Before the season started, the Indiana media had their worst predictions for the Pacers without Su Wan, thinking their record might not look too good.
But what they didn’t expect was this unsightly record:
win and 5 losses!
There were all kinds of opinions from the outside world, mainly divided into two camps.
One part believed that the current situation of the Pacers looked very perilous, but as long as Su Wan returned, everything would quickly get back on track.
But this voice was only a small part.
More voices believed that the changes the Pacers went through this summer were quite significant, with Reggie Miller retiring, Stephen Jackson leaving, and the team adding three or four newcomers who didn’t have such a strong sense of identification with this Pacers team.
The continuous losses would definitely affect their mentality.
Those like Barkley who had played in the NBA were all too aware of this.
Even though he was a die-hard fan of Su Wan, at the moment he did not think Su Wan’s return could immediately reverse the Pacers’ current predicament, mainly because he did not feel that many of the problems exposed by the Pacers could be solved immediately upon Su Wan’s return.
"We’ve all been through those moments, we all know how hard it is. The Pacers didn’t completely retain their roster from last season, with new players joining, there’s bound to be new integration needed, including Artest, who spent a whole season suspended. The Pacers team he’s familiar with is actually different from the Pacers team that won the championship in June. He needs to reintegrate."
"When a team keeps losing, the integration is bound to cause friction!"
It has to be said, Barkley’s judgment in this regard was very correct.
Because while he was questioning the Pacers, at the Conseco Arena’s training court, Artest and young O’Neal got into another fight:
"I just don’t understand, in that position just now, could you really not see me? Why not pass the ball?"
"I’ve never seen an inside player who moves to the elbow area all day. If you were under the basket, would I not see you?"
"The ways an inside player can impact the game have long been more than just being under the basket, Ron. Did you really get suspended for just one season? Why do I feel like you were suspended for ten years?"
"Fuck you!"
"Fuck you too!"
...
But the other Pacers acted as if they saw nothing, taking advantage of the two quarreling to drink water or wipe sweat with their towels.
Counting from the day they lost to the Clippers, they must have argued at least ten times.
At first, everyone tried to mediate, but after so many instances, they realized these two were just playing around!
Tinsley once played the "clown," trying to console with earnest pleas, only to find the two men, right after the argument, walking off arm in arm to shower together. He cursed in frustration, "If I bother with those two again, I’m a dog!"
However...
Larry Bird really could spin a yarn.
Just look at young O’Neal now.
He truly sees himself as a "trendsetter"!
Claiming "the ways an inside player can impact the game are not just under the basket" here, and "the times have changed" there.
Of course, the times have indeed changed.
Su Wan believed that, once he made his comeback, young O’Neal would surely shine on the court and embody the charm of a "Space Type 4."
Cutting back to TNT, Barkley concluded his remarks: "So I believe that even after Su Wan comes back, they will still need some time to integrate before they can really get back on track."
Meanwhile, over at Quicken Loans Arena, LeBron James faced the media cameras with a look of catharsis: "This is how I impact the game, this is my way. I don’t care about the doubts of others. The facts prove that they are not God; they also face dilemmas they can’t solve. I believe we will go far this season, I’ve found my rhythm, and the whole team is feeling great right now!"
He also heaped praise on Zhu Fangyu: "He’s a really great player, he nearly captures every shooting opportunity, he’s very accurate, and I’ve always thought we’re the best partners. We have great chemistry, and he’s very professional, aware of his ’place.’ This signing is fantastic, and the highest respect goes to Danny Ferri. I am very satisfied with our roster this season!"
Seeing such an exuberant LeBron, the Cleveland media felt vindicated too.
Last season was oppressive for LeBron and for all of Cleveland.
Su Wan was like a dark cloud hanging over LeBron’s head, inescapable.
Finally, the tables have turned. The Cavaliers have had a very strong start to the season, finishing 6 games with a perfect record of 5 wins and 1 loss, now occupying the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Contrasting sharply with the Pacers’ position of twelfth in the Eastern Conference with 1 win and 5 losses.
Even though this was the record of the Pacers without Su Wan, most of Cleveland’s reporters, like the majority of the public opinion, felt that:
Even if Su Wan came back, it would be difficult to change the situation in a short amount of time.
The Pacers would still need some time to find their way.
This time, it was Su Wan’s turn to chase LeBron.
Such a plot twist brought them much joy.
More importantly, LeBron’s stats improved again, averaging 31.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, simply explosive.
Indeed, the "Chosen One" is the "Chosen One"; nobody can stand above him for long.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l