Keep it up, you can do this

"Shaq!" "Shaq!" "Shaq!"...

"Kobe!" "Kobe!" "Kobe!"...

"Gary Payton!" "Gary Payton!" "Gary Payton!"...

Amid the fans' cheers, the Los Angeles Lakers' F3 walked out of the players' tunnel one after another.

Karl Malone, meanwhile, was sitting out this game with a knee injury.

On the other side, Goodwin watched the superstars he'd once only been able to cheer for on TV standing right in front of him. His heart raced, and his hands trembled.

Was he really playing on the same court as them? This couldn't be a dream, could it?

Goodwin couldn't help raising a hand and slapping himself.

Smack! The sound rang out loudly.

His teammates stared at him in bewilderment. What was wrong with Goodwin?

"Yes! This isn't a dream. I'm really standing here at Staples Center, playing against them." Feeling the pain in his face, Goodwin clenched both fists and said excitedly.

Unable to watch any longer, Paul Pierce walked over and kicked Goodwin. "Goodwin, what are you doing?"

Goodwin seemed not to feel a thing. He turned to Paul Pierce and said excitedly, "Paul, I'm so excited right now. I never thought I'd get to play alongside so many superstars one day—Shaq, Kobe, Gary Payton, OMG!"

Shaquille O'Neal, the most dominant big man in NBA history; Kobe Bryant, the most dominant guard since Jordan retired; and The Glove, Gary Payton, the only point guard in NBA history to win Defensive Player of the Year.

At that moment, words couldn't express what Goodwin was feeling.

Hearing Goodwin's words, Paul Pierce's mouth curled into a faint smile. Once upon a time, he'd felt the same way.

Paul Pierce reached out and patted Goodwin on the shoulder. "Goodwin, the best way to make them remember you is to beat them on the court."

Beat them?

Two seconds later, Goodwin nodded solemnly. "Paul, I'll give it my all."

Warm-ups ended. The starters from both teams took off their warm-up jackets and stepped onto the court.

The Los Angeles Lakers' starting lineup: Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant, Rick Fox, Slava Medvedenko, Shaquille O'Neal.

The Boston Celtics' starting lineup: Mike James, Paul Pierce, Goodwin, Vin Baker, Mark Blount.

O'Neal and Mark Blount walked to center court and took their places on either side, getting ready for the jump ball.

"Beep, beep." As the whistle blew, the game officially began.

Smack!

O'Neal won the tip without surprise.

The Los Angeles Lakers got the first possession.

Gary Payton dribbled across half court, flicked his wrist, and passed to Kobe on the left wing.

The moment Kobe caught the ball, Rick Fox came over to set a screen for him.

Using the screen, Kobe drove toward the middle.

"Goodwin, help!" Paul Pierce called as he went around the screen and chased after Kobe.

Goodwin was already ready to help on defense.

At the same time, Mark Blount slid over from the paint, forming a defensive trap with Paul Pierce and Goodwin.

Facing the three-man trap, Kobe didn't slow down at all. He even accelerated, crossed the free-throw line in an instant, and leaped.

Mark Blount jumped with both hands raised, one hand reaching for the ball.

Paul Pierce and Goodwin jumped too.

In midair, Kobe pulled the ball back to his waist. With a flick of his fingers, he sent it flying through a gap in the trap.

(꒪ꇴ꒪(꒪ꇴ꒪ ;) Huh?

All three Celtics looked stunned. He'd still managed to pass it out?

The ball went to Shaq, wide open in the paint.

I'm coming for you, old friend!

The rim: NO!

O'Neal leaped and slammed the ball into the basket with both hands.

The basket shook from the force.

"Ahhhhh!" "Awooo!" "Ahhhhh!" "Awooo!" "Ahhhhh!" "Awooo!"... In an instant, all of Staples Center erupted.

0:2

The OK Duo's connection had helped the team score the first points of the game.

Goodwin stared blankly at O'Neal and Kobe's backs. So this was the OK Duo?

Incredible ୧(๑•̀◡•́๑)૭

The Boston Celtics inbounded from the backcourt, and the ball went to Mike James, who dribbled quickly across half court.

As soon as he crossed half court, Goodwin started moving without the ball, sprinting toward the paint.

After only two steps, Goodwin came to an abrupt stop, planted his right foot, and cut back out.

What?

Rick Fox hurried after him.

Goodwin reached the three-point line on the left wing, and the ball arrived right on time. Mike James passed it to him immediately.

Goodwin caught the ball and faked a shot.

"Don't even think about shooting!" Rick Fox rushed over and jumped hard, trying to block Goodwin's outside shot.

Seeing this, Goodwin changed his mind at once. Instead of forcing the shot, he dribbled one step to the left to evade Rick Fox's block, lined up the basket, jumped, hung in the air, and released.

The ball traced a beautiful arc through the air.

Swish.

The three-pointer went in.

3:2

"Yes!" Goodwin clenched his right fist and pumped it in the air, shouting excitedly.

Then he turned and ran over to Mike James. "Mike, keep passing me the ball. I'm feeling great today."

"Sure thing." Mike James couldn't have been happier. Before Goodwin joined the rotation, Mike James averaged only 3.6 assists per game. After Goodwin joined, his average had risen to 6.8—a full 3.2 more.

Goodwin was an assist machine.

What point guard wouldn't love a shooter like that?

"Shoot with confidence, Goodwin. Let it fly," Mike James said with a smile.

If Goodwin got his shot going, that would be great news for the Boston Celtics, especially against a team like the Los Angeles Lakers with a dominant big man.

O'Neal might average 2.5 blocks per game, but just having him in the paint created an instinctive sense of intimidation for anyone driving inside.

If they couldn't attack from the perimeter, this game was basically over.

Gary Payton came over to Rick Fox and reminded him, "Fox, don't leave him open. He's a very accurate shooter from outside."

A shooter who averaged 56% from three and 66% from the field—a percentage more like a big man's close-range shooting—couldn't be left open. That would be giving away points.

Rick Fox nodded.

The Los Angeles Lakers set up their offense again. This time, Gary Payton and O'Neal ran a pick-and-roll. As soon as O'Neal rolled, he drew the entire Boston Celtics defense's attention, leaving Gary Payton wide open as he drove in.

Swish. Gary Payton scored on a floater.

3:4

The Los Angeles Lakers took the lead again.

"Get over to help faster!" Doc Rivers shouted from the sideline.

That was the power of the OK Duo. Both Kobe and O'Neal put tremendous pressure on the Boston Celtics' defense.

Keep it up, you can do this.

Doc Rivers silently cheered his players on.