After the game, Barkley said in an interview, "If my grandma knew I got beaten by someone and didn't fight back, she'd be furious..."
Even more interesting was that after the fight, O'Neal and Barkley had dinner together!
It's unknown what kind of extraordinary minds these two mythical beasts possess, but they decided to let bygones be bygones. What started as mere acquaintanceship, after their fight, their relationship escalated rapidly, to the point of becoming close friends...
Of course, at that dinner, O'Neal also insisted that Barkley pay! The implication was that Barkley was apologizing for his impulsive actions. But O'Neal didn't mention an apology directly, only that Barkley was the one who footed the bill. And Barkley didn't deny it.
From He Xi Meng's perspective as an observer, Barkley had indeed overreacted and misunderstood O'Neal at the time. O'Neal had no intention of deliberately hitting Barkley; the nudge to his jaw was purely accidental...
In the many years that followed, whenever the media brought up the wrestling incident, Barkley, without discussing right or wrong, would simply claim he was the victor in the fight!
O'Neal, on the other hand, wouldn't talk about who won the fight. Instead, he'd enthusiastically discuss their close relationship: "I love Barkley, he's my idol, he's a man of infinite capabilities. Whether he's playing basketball or not, I love him. In my opinion, Barkley is one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Shaq and Barkley had a physical altercation, but it wasn't a real fight. He wasn't trying to kill me, and I didn't hate him – we were just working, it was a matter of professionalism. After the game, Shaq and Barkley had dinner together. Many people don't know that Shaq and I ate together. They think we hated each other to the bone..."
And in this shortened season, after O'Neal and Barkley were both ejected from the game, Hakeem Olajuwon and Scottie Pippen didn't seize the opportunity to defeat the Lakers. Instead, it was He Xi Meng, Kobe, and Glen Rice who took advantage, bombarding the opposition from mid-range and beyond, leading to their demise...
Ultimately, in this shortened season, the Lakers finished with a record of 38 wins and 12 losses, ranking first in the Western Conference and first in the entire league.
He Xi Meng's constant worry about O'Neal's injuries did not manifest during the regular season. However, this wasn't a good sign. If the injuries didn't surface during the regular season, the Lakers would have no room to maneuver if they occurred in the playoffs...
However, after terminating the contract with Dennis Rodman, the logo man did make some compensatory moves. Yes, the trade target was still the Hornets! This time, however, the logo man didn't choose Brad Miller, as recommended by He Xi Meng, but opted for JR Rider, whom he favored more. Compared to others, the logo man had more faith in his own judgment. The Hornets, with no hope of making the playoffs, readily sent JR Rider away in exchange for a Lakers' second-round draft pick and some cash.
Thus, the Lakers' backup interior rotation became Nate, JR Rider, and Louk.
However, JR Rider was only 2.06 meters tall, and Louk was only 2.08 meters tall. Strictly speaking, both were power forwards rather than centers. The Lakers were already starting to miss the presence of Campbell...
Yet, things being as they were, the logo man had made his bed, and the Lakers had to lie in it, even if it meant shedding tears. The next question was how the Lakers intended to perform in the playoffs.
As for this, He Xi Meng had already made his decision...
This season, the top eight teams in the Western Conference playoffs were: Lakers, Spurs, Jazz, Trail Blazers, Rockets, Kings, Suns, and Timberwolves.
The top eight teams in the Eastern Conference playoffs were: Heat, Pacers, Magic, Hawks, Pistons, 76ers, Bucks, and Knicks.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers' first opponent was the Timberwolves!
The Timberwolves' starting lineup for the playoffs consisted of center Kevin Garnett, power forward Joe Smith, small forward Sam Mitchell, shooting guard Anthony Peeler, and point guard Terrell Brandon.
This was a light, small, and fast-paced lineup. Garnett was 2.11 meters tall, Joe Smith was 2.08 meters, Sam Mitchell was 1.98 meters, Anthony Peeler was 1.93 meters, and point guard Brandon was registered at only 1.80 meters, shorter than Allen Iverson.
Brandon had previously played for the Milwaukee Bucks. Mid-season, as Stephon Marbury continuously challenged Garnett's leadership, the exasperated Timberwolves traded Marbury to the Nets. Brandon was acquired by the Timberwolves from the Bucks as part of a three-team deal!
Brandon possessed good passing and ball-handling skills. Since joining the Timberwolves mid-season, he quickly developed chemistry with Garnett and Joe Smith, averaging 9.8 assists per game, a significant increase from his 7 assists per game with the Bucks, elevating him from an excellent league organizer to a top-tier organizer!
However, for He Xi Meng, he wasn't afraid of small point guards like Brandon. In his three seasons in the league, He Xi Meng had been constantly dueling with Iverson! Were there any point guards smaller or more troublesome than Iverson?
In contrast, point guards like Marbury, who played tenacious defense, sometimes to the point of disregarding the rules, gave He Xi Meng more headaches.
Therefore, trading Marbury for Brandon significantly improved the Timberwolves' overall tactical fluidity. The point guard was no longer as ball-dominant, Garnett and Joe Smith's scoring numbers increased, and their regular-season record became more impressive... However, against strong teams, especially those at the Lakers' level, the Timberwolves would find themselves missing Marbury's presence!
Because, He Xi Meng exploded in the first round of the playoffs!
After coasting through the season and keeping a low profile, ignoring the doubts of fans and media for a whole season, He Xi Meng chose the Timberwolves as his sacrificial altar, unleashing his full power!
In the first game against the Timberwolves, He Xi Meng changed his usual approach, attempting 15 three-pointers from beyond the arc and making 8 of them, scoring 24 points solely from three-point shooting! Brandon, stunned by He Xi Meng's shooting, attempted to intimidate him with aggressive defense. As a result, He Xi Meng unceremoniously drew three shooting fouls on Brandon for three-pointers! Converting 8 out of 9 free throws, He Xi Meng added another 8 points. Finally, there were a few drives to the basket... By the end of the game, He Xi Meng's final stat line was 38 points, 12 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks!
He had the highest score, the most assists, and the most steals in the game!
As soon as these three statistics were released, the Lakers fans in attendance erupted in cheers. It wasn't just the Lakers fans; even the team's superstar, O'Neal, exaggeratedly grabbed his jersey and asked He Xi Meng for an autograph.
"Don't kid me, Shaq, are you mocking me for playing badly before?"