Su Yan had always wanted to challenge Howard, but he never had a good opportunity.
It wasn't until the last possession of the first quarter that Su Yan used Wilson Chandler for a screen.
He rushed to the right wing.
Carter came up to cover, defending aggressively. Su Yan accelerated with the momentum, blew past Carter directly, and drove toward the basket.
"Hah!"
Howard roared and came over for the help defense.
"Now is the time!"
Su Yan's eyes lit up. Without slowing down, and in the posture of a Small Forward, he aggressively and deliberately collided with... Howard.
"Bang!"
The two bodies suddenly engaged in fierce contact.
Howard was knocked back two steps. Su Yan gathered the ball and jumped, attempting a short floater, but it missed.
Time expired.
The first quarter ended.
Just like that? So anticlimactic?
No.
A storm raged in the hearts of the fans.
"???
I... I must not have seen wrong, right? That kid Su Yan actually knocked the Demon Beast away?!"
"Im... Impossible! What kind of strength is that?!"
"That's terrifying!"
"I'm completely stunned!"
"The Demon Beast must have... must not have been trying at all."
"..."
The Magic fans all wore expressions of disbelief.
In the front row seats.
Rodman was somewhat surprised. "The strength of that kid Su Yan looks terrifying.
It's not the kind of strength a Small Forward should have."
"A bit!"
Jordan didn't deny it, but added lightly, "It's a shame he only knows how to shoot Three-point Shots from the outside; that strength is wasted!"
"Hmm?"
Howard was also a little surprised, and he smiled: "I thought the amount of strength I used would be enough to deal with Su Yan.
It seems I need to be more serious."
Su Yan narrowed his eyes. "That Demon Beast probably wasn't using his full strength. Otherwise... he'd be too weak."
...Second quarter.
First came the matchup between the benches.
A four-minute rotation.
The two teams were evenly matched, which gave the starters plenty of rest time.
[Magic 35:33 New York Knicks].
A two-point difference.
Essentially negligible.
"Hehe~"
Coach D'Antoni smiled and called a timeout.
Even with the Magic running the "one star four shooters" tactical system and Howard dominating the paint.
The team was barely at a disadvantage.
This feeling was great. This version of the New York Knicks was truly formidable, not just having a one-off explosion.
The New York Knicks, who were originally aiming to tank, were now highly anticipated.
How could Coach D'Antoni not be happy?
Soon after.
Both teams' starters returned.
Su Yan came up facing the "Billion-Dollar Shooter" Rashard Lewis. From the right arc, a step outside the Three-point Shot line, he raised his hand and fired another Three-point Shot.
This shot was launched almost directly over Lewis's defense.
"What guts!"
Lewis closed in right on Su Yan's face, thinking he had provided significant defensive interference, but in reality... it was completely ineffective.
Peach blossoms fall, the divine sword flies.
"Swish!"
The Three-point Shot was good.
Su Yan landed a Facial Shot on the "Billion-Dollar Shooter" Lewis.
2 minutes and 17 seconds later.
Su Yan first went one-on-one, withstood Barnes' strong drive, and then seized the opportunity to quickly, accurately, and fiercely strike.
"Slap!"
He stole the ball directly from Barnes.
After gaining possession, he saw Curry rushing out first, so he decisively passed the ball. Carter chased after Curry on one side.
Su Yan was also sprinting down the other side.
Curry and Carter rushed into the paint together. Curry faked a layup and threw a behind-the-back pass to the trailing Su Yan.
Su Yan caught the ball and soared into the sky.
"half-man, half-god" Carter took a step, gritted his teeth, and leaped high, attempting to block Su Yan.
Could he do it?
He was dreaming.
Su Yan, who was running at full speed, combined with the leaping ability enhanced by Spring Man Lv3, was too high. Even peak Carter would have fallen short, let alone now.
"Boom!"
A divine soldier descended from the sky.
Su Yan posterized Carter right in his face.
"Whoa~"
The stadium erupted in an uproar.
Carter, who had posterized opponents countless times, now became the backdrop for Su Yan's poster dunk. This rookie... was too ferocious!!!
Some fans covered their eyes, unable to watch.
"Hiss..."
Curry twitched his mouth severely, showing envy. "That's truly brutal, and I'm really jealous!"
"Tsk tsk..."
McGrady couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement: "Su Yan, who has fully developed his speed, strength, and leaping ability.
His offense is not just about the Three-point Shot.
Once he gets going and attacks the basket, throwing down a poster dunk is as easy as a routine meal!
Yan!
He is truly getting stronger and stronger!"
"That's too much!"
"Magic" Howard saw Lewis and Carter being bullied one after another, pouting unhappily. "Why is a rookie treating my teammates like this?!
Or is it that...
...knocking me back during that previous confrontation gave you confidence?
Hmph~
I'm angry now. Now... I'm going to teach you a harsh lesson, Su Yan!!!"
Although Howard looked extremely strong and terrifying, like the Demon Beast, he was actually just a child who never grew up on the inside.
He had no ulterior motives.
Purely relying on squandering his talent and crushing everyone else.
No sooner said than done.
On the New York Knicks' next possession, Howard stepped up and actively guarded Su Yan.
Allowing himself to be mismatched? Did the coach permit this?
Theoretically, no.
But they could try. Stan Van Gundy understood Howard's intention: he wanted to suppress Su Yan with strength.
So, give him the chance.
But if Su Yan avoided confrontation and used his speed to drive past, Stan Van Gundy would immediately order Howard back to the restricted area.
"Actively defending me?"
Su Yan's eyes lit up. "Do you know how long I've waited for this moment? If you want to play like this, I'm thrilled."
Without the slightest hesitation.
Fearing Howard might regret it and run away.
Su Yan decisively put the ball down, without any extra Dribbling, and immediately initiated contact, instantly escalating the intensity.
"Bang bang bang!"
This time, Su Yan used greater force, and Howard also became serious, tensing his body to go head-to-head.
A fierce collision of muscle against muscle.
Once, twice, thrice.
Neither man gained an advantage.
Neither could overpower the other.
"It seems your strength isn't that great after all?"
Howard had a hint of disdain on his face. "You can only bully my teammates. In front of the Demon Beast, your strength is useless."
???
You're a damn Center! How dare you say that to a Small Forward?
That's hilarious.
However... what a coincidence, I wasn't using my full strength either. That was just the first round of probing.
"Is that so!"
A smile played on Su Yan's lips. "Then I'm going to use real force next. Be careful."
As the words fell.
Su Yan held nothing back. Reinforced by Steel Muscles and Bones Lv2, the full force of his 200 kg bench press burst forth.
"Bang!"
He collided with Howard again.
This collision... was like a truck hitting him.
"Thud thud thud!"
Howard was knocked back yet again, even though he was exerting force.
"WTF?"
Howard's pupils widened in disbelief, astonished by the terrifying strength Su Yan unleashed.
He didn't have time to think.
Because... Su Yan's next collision had already arrived.
"Hmph~"
Howard let out a cold snort, his eyes resolute. He gritted his teeth and tensed all his strength. "I am the Demon Beast! How could I possibly lose to you in strength!!!"
"Why not?"
Su Yan chuckled lightly, but the terrifying force from his shoulder swept entirely into Howard's chest.
This collision held nothing back.
With this impact, even the mighty "Demon Beast" Howard was knocked away again, stumbling on his feet.
"Thump!"
He fell onto the ground right on his butt.
In that instant... the stadium fell silent, sinking into a deathly stillness!!!
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