Chapter 318: Chapter 87: Kobe Activates Super Talent
Su Xi quickly adjusted, closing in and applying pressure.
Su Xi’s suffocating defense was tough to handle.
Kobe’s offensive rhythm was disrupted.
But he used his incredible core flexibility to turn. Even though his body wasn’t in perfect position, he forced himself into the air for the shot—it was the only window he had.
Kobe seized it perfectly.
Su Xi reached out to block, but he was just a hair short.
The ball flew less than a centimeter over Su Xi’s fingertips. It was a fast, rushed shot with an ungraceful arc.
But... SWISH!
Right on target.
Like a bullet hitting a bullseye.
Kobe’s shot wasn’t as elegant as Tracy McGrady’s, but it was just as deadly.
It was the kind of shot that could easily break a defender’s will.
Because even when the defender did everything right, forcing him into an impossible spot, he could still make the shot.
A unified chant echoed through the Staples Center: Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!
Kobe shrugged at Su Xi. "You should know you can’t guard me," he said. "Nobody can guard me tonight."
Su Xi smiled.
He had two responses.
"Why do I need to stop you?"
"There’s someone on the Lakers who can stop you."
Both statements were highly ambiguous.
But Su Xi meant every word.
Kobe could understand the second part, but not the first.
’Why do I need to stop you?’
’If you don’t stop me, you’re toast. What’s there not to understand?’
Kobe mulled it over on his way back down the court. He felt there was something philosophically wrong with Su Xi’s thinking.
But Su Xi was already on the move, and his off-ball running was a major threat. Kobe’s defensive path was clear; he had the makings of a pesky, persistent defender.
However, despite his ferocious pursuit—more relentless than a pit bull’s bite—he still couldn’t stop the play.
Because as Su Xi made his run, Little O’Neal passed him the ball.
Su Xi didn’t even catch it. With a single touch-pass in stride, he redirected the ball to the corner. Reggie Miller caught it and shot the three... SWISH!
It was good.
Kobe looked at Su Xi, a little surprised.
That was a play Kobe couldn’t make himself. He had the court vision, but he had more faith in his own abilities; he would never make such a crafty pass.
But Su Xi was willing to.
’This kid might be philosophically challenged, but his logic is sound, and he’s quick-witted.’
The game continued.
The Lakers’ offense still ran through Kobe.
This time, Kobe went for a post-up. Su Xi defended him tightly, using all his strength.
But Kobe was crafty. His shoulder fake was incredibly deceptive, and he got around Su Xi’s defense. But just as he went to shoot, Su Xi broke up the play with a slap on the hand—a foul.
Kobe went to the free-throw line.
SWISH! SWISH!
He made both free throws.
At that moment, Kobe was radiating an aura of intense confidence.
Su Xi couldn’t resist saying to O’Neal, "Shaq, he’s not giving you any respect. He’s got that ’I’m the only one that matters’ look on his face right now."
O’Neal looked at Su Xi. "A little late to be starting trouble, don’t you think? You take me for an idiot?"
"Of course not. But Kobe’s already the top dog on the Lakers," Su Xi said. "After tonight, you’re going to be traded."
It was the simplest way to sow discord.
Like a bowl of egg fried rice—the simplest dish, yet the hardest to master.
After hearing Su Xi’s words, O’Neal shot him a harsh glare. ’Trying to play mind games with me, huh?’
Su Xi didn’t press the issue with O’Neal. ’Think it over yourself,’ he thought. ’I’m sure that petty mind of yours will find a ’solution’.’
Little O’Neal was cooking again. He used his ’Great Dream Step’ to shake Medenkovik so badly the man saw his own ancestors. O’Neal had to come over to help, putting the two O’Neals head-to-head. Little O’Neal seized the opportunity, slipping the ball to Foster behind him.
Foster caught the ball and went up for a powerful dunk.
Kobe fouled him from behind to stop the play.
SWISH!
SWISH!
Foster made both free throws. His free-throw shooting was, at least, a little more reliable than O’Neal’s.
O’Neal couldn’t help but remind Kobe that the foul was unnecessary.
But the look in Kobe’s eyes was even clearer: ’If you had been in the right defensive position, I wouldn’t have had to foul.’
Kobe was an arrogant person. His arrogance was surely modeled after Jordan, but he lacked Jordan’s communication skills. He was a loner who didn’t even invite his teammates to his own wedding.
So, very few people could tolerate that kind of arrogant glare from him.
Especially not a superstar center like O’Neal, a man who possessed both overwhelming dominance and a fragile ego.
There was already bad blood between them. ’You’re not even the top dog yet and you’re already acting like this?’ O’Neal thought. ’If I hadn’t rotated over, Little O was going to dunk. If you’re going to glare at someone, glare at freaking Medenkovik. You think you can treat me like some scrub?’
Unhappy as he was...
...he could still see the bigger picture.
He went back on offense without calling for the ball, still letting Kobe run the isolation play.
Kobe got the ball again, facing Su Xi’s high-pressure defense. He calmly threw out a jab step. Su Xi instinctively retreated, and Kobe immediately spun and took a step forward.
Then, he stopped on a dime and rose for a jump shot. The motion was smooth and effortless.
It was a perfectly ordinary move.
But that shot—the one that looked to have no technical skill, no flash, no legendary quality at all.
SWISH!
The ball went in.
Kobe raised both hands, radiating an explosive confidence.
And in that instant, Su Xi ’saw’ Kobe Bryant’s entire body glowing, shimmering with the brilliant light of pure confidence.
Activating his Super Acquired Talent: Super Scoring Talent.
