Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 134 That's no joke

Amid the uproar created by Xu Ling, people overlooked the person the Hornets least wanted to lose to the Grizzlies: then-Hornets head coach Byron Scott.

Of course, who would want to lose to a playoff opponent?
However, beneath this natural desire to win, Scott also harbored some personal grudges. Just as everyone who has undergone breast augmentation surgery tries to cover up the scars under their armpits, Scott also had wounds he was unwilling to reveal.

As the players walked off the court, Scott's gaze lingered on the Grizzlies' number 5 for a moment.

As human society was about to bid farewell to the 20th century, some predicted that the world would collapse at the first midnight of 2000. Among all the imaginations about the end of the world at that time, the Y2K bug was probably the gentlest one. Now everyone knows that it was just selling panic, but once upon a time, it was a sense of crisis that was right on the tip of your tongue.

Just like the Nets team that rose to prominence at the beginning of the century, the key figures of that team were Jason Kidd and Byron Scott.

They were once a near-perfect basketball partnership. One was the commander, the other the mentor. Scott once publicly called Kidd his "most trusted brain on the court"; and Kidd said more than once in press conferences: "The coach lets me play freely, he understands the rhythm I want."

They often ate together, watched videos together, and stayed after practice for an extra hour. The 2001-02 season, when the Nets went from being a bottom-feeder in the Eastern Conference to a Finals team, was the time when their relationship was closest. Scott acted almost like a proud father in front of the media, while Kidd was like a son perfectly embodying his father's ideals.

The Nets, like everyone else, survived the Y2K bug, but not the collapse it promised.

Years later, as the team waned after years of failing to win the championship, Scott remained the same smiling, gentle, and ritualistic coach, while Kidd grew increasingly indifferent and silent. He stopped responding to the coach's gaze and stopped attending team meetings. He began publicly criticizing Scott's coaching methods, his tactics, his rotations, and everything about him as a coach.

Ultimately, Kidd demanded that the team fire Scott, or he would request a trade.

In professional sports, when star players clash with coaches, it is often the coach who leaves. Scott left the place where his coaching career took off and came to New Orleans, where he met another talented guard. He believed that this kid was different from Kidd.

Now, fate has brought Scott and Kidd together again, but their positions are no longer what they once were. Scott is a favorite for Coach of the Year and is in the prime of his coaching career, while 35-year-old Kidd is working tirelessly for 20-year-old Eli Shoo. They are in the best positions for themselves and are determined to defeat each other on this stage.

"Calm down! Everyone calm down!" Scott's voice boomed over the noise. "We've had a great start. Keep up the pace, Morris. Forget about those rounds, you're fine!"

Then, Scott looked at Paul like a father and said, "CP, Kidd is good at defense, but he can't keep up with you anymore."

Paul was so intelligent that he understood immediately.

The timeout ended, and although Scott hoped Paul would take the initiative to attack Kidd on offense, Paul also had his own ideas.

He wasn't the kind of player who was eager to unleash his personal offensive firepower. After dribbling continuously, he lobbed the ball to David West in the low post on the left.

West backed down Hakim Warrick, but his turnaround jump shot missed.

However, Tyson Chandler aggressively grabbed the offensive rebound and passed it directly to Paul on the perimeter.

In a split second, Paul accelerated past Kidd, but his layup attempt under the basket was interfered with by Milicic and missed again.

However, Milicic's help defense also caused him to lose his rebounding position. Chandler overpowered everyone and grabbed the precious second offensive rebound, passing it back to Paul.

Paul didn't force a shot, but calmly passed to Peja, who was wide open on the perimeter, and Peja made the three-pointer.

8 is better than 10
Kidd dribbled past half-court and held up two fingers, and the Grizzlies players immediately began to run in a cross-court pattern.

Xu Ling tried to cut out again through a screen, but Maurice Peterson had clearly been instructed by the coach to play even more aggressively on defense, using almost both hands and feet, and taking advantage of the home court to put up a lot of pressure.

Kidd couldn't find a good opportunity to pass to Xu Ling, so he flicked his wrist and passed the ball to Josh Howard, who was calling for the ball in the midfield position.

Facing Peja's defense, Howard used his footwork and physical advantages to force a turn and jump shot—the ball bounced twice on the rim before finally sliding out.

Chandler protected the defensive rebound like a beast, yelling, "Beat these Memphis bastards!"

The Grizzlies retreated quickly on defense, preventing the Hornets from launching fast breaks. Paul had no choice but to maintain control of the court and execute their preferred half-court offense. This time, he directly had Chandler run a pick-and-roll at the high post.

Kidd struggled to get past the screen, but Paul used that momentary opening to change his rhythm, drive to the free-throw line, draw Howard's help defense, and calmly pass the ball to Peja, who was left open in the corner.

Peja had just picked up the ball and hadn't even thrown it when Xu Ling approached like a magnet.

Peja felt a sudden lightness in his hand as the basketball was knocked away by an external force. He turned around in astonishment and saw Xu Ling's blue figure move like a cheetah, grabbing the basketball that had been cut off and driving forward at full speed.

"Steal! Eli Xu! He disrupted the Hornets' offense!" Kevin Harlan's voice rose instantly.

Xu Ling took the lead, with only Chris Paul chasing after him. Paul was fast, but Xu Ling had a longer stride and more power! The two rushed into the penalty area one after the other. Xu Ling didn't slow down at all, leaping with all his might from the edge of the restricted area, his body fully extended in the air.

Paul followed suit, leaping up to try and disrupt him from the side and rear. But his efforts were in vain against Paul's overwhelming height and jumping advantage.

Ignoring the interference from his side, Xu Ling raised the basketball high with one arm, as if to pour all his strength into it, and slammed the ball hard into the basket.

Subsequently, referee Dick Bavetta showed no mercy to the home crowd and called a defensive foul.

This is 2+1!

Familiar boos came from all directions.

Paul looked at Baveta with an innocent expression, while Baveta, the referee who personally orchestrated one of the most shady games in NBA history, wore an arrogant "don't talk nonsense to me" look. Xu Ling landed, the momentum causing him to take a few steps forward. He steadied himself, glanced back at the landing Paul, and said casually, "Chris, I wasn't joking when I said that."

Paul responded, "I know."

A sense of competition naturally arose.

Paul has a good impression of Xu Ling. They have each won and lost three times in their regular season matchups, and Paul has never had any conflicts with Xu Ling like others have.

Xu Ling rarely takes the initiative to make friends, but he also doesn't usually cause trouble. So, through several exchanges and cooperation during the All-Star Weekend, they naturally became friends.

However, this friendship is fragile. Once the playoffs arrive, they will have to abandon all pretense and tear each other apart.

Xu Ling made the free throw, making it 11-10, and the Grizzlies regained the lead.

Paul finally fulfilled Byron Scott's wish. Facing Kidd, a series of sharp changes of direction were nothing to him. Shaking off the 35-year-old's leg pain was a piece of cake. The subsequent jump shot was the key.

"Shh!"

Paul responded with a shot.

He growled, "Hold them off!"

Kidd didn't even touch the ball, and Xu Ling picked it up and tossed it to Milicic, indicating that he should pass it directly to him.

Milicic had no choice but to comply.

Kidd watched from the sidelines, Josh Howard watched from afar, and their 20-year-old core decided to let them go to the sidelines and watch him and Paul battle it out. What could they do?
Xu Ling arrived at the front of the field, where Peterson stood ready.

Xu Ling kept changing direction and swaying, and Peterson didn't dare to be careless, keeping a close eye on Xu Ling's shoulders and steps.

Suddenly, Xu Ling made a quick feint to gather the ball, and Peterson didn't jump, but his center of gravity involuntarily shifted upward. In that instant, Xu Ling accelerated at full speed, making a powerful breakthrough from the right side.

Peterson desperately tried to slide to the side, but he had already lost the initiative. Xu Ling carried him back half a step, and then he lost his entire position.

Xu Ling caught the ball a few steps behind Peterson and made a jump shot, which went in cleanly.

"It's Eli Xu again! He's scored 8 points in a row! He's completely unstoppable!" Kevin Harlan exclaimed. "Maurice Peterson is helpless against him!"

Doug Collins added, "What's worse is that Maurice Peterson looks completely insecure! Eli can do whatever he wants to him, and he's utterly helpless!"

Then, Paul used a screen to his advantage and made a decisive mid-range jump shot.

Two young core players, playing in their first playoffs, suddenly took over the game.

But the Grizzlies' morale was completely high, and even if Xu Ling didn't ask for the ball, Kidd would still find him.

Xu Ling, through a series of screens, finally created a tiny opening in the left corner. Kidd immediately delivered the pass.

Xu Ling received the ball, and Peja, who had switched onto him, was in front of him. Although it wasn't a good opportunity, he still pulled up for a three-pointer.

"boom!"

Peja's height still interfered with Xu Ling, but the long rebound that bounced out was grabbed by Kidd. Kidd simply used Xu Ling as bait and suddenly passed the ball to the inside.

Milicic puts the ball in under the basket.

The following matches became extremely intense.

Paul began to increase his personal attacks, using speed and rhythm to constantly attack the basket, creating opportunities for his teammates while maintaining his own offense. The Hornets strengthened their defense against Xu Ling, but Xu Ling's presence itself had a restraining effect. The more energy the opponent invested in him, the more Kidd could use him as leverage to disrupt the entire defensive system.

Ultimately, Kidd activated Milicic's offense under the basket, which also allowed Josh Howard to find scoring opportunities in the latter part of the first quarter. The offensive firepower of these two indirectly relieved the offensive pressure on Xu Ling.

Throughout the quarter, the Hornets' home crowd suddenly realized that although Paul could easily take on Kidd one-on-one, Chandler had a significant advantage in the paint, and David West could easily defeat Warrick one-on-one, they had not gained the upper hand.

Because the Grizzlies' wing completely overwhelmed the Hornets' wing.

While Josh Howard's shooting accuracy isn't as high as Peja's, he's the most well-rounded small forward in this series. After Peja made a few shots early on, his shooting touch cooled off as the defensive intensity increased, while Howard, with his all-around abilities, gradually gained the upper hand on both ends of the court.

As for Maurice Peterson, he was completely outmatched by Xu Ling.

The Grizzlies' comprehensive advantage at the shooting guard and small forward positions allowed them to take the lead on the road, finishing the first quarter with a 28-25 advantage over the Hornets.

(End of this chapter)