He Shouldn't Have Started Him This Early

The Boston Celtics inbounded from the backcourt, and Mike James quickly dribbled over half court.

As soon as he crossed the line, Mike James passed to Paul Pierce on the right.

Kobe immediately settled into a defensive stance.

But Paul Pierce didn't try to engage Kobe. He wasn't the main option on offense today—not yet, anyway.

Paul Pierce dribbled as he watched his teammates' positions.

On the other side, Goodwin used Vin Baker's screen to run to the top of the arc.

Seeing this, Paul Pierce passed him the ball, then ran to the corner. Kobe had no choice but to follow.

What was he up to? Why wasn't he attacking?

Kobe looked baffled.

Goodwin caught the ball and went straight up without adjusting.

Rick Fox arrived late and leaped desperately, aiming not for the ball but for Goodwin's face.

For an instant, Goodwin's vision was blocked by darkness.

Goodwin's mouth curled slightly. You think that's enough to stop me from shooting? Dream on.

As if nothing had gotten in his way, Goodwin drew back and fired.

The ball left Goodwin's hand and flew toward the hoop.

Swish. It struck the backboard and bounced into the basket.

A banked three-pointer.

6–4

Goodwin came out firing, knocking down both of his three-point attempts and scoring six straight points. The entire Staples Center fell silent.

"Fuck, who's that? How's he so accurate?"

"Is this guy on drugs?"

"Rick, play tighter! Don't let him shoot again."

The fans in the arena murmured among themselves.

Phil Jackson rose from his seat on the bench and walked to the sideline. "Gary, go shut him down," he called to Gary Payton.

Gary Payton was a little surprised. He wanted him to bully a rookie?

But since the coach had asked, he had no choice but to accept.

"OK!"

The Los Angeles Lakers set up their offense, and Gary Payton dribbled over half court.

In the paint, Shaquille O'Neal called for the ball. His massive frame instantly shoved Mark Blount behind him.

Mark Blount tried to push O'Neal with all his strength, but O'Neal stood firm as a mountain.

Vin Baker saw this and hurried over to help, while Goodwin also dropped back from the perimeter.

Even with three men surrounding him, O'Neal held his ground.

Thud!

Goodwin took a shot to the chest and felt himself lift off the ground for an instant.

A human behemoth.

Gary Payton didn't pass the ball inside to O'Neal. Instead, he kicked it out to Rick Fox, who was open in the corner.

Rick Fox lined up his shot, jumped, and released.

Clang! The ball hit the rim and missed.

Mine!

O'Neal leaped over the three defenders and grabbed the rebound.

The instant his feet hit the floor, O'Neal jumped again. Like a bomber, he slammed both hands toward the rim.

Boom!

O'Neal threw down another two-handed dunk.

6–6

Goodwin stared at O'Neal in shock. Holy shit, so this is Shaquille O'Neal?

This is terrifying.

There's no stopping him.

After dunking, O'Neal turned and silently surveyed Goodwin and the other two, as if to say, You've got a long way to go!

Then he headed back on defense.

"Don't let it get to you. He's O'Neal," Vin Baker comforted Goodwin right away.

"He's a monster, and we're only human. Humans can't beat monsters," Mark Blount added. This wasn't his first time facing O'Neal. He'd gone from being stunned at first to numb by now.

Goodwin nodded and ran upcourt.

The Boston Celtics inbounded again, and the ball went to Mike James.

??

When Mike James saw Rick Fox in front of him, his face filled with question marks. Why is he guarding me?

Gary Payton had gone to guard Goodwin.

Goodwin looked at Gary Payton and, instead of being shocked, felt excited.

A point guard who was the only one in NBA history to win Defensive Player of the Year was guarding him. It was an honor.

But you can't stop me.

Goodwin immediately started moving.

He'd barely taken his first step when Gary Payton slammed into him.

Thud! The impact was so powerful that Goodwin had to slow down.

Gary Payton wasn't done. He kept initiating physical contact, their bodies pressed together as they defended each other.

Muscle against muscle, bone against bone.

Goodwin gritted his teeth and endured Gary Payton's hits.

Interesting. I didn't expect this pretty boy to take my bumps. Gary Payton's lips curled slightly.

The next moment, Vin Baker came over to set a screen for Goodwin.

Goodwin used the screen to run the other way.

Gary Payton immediately slipped around Vin Baker's screen and chased after him.

Goodwin reached the left-side three-point line, about 60 degrees from the basket, ready to receive the pass. The next second, Gary Payton was right in front of him, one hand cutting off the passing lane and denying him any chance to catch the ball.

Mike James, at the top of the arc, saw this and held his pass.

"Mike, watch the clock," Paul Pierce reminded him.

Mike James immediately called for a screen.

Mark Blount came out of the paint and set a pick. Mike James used it to shake his defender, drove inside, stopped suddenly, and shot from midrange.

Clang! He missed.

O'Neal grabbed the rebound. As soon as he landed, he saw Kobe sprinting upcourt and flung the ball forward.

It flew straight to Kobe.

Paul Pierce chased hard, but he was always half a step behind.

The ball reached Kobe, who dribbled toward the paint, leaped high, and slammed it into the basket with his right hand.

Boom!

Kobe dunked.

6–8

The Los Angeles Lakers took the lead again with a fast break.

As the game went on, it gradually fell into the Lakers' rhythm. Gary Payton completely shut down Goodwin, who couldn't even touch the ball. Even when Mike James passed it to him, Gary Payton somehow managed to reach in and disrupt the pass.

"Rookie, you won't touch the ball again this game."

Goodwin: "..."

Goodwin kept moving, but still couldn't shake Gary Payton.

Without Goodwin, the Boston Celtics' offense fell apart, while Kobe kept Paul Pierce under wraps.

The other three simply couldn't match the Los Angeles Lakers' offense.

The gap between the teams widened little by little.

"Beep, beep." The first quarter ended.

22–31

The Los Angeles Lakers led by nine.

Huff, huff, huff... Seated on the bench, Goodwin gasped for breath. He'd spent all twelve minutes of the first quarter constantly running without the ball. He'd covered nearly as much ground as he usually did in an entire game coming off the bench.

"Goodwin, have some water and wipe off your sweat." A staff member handed him a bottle of water and a towel.

"Thanks." Goodwin took the bottle and towel.

He drank some water, wiped off his sweat, then draped the towel over his head.

Seeing this, Doc Rivers couldn't help wondering, Did I rush things? Shouldn't have started him this early.