Gary Payton was a little frustrated.
He'd taught his student too well, and now he was paying the price.
Matched up against him again, he realized his defensive skills could no longer keep up with Su Xi's. He couldn't stop Su Xi's drives, while Su Xi, in turn, used his physicality and suffocating defense to make him uncomfortable.
Furthermore, Su Xi's ability to fight through the pick-and-roll was a level above his own... or maybe even a level and a half.
Su Xi was so fluid. The way he navigated screens was baffling. He was like a non-Newtonian fluid: when you crashed into him, he was incredibly solid, but when he wanted to envelop you, he moved like he was made of liquid.
Gary Payton was getting bested repeatedly in this matchup. He could only shrug with a helpless, bitter smile.
