The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!
Chapter 533 - 226: If a House Isn’t Noisy, How Can It Sweep the World? (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, Brothers)_4

Chapter 533: Chapter 226: If a House Isn’t Noisy, How Can It Sweep the World? (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, Brothers)_4

But he knew very well that as soon as the team’s performance fluctuated, he would immediately become the target of public criticism, and those media that had been supporting him would disappear.

This situation made him feel as if he was stepping on a landmine, a slight misstep would shatter him to pieces.

Su Wan had been playing with him for four years, and this was their fifth year. During the most glorious times, Shaquille O’Neal was one of his "right-hand men," something that no one else on the team could compare with, so he paid more attention to Shaquille O’Neal’s condition.

So he knew some secrets about Shaquille O’Neal that others didn’t know...

"Jermaine, you’re worried about getting injured again and then missing the season, aren’t you?"

Su Wan’s words caused Shaquille O’Neal’s pupils to constrict, and he looked at Su Wan in disbelief, as if surprised how Su Wan knew. Su Wan waved his hand, he had just "happened" to chat with the team doctor, who had been classmates with the doctor who treated Shaquille O’Neal’s leg injury, and had learned about the recent conversations Shaquille O’Neal had with his attending physician.

Players in the NBA usually have some psychological shadows after a major injury.

For instance, when Paul George, who later had shorter legs, first came back, he was afraid to jump forcefully, fearing he might break his leg again.

Although Shaquille O’Neal’s injury during his season cessation was not as terrifying, when he learned what a stress fracture was and the possible sequelae of such fractures, his concerns had never lessened.

Now, with poor performance and increasing scrutiny from the outside world, the concern was turning into anxiety. If this continued, he might have to see a psychologist soon.

Su Wan said, "Jermaine, do you trust me?"

Shaquille O’Neal nodded, he of course trusted Su Wan.

After the "Auburn Palace incident," it was Su Wan’s arrival that had rallied the dispirited spirits of the Pacers; this summer, it was also his decision to stay with the team that had kept the Pacers still bright in the new season despite potentially falling into a dark abyss.

In Shaquille O’Neal’s heart, Su Wan and Reggie Miller were the most trustworthy people he had ever met.

"Then adjust your mentality properly, I believe in you, you can definitely get it back, Jermaine!"

Su Wan didn’t say much more, sometimes, if the meaning is conveyed properly, that’s enough!

Shaquille O’Neal nodded, his eyes seeming to make some kind of resolution.

Then the next day, Su Wan heard from Rick Carlisle that Shaquille O’Neal had sent him a message the night before: "He said he volunteers to play as a substitute!"

Su Wan was somewhat surprised, "Huh?"

Seeing his surprise, Rick Carlisle was even more surprised, "Wasn’t it you?"

Su Wan rolled his eyes, "Rick, do I look like the kind of person who persuades others to reform?"

Carlisle stared at him for a while, "You do!"

Su Wan gave a thumbs up, "You really got a good eye, Rick! But this matter really has nothing to do with me, I guess he figured some things out on his own."

Carlisle still looked unconvinced, but regardless, it was a good thing.

Do you think it was his decision to put out such a bizarre starting lineup?

Zach Randolph was at his peak, and Shaquille O’Neal had shed blood for the Pacers.

As for Shaquille O’Neal...

Rick Carlisle knew very well that giving him a starting position was the only way to keep him engaged.

If he sat on the bench, even if he didn’t say it out loud, he would feel uncomfortable inside.

This was considered a motivational tactic.

Thus, he had no choice but to field such a peculiar lineup at the start of the season.

Fortunately, the performance in November wasn’t too bad.

But what he hadn’t expected was that on the first day of December, the problem was resolved.

Anthony Parker was assigned the starter spot at small forward.

Originally, he preferred Afflalo, but currently, he’s better suited as an "off-peak" player, not yet up to the Pacers’ starting standards.

And Anthony Parker, after two seasons of growth plus championship experience, though not surprising, offered stability.

What’s more important is that with Shaquille O’Neal on the bench, the team suddenly had a reliable "sixth man."

This made the firepower transition even smoother.

Before December 15, in eight games, the Pacers had lost only one game.

The continuous firepower of the Pacers during the games proved that point.

On December 16, the Pacers’ lineup for this season faced its ultimate test.

Their opponent was the Celtics, who had stepped over them in the last season’s Eastern Conference Finals to enter the NBA Finals!

Currently, a month and a half into the new season, the rankings in the Eastern Conference had gradually become clear, and there was no longer a situation like at the start of the season where losing a single game could potentially lead to a reshuffling of the entire leaderboard.

With a record of 21 wins and 4 losses, the Pacers were ranked first in the Eastern Conference.

However, for Su Wan and the Pacers, if they couldn’t directly defeat the Celtics, then this first-place position in the Eastern Conference would be undeserved.

This game was their real battle for "first in the Eastern Conference."

Su Wan had to get warmed up for the season’s revenge.

The big battle was imminent, and the Celtics were also fully prepared.

They knew very well that this year’s Pacers were tougher to deal with than in previous years.

But for them, aiming for the championship, the Pacers were an unavoidable formidable opponent, and if they wanted to reach the Finals again, they had to defeat the Pacers once more!

This game would, to a certain extent, reflect the current status of both teams for the season.