The Best Point Guard-Chapter 100 - 27: [Is This Kid Telling Me What to Do?]

Chapter 100: Chapter 27: [Is This Kid Telling Me What to Do?]

Paul Silas clutched his head the moment Lindsey Hunter was knocked over.

He already knew from their daily practices that Su Xi was a monster. But seeing him send Lindsey Hunter flying like a steamroller crushing a watermelon still left him stunned.

Without a doubt, the two physical freaks of the 2003 draft class had both landed on his team.

Lindsey Hunter returned to the bench, and his teammates immediately crowded around him. "You okay? Is that Little Sheep Su Xi really that strong?"

Hunter rubbed the back of his head, feeling a faint numbness from the impact. "I just wasn’t set properly. I think I tweaked my back a little."

"Lindsey, I’ll get a block on him for you later," Prince said, sticking up for him.

"Ah... don’t." Lindsey Hunter recalled the terrifying feeling of being overpowered by Su Xi. Prince’s skinny frame couldn’t possibly withstand a charge from that beast of a sheep.

"Why not?" Prince asked.

"No... It’s just... he seems like a decent guy, actually," Lindsey Hunter said.

"Hahahaha. Lindsey, since when are you so charitable? Aren’t you supposed to be carrying on the legacy of the Bad Boys Legion?" Prince teased him.

Lindsey Hunter chuckled, remembering Su Xi’s sincere gaze. The more sincere the eyes, the more terrified he felt. Because back in the day, when the Bad Boys Legion’s number one villain, Lambier, was about to mess someone up, he would also sincerely ask, "Do you believe I’ll take you out?"

Larry Brown called a timeout. Although calling a timeout on the very first possession of the game was considered bad luck, this was just the preseason, after all.

He subbed in Chucky Atkins.

Atkins was officially listed at 5’11" and 190 lbs, a typical small, offense-oriented point guard. He was eager to shoot, but his shot selection was inconsistent. He had decent speed, but his finishing percentage in the paint was below average. He had always been a journeyman, a spark off the bench for various teams. He didn’t have much of a reputation in the NBA, his only claim to fame being the quote, "Kobe is the general manager." (A key talking point for Kobe haters.)

Atkins didn’t talk any trash to Su Xi when he came on. To him, playing in the NBA was just a job; there was no need to go all out.

True to form, he didn’t contribute much, as Su Xi completely smothered him.

After Su Xi’s Super Speed talent increased to 89, his speed was respectable. Combined with his 95-point Super Explosiveness, he completely locked down Atkins at the top of the arc.

Unable to get past him, Atkins just forced up a couple of shots. It didn’t matter if they went in; the important thing was to look like he was trying hard.

Atkins was a model employee in the NBA. On defense, he would always flail his arms around to look active, but opponents always blew past him with ease. Even average point guards could put up All-Star numbers against him. As a result, he got along great with his opponents; everyone praised him for being a "nice guy."

He was a bit like late-career Derek Fisher—all frantic energy and fierce looks on defense, until you blinked and his man had already scored.

Su Xi blew past him twice with no difficulty. It was like crossing an empty street in the early morning.

In the first quarter, Su Xi put up 5 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block.

Very versatile.

But the first quarter was LeBron James’s show. He rampaged on the wing, using his physicality to tear the opponents to shreds. The Pistons had no answer for him.

Paul Silas was getting a headache. His basketball philosophy came from Chuck Daly, and he was a student of traditional basketball.

In his mind, a shooting guard was just that—a shooter. Hamilton, Ray Allen, and Reggie Miller were pure shooting guards.

But ever since Jordan, shooting guards had been encroaching on the small forward’s role.

The small forward was supposed to be the team’s top athlete and best defender, a player who could dominate the area from the paint to the three-point line and break down the defense through sheer individual talent.

Silas had originally hoped LeBron James would become a top-tier swingman, like Kobe or Jordan. However, even with NBA positions becoming increasingly fluid, LeBron’s own positional sense was too erratic. He didn’t have a shooting guard’s jumper, nor did he have the elite offensive skills of a small forward to break down defenses on his own.

However, he was physically dominant. Once he got a head of steam, no one could stop him. Plus, he had decent passing ability and court vision.

’Am I supposed to have him play point guard?’

Silas was conflicted throughout the first quarter.

James had 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block in the first quarter. He had two spectacular dunks: one was an alley-oop assisted by Su Xi, and the other was a powerful slam after he drove to the basket and barreled through Milicic.

Based on the first quarter alone, Milicic wasn’t even in the same league as James and Su Xi among the rookies.

If James was a giant monster with a nebulous position, then Su Xi was a freakishly strong little beast playing the 1-spot, punishing opponents with mismatches.

Then Milicic was a little lost moose with beautiful antlers, stumbling through a briar patch. He couldn’t find his place at all, staggering around clumsily in the paint.

Larry Brown was chewing him out on the sideline, not even trying to hide it.

The kid hung his head dejectedly, looking like he was on the verge of tears.

Su Xi was actually a pretty good guy. After Milicic committed a blocking foul, he even said to him, "You’ve got quick feet, you need to use them. You’re pretty fast when you get moving."

To Milicic, those words were like a clear spring in the desert. They stayed in his heart forever, so much so that for the rest of his long career, he would remember the encouragement Su Xi gave him in his very first professional game.

With the Cavaliers up by 8 at the end of the first, Paul Silas decided to experiment.

He sent a winded Su Xi to the bench to rest and moved James to the point guard position, pairing him with Kevin Ollie, Ricky Davis, Carlos Boozer, and Ilgauskas.

This was a carefully designed lineup. He hoped that Kevin Ollie’s experience and fair-minded approach would help the team gel better.

Kevin Ollie had always been a locker-room leader. He was a great guy, and everyone trusted him.

However, this didn’t solve the problem between James and Ricky Davis. Although the two of them seemed friendly, once they were on the court, their chemistry was a mess.

Their incompatibility was plain to see.

When Ricky Davis had the ball, James just stood off to the side, doing nothing.

When James charged to the hoop, Davis didn’t know what to do, and his off-ball movement was sometimes ignored. James also preferred to work with Carlos Boozer and Ilgauskas.

Six minutes into the second quarter, the Pistons, on the back of strong play from Prince and Hamilton, retook the lead.

They were more experienced; they had made it to the Eastern Conference Finals last season under Carlisle.

Paul Silas called a timeout and made a decision. He had both LeBron James and Kevin Ollie sit down, putting Su Xi in at point guard alongside Jason Kapono.

At that moment, Ricky Davis piped up again, "Coach, you don’t need to draw up so many plays. Just give me the ball. Last season, there were only three superstars in the entire league who averaged 20, 5, and 5. One was Tracy McGrady, one was Kobe, and do you know who the other one was..."

Carlos Boozer turned away, and Su Xi saw him trying to hide a laugh.

He hadn’t wanted to laugh at first, but when you see someone turn away to hide a laugh, you can’t help but find it funny.

Su Xi covered his mouth and ducked his head, but muffled laughs escaped through his fingers.

"What are you laughing at?" Ricky Davis suddenly glared at Su Xi.

"Uh... I just remembered something funny," Su Xi replied.

PFFT!

Over on the side, Carlos Boozer burst out laughing. He didn’t even bother turning away this time.

Ricky Davis turned to look at Boozer. Ah Bu wiped the sweat from his brow. "I remembered something funny, too."

"Hahahaha."

Su Xi really couldn’t hold it in anymore.

Kapono started laughing, too.

The three of them shared the same sense of humor. Just last night at Boozer’s house, they had been roasting Ricky Davis for comparing himself to Tracy McGrady and Kobe. Boozer had said, "It’s like a 5’2" guy trying to take a 6’0" woman from behind while they’re both standing. How wide would he have to spread his legs?"

"Alright, stop laughing," Paul Silas said with authority. "Get serious. We’re in the middle of a game."

TWEET!

The whistle blew, and the game resumed.

As they took the court, Ricky Davis warned Su Xi again, "Remember to give me the damn ball, you hear me?"

"I play for the team. Run the play, get to your spot, and you’ll get the ball."

Su Xi shot back matter-of-factly.

This really irked Ricky Davis.

Sitting on the bench, however, James’s eyebrows shot up. He thought to himself, ’That’s my man Jack. Even though he got that huge sponsorship deal because he’s a player from China, he’s still dedicated to helping me, standing up to the tyrant Davis for me. Now I know how Cameron feels.’

Kapono inbounded the ball to Su Xi.

Su Xi brought the ball up the court, and Billups came up to guard him. Billups was an elite point guard in the NBA, known as "Mr. Big Shot." He had ice in his veins and a powerful frame.

He was considered a big point guard.

But as Su Xi approached, he was a hair taller than Billups.

Billups spread his arms, preparing to cut off Su Xi’s advance.

Su Xi executed a quick crossover. The moment he saw Billups’s center of gravity shift to the right, he exploded to the left.

But Billups recovered instantly... or rather, it was a trap.

Billups often baited opponents like this, luring them into his defensive swamp. His strength was enough to make most point guards think twice.

However... THUD!

Su Xi charged straight into him, their bodies colliding shoulder to shoulder.

Billups was immediately hit by a powerful force. His strong body was knocked backward, and Su Xi took the opportunity to squeeze past.

He quickly turned to pursue, but Su Xi had already woven an S-curve around Ilgauskas.

Milicic hurried over to provide help defense; his footwork was good.

At this moment, Davis was on the wing, calling for the ball.

Su Xi faked a pass his way, and Davis quickly reached out to receive it.

Milicic’s defense was completely faked out. But then Su Xi threw a bounce pass, and the ball cut into the paint from another angle. Carlos Boozer caught it, leaped up... BOOM!

A powerful dunk.

The crowd went wild.

It was a brilliant pass from Su Xi.

James jumped up, waving his towel. "Nice one! That’s Little Sheep Su Xi for you!"

Carlos Boozer also ran over and high-fived Su Xi.

But amidst the roar of the crowd, Ricky Davis was not happy.

He caught up to Su Xi as they ran back on defense. "Why didn’t you pass to me?"

"You didn’t run a route," Su Xi said.

"Then why’d you fake me out? You pretended to pass to me but gave the ball to Carlos." Ricky Davis was annoyed that he’d been fooled.

"If you’d taken two more steps forward, I would’ve passed it to you, and you would’ve been the one dunking."

Su Xi said, then walked to the other side of the court to wait for Billups.

Ricky Davis thought back to his position on that play. ’He’s right. If I had taken two more steps, I would have had a clear lane to the basket.’

’Wait, is this kid trying to tell me how to play?’

’Is a superstar who averages 20, 5, and 5 supposed to take orders from him?’

...