Chapter 55 Beat LA!

Why was the Eastern Conference weaker than the Western Conference?

Part of the reason was the dominance of the Chicago Bulls under Jordan back in the day, which suppressed the competitive landscape in the East and prevented a multitude of superstars from rising to prominence...

Could LeBron ever be as great as Michael?

And who was coaching Michael and those Bulls back then?

Yours truly!

Phil—Nine-Ring Coach—Jackson!

Therefore, the strategy of the Cleveland media trying to undermine the Lakers off the court failed completely due to the Zen Master's overwhelmingly legendary credentials.

Over on LeBron's side, surrounded by flashing cameras, he was asked for his thoughts on his upcoming matchup with Kobe tonight.

"You know, I share a great relationship with Kobe. He's an exceptional competitor, and I'm going to enjoy matching up against him on the court," LeBron said with complete composure.

A reporter asked, "LeBron, what are your thoughts on 'Linsanity' sweeping the globe recently?"

"You know, just like all of you, I really enjoy watching Li's games. His journey has also given me a lot of strength, and I think that's why fans all over the world love watching him play," LeBron said earnestly.

Unlike other players who liked to put down and provoke Li Rui before games, the "Chosen One" LeBron showered Li Rui with continuous praise, as if he and Li Rui had known each other for a long time.

LeBron's mindset was distinctly different from old-school players like Kobe; he was reluctant to treat opponents as true enemies.

He preferred to treat them like friends—this was the NBA circle he hoped to build.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone just used basketball to make money together?

Why must there always be endless hostility and bloodshed?

.....

Away team locker room.

The Lakers players, fully geared up, formed a circle with the Zen Master speaking in the center.

The necessary tactics had already been drawn up beforehand; the Zen Master was simply emphasizing a few key points and instilling some "Zen-style" chicken soup into the players.

"Ahem, ahem."

"I'll keep it brief."

"The starting lineup is the same as the last game; I won't read out the names one by one."

"Also, when you step onto the court, don't think the opponent is stronger than us. We are currently a team on a five-game winning streak; if anything, we should hold the psychological advantage."

"Of course, what we need to do is focus on the game on the court, focus on executing every single detail and every defensive possession..."

"And victory will naturally follow."

"Come on, everyone, let's pump ourselves up!"

The Zen Master proactively reached out his hand, and Kobe along with the other players gathered around.

"Unity!"

"Victory!"

"Clap, clap, clap!!"

"Urah!" Li Rui shouted, feeling that this phrase carried a bit more momentum.

Vujačić looked at Li Rui curiously, seeming slightly puzzled as to why the Chinese player was shouting in Russian, but he didn't say anything.

Finally, the players all applauded and took a deep breath.

The Zen Master often delved into metaphysics and Zen philosophy, but when it was time to step up and inspire the team, he knew exactly what to do.

On a five-game winning streak, both physically and mentally fatigued, the players needed a boost.

The final cheer lifted Li Rui's spirits significantly as well.

Seeing Kobe sitting in front of his locker tying his shoelaces, Li Rui hurried over, sat down, and asked, "Kobe, how do you think I should handle Gibson tonight?"

With such a treasure trove of a player around, Li Rui was constantly looking to extract something from Kobe.

This rookie.

Ever since yesterday, he had been pestering him with questions nonstop, with each session lasting at least half an hour, and no amount of mockery could chase him away.

Yet, as long as the conversation was strictly about basketball, Kobe could do nothing against Li Rui.

Without even raising his head, Kobe said, "Play however you want. He's very thin; you can post him up for a fadeaway jumper in the low post, or attack him one-on-one off the dribble. He can't guard you."

In Kobe's view, destroying a rookie like Gibson should be as easy as breathing, right?

Kobe's focus was far more concentrated on studying how to defend LeBron and Hughes.

"Well, that's true, but I'm not very good at post-ups or attacking off the dribble," Li Rui said helplessly.

Kobe seemed to think everyone was as proficient in those offensive moves as he was, and regarded any inability to do so as trash.

"If you suck, practice more!" Kobe instinctively snapped, but when he looked up and saw Li Rui's eager-to-learn gaze, he softened slightly and added, "Just run your usual cuts and look for opportunities to shoot; he won't be able to contest you."

Li Rui was one of the rare players who dared to approach Kobe in the locker room and discuss the game with him, and given his recent stellar performances, Kobe tried his best to keep his temper in check.

A rookie who wanted to learn was ultimately not a bad thing.

"Okay, I get it," Li Rui shrugged.

Li Rui felt a tinge of regret; he hadn't gained any attribute increases from Kobe over the past two days.

..........

"Beat LA!"

"Beat LA!"

"Beat LA!"

The moment Li Rui stepped into the arena, he was greeted by the deafening chants of "Beat LA" echoing throughout Quicken Loans Arena.

Among the 30 teams in the NBA, many fierce rivalries had formed over the league's sixty-plus history, such as the Bulls and the Pistons, but none had deeper roots—or rather, a deeper hatred—than the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The two teams had faced each other in the Finals 12 times in history, making it the most frequent matchup in Finals history. These 12 encounters had birthed numerous legendary superstars, with every single game proving breathtaking. Fans of both sides had been tearing into each other since the late 1950s, considering defeating the other as the ultimate source of joy.

"BEAT LA" originated in 1980 when the Celtics were playing the Philadelphia 76ers; seeing no hope of victory, Celtics fans chanted "BEAT LA" throughout the arena, passing the torch of defeating the Lakers onto their rivals, Philadelphia.

This slogan was especially loud in the playoffs, and every opponent of the Lakers, whether direct or indirect, would bust out the chant in their home arenas.

"Damn it, we're going to wipe you out tonight."

Dressed in the purple and gold uniform, hearing those chants and seeing the dense crowd hurling abuse at his team, Li Rui felt his emotions stir as well, and he couldn't help but glare back at a screaming fan near the tunnel entrance.

The away team was introduced first; every time the Cavaliers DJ called out a Lakers player's name, the arena erupted in boos!

Among them, Kobe drew the loudest boos, followed closely by Li Rui.

Judging by their ecstatic emotions and angry glares, one had to admit that the fans here were fiercely loyal to the Cavaliers.

When it was the home team's turn to be introduced, cheers filled the arena, with LeBron enjoying the loudest ovation of all.

"CCTV, CCTV..."

"Good morning, viewers and friends."

"Today is yet another marquee NBA matchup, with the Los Angeles Lakers traveling away to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers."

"Let's take a look at the starting lineups. For the Lakers, it's unchanged from the last game, with Li Rui continuing to start at the point guard position."

"For the Cavaliers, starting point guard: Daniel Gibson."

"Shooting guard: Larry Hughes."

"Small forward: LeBron James."

"Power forward: Drew Gooden."

"Center: Žydrūnas Ilgauskas."

"The Cavaliers' scheme is built entirely around LeBron as the core. The Lakers need to pay special attention to defending him."

"Alright, the players remain on the court, and the game is underway."

.....

While the television broadcast was underway, the text live stream on the internet was also ready, and countless students began refreshing their phones.

"Li Rui is starting again; looks like his starting spot is truly secure."

"He literally hit a game-winner last time out, not starting him would be indefensible."

"The Lakers are soaring thanks to Li Rui; Kobe isn't even the alpha of the Lakers anymore, he's just Li Rui's vanguard general."

"The Cavaliers are strong? Where are they strong, exactly?"

"Those media pundits probably still haven't fully acknowledged Li Rui's impact on the game."

"Take down the King, let's go Kobe."

"Take down the rapist, let's go Little Emperor!"

As fans chatted animatedly online, the game officially tipped off.