Chapter 198 The Magic of Pennsylvania

In the 1980s, after acquiring the Lakers, Jerry Buss wanted to attract more fans to watch the games live...

In a way, Jerry Buss was also the man who changed the NBA's development.

Tonight, to add a festive touch to this Christmas battle, the Lakers cheerleaders, all dressed as "little reindeer," set the arena ablaze with just one hot dance.

And as the lights in the audience gradually dimmed...

The Staples Center's circular screen immediately displayed the starting lineups for both teams tonight.

Heat: O'Neal, Haslem, Ariza, Su Feng, Payton.

Lakers: Mihm, Milicic, Odom, Kobe, Atkins.

"Games at Staples always feel so different."

You can often find the above sentence in many players' memoirs.

Because after all the lights are completely focused on the rectangular court...

This Hollywood-esque feel, created through lighting and camera angles, not only makes the players competing on this court the absolute protagonists...

But also makes each player on the court feel a stronger desire to perform because of the surrounding environment.

At the center of the court...

Stepping onto this long-missed floor, before preparing to jump for the ball against Mihm, O'Neal subconsciously looked up at the VIP boxes at Staples Center.

If, a few months ago, O'Neal was still annoyed that the Lakers were unwilling to extend his contract early...

Then a few months later...

O'Neal really wanted to thank old Buss.

*Thwack!*

On the court, O'Neal easily won the jump ball.

As the famous coach who led the Rockets to sweep the Magic in the Finals, tonight, Tomjanovich, who knew O'Neal inside and out, did not foolishly let Milicic match up against O'Neal.

This season, Milicic, who has gained weight up to 110 kilograms, looks much stronger than last season.

But compared to O'Neal...

*Hiss—!*

Let's talk about something else.

On the court, the Heat launched their first attack.

As soon as Su Feng crossed the mid-court line, Kobe entangled him tightly.

In today's league, there are not many players who can receive Kobe's "love-strong-as-gold-seven-day-lock" treatment.

And Su Feng...

At this moment, he was definitely enjoying the supreme VIP service from Los Angeles' number 8 technician.

At the top of the arc, Payton couldn't pass the ball to Su Feng right away.

At Su Feng's signal, Ariza helped him with a handoff.

In the low post, the utility player Mihm successfully held off O'Neal's first wave of positioning.

Seeing this, and realizing that the Lakers were playing a zone defense right from the start, O'Neal simply chose to join Su Feng and Kobe's fencing match.

*Bang!*

On the wing, Kobe visibly faltered when he collided with O'Neal's wall of flesh.

And this hesitation...

Also allowed Su Feng to successfully disappear from Kobe's sight with O'Neal's screen.

On the other side, Ariza quickly passed the ball to Su Feng.

And although Odom immediately rotated over to defend Su Feng, when Su Feng set up his artillery...

The only thing that could stop him...

Was himself.

Whether it was the height above the ground after the jump, or the horizontal line formed by his body and the basket, or the friction between his fingertips and the ball when he flicked it...

Su Feng was like a textbook.

*Swish!*

The Lakers' basket couldn't refuse such an elegant shot.

3 to 0.

"Do you know that you are currently standing in front of the greatest scorer in NBA history?" Su Feng asked, looking at Kobe after scoring.

On the court, before Kobe could counter with a question mark, Su Feng continued, "Since you know, why did you dare to be distracted just now?"

Kobe: "..."

Although Kobe didn't quite agree with the first half of Su Feng's statement.

But Kobe knew that he had indeed been distracted just now.

The Lakers' offensive possession.

After Atkins dribbled the ball across half court and passed it to Kobe, Kobe was first stunned, then startled.

"???"

Why did you arrange for this kid to guard me tonight?

At this moment, looking at Ariza standing in front of him...

How much he had been looking forward to this Christmas battle tonight...

That's how disappointed Kobe was at this moment.

Su Thief!

Are you unwilling to guard me personally now?

On the court, Su Feng, noticing the change in Kobe's facial expression, felt that Kobe had some misunderstanding about this game.

Because since Ariza's role in the Heat was that of a defensive utility player...

Then wasn't his role to take the blame for Su Feng at this time?

Doing everything personally?

Wake up...

That's something only a second-in-command would do.

As the top boss of this Heat team, how to help the Heat win the game more smoothly was Su Feng's primary task.

You know, on weekdays, Su Feng had spent a lot of time practicing with Ariza after training to help him grow quickly.

In Su Feng's view, it didn't matter even if Ariza couldn't defend Kobe.

Because players like Kobe could never be completely shut down.

On the right wing, Kobe, filled with anger, was like a young wife who had just learned that her man had cheated on her...

After gently feinting to the left, he immediately turned to the right and completely disoriented Ariza with a set of gorgeous moves.

*Swish!*

The Heat's basket couldn't refuse such a handsome combination of moves.

3 to 3.

"Do you know that you are currently standing in front of the most capable scorer in this league?" Kobe asked, looking at Su Feng with a resentful expression after scoring.

On the court, before Su Feng could counter with a question mark, Kobe continued, "Since you know, why do you dare to let others guard me?"

Su Feng: "..."

As he stepped towards the Lakers' half, looking at Kobe, Su Feng said, "The most capable scorer you just mentioned...

Are you referring to the time when you scored 83 points the night before, and I surpassed it a few days later?"

"That night, your opponent was not as valuable as mine," Kobe quickly retorted.

"Seriously... isn't Tracy stronger than Vince?" Su Feng countered, looking at Kobe's attempt to argue.

"But Vince is Tracy's cousin, thank you," Kobe said.

Su Feng: "..."

What you said makes so much sense that I'm speechless.

"Then what if I accidentally surpass your 83 points again when I play against the Raptors next time?" Su Feng asked.

"There are no ifs. Because I will definitely surpass your 88 points first when I play against the Suns," Kobe replied.

(McGrady, Carter: ?)

On the court, fortunately, the fans only thought that Su Feng and Kobe were trash-talking each other.

Otherwise...

If people knew that their conversation was so childish...

Then the Feng fans and Kobe fans would probably feel like they were supporting idiots.

The Heat's offensive possession.

In the low post, Mihm failed to block the position in advance like he did just now.

After bumping Mihm away with his butt, O'Neal turned around and dunked!

5 to 3.

After landing, while smugly tilting his small mouth, O'Neal didn't forget to vent his resentment towards this arena with his swaggering steps.

Did you see it!

You ignorant Lakers fans!

This is Shaquille O'Neal's unparalleled dominance!

Just asking...

Who else!?

*Bang, swish!*

On the court, the Lakers quickly pushed the transition, and after receiving Kobe's pass, Milicic nimbly bypassed Haslem on the outside and gracefully put the ball into the basket with both hands.

In the stands, looking at Milicic's handsome face that could captivate thousands of girls, the Lakers fans erupted in deafening cheers.

Even at the edge of the court, a group of Milicic's brain-dead fans were shouting, "Darko, Darko, you're the handsomest!"

O'Neal: "..."

Seriously...

Could this soft, two-handed layup...

Be more exciting to watch than my dunk?

On the court, Su Feng, seeing that O'Neal had been stabbed again, said to him during the attack, "Shaq, do you know why I think Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is only worthy of shining your shoes?"

Looking down at Su Feng, O'Neal swore that he was definitely not showing that curious expression because he wanted to hear Su Feng praise him.

He just...

Just wanted to know why Su Feng thought so.

"Because, you never care about what others think of you.

You just be yourself," Su Feng said, patting O'Neal on the back without blushing or skipping a beat.

And hearing this...

The corners of O'Neal's mouth instantly turned up.

So, that's why O'Neal was willing to be Su Feng's Pippen for the rest of his life?

Look at Su Feng's mouth!

Tsk!

On the court, the Heat had possession.

O'Neal, who had been praised by Su Feng and was overjoyed, was full of energy even when screening for Su Feng.

And this time, although Kobe successfully bypassed O'Neal's screen for Su Feng by anticipating it in advance...

But Kobe was quite dissatisfied with Su Feng's behavior of constantly shaking people to interfere with a true man's one-on-one battle.

"Can't you play basketball without a screen now?" Kobe questioned, looking at Su Feng.

At that moment, what Kobe never expected was...

Haslem had actually also circled to the high post to screen for Su Feng!

*Swish!*

A little to the left of the top of the arc, after dribbling out of Kobe's defensive zone, Su Feng made another pull-up three-pointer!

8 to 5.

After scoring, looking at Kobe, Su Feng answered Kobe's question just now, "I'm just finding an excuse for you in advance for not being able to defend me."

Kobe: "..."

"After all, if I easily get past you, wouldn't that be embarrassing for you to say?" Su Feng added, after pausing and looking at Kobe, who had been successfully stabbed.

On the court, the Lakers' possession.

Stimulated by Su Feng, Kobe played the triangle offense with Odom and Milicic.

And in front of the TV, the Heat fans always felt like they had seen this scene somewhere...

In the low post, after Kobe leaned on Ariza, Odom quickly cut to the basket and scored a layup after receiving Kobe's pass.

The reason why the Lakers' record this season could exceed old Buss's expectations...

A big part of the reason was because Milicic and Odom could seamlessly integrate into this Lakers' tactical system.

Su Feng never thought that Kobe's ability to judge the game would be much worse than his.

Because if his basketball IQ was not high, then Kobe simply wouldn't be able to play the triangle offense.

In Su Feng's original timeline, there was a classic saying to describe Kobe: "If you pass the ball, it will be a sunny day."

This season, although Kobe preferred to remove his pass button most of the time...

Milicic and Odom were exceptions.

The former, relying on his diligence, won Kobe's respect.

As for the latter, he used the "well-behaved" (guaiqiao) he learned from following Su Feng...

And became Kobe's right-hand man in the new season.

As for the other Lakers players...

Hey!

Since they were other Lakers players, were they worthy of receiving Kobe's passes?

Just like on the Heat's side, Payton was often deprived of his dribbling rights by Su Feng.

On the court, in order to avoid being delayed by Kobe when receiving the ball after crossing half court, thereby delaying the team's offensive time, this time, as O'Neal turned to walk towards the baseline, Su Feng had already reached out to Payton, signaling that this glove could go play on the side.

With Ariza helping to defend Kobe, Su Feng didn't need to worry about his stamina.

Therefore, even if Kobe tried to consume Su Feng with a full-court press, Su Feng could rest assured and boldly play with Kobe.

However...

In today's league, Su Feng thought that only a few players, such as Kobe, could force him to protect the ball with his back to the basket after crossing half court.

This was a skill that Su Feng learned from Jordan when he was still being beaten by the "Old Rogue."

It seemed ordinary...

But it was just for saving effort.

As a player who was selected into the NBA All-Defensive First Team for many years during his peak, this season, after further reducing his weight, even Su Feng had to be wary of Kobe's lateral movement ability.

And facing Su Feng's cheating-like dribbling skills...

Kobe also decisively gave up the idea of stealing the ball directly from his hands.

Because Su Feng's shoulders were too wide.

When he was with his back to the basket, it was impossible for you to bypass his ball protection range to steal the ball.

In the later stages of his career, the reason why the "Old Rogue" could still maintain an extremely low turnover rate was because his physical build was as rule-breaking as Su Feng's.

However, because when a player was in a back-to-the-basket state, his field of vision could not be as wide as when facing the basket...

This time, the resourceful Odom also quietly circled over from the other side.

In front of the TV, the Heat fans hated that they couldn't remind Su Feng.

Because last season, in the game against the Celtics, Odom had contributed a similar steal!

And at the scene, nearly 20,000 Lakers fans held their breath!

*Boom—!*

However...

Just as Odom's fingertips were about to touch the ball, who would have thought that Su Feng would keenly slam the ball hard against the floor with one hand!

And, in that instant, after pulling the ball and turning in the opposite direction...

Su Feng also bypassed Odom and Kobe at the same time!

Kobe, who collided with Odom who was helping with the defense, could not stop Su Feng's breakthrough in the first time.

In the Lakers' half, the Heat instantly formed a five-on-three situation!

Due to the pressure brought by Su Feng's two consecutive three-pointers, Mihm and Milicic almost simultaneously pounced on the high post.

And this time, O'Neal was happy.

After receiving Su Feng's wonderful pass, O'Neal jumped up and once again staged a powerful two-handed dunk under the Lakers' basket!

"When did he know that I was circling behind him?" On the court, looking at Su Feng who was celebrating with O'Neal, Odom was stunned.

"Intuition, his intuition has always been very accurate." Hearing this, Kobe, recalling the times when he used to play one-on-one with Su Feng, said after thinking for a while, Su Feng could often inexplicably dodge his steals.

Intuition...

Intuition!?

"But compared to that time, his dribbling is indeed much better.

Because in those years, even if he anticipated that I would steal his ball, he didn't have time to react," Kobe added after a pause.

On the other side, after celebrating with Su Feng, O'Neal also asked Su Feng a question.

"You held back in the last game, right?" O'Neal said, looking down at Su Feng.

Su Feng nodded with a smile.

On the evening of the 23rd, in the game against the Kings, Su Feng only got 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists.

On the one hand, it was because Ginobili was in too good a state in that game, and he couldn't get many assist data from Ginobili, so Su Feng played a game with relatively poor data in recent years.

On the other hand, it was to prepare for this game against the Lakers.

Although Su Feng couldn't possibly have the same state as when he played against the Suns every night...

But as a veteran who had already played for 8 and a half seasons...

Who said Su Feng couldn't accumulate energy by pretending to be dead?

Staples Center, in the first six minutes of the first quarter, the Heat led 18 to 13.

And it was worth mentioning that of the first 18 points the Heat scored in the first quarter tonight, 14 points were directly related to Su Feng.

At the edge of the court, Tomjanovich, who had been plagued by health problems in recent years, felt that his chest was starting to hurt.

Because even with Kobe's defense being the best it could be...

The Lakers still couldn't do anything about Su Feng.

"Do you know what the most terrifying thing about Su is now?" Tomjanovich asked, turning to look at his assistant as they entered the official timeout.

"That is, he can not only help the people who play with him improve a level...

At the same time, when cooperating with higher-level players, his threat level on the court will also increase by one level," Tomjanovich said with a helpless expression, patting his assistant's shoulder.

And hearing this...

The young Lakers' first assistant coach always felt that Tomjanovich was talking nonsense...

Because in basketball, wasn't this a common rule?

"Do you think it's easy to do all of this?" Tomjanovich said to his assistant, seeing what he was thinking.

And this time...

The young Lakers' first assistant coach was immediately embarrassed.

So, that's why a famous coach is a famous coach, because they can see things that ordinary people can't see?

In basketball, it's really not that the stronger your star player is, the more your other players can follow him and have a good time.

And, when some superstar encounters teammates who are incompatible with him, he may even perform worse than before.

Therefore, when many teams build around superstar players, they will choose players with certain special skills to match them according to their style and characteristics.

But in Tomjanovich's view...

Today's Su Feng has gradually transcended all basketball tactics and systems.

No matter which team you put him on...

Tomjanovich believed that that team would gradually become his shape.

And this...

In Tomjanovich's view, was very terrifying.

On the court, after the official timeout, both the Heat and the Lakers made personnel adjustments.

On the Lakers' side, Mihm, who had received two fouls, was replaced by Medvedenko.

On the Heat's side, Ginobili and Alston replaced Ariza and Payton respectively.

"In your opinion, is it possible for Kobe to evolve to Su's current level?" Tomjanovich's assistant asked curiously after Kobe led his teammates back onto the court.

On the sidelines, after first nodding, then shaking his head, and then nodding again, Tomjanovich said, "Actually... Kobe once reached that level too.

Before choosing to coach the Lakers, in order to better understand Kobe, I watched a lot of his games in high school.

At that time, although he was still slightly immature in technique, he was better in terms of overall situation than he is now.

I can't tell you whether Kobe's transformation today is good or bad.

But through my conversations with him, I can be very sure that...

If one day, you and I can see Su and Kobe wearing the same team's jersey and competing on the court, then Kobe at that time will definitely be a hundred times stronger than he is now."

"Su and Kobe wearing the same team's jersey... Is that really possible?" Tomjanovich's assistant asked.

"That's not something you and I should be considering, my dear old friend." After looking up at the Lakers' VIP box, Tomjanovich refocused his attention on the court.

Staples Center.

After Ariza was substituted, on the court, the thing that infuriated Kobe happened again.

Because...

On the Heat's side...

Su Feng was still defending Odom!

Seriously...

Do you really think this Argentinian can defend me?

On the court, after passing Ginobili like he was crossing the street in the early morning, Kobe completed the finish with a one-handed tomahawk dunk.

18 to 15.

"He looks like he's already angry." O'Neal said, looking at Kobe who was still cursing as he retreated.

"It's okay, he used to be like this when he was playing one-on-one with me." Su Feng replied, looking up at O'Neal.

"I'm curious, how do you two usually get along? Because when I get along with him, I can't do it like you," O'Neal asked curiously.

How to get along with Kobe?

To be honest...

Su Feng didn't know how he managed to make Kobe become his shape.

Su Feng still remembered that back in Lower Merion, all his teammates were afraid of Kobe.

But from the first day he met Kobe...

Su Feng had never been afraid of Kobe's death stare.

Just like in many people's eyes...

Little Zhan Zhan was a very good self-promoter.

But in Su Feng's eyes...

Wasn't that little Zhan Zhan his little brother?

On the court, looking at Kobe's expression that he wanted to tear him apart...

Su Feng didn't know how others would respond to such Kobe.

But at this moment, Su Feng waved his hand at Kobe as he opened his palm, and didn't forget to say to Kobe, "You don't think I'll be afraid of you just because your eyes have become fierce, do you?"

On the wing, after receiving the pass from Alston, Su Feng, holding the ball in one hand, gently shook the ball and deceived Kobe's center of gravity.

On the surface, Su Feng got past him easily.

But in that instant, Su Feng made at least four feints.

Eyes.

Shoulders.

The shake when grabbing the ball.

Footwork when releasing the ball.

*Swish!*

One step inside the three-point line, Su Feng pulled up and hit a jumper after shaking Kobe.

On the court, looking at Su Feng's shaking his head after scoring, Kobe knew that this guy was clearly showing off his big hands!

Damn those big hands!

Is it great to have big hands?

The Lakers had possession.

On the wing, after getting the ball, Kobe also held the ball up with his right hand.

In fact, even if his hands were smaller, Kobe's hands were far bigger than those of ordinary people.

Of course...

If you wanted to see Kobe do the single-handed ball-handling feints that McGrady and Su Feng often did...

Then you could probably only do it by adjusting the model parameters in 2K.

*Boom!*

One step inside the three-point line on the left wing, after lightly tapping the ball and taking a step, Kobe's pull-up jumper also went in!

On the court, after adding two more points for the Lakers, Kobe's smug little eyes seemed to be saying to Su Feng:

I can do what you can do too.

And in the rest of the first quarter...

If Su Feng scored...

Then Kobe would definitely return the favor on the next possession.

And if Su Feng chose to pass...

Then Kobe would definitely connect the team through assists.

CCTV, seeing this scene, Director Zhang laughed: "Today's game is good-looking...

Kobe seems to be going up against Su Feng!"

Going up...

Going up against?

Well, at this moment, Su Feng couldn't hear Director Zhang's commentary.

Otherwise, Su Feng would definitely tell Director Zhang...

Kobe was purely sulking with him!

You said that this guy is going to be 27 years old next August...

Isn't that childish?

On the Heat's bench, at the end of the first quarter, looking at Su Feng, who had completely controlled Kobe, O'Neal felt that he had realized something.

Because in O'Neal's view...

Wasn't he, who used to sulk with Kobe, as childish as Kobe was now?

On the court, the score for the two teams at the end of the first quarter was 34 to 27.

In the second quarter, Su Feng didn't rest.

On the Lakers' side, Tomjanovich also left Kobe on the court.

As a result, just when Kobe thought that in this period of time when he and Su Feng were leading the substitutes separately, Su Feng should personally defend him...

What made him feel particularly stabbed was...

The player responsible for guarding him...

Was still Ginobili!

"Sure enough, in this league, only Su understands Kobe." On the sidelines, O'Neal, who had returned to the bench to rest, said with emotion.

On the side, Payton asked with a curious expression, "Where did you see that, Shaq?"

"Do you know why Su hasn't been personally defending Kobe tonight?" O'Neal asked rhetorically.

"Isn't it because... this can help Su save his stamina?" Payton replied.

"That's only one of the reasons, man, with Su's animal-like stamina, you don't think he can't continue to maintain his offensive touch while defending Kobe, do you?" O'Neal laughed.

"Then... what's the reason?" Payton felt that he had been confused by O'Neal.

"He's deliberately angering Kobe," O'Neal said.

"Back then, Kobe and I were played by him like that," O'Neal added, after pausing and looking at Payton, who was still confused.

In basketball, no matter how many friends you encounter, in Su Feng's view, going all out is the greatest respect for them.

Because the saying that friendship comes first is in the NBA, a martial world where people eat people and don't spit out bones...

Only fools would believe it.

Therefore, messing with the mentality was also a common routine that Su Feng often used on the court.

Take the lie that you should never anger Jordan in the NBA...

If Jordan was really angered, then how could he calmly educate those young players who mocked him in the following games?

In basketball, the angrier you are, the more likely you are to play out of your head.

Therefore, when Kobe thought he was messing with Su Feng's mentality, how could he have imagined that his mentality had already been influenced by Su Feng without him knowing?

To be honest.

Since the "Old Rogue" retired from the martial world...

In terms of messing with the mentality, Su Feng had really never met an opponent.

In the first half of the second quarter, Kobe, who was still sulking with Su Feng, was always able to respond to Su Feng, but on the sidelines, Tomjanovich, as a master of psychological counseling, noticed something was wrong.

Clearly, this was a game that made the fans in the arena and in front of the TV cheer and applaud, with back-and-forth action...

But...

*Clang!*

*Clang!*

*Clang!*

On the court, when Kobe's touch began to decline as his stamina declined, and he could no longer respond to Su Feng...

Kobe's style of play was obviously becoming more impatient.

On the Heat's side, Su Feng, who was in a state of high concentration, created opportunities for other Heat players through his gravity.

"I don't understand... with Manu's defense, he should be able to get past him easily, right?" Payton said to O'Neal on the Heat's bench.

"That's right, but... do you remember the last time Su made a three-pointer?" O'Neal said, patting Payton's shoulder.

"So... he has to make a three-pointer back?" Payton said with a wry smile.

O'Neal nodded.

"Well, that's definitely his style." On the sidelines, Payton, recalling his experiences with the Lakers last year, suddenly felt relieved after sighing.

In Su Feng's original timeline.

Theoretically, both the periods from 2002 to 2007 and from 2007 to 2010 could be considered Kobe's peak.

And in the stage from 2002 to 2007...

In addition to being criticized by the media for not passing the ball, and then only passing the ball in the next game, Kobe's sulking behavior on the court was actually mostly betting against himself.

In comparison, in the stage from 2007 to 2010...

Although Kobe would also sulk...

But it was obvious that he had reconciled with himself at this time.

And in this life, as of now, Kobe's growth experience can be roughly divided into three stages.

In the first stage, because someone debuted at his peak...

Affected by the strong stimulation brought by someone, Kobe also started to practice hard day and night, and quickly grew into the little brother that O'Neal called all-powerful.

In the second stage, because McGrady and others successively grew into the top bosses of their respective teams, in order to prove himself, coupled with the DNA that was gradually awakened by the Zen Master...

After logging out of the "Pennsylvania Magician" account, Kobe officially logged into his "Black Mamba" account.

And now...

Without a doubt, Kobe was in his third stage.

That is, after "Shaq's Eastern Tour", after truly gaining "unlimited firepower", he, who became the top boss of the Lakers, wanted to prove through his performance on the court that he was not worse than any player in this league.

Therefore, tonight, when Su Feng could still do whatever he wanted in front of the Lakers' defense, under his defense...

Kobe was probably didn't notice...

His increasingly anxious expression.

And if Su Feng's growth experience was also divided into three stages...

Then you could obviously find out...

The current Su Feng no longer cared as much about the gains and losses of one city or one pool.

As the saying goes, seeing a mountain is not a mountain, seeing a mountain is still a mountain...

In fact, O'Neal didn't know that the reason why Su Feng didn't come up to personally defend Kobe tonight...

Was because...

Su Feng really trusted Ariza and Ginobili.

Basketball is still a sport that has to be played by five people after all.

This season, the reason why Su Feng could often give people the impression that he could take on opponents alone...

Was due to...

After experiencing last season's failure, he knew the limits of his personal on-court performance.

Therefore, when one-protect-four became four-protect-one, Su Feng would naturally give people the feeling that he had become stronger again.

Staples Center, after the Heat took advantage of the situation to launch a 13-to-2 run, Tomjanovich requested a timeout.

When Kobe, whose emotions were becoming increasingly irritable, returned to the bench, the Lakers players on the bench instantly felt as if they had traveled to the Arctic.

At this time, Tomjanovich knew that he had to say something to Kobe.

Back then, since he, Tomjanovich, could kill the entire league with a sentence of "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"...

Then tonight, solving Kobe's little troubles was not a sure thing?

Uh...

It didn't seem to be.

On the sidelines, looking at Kobe covering his head with a towel, not saying a word, for a moment, Tomjanovich thought of several sets of words in his heart, but he gave them all up when he was about to speak.

This was definitely the most embarrassing timeout Tomjanovich had ever experienced in his life.

Because when the referee reminded him that the timeout was about to end, Tomjanovich didn't even say a word to the players.

However...

Chicken soup for the soul...

Sometimes what is needed is precisely this kind of inspiration that suddenly pops up.

On the sidelines, when Kobe was about to get up and return to the court, Tomjanovich looked at Kobe and slowly said, "Do you know the difference between you and Su?"

Hearing this, Kobe stopped and turned to look at Tomjanovich.

"Because...

You are Kobe Bryant."

In that instant when he looked into Kobe's eyes, Tomjanovich uttered a sentence that directly broke through Kobe's mental defenses.

Because you are Kobe Bryant.

In Su Feng's previous life, things that Kobe should have gone through a lot to figure out will no longer be Kobe's shackles at this moment.

Maybe after tonight...

Kobe will still need to go through his own experiences to figure out these things.

But at least on this night...

Kobe understood.

Tomjanovich.

A legendary coach who inspired a whole generation in the 90s with one sentence.

In Su Feng's original timeline, although Tomjanovich also coached this Lakers team for a period of time.

But due to health reasons, he quickly faded out of the league.

Of course, the main reason why Kobe was touched by Tomjanovich's sentence...

Was because...

This Kobe, had a precious memory that the Kobe of Su Feng's previous life did not have.

There was a famous saying in *Let the Bullets Fly* called "It's very important to me without you."

And for Kobe, it was:

"It's very important to him to have Su Feng."

I am me.

Su Feng is Su Feng.

Speaking of which, I taught this guy how to play basketball...

So...

Why should I follow his rhythm and respond to him?

At this moment, after his thoughts were hooked back to the glorious years of Lower Merion by Tomjanovich's sentence...

Kobe smiled.

And on the court, on the other side, when Su Feng noticed this change in Kobe's expression...

"Manu, next, leave Kobe to me." Looking at Ginobili, Su Feng smiled.

"Why don't I do it? Because he's been playing pretty well lately..."

"No, leave it to me.

Because next, the Kobe you're about to see will be beyond your comprehension.

You guys...

Are not his opponents."

After waving his hand at Ginobili, Su Feng said.

And looking at Su Feng's solemn expression...

Ginobili didn't look for trouble anymore.

Because he knew that when Su Feng got serious, Su Feng never joked with people.

Just...

On the basketball court, could a player really undergo earth-shattering changes in strength after a timeout?

The answer...

Was of course no.

But...

This Kobe, originally had that kind of strength.

Because of Su Feng's appearance, these stars of his era could no longer be viewed with the eyes of his previous life.

Take the game against the Suns before...

At that time, Tracy's younger brother showed his leadership temperament on the court...

And last season, Iverson, who trusted Yao Ming...

In the past two years, other than Carter who was still that Carter...

The martial world was no longer the martial world in Su Feng's memory.

Staples Center, Lakers' attack.

At the scene, when the Lakers fans noticed that Su Feng took the initiative to match up with Kobe for the first time tonight, the elderly Lakers fans felt that Su Feng was too hateful!

Because wasn't this clearly taking advantage of his illness to kill him?

However...

The Lakers fans who said this might not believe it...

Since Jordan retired, this was the first time Su Feng had felt that kind of pressure from an opponent when he was playing against a player in a game.

*Boom!*

On the court, when Kobe raised his right wrist on the wing, Su Feng hesitated for a rare moment.

Was it a pass?

Was it a shot?

Or?

No...

This was...

————"Sam Gold"!

On the wing, relying on his strong ability to readjust his center of gravity, Su Feng successfully stopped Kobe's breakthrough with a sliding step.

But at that moment, a scene that no fan in the arena or in front of the TV, including Su Feng, expected appeared...

On the court, Kobe, as if performing magic, forcibly changed the trajectory of the basketball through his elbow at the moment when he wrapped the ball behind his back!

In the restricted area...

When Milicic inexplicably received Kobe's pass...

Not only him...

Even Mourning, who was