O’Neal blushed, "Go to hell!"
The atmosphere in the car became even more jovial.
Rick Carlisle praised, "Everyone performed well tonight. I hope we can keep it up and strive to win the next game."
As soon as the next game was mentioned, everyone’s faces turned serious.
The loss to the Phoenix Suns was the Pacers’ biggest defeat of the new season.
The face that had been lost had to be regained.
Su Wan also became serious.
Though he hadn’t experienced that crushing defeat, he was the "soul of Indiana"; naturally, he had to regain the team’s dignity.
The next morning, news of Su Wan’s debut with 44 points in three quarters, leading his team to a 30-point victory over the Grizzlies, exploded like Dida’s C4 bomb in the media.
Nobody expected that Su Wan, returning amid turmoil, would start his second professional season with such a performance.
The internet in 2005 was more developed, and underneath many news articles, a comment section appeared:
"Where are those who said Su Xiaotian was always indulgent? Where did they go? Can they come out and explain why the indulgent Su’s first game performance was so exaggerated?"
"My God, a rookie who won Finals MVP really is no ordinary person!"
"Su is just that kind of player, always bringing us surprises and shocks. That’s why I like him so much right now!"
...
The Indiana media’s headlines were brimming with excitement:
"I’m back! Su Wan boldly declares the king’s return!"
"With Su Wan, no surprises, massacres the Grizzlies by 30 points, that man is back, and so are the Pacers!"
"44 points in three quarters, disdainful of records set alongside Michael Jordan, Su Wan, that spirited Indiana person, long time no see, welcome back!"
The long-absent "clown" Bill Simmons jumped out: "I’m quite skeptical, the Huaxia people often stop playing after three quarters not because they don’t want to break records, but because their physical fitness simply can’t support continuing the game. Don’t think I’m talking nonsense, just look at Huaxia’s No.1 Pick and see he has a physical fitness issue, a similar situation also occurred with the Huaxia shooter from the Cavaliers this year. Perhaps Su Wan might have similar issues, it’s just that the Pacers’ system has protected him well and not exposed it."
Forget about others for now, Erin was the first to log into her own Facebook, posting a succinct word:
Idiot!
Please don’t cause trouble for the work of other colleagues, thank you!
News was everywhere, and it wasn’t just Su Wan’s 44-point performance in three quarters catching attention, but also his bold "I’m back," and that teasing question "Why should I compete with him?" which also sparked heated discussion.
The buzz was so loud that Michael Jordan, who was in Charlotte discussing the purchase of shares in the Bobcats, heard about it right away.
It made him laugh out of annoyance:
This bitch is using my famous line and looks down on me?
Jordan really wanted to rush to Indiana, but a gently aching rib made him regain his composure, somewhat lamenting, "I really am old."
Otherwise, how could a rookie ride on my face?
With such high interest, Steve Nash, facing the Pacers in their next game, was naturally asked about Su Wan.
"How do you think you should limit Su?"
"That question, you should ask Mike, that’s his job."
"Do you think you can defeat the Pacers tonight like last time?"
"We will try our best in every game, as long as we play our part, we won’t lose to anyone."
After winning the regular season MVP last season, Steve Nash became more confident.
Joking aside, if a regular season MVP isn’t confident, then who deserves to be?
So much so that his playing style revealed some subtle changes, more of a "general’s demeanor," really carrying the air of a battlefield commander.
The second battle with the Pacers got off to a flashy start for him, delivering continuous assists; Little Si was the biggest beneficiary, slamming dunk after dunk, helping the Suns take an early 6-2 lead.
The Pacers were somewhat slow to heat up in this game.
Besides Su Wan making one shot, no one else scored.
It was partly due to their condition, but more so because the Suns controlled the game’s pace. Tinsley, originally inclined toward disruptive play, easily got more chaotic when facing a "high-tempo master" like Nash.
That was also the reason for their crushing defeat in the previous game.
In fact, not only this season but also the last, the Pacers had more losses than wins against the Suns.
Not having a true "point guard" had always been a big problem for the Pacers.
Fortunately, they made it to the playoffs last year and never encountered a "tempo master" like Steve Nash.
Chauncey Billups had this ability, but Larry Brown’s team focused mainly on defense, and he hardly cared about how the offense performed. Under his old coach this season, Billups seemingly had better control over the tempo.
The Pacers lost their opening game due to Hamilton’s explosion and Billups’s ability to control the game.
With six minutes and thirty-four seconds left in the first quarter, the Suns led 14 to 8.
Little Si had already scored eight points.
Since the Spurs didn’t meet the Suns in the Western finals last season, Popovich’s demonstrated methods on how to beat the Suns were never revealed to the world.
Rick Carlisle was somewhat worried that the Pacers might be single-handedly "killed" by Little Si.
Su Wan timely said, "It’s fine, the Suns aren’t a team that wins by playing under the rim. Don’t worry, and also, I believe Jermaine will catch up with his scoring burst soon."
Artest made a snide remark, "He better!"
Little O’Neal glared, showing a confident expression, glanced at Su Wan, then turned to Rick Carlisle, "Don’t worry, coach, leave that guy to me; I’ll handle him!"
Both having said that, Carlisle nodded, no longer agonizing over Little Si’s form, and waved towards the bench, "Jose, it’s your turn now. After you go on, I only ask one thing of you, stabilize the game’s tempo!"
Tinsley, hearing he was being substituted, had no complaints.
His professionalism was high, often switching between starting and bench roles when Thomas coached the Pacers.
As long as his playing time was stable, he didn’t care much whether he started or not.
And today, he indeed was restrained by Steve Nash.
Walking onto the court, Su Wan said to Calderon, "Just play freely; we will fully coordinate with you."
It wasn’t preferential treatment for Calderon.
It was just that Su Wan knew well, as a point guard and the "brain" on the court, you can’t confine him with too many restrictions, as it could easily affect his performance.
Having little NBA game experience already, if you still restrict him, he’d truly end up like ’Old Fish.’
Fisher, at least, had a robust body, while Calderon had nothing but his steady game control and shooting.
The Phoenix crowd, seeing the Pacers bring on a frail-looking white point guard after the timeout, immediately jeered:
Do they really think a skinny white point guard can be the next Steve Nash?
Too naive!
Calderon rubbed his jersey, wiping the sweat from his hands. The next second after receiving the ball in the backcourt, he took a deep breath, his eyes hardening:
Seize the moment, Jose!
Dribbling up to the frontcourt, Calderon studied the Suns’ tight defensive formation, his mind quickly outlining viable tactics, beginning to direct his teammates where to position.
Seeing Su Wan following his directions and moving into position, the other Pacers didn’t hesitate and quickly started moving.
Little O’Neal didn’t even realize how he got to the high post, but Calderon’s pass was in his hands the next second.
"Swish!"
It went in!
That easy?
Little O’Neal was stunned.
No wonder, since joining the Pacers, his point guard partner had always been Tinsley.
He really hadn’t worked with a pure point guard before!