Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 84 I'm Not Next (Thanks to the guild leader "惊破霓衫羽衣曲" for the generous donation)

FedEx Forum Arena has never been so electrifying as it is tonight. Under the blinding flashlights, the stands are a restless sea of ​​blue-gray. Slogans insulting Kobe and cartoons satirizing Los Angeles are everywhere, and the pent-up resentment seems ready to ignite at any moment.

TNT's Kevin Harlan, with his magnetic voice, introduced the game to the world: "Welcome basketball fans around the world to TNT's national broadcast! I'm Kevin Harlan, and I'm partnered with legendary coach Doug Collins! Doug, all the pre-game talk revolved around off-court controversies, but ultimately, it all comes down to this 48-minute game. What are your thoughts on the tone of tonight's matchup?"

Doug Collins readily accepted the flattery, seemingly oblivious to any inappropriateness about the title "legendary coach": "Kevin, you're right. The off-court noise will eventually dissipate, but the results on the hardwood floor are what truly matter. But I must say, you can't completely separate this level of off-court factor from the court. Look at Kobe's expression, look at Eli Xu's eyes—they both know very well what this game means. Both players are known for their aggressiveness; tonight is sure to be an extremely intense match!"

The pre-match media storm had created a tense relationship between the two teams, so there was only a normal warm-up before the match started, without any halftime greetings.

Xu Ling and Kobe glanced at their opponents from time to time, but ultimately did not greet them.

Currently, the two teams have very similar records. The Grizzlies are ranked eighth in the Western Conference with a record of 15 wins and 12 losses, while the Lakers are ranked fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 16 wins and 12 losses.

For a team whose star player is requesting a trade, the Lakers' record is quite good. It is precisely because of this record that Kobe's desire to be traded is no longer so urgent. If the Lakers can seize the opportunity to bring in an All-Star player before the trade deadline, they may be able to keep Kobe.

Before Roderick Craig's tweet dragging Kobe into the fray sparked a global war, Pau Gasol was one of the Lakers fans' favorites. But since then, Lakers fans have started to think that Andrew Bynum is far superior to Gasol, and what's wrong with pinning your hopes on a second-rate star who can't win in the playoffs?

After the pre-game warm-up, the Grizzlies' starters gathered in front of Marc Jaffaroni.

Jaffaroni had a lot to say, but he also knew that the key to this game was whether Xu Ling could withstand Kobe.

The Lakers are such a simple team.

If someone can hold off Kobe, then the chances of winning are fifty percent.

If Kobe's performance is suppressed tonight, then we have a 70% chance of winning.

If Kobe could relive his 17/47 performance, the Lakers would have no chance of winning.

“Eli,” Jafaroni said to Xu Ling, “if you encounter a problem, don’t try to solve it alone. Call a pick and roll when necessary.”

It seems that Kobe's offensive and defensive prowess, at least at this stage, is recognized as the strongest individual player in the league.

This made Xu Ling wonder what Jaffaroni would say if he met James.
"Don't worry, I'll handle him." Xu Ling joked, putting everyone at ease. "For Roderick Craig."

The teammates all smiled knowingly.

Then, both teams took their starting lineups.

Xu Ling and Kobe faced each other, but neither spoke nor even looked directly into each other's eyes. However, the invisible force fields around their bodies seemed to collide and create crackling sparks in the air.

As the referee tossed the ball, Bynum slammed it hard to Derek Fisher behind him.

The Lakers' first offensive possession wasn't directly against Kobe. But on the Grizzlies' first defensive play, Xu Ling was glued to Kobe like a shadow.

Kobe then moved to the left wing, and Fisher immediately passed the ball.

Boos erupted from the crowd.

Kobe received the ball and leaned against Xu Ling with his back to him. He felt the strength behind him.

Then, Kobe suddenly swayed his shoulder to the left, and then swiftly turned to the right, unleashing a fadeaway jump shot. The movement was so fluid, as if he had practiced it a million times, beautiful as a painting, yet utterly deadly.

"Shh!"

At the moment of scoring, Kobe hummed, "Welcome to the real NBA."

"As expected, Kobe wasn't going to let Eli off the hook; they went head-to-head in the very first round!"

“Eli’s defense is very good, but he’s facing Kobe. Being very good isn’t enough! Besides, Kobe has always played well against the Grizzlies. Last season, he scored 60 points in a single game against the Grizzlies.”

Oh, yet another scar left on Memphis by Lakers' number 24.

Why is Black Mamba so evil?

But that's not all. Kevin Harlan added, "Yes, and that wasn't the first time Kobe scored so many points against the Grizzlies. Back in 2002, when he was still wearing number 8, Kobe had already achieved a feat of scoring 56 points against the Grizzlies!"

It seems there are a lot of scores to settle between the two sides, but upon closer examination, they all turn out to be old scores left behind by the Lakers alone.

This is why, when Xu Ling faced Kobe on the same left wing and Lowry passed the ball, the crowd erupted in such a commotion.

For Xu Ling before his time travel, Kobe had already been completely deconstructed and distorted beyond recognition. Apart from the most die-hard fans, most people barely remembered what he looked like playing. Of course, you could also say that those people were past the age of arguing with others online. As the saying goes, if you don't seize the high ground of public opinion, someone else will, and then the things you were once familiar with will become unrecognizable.

That was an era when everyone was a man, and an era when "Paul Walker Farewell Song" became "I Miss You, Prisoner" song. But those times did not help Xu Ling understand Kobe in the present. From the very first round of their match, he completely forgot about the abstract deconstruction of the internet from his previous life.

Xu Ling turned to face the basket, and Miller's screen came in the next second.

Xu Ling went around the pillar to face the screen, but Kobe had clearly studied his game carefully. He decisively squeezed past the screen and tried to apply pressure again, but Xu Ling did not give him a chance. He decisively took a step back and shot.

"Shh!"

This response sent FedExCare into a frenzy.

When it was the Lakers' turn to attack, Kobe immediately called for the ball at the top of the arc. Facing Xu Ling, he made a series of quick crossover dribbles, then suddenly accelerated to the right, keeping half a step away from Xu Ling, before abruptly stopping and pulling back sharply to create shooting space for another jump shot.

Hit again!

Kobe ran back with a cold face. He didn't mention the Twitter incident, but he had already shown Xu Ling through his actions that he knew everything and just wanted to solve the problem with basketball.

Xu Ling's heart raced, not out of fear, but out of excitement. He suddenly understood where Rukawa's feeling of "he's not just a name" came from after he was beaten to a pulp by Sawakita.

However, he didn't want to get beaten up.

Clearly, when a super rookie modeled after Kobe comes to Kobe, Kobe, who is already at his complete form and in his prime, has the advantage.

Xu Ling also knew how to avoid this disadvantage.

Through off-ball movement, Xu Ling cut out using a screen, received the ball without hesitation, and pulled up for a three-pointer over Kobe's help defense.

"What an exciting matchup!" Harlan exclaimed. "Kobe and Eli lived up to all the expectations!"

Kobe looked to be in great form, but instead of asking for the ball in the next possession, he positioned himself against Xu Ling and asked in a cold voice, "Many people say you're like me, how much?"

Xu Ling mustered all his strength to prevent Kobe from penetrating too deeply, and replied, "What's wrong with someone like you?"

Another cold snort.

Xu Ling began to hate that humming sound.

There is probably no more pretentious voice in the world. Kobe suddenly elbowed Xu Ling away, caught the ball, turned and jumped to shoot, banking the ball in, and said coldly to Xu Ling, who was in pain in his chest: "You better pray that you are not like me - because what I do best is destroy 'the next me'!"

The greatest players get what they want; that's the rule of the game. There are only a few seats at the top, and there's no room for imposters.

Kobe's outburst at Xu Ling was captured on camera and repeatedly replayed on the big screen at the stadium. It was fiercely interpreted by Kevin Harlan and Collins, and it also thoroughly enraged the home fans.

Xu Ling had no time to pay attention to the commotion at the scene. However, this elbow strike gave him a considerable inspiration.

He had a first taste of Kobe's arrogant, haughty, and somewhat violent personality.

Although Xu Ling hadn't even crossed half-court, all the Lakers players—including his teammates—knew the ball would be passed to him. Kyle Lowry waited for him to get into position and immediately passed the ball to the top of the key. Xu Ling was once again facing Kobe.

Xu Ling dribbled with his right hand, raised his left hand, and gestured for a screen. Kobe had already suffered twice from this move before, and this time he was determined to force his way through the screen.

The moment Hakim Warrick stepped up to set the screen, Xu Ling's center of gravity clearly shifted towards the screen side. Even a top defender like Kobe, after being repeatedly outmaneuvered, couldn't help but subconsciously move towards the screen.

However, the next second, a sudden change occurred—Xu Ling suddenly accelerated in the opposite direction, moving with lightning speed, instantly tearing through Kobe's defense, and driving straight into the paint, switching hands and pulling up for a layup against Bynum's help defense!

"Beep!"

The referee blew his whistle, ruling that Bynum had committed a foul. But this did not affect the trajectory of the basketball at all.

"Shh!"

After landing and regaining his balance, Xu Ling looked directly at Kobe and replied, "It seems we share the same idea, but I prefer to solve problems at their root—for example, by personally ending 'the previous me' here."

(End of this chapter)