Stephen Coles sat in the third row, center court, the closest seat to the action with the perfect view to oversee everything.
He had just witnessed Snoopy win the jump ball over Robin Lopez and watched Russell Westbrook streak into the Stanford paint for a thunderous dunk. Two UCLA players of similar height, two completely different displays of athleticism.
Yet, Coles remained unmoved.
As the GM of the Phoenix Suns, he knew better than anyone which position needed reinforcement, and with no lottery pick in hand, his best-case scenario was the 15th pick. At that position, the only player realistically available was Robin Lopez.
The other two centers, Brook Lopez and Kevin Love, were locks for lottery picks, unlikely to fall outside the top ten, let alone the top fourteen.
Robin Lopez's style was the opposite of his brother's. While Brook excelled offensively, Robin was a purely defensive player. Pairing him with Stoudemire would be perfect; Stoudemire had repeatedly expressed frustration with his current usage, and Robin could take on the dirty work, leaving Stoudemire free to put up 30+20 nights.
Coles' eyes stayed glued to Robin Lopez.
On the court, Robin Lopez squared off against Snoopy near the paint.
Coles blinked in disbelief.
"Why are these two defenders wasting so much energy?"
Robin himself felt confused.
"Hey, kid. You trying to show off your hustle? Don't tell me you think this is going to impress the scouts on the sideline," Robin Lopez said, skeptical. "You really want to get into the NBA?"
Snoopy said nothing, he simply locked down Robin's base.
Robin's lower-body strength was formidable by NCAA standards, but Snoopy blocked his path completely. Lacking quick footwork, Robin couldn't make a graceful escape and remained stuck outside the paint.
At 16 feet, Stanford's shooting guard Morris took a jump shot… swish! The ball missed.
Robin tried to contest the rebound, but Snoopy held him at bay. Kevin Love easily secured the defensive board.
"Smart defender," Jordan murmured, agreeing with Bill Walton. The difference was, Jordan spoke to VP Carna, while Walton explained it to the national audience:
"Snoopy has isolated the Lopez brothers. He ensures there's only one seven-foot center in the paint. It's a type of defense you can't quantify with stats. Kevin Love should thank him!"
Coles' mind flashed a thought: if this player was in Phoenix, Stoudemire would adore him. He would do all the dirty work while Stoudemire racked up stats.
But that thought vanished quickly. NBA and NCAA were entirely different. Snoopy could handle Robin Lopez, but could he stop Tyson Chandler, Kendrick Perkins, Kenyon Martin, or Erick Dampier? And players like Dwight Howard, Yao Ming, or Tim Duncan? Forget about it.
For now, Coles remained skeptical. Snoopy had not yet impressed him fully.
Back to the frontcourt. Robin Lopez immediately gravitated toward Kevin Love. His defensive instincts were sharper than his brother's.
Snoopy, with almost no offensive threat, wasn't part of Stanford's defensive scheme.
Westbrook, settling into the halfcourt, struggled slightly. Still learning to slow down and control the pace, he opted for a one-on-one. From the three-point line, he used a rapid change of direction to slice through Stanford's defense and explode into the paint. Yet Brook Lopez, massive as ever, blocked the lane. Westbrook had to stop abruptly and float a shot… clank!
Snoopy attempted to contest the rebound but was no match for Brook Lopez's 2.89-meter wingspan.
"Now Snoopy's limitations are exposed. No height, no offensive skills. When Westbrook attacks the paint against a towering barrier, Snoopy can only pass out or take a poorly adapted shot," expert Chatford observed. "UCLA should sub in Luke Bamotte. His penetration and perimeter shooting can counter the Lopez brothers better."
Bill Walton nodded.
"Snoopy handles medium and smaller big men effortlessly, but against seven-footers, his height disadvantage is glaring. He needs more tools in his arsenal to stay effective on the court."
On defense, Snoopy still blocked Robin Lopez's path.
Yet, Brook Lopez posted up on Kevin Love and executed a silky smooth turnaround jumper.
The Nets' GM Vandeweghe felt both elated and anxious. Elated because Brook Lopez could be a perfect inside partner for Vince Carter. Anxious because he was a UCLA alumnus and old schoolmate.
UCLA's offense stalled again. With two seven-footers dominating, Westbrook found it difficult to penetrate the paint. Kevin Love, a spacing forward, couldn't attack the post effectively. With the inside game neutralized, the DDM offense faltered, perimeter players had no open shots.
Five minutes later, Stanford led by six.
Holland, frustrated, called a timeout.
"UCLA's issue is that Snoopy's presence is now counterproductive. You should replace him with Luke Bamotte. Though Bamotte can't isolate Robin Lopez like Snoopy, at least he offers outside shooting and cutting efficiency," Chatford remarked.
His assessment echoed common consensus. UCLA's assistants agreed, leaving Holland little choice. If he persisted with Snoopy, the consequences of a loss would be magnified, and Stephen Coles and Bill Walton would exploit it, risking his job.
"Listen, Snoopy, you should step back to your 'bench player' role. This court isn't for you," Robin Lopez taunted as Snoopy headed to the bench.
"Forget your NBA dream. After all that effort defending me, what did you achieve? A cold bench awaits."
Snoopy ignored him and walked to the bench.
"I have a way to deal with the Lopez brothers," he told Coach Holland firmly. "My arsenal is not empty."