Chapter 22

**Thud! Thud! Thud!**

The basketball bounced continuously on the floor as the Timberwolves launched an attack.

**Whoosh!**

The ball was passed to Garnett, the MVP-level superstar. He held the ball with both hands, leaned back to confirm Chen Mu's defensive position, dribbled twice, and then spun around.

**Step!**

"Think again if you want to get past me!"

Chen Mu moved laterally, firmly blocking Garnett's path forward. His hands remained raised, preventing the Wolves' King from making a direct attack on the basket.

**Whoosh!**

But how could an MVP be so easily stopped? Garnett quickly gathered the ball, pivoted on his left foot, and smoothly slipped past Chen Mu on his left side. He then lifted the ball high with one hand, ready to shoot a hook shot.

**Step!**

Chen Mu was not to be outdone. He moved laterally again, returning to the left side to defend, using his long arms to block the path between the ball and the basket, leaving no openings.

**Step, Step!**

But Garnett seemed to read Chen Mu's mind. He smiled, and as his right foot landed, he suddenly pushed off, spinning again to return to Chen Mu's right side.

"Oh no...!"

At this moment, Chen Mu's center of gravity was entirely on the left side. It was impossible for him to return to the right side to defend. He could only watch as Garnett easily jumped from his right side and went up for a layup.

**Whew... Swish!**

The ball went through the hoop with a clean and crisp sound, reigniting the entire Target Center.

"You can't stop me, you simply can't stop me."

As a famous trash talker, Garnett naturally wouldn't miss the chance to taunt Chen Mu. He opened his mouth and said with a half-mocking smile, "I'm the rebound king, the MVP, and I earn the highest salary in the league. That shot just earned me a sports car. And you, can only follow behind my car, eating my exhaust~!"

"Oh oh oh!!!"

"KG! KG! KG! KG!"

The fans went wild, cheering for Garnett. Seeing their MVP toy with a rookie made them very happy, as if they were watching a one-on-one defensive tutorial with no suspense.

"Chen, don't be discouraged, keep attacking!"

Nash encouraged Chen Mu and then sped off to the front court.

**Whew...**

Chen Mu took a deep breath, looking at Garnett, who was muttering and retreating to defend. His fighting spirit was ignited.

"Wolf King, I indeed can't stop you, but if you think I'm just a pushover..."

**Step, Step, Step!**

"Then you're wrong!"

Chen Mu sprinted to the front court, set a screen for Nash at the top of the key, and then quickly moved aside, not continuing to participate in the offense.

"Hmm...?"

Garnett also noticed Chen Mu's actions. He was initially stunned, then smiled slightly, "Rookie, not going for the ball to shoot and even the score?"

"Your defense is too good, and my offense is too weak. I won't make it."

Chen Mu shrugged indifferently, "And my purpose on the court isn't to score."

"Oh...?"

Garnett had never seen a player so straightforwardly admit their weakness, and he couldn't help but laugh.

**Clank!**

Just then, the Suns' offense failed, and Chen Mu quickly rushed to the basket, shouting as he ran, "I'm here to grab rebounds...!"

"Haha, this kid, I like him...!"

Garnett was amused by Chen Mu's straightforwardness and followed his steps into the paint, laughing, "But grabbing rebounds isn't just about having the drive. I'll show you why I'm the NBA's rebound king...!"

**Beep, Beep, Beep!**

A green ring appeared in Chen Mu's vision, but his actions didn't change. He continued to position himself, blocking Garnett behind him, and then raised his hands high.

"Rookie, do you think I don't know about your incredible rebounding ability?" Garnett laughed at Chen Mu's stance, "I'm a professional. Even if I'm facing a baby, I'll give it my all. I've studied you thoroughly, and I know your game inside out. Don't think I'm like Mims or Kostas, I'm the rebound king!"

**Step!**

Garnett mimicked Chen Mu's actions, taking a step behind him and leaping high.

**Whoosh!**

Garnett's jump was incredibly fast. Despite jumping later than Chen Mu, he reached the peak of his jump earlier.

But just as he extended his hands to grab the rebound, he realized something was off.

"What... What's this kid's stance...?!"

Chen Mu's legs were bent, his body crouched very low, and his hands were raised high on both sides, as if in prayer, making it impossible to determine which hand the rebound would land on.

"This kid is right-handed, it must be his right hand...!"

Garnett quickly thought and concluded, extending his hands toward Chen Mu's right hand.

**Whew!**

But things didn't go as Garnett expected. The ball bounced high off the rim and veered to the left, landing in Chen Mu's left hand.

"What...?!!"

In the split second of hesitation, Chen Mu's right hand quickly moved, slapping toward his left hand.

**Slap!**

Chen Mu didn't even jump, standing on the ground, he firmly grabbed the offensive rebound...!

"......?!!"

The Target Center fell silent instantly. Everyone was in disbelief that a rookie could grab an offensive rebound from Garnett. Their faces were filled with astonishment, as if they had seen a ghost.

"Steve!"

Without hesitation, Chen Mu turned and threw the ball, passing it steadily to Nash, who was already waiting on the perimeter.

"Chen, great pass...!"

Nash caught the ball, jumped, and shot in one fluid motion. His defender, Jaric, didn't react in time, as he had assumed the rebound would definitely be Garnett's.

By the time he looked up, the ball was already in the air.

**Whew... Swish!**

"Oh oh oh!!!"

Nash's three-pointer hit the mark, keeping the score close. The long-silent Suns bench erupted in cheers, everyone celebrating the crucial three-point shot.

"Chen, great rebound, even better pass!"

On the way back to defend, Nash high-fived Chen Mu, both of them beaming with joy.

**Thud, Thud, Thud**

One three-pointer couldn't completely turn the tide. The Timberwolves launched another attack, and the ball was passed to Olowokandi. The overhyped number one pick turned and shot off the glass but missed under the rock-solid defense of Kurt Thomas.

**Step, Step!**

Chen Mu positioned himself, crouching low, while Garnett tried to get around him. Having been trained by professional coaches, Chen Mu was skilled at positioning in the paint. With Marion's timely help, they managed to pin Garnett behind them.

Just like the previous play, Chen Mu's hands were spread wide, making it impossible to determine the rebound's landing point. This peculiar stance would later become one of Chen Mu's trademarks, a classic move that would be remembered in the world of basketball.

"Trickery, do you think I'll fall for it again?!"

Garnett was annoyed, still jumping with all his might, his hands spread wide like Chen Mu's, waiting for the ball to fall.

"Hehe..."

But Chen Mu, in the paint, chuckled and whispered, "Wolf King, you fell for it...!"

**Whoosh!**

The ball fell quickly, and as Garnett focused in mid-air, he suddenly realized something was wrong:

The ball wasn't falling to Chen Mu's left or right hand but directly in the middle. By the time Garnett reacted and tried to grab the ball with both hands, it had already fallen out of his reach and landed in front of Chen Mu.

**Whew, Whew**

Chen Mu's hands moved inward, and as the ball reached his chest, he firmly caught it, securing the rebound.

"YES...!"

On the bench, D'Antoni was excited. Chen Mu, who had been dominated by Garnett, finally figured it out, using his body stance to confuse his opponent and start grabbing rebounds. This was a huge morale boost for the trailing Suns!

**Whew, Whew, Swish!**

Chen Mu quickly passed the ball, and under Nash's lead, the Suns executed a classic fast break, with Marion hitting a mid-range shot.

14 to 14, the game was tied!

"This Chinese kid... really has a trick up his sleeve...!"

Garnett sighed, shaking his head slightly, his curiosity about Chen Mu growing.

Spreading his hands wide, making it impossible to determine the ball's landing point, and then using his opponent's preconceived notions to grab the first rebound.

At first, Garnett thought Chen Mu's plan was just that, and he wasn't too worried.

First, in terms of positioning, he was far superior to Chen Mu. Chen Mu couldn't always secure the position. If not for watching Chen Mu's movements and then reacting to grab the rebound, Garnett was confident he could always pin Chen Mu behind him.

Second, left or right was just a 50-50 choice. Even if Garnett's luck was bad, he couldn't always guess wrong. And if he guessed right once, with his jumping speed, he could easily grab the rebound over Chen Mu's head.

But the previous play showed Garnett that he was wrong.

Chen Mu's first left-hand rebound wasn't his goal but a setup!

A setup to make Garnett think, "The rebound is either on the left or the right," and thus create a preconceived notion!

In reality, Chen Mu's stance could evolve into countless variations.

Left side? Right side? Middle?

High point? Low point? Or just a decoy?

Early jump? Late jump? Or not jump at all?

This stance contained too many possibilities, and in broad terms, it was a final three-way choice!

And this three-way choice was the risky move Chen Mu came up with to face the unbeatable Wolf King...!