Chapter 280: Chapter 68: [A Sweep Is Just a Formality]

"I’m already a multi-millionaire, my friend. It doesn’t matter to me whether I buy a lottery ticket on Friday."

Barkley told Kenny Smith.

He was boasting a little, of course, but in terms of absolute net worth, Barkley was leagues ahead of Kenny Smith. Despite having earned just over forty million USD during his entire career, he wasn’t one to throw his money around and had made some successful investments in his younger days. Now, as a sports commentator, his salary was very high as well. (Mainstream NBA television analysts earn high salaries, basically equivalent to an NBA mid-level contract. The salaries of some of the top, ace commentators, combined with their other income, could even approach a max NBA contract.)

BEEP!

The whistle blew, and the game resumed.

Amidst Larry Brown’s furious urging, the Pistons players walked onto the court, their blood boiling.

They had reached their most perilous moment.

If before they had fantasized about creating a miracle and turning the Pacers into a historical laughingstock,

then now, after being beaten like drowned rats at the start, they had to worry about whether they themselves would be swept.

Billups played steadily, bringing the ball past half-court with Fred Jones hounding him. Jones’s defensive skill was average, but his athleticism was his strong suit.

With Su Xi and Artest by his side, two defensive titans covering for him, he dared to be aggressive on defense.

After a couple of probes, Billups quickly drove toward the paint and went for a pull-up jumper... CLANK!

Another brick.

Su Xi quickly collapsed into the paint to grab the rebound.

He pushed the ball to start a fast break; the Pacers emphasized adapting to the situation.

Su Xi could play the 2, but the 1 was his natural position.

He brought the ball past half-court and quickly passed to Little O’Neal, who was spaced out at the free-throw line.

He used a jab step, but then quickly passed the ball into the paint. Su Xi had just run to that spot. He caught the ball, and Ben Wallace scrambled to lunge at him.

But Su Xi easily tossed it behind him. Fred Jones galloped in, caught the ball, and rose up violently... BOOM!

The alley-oop connected.

Su Xi’s off-ball movement, learned from Reggie Miller, had completely energized the Pacers’ offense.

Perhaps Su Xi’s off-ball technique wasn’t as tricky or sophisticated as Reggie Miller’s. But the offensive threat he brought was something Miller lacked. He was better than Miller at creating off the dribble, he was a more skilled passer, and he was stronger. In situations where Miller would need to use finesse, Su Xi could simply accelerate and power his way through... As a result, Su Xi’s overall impact on the court was far more profound.

"Looks like I can retire now," Miller said with a smile from the bench. He was very happy.

10-0.

This surpassed even the Pistons’ worst-case scenarios. The Palace of Auburn Hills fell quiet, as if stunned by a heavy blow, and the fans’ roars faded.

It was like a lame stray dog that, after a night of heart-rending barks, had become dispirited, cowering in a corner and letting out pathetic whimpers.

That’s right. This pathetic atmosphere now filled Detroit.

Even so, when the Pistons launched their next offense, the fans still summoned their loudest voices to support their team.

But it had to be said, it was more like a desperate person kneeling at a church door, loudly begging God for mercy. They no longer believed they could do anything to change the situation. Their only hope lay with the heavens: ’Please, grant the Detroit Pistons a little good luck. Please, look after this blue-collar team.’

Prince attempted an exaggerated floater from the wing. With Billups being smothered by Su Xi, he took over with the ball. He attacked Artest, looking a bit hysterical; his movements were wild. The sophomore, normally praised for his composure, was imploding in silence. His boundless confidence had plummeted to rock bottom. He seemed to be giving up, which was reflected in his attempt to draw a foul, but his shot ended up sailing ridiculously over the top of the backboard.

The Pistons, this disciplined, iron-willed army, were showing signs of a total collapse.

This was an unprecedented sight.

A disappointed uproar spread through Auburn Hills Palace.

The furious Larry Brown suddenly fell into a calm at this moment—a deathly calm.

"Why?" Kenny Smith was very confused. He said, "Why have the Pistons suddenly forgotten how to play basketball?"

Then, Charles Barkley, beside him, told him, "Because of you. Because of you and all those basketball experts who hyped them up so much. You gave them too much confidence. You made them think that beating the Pacers was a foregone conclusion and that the first three losses were just flukes."

"You guys even made a big deal of mocking Jack and Scarlett’s date. You thought Jack had given up, that the Pistons were on the grand road to a glorious history. But you completely forgot that they were already standing on the softest dirt at the cliff’s edge, where taking even half a step back would mean falling into an abyss."

"Now, Jack is having an epic performance tonight, and the Pacers have completely broken away from their previous tactical system. The Pistons can’t handle it. Their panic, combined with the cruel, bloody reality laid out before their eyes..."

As Barkley was saying this... SWISH!

Artest hit a three-pointer.

Off a pass from Su Xi.

When Su Xi once again received a pass from Little O’Neal, the Pistons were like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow. Two of their perimeter defenders pounced on Su Xi, and he passed the ball out... SWISH!

It was good.

A 15-0 start.

Larry Brown composed himself. He raised his hand as if to call a timeout but ultimately didn’t. Instead, he yelled to Billups from the sideline, "Slow the pace down! Play through the inside!"

Billups carried out the order. He passed the ball to Rashid Wallace in the paint, who had established deep post position.