The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!
Chapter 57 - 56 Special Targeting of Brand

Chapter 57: Chapter 56 Special Targeting of Brand

On December 1st, the League announced the month’s "Player of the Month" and "Rookie of the Month" for the first month of the season.

Compared to "Player of the Month," external media paid more attention to November’s Eastern Conference "Rookie of the Month."

To some extent, this would determine who the leading candidate for "Rookie of the Year" was.

Eventually, Indiana received good news, as Su Wan was named the Eastern Conference’s "Rookie of the Month." This meant the media was currently leaning towards him as this season’s "Rookie of the Year." ESPN believed that Su Wan’s performance in his first game after joining the Pacers significantly boosted his chances, impacting the final decision.

Bobcats Media and Okafor were very dissatisfied with the results. Okafor even openly stated, "I don’t think I am inferior to him, so I cannot accept this outcome."

Su Wan did not respond to Okafor’s comments, and the public did not focus on this issue.

Because...

The Pacers’ first game in December was an away game against the Los Angeles Clippers, who had just defeated the Cavaliers.

Everyone was eager to see what the outcome would be when Su Wan led the team alone against the Los Angeles Clippers!

"LeBron highly praised the Clippers’ core player, Elton, who scored 30 points in the previous game. Will the Pacers do anything special to target him in this match?"

"Of course, but I can’t tell you that!"

"Do you have confidence in winning this game?"

"We are confident in winning any game. That’s our current state."

...

After the interview was over, young O’Neal was chatting with Reggie Miller in the locker room, seemingly telling a joke. Miller hadn’t even started laughing before he burst out laughing.

His mood was excellent. — The League had just revised the number of his suspension games from 25 to 15. This meant he could rejoin the team in late December.

Artest looked envious and asked Su Wan, "Do you think the League might revise my case too?"

Su Wan said, "You really should watch more news and see how many media outlets are reporting your incident with the fans. I think after seeing that, you won’t have any more doubts!"

The "Beast" was immediately disheartened.

"Compared to that, are you still going to wait for us in the locker room today?" Su Wan asked.

In the last match, Artest was waiting in the locker room.

Clearly, he wanted to be there to cheer for the team, but his timid nature feared facing the fans’ wild jeering.

He didn’t have the courage to face it all.

Artest said helplessly, "Uncle, I can’t help it, I’m just not ready yet!"

Su Wan replied, "Ron, another opportunity to help the team is right in front of you. Are you sure you want to wait in the locker room?"

Artest suddenly became interested.

Su Wan asked, "I heard that you and Elton are good buddies?"

Artest nodded; this wasn’t a secret. Back in high school, he, Brand, and Odom were known as the "New York Three Musketeers." Kwame Brown’s high school trio blatantly copied them!

"If you disrupt him from the sidelines, it should work well, right?" Su Wan’s expression was like a sly fox.

Artest’s eyes changed from confused to bright.

He probably understood what Su Wan meant by "help the team." He immediately patted his chest and said, "Done deal, brother!"

Still not reassured, Su Wan taught him a few more tricks. Artest chuckled nervously, "Elton won’t sever ties with me, right?"

As it approached game time, Rick Carlisle saw Artest following the team into the players’ tunnel. His surprise was evident. He instinctively glanced at Su Wan and the other Pacers players.

Aside from Su Wan, they all seemed surprised.

Clearly, Su Wan knew that Artest would come to the venue.

How did he manage it?

Rick Carlisle knew exactly what Artest’s inner demons were, but he just couldn’t help him overcome them.

However, Su Wan, who had been there for less than a week, first willingly brought Artest back to the training field and became his sparring partner, and now he had helped him overcome his psychological pressure and agree to stay with the team.

Could he really be some kind of "Special Agent"?

Brand and Artest were actually on good terms. Before the game began, Brand found Artest and talked with him for a long time. Artest, deeply moved, grasped his hand, "Bro, thank you, you understand my situation. I’m touched, so you’ll forgive me for whatever I do in a bit, right?"

"Of course!" Brand replied without a second’s hesitation, mainly because he didn’t understand what Artest meant by that...

What do you mean ’whatever I do in a bit, you’ll forgive me’?

I didn’t see any news about you being reinstated.

Could the team really openly defy the League and let you play forcibly?

Since you can’t play...

What can you even do?

Brand didn’t understand, but now he was playing the role of "Understanding Big Brother," so he instantly answered Artest’s question:

No problem!

Then...

The game officially began.

Clippers got the first possession.

Just as Brand was positioning to receive the ball under the basket, he heard Artest’s voice from the sideline, "Just don’t let him go right, don’t jump if he turns, just block him upfront, his left hand is no good!"

Brand turned around and was met with a "Nick Young" face: Wait, bro, I offered warmth, are you stabbing me in the back?

Unfortunately for him, he really didn’t make the basket against Harrison.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

Artest, with exaggerated laughter, had Brand both angry and annoyed.

Sometimes, mockery from others isn’t a big deal, but it’s fatal when it comes from your own scathing friend.

Brand was thrown off his game, and Su Wan made a breakthrough under the basket drawing a defensive foul from him.

After making both free throws, Artest continued to shout from the sidelines, "Elton, why are you afraid to take the ball now? Are you scared? This is why the loves letters you sent out keep getting returned."

Damn it!

This time, Artest was referring to the time in high school when Brand had his love letters torn up and sent back by the girl he liked.

Not only were their Pacers teammates laughing, but even the Clippers on the court were laughing.

Out of sheer frustration, Brand forcefully demanded the ball and turned to back attack Harrison.

This time Harrison held his ground well. No matter how hard Brand tried, he couldn’t advance an inch, and a figure swept past him, snatching the ball from his hands:

Su Wan!

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha~"

Artest’s mocking laughter reached Brand’s ears again, and now he didn’t want to play anymore, he wanted to fight!

Su Wan scored another basket and turned his head to look at Artest on the sideline.

Wow, truly despicable!

These were the tricks he had taught Artest, but he never expected Artest to use them so effectively.

It was just...

Forget about Brand, even Su Wan felt like kicking him again.

A reporter who had just interviewed Su Wan was dumbfounded; he could never have anticipated that the Pacers’ special tactics against Brand would turn out like this...

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