Chapter 610: [Predicting Your Prediction, Winning Streak!]

Chapter 610: Chapter 96: [Predicting Your Prediction, Winning Streak!]

Su Xi indulged Kobe’s obsession.

He went one-on-one with Kobe in the third quarter.

Kobe’s offensive skill was on a higher level; that was an indisputable fact.

However, the gap between them wasn’t enormous.

Kobe was very focused on passing, so his scoring in the third quarter didn’t surpass Su Xi’s.

In fact, after the third quarter, Su Xi had 24 points, while Kobe’s total was only 22.

Su Xi was up by 2 points.

The Knicks also maintained their lead. Although Su Xi had increased the frequency of his one-on-one plays in the third quarter, he wasn’t playing the kind of stubborn, go-it-alone isolation ball of a younger Kobe.

The Knicks entered the fourth quarter with a 6-point lead.

Once the fourth quarter began, the Lakers quickly increased their usage of Yao Ming.

Yao Ming had barely used any energy in the third quarter. This was the Lakers’ open strategy; they wanted to unleash Yao’s full offensive power in the fourth.

If Kobe could bait the Knicks into Su Xi’s isolation mode again in the fourth, the Lakers’ chances of winning would be very high.

And in fact, they got their wish.

Yao Ming unleashed a powerful offensive barrage, and Kobe Bryant continuously fed him the ball.

At this point, the Knicks’ offense began to run into some problems.

The Lakers slowly closed the gap and seized the momentum.

Su Xi started trying to facilitate for the team, while his teammates were trying to set him up for better one-on-one plays.

They all had good intentions for each other, but it just made their play convoluted.

With 3 minutes left, the Lakers took the lead.

Kobe now had 31 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds—he had put up a Su Xi-esque stat line.

Su Xi, on the other hand, only had 28 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds.

Although it was still an impressive stat line, it couldn’t hide the fact that he was being outplayed by Kobe in this game.

BZZT!

The Knicks called a timeout. Amidst the frenzied cheers filling the Staples Center, they had to make a decision.

Even though they were only down by 1 point, it felt like the Lakers already had victory in their grasp.

Because the Lakers had truly seized the momentum.

If the game continued at this pace, the Knicks’ deficit would only grow.

The TNT cameras panned across the Knicks’ bench.

What they saw was bewilderment.

This was a look rarely seen on the Knicks.

Meanwhile, O’Neal was speaking in the commentary booth: “This is the classic weakness of a team like the Knicks. They always want to run a balanced offense, get every player involved, and create a fluid advantage across all five positions. But the playoffs aren’t the regular season, and the Finals aren’t the regular playoffs. In the Finals, you have to have a go-to guy. You have to establish a strong point of attack to win.”

“I can say with certainty that the Lakers have this game won. And, looking at this series, the Lakers have found the secret to victory!”

O’Neal declared with absolute confidence.

He had great faith in the Lakers, great faith in Kobe, and even great faith in Yao Ming.

Because he didn’t want the Knicks to win, and he especially didn’t want Su Xi to win.

He was finally getting to gloat on television.

For the first time during tonight’s broadcast, he was finally getting the better of Barkley and Smith.

At the same time, Su Xi said on the bench, “Give me the ball. You guys spread the floor for me.”

He was this team’s leader, their captain.

At a time like this, only he could shoulder the team’s responsibility.

Even if they failed, the burden would be his to bear.

He had always wanted to control the game in a smarter way, but he never expected his teammates were also trying to set him up for glory.

He admitted he’d been intimidated by the numbers. He felt fear. ‘A 97 needs more than just brute force to beat a 99; it requires intelligence.’

But now, he had to make the unintelligent decision: just go for it! Take them head-on!

And when Su Xi said those words in a calm voice, the entire bench was galvanized. Everyone’s eyes became steady and focused.

Because Su Xi had decided to take over.

When Su Xi no longer hesitated, there could be no hesitation left in the team.

BZZT!

The whistle blew.

The game resumed.

The Knicks sent out a lineup of Su Xi, Ariza, Jackson, Zach Randolph, and Milicic.

Su Xi received the ball at half-court and brought it to the top of the arc, with Kobe shadowing his every move on defense.

Su Xi suddenly exploded forward, unleashing his full burst of speed and darting towards the basket like a lightning bolt.

Kobe scrambled to backpedal, but in the instant he retreated, Su Xi came to a screeching halt, stepped back, and shot a three… CLANG!

The ball didn’t go in.

Kobe jumped, startled.

But the next second, Randolph leaped up, pushed past Odom, and tipped the ball into the hoop. Randolph was showing off his moves.

He was a hidden gem of a rebounder.

“Jack, that’s how you do it! I told you, you’re better at assisting my rebounds than you are at getting actual assists,” Randolph said.

So arrogant.

But the Knicks had retaken the lead.

On the next play, Kobe went one-on-one against Su Xi, sinking a turnaround jumper.

After the shot, he smugly blew on his fingertips.

This sent the Staples Center into a frenzy.

But on the other end, Su Xi drove straight for the restricted area. He accelerated all the way, exploded upwards in the paint, forcefully knocked away the help defender Odom, and slammed the ball into the basket.

Absolutely dominant!

“And one!”

Su Xi yelled at the referee.

But the referee didn’t call the foul.

This was the Lakers’ home court, after all.

The game continued.

Kobe assisted on a basket by Yao Ming.

He then trash-talked Su Xi: “Jack, if you’ve got the guts, stop driving. Come on, let’s go at it in the mid-range.”

Su Xi shot back, “I’ve got 28 centimeters. Why would I cut off 15 just to compete with you?”