Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Sam Cassell, determined to compete with Yu Fei, began a high-intensity full-court press defense.

After the Bucks had a failed set play, Cassell started his plan.

Given Yu Fei's height, playing point guard for an extended period would lead to stamina issues.

But Yu Fei wasn't the type who wanted to hold onto the ball from start to finish.

For tasks like dribbling past half court, he often shared the workload with Jordan. Knowing this was Yu Fei's way of conserving energy, Jordan didn't refuse, since handling the ball was also a way to maintain touch.

Cassell's full-court press wasn't effective in wearing down Yu Fei.

Instead, it gave Yu Fei the chance to use off-ball movement to get under the hoop and take advantage of Cassell's mismatch.

"Help defense! Help defense! Help defense!"

If someone told a first-time spectator that the outcome of this play determined George Karl's life, they would believe it.

Karl was that passionate.

Yu Fei couldn't imagine what it was like playing under someone like this.

However, Anthony Mason, who was supposed to help on defense, was lazily dragging his feet and didn't make it in time, allowing Jordan to pass the ball to Yu Fei under the hoop.

Backed against Cassell, Yu Fei pushed hard, sending his opponent sprawling, and then scored with an easy layup from under the basket.

"Where's our defense? What happened to our defense?"

Karl roared angrily.

Could he not see that Anthony Mason was the only problem in that defensive play?

With the thief right before his eyes, someone as fiery as Karl should really chew him out, but that didn't happen.

Yu Fei wasn't sure if Mason had the ability to become invisible on the court like a dark knight, or if Mason wasn't supposed to help on defense in that situation. If it were the former, Yu Fei would seriously suggest the Bucks find a head coach with normal vision; if it were the latter, then either his view on basketball or the Bucks' defensive system was flawed.

Stubborn as he was, Yu Fei was certain that Mason was the primary person to blame for that play. Even if God himself said otherwise, Yu Fei would insist it was Mason's fault.

If the Bucks didn't care about it, well, that was perfect for him; he would continue to score, taking advantage of Mason's laziness on defense.

By the way...

Yu Fei glanced at Cassell and sighed, "You're so ugly not even your teammates want to cover for you."

"It's not what you think!" Cassell snapped back, actually trying to explain himself to Yu Fei.

But Yu Fei's eyes were filled with contempt, clearly showing his attitude.

No matter what Cassell said, Yu Fei only believed what he saw.

Damn it! Damn it!

Cassell was getting more enraged, glaring at that jackass who never earnestly helped with the defense and was demanding the ball again?

Why pass to you? Cassell gave Mason a cold glance and then passed the ball to Glenn Robinson on the weak side.

"I've already got to position, what are you doing?" Mason had the nerve to complain first.

Then, Big Dog took a jump shot over Hubert Robinson's defense.

Although he'd made two baskets in a row, the touch came and went; if one always chose difficult shots, a consistent shooting percentage was impossible to guarantee.

"Bang!"

Yu Fei stepped into the paint and soared to grab the defensive rebound.

Cassell's chance to press finally arrived, but Yu Fei first backed him down and then spun forward to break through.

Cassell's intense defense was broken in an instant, while Yu Fei called for Tyronn Nesby's screen in the frontcourt ahead of time.

Anthony Mason again!

After Nesby picked off Cassell, according to normal defensive practices, Mason should have switched to guard Yu Fei.

But Mason had no such intention; he just stood symbolically in front of Yu Fei, not stretching his hands or applying pressure, as if he was certain Yu Fei wouldn't dare to shoot a three-pointer.

To Yu Fei, Mason's half-hearted defense might as well have been thin air. Feeling hot, Yu Fei made up his mind, caught the ball, and unleashed a pull-up three-pointer right before his unsteady opponent.

"Swish!!!"

Yu Fei had already scored 10 points, and his fiery state left George Karl sweating with fear, but what Karl was really unhappy about was the team's defensive performance.

Yu Fei was indeed on fire, but had the Bucks' defense not been so sloppy, he wouldn't have seized those two opportunities.

As the Wizards began to gain momentum, Karl called for a time-out.

"Why is no one stopping that rookie? Why do we keep making the same mistakes on defense? Why are we always so stupid?" Karl yelled, "Are you all ***damn pigs?"

No one responded to Karl.

The temperament and character of the fiery coach might be an impetus for the team when the records were good, but in situations like this, the reinforcements had become a weakness—there was no team chemistry or reaction, and Karl's "ignoring of facts" rant only worsened the situation.

Cassell glared at Mason fiercely.

Mason appeared indifferent.

Ray Allen knew what the problem was, but he was burdened with his own issues.

Glenn Robinson was equally nonchalant.

Whether Karl admitted it or not, the Bucks were no longer the team from last year that could fight through the Eastern Conference finals against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Just like the situation in Philadelphia, although it had only been half a year since the last season's playoffs, the changes during that time were enough to alter the team's dynamic.

On the other side, Collins recognized Yu Fei's explosive form.

He was well aware that Yu Fei in this state was not suitable to play as a point guard.