Chapter 322: Chapter 89: No-Doubt Finals MVP
SWISH!
It actually went in.
The Staples Center was stunned for a moment, then the Lakers fans erupted in a ferocious cheer.
The lead was cut to one point.
With 26 seconds left, the Lakers’ chances of winning suddenly skyrocketed.
The more than 20,000 people in the arena grew tense and excited, anticipating the suspenseful and momentous final outcome.
It was especially important for the Lakers fans.
If they won, they would keep the suspense alive.
If they lost, their season would end with them as the biggest losers. The Lakers Dynasty would inevitably crumble. Everyone knew that forming the "Super Fab Four" lineup this year was their last-ditch effort. If the Lakers won the championship, management might still keep the core duo of O’Neal and Kobe.
The Pacers didn’t call a timeout.
Under a full-court press, Su Xi pushed past Kobe and reached for the ball. Kobe kept harassing him, but Su Xi’s rhythm was steady. Unhurried and composed, he brought the ball into the frontcourt.
He then stopped about a meter beyond the three-point line, with Kobe’s eyes locked on him.
A cold smile appeared on his face. He looked at Su Xi and said with confidence and conviction, "I know you’re going to take this last shot yourself. But I’m sure your gun is out of bullets. You won’t hit the bullseye with me guarding you."
Kobe knew Su Xi well.
He had guessed correctly.
When it came down to the final moments, Su Xi had no intention of leaving it in someone else’s hands.
Su Xi smiled too. He looked at Kobe. "Your shoelace is untied."
Kobe ignored him.
’A petty trick. Trying to distract me like this. So cheap.’
Time was ticking away. Su Xi dribbled the ball, remaining on high alert.
He looked relaxed, unfazed by the dwindling clock.
The 24-second shot clock was about to run out.
Kobe, on the other hand, showed more anxiety. He wanted to leave more time for the Lakers’ final possession. This urgency pushed him forward, and he started to pressure Su Xi earlier.
Su Xi adjusted his steps, his ball control still steady.
With six seconds left on the clock, Su Xi suddenly shouted, "Your shoelace is untied!"
Then, he jab-stepped hard to Kobe’s left. Kobe quickly retreated... but just as he did, Su Xi came to a hard stop and stepped back.
Kobe rapidly adjusted his footing, preparing to lunge at him.
But as he was adjusting his footing, he actually stepped on his own shoelace.
He hadn’t looked down at his shoes, believing Su Xi was just trying to distract him.
This threw his footwork into disarray. Su Xi, however, was decisive. He jumped and smoothly released the ball at the apex of his shot... The ball traced a beautiful arc through the air.
It was a perfect parabola.
The parabola’s destination: the basket.
Kobe turned his head just in time to see the ball sink precisely through the hoop. Then, the light on the backboard lit up.
Su Xi had used up the entire 24 seconds.
He’d drained a three-pointer.
That shot silenced all the restless energy in Staples Center. The crowd fell as quiet and dejected as a groom on his wedding night discovering his ’gun’ has gone soft.
The Pacers took a four-point lead.
The referee went to the scorer’s table to review the replay. He confirmed that the Lakers still had 2.3 seconds on the clock.
The Lakers had a chance for one last possession.
But even if they hit a three-pointer on that final possession, they couldn’t win.
The television cameras panned across the arena, showing a sea of devastated faces. Many Lakers fans had their heads in their hands.
For the Lakers, this wasn’t just the loss of a game, but the collapse of the entire Lakers Dynasty.
’Is this... how it ends?’
The Lakers called their final timeout.
They still had to draw up a final play. What if there was still a chance?
Never give up until the very end!
This was Kobe’s creed.
He had already scored an astonishing 53 points tonight. The all-time highest single-game score in the NBA Finals belonged to Michael Jordan, who dropped 55 points in Game 1 of the 1993 Finals. After him came Kobe tonight, followed by Shaquille O’Neal with 44 points in Game 1 of the 2000 Finals.
This was the closest Kobe had ever come to Jordan in his career so far.
In fact, he was also the best-performing Lakers player in this series.
Unfortunately, they were about to lose.
During the timeout, the Pacers’ bench was in an uproar. Su Xi’s three-pointer had saved Indiana, putting one foot on the championship podium for every single player.
"Jack, how did you do that? You’re incredible!"
Reggie Miller couldn’t help but ask excitedly.
"I just stepped on Kobe’s shoelace," Su Xi said very seriously.
There was no display of sublime skill. The real game-winner was just that simple.
When Su Xi had pointed out that Kobe’s shoelace was untied, it really had been a little loose. But Kobe, thinking Su Xi was just trying to distract him, didn’t bother to look down at all.
Then, when Su Xi made his jab step, he seized the opportunity to step on Kobe’s shoelace.
The moment Kobe retreated, the lace was pulled undone.
Su Xi stopped hard and stepped back. Kobe’s defensive footwork was slightly... ’restricted.’
It was just that little bit.
That’s what created the opening for Su Xi’s shot.
And even if he hadn’t stepped on Kobe’s shoelace, Su Xi would have still shot the three. Because making a two-pointer was meaningless.
With a one-point lead or a three-point lead, the Lakers would still have a chance to strike back.
But with a four-point lead...
The game would be locked up.
Su Xi’s gamble paid off.
"I got lucky," Su Xi added.
"No, that was all skill, Jack." Little O’Neal hugged Su Xi, saying excitedly, "We’re going to be champions!"
