The fact that Snoopy wasn't in the starting lineup, aside from the outrage of the "dressed-to-impress" Miley Cyrus, seemed perfectly normal to everyone else.
After Darren Collison exposed all of Snoopy's weaknesses, even if Memphis University were coached by a bunch of idiots, they would still know how to handle him. Besides, his matchup tonight was against an enhanced version of Joey Dorsey.
The Memphis Tigers' starting five:
Center: Joey Dorsey
Power Forward: Robert Dozier
Small Forward: Chris Douglas-Roberts
Guards: Antonio Anderson and Derrick Rose.
The UCLA Bruins' starting five:
Center: Kevin Love
Power Forward: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Small Forward: Brian Wright
Guards: George Boonie and Russell Westbrook.
The game tipped off, and Kevin Love, leveraging his height, won the jump ball against Joey Dorsey.
Russell Westbrook grabbed the ball and immediately burst with energy. He charged fearlessly into the paint, desperate to prove on the national semifinal stage that he was no less than Derrick Rose, that he was far more than the "poor man's Rose."
However, his reckless drive didn't turn into an epic solo highlight, it ended in disaster. Deep in the lane, he was chased down and blocked by Derrick Rose himself!
He had exposed the ball too early. And worse, he'd forgotten that Joey Dorsey was still lurking up front.
"Actually, he should've passed the ball back to Kevin Love," commented Earl Johnson from the TNT broadcast booth.
"That's within Love's range. And with only Roberts on him, that's a clear mismatch."
On the next possession, Derrick Rose didn't even use his full speed. Crossing half court, he casually signaled for a pick from Dorsey, slipped just inside the free throw line, and whipped a pass to Roberts.
Chris Douglas-Roberts, the Tigers' leading scorer that season, stood 6'7" and possessed a smooth, all-around face-up game. Within Memphis's dribble-drive motion offense, he was in his element.
Catching the pass, he slashed decisively to the basket and finished with a reverse layup.
At that moment, UCLA's paint was wide open. Mbah a Moute had been forced to help on Dozier, a stretch-four whose range extended all the way to the NBA three-point line.
Coach Ben Howland sighed helplessly. If Snoopy were on the floor, Roberts wouldn't have scored that easily. But if he did put Snoopy in, Memphis would likely just shift to mid-range jumpers instead.
A dilemma. Howland looked completely at a loss.
The game went on. Westbrook kept attacking the paint stubbornly, displaying his unmatched speed and athleticism. Yet, on the TNT commentary desk, there was little praise, just a string of critiques.
"Number 0's shot selection is terrible. Not just his passing logic, most of his jumpers, both in timing and form, could be used in a 'What Happens If You Ignore Your Coach' instructional video. But I admire his courage. He'll attack anyone."
"With his athleticism, hunger, and defensive potential, he's definitely a lottery pick."
"The biggest difference between him and Derrick Rose isn't just skill. Rose doesn't chase stats, he's not obsessed with grabbing defensive boards and pushing in transition. He holds the ball less and finds teammates in rhythm during fast breaks."
"So, I'd say this game is another showcase for Derrick Rose to destroy his opposing point guard."
"Still, it's not really an embarrassment for Westbrook. Derrick's been a national sensation since high school. Russell just exploded onto the scene this year, his future's bright. He might even stand shoulder to shoulder with Rose one day!"
Earl Johnson's commentary was fair and balanced. He wasn't one of those shock-value pundits looking to stir drama.
"You're right," Kenny Smith said after a pause, smirking.
"But the Bruins need a real point guard now. Six minutes in, they're down by seven. Keep this up, and we'll know who's going to the finals before halftime."
"A point guard?" Charles Barkley raised an eyebrow.
"You mean, Snoopy?"
Kenny burst out laughing. Their back-and-forth chemistry was sharper than when they'd shared the court in Houston, perhaps one reason Barkley never managed to grab that elusive championship ring, even back then.
BOOM!
On the court, Joey Dorsey detonated a thunderous two-handed dunk off a lob from Derrick Rose!
Rose sliced through the lane like lightning, drew Love off balance, and floated the ball upward, Dorsey soared in from above, hammered it home, and shook the rim violently.
As the Staples Center erupted, Dorsey landed hard and pounded his chest toward UCLA's bench, roaring:
"Snoopy! You see that? That's Power! POWER!!"
He was cocky. And that arrogance drew a wave of boos from the crowd.
In this arena, a Baltimore kid didn't get to act like he owned the place.
Dorsey just sneered, shaking his head like a triumphant prizefighter.
That's when Snoopy stood up.
He peeled off his warmup jacket and walked to Coach Howland.
"Coach, I want in."
Fans nearby erupted into cheers and applause at the sight.
Howland looked deep into Snoopy's calm but determined eyes. After a moment's hesitation, he finally reached for the clipboard, and called a timeout.
"Snoopy looks like he's got fire," said Mitch Kupchak from the VIP seats.
"The Lakers could use a player like that, someone who can light up the team's spirit."
Jeanie Buss nodded immediately. The Lakers' biggest problem at the time wasn't size, skill, or talent,
it was toughness.
Their frontcourt often looked soft. Even Andrew Bynum, after years of training under Kareem, had started drifting toward the perimeter.
Analysts had been criticizing their interior softness all season, and Kobe Bryant had already called out the team during practice, demanding more grit.
So when Kupchak said it, everyone agreed silently.
Even Kobe, who still thought Snoopy's comments in the training room yesterday were idiotic and unscientific, couldn't deny it: when that kid stood up, the Black Mamba felt he was a warrior.
"Toughness can turn games around," Tex Winter added slowly.
"But it can also cause disaster. It depends on whether his ability matches his fire."
From the man who created the triangle offense, that sentiment made sense. Winter had always preferred skill over muscle. And in his view, Snoopy wasn't beating Joey Dorsey.
Just another case of a young man, acting on impulse.