Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 454 - 151 Pain of Michael Jordan (Too painful today, posting 1 update first)

Chapter 454: Chapter 151 Pain of Michael Jordan (Too painful today, posting 1 update first)
Qin Yue’s consecutive "40+" performances finally came to a stop at ten games.
In Denver, Kenyon Martin, the Nuggets’ defensive anchor, who returned this season from injury, was once left with a meme-like expression by Qin Yue.
After numerous repairs, Martin’s athletic abilities are no longer as they were, but his mouth, which has offended countless people, remains as brash as ever.
Before the game, this pesky inside player, who once called Garnett a Chihuahua with a Doberman’s physique, said to Qin Yue: "If I hadn’t been injured last year, you and your team wouldn’t even have passed the first round."
Then...
Martin paid the price for his big mouth.
In the first quarter, right from the start, Qin Yue used a 4-5 pick-and-roll to switch Martin onto himself.
The result...
Thinking Martin’s strength was as tough as his words, Qin Yue effortlessly left him behind with a burst of explosive speed and sudden stops.
In the later stages of his career, Martin’s strength lies in using his defensive experience to help his teammates through support defense.
However, beyond the three-point line, he was utterly unable to handle Qin Yue’s guard-like offense.
BANG——!
Under the Nuggets’ basket, with a Carter-like windmill dunk shaking the Denver Pepsi Center, Qin Yue looked back at the belated Martin and said: "You’re lucky you dodged a bullet last year. With you, this guard dog that only barks wildly, humiliating you is easier than drinking water."
At a moment when he should not have been running his mouth, Martin successfully provoked the already irritable Qin Yue.
So, in the next play, utilizing a screen, he settled in the low post.
First, using an iron elbow to clear the way, and then forcefully bulldozing Martin backward, Qin Yue soared up, securing the basket with both hands powerfully.
BANG——!
Moreover, while delivering Martin physical pain with a talent-suppressing slam, Qin Yue continued mocking him: "You leg-breaking dog bastard, is that all you’ve got? Bark, why aren’t you barking anymore?"
The Nuggets’ possession returned.
Receiving from Anthony’s drive-and-kick, Martin had a chance to retaliate.
But, having already seen through Anthony’s passing line, Qin Yue used legal physical contact allowed by the NBA at the time, with a leap that left Martin in despair, to palm the ball out of his hands.
BOOM——!
At the moment of landing after the block, to maintain balance, Qin Yue unhesitatingly stepped over Martin’s head.
Getting up, the raging Martin wanted to argue with Qin Yue.
But to his surprise, Qin Yue, who never planned on backing down, headbutted him directly and forcefully on the forehead.
BANG——!
"You better scurry back to your teammates before I really get mad!"
On the court, having received a technical foul for that headbutt, Qin Yue uncompromisingly spoke to Martin, who was almost knocked into a concussion.
Seeing this, Anthony and Billups quickly intervened to defuse the situation.
As for Martin?
In the remainder of the game, he could do little but endure Qin Yue’s on-court bullying.
Even the Big Ben replacing him had to help bear Qin Yue’s wrath.
Throughout the game, Qin Yue’s relentless attack on the Nuggets’ paint saw him without a single three-point attempt, making 17 out of 26 shots, 11 out of 14 free throws, channeling a Titan God to score 45 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals.
Nuggets head coach George Karl commented on Qin Yue’s performance afterward: "Tonight, it felt like watching a Shaquille O’Neal who could shoot and dribble like Kobe."
In Karl’s view, Qin Yue was simply a combination of the "Magic Shaq" and Larry Bird.
Such a player, once angry in a game, is bound to give the opposing defense a devastating blow.
The Nuggets, unfortunately shot in the foot due to Martin’s reckless words, became an outlet for Qin Yue’s fury.
And then back at home...
The visiting Knights ended up provoking Qin Yue’s Thanos mode thanks to Iverson’s outstanding play.
Jack, giving Iverson plenty of physical contests, could only wear a helpless expression facing Iverson’s heroic shots for the Knights.
Old AI went 7-of-11 in the first quarter, single-handedly scoring 19 points for the Knights.
Qin Yue’s surface-level buddy James also shined brightly.
During the game, while Iverson spearheaded the Knights’ offense, James, despite his fury of repeated back-and-forth runs on the court...
The first quarter saw him go 2-of-4, scoring 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, successfully taking on the role of the team’s mood elevator.
Additionally, if you didn’t see the game, James’ on-court cheers for the heroics Iverson made for the Knights might have led you to believe it was James, not Iverson, scoring.
However...
As Gooden fell into foul trouble later in the game, the Knight’s decision to let go of Vallejo last summer proved costly.
To avoid switching Big Z onto Qin Yue frequently, Knights coach Brown had to match James against Qin Yue.
Last summer, having gained even more strength through bulking up, James could physically withstand Qin Yue.
But Qin Yue, who the previous night had been likened to playing like O’Neal by Karl, was determined to prove with his skills that he had nothing in common with O’Neal.
And on the court, against Qin Yue’s unpredictable offensive rhythm, James, disheveled, found himself hapless against Qin Yue despite his physical strength.