Chapter 123: Humans Born Cold-blooded
“Would you stab me 11 times for KG?”
In 1999, Paul Pierce was stabbed 11 times in a nightclub, nearly losing his life. This was his darkest history that he least wanted mentioned.
Paul Pierce’s smile completely disappeared. His eyes shifted from contempt to gloom, as if two flames were burning.
“You damn…” Paul Pierce stepped forward, looking extremely provoked.
But before Paul Pierce could finish, Kevin Garnett turned sideways, like a moving black mountain wall, blocking between Paul Pierce and Xu Ling.
“Enough, P.P.,” Garnett’s voice was low like a hungry beast roaring, “Don’t mind what he says, let’s teach him a lesson in the game!”
Xu Ling’s smile had already subsided.
Did he like provoking opponents? Yes. Angering opponents made the game easier. But if opponents didn’t provoke him first, he wouldn’t say anything too excessive.
One thing must be made clear: Paul Pierce started it, he was just passively striking back.
In this unpleasant opening exchange, Paul Pierce exposed the weakness common to all veterans: their black history was public, easy to attack.
As the center of attention, this opening dispute naturally drew notice.
Even if some fans were slow, ABC television broadcasting the game would remind everyone what just happened.
“Folks, the game hasn’t started with the tip-off yet, but the on-court atmosphere is already quite tense!” Breen’s voice carried professional acuity, “We see Eli walking toward KG, seemingly for pre-game talk, but it turned into a verbal clash with Paul Pierce, and the scene instantly became tense!”
The camera closely followed the on-court action. Paul Pierce pointed at Xu Ling and said something, while Xu Ling responded calmly.
It was this one sentence that made Paul Pierce’s face suddenly darken; he lunged forward fiercely, and if Garnett hadn’t blocked him in time, conflict might have erupted.
“Though we can’t hear exactly what they said,” Jeff Van Gundy analyzed, “from the players’ body language and reactions, this was definitely not friendly chit-chat. Paul Pierce was thoroughly enraged.”
Mark Jackson added: “I agree. More importantly, look at KG’s reaction—he immediately held back his teammate. What does that mean? It means even KG thought the situation might spiral out of control. Eli must have said something upsetting.”
Van Gundy said seriously: “This opening is very unusual. Young players usually show respect facing a champion-level team like the Celtics, but Eli’s performance is the opposite. He’s not only ready to challenge opponents technically, but also unyielding in psychological warfare.”
Though no direct conflict occurred, Xu Ling confronting “The Truth” face-to-face still provoked strong dissatisfaction from Boston fans.
For a moment, boos filled the arena, and some crude racists hurled piercing curses at Xu Ling.
Ignoring fans had time and again helped Xu Ling avoid the impact of away-game hostility at moments like this.
When the referee tossed the ball into the air, Darko Milicic used his youth and height advantage to overpower Kendrick Perkins, tipping the ball to Jason Kidd.
Kidd dribbled past half-court, not rushing offense, but held up two fingers, signaling a simple tactical gesture.
Xu Ling got it, accelerating from the corner, using Warrick’s screen to try cutting out.
However, Paul Pierce, this crafty forward not an elite defender, stuck to him like gum, using his strong physique for constant resistance, disrupting his catch rhythm.
“You fucking want the ball?” Paul Pierce said, “Keep dreaming!”
Xu Ling truly hadn’t expected Paul Pierce to go so berserk, actively mismatch defending with full effort—who defends like that right away?
But this was also Xu underestimating the damage of his trash talk.
Anyone with memory remembers violent assaults they suffered, let alone a near-death stabbing of 11 knives in a nightclub.
Those with fragile temperaments might wake from nightmares often; even big-hearted ones like Paul Pierce treat it as their reverse scale. Xu Ling bringing it up in retaliation sent a message: I don’t care about you at all, your feelings mean nothing to me.
At this moment, Paul Pierce had thrown reason out the window. He wouldn’t think about how he trash-talked Xu Ling first in front of thousands, or consider veteran poise.
Kidd didn’t force it; the Grizzlies’ first offense ended with low-post Darko Milicic, the Serbian trying isolation against Perkins, but Kevin Garnett’s help defense arrived like a ghost, long arms interfering, and Milicic’s hook shot missed the rim.
Garnett grabbed the rebound, letting out a low roar, flinging the ball to Rajon Rondo.
But the Celtics’ fast break didn’t get going.
Because everyone on the Grizzlies except Milicic had retreated on defense.
Paul Pierce called for the ball deep on the left wing, backing down Josh Howard.
Paul Pierce’s broad back firmly posted on Howard, then caught Rondo’s pass, posting up step by step, using solid footwork and powerful core strength to squeeze inside.
Howard didn’t yield an inch, stance firm, arms wide, but Paul Pierce’s experience took over. He posted to a comfortable spot, then spun right with veteran savvy, shoulder subtly faking forward, slightly baiting Howard’s balance, then fadeaway jumper.
Made!
“Damn Chinese clown!” Paul Pierce was now speaking without restraint, facing Xu Ling guarding Ray Allen, “You only got a big mouth, dare to guard me?”
Xu Ling’s expression didn’t flicker, running to the frontcourt, posting up on the right low block, calling for the ball.
Kidd frowned slightly; he knew Xu Ling’s isolation was part of the team’s offensive system, but clearly, Xu Ling had many unplanned isolations, especially when feeling offended—he’d ignore team tactics entirely, demanding the ball like a grim reaper.
In this way, he was no different from Kobe.
Just that he was mostly calm.
Kidd didn’t like the whole team catering to one person, but he had no choice; with Xu Ling demanding like this, not passing would upset the young man, and that stab-worthy scum Pierce would use it to further humiliate Xu Ling.
Had to pass.
Kidd decided quickly, passing the ball and directing others to clear out.
One-on-one!
The crowd erupted in even hotter cheers and boos, eager to see Paul Pierce teach this arrogant rookie a lesson.
Xu Ling caught the ball, facing Paul Pierce’s tight defense. He didn’t opt for clumsy backdown, but faced up in triple-threat, eyes scanning Paul Pierce’s defensive steps.
Suddenly, Xu Ling pump-faked a shot; Paul Pierce saw through it, didn’t jump, just hesitated slightly.
Right then, Xu Ling put the ball down, crossover dribble from the right side.
His first step wasn’t league-top speed, but quick enough, instantly gaining half a body.
Paul Pierce reacted swiftly, sliding laterally to stay in front, body contesting.
In high-speed contact, Xu Ling used a slight fadeaway running one-hand shot, tossing the ball!
2 to 2
“Can you defend?” Xu Ling hit back, “American clown?”
When opponents showed total hostility with no turnaround possible, any attempt to de-escalate seemed like submission and weakness, only emboldening them; Xu Ling would strike back twice as hard.
Paul Pierce’s face visibly flushed red; he clenched his teeth, about to spew racist curses against Chinese people he’d heard somewhere.
But a voice in his heart told him absolutely not to!
Enraged Paul Pierce was determined to answer back.
Moreover, Xu Ling had switched with Josh Howard, actively matching up on Paul Pierce.
Paul Pierce called for the ball at the same spot. This time, more aggressively, after consecutive post-ups, suddenly spinning baseline.
But this time, Paul Pierce’s footwork was completely read by his young opponent.
Xu Ling’s precise anticipation, tightly holding position. Paul Pierce’s shot lost balance, barely releasing, ball bouncing off the front rim.
Milicic secured the defensive rebound.
Grizzlies pushed fast break; Xu Ling raced ahead like an arrow, Kidd’s pass arriving right after.
Xu Ling caught it, only Ray Allen back defending.
Xu Ling didn’t hesitate, pulling up for three outside the three-point line.
Ray Allen leaped full extension to contest; pure release speed, he was a league gunslinger few could match.
However, Gentleman’s Thunder’s shot was two-motion; Xu Ling’s one-motion release was also fast in that category.
In an instant, Xu Ling’s ball sailed over Ray Allen’s head, into untouchable territory for mortals.
At the moment the basketball was about to leave his hand—even after fully off Xu Ling’s fingertips—his body rotation had begun.
It wasn’t a post-shot celebration, but integral to the shooting motion.
Xu Ling’s head turned first toward the Celtics’ bench, eyes leaving the flight of the ball. Then shoulders, rotating easily like shedding a trivial burden.
Finally, Xu Ling’s whole body fully back to the basket, leaving the arcing ball in air and stunned Ray Allen behind.
And what angered Celtics players and Boston fans more: Xu Ling’s shooting hand stayed high, index finger to the sky—not the arena ceiling, but toward the scoreboard—like saying: “Add three!”
This damn arrogant hateful bastard!!!
All 20,000 in the arena thought so.
Then
“Swish!!!!!”
“Eli Xu!” The seasoned Mike Breen exclaimed, “He’s like a born cold-blooded human!”
