Chapter 94: Home Opener, Envy and Jealousy

When Alaric strolled into the home team's locker room, he could feel the vibe shift. The rookies were eyeing him with a mix of awe and jealousy, while the vets gave him nods of approval.

Everyone knew Alaric had "made it." Stick to the game plan, avoid dumb shots, and he was set to be the Lakers' third scoring option this season. "Overnight sensation" nailed it.

That morning, Lakers owner Jerry Buss had a chat with Phil, making sure Alaric got at least 30 minutes per game. Why? 'Cause Alaric's No. 58 jersey was flying off the shelves.

One game in, and fans all over the country knew the name "Alaric Astor." He was giving hope to all the average-built basketball dreamers out there.

With jerseys selling like hotcakes, a sneaker deal couldn't be far behind. Jerry saw dollar signs all over Alaric.

But not everyone was on the Alaric hype train. Some folks were hoping he'd flop tonight. The game was on ESPN, and a bad performance could turn the media against him real quick.

Phil went over the game plan in the locker room, still planning to have Alaric come off the bench. He wanted Alaric's speed and explosiveness to light up the second unit and mess with the opponents.

As they were about to hit the court, Shaquille asked, "How you feeling today? Didn't stay up all night buzzing, did you?"

"Slept like a baby, woke up at noon. If the Jazz sleep on me, they're in for a surprise," Alaric shot back with a grin.

Shaquille raised an eyebrow, thinking Alaric wasn't bluffing. If he was telling the truth, his self-control was next level. Alaric's debut stats were already up there with the best, and he was cool as a cucumber. Even Shaquille, a former number one pick, wasn't this chill.

Alaric's mind, sharpened by a time loop, was on a different level. He knew tomorrow would be April Fool's Day again, with everything resetting, so he slept easy. Deep down, he believed that even if he messed up, he'd get another shot, which made him take things in stride.

Since Alaric was the youngest on the team, Phil had him take the court first today. The fans gave him a warm welcome, and Alaric, not one to shy away, waved back as he walked out.

ESPN commentator Mark Woodson said, "The last pick of the draft, Alaric, who killed it in his debut, is already a big deal in L.A. This kid's on the rise."

His partner Tom Horvath chuckled, "Let's hope he's not a one-hit wonder and can bring it tonight too. Watching his teammates get their championship rings should fire him up."

The Lakers' home court was buzzing with excitement. Tons of retired Lakers legends were there, and NBA Commissioner David Stern showed up for the pre-game championship ring ceremony.

David gave a speech to the Lakers, and Jerry Buss handed out the rings to the management, coaching staff, and players.

A lone figure stood out in the crowd. Former Laker John Celestand, suited up, was there too. When it was his turn to get his ring, the place got awkwardly quiet. Most fans didn't even know who he was.

John had talked smack to Alaric during the summer league. Now, in L.A., they weren't even in the same league. John hadn't landed any NBA contracts and was looking at playing in lower-tier leagues overseas. Tough break.

As the 1999-2000 championship banner was unveiled at Staples Center, the ceremony wrapped up.

Listening to the fans' cheers, Alaric felt a pang of envy. He was a Laker now, but this year, he was just a spectator.

Meanwhile, the Jazz players in their locker room could hear the fans' cheers too, and it was eating them up with envy and jealousy.

A bunch of the Jazz guys had seen the Bulls snag championships twice. With MJ gone and Stockton getting up there in age, they got bounced by the Blazers two years straight. They knew their championship window was closing and needed a fresh star to step up, but it was still the old guard running the show.

Coach Jerry Sloan barked, "Heads up, everyone! Season's just kicking off. Sure, the Lakers are stacked with stars in their prime, but that doesn't mean they're a lock to defend their title. We gotta grind and take this game. I believe we can snag the championship this year!"

The players roared back, pumped and ready.

The Jazz had always been a thorn in the Lakers' side, taking them down 4-1 in the '97 second round and sweeping them 4-0 in the '98 Western Conference Finals. They never had trouble with the Lakers in regular-season matchups.

When the Jazz hit the court, Lakers fans let 'em have it with loud boos. The Jazz, known for their rough play, were never welcome on the road and always stirred up some trash talk.

After warm-ups, it was game time. Lakers starters: Ron, Kobe, Rick, Horace, Shaquille.

Jazz starters: John Stockton, Greg Ostertag, Bryon Russell, Karl Malone, Olden Polynice.

The Lakers got the first crack. Ron spread the floor and lobbed it to Shaquille in the right low post. Shaq backed down Olden twice, spun into the paint, and slammed it home with one hand. 2-0.

The Jazz had a glaring hole at center, weak on both ends. If they had a solid center, the '97 and '98 titles might not have gone to the Bulls.

Greg Ostertag, after signing a fat contract with the Jazz, had been slipping. Last season, he started just three games, averaging 19.8 minutes, 4.5 points, 6 boards, 0.2 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game, with a 46.4% field goal percentage and 63.6% from the line, averaging only 2.3 free throw attempts per game.

Ostertag was as heavy as Shaq but had no range, no low-post moves, and couldn't create his own shots, relying on putbacks. He couldn't pass and added zilch to the offense. Defensively, he was a mess, only blocking shots near the paint, struggling on switches, and racking up fouls.

After getting schooled by the Jazz in two playoff series, the Lakers learned their lesson. If Jerry dared to play Ostertag, Shaq would set screens for Kobe, running pick-and-rolls that would wreck the defense. Kobe's drives would be unstoppable, with fouls being the only way to slow him down.

Today, Jerry started the 36-year-old vet Olden, who was quick but only 6'11" and 220 pounds. Nearing retirement, he was no match for Shaq.

Jerry's game plan was to focus on offense, using Olden's mobility to pull Shaq out of the paint and create chances for teammates. He set a screen in the middle, and Greg Ostertag shook off Kobe, changed direction, and laid it in past Shaq. 2-2.

Kobe got the ball and nailed a jumper over Bryon, making it 4-2.

The Jazz came back, with both big men setting screens. Stockton timed his pass perfectly, and Bryon drained a three from the left corner. 4-5.

Shaq wasn't invincible. In the past two years, his paint dominance was unmatched, but at nearly 330 pounds, he wasn't as quick as he used to be. He could only defend near the paint and struggled against bigs who could stretch the floor. He also hated switching onto guards to contest threes, which the Jazz exploited.

The Lakers couldn't pull ahead early at home, as the Jazz were seasoned and ready for a fight.