Chapter 317: Chapter 87: [Kobe Activates Super Talent]
The first five minutes of the third quarter were a stalemate.
The OK Combination unleashed immense energy, relying purely on their individual one-on-one skills to shake the very foundation of the Pacers’ defense.
The Pacers’ defense was arguably the best in the league, but they were facing the best active center and the best active shooting guard.
The "best center" title was undisputed. As for "best shooting guard," perhaps Iverson and Tracy McGrady would disagree, but even so, the three of them were in a class of their own.
The Pacers, on the other hand, continued to rely on their team-based strategy. Su Xi was the tip of the spear, Little O’Neal was the primary scorer, Artest and Miller flanked them, and Foster would occasionally sneak in for an easy bucket.
If the game continued on this trajectory, the Pacers had a very high chance of winning the championship tonight.
O’Neal’s stamina was draining, and he still had to contend with the Hack-a-Shaq strategy.
The Pacers, however, were rock-solid. They could maintain this level of play until the final second, and they still held the lead.
However, the game’s dynamic shifted at the 5:14 mark.
While being guarded by Artest, Kobe Bryant pulled up from beyond the arc and drained a three.
That three-pointer tied the game for the Lakers.
On the next play, Su Xi drove to the basket and executed a brilliant give-and-go with Little O’Neal. A quick reverse cut gave him an opening, and he sank the floater.
But on the ensuing possession, Kobe delivered another brilliant play.
He took on Artest one-on-one. With a shoulder fake, he transitioned into a nearly flawless fadeaway. His rhythm was impeccable, making a fool of Artest’s defense.
Su Xi frowned.
’Kobe is entering the zone,’ he realized, ’a state where every move feels effortless and perfect. I have the Little Elf, which makes me more perceptive than anyone. Right at the start of the season, the Little Elf warned me that Kobe Bryant was just one step away from achieving mastery in scoring. Once he awakens that superstar scoring talent, his killer instinct will be second to none in the league.’
Little O’Neal used a spin move to get past Medvedenko, but his layup rolled off the rim.
Big O’Neal snagged the rebound.
He passed to Kobe. Kobe brought the ball past half-court and calmly sized up his defender at the three-point line. He took one step to drive inside, with Artest guarding him tightly. But then Kobe stopped on a dime, stepped back, and immediately rose for the shot. Su Xi flew in from the side to help.
Trapped by a double-team from two elite defenders, Kobe still found the slimmest of windows to get the shot off... SWISH!
The three-pointer went in.
68:67.
The Lakers took the lead by one.
BEEP!
Su Xi called a timeout.
The atmosphere in the Staples Center was electric. The crowd roared for Kobe Bryant. He had just scored eight straight points and was aggressive, unstoppable.
Rick Carlisle was a little puzzled as to why Su Xi had called a timeout. He felt the game was still a nail-biter and there was no need to stop the clock.
But Su Xi knew. ’Kobe’s on the verge of a breakthrough, and he’s very likely to achieve it tonight. If I let him complete that evolution, his power combined with O’Neal’s dominance could turn the game around.’
Su Xi had to stop it.
And so, he declared, "I will personally guard Kobe."
"This is crucial," Su Xi told Carlisle. "For me, and for the team."
Any other player, with any other coach, would have been ignored. They might even have been benched for calling a timeout without permission.
But Carlisle was different. He and Su Xi had a very close relationship.
After just a moment of silence, he quickly agreed with Su Xi.
He started to make the adjustment, intending to sub out Reggie Miller, but a subtle frown from Su Xi changed his mind. Ron Artest was the one who came off the court.
Artest showed no signs of dissatisfaction.
He was completely confident in Su Xi’s ability to handle Kobe.
He had immense respect for Su Xi’s defensive prowess.
As long as his stamina held up, Su Xi’s defense was on a "Defensive Player of the Year" level.
TWEET!
The whistle blew, and the game resumed.
The Pacers inbounded the ball to Kenny Anderson.
Anderson brought it across half-court.
It was as if the Lakers were on the same wavelength as Su Xi. They also made a substitution, taking out Gary Payton, who favored posting up, and bringing in Derek Fisher, a superior off-ball shooter.
Su Xi moved quickly off the ball, with Kobe Bryant shadowing his every move.
The ball didn’t end up in Su Xi’s hands; instead, Little O’Neal ended the possession with a jumper.
Then, Kobe brought the ball up the court, with Su Xi sticking to him like glue.
Su Xi’s eyes were locked on Kobe, tracking his every subtle motion.
’The Little Elf inside me is on high alert. It has detected that an all-time great, a ’super acquired talent,’ is on the brink of being born.’
’This acquired talent of Kobe’s can be described as an offensive encyclopedia, the culmination of countless master-level offensive techniques. If it were to emerge against my lockdown defense, I would be able to copy and share in this super talent... However, the absorption and fusion process wouldn’t be as quick as with other super talents. After all, this isn’t a gift Kobe is giving willingly. Moreover, Kobe himself forged this skill over countless years, through experience, through every drop of sweat, and through every single brick he’d laid in practice.’
Kobe Bryant reached the top of the arc. His dribble hesitated for a moment, then he began his move, unhurried... Kobe’s explosiveness wasn’t top-tier in the league; he was a step slower than Su Xi.
And yet, in the instant he made his move...
Su Xi’s defensive focus wavered.
That single step was timed to perfection. With just the right speed, the right angle, and the right rhythm, it exploited a hole in Su Xi’s defense. The move seemed unremarkable, yet it was utterly flawless.
