The small reunion was like a newlywed's bliss, making it easy to overexert oneself. The consequence was that He Xi Meng was lethargic throughout the game against the Clippers the next day. His signature three-pointers were only 1-of-5, and he managed a mere 11 points, barely avoiding a single-digit score. During timeouts, He Xi Meng was frequently seen clutching his waist and gasping for breath, much to the amusement of Kayla, who watched from courtside, covering her mouth with a giggle.
Scarlett, who was also watching, immediately reacted and leaned in to whisper in Kayla's ear, demanding to know if last night's battle had been "fierce"...
However, fortunately, this season's Clippers were the Western Conference's number one doormat! The team was essentially devoid of any high-caliber veterans, with their entire strategy revolving around two rookies. One was the 1998 number one draft pick, Olowokandi, and the other was the 1999 fourth overall pick, Odom!
Although both players had some room for growth in the future, they were still in their rookie years and lacked experience.
On the Spurs side, He Xi Meng was struggling with fatigue and a cold shooting hand, while David Robinson was also experiencing a dip in form due to an old injury and age. Among the Spurs' core trio, only Duncan was in peak condition!
Given the significant disparity in overall team strength, even Duncan playing as a solo star was enough to dominate Olowokandi! Throughout the game, Duncan scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, proving to be the undisputed pillar of the Spurs. Olowokandi, on the other hand, managed only 12 points and 9 rebounds under the combined defensive pressure of David Robinson and Brad Miller, with Duncan providing help defense.
With Duncan's individual brilliance, coupled with the contributions of Mario Elie from the starting lineup and Terry Porter, Jalen Jackson, and Brad Miller from the bench, the Spurs showcased a multi-pronged attack. They narrowly defeated the Clippers 99-94, avoiding an upset and extending their winning streak to five games.
After leaving Los Angeles, the Spurs' final game of their four-game road trip would be against their toughest opponent yet this season: the Phoenix Suns!
The Suns' biggest acquisition during the offseason was trading for "Penny" Hardaway from the Magic!
Michael Jordan once said of Hardaway, "If I absolutely had to choose a successor, he would be my first choice!"
Yes, before Grant Hill, there was indeed another successor to Jordan: Anfernee Hardaway!
Penny Hardaway was the third overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft, while Grant Hill was the third overall pick in the 1994 draft.
Then, in 1995, the year Michael Jordan played baseball, Penny Hardaway was selected to the All-NBA First Team as a shooting guard!
In the latter part of the Jordan era, Penny Hardaway was known as the league's second-best shooting guard.
During his peak, Hardaway was humble, handsome, and radiant, with a humble background, incredible skills, and an elegant playing style. His style was graceful, his movements fluid, his footwork sharp. He could drive and shoot, weave past defenders effortlessly, dunk with artistry, and deliver pinpoint passes...
Magic Johnson once said of Hardaway, "When I played against him, it felt like I was battling my own reflection in a mirror..."
Tracy McGrady's jersey number was originally 3, but after joining the Magic, he chose number 1, specifically to pay tribute to his idol: Penny Hardaway!
When LeBron James first entered the league, a reporter asked him if he wanted to surpass Jordan. James replied, "Let Jordan wait for now. I want to reach Penny's level first..."
Besides McGrady and James, there's also a buried story between Kobe Bryant and Penny. After Kobe gained fame, he once asked Shaquille O'Neal, "Do you remember? One year, a kid went to your team's locker room. He wanted to meet Penny. Penny saw the kid wave at him but didn't even acknowledge him..."
O'Neal asked back, "What year? Whose kid?"
Kobe replied, "When you were with the Magic, from the Bryant family, his name was Kobe... Yes, that kid was me..."
Such was Penny Hardaway's former glory. Even with Michael Jordan still in the league, Penny's charm attracted many young people to emulate him...
The only pity was that intermittent injuries prevented Hardaway from consistently performing at his best. Every time he recovered from an injury, it was like a fleeting bloom! As captivating as it was in its prime, it was equally regrettable in its decline.
This season, Hardaway was traded to the Suns, forming the league's strongest backcourt duo with Jason Kidd!
In this game, because Clifford Robinson had just returned from injury, Suns head coach Danny Ainge did not start Clifford Robinson. Instead, he placed the ninth overall pick of this year's draft, Marion, at the small forward position!
The center was Luc Longley, a former key player for the Chicago Bulls dynasty.
The power forward was Tom Gugliotta, once the "Wolf King" and Kevin Garnett's mentor.
The small forward was Shawn Marion, the future "Matrix," the cornerstone of the Suns' run-and-gun offense.
And then there were the two superstar guards: Hardaway at shooting guard and Kidd at point guard.
Last season, Hardaway and Kidd were the only two players in the league who averaged over 15 points per game while also grabbing at least 5 rebounds and dishing out at least 5 assists, along with 2 steals.
It's no exaggeration to say that the two most versatile guards in the league were now united in Phoenix!
This season, the Suns had become one of the most talked-about teams in the Western Conference, trailing only the Lakers, Spurs, and Jazz!
With this lineup, if coached properly and avoiding injuries, they could contend with anyone in the league. Of course, this was contingent on avoiding injuries.
For example, at the start of the new season, the Suns' starting power forward Clifford Robinson, who had averaged 18 points last season, was sidelined for a week. Although Marion's replacement didn't significantly impact the Suns' overall record, it was still not a good omen for the Suns' start to the season to lose a key player.
Before the game was about to start, He Xi Meng went to midcourt to exchange pleasantries with Kidd.
As the top two assist leaders in the league last season, whether they liked it or not, the media in both San Antonio and Phoenix would naturally compare them.
With the gradual aging of Stockton and Payton, Marbury's move to the Nets for a rebuild, and Bibby and Nash not yet fully developed... Kidd and He Xi Meng had gradually established themselves in the top two point guard positions in the league, emerging from the first tier.
These years were supposed to be Kidd's undisputed reign as the league's number one point guard. Now, with He Xi Meng's emergence, Kidd's path to being the "King of Point Guards" was no longer solitary and lonely...