The matchup between the two teams was like a Russian slap-fighting contest. They stood opposite each other, trading blows one after another, just waiting to see who would be the first to collapse.
The level of their defenses was about the sa... though the Pistons were slightly better.
Their offenses were also evenly matched. The Pistons had better teamwork, while the Pacers’ individual offensive output was a little stronger.
Halfway through the second quarter, the Pistons finally took the lead.
But Coach Carlisle kept rotating his players, still not subbing Su Xi into the ga.
It wasn’t until there were only two minutes left in the second quarter that he finally sent Su Xi in. By then, so fans in the stands had already started chanting Su Xi’s na.
When Su Xi entered the ga, the Pistons were leading by five points thanks to a three-pointer from Billups at the top of the arc.
Su Xi caught the ball and strictly followed Carlisle’s tactical instructions. He drove hard into the paint, forcing a jump shot while double-tead by Billups and Rashid Wallace. In mid-air, he absorbed the contact from Rashid Wallace and threw the ball up... TWEET!
The whistle blew.
SWISH!
The ball miraculously fell through the net.
Su Xi went to the free-throw line and made the extra shot.
A 2 1.
On the sidelines, Carlisle was even more excited than the fans. He waved his arms wildly, shouting at Su Xi, "Yes! That’s how you do it! You’re an omnipotent basketball God!"
The head coach was leading the charge in singing his praises.
Standing near the scorer’s table, Larry Brown frowned. ’I find Carlisle’s behavior utterly repulsive,’ he thought. As a traditional, system-first coach, he believed that even the biggest stars had to follow his tactical philosophy. Who fawns over a superstar like that? ’Back in the day, even a huge star like Iverson had to conform to my tactical plans.’
’As for so omnipotent basketball God?’
He furrowed his brow.
’The only one who’s truly omnipotent is the head coach controlling the team’s entire strategy.’
Larry Brown gave a hand signal, switching to a different formation.
But five seconds later, his expression changed dramatically.
Because Su Xi had just gotten a steal.
According to his new set play, Billups was supposed to cut from the wing, use a cross screen with Prince to get to the free-throw line, and take the shot if he was open. If not, Rashid Wallace would screen for Hamilton running the baseline, while Ben Wallace would also move to set a screen or look for an opportunity to attack the rim himself.
It was a good play, one that had worked many tis before.
However, they had overlooked one thing: Su Xi’s ability to fight through screens was second to none.
Su Xi’s incredible flexibility allowed him to get around screens quickly. This, combined with his explosiveness, speed, exceptionally long arms, strength that far surpassed others at his position, his use of a low center of gravity, and his experience with tenacious, smothering defense...
...all stacked up, allowing Su Xi to blast through Prince’s flimsy screen like a flash flood. Seizing the opportunity, he slapped the ball right out of Billups’s hands.
Billups tried to hold onto the ball, but Su Xi’s hand was like a suction cup, his strength like that of a lion.
Su Xi ripped the ball away before Billups even had ti to turn around.
Su Xi drove down the court, racing to the frontcourt at incredible speed. Prince gave chase, trying for a block, but Su Xi pressed forward fearlessly. He leaped and threw down a one-handed dunk... His vertical wasn’t that impressive, but the dunk was full of raw power.
Prince didn’t expect Su Xi to jump so low. He swiped at the ball from behind and hit nothing but air.
Su Xi’s dunking height was just so efficient.
The score was tied. Su Xi’s impact on the court was imdiate.
Carlisle continued to sing his praises.
The fans in the stands joined the chorus of cheers.
The Pistons’ Double Wallaces glared at Su Xi, their eyes practically shooting fire.
But what could they do?
Hamilton hit a jumper on the next possession.
Imdiately after, Su Xi drove into the paint, drew a double-team, and passed the ball to Reggie Miller in the corner. Miller sank the three-pointer.
Both teams then quickly traded missed shots.
The first half ended.
42-43.
The Pacers led by one point.
...
"Our top priority is to contain Little Sheep Su Xi. We can’t let him build up a head of steam," Larry Brown emphasized. "He’s incredibly destructive. He can attack the rim directly, he can pass mid-drive, and he can even find an open man while being double-tead. This rookie is dangerous."
An intense discussion was underway in the Pistons’ locker room.
Larry Brown had coached a master of penetration like Iverson before. Iverson’s individual skill, both in driving and scoring, was far superior to Su Xi’s. And yet, Iverson wasn’t as terrifying as Su Xi.
The first reason was that Iverson didn’t have a supporting cast as strong as the current Pacers.
The second reason was that Iverson didn’t like to pass much; he believed he had a better chance of making the shot himself.
The two reasons were intertwined.
But even so, that 76ers team made it to the Finals and even stole a ga from the Lakers.
Right now, Su Xi and the Pacers were an even trickier problem.
Finally, Prince volunteered. "Little Sheep Su Xi’s stamina isn’t great," he said. "I can wear him down. I’ll stick to him on both ends of the floor, drain his energy, and make sure he can’t play in the crucial final monts."
Larry Brown agreed.
For now, it was the only option they had.
Although they had vowed before the ga to put Su Xi in his place and reclaim their pride, when it ca down to actually playing, they still had to resort to this war of attrition.
It was all a bit pathetic.
Su Xi started the second half, and Prince imdiately latched onto him. Prince was tall and lanky, and once he stuck to you like taffy, he was incredibly hard to shake off. He hounded Su Xi even on the offensive end.
After Rashid Wallace hit a jumper over Little O’Neal, Prince imdiately applied a full-court press the mont Su Xi received the ball.
He harassed him relentlessly. Since the ’No Handcheck’ rule didn’t exist yet, Prince’s long arms were almost constantly draped all over Su Xi.
Su Xi made a quick drive, using his strength, explosiveness, and speed to create space.
As Su Xi brought the ball into the frontcourt, the other Pistons players got into position, and Prince caught up from behind.
Without a mont’s hesitation, Su Xi drove straight to the basket, challenging Ben Wallace head-on. Wallace used every ounce of his strength and, of course, managed to stop Su Xi’s drive, but Su Xi had already made a stealthy pass to Foster.
Although Prince noticed and tried to rotate over, Foster’s dunk was too quick, and Su Xi’s pass had been too well-hidden.
Thus, the Pistons failed to achieve their tactical objective.
Strategically, however, they were seeing results.
Carlisle frowned, clearly irritated.
Watching Prince stick to Su Xi like glue, he felt a torrent of a thousand curses bubbling up inside him.
But this was a standard move for a traditional coach.
Popovich had learned these little tricks from Larry Brown and often used them to get under the skin of other coaches around the league.
CLANG!
Billups missed.
On the other end, Su Xi once again faced a full-court press from Prince. Carlisle had Artest co to half-court to help, and Su Xi used Artest’s screen to quickly race to the three-point line.
Finding himself open against the Pistons’ defense,
he took a quick shot with his left hand... CLANG! He missed.
Luckily, the ball bounced high off the rim. Reggie Miller slipped in, jumped up, and tipped the ball into the basket.
Scoring precious points for the Pacers.
After the play, the veteran Miller said to Su Xi, "Jack, if only you had my shot."
He sighed wistfully.
At that mont, Su Xi’s mind suddenly started buzzing.
He suddenly rembered sothing he had almost forgotten: Reggie Miller possessed a super acquired talent. His super acquired talent was: Super Catch-and-Shoot Three-Point Talent.
In other words, Reggie Miller was a super off-ball shooter, certified by the Little Elf.
Su Xi’s own off-ball shooting was diocre.
But he was the primary ball-handler, so he didn’t really get to use it much during gas.
’But if I had Reggie Miller’s super talent...’
’...would the Pistons still dare to press full-court like this?’
Wasting no ti, Su Xi asked Reggie Miller, "Reggie, would you be willing to give your super shot?"
Miller was stunned for a mont, not quite processing the question. "Jack," he said, "that’s sothing you have to work hard for in practice. A good shot cos from practice, though I know you already work very hard."
"I can give you so pointers."
...
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