Chapter 290: Chapter 73: The Key to the Triangle Offense

Super Strength Talent: 99!!!

Su Xi’s strength reached an unprecedented level. It was nothing short of terrifying.

At his current weight of 94 kilograms, he could now go toe-to-toe with interior players who outweighed him by 20 kilograms and still hold his own.

It was an unbelievable feat.

Although he still couldn’t compare to behemoth centers like O’Neal and Yao Ming, he was already unmatched on the perimeter.

A duck is the first to know when the river warms in spring.

And for the Lakers, that duck was none other than Gary Payton, who had just subbed back into the game.

As Su Xi’s defensive mentor, Payton’s smothering defense had earned him the illustrious nickname "The Glove."

But as the saying goes, youth will be served.

After Kobe turned and drained a difficult jumper, Payton shifted his focus to Su Xi. Answering Phil Jackson’s call, he was determined to get a stop on this possession.

He gathered his strength, ready to give Su Xi a little ’teacher’s shock’.

But just as Payton closed in, about to use his formidable strength and quick, long arms to put some pressure on his opponent, his student, Su Xi, showed no martial courtesy and went all out.

OOF!

Payton felt a numbness spread from his core all the way up to his chest.

It felt like his freaking guts were on fire!

THUD!

His body fell uncontrollably to the floor. He was dazed—utterly and completely dazed.

He looked as stunned as if he’d just been slapped across the face.

Payton’s positioning had been a bit aggressive, but for Su Xi to send him to the floor so forcefully was still mind-boggling. Even Phil Jackson stared wide-eyed.

Gary Payton’s toughness was legendary. And while age had diminished his explosiveness and agility, his raw strength hadn’t waned.

And yet, Su Xi had sent him to the floor with a single bump.

The truly terrifying part came next.

Su Xi charged into the paint with ferocious momentum. At the free-throw line, Carl Malone quickly slid over to intercept. The guy was full of dirty tricks.

He already had his elbow raised, intending to catch Su Xi with it on contact.

But Su Xi simply crashed right into him... In terms of sheer size, Su Xi was no match for Malone, whose strength was formidable.

But Malone was taking the charge, whereas Su Xi was the one initiating the impact, a collision combining explosive power and brute strength.

BAM!

The moment of impact, Carl Malone felt like he’d been hit by a catapult. His body was sent flying, and he never even had a chance to get his elbow up. Su Xi tore through him like a hurricane, an unstoppable force.

Su Xi drove to the hoop again. O’Neal lumbered over menacingly, but Su Xi dished the ball to Little O’Neal on the side, who went up for an easy layup.

O’Neal was furious that Su Xi kept challenging his dominance in the paint. He was perfectly happy when players avoided him, but if someone constantly came right at him, posing a threat, he’d fly into a rage like a cat that got its tail stepped on.

"Just hold your position and you can contain him."

Kobe Bryant said bluntly to Shaquille O’Neal during the inbound pass.

Their relationship had hit rock bottom this year.

In fact, it had started during the previous off-season.

After their loss to the San Antonio Spurs the previous year, Shaquille O’Neal had entered his contract year. O’Neal used his network to find some powerful reinforcements for the Lakers. The Lakers’ owner had verbally promised him that if he could recruit talented players to make up for the departures of Horry and others, he would receive a special bonus in his new contract.

In the end... O’Neal recruited Carl Malone and Gary Payton.

But Old Bass still hadn’t happily offered the extension. He had proposed a two-year, fully guaranteed contract for 42 million USD, but O’Neal refused. O’Neal was seeking a historic contract.

After Kobe was embroiled in his off-season scandal, O’Neal took a few opportunities to kick him while he was down. On the opening day of training camp, Kobe was absent to attend a hearing in Eagle County. When a reporter asked O’Neal, "How does it feel with the whole team not being here?" he replied with disdain, "I can’t answer that. Everyone on our team is here."

O’Neal saw Kobe as a stumbling block to his contract extension and didn’t want to re-live the painful experience from Orlando, when the Magic Team slighted him in favor of Hardaway.

Now, with Kobe entangled in legal troubles, he hoped to seize the opportunity to land his historic contract.

Phil Jackson fundamentally sided with O’Neal, having suggested to the team on more than one occasion that they should trade Kobe. The GM had also expressed some support; after all, their constant feuding was becoming a major issue.

But the owner disagreed. Old Bass treated Kobe like his own son, indulging his every whim, including his wild shot selection during games—clanking so many shots off the rim that it sent Phil Jackson into a rage.

Now, the biggest fear for Lakers fans was another conflict breaking out within the OK Combination.

Everyone was on edge.

When the TV broadcast showed Kobe speaking to O’Neal, the fans’ hearts leaped into their throats.

Fortunately, the interaction went no further.

The game continued.

Kobe Bryant began taking noticeably more shots. He started isolating on the wing, and despite Artest’s tenacious defense, he managed to sink an incredibly difficult shot.

The Little Flying Hero’s individual talent was truly undeniable.

But this wasn’t necessarily a good thing for the Lakers as a team, and a smile crept onto Rick Carlisle’s lips.

He wasn’t afraid of Kobe. As good as Kobe was, he had his limits.

The Shark in the paint, however, was a presence capable of destroying the Pacers’ entire interior defense.

The two teams traded blows, but under Su Xi’s leadership, the Pacers maintained their lead.