Sports Competition: Winning Is Everything

On the evening of December 9th at 7 PM, the Quick Loan Center Arena in Cleveland was packed to the rafters, not a single empty seat in sight.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were about to host the Eastern Conference powerhouse Indiana Pacers on their home court.

When the live crowd saw Su Yi wearing his team jacket, the entire arena erupted.

Especially Su Yi's fans were extra excited—whether he was starting or coming off the bench, as long as he got to play, that was what mattered.

After warmups ended, the moment both sides' starters took off their jackets, the Quick Loan Center Arena exploded once again.

The whole crowd chanted wildly: "Su!" "Su!" "Su!"... The sound rang through the entire arena, as if it might tear the roof off.

The on-site commentator took the chance to announce the starting lineups for the fans in the arena and watching on TV.

Cleveland Cavaliers starters: Eric Snow, Su Yi, Larry Hughes, LeBron James, Big Z.

Indiana Pacers starters: Jamaal Tinsley, Jasikevicius, Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Jeff Foster.

"BEEP!"

With the whistle, the game officially began.

Smack.

Big Z touched the ball first, tipping it back to his own backcourt. The Cleveland Cavaliers secured the first offensive possession of the game.

Eric Snow quickly scooped up the ball off the floor and dribbled it past half-court.

The moment Eric Snow brought the ball across half-court, Jamaal Tinsley lunged at him, trying to apply defensive pressure.

Eric Snow used his body to shield the ball, slowly advancing toward the top of the arc.

Just then, Su Yi started moving from the baseline corner.

He cut along the baseline toward the paint.

Jasikevicius immediately followed, sticking tight to Su Yi.

Before the game, the head coach had repeatedly stressed that he had to limit Su Yi's off-ball movement and not let him get any open shots.

But the next second—BAM!

Jasikevicius slammed solidly into a human wall—LeBron James.

LeBron James felt a bit helpless. He, the Chosen One, the team's superstar, was actually setting a screen for a teammate. This was humiliating!

But could he refuse?

No!

He knew very well that this game had to be won. If they lost, the media scrutiny aimed at him wouldn't let up.

Don't let LeBron James's towering frame fool you—his heart was actually pretty fragile.

It probably had something to do with the family he grew up in.

LeBron James firmly blocked Jasikevicius for Su Yi.

"Switch."

Jasikevicius shouted immediately.

Al Harrington reacted instantly, chasing after Su Yi.

The man arrived with the ball.

The moment Su Yi reached the baseline corner, Eric Snow passed it over.

Su Yi caught the ball cleanly and immediately went into a shooting motion.

"Don't even think about shooting!"

Al Harrington leaped high, trying to block Su Yi's shot.

The next second, Su Yi took one dribble to the left, perfectly dodging Al Harrington's block, then pushed off with both feet, hung in the air, kicked his legs, and released a three-pointer.

The ball arced through the air in a beautiful curve, like a shooting star, flying straight toward the hoop.

Swish.

Su Yi's three-pointer went in.

"ROOOOOOAR!"

In an instant, the entire Quick Loan Center Arena crowd went wild.

The whole stadium chanted madly: "Su!" "Su!" "Su!"...

"Su, beautiful shot!"

Eric Snow shouted immediately at Su Yi as he ran back on defense.

This assist was way too easy. He'd been jealous of Damon Jones before.

Now the tables had turned.

It was finally his turn.

Eric Snow could already picture his assist numbers skyrocketing.

Eric Snow: "Hahahaha!"

Damon Jones, sitting on the bench, had already cried himself unconscious in the bathroom.

My assist!

No, there was one person worse off than Damon Jones—LeBron James.

LeBron James had just played an excellent role on offense, but unfortunately, he had no data.

For a data fanatic, this was pure torture.

So LeBron James shifted his focus to the defensive end. He wanted a steal. He wanted to score.

Smack.

LeBron James saw his chance and stole Jamaal Tinsley's pass.

After the steal, LeBron James charged toward the Indiana Pacers' backcourt like a runaway horse.

He was fast—so fast that Jamaal Tinsley couldn't catch up and simply gave up the chase.

LeBron James moved as if no one was there, crossed the free-throw line, gathered the ball quickly, and took long strides toward the basket.

One step, two steps, three steps. He pushed off his right foot, leaped high into the air, and slammed the ball viciously toward the rim.

BOOM!

A thunderous crash rang out.

LeBron James scored with a one-handed power dunk.

The score became 5 to 0!

A perfect start!

"ROOOOOAR!"

The fans at Quicken Loans Arena still erupted in thunderous cheers for LeBron James.

After all, he was their "child." No matter how bad he got, he was still their "child."

As long as he walked back onto the right path, the fans would still applaud LeBron James.

Just like a certain soccer team—the worse they played, the more the fans cursed, yet they still showed up every game, hoping the team would improve.

Too bad the fans' wishes were bound to be dashed.

The worse they played, the louder the curses, but they still didn't strive for progress. Instead, they said, "What do you amateur fans know?"

They even complained that a 5-million annual salary was too little.

Damn!

Even after taxes, that was at least 2 to 3 million a year.

Most people wouldn't earn that much in a lifetime.

Now they lived in mansions and drove luxury cars, yet they played like garbage and couldn't take a little criticism. Where was the justice?

To be honest, the fans were the bread and butter. Without fans, you were nothing.

Luckily, version 1.0 LeBron James could still be "saved." Under Su Yi's barrage of tactics, he had now become obediently "well-behaved."

A teachable kid!

Clang!

The Indiana Pacers' offense failed to score.

Big Z grabbed the rebound steadily, landed with both feet, and immediately passed the ball to Eric Snow.

Eric Snow caught the ball and quickly pushed it up the court.

Su Yi and LeBron James followed on both sides, forming a trident fast-break defense.

After crossing half-court, Eric Snow flicked his wrist and decisively passed the ball to Su Yi.

Compared to LeBron James, Eric Snow still preferred to pass to Su Yi.

Because of Su Yi, he had gone from a point guard without the ball to a ball-handling point guard.

Seeing this, LeBron James immediately cut into the lane, reaching out for the ball as he moved.

But Su Yi ignored him completely. He stopped on a dime, jumped, and released a three-pointer.

LeBron James spread his hands, looking at Su Yi with confusion, baffled as to why Su Yi didn't pass!

The ball arced gracefully through the air.

Swish. The ball nestled softly into the basket's embrace.

Su Yi's second three-pointer hit.

The score became 8 to 0!

In an instant, LeBron James's confusion was stifled. What could he even say?

In sports competition, winning was everything.