The Best Point Guard-Chapter 62 - 59: Little Sheep Su Xi Wants the MOP

Jim Boham was surprised to see Duanni walking off the court. He had clearly called out Josh Peis’s name.

He thought Su Xi had misheard his instructions.

But that wasn’t the case. Su Xi took the ball from Carmeron Anthony, brought it past half-court, and began directing the players’ positioning from the center line.

Coach Jim Boham stood on the sideline, wondering why Su Xi was making such a move.

Su Xi brought the ball into the frontcourt. From the top of the arc, he directed Anthony’s positioning. When Anthony posted up Langford on the wing, Su Xi fed him the ball.

Then, he strode into the paint. He ’herded’ the skinny beanpole Hakeem out to the three-point line, then posted up on Miles, who was defending him.

Following Su Xi’s instructions, Anthony passed the ball inside.

"Allen, you showed me your speed in the first half. Now, it’s my turn to show you my strength."

Su Xi gave Miles a little friendly warning before making his move.

Then, his body slammed backward like a sudden tempest.

On the first bump, Miles was sent staggering back two steps. His upper body was braced against Su Xi’s broad back with both hands, but when Su Xi surged backward, both of Miles’s feet left the floor. He looked like he’d been hit by a reversing tractor.

THUD!

Su Xi’s second bump made him lose all control of his body. Like a maple leaf sucked into a whirlpool, he dropped to his knees.

Su Xi spun around.

He faced an undefended basket. Graves was still hesitating, unsure whether to come over and help.

Su Xi finished the play with a simple layup.

The powerful, surgical strike sent the Super Dome Arena into a frenzy.

The fans in orange chanted their marching cry in unison: "Su! Su! Su!"

Whatever it sounded like to fans in China, the chant was electrifying.

Everyone in the arena realized that Su Xi’s presence on the court had awakened Syracuse University.

Jim Boham stood on the sideline and slapped his balding forehead. ’Hey, why didn’t I think of that? Jack can play in the post.’

He didn’t blame Su Xi for taking matters into his own hands. He had been like a lead sheep that had lost its way, and now that Su Xi had found the right path, he was more than happy to follow.

"Jack, great job!"

Jim yelled to Su Xi.

Su Xi, still on the court, didn’t even glance over. He muttered under his breath, ’I’m just trying to curry favor for the NBA draft.’

’Fuck you.’

Su Xi was still furious.

He had poured all his passion into playing for the team, never caring about personal glory, only to have his coach try to "motivate" him with such self-righteous platitudes.

Su Xi didn’t continue to guard the pitiful Miles; Josh Peis took over that job.

Moreover, back on defense, he began to switch positions with Hakeem.

He sent Hakeem out to the perimeter, telling him to use his height and agility to disrupt Kansas’s shooters.

Su Xi, meanwhile, stuck close to Collison.

Collison was Kansas’s best player of the game, consistently picking on and punishing any Syracuse University player who dared to guard him.

Now, with Little Sheep Su Xi—who was half a head shorter than him—at his side, Collison’s expression filled with contempt and arrogance.

He even casually held out a hand for the ball, intending to shoot right over Su Xi’s head and teach him the meaning of "out of your league."

But just as Miles made the entry pass...

Collison felt Su Xi dart out from behind him like a savage tiger. He used his explosive power to bump Collison off balance and snatch the ball right from in front of him.

It was a blatant robbery.

Collison crouched down, clutching his forehead, claiming he’d been hit by Su Xi’s elbow.

But the referee paid no mind to his theatrical display.

A sharp referee can always spot a player faking an injury just to save face.

Su Xi brought the ball past half-court and quickly passed it to Cameron.

Outside the three-point line, Cameron used a jab step to create space, then passed to Josh Peis. Peis launched it like a catapult—slow, but steady... SWISH!

It was good.

Syracuse University had closed the gap.

Kansas’s head coach, Roy Williams, promptly called a timeout. He was known for being decisive, a reputation he’d built as an assistant coach at North Carolina.

Michael Jordan knew this well.

So, from his seat in the stands, he commented, "Roy won’t let Little Sheep Su Xi lead him around by the nose. He certainly has the ability to punish guards in a mismatch. But what if Roy uses Langford to defend Little Sheep Su Xi next?"

Heh heh heh.

Larry Bird let out a chuckle beside him, and a pleasant mood formed between them.

Bird was no longer as silent as he had been at halftime; his mood had brightened considerably. Although he was going along with Michael Jordan’s conversation, his mind was on more distant matters.

’For instance, when Jack gets to Indiana, will he wear number 33? Should I personally attend the press conference? It would be a passing of the torch.’

At that moment, the still-employed Pacers General Manager, Isaiah Thomas, sighed wistfully beside them. He had no idea about the secret moves being made by the club’s top brass—like how Bird would be replacing him after the season.

"Magic, if Jack keeps working in the paint, could he become the first point guard in NCAA history to dominate the restricted area? That’s something even you never accomplished."

This referenced another legendary tale. In his rookie season, Magic Johnson reached the Finals alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But when Jabbar got injured, the Lakers’ chances looked grim. Magic decisively moved to the center position, and his miraculous performance led the Lakers to win the championship, earning him the Finals MVP award.

"Isaiah, you think Syracuse University can win? That Little Sheep Su Xi can get the MOP?" Magic Johnson asked, surprised.

"Why not?" Isaiah Thomas shrugged. "In fact, he’s been Syracuse University’s best player, both in this game and the last one. His talent and fame might not match Cameron’s, but anyone who truly understands basketball would definitely vote for him—if Syracuse University wins, that is."

Isaiah’s words made Bird a little tense.

If Su Xi won the MOP, it would change everything.

Frankly, Su Xi’s current draft stock placed him somewhere between the 10th and 20th pick; he could be selected anywhere in that range. But if he won MOP, his value would change dramatically.

Although NBA teams don’t base their picks solely on NCAA performance or accolades, how many sponsors would flock to an Asian MOP who wasn’t even 19 yet?

TWEET!

The whistle blew.

Amid Jim Boham’s encouraging words—"Good job, boys. I’m proud of you..."—the Syracuse University players walked back onto the court.

During the timeout, he didn’t give any specific tactical instructions, nor did he ask Su Xi why he’d changed the substitution on his own. He acted as if nothing had happened.

Just as Michael Jordan had predicted, Kansas’s coach Roy Williams subbed out Miles, abandoning the two-point-guard lineup and letting Syracuse take over as the primary ball-handler. At the same time, he brought in sophomore Wayne Simien. (Wayne Simien, a 6’9" swing forward, would become the team’s leader after Syracuse and Collison went to the NBA. He earned National Player of the Year honors in his junior and senior seasons, was a two-time Wooden Award finalist, and was named Big 12 Player of the Year as a senior. He was selected 29th in the first round of the 2005 draft but played only two preseason and eight regular season games in the NBA before leaving the league early.)

With Kansas suddenly fielding three big men, their paint became crowded. Syracuse came off a screen from Simeon and took a shot from beyond the three-point line... BANG!

The shot missed.

Su Xi boxed out Collison, keeping him from jumping, and Hakeem grabbed the rebound.

He then passed it back to Su Xi.

Su Xi brought the ball past half-court and passed to Cameron, who postured as if to take Simeon one-on-one.

But in reality, once Su Xi established position in the paint, Anthony quickly fed the ball inside.

During the timeout, Cameron had secretly told Su Xi, "My shoulder is hurting. I need to take fewer shots."

He didn’t want to leave the game, but he also didn’t want to aggravate the pain and risk a serious injury... that would increase his draft risk.

Su Xi had said, "Let me carry the load."

Unwittingly, Su Xi had already become the most trusted person on the Syracuse University team.

Langford, in whom Roy Williams had placed high hopes, actually withstood Su Xi’s first bump. It wasn’t until Su Xi’s second bump and spin that he finally stumbled backward, waiting for his teammate Graves to help.

But Su Xi passed the ball to McNeil.

McNeil caught the pass and threw down a thunderous dunk.

With the "assassination" happening behind his back, Graves felt like a deceived beast. He glared at Su Xi and challenged him aggressively, "Why don’t you dare face me head-on? You only know how to bully weak opponents."

Su Xi flashed an elegant smile. The handsome kid looked just like a villain from a TV show. He turned to Langford, who was still bent over with his hands on his knees, and said, "Hey buddy, what do you think about your teammate calling you weak?"

What could Langford do? He just turned away, refusing to look.

Graves grew even more furious. He looked like he wanted to rip Su Xi’s mouth off.

His intelligence level delighted Su Xi.

’If I get the chance,’ Su Xi thought, ’it’s time to fuse some power from this beast.’

’The risk is a little high, though.’

’But the reward would be huge.’

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