Chapter 69

At the US Airways Center, a long-awaited guest arrived today.

"Is it the Chinese kid? The one wearing number 5, is it the Chinese kid??"

In the stands, many new fans felt a bit dazzled, pointing at Chen Mu, who was running back and forth on the court, and asking the veteran fans for confirmation.

"That's right, it's the Chinese kid who used to play in Phoenix!"

The veteran fan nodded and said, "Back then, he could only grab rebounds; his defense and offense were both terrible. He could do nothing but grab rebounds. But after joining the 76ers, it seems he suddenly transformed, suddenly able to do everything, becoming a versatile warrior!"

Although it has been over two months since he played for the Suns, many fans still remember Chen Mu, the Chinese kid with explosive physicality and outstanding rebounding skills.

The reason the Suns let Chen Mu go, besides his own shortcomings, was more importantly that the team already had as many as seven frontcourt players. If you include Marion, who can play both the small forward and power forward positions, the number would reach an astonishing eight.

With sufficient frontcourt depth, the big men playing alongside Nash ideally needed to have a certain mid-range or even three-point shooting ability. Moreover, the team doctor confidently stated that the team's frontcourt core, Stoudemire, would definitely return after the All-Star break, which ultimately led to the team making this decision.

In the VIP box, the Suns' manager Colangelo had a grim expression, watching the game's progress, his thoughts unknown.

"Chen, good shot!"

On the court, Chen Mu got a chance under the basket through extensive movement, scoring with a bank shot. His eyes almost shot flames as he returned to defense, full of fighting spirit.

"The Chinese kid is amazing! Mid-range shooting, rebounding, and playmaking, he can do it all, very versatile on offense!"

After watching the game for a while, a new fan couldn't help but speak up, "His mobility is also impressive. He can shake off Marion's defense through movement; this speed is quite good for a frontcourt player! Why didn't they keep such a great frontcourt player??"

"You really know how to bring up the sore spot."

Beside the new fan, a middle-aged man with Asian skin color spoke, "If he had stayed, playing alongside Nash, his offensive potential might have been even more terrifying!"

After Chen Mu came on the court, Mr. Su's eyes never left the game for a second. He watched every move Chen Mu made, feeling a sense of pride and honor.

This young man who was making waves in the NBA is a Chinese!

For so many years, the number of Chinese players who could sweat it out on the NBA court was few, with Yao Ming being the exception. The others all struggled to adapt and eventually faded into obscurity.

Now, a new star is rising before their eyes, how could Mr. Su not feel excited?

"Move!"

On the court, Nash controlled the ball with his left hand and made a tactical gesture with his right hand, a flat "six" sign, similar to the horns set but with a difference.

V-shaped positioning, this is the Suns' and D'Antoni's signature play in the half-court!

Seeing the tactical gesture, Bell and James Jones, the two sharpshooters, immediately spread out to the corners. Marion and Diaw stood on either side of the free-throw line, forming a V.

Marion set a screen, and Chen Mu quickly followed. Nash, moving at high speed, took a step forward from the screen, then stopped abruptly, pulling the ball back and suddenly passing it with a bounce.

The ball passed through Chen Mu's legs and accurately reached Marion, who had just turned around. Marion took a step and leaped, not choosing to dunk but flicking his wrist, the ball hooking in an unusually strange way and accurately falling into the basket.

"Damn, chicken claw hook shot!"

Chen Mu, in a hurry, blurted out what fans in the original timeline called Marion's move, making Marion pause, his long face turning, and he asked, puzzled, "What the heck is that?!"

In the instant Marion was stunned, Chen Mu had already retrieved the ball from the baseline, quickly scanning the court, and then made a long pass.

The ball had barely flown two meters when a figure suddenly appeared in the air, a long arm stretching out, and with a "slap," the ball was intercepted.

"This speed...!"

Chen Mu was shocked and rushed forward to block, but Marion had already landed and jumped again, making a jump shot with both hands, the ball once again falling into the basket.

"Wow!!!"

Marion's consecutive bizarre offensive performances electrified the US Airways Center, the fans cheering and encouraging him.

"Hmm~"

Marion looked at Chen Mu with a smug expression, half teasing, half joking, and then went back to defense.

"Chen, be careful with your passes!"

Iverson reminded him from the side, and Chen Mu nodded slightly, "Got it...!"

On the offensive end, the ball was passed to Webber, and the 76ers started their pick-and-roll rotation. Webber's eyes constantly scanned the surroundings, looking for offensive opportunities.

"Slap"

Just as Webber looked at the corner, a long arm reached out from behind him, and the ball was accurately stolen.

"Fast break!!"

Marion passed the ball to Nash and then sprinted madly toward the front court.

Chen Mu chased quickly, but despite their similar speeds, Marion had a head start, and the gap between them never closed.

At the 45-degree angle, Marion suddenly paused, then accelerated in the opposite direction, rushing past Chen Mu, who had just stopped.

The moment he entered the paint, the ball whizzed through the air, and Marion leaped, catching Nash's perfect pass with both hands and slamming it home with a dunk.

"Hohoho~!!!"

The home commentator was thrilled by this spectacular offensive and defensive display, shouting, "Hacker Marion, the versatile warrior!!!"

"Chen, what are you doing?! Focus!"

After being scored on by Marion multiple times, Chen Mu's face was also a bit red. Hearing his teammates' scolding, he took a deep breath and said, "I'll try my best!"

During the offensive play, Chen Mu continuously replayed the previous defensive details in his mind.

Shawn Marion, truly a frontcourt monster with astonishing athleticism!

Since leaving the Insight Training Camp, Chen Mu's long passes from the backcourt had never been intercepted, even against the Pistons, he had never made a mistake.

But that baseline pass just now, Marion used his extraordinary jumping ability to intercept the ball in mid-air, giving Chen Mu a rude awakening.

In the next offensive play, when Webber had the ball, Chen Mu was setting a screen for Iguodala's baseline cut. Marion suddenly left Chen Mu, who was facing the ball, and chose to double-team Webber, successfully stealing the ball.

The athleticism Marion displayed in these two plays was truly astonishing.

"No, it's not just his athleticism; his defensive choices are also suffocatingly accurate!"

When to steal, when to double-team, what offensive moves to use, how to maximize his mobility advantage while covering his ball-handling weakness?

Marion's every offensive and defensive choice was as shrewd as a machine, but all of this was overshadowed by his jaw-dropping athleticism, going unnoticed.

The entire Suns team, when combined, had average defense, but two defensive strong points stood out.

Raja Bell, often facing the opposing team's top scorer, frequently appeared in various shots, so he was not unfamiliar to the fans.

Marion, on the other hand, was hidden behind the team's defense, becoming a roving defensive machine.

Hacker Marion is the last line of defense for the Suns!

"After getting used to the defensive rhythm of other Suns players, suddenly facing such a player is indeed a headache. A change in rhythm can easily lead to mistakes, and once a mistake is made, they will seize the opportunity for a fast break. This game, if it continues like this, won't work...!"

The 76ers' offensive attempt failed, and they quickly retreated to defend. The Suns couldn't execute a fast break, and both teams fell into a half-court battle.

Nash dribbled, and the Suns reformed their V-shape, with Diaw setting a screen.

Webber, with slower legs, couldn't keep up with Diaw's screen. After Nash moved horizontally, he saw an open space and immediately chose to take a mid-range shot.

Chen Mu stepped up to defend, and just as he jumped, Nash had a sudden thought, faking a shot and passing the ball, which magically passed by Chen Mu's arm.

Marion had already jumped in the paint, catching the ball in mid-air, turning, and scoring with a reverse dunk.

"Two consecutive alley-oops! Hohoho~! Are the fans ready? The Shawn Express is taking off!!!"

The commentator was overjoyed, and the fans were elated.

In everyone's mind, there was a hint of worry due to Chen Mu's performance.

"If this Chinese kid performs well against his former team, even outshining Marion, wouldn't that be a slap in our face, proving we lack foresight??"

For now, although Chen Mu had some good moments, he was still far from matching Marion, which made everyone breathe a sigh of relief, able to console themselves: We didn't keep the Chinese kid because we already had Shawn!

The 76ers started their offensive play, and Coach Cheeks was already preparing to call a timeout. If they couldn't score in this play, he would make personnel adjustments, taking Chen Mu out to cool down.

"Allen, give me the ball on the next play!"

On the court, Chen Mu had reached his limit and shouted to Iverson, deliberately making his voice loud enough for Marion, who was retreating to defense, to hear clearly.

"Oh...?"

Marion couldn't help but laugh, seeing Chen Mu's determined stance, and taunted, "Chen, are you planning to go one-on-one with me? With your ball-handling skills, can you even get past me?"

"Hah, you talk too much!"

Facing Marion's "friendly" challenge, Chen Mu smiled, "How will we know if we don't try...!"

As he spoke, Iverson's pass arrived as expected. Chen Mu caught the ball with both hands, turned to face the basket, and kept the ball low.

Marion pressed him tightly, confident in Chen Mu's subpar one-on-one skills and his own footwork, preparing for a one-on-one battle between agile frontcourt players.

The other players on both sides also understood and spread out, giving the two power forwards space for a one-on-one duel.

All the fans' attention was focused on Chen Mu and Marion, with Mr. Su and Su Yin's gazes the most intense, eagerly anticipating the upcoming showdown.

Finally, the moment had arrived. Chen Mu tried to maintain his composure, facing Marion's impenetrable defense, he began dribbling and took his first step.

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