Coach Holland listened patiently to Snoopy's plan. He remained silent for thirty seconds, then made his decision.
He didn't bench Snoopy. Instead, he instructed Westbrook on how to execute Snoopy's idea. Simultaneously, he made a compromise: substituting shooting guard George Bruni for Luke Bamotte at the three, and moving Brian Wright to the shooting guard position.
Even so, his tactical choice faced immediate pushback from Assistant Coach Coles.
"Coach, everyone can see it. Snoopy has no counter to the Lopez brothers. You shouldn't keep him on the floor experimenting. If it fails, no one can take responsibility."
Coles deliberately confronted Holland, everyone knowing his intention.
Holland, calm and decisive, replied, "If we lose, I take full responsibility."
Coles fell silent, a subtle smile playing at the corner of his lips. Snoopy noticed. Clearly, this was what he had been waiting for.
"Don't be influenced. Execute your plan," Holland said, patting Snoopy on the shoulder. "I trust you one hundred percent."
Snoopy looked up at his coach's assured expression. A surge of competitive desire and determination coursed through him. His heart pounded fiercely.
The coach trusted him, even willing to stake his career on Snoopy's execution. Why should he let him down?
Whistle!
The whistle blew, and the game resumed.
To most of the audience, nothing seemed unusual. But the scouts and managers in the know were astonished.
"Holland is utterly insane!" Bill Walton shouted from the commentary booth. "He's gambling with Snoopy! I know he wants to develop him, but victory is paramount. He should be fired immediately! If UCLA allowed it, I'd be on that bench taking over this game myself!"
He was livid.
Next to him, Chatford stayed quiet, sensing it was unwise to add fuel to the fire. He also believed keeping Snoopy on the court was risky, but didn't want to escalate matters.
"You weren't benched… are you Holland's illegitimate son?" Robin Lopez sneered.
Snoopy shook his head calmly. "You shouldn't provoke me."
Robin Lopez lifted his chin, unimpressed. A 1.95m center, what can he do? Jumping to bite my shoulder?
Luke Bamotte handed the ball to Westbrook.
Snoopy stopped just inside the free-throw line.
Robin Lopez blinked, surprised, he didn't attack the paint?
Westbrook tore through the perimeter defense and into the paint. Robin Lopez retreated, but his teammate Jones attempted to track him, trying to trap him in the paint and force a steal.
In their minds, Snoopy posed no offensive threat.
Westbrook, reaching the heart of the paint, tossed a high arc pass.
Snoopy caught it, completely unguarded, and released the shot decisively… swish!
The ball gently kissed the net.
"He can shoot?"
Michael Jordan raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Carna replied cautiously, "That doesn't prove much. Kevin Love can hit free throws, too."
"No, it's different," Jordan shook his head. "UCLA is about to wreak havoc in the paint."
Carna didn't fully understand.
Snoopy sprinted back on defense, his desire to win and simmering anger fueling his every step. His blood raced; his movements sharpened.
So… I like fighting, Snoopy whispered to himself.
Robin Lopez returned, and Snoopy immediately locked him down, allowing no respite.
Bang!
Morris' perimeter shot was contested by Wright.
The Lopez brothers were contained by Love and Snoopy. Bamotte secured the rebound and passed it to Westbrook.
Westbrook advanced the ball. Two forwards spread to 45-degree angles, and Snoopy set a pick at the free-throw line.
Stanford's point guard Jones couldn't leave him unguarded this time.
Yet Snoopy slid into the deep paint. Westbrook maneuvered Robin Lopez to the right, tossed the ball skyward, and Snoopy launched himself violently upward.
Jones barely realized what happened, Snoopy's thighs collided, his head met the ball… boom!
Snoopy landed, eyes cold, watching Robin Lopez. His target wasn't personal, even though he had just posterized him.
"Mocking others' dreams is shameful," Snoopy said quietly, voice low and steady. "My coach told me the next target is over your head."
He turned calmly toward midcourt.
Robin Lopez was shaken. He didn't shout, but the aura of Snoopy's confidence reminded him of Marlon Brando's Godfather, commanding, lethal, unwavering.
The jumbotron replayed the dunk in slow motion. Snoopy had jumped nearly from a standstill, legs bent slightly, exploding upward, sending Jones flying two steps back.
"What an insane vertical!" Chatford exclaimed. "What did these UCLA kids eat growing up? Are they putting springs in the school lunches?"
Jordan, sitting front-row VIP, had the clearest view.
"This kid's jump is slightly higher than Westbrook's. He jumped early but hovered mid-air before catching the ball and stuffing it. That's why the defender was knocked back two steps."
Jordan leaned to Carna and said firmly:
"I want to sign him."
Carna felt the world collapse around him. Countless dunkers exist in the world, YouTube is full of 720-degree windmill dunks, free-throw-line tomahawk dunks, five-man leap dunks, and yet, the Boss wanted this kid.
The decision sent shockwaves through the arena, the scouts, and the executive offices. Michael Jordan had just discovered a new gem.