"When did you turn into an economist?" Kobe playfully punched He Xi Meng, "Although I think what you're saying is a bit far-fetched! But playing for your own team, that's quite attractive! However, I can't come up with that much money alone… Four hundred million, an unreachable price…"
"If you're determined to get a team, I can invest with you."
"How much money do you have?" Kobe asked with a look of disdain, "Going to the Spurs and taking a pay cut for your own value, you spendthrift…"
"Uh…" Kobe's disdain was so sudden that He Xi Meng was momentarily speechless.
"In fact, I do have some money," He Xi Meng defended. "Besides, if the money isn't enough, we can borrow it! I know a major Chinese financier, incredibly wealthy! The Nasdaq index has been soaring lately, and he has nowhere to put his money! I can bring in his strategic investment, and we can agree that he only takes dividends and doesn't get involved in operations. He won't touch the operational control of the team in the future…"
"Is there such a generous patron?"
"Hey, hey, hey! Show some respect for our investor, alright? He's a major financier, not some country bumpkin."
"It's all the same! If you can find this foolish investor, I might consider your proposal."
"Well, you can start considering it. My major financier friend will definitely be no problem."
"How much investment can you bring in?"
"How much investment do you want to bring in?"
"I roughly estimate I can gather about one hundred million. And you?"
"Me? About the same as you, around one hundred million."
"Not bad?" Kobe suddenly punched He Xi Meng again. "You've been quiet these past few years. It looks like you've taken on quite a few endorsement deals? Your playing salary is much lower than mine!"
"Hey, I don't rely on that salary to make a fortune."
"Keep bragging! You think you're something after a few compliments?"
"Uh…" He Xi Meng really didn't know how to respond to Kobe.
Fortunately, Kobe didn't dwell on the issue.
"As you can see, the two of us can only pool two hundred million. We're still two hundred million short of the minimum target to buy a team, which is four hundred million. Can you really secure that investment?" Kobe asked, annoyed.
Unexpectedly, He Xi Meng replied without even thinking, "Yes!"
"What?" Kobe thought he had misheard. "You can secure two hundred million in investment and get them to promise not to interfere with the team's control?"
"Yes! I can!"
This time, it was Kobe's turn to be stunned.
"This conversation is going too smoothly, I'm a bit dizzy. Let me think it over and get back to you."
"No problem. Contact me when you've thought it through. After all, buying a team isn't something that happens in a day or two…" He Xi Meng casually shook Kobe's hand, as if they were discussing buying a forty-thousand-dollar car, not a four-hundred-million-dollar team.
"You make it sound like you're an expert…" Kobe couldn't stand He Xi Meng's perpetually confident and assured demeanor.
"Haha…" He Xi Meng didn't argue with Kobe. Some things were self-evident, and whether he was an expert or not was for him to know, not necessarily for Kobe to understand. As long as Kobe believed that He Xi Meng was serious about buying a team, that was enough.
The subsequent game was incredibly exciting!
Kobe and Carter, two of the league's top four guards, staged a scoring battle at the TD Garden in Boston!
Kobe needed no introduction; the Lakers this season essentially relied on him for scoring. If Kobe wasn't scoring, who would?
The Celtics had plenty of scoring options, but with He Xi Meng orchestrating the offense, a large portion of the shot attempts were funneled towards Carter.
Before the season began, He Xi Meng had promised to help Carter pursue an MVP award, and he wouldn't go back on his word.
To contend for an MVP, excellent individual statistics were essential.
On this Christmas Day game, to provide a more enjoyable spectacle for the fans, both teams would ease up on defense, making it a prime opportunity to rack up points.
Carter did not disappoint He Xi Meng's expectations.
As soon as the game started, Carter cut along the baseline and found an open shot opportunity in the low post.
Carter's initial plan was to take a step after receiving the pass and execute a fadeaway jumper over Kobe.
Unexpectedly, He Xi Meng threw the ball directly towards the rim, forcing Carter into a cutting-behind-the-back move to elbow Kobe out of the way and complete an alley-oop dunk over him!
What a spectacle! He sure knew how to stir up trouble!
Those who understood realized that Carter had no choice in this play. Since He Xi Meng had thrown the ball towards the rim, what else could Carter do?
But those who didn't understand, like most of the fans in attendance, only saw Carter soar through the air, overpowering Kobe, and completing a spectacular alley-oop connection with He Xi Meng.
Kobe, of course, knew that the instigator of this play was He Xi Meng lurking beyond the three-point line. However, since Carter was the one who dunked over him, Kobe's first target for retaliation would be Carter, and then He Xi Meng…
Thus, on the Lakers' first possession, Kobe cleared out his teammates and went one-on-one with Carter, responding to Carter's dunk with his signature mid-range fadeaway jumper.
Although the explosiveness was a level lower, the points were the same.
Honestly, facing Carter's defense, even Kobe couldn't just drive in and easily dunk the ball at will.
Similarly, while Carter could take on Kobe one-on-one, forcing a dunk over Kobe would be extremely difficult. The reason the previous play was so easy was primarily due to He Xi Meng's perfect pass.
The Lakers currently lacked a passer of He Xi Meng's caliber around Kobe, so most of their offense had to be self-generated.
After Kobe scored, the Celtics went for their second offensive possession.
He Xi Meng still looked for Carter, but this time, Carter didn't cut towards the basket. Instead, he made an off-ball cut and ran to the wing three-point line.
Using Diaw's high-post screen, He Xi Meng drove to the Lakers' basket. He could have easily taken the shot himself, but at the last moment, he chose to pass the ball out to Carter on the perimeter.
Carter caught the ball, turned, and, with Kobe flying towards him, shot a high-arcing three-pointer.
Kobe's block attempt failed, and he even sent Carter crashing to the floor, resulting in a foul called by the referee.
Even more crucially, Carter's high-arcing three-pointer hit the backboard and went in.