Chapter 396: Chapter 127: [This Doesn’t Seem to Be an Epic Eastern Conference Finals Hero Showdown]

It was a long commercial break. As a TV viewer for once, Su Xi got to his feet.

BEEP!

The whistle blew.

The game began.

The Pistons immediately swarmed Dwyane Wade. As he sprinted, he shoved Hamilton away.

It was a move that bordered on a foul, but the referee didn’t blow the whistle.

Wade ran outside the three-point line and caught the pass.

Billups guarded him tightly, but Wade appeared calm and unhurried, showing the poise of a superstar.

He slowly dribbled outside the arc, running down the clock.

When only seven seconds remained, he exploded into motion.

Su Xi deeply admired his control and strategic patience.

He waited until Billups’s defense grew impatient before making his move. He drove inside the arc, his first step as fast as lightning.

Although Billups was a great defender and was well-prepared, he still lost half a step.

He stuck to him as the defense collapsed in the paint.

But Wade didn’t hesitate for a second. He plunged right in, jumping right in front of Ben Wallace. He slammed into Wallace, using the momentary space from the contact to force the ball up.

As he released the ball, the powerful impact from Ben Wallace sent him tumbling to the floor.

But a second later... SWISH!

The ball dropped through the net.

The lights on the backboard lit up. The game was over.

The American Airlines Arena erupted.

Wade scrambled up from the floor, rushed to the scorer’s table, and leaped on top of it. He pulled up his jersey and roared, "This is my house! This is my house!"

His voice was thunderous.

And the fans in the arena responded with a deafening roar: "MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Wade had delivered an MVP-level performance.

He had hit the buzzer-beater against the Pistons.

The entire Pistons team stood frozen in place. They had fought for seven games, only to lose in the final second.

Could they accept this?

Of course not.

But what could they do?

They walked toward the players’ tunnel, dejected, their minds racing with possibilities. What if they had run more time off the clock? What if they had tried for a quick score? What if...

But time doesn’t flow backward.

They could only accept their fate: elimination in the semifinals.

Now, they were off to enjoy their vacation.

Meanwhile, the victors, the Miami Heat, would be heading to Conseco Fieldhouse to continue their journey in the Eastern Conference Finals.

"After this Game 7, the Heat have found themselves a superstar. I think the combination of Wade and O’Neal can challenge Indiana’s dominance in the East. Because... there are no chemistry issues between Wade and O’Neal."

"Although a Game 7 will drain Miami’s energy, it will also forge their mental fortitude."

"Last season, when the Pacers beat the Pistons, there was an element of luck. Now, the Heat have beaten the Pistons in a battle of titans. Using the Pistons as a benchmark, I think the Heat have a better chance of making it to the Finals."

"This brings us to the discussion of Shaquille O’Neal’s greatness. If he wins a championship after leaving Kobe, well... will the Lakers come to regret it?"

"..."

Su Xi turned off the TV. He had just gotten a call from Carlisle.

Coach Carlisle didn’t think this was good news. The Heat’s advancement posed a greater challenge for the Pacers.

They discussed some tactical details, mainly how to deal with Shaquille O’Neal.

Afterward, Su Xi got on the phone with Artest.

Artest acted tough in public, but he was cautious in private. He told Su Xi, "Neither Stephen Jackson nor I are well-suited to defend a player like Wade. He’s too fast."

Su Xi said, "I’ll take care of him."

That put Artest at ease. Then he asked Su Xi, "What are our chances of winning?"

"100%."

Su Xi’s answer reassured Artest.

And by extension, the other players would be reassured as well.

Because telling Artest something was the same as telling the entire team.

Artest’s nickname might as well have been the Human Megaphone.

About an hour later, Su Xi received a text message from Dwyane Wade. "Jack, my era has begun. I’m going to beat you and take your gold coins."

Su Xi smiled and replied, "Your courage is admirable."

Wade and Su Xi’s rivalry was a gentlemen’s competition.

They would both give it their all in this series.

Wade was surely looking to use Su Xi as a stepping stone. After that incredible buzzer-beater in Game 7, his reputation had reached an all-time high. In the 2003 draft class, only Su Xi was still considered ahead of him.

Although Wade was now experiencing some of the same things as Su Xi, and even though he was playing like a man possessed in the playoffs, the media, in their comparisons with James, were still biased, believing the "Chosen One" was superior and had a brighter future.

It was absurd.

James was like an idol being forcibly propped up. Although he played exceptionally well, he was nowhere near the level the media hyped him up to be. This kind of adulation could even cloud James’s own judgment, making him believe he truly was the number one player of the new generation, that he could really dominate the entire league, that he could truly become the G.O.A.T.

...

After the game, Wade’s name was in the headlines of every major sports media outlet.

He had become Miami’s new basketball hero. Shaquille O’Neal was also humble, stating, "I knew Wade was capable of a performance like this. He’s a super guard in this league, and he’s definitely going to become the best shooting guard in the NBA."

This round of praise put O’Neal’s high emotional intelligence on full display.