NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 262 Hawks vs. Cavaliers

Since the return of Running Man, attendance at the Cavaliers' home games has skyrocketed, and their season ticket sales have been exceptionally strong. Although they are currently only ranked 4th in the Eastern Conference, this is a huge improvement compared to last season. And, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this team has a chance to make the playoffs this season, a moment that fans in the city have been eagerly anticipating.

At the Quicken Loans Arena, the Cavaliers' DJ was exceptionally passionate, energizing the atmosphere, and combined with the dazzling lights, the experience was truly unique.

Jia Fei remarked that even a small-market NBA team's home arena was incredibly professional, from the lighting and seating to the DJ and staff, and each arena had its own unique characteristics. This is something the Chinese CBA should really learn from.

In a pre-match interview, the Running Man member said that although he has participated in many Christmas battles, this is just an ordinary regular season game. He doesn't have too many special thoughts about it and will just enjoy the game.

When a reporter asked him about the Hawks' Jia Fei, he said that Jia Fei is an outstanding young man with a bright future, and that it would be great to fight alongside such a young man.

This game was broadcast live on TNT, and the commentators were Charles Barkley, one of TNT's star anchors, and his partner Kenny Smith.

Before the game even started, Kenny Smith and Barkley began warming up the crowd.

"Charles, this Christmas Day match is getting a lot of attention. What are your thoughts on this matchup between these two teams?" Kenny Smith posed the question.

Barkley looked very confident: "Jia Fei will be completely shut down in this game. Shawn (Marion) will let him know that he is just an ordinary All-Star."

“But Sean is old!” Kenny Smith reminded him.

“Locking Jia Fei in is enough… If it were peak Sean, Jia Fei wouldn’t even be worthy of being his prey!” Barkley had an expression like “Sean’s godfather,” and it seemed quite convincing.

After the knight's cool entrance ceremony, the Running Man cast began their unique ritual—sprinkling magnesium powder.

Many of his fans screamed upon seeing this. In the entire league, it seems he's the only one who constantly sprinkles magnesium powder before every game. Sprinkling magnesium powder has become his personal trademark; in terms of self-marketing, he truly is the GOAT.

The starting lineups for both teams have been announced.

The Cavaliers' starting lineup, playing at home, consisted of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Shawn Marion, Kevin Love, and Anderson Varejao.

The Hawks' starting lineup for the away game remained unchanged: Jafi, Teague, Middleton, Korver, and Horford.

The Running Man member shook hands with each of the Hawks' starting players in a friendly manner. He also jogged around Yangcheng Lake and gave Coach Buden a warm greeting.

In terms of social skills, he is truly a GOAT-level person.

Varejao and Horford jump the ball near the center circle, and the game is about to begin.

The jump ball began, and Varejao won the jump ball against Horford, giving the Cavaliers possession for the first offensive possession.

Irving dribbles the ball across half-court.

Kyrie Irving has exceptional ball-handling skills. He doesn't have an amazingly quick first step, nor does he possess the explosiveness and power of Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook. However, as a point guard, his ball-handling ability is among the best in the league. His flexibility and ball-handling skills are superb; the ball seems to be an extension of his body in his hands. Even streetball players like Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury can't match him in this aspect.

Varejao came up to set a screen, and Irving used the screen to pull up and shoot, scoring right away!

Teague dribbled over, and sure enough, Marion was guarding Jia Fei.

Marion was known as "The Matrix" during his time with the Suns. He had an amazing wingspan, explosive athleticism, and could defend four positions. He was the strongest defensive player on that Suns team.

But times have changed, and the hacker has grown old. He is still living in this alliance, but he is no longer the boy he once was.

Jia Fei cut out to receive the ball, facing Marion, and without asking for a screen, he immediately changed direction and accelerated into the box!

Marion couldn't keep up and was quickly left behind. Jia Fei cut inside and made a decimeter-like shot, which the latter caught and scored with a layup!

2-2, both teams scored at the start!

Irving continued to use screens to drive inside, executing consecutive crossovers, a powerful leap, and a strong layup...

Jia Fei suddenly appeared from the side and delivered a powerful block!

The fans in the stadium gasped in amazement!

Jia Fei actually abandoned the Running Man member to help defend Irving!

This shows how much they underestimate Running Man's outside shooting and how much they underestimate Kyrie Irving's passing ability!

Jia Fei knew, of course, that if Irving had passed the ball to the outside shooter during his layup, it would have been a wide-open shot. But he was certain Irving wouldn't pass. If Irving really played that intelligently and had that good court vision, he would truly be an MVP-caliber player! As for the shooter's three-pointer, he remembered that the shooter had a back injury this season, making his three-point shooting very poor. Letting him go was fine, but even if he did, it didn't guarantee he'd make the shot.

The Hawks were on offense. Horford initiated the attack from the high post. Jia Fei and Korver made off-ball runs, and after a series of passes, the ball ended up in Korver's hands!

A perfect opportunity! Korver blasts a three-pointer and sinks it!

5-2, the Hawks take the lead!

The guy guarding Korver was running, but he ended up running to the basket to grab the rebound!

He brought his bad habit of grabbing rebounds from the backcourt with the Heat to the Cavaliers... Instead of guarding Jia Fei, he chose shooter Korver instead. Serves you right for being out of position!

Kyrie Irving dribbled the ball over, and the Running Man came over to ask for it.

The Running Man player has the ball, and Jia Fei is responsible for defense.

Love came up to set a screen, and Jia Fei went around to set a screen from behind.

Love's pick-and-roll was just so-so. Jia Fei said it was to go around the screen, but it was actually very quick, and he didn't give the Running Man many opportunities to shoot three-pointers.

The running man didn't shoot, but continued to screen, and the Hawks immediately switched their defense.

The Running Man player passed the ball to Love in the waist position, allowing him to get out of position and eat Jia Fei.

Love has lost weight this season. He was quite heavy when he played for the Timberwolves, and this weight loss has made him look more handsome, with more defined features and a slightly faster pace. However, he has also lost his size advantage. His listed height is 208cm, but it's quite obvious that he and Jia Fei look about the same height when standing together…

Love turned his back to Jia Fei, who lowered his center of gravity, and Love was struggling to keep up!

Love turned and jumped, Jia Fei quickly blocked, and the ball went over the bridge!

Horford received the ball under the basket and passed it to Jia Fei, who brought the ball over.

Jia Fei brought the ball over, faced Marion, accelerated and changed direction cleanly, drove into the basket and slammed it home with a tomahawk dunk!

The Hawks went on a 7-0 run to lead the game 7-2, their offense looking exceptionally easy and they hadn't missed a single shot.

The Cavaliers' roster looks tall, but apart from Irving, the rest of the players seem slow. Not only are they slow to get back on defense when defending pick-and-rolls, but they are also slow to get back on defense and slow to rotate in help defense. It's like a roster configuration from the 90s.