"What if they really did go to discuss the triangle offense? What if he has an outstanding performance in this next game? He’s already had two perfect games, and I believe he’ll play even better in the showdown against the F4."

Barkley said.

"No, Charles. You can’t mistake a lucky break for real skill. I admit, I overestimated Chris Webber. He was clearly hampered by his injury, and he’s the direct reason Su Xi got that insane quadruple-double. He practically handed Little Sheep Su Xi all those steals."

Kenny Smith declared with confidence, "I’ll bet you anything, the Cavaliers have no chance of beating the Lakers. And what’s more, Little Sheep Su Xi is going to get schooled by Gary Payton in this game. A lot of teams are starting to figure him out."

Barkley shrugged. "Alright, Kenny. You’re just saying that to bait me. I’m not making any more bets with you. I also think the Lakers will win; they have a super-stacked roster. But you can’t rule out the possibility that Jack will have a great game."

"And another thing—who’s to say a handsome young man and a beautiful, sexy Hollywood star can’t go to a presidential suite at the Hilton Hotel to discuss the triangle offense!"

Barkley declared emphatically.

But this was just for comedic effect.

After all, in the public’s mind, when a passionate young couple gets a room... they’re going to discuss the Lakers’ triangle offense? Isn’t that just ridiculous?

While being interviewed on another channel, the Time Warner Network, Phil Jackson touched on the subject. He said, "I believe they went to discuss the triangle offense. The more young kids that like the triangle offense, the more it validates my past achievements. Jack is an excellent player. Kobe and Shaq have been recommending him to me non-stop since March. I regret focusing so much on recruitment and not managing to bring him to Los Angeles in the draft. I’ve done Jessica Alba a great injustice."

Phil Jackson had a habit of making what he considered to be humorous remarks.

Right now, Little Sheep Su Xi was the hottest topic in all of Los Angeles and the entire NBA. His courtside kiss with Jessica Alba and the "triangle offense theory" from the Hilton Hotel had him dominating the headlines.

Moreover, to Nike’s pleasant surprise... Su Xi’s influence was skyrocketing in the United States, at a rate that surpassed the growth trajectory of any other superstar.

They all realized Su Xi was a natural-born star.

They had all originally assumed Su Xi’s market appeal was primarily in Asia, specifically in China.

But now, he was garnering just as much attention in the United States, especially among women.

Apparently, the NBA had never seen a player who was so handsome and exuded so much sex appeal.

Over the past two days, Nike had also invested significant resources into promoting and packaging this whole affair. The response, especially after they began highlighting Su Xi’s legendary backstory, was astonishing.

Their marketing department made a delightful discovery regarding their three major signings from the summer. While LeBron James had captured the male sports market, Su Xi was not only rapidly gaining ground in that same market but was growing even faster outside of it.

This was exhilarating news for them. Phil Knight made a snap decision: Su Xi’s signature shoe project was to be launched immediately.

When this news reached James’s ears, he shot up in his hospital bed. ’He’s getting a signature shoe already? Is it going to hit the market even before mine?’

’I’ve only been out for two or three days, and Jack is already making headlines this big?’

’Aren’t sports stars supposed to be family-oriented and avoid scandals? How come all the rules change for Jack? He openly kisses a movie star, goes to a hotel to "discuss the triangle offense," and not only do his sponsors not hold him accountable, they want to give him a signature shoe?’

James was dejected.

He called Eric Goodwin.

Goodwin said, "Maybe it’s because he’s better looking."

That sentence made James tremble with rage.

...

The game against the Lakers arrived as scheduled, and the atmosphere was surprisingly friendly.

At least three members of the Lakers’ F4 were close with Su Xi.

On the TNT broadcast, Su Xi was laughing and joking with Gary Payton, and also shared a handshake and hug with Kobe. Shaquille O’Neal ran over to pat Su Xi’s head, and Su Xi smoothly patted him back. The huge hand on the Shark’s head made him look like a cat. Though Shaq didn’t usually like his "little bro" touching his head, his eyes revealed his comfort as Su Xi’s hand rested there.

"Jack, how’s your research on the triangle offense coming along?" Shaquille O’Neal asked, slightly lowering his head to give Su Xi a better angle for a head pat.

"A little better than your free-throw shooting," Su Xi replied, taking his hand off O’Neal’s head.

He exchanged a few more pleasantries, then went over to chat with Gary Payton about defense for a bit.

Then, the game began.

The Lakers’ roster this year was indeed a dream team, but they had lost their previous two games—one to the San Antonio Spurs, and one to the Denver Nuggets.

Even though everyone was joking about Su Xi and the triangle offense, the truth was that the Lakers were having serious problems with their own triangle offense.

The addition of the two past-their-prime superstars, Karl Malone and Gary Payton, hadn’t made the Lakers’ offense any more fluid, nor had it solved the issues between their core inside and outside players.

If anything, it made them even more fractured.

Phil Jackson was also constantly playing mind games. Sometimes he would deliberately have O’Neal take more shots to provoke Kobe. Other times, he would have Kobe take more shots to provoke O’Neal.

A head coach playing that kind of balancing act is like dancing on a knife’s edge.

Phil Jackson always believed he was a master at managing the locker room. After all, he was the architect of three dynasties; no matter what he did, there were always people ready to kiss his ass.

And the Lakers never doubted him.

Just as the Lakers fans, right now, had no doubt that the Lakers would win the championship this season.

*BEEP!*

The game began.

...