45 Spurs vs Lakers
*Sound Effects*
**Language**
'Thoughts'
"Dialogue"
(Point of View)
| Setting |
[System]
| Location: Practice Facility, San Antonio, Texas |
| Date: Tuesday Nov 29, 2005 8:25pm |
(1st person - Javi)
As I warmed up, my gaze drifted across the court to find Kobe putting up shots, preparing for the upcoming game. A smile crossed my face as I recalled the intense matches we had just yesterday.
After the initial game, Kobe and I continued to duke it out, although it seemed like the system wouldn't activate another question, likely a one-time occurrence. I hoped for more opportunities to challenge Kobe in a 1v1 match for potential rewards.
With each game against Kobe, I gleaned valuable insights. Initially, I noticed his preference for finishing with his right hand despite being capable with his left. Yet, I struggled to exploit these tendencies as Kobe adeptly drew fouls whenever I attempted to disrupt his rhythm, as he would say, 'you reach, I teach'.
While I consistently ended up on the losing side, I managed to score points in every game, a notable improvement from our last faceoff where I sometimes went scoreless. Nevertheless, it felt insufficient.
Scoring around Kobe proved daunting; his height and athleticism posed formidable challenges, particularly when driving to the basket. Despite not fearing physicality, absorbing contact often disrupted my shooting rhythm, leading to blocked attempts.
After the games we played and some of the spurs players began to flood in, Kobe asked me if I wanted to 'blackout'. I quickly declined telling him that I wasn't even 21 yet, he looked at me a smirked before clarifying he meant working out so hard until we blacked out.
Of course, I wasn't one to back down from a challenge, so I agreed, despite already engaging in 1v1 battles for nearly four hours. Over the course of an additional five hours, we alternated between weight training and cardio, culminating in a grueling session that left me seeing spots towards the end. Unfortunately, the system remained inaccessible, denying me the opportunity to gauge the impact of such fatigue on my stats.
Completing this punishing workout regimen fostered a newfound respect for Kobe, a sentiment I suspected he reciprocated. Fortunately, the ordeal concluded with a silver lining: a well-deserved meal.
I smiled as I focused back on my warm up routine, preparing myself mentally to play tonight.
(3rd person - ???'s apartment)
"Come on! The game's about to start!" shouted a young Hispanic boy, around 10 years old, to his slightly older brother, who was carrying a plate with a slice of pizza. The older brother hurriedly settled onto the couch as the TV screen flickered to life.
With eager anticipation, the brothers watched as the San Antonio Spurs' roster was announced, cheering loudly for each player, especially their favorite, Javier 'Speedy' Morales.
'Speedy' Morales had captured the hearts of San Antonio fans with his tenacity on the court. Despite his short time in the league, he had earned a reputation for resilience, always bouncing back from hard hits. Rooting for the underdog was something most people enjoyed.
"Dad! It's starting!" the younger brother called out across the apartment.
The father, just home from work and still in his construction vest, hurried over, knowing he couldn't miss the game with his kids. Despite not having had time to shower, he was determined to make the most of his time with them.
He only had them a few days during the week before they went back with their mom and he didn't want to waste any time.
"What did I miss?" he asked, grabbing a slice of pizza and joining them.
"You missed Speedy!" exclaimed the younger brother.
"And they're about to tip-off," added the older brother.
The family settled in to watch, eagerly awaiting Javier's moment to shine. It didn't take long before he was subbed in, with the score at 16-8, the lakers leading and seven minutes left in the first quarter.
"Javier checks in for Tony Parker, who's not having a great game. Let's hope Javier can turn things around," the announcer remarked.
"Let's go!" cheered the younger brother, earning a gentle reminder from his father to keep it down for the neighbors.
The game resumed with Speedy on the court, facing an unexpected challenge as Kobe Bryant guarded him.
"Why's Kobe guarding him?" asked Miguel, the younger brother.
"I'm not sure, Miggy," replied their dad.
The older brother hushed Miguel, and their father intervened to keep the peace before they all turned their attention back to the TV, engrossed in the action unfolding before them.
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(3rd person - SBC Center)
"Javier is being defended by Kobe Bryant himself!" exclaimed the announcer in astonishment.
Javi flashed a confident smile as he signaled for an isolation play, eliciting surprised reactions from fans throughout the SBC Center.
"Javier opts for an isolation against Bryant, seemingly eager to take on the challenge head-on," commented the announcer with palpable anticipation.
The crowd watched intently, their focus fixed on the court as Javi executed a fake to the right, shifting Bryant's stance before swiftly crossing over to the left. Rather than continuing his drive to the basket, Javi executed a behind-the-back step-back move, creating space for a mid-range shot.
Bryant managed to recover and leaped to contest the shot, but his outstretched hand narrowly missed the ball.
The fans held their breath as the ball sailed through the air, its trajectory true as it smoothly dropped through the net with a satisfying swish.
The arena erupted in cheers and shouts, the collective excitement reverberating throughout the stadium. While it was just a mid-range shot, the significance of sinking it against Kobe Bryant, who was guarding a rookie, added an extra layer of exhilaration to the moment.
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(3rd person - ???'s apartment)
"Holy shit!" exclaimed Miguel.
"Miggy!" his father admonished, giving him a stern look for his choice of words.
"Sorry," Miguel quickly apologized, his interruption unnoticed.
The father and older brother chuckled at Miguel's outburst, the lighthearted moment adding to their enjoyment of the game.
The match continued with both teams trading baskets. To everyone's surprise, Javi took on the challenge of guarding Kobe himself. However, due to the height difference, Kobe managed to score repeatedly against him.
Yet, Javi refused to back down, matching Kobe bucket for bucket throughout the game. It was evident to everyone that this would be a historic matchup, with rookie Javier Morales holding his own against the legendary Kobe Bryant.
Transitioning to the NBA was notoriously tough for rookies, not just because of the physical demands and the grueling schedule, but also because of the pressure to prove themselves. Most high-profile rookies such as top 10 picks in the NBA draft were targets for other players eager to establish dominance and to 'welcome them to the league' with a humbling moment.
The family remained glued to the game, their excitement growing with each passing minute. As they finished their pizza, the father looked at his children, their faces alive with joy and enthusiasm, and couldn't help but smile himself.
It was clear that watching the Spurs play would become a cherished family tradition for them.
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| Location: SBC Center Press Conference, San Antonio, Texas |
| Date: Tuesday Nov 29, 2005 10:51pm |
(3rd Person - SBC Center)
"Kobe, it seems like you have a history with Javier despite this being your first time playing with him. Could you share how you first met Javier?" inquired a female reporter.
"Well, we actually crossed paths during the Finals a while back. I was visiting to catch the game, and we met in the early in the morning. I was surprised to find him already practicing at 4 a.m., which is rare even for NBA players. We even went head-to-head in a 1-on-1 match," Kobe revealed.
"1-on-1? How did that go, and did that influence your matchup tonight?" queried a male reporter.
Kobe smirked before replying, "As for the 1-on-1? He didn't stand a chance," he said, before turning serious. "But what impressed me was his persistence. Despite the losses, he kept coming at me. Tonight, I saw that same determination, and he played well," Kobe remarked.
"Tonight, you scored 36 points while Javier managed 23. As a rookie, and considering his tenacity, what do you think is the potential ceiling for a player like him, despite his height?" pressed another male reporter.
"The sky's the limit for someone like Javi. I remember when I was ranked 57th in high school. While others got complacent, I kept a 'Kill list' of all those ahead of me and hunted them down. Whenever we faced off, I made sure to prove I was better. I trained relentlessly year after year, and eventually, I rose to the top by my senior year. So for someone like Javi, he's going to be a force to reckon with. He's already shown significant growth since our first encounter, and I'm confident he won't be slowing down, even with his height" Kobe asserted, concluding the interview before exiting the conference.
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(1st Person - Javi)
| Location: SBC Center Locker Room, San Antonio, Texas |
| Date: Tuesday Nov 29, 2005 10:51pm |
As the team prepared for the game, a sense of satisfaction washed over me as I reflected on my performance. With Tony struggling on the court, Coach Pop finally entrusted me with more minutes, and I was determined to make them count.
Yet, my joy was tempered by the memory of Tony's disappointed expression as the game ended. I could sense the tension building, his frustration palpable at his own subpar performance contrasted with my standout play.
Contemplating the consequences of this, a heavy sigh escaped me as I glanced at my system screen.
The game had revealed some undeniable truths. Despite our team's victory, I couldn't shake the feeling of personal defeat. I had been unable to contain Kobe, proving that if I wanted to compete with the towering figures of the league despite my height disadvantage, I needed to find a way to level the playing field.
Fortunately, I knew just the solution.
Surveying the array of packs I had accumulated, a mischievous grin spread across my face.
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A/N: Sorry for the late chap, had a lot of project stuff going on. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy this chapter, let me know what skills you'd like to see the MC have going forward in the future!
