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(EXTRA CHAPTER)
"Why?!"
Mark chimed in.
Jon Barry tapped the desk lightly and said, "It's not so much that I believe Curry will win as that I believe the Small-ball era is the inevitable trend.
As we all know, Curry's offensive weapon is the three-pointer, while DeRozan thrives in the mid-range.
In the Small-ball era, the three-point shot will be the most prominent weapon—the ultimate key to victory. Tonight, Curry knocked down seven threes and scored exactly seven more points than DeRozan.
That feels like a perfect reflection of that trend. Mark, what do you think?"
"Hmm."
Mark Jackson nodded, finding the argument convincing.
...
After defeating the Raptors and wrapping up their three-game road trip, the Suns flew back to Phoenix overnight. With two days off ahead, the players finally had time to recover.
Back at the villa, Blake Su took a quick shower and collapsed straight into bed.
The next morning, fans were already buzzing. With the Suns–Raptors game in the books, the next matchup was against the defending champion Lakers.
This was a showdown overflowing with hype.
Basketball commentators Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Reggie Miller, and Ian Thompson gathered for a special segment to break it down.
"Wow—Suns vs. Lakers in two days. That's a heavyweight clash. Just thinking about it gets the adrenaline going!"
Charles Barkley said with a grin, rubbing his shiny bald head.
Reggie Miller nodded. "It's a matchup loaded with storylines."
"Oh? Like what?"
Drexler tilted his head slightly, urging him on, while Ian Thompson leaned in with interest.
"Heh."
Reggie Miller smiled. "First, you've got a Suns team riding a 16-game winning streak facing the defending champion Lakers. A battle between heavyweights like this is bound to be electric.
Calling it a Western Conference Finals preview wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Second—
Blake Su has won Player of the Week four times in a row, breaking 'King James' LeBron's record for most weekly honors. He's the youngest player ever to score 50 points, and the youngest to post a 50-point triple-double.
He's this season's undeniable 'monster rookie'—a symbol of youthful energy, the power of a new era, perhaps even… the future of the league.
And then there's Kobe Bryant—the leader of the Lakers, fresh off back-to-back championships. The 'best player in the league,' the man closest to godhood since Jordan.
A clash between the rising force of a new era and the dominant ruler of the old—how could that not be compelling?
On top of that—
The Lakers and Mavericks both sit at 19–8, a 70.4% win rate, currently second and third in the West. Since the Mavericks won their head-to-head matchup, they hold second place, with the Lakers third.
The Suns are 18–8, a 69.3% win rate, currently fourth—just half a game behind both teams.
And remember, the Suns beat the Mavericks in their head-to-head meeting. So if the Suns defeat the Lakers, they'll instantly jump to second in the West, trailing only the top-seeded Spurs.
One more thing—
If the Suns win, that makes it 17 straight victories, tying the franchise's longest winning streak. It would be a milestone night."
"Whew—"
Barkley, Drexler, and the others couldn't help but suck in a breath.
Honestly, they hadn't realized just how many layers this matchup carried. After hearing Reggie lay it all out, their anticipation only grew stronger.
"Man…"
Drexler clicked his tongue. "That really is a blockbuster."
"Exactly," Ian Thompson said with a smile. "The Suns–Lakers game is on the 23rd, the day before Christmas Eve—not part of the official Christmas Day lineup.
But I have a feeling this one might be even more exciting than the Christmas games themselves."
"Absolutely."
"No doubt."
All four commentators agreed.
After their discussion aired, the buzz around the Suns–Lakers showdown two days later climbed even higher.
Meanwhile, the NBA didn't sit back. They pushed the Suns–Lakers matchup to the front page banner early, making sure every fan knew it was coming.
Normally, that prime banner slot is reserved for the Christmas Day games.
Even though the Lakers were still part of this year's Christmas slate… the matchup before Christmas—Suns vs. Lakers—had already become the game fans were most eager to see.
That very night, tickets sold out instantly. Some scalpers seized the opportunity, flipping seats at double, triple, or even higher prices, making a hefty profit.
In short, the Suns vs. Lakers clash—this super showdown before Christmas—had already captured nationwide attention.
...
As for Blake Su—
Adidas jumped on the hype train as well, promoting the upcoming Suns–Lakers matchup. Meanwhile, Blake Su, who had only just woken up that afternoon, was still groggy when a phone call summoned him to the company for a shoot.
He felt a little irritated, but there was nothing he could say—like punching a pillow. After all, if you take the money, you do the job.
It wasn't until six in the evening that Blake Su finally got off work.
He'd taken a taxi there in the morning. On the way back, a female colleague heading in the same direction gave him a ride, though she could only drop him off at a plaza not far from his villa.
After thanking her, Blake Su stepped out of the car. A gust of cold wind hit him immediately.
It really was chilly.
"Looks like buying a car needs to move up the priority list. As soon as my monthly salary from Adidas comes in, I'm getting myself a new ride."
He made up his mind.
The plaza wasn't far from home, and the cold was manageable. Blake Su walked the rest of the way, taking in the red and green lights glowing around him and the Christmas trees set up outside various storefronts.
Only then did it hit him.
Christmas was almost here.
In the past, he had always spent Christmas with his mother. This year, it seemed that wouldn't happen. Thinking about her spending the holiday alone—and realizing he hadn't called home in days—
He took out his phone and dialed his mother's number.
...Â
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