As a data-driven analyst immersed in the quiet chaos of NBA analytics, I saw something no one else did: De Bruyne’s xG plummeted at the 78th minute—not a fluke, but a tactical fracture. The Lakers, long obsessed with his profile, recognized it as the key to unlocking their defensive identity. This isn’t hype—it’s the silent rhythm of elite performance. Let me show you why this stat didn’t just change a game… it changed how we watch basketball.