Chapter 87

At the MCI Center, the arena was filled with the roar of the crowd.

After the timeout, the 76ers, through the tactics set up by Cheeks, found an open spot and Allen Iverson hit a mid-range jump shot.

19 to 28, the 76ers were trailing by 9 points on the road.

There were 30 seconds left in the first quarter.

"Agent! Agent! Agent!"

The fans were shouting the nickname of the explosive Arenas. On the court, this high-scoring combo guard was dribbling the ball forward, but he encountered an unusual sight.

"What the hell is this?!"

Many fans also noticed something was off. In front of Arenas, it wasn't his usual defender Allen Iverson, but a tall player with yellow skin.

"Chinese kid... are you trying to stop me from shooting a three?"

Arenas instantly understood Chen Mu's intention, and with a slight sneer, he coldly said, "Then I'll show you what a difference is!"

With his signature high center of gravity dribbling, Arenas didn't bend over. After a few probing moves at the top of the key, he decisively chose to drive.

Chen Mu adjusted his steps and fully interfered. Arenas took a half-step back from the three-point line, and Chen Mu immediately stuck to him, not giving him a chance to shoot.

There was an opening on the left!

Arenas saw through Chen Mu's poor defense at a glance. He suddenly lowered his head and accelerated, breaking out from Chen Mu's left side and charging into the paint with large strides.

"Hah, you fell for it."

After being bypassed, Chen Mu didn't immediately retreat to the basket. Instead, he turned around, spread his arms wide behind Arenas, and stood near the three-point line like a scarecrow.

On the left baseline, Allen Iverson decisively let go of Butler and moved back outside the three-second area, reaching out with his quick hands.

Double team?!

Arenas finally understood Chen Mu's plan, but this level of defense couldn't completely lock him down. He shifted his body to the right of Iverson, using his strong frame to push Iverson to the side and continued his drive to the basket.

"Andre!"

Without Chen Mu shouting, Iguodala had already come over from the weak side. Jamison, positioned at the 45-degree three-point line, was inexplicably left open and quickly raised his hands, signaling for the ball.

"Another one?!"

Arenas felt like he was in a trap. Behind him was Chen Mu's long arm interfering, and in front were Iverson and Iguodala, two ball thieves. In theory, if he passed the ball, either Butler or Jamison could easily get an open shot.

But Arenas was already hyped up, his shooting hand was on fire. To ask him to pass the ball now? It would be better to ask him to commit suicide!

Jump shot!

Arenas' body control was almost superhuman. He jumped quickly before Iguodala could get there, holding the ball high with both hands, with only the basket in his sight.

If he made this shot, he could completely crush the Chinese kid and score the 30th point for the team in the first quarter, thereby completely dismantling the 76ers' defense.

Arenas' blood was boiling, and he ignored the calls from his teammates on the weak side, forcing a shot. As soon as the ball left his fingers, a shadow appeared behind him.

"Slap!"

Chen Mu jumped from behind, leaping high as if he had seen through Arenas' move from the start, and cleanly swatted the ball out of bounds.

"Great block!!"

After landing, Chen Mu roared loudly, high-fiving Allen Iverson and Iguodala, his emotions immediately soaring.

"Good play, good play!"

On the bench, Cheeks, who had been frowning for a long time, finally relaxed and clapped, cheering for his players.

Arenas, unable to support himself after landing, fell to the ground, his eyes full of disbelief. He watched the 76ers' players celebrating and couldn't recover for a long time.

"Chinese kid... you saw through my jump shot from the start!"

Arenas couldn't figure it out. This shot was a sudden move, and no one could have predicted it. How could Chen Mu see through it?

Under normal circumstances, as a point guard, Arenas would have chosen to pass when faced with a double team. If not for his hot shooting in the first quarter, he wouldn't have chosen such a difficult jump shot.

"Could it be...!"

At this thought, Arenas was suddenly startled. The look in his eyes when he turned to look at Chen Mu also showed more surprise.

"Could it be that he was betting on me, knowing I would force a shot with my hot hand, and set up this trap...?!"

"Gilbert, come on."

Looking down at Arenas, Chen Mu exuded a domineering aura and said, "Weren't you going to break me down? Come on!"

Receiving the sideline ball, Arenas continued his offensive drive. After carefully observing the 76ers' defense, he finally understood everything.

It was still Chen Mu leading the defense at the top of the key, with Iguodala and Iverson moving on both sides. As soon as Arenas broke in, they would immediately form a triple team.

"Given Arenas' temperament, he wouldn't back down in front of a rookie. As long as he chose to shoot, I could block him from behind!"

That's right, this was the true intention of the switch.

With Chen Mu's quickness and height interfering, Arenas found it difficult to directly shoot a three-pointer. He would certainly choose to drive into the paint.

At this point, the two wings would move in to double team, and with Webber lurking in the paint, the hot-headed Arenas couldn't break through smoothly. His only option for a personal attack was a jump shot!

And Chen Mu, seeing through this, made such a bold choice.

Back on the court, Arenas chose to drive again. After easily bypassing Chen Mu, he reached the free-throw line. Iguodala and Iverson quickly retreated, forming a tight defensive net.

Pass the ball!

Arenas wasn't a fool. Since the 76ers were so bold in their double team, he was happy to dish out an assist. He pulled the ball back with his right hand, narrowly avoiding Iverson's quick hands, and then made a back pass, sending the ball to the weak side to Jamison.

However, before the ball had even flown halfway, a large hand appeared in mid-air, easily intercepting it.

"Fast break!"

Chen Mu anticipated that a player of Arenas' level would quickly adjust and pass. With Iguodala and Iverson forcing Arenas to pass from behind, he extended his hand early, intercepting the ball on the only passing route.

The ball was thrown by Chen Mu at high speed, flying through the Wizards' defense in the air. In the front court, Korver was already on a fast break, receiving Chen Mu's pass and immediately shooting a three-pointer from beyond the arc.

"Swish"

The ball went through the net, 22 to 28, the 76ers continued to close the gap!

"Damn!"

Arenas knew that his offensive choices had fallen into the 76ers' defensive trap. With little time left in the first quarter, he quickly drove to the front court and took a super long three-pointer without hesitation.

In the heat of the moment, Arenas forgot that his defender wasn't a small player like Iverson or Iguodala, but a Chinese big man with incredible quickness.

"Slap!"

A clean block. Chen Mu timed his jump perfectly, blocking the ball as soon as Arenas had to shoot, sending it flying.

As the ball hit the ground, the whistle signaling the end of the first quarter also sounded.

"Great job!"

As they left the court, the 76ers players all came up to high-five Chen Mu, while Arenas, slightly dejected, stood behind them.

"Shutdown."

As he left the court, Chen Mu deliberately walked past Arenas and said, "Starting the next quarter, I'll be defending you again, Gilbert. I'm going to lock you down completely...!"

After saying this cocky line, Chen Mu walked to the bench to rest, drinking sports drinks in large gulps.

"Damn... Chinese kid!"

Arenas was extremely frustrated but had to admit that Chen Mu's tactics were very successful, effectively cooling his hot hand in a short time.

The break between quarters was quickly over, and the game resumed. The 76ers played more patiently on offense. Chen Mu, facing the defense of the substitute Thomas, chose to shoot a jump shot.

The ball went through the net, and amidst the boos of the crowd, Chen Mu proudly returned to the half-court to start defending.

It was still a one-on-one at the top of the key, still with Chen Mu leading the defense. Arenas, unable to control his anger, took a step-back super long three-pointer from just outside the three-point line.

This shot was very sudden, and Chen Mu couldn't react in time. By the time he moved to contest, the ball was already in the air.

"Rebound!"

But as soon as he turned around, Chen Mu saw the familiar green rim near the free-throw line and immediately went to grab the rebound.

After grabbing the rebound, the other Wizards players also reacted, starting a full-court press. The 76ers couldn't launch a fast break, and Iverson gave the tactical instructions to set up a half-court offense.

High pick-and-roll, Chen Mu quickly moved to one side, and Iverson broke from the strong side. After a pause outside the three-second area, he used his signature crossover to get past the defending Thomas and scored a layup with ease.

26 to 28, the gap was only 2 points, and the 76ers were about to take the lead!

On the bench, the Wizards' coach, Eddie Jordan, who looked like a hairy boiled egg, called a timeout, and the game entered a brief break.

"Gilbert, you need to calm down."

On the bench, Eddie Jordan, after much hesitation, said to the team's core, "Your offensive choices have been problematic. Take a break, and let your teammates handle it."

"...Yes."

Arenas sighed, looking at the lively Chen Mu on the 76ers' bench, and closed his eyes in frustration.

The pace of the game then slowed as the 76ers wished, and both teams made more rational offensive and defensive choices, avoiding unreasonable forced shots.

The score seesawed back and forth until about 6 minutes into the second quarter when Arenas re-entered the game.

Back on the court, Arenas had also calmed down, carefully choosing his shooting opportunities and constantly distributing the ball to keep the offense flowing. Although the Wizards still had a strong offense, the 76ers' tactics had successfully prevented Arenas from erupting in a short time.

At halftime, the score was tied at 55, and both teams returned to the locker room to rest. Chen Mu knew very well that a player of Arenas' level couldn't maintain a cold shooting hand for the entire game.

In the second half, he would eventually erupt again.

And at this point, Chen Mu, for the first time in his career, had played 18 minutes in the first half.

An imperceptible crisis was gradually approaching this super rookie.

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