Chapter 111

Jason Kidd entered the league in 1994. In his rookie season, he shared the Rookie of the Year trophy with the hottest rookie at the time, Grant Hill, the first successor to Jordan.

The honors he has possessed in his career so far are too numerous to mention: 9-time All-Star, 5-time season assist leader, 9-time All-Defensive Team, 6-time All-NBA Team. He also led the team to the Finals twice.

At the beginning of the 21st century, he was recognized as the league's number one point guard.

Even after the former backup Steve Nash was reborn in Phoenix and won two consecutive regular season MVPs with the power of "Run and Gun," people habitually listed the two of them together, affectionately calling them: "Na Bu Fang" (Nash doesn't defend), "Ji Bu Gong" (Kidd doesn't attack).

It wasn't until these past few years, after his age increased and his athletic ability declined rapidly, that people removed him from the list of discussions for the best point guard.

Starting from '08, people were more willing to discuss who is the league's true number one point guard between Chris Paul and Deron Williams.

In these last two seasons, as Derrick Rose and Westbrook have successively entered the All-Star Game, those basketball experts have also started to worry for Paul and the others.

The NBA is just like this; the waves of the Yangtze River push the waves ahead, and each generation has its own talents.

"Jack, you need to learn some real ball-handling knowledge."

Jason Kidd chatted with Fan Xi in a friendly way when they first met.

He is now a bit like an old senior who has retired to the mountains and forests in a martial arts novel. He has no intention of fighting for the world's number one. When he meets a junior he likes, he will give a few pointers. As for whether they can listen, it depends on their own good fortune.

Fan Xi didn't quite understand what Jason Kidd meant.

But he quickly defended up, opened his arms, and blocked Jason Kidd's attack path.

Jason Kidd averaged 10.3 points, 9.2 assists, and 5.6 rebounds last season, still an above-average point guard. Most importantly, he evolved from not being able to shoot at all to having a three-point shooting percentage of 42%, which is already the level of a professional shooter.

Therefore, Fan Xi had to follow his pace closely.

However, Jason Kidd was very calm.

He passed the ball to Nowitzki in the high post, and then ran towards Nowitzki. Fan Xi followed closely, thinking he was going to cooperate with Nowitzki, but who knew he ran to the corner and then quickly shuttled to the other side.

At this time, Nowitzki had already killed into the paint and completed a stop-and-go jump shot.

It looked like it had nothing to do with Jason Kidd.

But Jason Kidd asked Fan Xi at the moment Nowitzki scored: "Did you learn anything?"

Fan Xi was confused.

He thought these were two things with little correlation.

But Fan Xi is a person with strong learning ability. He arrived at the frontcourt and almost copied the same thing, passing the ball to Kobe, and then running like that... Phil Jackson on the sidelines was stunned.

This is not his tactic.

His tactic is to let Fan Xi pass the ball to Kobe on the strong side, and Fan Xi stands on the weak side to support. This is a very traditional triangle offense position.

However, when Fan Xi made a circle.

Kobe Bryant's vision became clear, and he killed into the paint almost instantly. Unlike Nowitzki, Kobe completed a dunk: his breakthrough ability is stronger than Nowitzki's.

Jason Kidd smiled.

"The function of a point guard is not just to pass the ball to teammates and complete assists."

Jason Kidd said to Fan Xi: "I think you are a relatively talented player. This move is called: Clear the Minion Line."

Fan Xi heard this and suddenly had a feeling of enlightenment.

Jason Kidd is a true traditional point guard, a point guard with a global view. His style and playing method are destined to be incompatible with this "perimeter era."

When he was young, he was very keen on creating "fast breaks." He is the point guard in NBA history who is best at using precision-guided long-distance passes to complete fast breaks, none other. On this point, he even reached the level of an artist.

Besides that, his stitching and assistance in the half-court are even more unique. He doesn't have Nash's offensive ability, and he has never tried to "score and assist" at the same time, nor is he the type of player in today's league who relies on physical fitness to constantly break through the defense and then assist.

He just orchestrates and passes the ball unhurriedly, putting the basketball into his team's advantageous area, and eroding the opponent's defense.

This playing style is not very watchable, but it is very practical.

The group of old men in the Dallas Mavericks are even more tenacious under his blessing.

The Lakers and the Mavericks are evenly matched.

Tonight, Fan Xi's work content is no different from that in San Antonio; he is still the Lakers' Second Route Marshal.

His tactical status is about the same as Kukoc during the Bulls dynasty, but tonight Kobe played exceptionally excitedly, plus Pau Gasol's offensive desire is also very strong, so Fan Xi didn't get many shots.

He followed closely beside Jason Kidd, learning Jason Kidd's way of handling ball possession.

Although Jason Kidd didn't say anything more after teaching Fan Xi that "Clear the Minion Line" move.

The game progressed in a stalemate, with the Lakers and Mavericks alternating the lead.

From the first quarter to the fourth quarter.

From the beginning of the fourth quarter to the final moments of the fourth quarter.

The two teams presented the highest level of confrontation in the West.

Fan Xi rested for about 6 minutes in the third and second quarters respectively. Now he is still full of energy, while Jason Kidd in front of him is a bit tired.

By now, Fan Xi already has a very clear understanding: the Dallas Mavericks are more difficult to deal with than San Antonio.

Although San Antonio's system runs smoothly and has a great god like Duncan, their scoring points are far less than the Mavericks. The Mavericks seem to be able to stand up and take away the game at any time.

When there was 1 minute and 06 seconds left in the game, Jason Kidd went off to rest.

The substitute player was Jose Barea.

A player who is very short but has full impact.

Fan Xi was broken through twice in a row by him using Chandler's screen in the third quarter, although it did not cause direct damage.

But Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle clearly wanted to use this surprise soldier to complete the final "squeeze" on Fan Xi.

At this time, both sides were tied at 108:108.

The Mavericks have the ball.

When Barea's pass arrived at the top of the three-point arc, Fan Xi stepped out to defend. He opened his arms, covering Barea's breakthrough circle.

Barea, who is less than 1.8 meters tall, can mix in the NBA because he has courage and decisiveness beyond ordinary people. As Fan Xi defended, he directly accelerated and broke through to Fan Xi's left side with his head down.

His explosive power and speed are quite good.

However, both of these are Fan Xi's strengths.

Fan Xi followed his pace without moving an inch.

When Barea killed into the free-throw line, Fan Xi suddenly accelerated to block his path. Barea hurriedly stopped the ball; he was blocked.

He had a more intuitive understanding of Fan Xi's physical fitness.

He subconsciously made a fake move, but Fan Xi was not fooled, but instead pressed harder.

At this time, Barea turned his back and hit Fan Xi hard... Barea's strength is very strong.

Fan Xi was knocked away by half a step.

Just as he was about to make use of this half-step space, a figure galloped over... Pop!

Kobe Bryant slapped the basketball in his hand directly, just like a hunt galloping down.

And Fan Xi stepped forward even faster, grabbing the basketball directly in his hands.

Fan Xi sprinted forward, preparing to launch a fast break.

But he found that the Mavericks players had already retreated at high speed. Their retreat speed was very amazing, including Jose Barea.

Fan Xi stabilized the rhythm.

When Kobe fell to the strong side, Fan Xi quickly passed the basketball over: although Kobe had missed three consecutive shots before this, he is always the Lakers' number one shooting option.

After Fan Xi passed the basketball to Kobe, he stepped and ran towards Kobe.

At this time, Jason Kidd on the sidelines hurriedly stood up and shouted: He is clearing the minion line.

Jason Kidd reminded, and Jose Barea seemed to be prepared. The Mavericks' defense also adjusted visibly to the naked eye.

Who knew that at this moment, Fan Xi suddenly ran in the opposite direction outside the three-point line, and he moved away from Kobe.

Kobe's basketball was also passed out at this time.

When Fan Xi received the basketball, Jose Barea was anxious to block the corner.

Fan Xi shot easily outside the three-point line, and the basketball drew a beautiful arc in the air... Swish!

It fell into the net in response.

This was Fan Xi's first three-pointer in this game, and also his 11th point in this game.

But this ball dealt a heavy blow to the Mavericks.

After Fan Xi scored, he turned his head and smiled at Jason Kidd: "You have to keep up with the times, Jason."

Old Kidd smiled bitterly, feeling helpless.

He originally wanted to calculate this little guy.

Didn't expect Jack to counter-calculate him.

This counter-calculation directly put the Mavericks at a disadvantage.

Beep!

Rick Carlisle requested a timeout.

There were only 41 seconds left, and trailing by 3 points, they faced the most important choice.

Fan Xi returned to the bench and was praised by the whole team, and everyone launched a "head-rubbing" offensive against him.

At this time, Kobe asked him: "Jack, if there is a final attack, will you execute it?"

When this question was thrown out, everyone's attention on the team was attracted.

Even Phil Jackson gasped.

Now, there is a very tacit understanding within the Lakers: the future Lakers are very likely to be Fan Xi's team.

But now, the Lakers are still Kobe's team.

Although the relationship between Kobe and Fan Xi is very, very, very, very good, the kind that is inseparable.

However, this is actually a bit like the power logic in a feudal dynasty.

When the emperor is away, the crown prince can supervise the country.

But if the emperor is still in the court, can the crown prince issue orders?

The final attack is always the privilege of the team boss.

Phil Jackson made such a stupid mistake back then. During the two years when Jordan retired midway, it stood to reason that the Bulls were already the team of the second-in-command Scottie Pippen, but in the handling of key balls, Phil Jackson always instructed Kukoc to do it, which led to the relationship between Pippen and Phil Jackson always being bad.

So now, Phil Jackson held his breath and didn't say a word.

Fan Xi smiled.

He said to Kobe: "There is no if. Dallas cannot tie the score. They will adopt a foul strategy later. Let them decide who kills them."

Hahahaha.

Kobe laughed heartily.

He likes Fan Xi too much.

He even thought, if I were as smart as Jack back then, would Shaquille O'Neal and I have won five championships?