"Injuries really are the devil."
After some quiet reflection, Blake Su felt a deep sense of unease.
Not long ago, when he went to Salt Lake City to face the Jazz, he had experienced headaches from altitude sickness. Even something as minor as a headache had noticeably affected his performance.
Let alone serious injuries like an Achilles tendon rupture, an ACL tear, or a meniscus removal. Those kinds of injuries are devastating to any player, even superstars with elite physical gifts.
There is no exception.
Kobe's physical ability was obvious to the naked eye, yet after his Achilles rupture, his performance declined rapidly, and he retired just a few seasons later.
"A healthy body really matters."
Blake Su was still young and in peak condition, but realizing this early was never a bad thing. After all, no one knows when injuries might strike.
"Hmm... there are still a little over two years left. Hopefully Yao Ming can recover a bit. That way, at the 2012 Olympics, even if the peak 2008 lineup is gone, we can still compete with teams like the U.S., Lithuania, and Argentina."
[Ding!]
Just as Blake Su was thinking, the System's notification sounded in his mind again.
[Ding! Random Quest Triggered: Obtain the All-Star voting leader. Reward: Injury Reduction Candy.]
Injury Reduction Candy.
The meaning was obvious.
The moment he heard it, Blake Su understood that it was a candy that could reduce injuries and improve his overall physical condition. That immediately lifted his mood.
After all, he had just been worrying about injuries.
Blake Su narrowed his eyes.
"Winning the All-Star voting leader… I have to complete this random quest. I must get the Injury Reduction Candy."
"To win the All-Star voting leader and gain more votes, it all comes down to strength and popularity. And popularity grows with strength. In other words, before the voting ends, I need to show everything I've got and win over the fans."
With that thought, determination flashed in his eyes.
At the same time, he had not forgotten the [Jordan's Post-Up] ability tied to the "30+ near-quadruple-double" mission.
The reason he hoped Yao Ming could recover and play alongside him in the 2012 Olympics was partly because he knew he still was not strong enough.
Even though he had Iverson's Talent, it was only talent.
He could not fully replicate Iverson's offensive arsenal. Even with the [Peak Anthony Jump Shot] and [Peak Curry Three-Point Shot], he had simply gained more scoring options.
But it was still not enough.
Whether against powerhouse teams like the Heat, Magic, Lakers, and Spurs, or against the All-Star "Dream Team," it was far from sufficient.
Blake Su knew he had to become stronger. The [Jordan's Post-Up] was something he absolutely had to obtain.
Of course, before all that, the game in two days against the Celtics, the night of the 23-game winning streak, was his immediate goal.
And it was a game they had to win.
...
The next day.
"Suns' Blake Su vs. Celtics' All-Star Five."
This topic became the hottest discussion of the day. Even though the Suns were not playing the Celtics that night, fans were already building intense anticipation.
The hype grew so strong that even Howard, who had his own game, could not help complaining.
"Blake Su's 22-game winning streak is impressive, sure, but does it really deserve this level of hype?"
He felt frustrated.
Seeing another center, and a rookie at that, stealing his spotlight made him uncomfortable. It also made him eager to face Blake Su as soon as possible and solidify his somewhat shaky title as the league's top center.
At the Heat's training facility.
Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and LeBron James sat in the lounge, scrolling through news about Blake Su. All three wore expressions of excitement.
"Hey."
"This rookie Blake Su is getting a bit carried away."
Bosh snorted.
"Yeah."
Wade smiled.
"The internet is flooded with news about the Suns' 22-game winning streak and Blake Su. He's just a rookie, but it feels like he's about to overshadow our 'Big Three.'"
"Interesting."
LeBron smiled faintly.
"I thought we were the ones meant to shake up the league, but a rookie ended up stealing the spotlight."
"That won't do."
"It's a pity he wasn't there when we faced the Suns earlier this season and blew them out in three quarters. But we still have another regular-season game."
"When that game comes, no matter whether their streak continues or not, we have to beat them and show the league that this season belongs to the Heat's 'Big Three.'"
"Of course."
Wade nodded with a smile. Bosh shrugged, as if it were only natural.
Even though the Heat currently ranked second in the East, the three of them carried themselves with the aura of champions.
On the Celtics' side.
In the locker room, Pierce leaned back in his chair, his expression indifferent.
"Blake Su taking on all five of us All-Stars by himself? What kind of nonsense is that?"
"You can call us All-Stars."
"But there's no way Blake Su can handle all five of us alone. These headlines chasing hype are getting more ridiculous by the day."
Pierce was clearly annoyed.
Garnett rubbed his shiny bald head, equally displeased.
"As a rookie, Blake Su does have incredible ability."
"But this time, we're back on our home court."
"The Celtics will win."
"We ended the Rockets' 22-game winning streak before. This time, we can end the Suns' 22-game streak too."
"Exactly."
"We're the ones who will win."
Ray Allen looked calm, his emotions unreadable, but his desire to win was evident.
At the Suns' training facility.
Curry looked a little concerned.
"Wow… I didn't really notice it before, but after the first round of All-Star voting and all this media hype…"
"The Celtics' starting five All-Stars really do look terrifying."
"Yeah."
Nash nodded.
"Since forming their Big Three, the Celtics have been a powerhouse in the East. The rivalry between them and the Lakers has been going on for years."
"But…"
"We're not pushovers either. With a 22-game winning streak, we're not afraid of anyone."
"So whether it's for the team's 23rd straight win or Blake Su's personal record, we have to win this game."
"Everyone… are you confident?"
"Yes!"
"Absolutely!"
"For Blake Su, I'd give everything to beat the Celtics!"
The Suns stood united, fully ready for the battle ahead.
...
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