Chapter 323: Chapter 206: When the Shaquille O’Neal’s Beast Instincts Take Over

Early in the second quarter, Karl had Yu Fei, who had played the entire first quarter, sit out for a rest and sent out a lineup that was hard not to read into.

Sprewell, Ray Allen, Red, Horry, Pachulia.

No point guard, no small forward.

The point guard duties would rotate among three players capable of averaging 20 points a game.

Soon, Red’s point guard privileges were revoked.

His ball-handling skills were insufficient for the responsibilities of a point guard, but during this time, Red showed another side of himself.

It was a side that wouldn’t come out when Yu Fei was on the court.

Red was even more selfish and egocentric than imagined.

Especially when the set plays began, he was like a ball-hog machine, the ball movement stopping each time it hit his hands.

There was only one way Red dealt with the ball, and that was to create shooting opportunities for himself at all costs, even if it meant disrupting the tactical play, demanding Pachulia set screens for him.

Soon, Karl couldn’t stand it anymore.

After Red shot 1 for 4 in three minutes, Karl called a timeout and replaced Red with Devean George, then fiercely reprimanded him, “Listen to me, I don’t need you doing anything extra! Pass the ball, keep your three-point shooting at 40%, and if you can’t, then stay the hell off the court!”

Red knew that every promotion came with its trials and tribulations, and tonight was just a case of bad luck.

He wouldn’t be troubled by Karl’s criticism like Ray Allen would.

He knew his value to the team was critical, so he wouldn’t be left out in the cold just because of one bad game.

All that mattered was playing well next time.

That was the difference between draft diamonds in the rough clawing their way up, and the self-entitled lottery picks like Ray Allen.

People like Red took every chance they got to prove themselves.

“Making just three million dollars a year, why work so hard?” Yu Fei casually observed and queried.

Red joked, “If I push it, maybe I’ll have a shot at making thirty million dollars a year like MJ.”

“Just for the example you chose, I have to side with Rey-ray now,” said Yu Fei.

“Frye, I’m just kidding…”

Yu Fei still valued Red highly, as shooters with top-ten league productivity and a season three-point shooting percentage of 44% weren’t easy to come by. If he could really maintain a 44% three-point rate on an average of 20 points per game, that would be Ray Allen’s level.

Even though Ray Allen might be more versatile, given a choice between the two, Yu Fei would definitely favor Red.

So, if Red wanted to compete with Ray Allen, Yu Fei wouldn’t easily pick sides, unless Red affected the team, or enough game samples proved that he indeed couldn’t maintain a 40% three-point shooting percentage while scoring an average of 20 points per game.

Halfway through the second quarter, the Lakers, led by Karl Malone, closed the gap to three points.

Afterward, the Bucks subbed in Yu Fei, (Devean) George, and Mason for Sprewell, Ray Allen, and Horry.

On the Lakers’ side, the main lineup returned as well.

Gary Payton had composed himself, and compared to the first quarter, he was much quieter, his famous trash talk seeming out of place now.

However, the Lakers with the full lineup were still the same threatening team.

Payton passed to Malone, who habitually sent it to Kobe.

As Malone pinned Mason, he thought Kobe would pass the ball back to him. Instead, Kobe dribbled along the baseline and, without returning the pass, suddenly pulled up for a one-step inside-the-three-point-line fadeaway jumper from the corner.

“Bang!”

The rebound bounced into Yu Fei’s hands.

Yu Fei was stunned for half a second before dribbling forward with a grin.

True to his idol, every miss was uniquely crafted.

Just the thought of watching his idol clang iron for another twelve years made the die-hard Kobe fan deliriously happy. He decided right then to let off some steam for his idol, waving his hand and saying, “Zaza, bring me that fat pig!”

Yu Fei was ruthless, calling out Shaquille O’Neal by name, catching the Lakers off guard. They hadn’t expected that, without keeping Yu Fei in check for just one play, he would go straight for Shaquille O’Neal.

Why so much hate?

Since the Lakers weren’t prepared, Shaquille O’Neal chose to hold back, and after a screen, Yu Fei found himself open, shooting directly from the free-throw line.

“Swish!”

“Can’t bring him out, boss…” Pachulia noted to Yu Fei after realizing that Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t defending the pick and roll.

“No worries, I knew this coward from Georgia wouldn’t dare come out,” Yu Fei replied to Pachulia, “Keep up the good work.”

Pachulia could see Yu Fei really disliked Shaquille O’Neal and, though a rookie, some skills are ingrained from a young age.

He decided to surprise Yu Fei.

In the next play, a furious Shaquille O’Neal wanted to return the favor. The Bucks, as if possessed, extended their defense, confidently leaving Pachulia to match up with him.

In fact, this was Pachulia’s request. Mason was supposed to collapse inside but was waved off by Pachulia with a gesture.

Mason gained a new respect for Pachulia. Originally, he had no regard for the Georgian, focusing instead on Haslem, whom he believed had a 10% chance of inheriting his mantle. Unexpectedly, the Georgian was tougher on the inside than he appeared, earning Mason’s respect.

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Pachulia was blatantly using illegal moves to back into Shaquille O’Neal.

Shaquille O’Neal countered with a smash and a drop step that sent him flying, followed by a turn, a powerful rise, and a dunk to vent his rage.

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