One-Sided Abuse in a Mutual Clash!

Five minutes had passed in the first quarter.

Stephen Jackson felt as though every bone in his body was about to fall apart. As for losing face... he had already gone numb.

"Still coming?"

Su Yan asked with a smile.

He relished the strength boost brought by [Steel Bones lv1].

The harmless smile on his face... made Stephen Jackson, known as the "Martial Saint," tremble inwardly.

Just as McGrady, David Lee, and the others had said.

The "Martial Saint" bullied the weak and feared the strong.

Or rather... he was good at exploiting the rules and his physical gifts to play basketball and survive in the league.

He understood.

As long as he played fiercely enough, most people would avoid him.

That would raise his scoring odds, improve his defense, and make his overall performance better.

Naturally, he would earn more money too.

In fact... Stephen Jackson was a very good person off the court. Violence definitely was not his defining trait.

To say nothing of anything else.

In 2005, Hurricane "Katrina" swept through the city where Jackson's relatives and friends lived.

The moment he got word, he spent a full 50,000 USD without a second thought and sent two helicopters there.

He brought every one of his relatives and friends back to his home.

More than thirty people crammed into six rooms in his house for two weeks, until the hurricane danger had passed.

Honestly.

That was not something an ordinary person could do.

From that incident alone, it was clear that Stephen Jackson was not a particularly bad person.

Even on the court.

His style was simply physical, his defense aggressive, and he never gave up. He was not truly the type to deliberately injure people on offense.

As for the incident at The Palace of Auburn Hills, all that could be said was... everyone had moments when anger got the better of them.

You could not condemn someone outright because of it.

Besides... even a player as fiery as him became unprecedentedly obedient late in his career under Popovich's guidance.

All in all.

Stephen Jackson was fundamentally different from Kicking Balls Green, "Foot Under" Zaza, "Uncle Bruce" Bruce Bowen, "the Enforcer" Bogut, and the rest.

Of course.

His mouth was tougher than anything.

"Bring it on, then! There's no way I'm scared of you!"

He gritted his teeth and roared.

It was not a fearless provocation. Rather... his whole body hurt so badly that he could only grit his teeth and roar.

Sigh...

People with stubborn mouths had to keep acting tough to the end, even through gritted teeth.

"Beep beep!"

Fortunately, Coach Larry Brown noticed in time and called a timeout.

He interrupted the two men's mutually initiated but one-sidedly abusive battle on both ends of the floor, then immediately gave Stephen Jackson a psychological pep talk.

He told him to give up on going head-to-head with Su Yan.

Stephen Jackson acted extremely unwilling, saying he could still fight and would adapt soon enough.

But when Gerald Wallace said he wanted to switch back, he agreed immediately.

It really hurt.

He never wanted to go head-to-head with Su Yan again.

Before long.

The timeout ended.

"The King," Gerald Wallace, first protected the rebound through a brutal battle with David Lee...

Bang!

After another fierce collision, he finished the Second Chance Points right over David Lee's head.

Tough.

On the very next possession, Harrington drove to the basket, only for Gerald to swat the ball away with one hand.

Out of bounds.

After McGrady brought the ball up, he used a screen to drive inside again, but he was no longer in his prime.

Bang!

Gerald's tough defense forced him to come to a dead stop.

And that wasn't all... as McGrady hesitated over whom to pass to, Gerald snatched the basketball right out of his hands.

Like a robber looting his prey.

"So... so tough!"

Commentator Kenny Smith exclaimed, while Amy Johnson nodded as well. "Gerald's defense is truly tough.

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This year.

He has a chance to contend for DPOY!!!"

After the timeout.

Gerald's string of tough defensive plays earned wave after wave of praise, and then... he went after Su Yan!!!

In everyone's eyes.

Only a defensive beast at Gerald's level could put pressure on Su Yan at the defensive end.

Stephen Jackson? Step aside.

The possession changed hands.

Gerald Wallace locked onto Su Yan. He was also a Small Forward, strong, explosive, and not slow either.

That was why he could become a defensive beast.

Against him, Su Yan should have used [Off-ball Movement LV2] to shake him off before attacking.

However.

Right now, he was still immersed in the power boost brought by [Steel Bones lv1].

Stephen Jackson wasn't enough.

But Gerald Wallace might make Su Yan more excited—at the very least, his desire for contact wouldn't diminish!!!

Su Yan called for the ball.

"Oh?"

Duhong was a little surprised. In previous games, Su Yan had mostly caught and shot after using screens or moving without the ball.

Calling for the ball himself.

That really didn't happen often.

Of course... as long as Su Yan wanted it, Duhong would give it to him. He trusted Su Yan completely as well.

At the right side of the Top of the key.

Su Yan faced Gerald. Once his teammates pulled away slightly to create some space, he put the ball down and accelerated into a drive.

There was nothing fancy about it.

It was all brute force.

It perfectly fit this era of physical warfare, to the point that people began wondering whether Su Yan was still a promising prospect of the Small Ball Era.

Still.

This kind of body-on-body battle was just as pleasing to watch. Everyone's blood boiled as they waited for an outcome.

Su Yan vs. Gerald Wallace.

Whose strength was greater?

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A series of fierce collisions, with a hint of probing.

Su Yan could clearly feel that Gerald was much stronger than Stephen Jackson.

"He's got some strength, but not much!"

After several probes.

Su Yan had also gauged Gerald Wallace's strength. He had some ability, but he definitely wasn't at LeBron's level.

He was still quite far off.

Even he was no match for Su Yan's 180-kilogram bench press.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Su Yan tensed his body and charged forward again. Gerald could only retreat step by step.

Bang!

After bulldozing Gerald aside once more, Su Yan rose for a jumper from the right side near the basket.

Clang!

Missed.

On the next possession, he knocked Gerald aside again, but with Dior rotating over to help, his layup rolled off the rim.

Uh...

Su Yan could force his way past Gerald, but... his finishing ability when attacking the basket was still lacking.

He couldn't convert it into points.

Su Yan immediately felt like a deflated ball, finding it somewhat dull.

If none of it could be turned into points, then it was all pointless effort!!!

The first quarter ended.

In the first half of the quarter, Su Yan had completely suppressed "Martial Saint" Stephen Jackson on both offense and defense.

In the second half, Su Yan displayed even greater destructive power than "The King" Gerald Wallace in terms of strength.

But his finishing around the basket was average, and his efficiency was ordinary.

After avoiding Su Yan, Stephen Jackson quickly adjusted and became aggressive again.

[Knicks 27:27 Bobcats].

The two teams were tied after the first quarter.

On the bench.

Su Yan emerged from his immersive joy, rubbing his chin in thought. Looks like I need to change my approach!!!