Chapter 102: Christmas Game 2

Sure enough, with Butler's intense encouragement and sharp words, Jokic quickly shifted into serious mode, focusing fully on the game. Coach Malone, observing the change on the court, nodded approvingly. He knew that previously, the Kings had struggled with consistency, partly due to Gay's tendency to ease off during games. As the saying goes, if the leader slacks, so will the followers. Gay's relaxed approach had subtly influenced the team's younger players, but Butler's arrival was changing that dynamic. In the locker room, Butler's authoritative presence complemented Gay's lighter demeanor, creating a "good cop, bad cop" setup that kept the younger players grounded and motivated.

As Malone watched, Butler charged straight into the paint, cradling the ball like it was a live grenade. "Beep!" The referee's whistle blew, and Cousins raised his hand in acknowledgment of his foul. He had no choice but to foul Butler to prevent the bucket. Butler hit the floor hard, sending a jolt through Malone as he wondered if Butler was hurt. But, before anyone could rush over, Booker helped Butler to his feet, and Butler casually shook off the impact, heading to the free-throw line as if nothing had happened.

"Is this guy even human?" Malone muttered, stunned by Butler's resilience. Most players would have milked the moment to draw a flagrant or get some rest, but Butler seemed ready to continue as soon as possible. With calm precision, he nailed both free throws, then flashed a provocative grin at Wall, silently taunting, Is that all you got?

Wall, already heated, felt his pride flare up. His teammate Beal noticed Wall's rising frustration and warned, "Don't fall for it, man. Butler's just trying to get under your skin."

But Wall was too fired up to listen. "I've got this. Watch me show him who's boss." Ignoring Beal's advice, Wall took the ball, charging down the court with a vengeance. The next few plays turned into a showdown between Wall and Butler, each trying to assert dominance, pushing themselves to their limits on offense and defense.

Eventually, Wizards coach Randy Whitman couldn't hold back any longer. "Timeout!" He barked, frustrated, calling Wall over. "What are you doing, John? This isn't your one-on-one showcase! Look at the scoreboard! Your distractions are hurting the team!"

Wall, realizing the score had widened, took a deep breath. Butler had been strategically wearing him down, subtly signaling for help defense and constantly pressing him. Drained and refocused, Wall nodded. "Got it, Coach. Let's run our plays."

After the timeout, the Wizards regrouped, but they still struggled against the Kings' intense defense led by Butler, Gay, and Young. Cousins continued to exploit Jokic in the post, so Malone made a crucial adjustment, substituting Jokic for Greg Oden, whose physicality immediately silenced the Wizards' offensive threats. This tactical move shifted the game's momentum, as it both strengthened the Kings' defense and staggered Jokic and Cousins' time on the court. Once Cousins was subbed out, Malone brought Jokic back in to face Gortat, the Wizards' backup center.

Against Gortat, Jokic thrived. His footwork around the basket spun Gortat around, leaving the Wizards scrambling defensively. Sacramento's bench, anchored by Richardson, took advantage of the Wizards' weak second unit, extending the lead even further. Compared to the Wizards, whose effectiveness relied solely on their Big Three, the Kings' depth made a significant impact, creating a lopsided matchup that exposed the Wizards' lack of supporting players.

By the third quarter, the Wizards' Big Three reentered to cut the deficit, but after a brief resistance, the Wizards had to concede. The Kings' seamless teamwork and staunch defense had been too much.

In the commentary booth, they are laughing, "What a show tonight!"

"There are two big takeaways from this game," he began. "First, the Wizards' lineup problem is clear. Their Big Three are powerful, but the rest of the team lacks depth. If they enter the playoffs like this, they'll have to rely entirely on their star players."

"It's true. The Wizards' bench couldn't hold up against Sacramento's depth. Even Richardson found ample space to perform. Their defense is definitely lacking."

"The second point is the Kings' new defensive strength. Adding Butler has taken their defense to a new level. Before, defense was a weak spot for them, but now they're a solid playoff-caliber defensive team."

"Exactly. The Kings' moves in the trade market this season make sense now. They've acquired players like Ben, Young, Oden, and Porter, all excellent defenders, but without a leader, they couldn't reach their potential. Butler is that missing piece, tying the whole defense together into one impenetrable shield."