The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!
Chapter 573 - 234: The Combination of Jordan and Kobe._4

Chapter 573: Chapter 234: The Combination of Jordan and Kobe._4

If anyone still claims that Kobe’s immediate combat power is stronger than Su Wan’s, they are either deliberately defaming Kobe or intentionally belittling Su Wan.

Everyone can see that in his fifth season, Su Wan has already reached Kobe’s level.

Though his skills aren’t as good as Kobe’s, he has reached the pinnacle in another aspect!

Phil Jackson was similarly dumbfounded. He once thought Michael Jordan was unique, then he saw Kobe, and in him, he saw many things that even Jordan couldn’t do.

Such as scoring 81 points in a single game!

Despite the visible differences between Kobe and Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson suddenly realized that Michael Jordan wasn’t the only "one of a kind."

This was entirely because of Kobe.

Here was another "one of a kind."

But now...

He saw yet another "one of a kind."

And...

You could call him a fusion of "Michael Jordan and Kobe."

After all, at 24, Jordan had this immediate combat power but no "three consecutive championships"; at 24, Kobe had the "three consecutive championships" but not this kind of immediate combat power.

Two "one of a kind" individuals together formed "Su Wan"!

Phil Jackson didn’t know why he had such thoughts, but this was what kept popping into his mind as he watched tonight’s game on the sidelines.

David Stern was equally stunned.

He...

wanted to laugh!

Couldn’t help wanting to laugh!

After Michael Jordan, a new golden era blossomed, which was about to pass after ten years. The NBA was entering the next "decade"; heaven had sent another "enhanced honor version of Michael Jordan" to the league, ensuring its prosperity.

He now truly wanted to call the jester before him and say, "Look, this is the empire I’ve established for you, take the NBA to the next level!"

Su Wan’s success would become the best exemplar of the NBA’s "American Dream."

More and more international superstars would join the league.

And Yao Ming’s entry into the league, bringing with it the Huaxia market, demonstrated that as long as a standout international player could firmly establish themselves in the league, the NBA would rapidly harvest that international player’s national market.

According to David Stern’s vision, this was akin to the cleanup after the toughest battle as the victor, which could proceed slowly without haste, as eventually, the NBA would gain a "global presence."

David Stern soon learned the real-time ratings of the game:

34.12 million viewers!

It was close, so close!

Only about 1.8 million viewers short of reaching the 35.89 million viewer mark set by Michael Jordan’s last shot!

Tonight...

Could a new record be set?

David Stern’s eyes were filled with anticipation.

The second half of the game officially began at this moment.

Rick Carlisle made some defensive adjustments for the second half, starting to focus on strengthening the help defense against Kobe.

This was also to free up Su Wan on the offensive end, allowing him to plunge more into the attack.

And his continuous scoring would undoubtedly provoke Kobe to keep attacking incessantly.

Well...

Actually, all the coaches knew well how to infuriate Kobe, how to make him fall into a solo battle.

It’s just that after the single-game 81 points, they all feared that the more Kobe played, the more pumped he’d get, and eventually, Kobe alone would win the game.

Rick Carlisle didn’t have this worry, for he had Su Wan.

He had immense confidence in Su Wan.

Or rather...

Initially, he had some worries, but now, all those worries were gone!

He believed Su Wan was now on par with Kobe as the strongest active two-guard in the league!

Kobe’s gaze at Su Wan had also changed.

As an opponent:

He disliked Shaquille, always saw Michael Jordan as a challenge, and in the past, he wanted to suppress Su Wan, not willing to let the "new wave" crash him, the "old wave," on the shore.

But now, his gaze carried acknowledgment when he looked at Su Wan.

Even though Su Wan didn’t care about his acknowledgment...

This meant that Kobe truly regarded Su Wan as a rival on the same level.

Before this, the only other opponent Kobe recognized as being on the same level was Michael Jordan.

Now he had to add Su Wan’s name!

The clash between the two became even fiercer, causing bystanders like Ariza and Anthony Parker to be stunned. — Rick Carlisle had planned Parker’s help defense, and Phil Jackson likewise arranged Ariza’s help defense.

Both sides aimed to heavily wear down Su Wan (Kobe) in the third quarter, to prepare for the fourth quarter of the game.

Both inevitably glanced at the referee:

Are such actions really allowed?

The referee’s gaze was evasive, as if he hadn’t seen Su Wan and Kobe tangled up, almost rolling like twisted dough.

Playing basketball!

A bit of physical contact is normal!

Ultimately, it proved that Rick Carlisle’s targeted strategy worked slightly better. By the end of the third quarter, Su Wan’s score had already broken 40 points, reaching 45, while Kobe was still at 36!

However, it wasn’t surprising, as the Lakers’ "Twin Towers" were preoccupied, having no energy to assist Kobe in defending against Su Wan.

Especially since both players had such strong opportunistic skills.

And both were deeply focused.