stonecrandall Chapter 50 The Memphis Hangover
Chapter 50 The Memphis Hangover
Memphis, FedEx Stadium.
Knicks vs. Memphis Grizzlies.
Tonight, a peculiar atmosphere permeates the air in Memphis.
This was supposed to be a regular season game, but the home crowd's reaction when the Knicks players entered the court was extremely unusual.
"Li!! Li!! Li!!"
When Li Xiangbei ran out of the tunnel wearing a Knicks away jersey, all 18,000 spectators stood up and erupted in cheers comparable to those during a championship win.
The large screen above the arena wasn't even playing a promotional video for the home team, the Grizzlies. Instead, it was looping footage of that crazy night last April—Li Xiangbei, wearing the University of Memphis jersey, hitting three consecutive three-pointers in the final moments to win the championship against Kansas.
For this city, the Grizzlies may be just outsiders, but Li Xiangbei is the "Prince of Memphis" they've watched grow up.
"That's what you call prestige."
Randolph sat weakly in his chair, watching the crowd cheer for Li Xiangbei. He rubbed his temples with a mixture of envy and distress.
"Boss, you're practically a god here."
Li Xiangbei glanced at Randolph, and then at David Lee and Nate Robinson, who were equally exhausted and had dark circles under their eyes, and shook his head helplessly.
"If you guys had drunk less Tennessee whiskey last night, I might look more like a god right now."
Last night, to celebrate Li Xiangbei being voted the All-Star all-time leading vote-getter, Randolph, a former Grizzlies player who knows Memphis nightlife like the back of his hand, dragged the whole team to the wildest nightclub in the city.
The result is this terrible state we see now.
……
Game start.
On the Grizzlies' side, rookie third overall pick Mayo watched Li Xiangbei basking in the cheers of the crowd and felt extremely jealous.
As the third overall pick in this year's draft, he averaged 19 points per game and was touted by Memphis media as "the next Kobe".
But in front of this "former prince," he felt like a nobody.
"This is the NBA, not college."
When Mayo was matched up against Li Xiangbei.
"Those cheers won't save you. Tonight I'll beat you to a pulp and show you who the real master of Memphis is now."
Li Xiangbei glanced at him.
"Master? You should learn how to get past me without traveling first."
The whistle blew.
The Knicks' nightmare has begun.
The effects of a hangover are greater than you might imagine.
Randolph completely lost his usual level when facing the strong Gasol in the paint. He couldn't hold his own at all and was repeatedly rebounded and put back in the basket by Gasol.
The outside shooters were even more of a disaster.
Duhon's pass went directly out of bounds, and Chandler's shot was an airball.
The Grizzlies seized the opportunity.
Gay sprinted all over the court, while Mayo hit consecutive mid-range shots.
End of first quarter.
Knicks 18:32 Grizzlies.
Trailing by 14 points.
D'Antoni was so angry on the sidelines that he threw down his clipboard and yelled at the bunch of spineless cowards, but it was no use.
……
Give me the ball.
Li Xiangbei didn't waste any words.
Since my teammates aren't good enough, I'll have to do it myself.
He turned on full power output.
Even when he was behind, even when his teammates couldn't run anymore, he still sprinted all over the field.
Grizzlies attack.
Mayo has the ball and wants to go one-on-one with Li Xiangbei.
"The next Kobe?"
Li Xiangbei stuck to Mayo tightly.
"Kobe wouldn't stop the ball in that spot. Your dribble is too high."
Just as Mayo hesitated, Li Xiangbei's ghostly hand reached out.
"Snapped!"
Steal!
After stealing the ball, Li Xiangbei launched a fast break. Facing an empty frontcourt, he didn't opt for an easy layup but instead unleashed a powerful tomahawk dunk, attempting to rouse his teammates.
"boom!!!"
32:20.
Turning back, Li Xiangbei took over the game on the offensive end.
Facing a double-team from Gay and Mayo.
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He forced a drift and shot while at a negative angle in the bottom corner and out of balance.
"brush!"
Three point hit!
Middle of the third section.
The point difference was once widened to 20 points. Li Xiangbei did not give up.
He repeatedly drove into the paint, drawing fouls and converting 2+1 plays.
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He was near the logo, pulling up for a long-range three-pointer despite the defense.
"brush!"
By the end of the third quarter, Li Xiangbei's personal score had reached 35 points.
But his individual strength is ultimately limited. Basketball is, after all, a team sport.
When Randolph and David Lee were still in this state at the start of the fourth quarter, Li Xiangbei knew that they were likely doomed tonight.
……
competition is over.
The Knicks lost to the Grizzlies 98-110.
Li Xiangbei played 42 minutes, scoring a whopping 42 points, 6 steals, and 5 assists.
But he failed to bring victory.
The final whistle blew.
Mayo excitedly tossed the ball into the air, as if he had won the championship.
He walked up to Li Xiangbei, a smug look on his face.
"In Memphis, I'm the boss. You're a thing of the past."
Li Xiangbei slowly raised his head, looking at this arrogant newcomer.
He hadn't even had a chance to speak.
Suddenly, the Memphis fans in the stands erupted in deafening boos.
"BOOOOOOO——!!"
But the boos weren't directed at Li Xiangbei; they were directed at Mayo, who was provoking them!
Immediately afterwards, all 18,000 audience members chanted the same name in unison:
"Li! Li! Li! MVP! MVP!"
Mayo's face instantly turned extremely ugly.
Li Xiangbei smiled. He spread his hands and shrugged at Mayo.
"Did you hear that, child?"
Li Xiangbei's voice was calm, yet carried the composure of a master.
"This is my city. Every single floorboard here remembers the sound of my game-winning shot."
"And you..."
Li Xiangbei stood up and patted Mayo's stiff shoulder.
"You're just a passerby here."
After speaking, Li Xiangbei walked towards the players' tunnel amidst cheers from the crowd, leaving Mayo with a dashing silhouette.
……
locker room.
D'Antoni was furious and kicked over all the trash cans in the locker room.
"Disgrace! This is a disgrace!!"
The old coach pointed at Randolph's nose and cursed.
"Do you think you deserved Li's 42 points?! Do you think you deserved the fans who bought tickets to come here?!"
Randolph lowered his head and dared not utter a sound.
Li Xiangbei sat in the corner.
"Alright, Coach."
Li Xiangbei spoke up.
"Losing a game is fine. At least it will wake them up and let them know their own limitations."
He stood up and glanced at each of his teammates.
"There are still a few tough games before the All-Star break. I don't want to see this kind of weak performance again."
"Especially you, Zach."
Li Xiangbei looked at Randolph.
"If you continue to behave like this in the later rounds, I'll make you regret ever knowing me."
Randolph suddenly looked up.
"Don't worry, boss! Starting today, I'm quitting drinking! Until I win the championship!"
Although everyone knew that the fat man wouldn't last three days, at least he showed some attitude.