Chapter 118: The Third Ball-Handling Harmony in NBA History

"Is this all the level you have?"

When Chris Paul went off the court, he made a "very short" gesture to Fan Xi, telling him: "You can't even pass the ball, the Miracle Child is really cheap."

At the end of the first quarter, Chris Paul had 9 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal.

Fan Xi's stats were 6 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1 block.

According to the bet between Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, Fan Xi was 7 points behind Chris Paul.

Because their bet only counted points, assists, and steals.

In these three items, Chris Paul originally occupied the advantage. Fan Xi's favorable rebounds and blocks were not included in the statistics.

So, this itself was an unreasonable bet.

However, Kenny Smith believed in Fan Xi's ability unconditionally; he always firmly believed that the reason why the Miracle Child is the Miracle Child is because they can do things that ordinary people cannot do.

Even if ten thousand people in the world said Fan Xi was inferior to Paul and impossible to defeat Paul, Kenny Smith stood firmly on Fan Xi's side. Because another meaning of miracle is: overcoming the impossible.

Although Taylor Swift didn't believe in Fan Xi's "miracle" ability as superstitiously as Kenny Smith.

However, when Fan Xi went off the court, she stood up and cheered for Fan Xi loudly: "Jack, come on, you are the best."

Before Fan Xi could speak, Chris Paul on the side sarcastically said: "Miss Taylor, you'd better change to another player to chase after. This guy is about to be thrown into the trash can."

"F*** you, Paul. Didn't your mother teach you not to interrupt when others are talking?"

"Your trash talk is not even worth mentioning compared to the near-expiry cheese on sale at Walmart."

Taylor Swift, as an idol-style singer, at this time, she couldn't care about her elegant reputation, and she fired back at Paul fiercely.

Paul was attacked so unceremoniously by Taylor Swift, and he stepped forward to confront her.

However, Fan Xi blocked in front of him, subconsciously using his body to protect Taylor Swift.

The actions of the two immediately caused an uproar among the fans on the sidelines, and the head referee also walked over.

Chris Paul is a good actor.

He immediately realized that if this matter became big, he would be punished, so he walked away quickly, his face still deliberately wearing an innocent smile.

Chris Paul can be said to be the proper successor to Isiah Thomas. The baby-faced Thomas was called the Smiling Assassin back then, and Chris Paul also has a baby face. His speed of changing faces can be called the number one in the NBA, faster than Iverson's crossover.

This dispute was eliminated invisibly.

The audience further away even felt that Chris Paul just walked the wrong way and almost collided with Fan Xi head-on.

"Don't have verbal conflicts with them, watch the game with peace of mind."

Fan Xi said to Taylor Swift.

Swift felt like she had eaten honey in her heart at this time. Fan Xi's posture of protecting her behind him satisfied all her fantasies about men, and she even made up a romance novel.

"... I... I was just worried about you being hurt by that fierce guy."

Taylor Swift said in a low voice.

"Won't happen."

Fan Xi said softly, and then walked toward the Lakers' bench.

In the first quarter, the Lakers trailed the Hornets 28:29 by 1 point.

Pau Gasol played very well.

Fan Xi actually played quite well, compared to the Lakers point guards of the past, he was much stronger, at least he could send the ball to teammates with a hot hand in time.

And before him, no one could complete this point under Paul's crazy pressure.

However, for Fan Xi, this was not enough.

He sat on the bench, his mind constantly recalling Paul's pressure on him.

The real confrontation gave him more insights. Under extreme pressure, his mastery of Isiah Thomas's techniques soared.

If he only mastered 80% of Isiah Thomas before, then now, it has reached 90%.

Because Chris Paul is too much like Isiah Thomas; they are arguably the two purest point guards in history with the best feel for the ball.

But tonight, the third one might be born soon.

True heroes are always tempered in war.

Phil Jackson held the tactical board, and he wrote in the tactical manual: "Lamar, next you need to go out and do pick-and-rolls with Jack..."

The original intention of Zen Master's sentence was to help Fan Xi get rid of Chris Paul's defense and better take on the responsibility of the commander.

However, Fan Xi refused. He said to Phil Jackson: "Coach, I want to seize this rare opportunity, I want to confront Chris Paul to the end. I feel that I can become stronger through battle."

Fan Xi was incomparably decisive.

Phil Jackson was slightly surprised. A long time ago, Kobe Bryant said this to him, and even longer ago, Michael Jordan said this to him.

Now Fan Xi stood in front of him, and he had a feeling of a space-time crack.

"Hmph... who do you think you are? Don't drag the team down."

Sour words sounded from behind the bench.

It was Andrew Bynum, who still held hostility toward Fan Xi.

He couldn't accept why Fan Xi rose so quickly.

He hated the camera placed next to him even more, a Chinese cameraman was filming a documentary for Fan Xi.

He wanted to deliberately create some embarrassment, he wanted to make Fan Xi sad, because he firmly believed that Fan Xi could not defeat Chris Paul and could not escape from Chris Paul's defense.

Moreover, he was sure that Fan Xi would not dare to resist him in front of the camera from his motherland.

He felt the timing he found was great.

However, he underestimated Fan Xi; Fan Xi is a person who doesn't tolerate sand in his eyes.

He told Andrew Bynum: "I am Jack Fan, the starting point guard and backcourt engine of the Los Angeles Lakers. I will only make the team move forward faster and more fiercely; I will not become a burden. You can sit there and watch carefully."

Fan Xi had a face of arrogance.

He was like a dignified hero.

And Andrew Bynum, who was hiding his head and showing his tail, looked like a vicious little thief hiding in the dark at this time.

In terms of pattern, Bynum lost another game.

Lakers personnel all had a feeling at this time: the two successors are really not in the same realm in terms of emotional intelligence.

Old Winter, who favored Fan Xi, even had a feeling at this time: "Dignified Jack Fan, being mentioned in the same breath as a villain like you, Bynum, is really too shameful."

Phil Jackson agreed to Fan Xi's request; he no longer arranged pick-and-rolls for Fan Xi.

He believed in Fan Xi's ability.

Beep!

The whistle blew, and the second quarter continued.

Chris Paul approached the front court with the ball. This time, Fan Xi adopted a new defensive method; Fan Xi gave him a step, he no longer used the entanglement method.

Chris Paul still followed the previous strategy to attack the paint, but Fan Xi followed like a shadow; he couldn't quickly break through the defensive circle.

Afterwards, he stopped and shot, but just as he jumped to the highest point, Fan Xi flew up.

Fan Xi is a tall point guard, he also has an astonishing wingspan of 213, and the super jumping talent he got from Jordan, instantly forming a sky-covering effect.

Because Paul was worried about being blocked, Fan Xi had to press his wrist before shooting, letting the ball be projected with a higher arc.

Bang!

As expected, it hit the iron.

Pau Gasol plucked the rebound.

He passed it to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi got the ball, and he launched a fast attack.

Chris Paul chased relentlessly.

When he was at the half-court line, he suddenly made an ambush forward, and beside him was Belinelli.

The two were sure of Fan Xi's weakness.

Who knew, when they clamped down, thinking they had won... Bang!

Fan Xi suddenly leaned down and dribbled close to the ground, he lowered his center of gravity to the extreme... Whoosh!

The ball was like a sharp curved knife cutting through the defense, and Fan Xi's body also suddenly rushed out.

At this time, Fan Xi combined Isiah Thomas's breakthrough techniques with Iverson's speed and Shawn Kemp's explosive power, achieving at least 80% effect.

No suspense.

Belinelli and Chris Paul were passed cleanly.

The audience on the sidelines feasted their eyes, one by one surprised and dumbfounded... this feeling is like the overtaking scene in Fast and Furious, a supercar suddenly drifting and swinging aside under the clamping of two police cars... and also making the two police cars collide together.

Chris Paul and Belinelli didn't control their center of gravity well, they squeezed together, very embarrassed.

Fan Xi, however, passed the ten thousand mountains lightly, his sharp steps arrived at the three-point line, he jumped decisively, shot... Swish!

It fell into the net.

Fan Xi got his 9th point of the game.

The Staples Center boiled.

Fan Xi raised his eyebrows proudly at the audience on the sidelines.

Subsequently, he looked at the shocked Chris Paul.

Paul was caught off guard.

Saint Paul has always been known for his intelligence and wisdom; he always thinks he is foolproof. He originally thought this trap was seamless, and Fan Xi would be played in the palm of his hand.

However, who could have imagined Fan Xi's sudden explosive killer move?

He looked up, and when he saw the replay, he realized in horror: Jack Fan's ball-handling is so sharp, and it seems to be from the same school as his own.

"I thought of Isiah Thomas. Honestly, he really looks too much like Isiah Thomas, the moment he bent over and changed direction. However, he seems to be faster and sharper than the Smiling Assassin, his explosive power is very strong."

Kenny Smith said excitedly on TV.

He even wanted to shake Charles Barkley's shoulders, letting Barkley comment on this ball.

Charles Barkley of course knew Isiah Thomas.

He and Jordan entered the League at the same time. History is always saying that Jordan was cleaned up very miserably by Isiah Thomas in the early days of his career.

Charles Barkley was actually cleaned up too.

Isiah Thomas led the Pistons Bad Boys to charge around at that time, Barkley was beaten to pieces, and finally his boss couldn't stand it anymore, saying that if Barkley couldn't stand it and wanted to beat the Pistons' center Laimbeer, he would pay the fine for Barkley.

So, how could Barkley not remember Isiah Thomas's moves.

He had always thought that the only pure point guard in the League today who could compete with Isiah Thomas back then in terms of ball feel was Chris Paul.

Previously, although Fan Xi also showed this trait, it was only a shadow.

However, just now, he really saw the charm.

As Fan Xi hit the 3-pointer.

The Staples Center was filled with cheers.

Charles Barkley had some pessimistic emotions at work in his heart: Could it be that today is another day ruled by the Miracle Child?

John Wall and Blake Griffin in front of the TV were also praying: Please, Barkley, talk less. Chris, cheer up.

For these two who aim to compete for Rookie of the Year, Barkley and Kenny Smith's bet is an unprovoked disaster.

Why are you two betting, and we are the ones suffering?

How many media votes are there in total?

If Barkley casts his vote for Fan Xi, and also pulls 20 first-place votes for Fan Xi, then it's very hard to say who this year's Rookie of the Year is.

"Jack's pressure resistance is very strong."

Phil Jackson said to Old Winter.

Actually, he was saying it for the camera behind him.

When he learned that the CCTV camera was filming Fan Xi's documentary behind him, he couldn't help but do some "deliberate promotion" for Fan Xi.

This is his way of loving Fan Xi.

It is something other players have never enjoyed.

His favoritism toward Fan Xi made Bynum behind him jealous, and it got out of hand. He even started praying that Chris Paul must blow Fan Xi out tonight.

Swish!

Chris Paul killed into the paint and completed a floater.

Paul's "riding and shooting" is a unique skill in the League, and it also has the style of Isiah Thomas.

Short point guards are basically very good at this move; Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Tim Hardaway, and Isiah Thomas are all like this.

Paul scored 2 points, and Charles Barkley breathed a sigh of relief.

John Wall and Blake Griffin in front of the TV also breathed a sigh of relief.

However, they raised it again soon.

Fan Xi dribbled past the half-court line, he was no longer so difficult.

Chris Paul's pressure could no longer make Fan Xi "struggle to move." Fan Xi's own ball-handling ability was very good, plus his 90% fusion of Isiah Thomas's breakthrough techniques and low center of gravity.

Paul's pressure on him in the vast space became unrealistic.

Fan Xi arrived at the front court, he didn't force a breakthrough, but passed the ball to Mike Dunleavy in the corner.

Dunleavy jumped easily... Swish!

Three-pointer hit.

Fan Xi also got 1 assist.

The Lakers took the lead.

The game entered a seesaw battle, and the role Fan Xi played in the team became bigger and bigger.

However, Chris Paul's weight in the Hornets is heavier, and the "score" he got is also climbing slowly and steadily.

If you don't consider the existence of the bet, Fan Xi's performance tonight is already presentable.

After all, he is a rookie facing the League's number one point guard.

Fan Xi also enjoyed the process of his rapid integration of Isiah Thomas's technical experience.

But just at this time, a small episode occurred.

With 1 minute and 11 seconds left in the first half, Fan Xi dribbled past the half-court line. Just after crossing the center line, Chris Paul pressed up with Carl Landry to set an ambush.

At that time, Fan Xi had already passed Landry, but was pushed hiddenly by Paul.

Fan Xi instantly lost his center of gravity, fell to the ground, and slid toward Kendall Jenner's side... ===== CHAPTER 119 =====