Chapter 351: Chapter 104: What Kind of Person Do You Take Me For?
While Kobe glared, Su Xi quickly led his team to retake the lead.
The Pacers were a fundamentally sound team, and their overall tactical discipline was on a level the Lakers couldn’t hope to match.
Stephen Jackson, in particular, was a perfect fit for the Pacers’ system. He was a born 3-and-D player: a tenacious defender who was decisive with his shot. His positioning wasn’t exactly clever, but he could always get to his spots within the offensive set.
On the defensive end, he, Su Xi, and Artest formed a dream defensive lineup. Their suffocating, swarming defense was so intense that Atkins didn’t even dare dribble the ball anymore, passing it off to Kobe before he could even cross half-court.
Kobe did his best.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the lead began to grow.
Even Little O’Neal reverted to his "King of Feasting on Scrubs" form. In just three minutes on the court, he scored 8 points, officially pushing the Lakers into garbage time.
When Kobe Bryant came off the court, his expression was uglier than shit.
You could hear him chewing out his teammates from all the way across the court.
"That guy copies Jordan down to the bone," Artest said from the bench. "Jordan had a sharp tongue too, but I don’t take him seriously. If I played him, I’d just go up there and break his bones."
Artest’s comment made the bench erupt in laughter, filling the air with good cheer.
"Jack, how come you’ve started playing like Kobe? You played exactly like him in the first half—your moves were identical," Artest suddenly asked Su Xi. "You’re not going to start acting like Jordan and bossing us around, are you?"
"Nah," Su Xi said, shaking his head. "I’ll just break your ribs."
Artest laughed, and so did everyone else.
Su Xi then explained to his teammates in all seriousness, "I want to work on my offensive game this season. They say a superstar needs to be a triple threat: passing, driving, and shooting. Right now, my driving is decent, but my on-ball offense is mediocre, and my passing is just average. If I can raise my offensive level this season, it’ll make things easier in the playoffs."
Su Xi laid his cards on the table.
Then, he looked at his teammates.
"I’m on board," Tony Battie said, the first to raise his hand.
"I agree," Little O’Neal said, also raising his hand.
Then came Artest, Kenny Anderson...
Watching the team’s veterans raise their hands one after another, what could Stephen Jackson say? ’I can’t just say ’I object,’ can I?’
He was certain that if he said that, he’d be traded in a heartbeat.
’What an unconventional leadership style.’
"I’m on board. A guy with Jack’s physical gifts should absolutely be making a run at superstar status."
Stephen Jackson raised his hand, making his position clear.
Artest shot a strange look at the notoriously fierce tough guy. ’You sure learned to ’when in Rome’ fast, huh? Where’s that rebellious attitude you had in Cleveland? Could it be that Jack really has that much charisma? What he’s planning to do now doesn’t seem any different from what LeBron James did with the Cavaliers.’
Stephen Jackson’s gaze was calm, his expression untroubled.
After the game, Stephen Jackson told reporters with great sincerity, "This was my first real game with Jack; the preseason doesn’t count. But tonight, I got to experience his unique leadership style. He’s sincere and completely straightforward. He’s not one of those guys who says, ’Let’s play team basketball,’ when all he’s really thinking about is padding his own stats."
A reporter then asked, "But Jack spent the entire first half in a one-on-one duel with Kobe, and his shooting percentage was pretty low."
"Exactly. Jack was sincere and straightforward enough to tell us he’s going to work on his offense this season."
Stephen Jackson said with a completely serious face, "Have you ever seen a more honest leader than Jack?"
Uh...
’Can’t say we have.’
’When James over there shouts ’team basketball,’ everyone calls him selfish. When Su Xi says he’s going to work on his individual offense and doesn’t pass out of double- and triple-teams, you call him sincere and straightforward.’
’Talk about a double standard.’
’Stephen Jackson, do you even hear yourself? What’s the difference between you and those fawning Hollywood women right now?’
’He’s just sucking up.’
After the game, a huge debate erupted on the fan forums.
LeBron’s supporters were full of sarcastic comments, claiming Stephen Jackson had sold his soul just to suck up to Jack Su. They even dug up the old story of when Stephen Jackson was caught by the police with an illegal firearm in his car, and how he’d claimed with a straight face: "I don’t even know how to shoot a gun. I don’t even know what a gun’s wrench is, let alone how to take off the safety."
But Stephen Jackson’s fans retorted, "If LeBron James has no charisma, just say so. Why didn’t Stephen Jackson suck up to him when they played together? In fact, he did the opposite and clashed with James, didn’t he?"
There’s a brand of selfishness called "team basketball," and a brand of unselfishness called "I need to work on my offense."
...
Su Xi rejected the famous socialite Paris Hilton.
The reporters even captured the entire rejection on camera.
Paris Hilton cornered Su Xi in the parking lot, saying she wanted to invite him to dinner.
Su Xi rejected her bluntly. "I’ve already eaten."
Then, Paris Hilton leaned in close to Su Xi, her expression turning sultry. "Want to come and try the big, warm bed at my hotel? I had it prepared just for you."
"No. Please, calm down."
"I can’t calm down, Jack. I like you so, so much..."
"What is it you like about me? I’ll change it!"
"I love your manliness... and your ability to give a woman pleasure beyond her wildest dreams."
"That I can’t change. It’s an innate talent. Now, please stay away from me. I’m not interested in you."
