like those mid-tier students in class, there are always a few who are "specialized," their brilliance in their favorite subjects could rival the "top students."

Tonight, the Wizards were on their "optimal track":

A rational Arenas, an explosive Jamison, they did not need much offensive help from Larry Hughes. This Wizards team had already launched a fierce offensive.—Well, Larry Hughes indeed expended a lot of energy on the defensive end tonight, containing the league’s top pick-and-roll duo in February was no easy task.

Especially after 5 minutes and 34 seconds into the second half, Larry Hughes clearly felt that Su Wan had entered some kind of state, his performance was much improved compared to the first half.

Could he be a "the more you fight, the stronger you get" kind of guy?

Larry Hughes had to devote more energy to defending Su Wan.

But that also meant he couldn’t take care of defending others, and the other Pacers players were also pushing hard.

Both sides had their advantages, the score was closely contested, alternately rising, and until the fourth quarter, neither side could widen the gap—instead, it became even more anxious. As time passed, people from both sides continuously stepped up to complete "heroic shots."

With 3 minutes and 45 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Jamison, from beyond the three-point line on the right side, drew his bow and shot... the ball went in!

to 84.

That was his seventh three-point shot of the game.

The commentator shouted, "It’s him again, our shooter Antoine Jamison, he should have participated in last year’s Olympic archery event!"

Before he had finished speaking, the Pacers launched a counterattack. The ball went from Su Wan’s hands to Stephen Jackson on the wing, the future "Captain Jack" similarly struck decisively, responding with a three-pointer, 85 to 84.

At 2 minutes and 34 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Tinsley played his trademark post-up, further widening the gap, 87 to 84.

The ball went into the basket, and anxious shouts erupted from the stands.

Eddie Jordan kept yelling, "Stay calm, it’s just a one-shot difference, don’t panic!"

Arenas, just a step before the logo, pulled up and shot, tying the score completely, proving his point—a three-point indeed makes a one-shot difference, 87 to 87.

A huge cheer erupted from the crowd.

As if trying to flip the ceiling upside down.

"The gap between special agents often appears at the crucial moment..." The commentator seized the opportunity to praise Arenas and disparage Su Wan, which turned into another case of "poison milk."

With 2 minutes and 4 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Su Wan called a "fake screen" to deceive Larry Huston. Haywood was too slow in help-defense below the basket, and Su Wan completed the layup under his challenge, earning a whistle from the referee.

"Swish!"

And-one hit, a three-point play that silenced the crowd once again.

to 87.

Eddie Jordan saw Arenas trying to respond with a three-pointer, called a timeout the moment he caught the ball, and the ball flew from Arenas’s hand—sure enough, it didn’t go in, eliciting low groans from the audience.

The Wizards regained possession for another offensive round.

After the timeout, the defensive intensity of both teams increased, continuous misses kept the score difference at three points, and...

Only 21.4 seconds remained.

"It’s time to defuse the bomb, this is the real test for special agents, let’s see who between Agent Zero and Agent 99 can complete the final defusal!" Bill Walton commentated passionately, quite fittingly.

The ball was with the Wizards, and Arenas, usually impatient, became less so at this crucial moment. He continuously observed his teammates’ positions and the Pacers players’ placements.

Entering the second half, he realized that he couldn’t easily shake Su Wan anymore; he always managed to adjust his balance incredibly and stubbornly stand in front of him. With such a defender, along with timely help defense, he absolutely couldn’t score through them.

The paint was too dangerous...

Arenas’s gaze suddenly became determined, then he suddenly started a breakthrough, pushed Su Wan back, then stepped back beyond the three-point line, raised his hand, and shot... the ball...

Went in!

The score was tied again!

"Hee-ah!"

Arenas clenched his fist and roared.

The cheers in the arena also reached their climax at this moment.

"Agent Zero has perfectly completed his bomb-defusal task, now only 6.4 seconds remain, the defense is left to his teammate, Larry Hughes..." The commentator was extremely pleased with Arenas’s shot.

Larry Hughes knew that stopping Su Wan’s next move was his job.

After the timeout, as soon as he got on the court, he kept provoking Su Wan, "Come on, Huaxia rookie, try to go one-on-one like Gilbert. Challenge me like a Special Agent. Don’t hide, and don’t call for that damn pick and roll. Face me head-on!"

Su Wan heard this "trash talk" and had only two words:

Wanted to laugh!

How could a poor imitation be effective?

"Standing in front of you is the king of trash talk. Don’t think you’re Big Bird just because your name is Larry!" Su Wan’s smack talk came fluently, "However, I can give you Larry’s words. I’m going to beat you there!"

He pointed to the right high post.

Larry Hughes’s expression changed immediately.

How could he not know Big Bird’s most classic moment?

But as a top defender, he understood that this was just a "mind game": the defender has to guess whether the ball holder will really go to that spot.

Especially Su Wan...

If he ended up not going there and made the kill shot, he’d shamelessly say, "Did you really believe me?"

Larry Hughes: Please forgive me for only being able to think that this Huaxia rookie would say such a thing, because I’m not as "sassy" as him.

"Whistle!"

The referee’s whistle blew, and Su Wan’s words increased the workload for Larry Hughes’s brain. He felt like his brain capacity wasn’t enough. He was even half a step late in preventing Su Wan from getting the ball. By the time he lunged over, Su Wan already had the ball in hand, wary of Su Wan’s ball-handling breakthroughs — they had become much sharper in the second half. This gave Su Wan space to advance with the ball, and calling for a screen from Little O’Neal, he immediately started moving.

Seeing him resolutely running towards the position he had pointed to, Larry Hughes became even more conflicted, especially with Little O’Neal hurriedly coming up behind him.

Damn it, I’m all in!

Larry Hughes decided to take a gamble; he moved ahead of time towards the high post, trying to intercept Su Wan.

As soon as Su Wan saw his movement, he knew his intention.

"Big Bird is Big Bird, these psychological tactics really work."

Especially against black players who aren’t very smart.

He continued to make quick moves toward the designated position until both feet entered the three-point line, then suddenly sidestepped to the left, creating significant space from Larry Hughes.

After a slight adjustment, Su Wan shot.

Larry Hughes then understood he had been tricked.

He immediately rushed over.

But by then it was too late; the ball flew out of Su Wan’s hands, and Su Wan’s feet had already landed back on the ground.

Seeing the ball flying and its trajectory, Su Wan suddenly felt:

This shot will definitely go in!

People playing basketball sometimes have such certainties, and unless it’s Nick Young, they are generally not wrong.

So the confident and powerful Su Wan...

Spread his arms and turned towards the sidelines.

His actions puzzled the players on the court and the spectators.

What’s he doing?

Until the ball fell into the basket.

"Boom!"

Su Wan even made a gesture of pressing a remote control.

The MCI Center fell silent; silence was the loudest noise.

Su Wan’s premature celebration deeply embedded itself in their minds.

Bill Walton was shocked too, but as a professional commentator, lots of words popped into his mind, and the rush made his commentary stutter a bit: "Boom! Special Agent number 99 set off the bomb, blowing up the MCI Center!"

"You’ve managed to survive this long, which really is a miracle, Larry!" Su Wan didn’t forget to throw one last jab at Larry.

Larry Hughes shook his head helplessly...

See, I knew it!