SWISH!

SWISH!

Billups stepped up and sank two free throws in place of Prince.

On the other end, Wade was guarded by Lynx Hunter. Lynch was getting older, but his defense was still strong, and he effectively smothered Wade. After using a screen, Wade passed to Eddie Jones.

Eddie Jones was a former All-Star shooting guard; Kobe had even been his backup once.

But now... SMACK!

Billups stripped him.

Then Flounder sprinted down the court. He reached the frontcourt and, without a moment’s hesitation, pulled up from beyond the three-point line and shot... SWISH!

Three-pointer!

When Billups first entered the league, he’d gone through a "journeyman chucker" phase. Coaches didn’t like him, and he bounced from team to team.

But now, people preferred to call him: Mr. Big Shot!

ESPN was singing his praises.

But when the camera cut to Larry Brown, his expression was one of disbelief and exasperation, only then followed by delight.

Clearly, that jump shot was not part of Brown’s game plan.

The old hard-ass was a little displeased, but he was happy with the result.

He was under immense pressure this season. Just like all his players, he was desperate to lead the Pistons to their revenge.

He refused to be kept down by the Indiana Pacers.

Because when he’d left the Pacers, essentially swapping teams with Carlisle, no one had thought Carlisle would come out on top.

But now, Carlisle had won Coach of the Year.

If Su Xi hadn’t been named regular season MVP, Carlisle might not have lost out to D’Antoni for Coach of the Year, which would have given him back-to-back awards.

Larry Brown’s historical standing had declined after that "team swap," while Carlisle’s had risen.

Moreover, last season’s defeat still gnawed at him. He’d thought more than once: ’If time could be turned back, the Pistons definitely wouldn’t have lost. We would’ve beaten the Lakers and won the championship.’

So, he had to win!

The Heat’s struggles continued.

Wade drove to the basket, but without O’Neal drawing the defense’s attention, he was double-teamed. His floater went wide of the rim.

ESPN started criticizing him for playing too selfishly.

But Su Xi saw Stan Van Gundy on the sideline, clapping for Wade and encouraging him.

Stan Van Gundy might not have been a master tactician or great at in-game adjustments, but he was definitely a "player’s coach" who believed in his stars. Like his brother, he genuinely liked his players. No mind games.

"Wade just isn’t calm enough in the clutch."

As the ESPN experts sighed, Hamilton hit a whirlwind jump shot on the other end—another three-pointer, this time from the corner.

The lead was suddenly cut to just four points.

In the less than one minute O’Neal had been on the bench, the Pistons had scored eight points—two threes and two free throws.

The momentum had completely shifted.

A shift in favor of the Pistons, that is.

Even Larry Brown was smiling.

Stan Van Gundy called a timeout.

ESPN said Stan Van Gundy was a little late with that timeout call.

But Su Xi didn’t see it that way. ’Who could have predicted that after Billups hit that gamble of a three, Hamilton would sneak in another one right after?’

Now, ESPN was all but declaring that the Pistons would win.

Su Xi had to admit, the Pistons’ momentum was terrifying.

If the Pistons advanced, Indiana would breathe a sigh of relief.

For the Pacers, playing the Pistons was the easier matchup. It wasn’t that the Pistons weren’t strong, but that the Pacers had a wealth of experience beating them. They’d seen all the Pistons’ tricks and had ready-made counters for them.

The Miami Heat, however, were completely unpredictable.

Theoretically, Wade and O’Neal could form the most dominant duo in the entire league.

Facing them would be a greater challenge than facing the Pistons.

But personally, Su Xi wanted to face the Heat.

So he was hoping the Heat would win.

Especially a Heat team fresh off a grueling Game 7 against the Pistons; they’d be even stronger.

Su Xi wanted to defend the Pacers’ title and become a two-time champion. To him, being a champion meant defeating every strong opponent.

He’d already taken down the Pistons last year; beating them again felt pointless.

The Heat were the second-strongest team in the East, and the San Antonio Spurs were the strongest in the West.

Taking them down was the only way to get the sense of accomplishment he craved.

BZZZT!

The whistle blew, and the game resumed.

Unexpectedly, the Heat came out with the same strategy: Wade on the attack.

He sliced through the defensive line like lightning, driving into the paint without a hint of hesitation and going straight up for a layup.

Wade truly had the explosiveness of a lightning strike; his ability to penetrate and score was lethal.

’Su Xi even felt his ability to get to the rim and score was better than the current Iverson’s. After all, he was taller and more explosive. But Iverson’s mid-range jumper was steadier; Iverson was a natural-born scorer.’

CLANG!

Wade’s layup was just a bit off.

Just then, Moning soared up, grabbed the ball with both hands, and slammed it ferociously into the hoop.

Wade had drawn both of the Wallace Brothers away, leaving the space open for Moning to make a play.

Although Moning was old, he wasn’t about to pass up an easy bucket like that.

After the monster dunk, Moning flexed his muscles and let out a furious roar.

It was as if he were shouting, "The old warrior is still here!"

Without a doubt, Moning was a true iron man.

Even against the Wallace Brothers, he never showed a hint of weakness. His body was far from what it was in his prime, but he still met every challenge head-on with the fiercest resolve.

That’s just the kind of man he was.

He was like a spear that could only charge forward, never turning aside. The day that spear was shattered would be the day his career came to an end.

The game continued.

The Heat tightened up their defense.

Everyone knew this was the final push, the last few minutes of the game.

No one wanted their season to end here.

Both teams’ will to win surged to an unprecedented level.

This got Su Xi a little excited.

Because the team that emerged victorious from a battle like this would be a hardened, battle-tested squad.

And only a team like that could force the Pacers to play at their absolute best.

The Pistons came back down the court and drew a foul, with Hamilton getting Eddie Jones to commit it.

He hit both free throws.

Wade drove into the paint and scored.

The two teams traded baskets.

It was an incredible spectacle.

Wade, in particular, was playing like a man possessed. He relentlessly attacked the paint, constantly creating scoring opportunities.

He was causing the Pistons’ interior defense to collapse.

Even when he threw up a brainless brick, he never doubted himself. His pace only quickened, like a master assassin.

Wade was tough.

And he was fierce.

Stars from Chicago always had that kind of backbone. Better to take the hard road than the easy way out.

Su Xi found himself admiring Wade more and more. He believed that being tempered in the crucible of this series against the Pistons would truly elevate Wade to superstardom, perhaps even megastardom.

’That would make the Eastern Conference Finals much more interesting.’

The same experts who had been calling Wade selfish started to change their tune. They were now praising his leadership, his willingness to carry the team on his shoulders and take responsibility.

That was what a rookie player needed most.

Speaking of which, one commentator mentioned offhandedly, "A bit like what Little Lamb did in the clutch during last year’s Eastern Conference Finals..."

He didn’t finish the thought.

But everyone knew that the Pistons had lost last season to a guard from the 2003 draft class.

Now, another guard from the 2003 class was doing the same to them.

At this very moment, in a mansion in Cleveland, LeBron James was biting his nails, his feelings a tangled mess.

Watching his draft-class peers battling it out on the biggest stage, while he was stuck enjoying a boring offseason.

He was miserable. He wanted to be out there fighting too.

He wanted to be in the playoffs.

But... that seemed like a distant dream.

’When will it be my turn?’

seconds left in the game.

The Miami Heat were up by three.

Billups inbounded the ball and dribbled it past half-court. Everyone expected him to slow the pace or maybe force a quick attack, but he played with no regard for convention. As he approached the top of the arc... he suddenly pulled up, jumped... SWISH!

He hit the three.

Tie game.

With 23 seconds left on the clock.

The Pistons had left the Heat with one final possession.

It wasn’t a wise move.

But it was also the best of the bad options.

If the Heat failed to score on this possession, the game would go to overtime.

And in overtime, the Heat’s defeat was all but certain.

Su Xi thought so, too.

’But would Wade let it go to overtime?’

Even though he looked completely gassed.

’Come on.’

Su Xi was rooting for Wade.