Chapter 146: An Eye for an Eye

The game continued with the Nets in possession. He Xinghui chose to switch onto Kidd, continuing to provoke him with his actions. This was a clear display of his disdain for Kidd, intentionally leaving the veteran with a difficult dilemma. If Kidd did not attempt to score himself now, it would look as though he were afraid of He Xinghui. Yet, forcing the issue was beyond his current capabilities; Kidd was never a pure scorer even in his prime, let alone after his injuries.

As He Xinghui stood before him, the spectators grew attentive, eager to see if Kidd would offer a direct response.

"What a crafty little bastard," Kidd cursed inwardly. He had no desire to challenge He Xinghui directly; it was inefficient. But as a league superstar, he felt compelled to defend his pride. Finally, Kidd decided to give it a try. He feinted a shot, and He Xinghui, unable to discern the bluff, lunged forward to contest it.

The "Old Demon" proved his reputation was earned. Knowing his own penetration was a weakness, Kidd used it to catch He Xinghui off guard. He turned his fake shot into a drive, drawing the foul as he drove past. He Xinghui, however, didn't give up; he pivoted instantly and gave chase—the advantage of youth. As Kidd went up for his layup, He Xinghui, realizing he couldn't block the shot, swiped across Kidd’s face. The motion was nearly identical to what Kidd had done to him moments earlier.

The referee stood with his whistle in his mouth, hesitating. He didn't know how to call it. A common foul seemed light given He Xinghui’s intent, but calling a flagrant foul would be hypocritical since he hadn't penalized Kidd for the same action earlier. To maintain a semblance of fairness, the referee whistled for a common reach-in foul. Both players were league headliners; it was best not to offend either.

Kidd, a red handprint visible on his face, gritted his teeth in frustration, yet he was powerless against He Xinghui. In this league, one sometimes has to swallow their pride. Just then, He Xinghui leaned in and whispered, "Does that feel good?" If not for the fear of losing the game or facing a suspension, Kidd would have punched him right then and there.

Fortunately, reason prevailed. He stepped to the free-throw line. As he kissed his palm, preparing for his trademark routine, he was suddenly struck by the memory of He Xinghui using his backside to mime kissing the rim. A wave of disgust washed over him, and he abandoned the gesture. Fans watching on television erupted in laughter, stunned that He Xinghui had managed to make Kidd abandon a ritual he’d kept for years with a single act.

Kidd released the shot, but it clanked off the rim—a miss. It was a common occurrence, but Kidd couldn't help but wonder if it was because he hadn't performed his ritual. For the second free throw, he reverted to his usual routine. This, however, only made the fans think of He Xinghui’s mockery, triggering another wave of laughter. Kidd sank the second shot, feeling slightly better. Being mocked was a small price to pay; winning was what mattered.

On the next Clippers possession, He Xinghui hit a three-pointer over Carter. Carter’s defense had been sound, but he couldn't stop He Xinghui’s red-hot shooting. The poor form from the last game was a thing of the past.

As the Nets returned to offense, He Xinghui moved to guard Kidd again. Since Kidd was clearly the most incensed player on the court, provoking him was the easiest way to farm anger points. This time, however, He Xinghui was disappointed. Kidd’s ability to adjust was remarkable; he suppressed his emotions and immediately passed the ball to an open Carter. Cassell could handle Kidd, but keeping up with Carter was a struggle. Carter caught the ball and drained a three of his own.

The transition continued. He Xinghui’s movement forced Carter out past the three-point line, leaving the Nets' interior vulnerable. Maggette received a pass in the mid-range and sank the jumper. It wasn't just He Xinghui; the rest of the Clippers had regained their form. While some weren't the brightest, their agents were constant reminders of the importance of on-court performance. The occasional indulgence was one thing, but they knew when to buckle down and train. Those who refused to adjust were long gone from the NBA—a cycle that repeated every year.

"Tighten up on your men!" Nets coach Lawrence Frank shouted from the sidelines. Their success was built on defense. Engaging the Clippers in a shootout might work for now, but they would inevitably lose, as they couldn't match the Clippers’ sustained scoring power.

On the Nets' next possession, Cassell signaled for a zone defense. It was their pre-game strategy, one disrupted by He Xinghui’s antics earlier. With the game settling into a rhythm, Cassell reminded his teammates to stick to the plan. Compared to man-to-man, a zone sacrificed perimeter defense to clog the paint and prevent drives. Against a team with elite three-point shooters, this would be suicidal. But Dunleavy knew the Nets’ weakness; he had chosen the zone precisely because their three-point shooting was lackluster—only 33.3% on the season.

Kidd dribbled, scanning for an open teammate. Time ticked away, but the Nets' movement failed to break the Clippers' defensive shape. With the shot clock expiring, Kidd was forced to take a contested three. Cassell wasn't worried about such a rushed attempt and easily contested the shot. It was an airball.

"If you're old, you should retire. Hanging on just makes you a laughingstock," He Xinghui remarked.

Kidd remained silent. He was past his prime, but he wasn't "old" yet. Still, the airball left him with no rebuttal.

On the Clippers' possession, the Nets switched to man-to-man; they didn't dare play zone, lest He Xinghui shoot them out of the building. Man-to-man was harder, and the movement of He Xinghui and Maggette forced the Nets' defense into constant flux. Eventually, the Nets cracked; Carter and Jefferson both converged on He Xinghui, leaving Maggette wide open. When Maggette drove, Krstic was forced to help, but once he stepped out, he couldn't recover to the paint. Maggette fed Brand for the basket.

Tactically, the Clippers had the upper hand, or perhaps their roster was simply better built. He Xinghui’s threat from deep left the Nets in a constant state of defensive hesitation.