Chapter 34

Time had come to the latter half of January 2006. At the Philadelphia 76ers' home court, the Wachovia Center, the crowd was roaring. After a standout performance in his first game for the team, where he scored 20+10, Chen Mu had become the team's de facto starter, playing an increasingly important role. In the following week, Chen Mu's playing time continued to increase. After averaging only 17 minutes per game with the Suns, Chen Mu continued his magical journey with the 76ers. With the trust of the coaching staff, although Chen Mu still sat on the bench and was not selected as a starter, all fans and commentators were well aware that his influence and strength in the team had long surpassed that of a regular substitute, making him one of the most crucial players in the rotation. "Averaging 24 minutes per game, Chen Mu grabs 13 rebounds per game like a panda encountering bamboo, including 6 offensive rebounds. The new addition to the team has been increasingly outstanding, surpassing Chris Webber to become the 76ers' rebounding king!" At the commentator's booth, the veteran local commentator was still passionate. After watching several home games, this long-time 76ers fan had become a complete "fan" of Chen Mu. In every game, besides focusing on Allen Iverson, he increasingly mentioned Chen Mu. "Besides rebounds, we have received a huge surprise: Chen, who previously struggled offensively with the Suns, is now consistently hitting beautiful mid-range shots with a very high scoring efficiency, with a mid-range shooting percentage over 60% from outside the paint and inside the three-point line!" "Although most of these shots are assisted by teammates and taken in open situations, having such an accurate mid-range shooter has elevated our team's combat power, greatly enriching our team tactics!" The commentator flipped through the official team data, which included some analysis of regular tactics, and said excitedly, "We notice that the team is increasingly creating mid-range shooting opportunities for Chen Mu, with various screens. Chen Mu has not disappointed us; this Chinese kid continues to hit mid-range shots, proving that his performance in the first game was not a one-off but a true reflection of his strength!" Chen Mu moved along the baseline to the weak side, both to make space for Allen Iverson's attack and to draw defenders, looking for an open mid-range shot. The moment he received the ball, he took a shot without hesitation. This set of tactics had become a standard for the 76ers. In set plays, Chen Mu used his elegant movements to hit jump shots repeatedly. Some fans had already compiled his shooting highlights from several games into a montage titled "The Art of Mid-Range Shooting by a Big Man," which was posted online for people to watch. This video montage, accompanied by the latest hip-hop music, was dynamic and full of energy. In just a few days, it had been viewed by countless people and even made it to the front page of basketball-related websites. In fact, since Dirk Nowitzki's emergence, the topic of "how big men can change the game with their precise mid-range shooting" has been increasingly discussed. Although in the long history of the NBA, there have been big forwards like Karl Malone who were skilled at mid-range shooting, players who use mid-range shooting as their primary scoring method and change the game with it have only become a mainstream configuration in the NBA in recent years. With the acceleration of the game's pace, the role of smaller players has become more prominent. To open up the interior and provide enough space for smaller players to break through, interior players have also started to practice shooting. Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Chris Webber, Rasheed Wallace, and even Tim Duncan, who played center for a period in the middle of his career, have all begun to change the game with their shooting. The court space has been further expanded, the game's pace has continuously increased, and the trend of "small players breaking through and big men shooting from mid-to-long range" has swept the league. Chen Mu appeared at this perfect time, using his shooting ability to provide strong support to the 76ers, becoming a small symbol of the new generation of interior players. "This is just the beginning..." Chen Mu was well aware that speeding up the game, opening up space, and big men shooting mid-range were just the beginning. Soon, when a batch of mid-career stars matured, with small forwards and point guards leading the offense and big men developing towards versatility and mobility, even more interior players would learn to shoot mid-range and excel at it. In a few seasons, even more interior players would develop a stable three-point shot. By then, the NBA would gradually shed the iron-blooded imprint of the 1990s and rapidly develop towards the direction of "offense deciding the game." "Modern basketball is all about 'space.' Mid-range shooting is not enough. After this season, or after this contract, I need to improve my playmaking ability. In addition, post-up skills are also very important." Chen Mu made up his mind. Besides continuing to enhance his rebounding ability, he had many things to do. "When I receive the ball in the mid-range, I can shoot, pass, or attack the basket directly. Only then will my era truly arrive...!" "Beep, beep!" The referee's whistle blew, and another game ended. The 76ers won four consecutive home games, achieving a rare four-game winning streak. Although they were still some distance from a 50% win rate, the team's good chemistry still made the fans jubilant. Especially Chen Mu's performance was key. "CHEN! CHEN! CHEN! CHEN!" In the arena, the fans began to shout Chen Mu's name. This player, who was signed just a few days ago as a precautionary measure, had now become a hero in the hearts of the fans. Although not a starter, Chen Mu, as the team's iron-clad sixth man, could contribute rebounds and offense as soon as he came on the court. Even in a game where his shooting was off, his active performance on the boards still made the team and fans confident in him. "NO.5... CHENMU!!!" On the big screen in the center of the arena, highlights of Chen Mu's performance were replayed, including front and back rebounds, mid-range shots, and powerful dunks. Each clip elicited cheers and screams from the fans. After a series of highlights, the screen showed a close-up of Chen Mu running on the court, his jersey slightly fluttering, his face full of confidence, looking very energetic. "This game: 26 minutes played, 7 out of 10 shots, 2 out of 4 free throws, 16 points." Chen Mu's technical statistics began to appear on the screen, accompanied by the cheers of the fans. Chen Mu stood up and waved to the fans. Beside him, Allen Iverson had a calm smile, looking at his partner from a distant land, seemingly deep in thought. "14 rebounds, 5 offensive rebounds, 1 assist." Chen Mu consistently contributed double-doubles, transforming from a pure blue-collar player who barely averaged double-digit rebounds and had miserable scoring in the Suns to a pillar of the team, averaging 14 points and 13 rebounds. Chen Mu's transformation in a single season had made him a hot topic among fans. "Click, click, click" At the post-game press conference, Chen Mu and Allen Iverson, as player representatives, participated. Half of the photographers' attention was on Allen Iverson, and the other half was on Chen Mu. Although part of this was due to Chen Mu's youth and Chinese background, the recognition and attention he received at least proved that his skills had reached a new level. "Frontcourt rebounding ability 82, stamina 63, strength 59..." In the game, Chen Mu continuously earned SP points, which he still added to his offensive rebounding. Team training also improved his stamina and strength, bringing his overall rating to 58. In theory, such an overall rating in the NBA would still be quite low, unlikely to give Chen Mu his current status and performance. However, due to the existence of the rebounding location cheat and his precise positioning, Chen Mu still carved out a place for himself alongside Allen Iverson. With a superstar to draw defensive attention, Chen Mu fit perfectly into the 76ers' system, naturally becoming a focal point for the media. "A Cinderella-like fairy tale" This was the evaluation given by a media outlet regarding Chen Mu's performance over the past period. Although it sounded a bit feminine, Chen Mu accepted it calmly. "Chen, another double-double, another dunk and mid-range shot." A reporter stood up and asked, "Where is your limit? What weapons in your arsenal have you not yet shown?" "Limit...?" Chen Mu smiled slightly and responded, "I don't know if the sky is my limit, but if it is, I will break through it for you to see...!" Chen Mu's dominant response made the reporters laugh, and Allen Iverson also laughed heartily, seemingly very satisfied with this Chinese big man. "Your chemistry with Allen is getting better, and the team is winning consistently. Do you think you have a chance to make the playoffs this season?" "Hmm..." In response to the reporter's question, Chen Mu pondered for a moment before saying, "There are too many things we can't control, so I can't give you a guarantee. But..." Chen Mu's eyes sparkled, and he glanced at Allen Iverson, seeing the same determination in his eyes. He said, "Whether it's Allen, me, or all the 76ers players, we will all give our all and sweat until the last drop on the court...!" "Chen, I heard that the team management is considering extending your contract to the end of the season, but whether to extend it will depend on your performance in the next game, which is your last game under your current contract." A veteran reporter who had followed the 76ers for many years asked, "The next game is an away game against 'that guy.' How confident are you in winning?" "That guy..." Chen Mu fell into deep thought upon hearing this. He himself could hardly remember how he responded later. Because at that moment, his mind had already drifted to the distant San Antonio, to the man who would hold the basketball with both hands before the game, staring intently, having ruled the league's interior for long enough...