The Best Point Guard

"We’re currently assessing the impact of Zach Randolph’s absence. But those who are gloating had better shut their mouths, starting now."

Isaiah Thomas stepped forward to address the firestorm of public opinion, saying, "We’ll be keeping a close eye on anyone who underestimates us right now."

Thomas’s words carried weight.

Of course, the threat behind those words didn’t come from Thomas, but from the actual damage Su Xi and the Knicks had been inflicting for a very long time.

Su Xi was a dominant player, and he had proven time and time again that anyone who dared to challenge him would be put in their place.

Ever since he entered the NBA, no one who talked trash to his face had ever come out on top.

And just like that, the chatter died down considerably.

Everyone knew full well that provoking Su Xi was a dangerous game.

The Knicks pushed on.

Their record didn’t take a nosedive. In fact, Zach Randolph’s injury only spurred the Knicks to further unleash their run-and-gun offense.

The Knicks’ pace quickened, their offense grew more ferocious, and they played with an increasing disregard for conventional basketball.

Su Xi’s individual talent was also on full display, pushed to its absolute limits.

This turned the Knicks into a team that seemed to ’defy the laws of basketball.’

Meanwhile, another team in the East began to surge forward. The new-look Cavaliers, led by LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal, were radiating a powerful and intimidating presence.

Mike Brown really knew what he was doing. He got O’Neal’s weight down in a hurry, and O’Neal regained much of his dominance. His style of play was very complementary to James’s. James was more willing to pass than Kobe, and more willing to drive and kick out. Both of them were devastating forces in the paint. When they teamed up, they were like two sledgehammers, relentlessly pounding the opponent’s restricted area.

They kicked off a winning streak at the end of December and didn’t lose a single game in January. This run included tough wins against the Lakers in Los Angeles, the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, and the Pacers in Indiana.

Originally, the duo of Kobe and Yao Ming was considered the best inside-out combo in the league.

In fact, they also held the best record in the West.

Yao Ming and Kobe were also very complementary, but their synergy was different from the sledgehammer-like chemistry of O’Neal and James. Theirs was more finesse-based.

Less about brute force.

The showdown at Staples Center drew in over 4 million American households.

That number even surpassed the peak viewership of last year’s Finals.

It was easy to see how hyped up the game was in the United States.

Su Xi also watched the game on TV.

It was a sight to behold.

From both a tactical and a talent standpoint, it was one of the highest-level NBA games in recent years.

Giant versus giant, top-tier perimeter player versus top-tier perimeter player.

There was also the clash between two masters of the half-court offense: Phil Jackson and Mike Brown.

The Lakers led for the first three quarters. Kobe was absolutely brilliant; not only was he efficient on offense, but he also fed Yao Ming plenty of opportunities.

Yao Ming had the upper hand against O’Neal for the first three quarters.

But in the fourth quarter, James attacked relentlessly, forcing Yao Ming to the bench with fouls. Yao’s stamina was also severely tested.

Kobe carried the Lakers through the second half of the quarter.

Surprisingly, the game was ultimately decided by O’Neal’s free throws.

O’Neal sank four consecutive free throws down the stretch.

Kobe Bryant hit a clutch three-pointer to tie the game.

But at the very end, James drove to the basket for the game-winning layup.

It wasn’t a travel. He just stole half a step.

Though many Lakers players screamed "Travel!" at the time, and Lakers fans afterward were adamant that a bad call on James’s walk had ruined the game.

But the league showed no intention of changing the result, nor did it even bother to issue a statement about the officiating.

Su Xi didn’t think an explanation was necessary either.

’After all, they won’t overturn a game-winner on a blatant travel, let alone one where he just stole a step. Who knows, maybe the league will change the rules to allow stolen steps in the future.’

The game sent the American basketball world into a frenzy, with many claiming these two teams represented the pinnacle of the Eastern and Western Conferences.

This year’s NBA Finals would likely be a Cavaliers-Lakers showdown.

In fact, the league seemed to share this hope, and their promotional efforts were clearly fanning the flames.

After all, Su Xi had already won three straight championships, and the Knicks, aside from him, lacked other major stars who could generate sensational headlines.

But the inside-out duos of Kobe-Yao and James-O’Neal were, without a doubt, the most popular and buzzworthy pairings in the league. They were full of juicy storylines, and the league needed that kind of high-drama, trash-talk-fueled confrontation.

Su Xi sensed this shift in atmosphere. It was evident in the All-Star voting, where O’Neal’s numbers were beginning to surpass Zach Randolph’s.

Of course, Zach Randolph being sidelined was also a factor.

Isaiah Thomas was a bit anxious. He asked Su Xi, "Can we beat the Lakers and the Cavaliers?"

Su Xi retorted, "Didn’t we already beat the Lakers in the season opener? And we took them down at home on Christmas, too."

"Why are you even asking that?"

"The Lakers had just put their team together for the opener. And for the Christmas game, Kobe Bryant happened to be out with an injury," Isaiah Thomas answered.

Su Xi said, "A win is a win. There’s no need to qualify it."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!