Chapter 849: The Most Popular Person

Chapter 849: Chapter 849: The Most Popular Person

Chapter 849: The Most Popular Person

At the London Olympics, the Chinese men’s basketball team had been placed in Group B.

Their 5 opponents were Great Britain, Spain, Australia, Brazil, and Russia.

It was hardly an easy group.

The good news was that China had avoided Team USA.

The American roster for these Olympics was every bit as intimidating as the one that had competed in Beijing.

Kobe Bryant.

Carmelo Anthony.

Chris Paul.

Russell Westbrook.

Kevin Durant.

LeBron James.

Tyson Chandler.

Kevin Love.

James Harden.

Andre Iguodala.

Deron Williams.

And reigning Rookie of the Year Anthony Davis.

If there was a weakness, it was inside.

The roster lacked the interior depth of previous American teams. Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh were absent, while Tyson Chandler was the only established traditional center on the roster.

For China, that offered at least some encouragement.

Yao Ming had dominated Chandler when they were both much younger, and that matchup had helped strengthen Yao’s belief that he was capable of competing in the NBA.

Still, avoiding the Americans in the group stage did not mean China could relax.

Spain was also a terrifying opponent.

Their roster included Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Rudy Fernández, Juan Carlos Navarro, and José Calderón.

Individually, they might not possess the same overwhelming collection of superstars as Team USA.

International basketball was different.

As a unit, Spain possessed elite talent on both ends of the floor.

They were experienced.

Skilled.

Disciplined.

And extremely dangerous.

...

At 11:45 PM Beijing time on July 29, China’s first Olympic game officially began.

China versus Spain.

Despite the late hour back home, countless Chinese fans remained awake in front of their televisions.

In previous years, expectations had been much simpler whenever China faced an elite opponent.

Play hard.

Show some fight.

Do not embarrass yourselves.

Now everything had changed.

Chen Yan.

Yao Ming.

Yi Jianlian.

3 established NBA players.

Chinese fans no longer entered games against top international teams hoping merely for respectability.

They expected victories.

Before tipoff, some fans had even jokingly called for China to destroy Spain.

Nobody seriously expected an effortless blowout.

What they genuinely wanted was simple.

Beat Spain.

Open the Olympics with a statement.

China entered the tournament at full strength.

Spain was also nearly complete, with Ricky Rubio the major absence because of injury.

Inside the locker room, Jonas Kazlauskas looked toward Chen.

"Chen, do you want to say something?"

Chen smiled and looked around at his teammates.

"I do not think anyone here needs a big speech."

The room quieted.

"We all know we can beat Spain."

Chen’s voice remained calm.

"We have the talent."

"We have prepared for this."

"And everyone back home is waiting to see us prove it."

He looked around the circle.

"So let’s make it happen."

Simple words.

The effect was immediate.

The players straightened.

The energy in the room changed.

Jonas smiled.

There was nothing else to add.

He picked up his tactics board and began reviewing the final details.

...

The teams entered the arena.

China wore red.

Spain wore white.

China’s starting lineup was announced first.

Sun Yue.

Chen Yan.

Zhu Fangyu.

Yi Jianlian.

Yao Ming.

It was arguably the strongest starting lineup China had ever assembled.

4 of the 5 players had NBA experience.

Spain answered with:

José Calderón.

Juan Carlos Navarro.

Rudy Fernández.

Marc Gasol.

Pau Gasol.

Before tipoff, Pau walked toward Chen.

"Chen, we meet again."

Chen smiled.

"Ready?"

Pau nodded.

"This should be a good game."

"I think so too."

Pau extended his hand.

"Play well."

"You too."

Their exchange was polite and brief.

They knew each other, but not particularly well.

Then the referee called both teams into position.

Tipoff.

Spain won the opening jump.

Calderón calmly brought the ball across half court.

Spain immediately entered its offense.

Rudy Fernández used a screen to move beyond the 3 point line.

Zhu Fangyu followed him.

Rudy gave the ball back to Calderón.

Calderón attacked.

Drive.

His penetration immediately pulled China’s defense inward.

While still in the air, Calderón twisted his body and kicked the ball back toward the perimeter.

Rudy caught it.

Open 3 pointer.

Clang!

Miss.

Spain had created a good look.

They simply failed to convert it.

Yi Jianlian exploded upward and secured the defensive rebound.

China immediately transitioned to offense.

Spain retreated quickly.

No fast break.

Sun Yue crossed half court and gave the ball to Chen.

Chen caught it with 1 hand and surveyed the floor.

The arena immediately came alive.

"Chen Yan!"

"Let’s go!"

"Beat Spain!"

Chinese voices came from every direction.

Thousands of Chinese fans had packed the arena.

The noise made the Olympic venue feel almost like a home game.

Yao started walking toward Chen to set a screen.

Chen raised his hand.

No.

Yao immediately understood.

He turned toward the others.

"Space out!"

Then he pointed toward Chen.

"Let him work."

China cleared the floor.

Isolation.

Chen against Rudy Fernández.

1 on 1.

Chen began with 2 consecutive crossovers.

Then he exploded left.

Rudy moved with him.

Hard dribble.

Sudden stop.

Huge step back.

Chen created space from the left side of the arc.

Rise.

3 pointer.

Swish!

3 to 0.

Rudy shook his head.

There was little a defender could do against a shot like that.

Spain head coach Sergio Scariolo immediately shouted from the sideline.

"It’s fine!"

He clapped his hands.

"Keep defending him like that!"

Chinese fans erupted.

"That is it!"

"Same Chen as the NBA!"

"Too easy!"

Any fan who had been fighting sleep back in China was awake now.

Spain came down for its 2nd possession.

China’s defensive intensity was obvious from the start.

Every matchup was tight.

Every passing lane was pressured.

Jonas had designed the game plan around physical defense from the opening tip.

He wanted China to establish the tone before Spain could settle into its rhythm.

The strategy worked.

Spain struggled to create anything clean.

Eventually, Calderón lobbed the ball into Pau Gasol.

Pau had Yao behind him.

Back down.

1 bump.

Another.

A 3rd.

Nothing.

Yao barely moved.

Pau realized he could not create enough separation for a comfortable shot.

He turned halfway and looked toward the top of the arc.

Calderón was waiting outside.

Pass.

At least, that was the idea.

Chen had already read it.

He abandoned his man before Pau released the ball.

Slap!

Clean steal.

Chen took possession and immediately accelerated past Calderón.

Open court.

Nobody between him and the basket.

Chen could have finished simply.

He chose violence instead.

Takeoff.

Tomahawk dunk!

Boom!

5 to 0.

The arena exploded.

Fans began chanting his name.

"Chen Yan!"

"Chen Yan!"

"Chen Yan!"

Not all of them were Chinese.

European fans joined in as well.

Chen’s popularity was no longer confined to China.

It was not even confined to Asia.

Years of NBA dominance had built him a massive following throughout Europe.

Before the Olympics began, a public survey in Britain had asked fans which athlete they most wanted to see during the Games.

Chen Yan had finished 1st.

And only minutes into China’s Olympic opener, he was already showing everyone why.

.....

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