Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 87 Between the Scales (210) (Thanks to jamesxu-SBZ for the generous donation)
Amidst the commotion of the crowd, Xu Ling calmly stepped to the free-throw line and steadily sank both free throws (including one for a technical foul). The score was now 65-66, with the deficit narrowed to just one point.

More importantly, due to Bynum's technical foul, the Grizzlies still had possession of the ball. They had a golden opportunity to take the lead.

The ball was taken out of the sideline, and Gasol received it steadily in the elbow area. Facing an opponent who was a little slow to switch, he did not hesitate to break through, leaned on the help defender, and decisively took a shot – a light but firm floater that arced through the air and went in!

The moment the ball went in, the FedEx Forum stadium erupted in cheers!
"Pau Gasol!!! A perfectly composed finish!" Kevin Harlan's commentary voice rose instantly, filled with passion. "Memphis has taken the lead! A crucial blow from the Spaniard, they went from trailing, to free throws, to seizing possession and turning the game around—in this play, the Grizzlies played like a seasoned playoff team!"

Phil Jackson stood on the sidelines, subtly raising his hand to signal to the scorer's table to request a timeout.

The whistle blew, and the game was interrupted. The Lakers players walked to the bench. Bynum was still muttering to himself with his head down, while Kobe wiped his sweat with a grim expression. Jackson had his hands in his trouser pockets, his eyes scanning the scoreboard—67-66, the Grizzlies had taken the lead. His expression was as calm as a deep pool, as if the violent turmoil that had just occurred had not disturbed his heart.

Kobe was both his blessing and his curse.

The thought flashed through his mind. He knew this scenario all too well. Kobe's absolute talent and competitiveness could tear apart any defense, as evidenced by his 32 points in the first half—this was his strength. But when the game became a quagmire, when the opponent kept responding, when his teammates started to lose control, Kobe's fighting instinct would consume everything. He would believe in himself far more than in the system, and even more than in his teammates.

Jackson knew that the crux of the previous few possessions lay precisely in this: Kobe's insistence on a hero duel with Xu Ling led to simplistic offensive choices and a stagnant flow of the ball. And when Bynum lost control, although Kobe stepped in to stop him, he didn't truly calm the team down—his own body language betrayed his anxiety, so how could he truly soothe others?

This isn't criticism, just observation. Jackson knew all too well that it was this almost obsessive killer instinct that made Kobe who he was, enabling him to make those incredible shots and carry the entire team. But it was also this very instinct that could sometimes sever the most practical path between the team and victory.

Jackson took the tactical board, his voice as calm as ever: "We played too hastily."

As he spoke, the Zen Master's gaze swept over Kobe, without accusation, but with a profound meaning: "Memphis wants us to get caught up in isolation plays and forget about teamwork. From now on, every offensive play must go through the paint. We need to play smarter, not more aggressively."

Kobe stared at him for a moment, nodded, and his gaze remained unchanged.

Did he really understand?
Did he really understand?
Phil Jackson watched Kobe turn and walk back onto the court, his heart unmoved. He was used to this uncertainty. In all his years coaching Kobe, he had never had that moment of certainty, that "Great, he understands me perfectly."

Kobe's understanding was always unique—he might accept instructions, but the way he executed them always bore his strong personal imprint. He was a peerless weapon, capable of precisely piercing through the opponent's defense, yet difficult to be fully integrated into a sophisticated, coordinated rhythm.

Jackson's thoughts were clear and calm. His reminder was less about immediately changing Kobe's playing style and more about a deliberate variation inserted into the midst of a fierce battle. He knew that Kobe's response at this moment was more likely a formal respect for authority or an acceptance of tactical constraints out of a desire to win, rather than a genuine resonance of ideas.

Ultimately, it was because Kobe was too strong, so strong that the demon within him would constantly whisper in his ear whenever he awoke: Believe in yourself, you can beat any system.

Jackson stopped thinking about it; he had done what he needed to do most at that moment—provide direction and then observe. The rest was up to the game, and to Kobe's unpredictable superstar instincts, capable of tearing apart any script.

Jackson's assessment of Kobe was absolutely accurate.

Kobe clearly didn't take his words to heart. Before the third quarter was over, Lakers' number 24, who was already close to 40 points, was determined to continue his personal offensive efforts.

Kobe initiated the fast break, his steps steady yet carrying an imposing pressure. He dribbled to the frontcourt, and before his teammates could get into position, he suddenly pulled up for a jump shot from a step above the three-point line—facing Xu Ling's block attempt, he forced his way to the basket!

This is an absolutely unreasonable hero ball.

But the moment the basketball left his hands, the entire FedEx Forum stadium fell silent.

hit!

The Lakers thus regained the lead.

"Give the ball to Eli! Everyone else, get moving! Paul, your screens need to be more decisive! Kyle, if you have the chance, go for the basket!" Jaffaroni roared hoarsely.

As soon as Lowry crossed half-court, he passed the ball to Xu Ling as instructed by the coach.

Xu Ling waved his hand to clear one side, refusing any cover. What he needed to do was simple: one-on-one.

The crowd erupted in a frenzy, as this was one of the few moments tonight when Xu Ling attempted a one-on-one against Kobe without the aid of a screen.

Kobe, under intense defense, coldly shouted, "Come on!"

Xu Ling lowered his center of gravity and then made no further unnecessary movements. He executed an exaggerated, wide crossover dribble from left to right, creating a gap in Kobe's defense, and prepared to drive inside. But Kobe's defense wouldn't crumble at the slightest opening. Experience, awareness, and judgment allowed Kobe to accurately move laterally, blocking Xu Ling's path. It seemed the offensive was about to end, but Xu Ling suddenly raised the ball, taking an unintuitive step back, followed by another step back.
"OMG!!!"

Harlan exclaimed in surprise at Xu Ling's amazing double step-back, something even Kobe, who thought he had mastered all the skills, had not expected. Xu Ling then used the shooting space created by the double step-back to jump up and shoot a three-pointer.

"Uh-huh!!!"

"What a magnificent move!" Harlan exclaimed. "Eli responded to Kobe again with a top-ten play!" "This young man knows no fear; he didn't back down at all in front of Kobe!" Collins screamed. "Let all the jeers go! This was a great game, a great duel!"

Kobe's eyes flashed with even more coldness. He received the ball at the top of the key, faced Xu Ling, faked a crossover, and pulled up for a clean layup. This time, Xu Ling's block was perfectly timed!
"Duang!"

Kobe misses a shot! Gasol outmaneuveres Odom to secure the crucial rebound.

Xu Ling initiated a counter-attack, creating a three-on-two situation in the attacking third! He cut into the middle to draw the defenders in, then passed the ball to Lowry on the right flank.

Lowry got a wide-open shot, adjusted, and jumped, but failed to capitalize.

"boom!"

It bounced off the basket just like before!

Kobe secured the defensive rebound, ignored his teammates once again, dribbled up the court, and then backed down and made a turnaround jump shot in the low post.

Xu Ling called for a screen and, after drawing a double team, passed the ball to Gasol, assisting the Spaniard for a dunk.

The match descended into a brutal and relentless battle between the two.

Kobe continued to score with his unstoppable shooting and powerful drives; Xu Ling responded with skillful one-on-one plays and passes.

The two sides traded leads, and each point felt like tearing a piece of flesh from the other.

During an off-ball battle, Xu Ling and Odom became entangled, their arms wrestling and their weight shifting, ultimately causing them both to fall to the ground. Just two possessions later, Kobe, trying to create space to receive the ball, collided head-on with Xu Ling, both falling to the ground, but the referee did not blow the whistle. They jumped up almost simultaneously, without even looking at each other, simply continuing their contest.

The situation remained tense until the final 27 seconds of the third quarter.

Lakers ball.

Kobe received the ball at the top of the key, facing Xu Ling's tight defense. After a series of feints, he forced his way to the right, but lost his balance in the physical contact. He staggered backward, and at the last second before the 24-second shot clock flashed red, he released a fadeaway jumper.

A buzzer-beater!

Kobe clenched his fist and growled, and the Lakers' bench erupted instantly.

Before the cheers could fully erupt, Xu Ling had already rushed to the baseline and made a quick long pass—the basketball crossed the entire court like a missile and accurately found Kyle Lowry who was cutting down!

Lowry received the ball and started his run, making a layup off the backboard before Fisher could block him.

The ball goes in!

After three quarters, the score was tied at 86-86.

This scene prompted Harlan to say during the break: "I have to say, this was the most exciting, intense, and brutal quarter I've ever seen this season! Kobe Bryant, he was like a cold-blooded beast, constantly hitting those desperate shots in his signature style. He probably scored close to 15 points in that quarter! He seemed to be declaring to the entire city of Memphis: This is why he is a superstar!"

"But what shocked me even more was Eli and his Grizzlies! Every time Kobe seemed to be turning the game into garbage time, and the Lakers were about to extend their lead to double digits, this kid always stepped up to respond! He used his shots, his passes, and his indomitable will to hold off the Lakers!"

"86 to 86, there are no losers in this quarter, everyone, cheer! This exciting game still has 12 minutes left before the final outcome!"

Xu Ling was drenched in sweat, scoring double digits again in the quarter, pushing himself to the limit; Kobe was also breathing heavily, looking at Xu Ling with the contempt he had shown at the start of the game gone, he hadn't encountered such a tenacious and tough opponent in a long time.

During the brief two-minute break, the air inside the FedEx Forum seemed to freeze and be gripped tightly, so dense that it was difficult to breathe.

Xu Ling stood off the field, took a Gatorade from the strength and conditioning coach, and took a big gulp.

Jaffaroni spoke loudly about things he no longer cared about listening to.

On the Lakers' side, Kobe did the same. He didn't sit on the bench for even a second; he stood directly behind Phil Jackson, ready to go back on the court as soon as the break ended.

(End of this chapter)