NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 167: Breaking Multiple Records in One Match

Josh couldn't understand how Jia Fei, the Asian man he looked down on, could possess such extraordinary skills. He hadn't thought much of the previous series of three-pointers; in the NBA, if you have shooting ability, you'll feel like the basket is an ocean one night. But that crossover just now couldn't be explained by luck; only someone with real skill could pull it off.

He was already somewhat convinced by Jia Fei's strength. Although he was reluctant to admit it, he had to acknowledge that this kid had some ability!

Pistons head coach Cheeks on the sidelines was the least surprised. He had seen Jia Fei use this move many times in Oklahoma City, from the training facility to the court. What surprised him was that the young man was still improving, because both the range and speed of the crossover were faster than before!

Sports Channel Studio.

Yang Jian exclaimed, "Jia Fei is truly amazing! I never imagined that his early crossover dribble would become his trump card. I really didn't expect him to be able to get past opponents like that. It seems that leaving the Thunder was definitely a wise choice!"

Yang Yi nodded: "Jia Fei's confidence has completely returned. When he gets into a rhythm, he shoots whenever he has the chance, and he still shoots even when he doesn't. Hey, he can actually make it! This is incredible! Jia Fei is like Zhao Zilong of Changshan in the Three Kingdoms, who can enter and exit seven times as if he were in an empty field!"

Hawks fans at Philips Arena were ecstatic, more excited than by a regular season victory, seeing such a promising young player on their team burst onto the scene. And this game was against a former Hawks star – a resounding slap in the face, satisfying and exhilarating!

It's like showing off your current partner to your ex, saying, "I'm doing great, don't worry about me!"

Regardless of what happens in the future, at least for now, in the first showdown between the new Hawks King, Jia Fei completely outclassed Josh.

Compared to Josh, Jia Fei surpasses him in basketball IQ, skill, potential, age, star quality, and even appearance. Judging from this season's performance, the Hawks' offseason moves were flawless!

What was initially thought to be a closely contested match turned into a one-sided affair thanks to Jia Fei's sudden outburst in the first quarter.

The Pistons wanted to turn the tide, but their current roster simply didn't have the scoring explosiveness. Jennings was no longer the offensive monster who scored 55 points in his rookie season; Monroe and Drummond were bickering in the paint, each wanting to monopolize the scoring, but their offensive skills were both incredibly rough; Josh was mentally unbalanced after being outmaneuvered by Jia Fei, and he couldn't penetrate the opponent's collapsing defense. His reliable three-point shot was completely off tonight, leaving him utterly lost on offense; Pope, usually a pure shooter, also lost his way. Amid the deafening cheers of the opposing fans, the rookie seemed unsure of what to do on the court, missing open three-pointers and appearing stiff and completely out of sorts, except for De'Arc.

Coach Cheeks had no choice but to try to change the situation by adjusting the lineup. Stacchi, a regular for the Blacksmiths, was in good form in the previous game and became the team's saving grace.

Jia Fei played 10 minutes in the first quarter, scoring 20 points and helping his team lead by 16 points at the end of the first quarter.

The matchup went to the second unit. The Hawks' second unit hasn't performed well this season, which is a problem for them so far.

The Pistons' second unit is far less talented than their starters, lacking in both offense and defense. If it weren't for Stoudemire's unexpected brilliance in this game, they might not even have been able to beat the Hawks' bench.

When Jia Fei returned in the second quarter, the Pistons double-teamed him. However, he didn't force any shots and began using his presence to create opportunities for his teammates.

The Hawks' overall offense picked up, leaving the Pistons struggling to keep up.

The Pistons have a large frontcourt, but their problem is a lack of defensive flexibility. Against the Hawks' pick-and-roll and passing game, they struggle to consistently switch on defense and are often led around, making them look disorganized on the defensive end.

On offense, the lack of space allowed the opponent to defend in the paint, making it extremely difficult for them. By halftime, the game already felt like it was almost over.

By the third quarter, the Pistons still hadn't improved, and the entire fourth quarter became garbage time.

Ultimately, the Hawks defeated the visiting Pistons by 25 points at home, securing a victory in this back-to-back game and continuing their undefeated home record this season.

Jia Fei only played 3 quarters in this game, finishing in 26 minutes and 22 seconds. He made 14 of 20 field goals, including 6 of 9 three-pointers, and 6 of 7 free throws, scoring a game-high 40 points, along with 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. He also committed only 1 turnover, making his performance very good!

本场比赛他刷新了多个他个人的生涯记录！单场40分是他进NBA以来的单场得分新高（之前最高是30分），单节20分、半场26分、单场6个3分球也都刷新了个人生涯记录。

As the opposing player, Josh only made 3 of 13 shots and scored 9 points, completely outplayed by Jia Fei.

At the post-game press conference, when a reporter asked if this game meant Jia Fei would officially replace Josh as the new Hawks' star player, Jia Fei remained calm: "There's nothing to be proud of; it's just a regular season game. I still have a lot to improve in. I won't think I'm invincible just because of one good game! I constantly remind myself that we were thoroughly defeated by the defending champions before this game. I like our team's current form, but we're still a long way from success!"

Jia Fei knew, of course, that getting carried away with a good game would likely lead to trouble. Just look at Jennings on the other side; that guy scored 55 points in a single game during his rookie season, but now he's been traded by his original team and gradually faded into obscurity. To become a star, consistency is far more important than occasional bursts of brilliance.

After the interview, Jia Fei and Art Mayork went to get something to eat. After finishing their meal, he was about to go home when he received a call from Kemba Walker.

"Wow, Ja, you were so awesome just now! That crossover, I almost thought AI had possessed you! You're amazing, scoring 40 points against Josh. If you keep this up, you're a shoo-in for the All-Star team!" Kemba Walker joked.

"This is nothing! It's just one game with 40 points, not every game. I still need to keep working hard!" Jia Fei said seriously.