Using a point guard to lock down the second-greatest power forward in history—and a power forward renowned for his strength, at that.
If anyone else had said this, Carlisle would have considered it a 'stroke of genius'—a major on-court innovation.
But since it was Su Xi saying it, he had no objections.
No doubts.
His only concern was Su Xi's stamina.
At the 3:45 mark of the third quarter, Su Xi entered the game.
Every fan in Conseco Fieldhouse stirred with excitement. Su Xi had long been the symbol of Indiana basketball.
At this moment, Kenny Smith beat Charles Barkley to the punch on the broadcast, booming, "Su Xi's entrance will inevitably shatter the Lakers' fantasy world! Their championship aspirations will turn to dust, annihilated by Little Sheep Su Xi's determined advance."
Kenny Smith was always inventing new ways to praise Su Xi.
It even made Barkley wonder if his own admiration for Su Xi wasn't pure enough.
Su Xi stepped onto the court, replacing Reggie Miller.
