The Best Point Guard

Chapter 406: Chapter 132: [You Are Condoning a Crime]

3-0.

The Spurs were pushed to the brink, their situation precarious.

The Pacers had match point, their title defense within reach.

A similar sadness enveloped the supporters of both teams. The Spurs fans felt an immense sense of loss for a season that had been so full of hope. They once believed they would win another odd-year championship, continuing their fated pattern. But now, Su Xi and his Pacers were brutally trampling that cycle of destiny with iron hooves.

Down 0-3.

The more pragmatic Spurs fans no longer held onto any illusions. They knew very well that no team in history had ever come back from a 0-3 deficit. As Spurs fans, rational thinking had always been their forte.

At the post-game press conference, Popovich simply said, "Now is not the time to summarize the lessons from our failure. Besides, we have nothing to summarize."

This old man with his white hair and beard would never change his tough and stubborn ways, no matter the circumstances.

The Indiana supporters were also sad. The championship was getting closer, but Little Sheep Su Xi was getting farther away.

Although Larry Bird emphasized to the media that his relationship with Su Xi was closer than ever, everyone knew the truth. This ambitious young man wasn’t content to simply keep polishing his skills on a strong team like Indiana, nor was he satisfied with maintaining this level of all-conquering success.

Just as he had always done in the face of doubt, he was always the first to charge forward when faced with a challenge.

Once he felt there was no challenge left, he would carve out a new path.

Over the past two years, Pacers fans had witnessed him evolve from a role player into a commander-style leader with immense talent and a well-rounded skill set. Although critics still nitpicked, searching for flaws, the Pacers fans knew with absolute clarity: Su Xi was the most suitable leader for the Pacers on the planet.

Only he could make the proud and fierce warriors of the Pacers submit willingly. Only he could unite these difficult personalities into a single steel cable on the court. Only he could lead this formidable army to conquer one powerful opponent after another.

Su Xi had taken the Pacers to the pinnacle that Indiana fans had only dreamed of.

Larry Bird had made a perfect trade. It was the greatest contribution of his career to his hometown team.

Even if Su Xi left now, the Pacers fans would have no complaints. He had fulfilled his mission. In the two years since he joined the team, he had helped them win their first-ever championship, with another one well on its way.

They were just sad.

They could have had so much more, if only Su Xi didn’t leave.

The two sorrowful teams met for the fourth game.

This game was different from all the previous ones, creating a scene unprecedented in the NBA.

David Stern arrived at the arena with the championship trophy. If Su Xi led the Pacers to the title tonight, he would have to hold the championship awards ceremony.

This was standard procedure.

However, having the owners or executives from the other twenty-eight teams in the league sitting courtside was anything but conventional.

Even meetings at the NBA headquarters weren’t this well-attended.

The camera panned across the crowd. New York’s owner, James Dolan, was still unshaven, with Isaiah Thomas standing beside him wearing a mysterious smile. Mavericks owner Cuban, in jeans and holding a cup of coffee, looked every bit the tech elite. The Bobcats’ owner, Michael Jordan, wore his leather jacket and appeared calm. In addition, Lakers General Manager Kupchek, Heat President Pat Riley, Mike Dunleavy, Jerry West, Joe Dumars... all these famous front-office figures made an appearance.

The moment Su Xi put his house up for sale, these people had sprung into action. Su Xi was an unrestricted free agent. Any team could make him an offer, and he could choose to join any team.

Before the game started, Isaiah Thomas tried to go to the players’ tunnel to contact Su Xi but was blocked by Pacers staff. Su Xi did not stop the staff members.

BEEP!

The whistle blew, and the game began.

Neither side had changed their starting lineup.

Both sides were silent, their fighting spirit incredibly high.

San Antonio did not want to be swept, and Indiana did not want the series to drag on endlessly.

"We’re going to prove that we are the strongest championship team in history."

Reggie Miller voiced everyone’s thoughts in the locker room.

’Since we’re going our separate ways tomorrow, let’s set off the most brilliant fireworks in the long river of basketball history from the summit tonight.’

The Pacers had earned that right.

Last year, they defeated the Lakers and their "Super Fab Four," ending the final resurgence of the Lakers Dynasty. This year, they faced the even more formidable Spurs, a team that, along with the Lakers, had monopolized the post-Jordan era championships. If they swept the Spurs 4-0...

...then there would be no doubt that the Pacers’ back-to-back championships were the most valuable in history.

If they added a sweep to that achievement, the Pacers would certainly have the right to challenge for the title of the greatest Finals team in history.

Foster won the tip-off against Duncan, and Su Xi charged into the frontcourt with the ball.

Before his teammates could even get into position, he plunged straight into the paint. With both Duncan and Muhammad standing there, Su Xi leaped into the air. He ferociously crashed into both defenders, somehow squeezing through the tight gap between them. As he emerged, he tossed the ball off the backboard. The instant it caromed back, his left hand powerfully seized the ball and slammed it through the hoop.

The play sent a wave of shocked gasps through the Spurs’ home court, the AT&T Center.