Basketball Terminal

Chapter 32 Tone
Li Wei performed exceptionally well, but his physical limitations prevented him from reaching his full potential. Energy is conserved, and his extraordinary abilities, unlike those of ordinary people, meant he consumed significantly more energy per unit of time.

His physical fitness was only average to above average to begin with, and he currently lacks sufficient training and experience. He came off the bench and played for more than 20 minutes in today's game, playing in the third and fourth quarters in a row. His physical fitness declined too quickly, and he was starting to feel the strain.

After Li Wei went to the bench for a rest, both teams began the kind of fast-paced, high-scoring game common in the Development League in the middle of the fourth quarter. Like wildebeest on the Masai Mara, the two teams charged back and forth with their eyes closed; whoever got the ball controlled the offensive rhythm and would take shots whenever they had the chance.

Forget about 3-2 zone defense and pick-and-roll corner plays; personal stats and offensive performance were the most important things. Both teams played with perfect chemistry, not focusing on defense, constantly speeding up the pace of the game and racking up stats. Brett noticed this, glanced at his watch, and patiently waited four minutes, letting his players run around haphazardly for over ten possessions.

With the score still close, he used his penultimate timeout before things went completely out of control. If he hadn't, Knicks coach Alston would have called a timeout too; the game was too chaotic. Brett tapped his clipboard, reminding the players that anyone who got the ball and tried to do everything themselves, being so selfish and ignoring their teammates, shouldn't stay with the Nets.

In the final stages, Levi teamed up with Ebua and Shannon Scott. Brett realized that the three guys worked well together; at least they knew each other, cooperated, and didn't play recklessly.

After a period of rest, Li Wei recovered his physical strength and played a key role in the final stages of the fourth quarter. With the Long Island Nets leading by 2 points, Li Wei held the ball at the top of the arc, attracting the defense, and made a no-look pass to Ebua under the basket, who caught the ball and slammed it home with both hands for the crucial two points.

After scoring, Eboue roared, but when he returned to defense, he said to Levi, "Victor, I was so afraid I wouldn't have scored or that I would have made a mistake." Levi said, "Screw you, it's just a preseason game. Just do your best. Go fucking block the right side!"

Levi shoved Ebua, who ran to the right to intercept Jared Harper's fast break. Facing Ebua's defense, Harper still used his speed and explosiveness to force his way through, but was blocked by Ebua. Levi followed up from behind, jumped in mid-air, and blocked Harper's layup.

A spectacular chase-down block, orchestrated by Ebua. The students in the stands erupted in cheers. Upon landing, Levi immediately sprinted towards the ball, securing possession and forcing the Knicks to foul, as time was running out.

A tactical foul was committed, and Li Wei stepped to the free-throw line, dribbling the ball left and right three times to kill time and rest. He made both free throws in about ten seconds, widening the gap to six points and securing the victory. Li Wei used his limited energy at the most crucial moment, anticipating Harper's layup.

Of course, that pass at the top of the arc didn't rely on any special ability; it was simply his innate passing skills and vision. He used to play point guard, one of the most mentally taxing positions on the court. On offense, you have to multitask, memorize tactics perfectly, think and see quickly, and make swift decisions—it's not easy.

Years of experience as a point guard honed Li Wei's skills, giving him excellent court sense and basketball IQ—valuable soft skills that can be effective in any league.

98-92, the Knicks' final long-range three-pointer missed, the buzzer sounded to signal the end of the game, and the score was final. The Long Island Nets won the game. The Nets players stood up, hugged and shook hands, and celebrated briefly.

Everyone came up to shake hands and hug Li Wei. This battle solidified Li Wei's position within the team, and the scene was completely different from that of the media day.

The students present felt like they'd just finished watching a passable B-movie; there were a few interesting parts, and one unfamiliar lead actor stood out, but otherwise, it was rather unremarkable. Everyone got up, stretched, yawned, and left—perfect time to go get dinner. Even though most people left the arena without a care, one or two enthusiastic students came to the players' tunnel and asked Li Wei for his autograph. Li Wei was flattered and signed his name on the notebooks and T-shirts they offered, telling them to keep them safe, as they would be very valuable someday.

Regardless of the process or the level of attention, victory always brings a sense of relief. However, leaving the stadium, the relief was far from palpable. The bus that brought them there had its roof missing and was being repaired, so there was no transportation to take them back to Long Island. The group had to disperse on the spot and find their own way back via public transportation, with no reimbursement for the costs.

A collective groan erupted. The journey from Westchester to Long Island would take at least three hours; taxis were too expensive, and the subway was too tedious. After the game, everyone just wanted to rest and didn't want to endure any more travel. But there was nothing they could do; that's just how unfortunate G League players are—their logistical support is never available.

Levi was lucky; Scott Mitchell drove him, giving him, Shannon Scott, and Ebua a ride to Manhattan. After dropping them off at Grand Central Station, Mitchell said he'd take Levi to a nice restaurant in Manhattan for dinner and maybe do an interview.

Compared to Flushing's mediocrity and dilapidation, Manhattan at night shimmers with dazzling lights. Although there are dark corners that are hard to look into, the darkness of night provides excellent cover. Cars move through the congested traffic, and the towering skyscrapers on both sides of the road look down on the tiny vehicles and crowds like monsters. Li Wei looks at the bustling city outside the car window, the flowing lights reflected on the glass in a colorful hue, but his heart remains calm.

While the glitz and glamour of Manhattan were undeniably dazzling, after arriving in America, Levi preferred the simplicity and warmth of Flushing Meadows, much like his playing style: grounded and unassuming, striving for precision and energy efficiency in every move. He didn't even want to waste a single ounce of energy on goal celebrations or victories, because using Observation Haki was an exhausting and mentally taxing task.

But Levi still said to Scott Mitchell, "One day I will conquer this place, with basketball." Mitchell smiled and said, "Many young people who come to Manhattan have that idea, like Gatsby." Levi said, "That's not my idea, that's my idea as you wrote it."

Scott Mitchell understood and replied, "To create the image of a bold, ambitious conqueror?"

Li Wei shook his head and said, "Stop joking, I'm not Genghis Khan. Of course, it's about dreams, not conquest. What I just said can be used at the beginning of an article to create an ambitious image. But soon, you have to shatter that image, describe my life, family, the Chinese laundromat, the community college, the suffocating parent-child relationship, creating a strong contrast to leave a deep impression on the reader. Then, you have to shatter that impression again, using basketball to create a series of plot twists..."

“Oh, slow down, I can’t stop now.” Scott Mitchell really wanted to stop and take out his pen to write down what Levi was saying. Sometimes Mitchell wondered if I was the one interviewing him, or if he was interviewing himself, and I was just taking notes.

Li Wei's thinking was very clear. He understood what readers wanted to see, so he helped Mitchell build his persona through exclusive interviews, creating an air of mystery and laying the foundation for his future fame. A player's commercial value is based on his on-field performance, but how high that building can be constructed depends on how you promote it.

Li Wei had read Mitchell's column reports; they were too straightforward, warm and insightful, but lacked sensationalism and excitement. No wonder he wasn't popular with readers and remained a low-level writer. Li Wei wanted to help him, and in doing so, himself. Some bright and quick-witted writers set the tone for their stories as early as high school; Li Wei was already quite behind.

(End of this chapter)