"Phew..."
Mark Jackson let out a deep breath, then smiled.
"Although I hoped the Suns would keep winning before the game, well... every game has a winner and a loser. No team can win forever.
The Phoenix Suns have undergone a complete transformation since Blake Su joined them, putting together a 23-game winning streak that stunned the entire league.
Tonight.
Even though they lost and the streak came to an end, they have already exceeded everyone's expectations. They have done more than enough. They deserve praise."
"Yes."
Jon Barry nodded with a smile.
"It is really hard to imagine a rookie leading a team to 23 straight wins, claiming sole possession of the second-longest winning streak in history.
Blake Su is the most outstanding rookie.
Everything he has shown so far deserves praise from everyone. It is something every rookie should learn from, emulate, and strive to surpass. He is the best.
And the entire Suns team has been fantastic as well."
The game ended.
Both commentators gave high praise to Blake Su and the Suns despite the loss.
In fact, the Suns fans in the stands showed almost no intention of criticizing the team for the upset loss. Instead, there was even a sense of relief.
"Haha, so they finally lost?!"
"Man, they already got 23 straight wins. Before this loss, I was nervous every single day, afraid the streak would end. But now that they actually lost, I feel relieved.
"No more worrying every day. Besides, 23 straight wins is already the second-longest streak in history. The Suns have done more than enough!"
"Exactly. No team can go undefeated forever. Losing at this point actually feels fine. The Suns did great, and my guy Blake Su is still amazing!"
"Right. And they only lost by 2 points, nothing embarrassing about that. Besides, compared to losing to a weaker team like the Kings, I would much rather not see the Suns lose to powerhouses like the Lakers or the Heat."
"No matter what, a loss is a loss, but a Suns team that won 23 straight absolutely deserves praise. And Blake Su, who led them forward, definitely deserves credit too!"
"..."
In the stands, Suns fans were almost entirely positive. Even the victorious Kings acknowledged their opponent with applause.
After the game.
Paul Westphal said,
"First of all, I am very happy we were able to beat the Suns tonight and bring a fitting end to their 23-game winning streak.
Tonight.
We, the Kings, deserve praise for this win. We accomplished something remarkable.
At the same time, our opponents, the Suns, are worthy of respect and praise as well, especially Blake Su. This rookie has incredible strength and talent.
I really like him.
I think... with his immense talent and limitless potential, he will earn the appreciation of every coach in the league."
...
That night and into the next day, major news outlets and online media, while some fans expressed regret over the end of the Suns' 23-game winning streak, mostly offered recognition and praise.
In short.
Despite the loss, the Suns received unanimous approval and admiration.
However.
There are always people who try to stand out by going against the grain. The Bucks' starting center, Andrew Bogut, was one of them.
The next day.
1:00 PM.
He publicly posted on Twitter:
"The Suns' loss last night is entirely Blake Su's fault. If he had made that final three, they would have won.
His teammates worked hard all night, only for him to ruin it.
And... that last shot looked pretty casual to me. That is overconfidence. And overconfidence turns into arrogance, which is the beginning of failure.
Pride comes before a fall.
The Suns stopping at 23 straight wins was inevitable in my opinion, because the real culprit is Blake Su, this rookie."
These remarks were clearly aimed at Blake Su.
In the previous Suns vs. Bucks game, Blake Su had split Bogut's eyebrow open and even caused him to suffer a mild concussion. Holding a grudge and feeling extremely resentful, Bogut made these comments to tear Blake Su down.
But fans were not blind. There was no way they would be misled by Bogut's one-sided claims. On the contrary, the moment he posted those harsh words, his Twitter exploded.
"Huh? Bogut, do you make every clutch shot? Blake Su has hit 5 game-winners in 23 games. What about you? How many do you have?
Oh wait.
Have you even taken a clutch shot before? Let alone hit a game-winner?!"
"You look decent on the outside, but everything that comes out of your mouth is garbage. As a No. 1 pick, have you really fallen so low that you need to rely on slander just to get attention?
Pathetic."
"You dare talk trash about my guy Su? Who do you think you are? You dirty player who only uses cheap tricks. How credible are your words? Attention-seeking clown. You should just retire."
"Keep talking nonsense. All I will say is this. Your wife tastes great!"
"Slander all you want. It is obvious you are still bitter after getting destroyed by Blake Su. Trying to mislead people and frame him."
"Trash. You only got a mild concussion. Why did it not finish you off, you classless, unsportsmanlike idiot!"
"Hey guys, Bogut's address: Milwaukee ******* No. 13. Anyone nearby? Pick a dark night and go give him some 'love'."
"Got it. I live nearby. I will let Bogut experience the consequences of running his mouth."
"Bro above, I am in that area too. You go give him some 'love', I will go check out his wife and report back."
"Sounds good!"
"Hahaha!"
"Bogut, I suggest you stop spreading nonsense. My 40-meter blade is ready for you anytime!"
"That is the address, right? You are finished, Bogut. You dare slander Blake Su. I will be watching you at all times. Do not let me catch you.
Otherwise... you are going to regret it."
"..."
Under Bogut's tweet and in his private messages, insults and threats flooded in.
At first, Bogut even argued back against some fans without backing down.
But soon, as his address was exposed and the threats escalated, he panicked. Fear set in, and he eventually shut down completely.
If you do not stir up trouble, you will not bring trouble upon yourself. Bogut tried to frame Blake Su, but ended up burning himself instead. For quite a while afterward, he lived in constant anxiety whenever he went out, afraid of retaliation from fans.
If he could turn back time, he would never have dared to attack and slander Blake Su like that or try to mislead the public.