Chapter 350: Chapter 104: [What Do You Take Me For?]
A day’s plan is made at dawn.
A year’s plan is made in the spring.
A season’s plan is forged in iron.
Su Xi and Kobe joined forces to put on a battle for the title of "Iron King."
The way these two men clanked their shots was different. Kobe didn’t trust his teammates, and the Pacers, not believing for a second he would pass, double-teamed him without restraint.
Over on Su Xi’s side, his teammates were a disappointment. They were so out of breath they could barely walk. After Reggie Miller was subbed out, Little O’Neal took over for a bit. He was supposed to be the NBA’s reigning king of feasting on weaker opponents, but thanks to some weight gain and a lack of drive, he couldn’t even handle Grant.
During a timeout, Carlisle said, "Jack, why don’t you just let it fly?"
And so, Su Xi got to work. He channeled the spirit of a revolutionary pioneer—charging headfirst into any and all adversity. If there was no adversity to be found, he’d create some, just so he could power through it with sheer, stubborn effort.
Su Xi and Kobe were both iron men, blessed with astonishing physiques. That’s why, back when Su Xi was in Los Angeles, he could train with Kobe all day and still have enough energy to go home and rock Jessica’s world all night.
Jessica had told the media on more than one occasion: "I don’t use makeup at all. Why is my complexion so good? Oh, how did you know Jack came over last night? Hahaha, love is the best moisturizer."
Jessica always loved to humblebrag like that.
But her complexion really was improving. Both her and Scarlett’s skin was becoming impossibly supple and smooth—so delicate it seemed a breath of air could break it. They had none of the typical roughness of a Caucasian woman’s skin; in fact, they were even starting to exude their own captivating, natural fragrance.
These changes radiated from within, not from a makeup bottle.
That was why Jessica dared to boldly declare it was all thanks to the "nourishment" of love.
However, this kind of publicity also gave women an uncontrollable "consumer impulse" toward the rare "product" that was Su Xi. This was especially true for famous, glamorous women, who were always devotees of luxury goods.
Now that a "skincare product" as miraculously effective as Su Xi had appeared in Hollywood, it was only natural for them to flock to him.
That was why Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian had traveled all the way to Indiana to watch this regular-season game.
They shamelessly expressed their affection for Su Xi. Even when he bricked a shot, they would let out deliberate, breathy screams.
Even the old lady next door could tell what they were up to.
But Su Xi was completely unfazed by them.
He was focused on improving his skills.
At the end of the first half, the score was 42-41.
The two teams were evenly matched, just as you’d expect from the two squads that faced off in last season’s finals.
Stephen Jackson was in a bit of a daze. Watching Su Xi throw up a string of bricks, he felt like he was back at his old job.
If Su Xi didn’t get along so well with his teammates, Jackson could have easily mistaken him for LeBron James.
When the Pacers were presented with their championship rings, Stephen Jackson stood on the sidelines.
He was a little envious, but not by much. He had already won a championship ring with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003.
The Pacers were overjoyed to receive their championship rings.
The game continued amidst the joyous atmosphere.
Perhaps the ceremony spurred him on, because Kobe suddenly stopped missing. He began to showcase his deadly precision, even under intense defensive pressure.
Before long, the Pacers had fallen behind by double digits.
Seeing that this wouldn’t do, Su Xi quickly put together a lineup of athletic, high-energy players. Tony Battie, David Harrison, Ron Artest, and Stephen Jackson joined him on the court.
"Let’s run some plays."
Su Xi began to orchestrate the offense. He’d create openings with his drives, then dish the ball.
By now, both Su Xi’s physical conditioning and technical skills had reached an extremely high level. If he wanted to run plays, he had the ability to execute them perfectly.
Su Xi hadn’t rested during the past offseason; he had spent every day honing his tactical understanding and keeping up with his training.
His current physical talent ratings were as follows:
Super Explosiveness Talent: 99.
Super Speed Talent: 98.
Super Strength Talent: 98.
Super Flexibility Talent: 100.
Super Coordination Talent: 94.
Vertical Leap Talent: 79.
Super Agility Talent: 92.
Super Physical Talent: 90.
In terms of physical gifts, Su Xi was already the best guard in the league. Even if his vertical was a bit lacking, he was an absolute "hexagon warrior"—an all-around threat. Besides, who cared if his vertical was low? Su Xi had his Super Sense of Distance Talent.
Su Xi’s various super skills were also well-developed.
His Super Clamping Defense Talent was 95% absorbed, and his overall ability in that area had long surpassed Gary Payton’s.
His Super Spatial Awareness Talent was 87% absorbed. While he was still a ways off from Magic Johnson, his court vision was easily in the upper tier of the league.
His Super Low-Center-of-Gravity Rhythm Talent was 92% absorbed. And while he might not have reached the technical level of "the Assassin" in his prime, his ability to score off the dribble was beyond what Isaiah Thomas could do. Su Xi had the advantage in both physical talent and height over Thomas.
His Super Offensive Talent was 81% absorbed. ’This thing levels up so slowly,’ he thought. ’Guess that’s what you get for copying the grand master of basketball offense. I’ve had to brick so damn many shots.’
Once the Pacers started running plays, the Lakers quickly fell apart. They were a complete thrown-together mess of a team.
Kobe Bryant wasn’t ready to be a team leader yet. He’d just charge in with the ball himself. On the rare occasion he did pass, his teammates were expected to hit the shot. If they missed, he’d hit them with the death stare.
He also demanded his teammates defend with the same life-or-death intensity as him. The moment a teammate was out of position, he’d hit them with the death stare.
From the latter half of the third quarter on, all you could see him do was glare.
