Chapter 173

Neither Spoelstra nor Pat Riley's expectations happened.

Fan Xi was still dragon-spirited and tiger-fierce.

The Lakers' lead expanded from 6 points at the end of the first quarter to 11 points.

If it weren't for Dwyane Wade continuously killing into the paint to cause damage at the last moment, this score might have been 15 or even more.

It seriously exceeded Miami's optimistic expectations; they originally thought this game would be won very easily. However, Fan Xi gave them a wake-up call at the start, a historical-level dunk that sent the Big Three to the top of tonight's top five plays.

Afterwards, Fan Xi tied all the ball possession to his shoulders; he was like Derrick Rose in the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron James in 07, and Iverson in 01. He used personal assault as a spear to pierce the defense, then bestowed grace in all directions, and his teammates all extended because of his "blessing."

The depth of the Lakers' lineup was not comparable to this year's Bulls, the 07 Cavaliers, or the 01 Philadelphia 76ers.

With Fan Xi's abundant stamina, they blocked Miami's fast break, and the strong interior height made Miami fear the rat and not dare to move forward. They didn't even dare to pull out the posture of defensive counterattack, let alone the accelerated rhythm requested by Pat Riley to give the Lakers a fatal blow.

Miami was beaten dizzy.

They now seemed to have only one path: wait for Jack Fan's stamina to dry up.

However, ever since being kissed by Jenner in public, Fan Xi didn't see a trace of fatigue at all. He was like injected with stimulants on the court.

Kobe Bryant was both excited and frustrated at this moment. What was exciting was... if Jack Fan could really play the whole game like this, the Lakers would likely win this game. And, if the Lakers took the next two home games in one go, then... wouldn't the three-peat dynasty be completed?

Kobe, with a broken arm, had a sense of "success doesn't have to be in me" at this time.

And what made him frustrated was that he constantly received resentful eyes from Vanessa; Vanessa's demand was not small, and she hoped Kobe would often complete the workload Jack did last night.

This... how could Kobe do it.

*Beep! *

The whistle for halftime sounded, and the first half ended.

Fan Xi walked off the court with light steps; he had no fatigue at all, even though his exercise volume in the first half today was very large, far exceeding his previous two games in Miami.

In his heart, this could only count as a warm-up.

19 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks—this was the data Fan Xi sent in the first half. He reduced personal attacks in the second quarter but made great progress in cooperation with teammates.

Under his drive, the Lakers achieved great results in the paint, and no matter how fierce the Big Three's offensive was, they were blocked.

The Lakers established an advantage similar to the first game of the Finals in this game.

"LeBron, is the reason you are doing this because you want to bring the Finals awards ceremony back to Miami?"

During halftime, the sideline reporter from TNT walked over and threw a "tricky" question to LeBron James.

The sideline reporter asked this question because he was a die-hard James fan, and he firmly believed the Heat could win the Finals.

But when asking James like this at this time, James smelled some "sarcasm."

He clearly played basketball very hard, why did he still think they were releasing water?

Do you think we want to be behind by double digits at halftime?

James is a very calm person; he is very good at dealing with the media: "We are just trying to play basketball and offer the most exciting game to the fans. I believe Jack is the same."

He said a high-sounding nonsense.

Then, the reporter asked Chris Bosh, asking him how to solve the current trouble in the paint in the second half.

Chris Bosh's emotional intelligence was clearly not as high as James's.

Thus, the audience in the United States and even the world saw his hysterical side. He roared lowly at the camera: "Wait for Jack Fan's stamina to decline, I will dunk him ten times, ten times!!!"

After he finished this sentence, James wanted to cover his mouth, but it was too late.

This reporter subconsciously joked: "But tonight, Jack Fan has the blessing of love. He is full of power."

"I don't believe in any love. And, with his physique, a kiss can at most last half a game, what can he do in the second half?"

Chris Bosh carried some personal grudges.

Fan Xi's ball at the start smashed him to the ground straight away; among the Big Three, he was the one destroyed head-on.

The TNT commentary booth was full of laughter.

"Chris Bosh sounds a bit pitiful." Barkley teased him with a smile.

Kenny Smith said: "If the person dunked over was you, you would be just as angry."

"However, at least he has one thing that makes sense. Once Jack Fan's stamina declines, not only will Chris Bosh take revenge with gritted teeth, but Wade and James won't let him go either."

Earl Johnson led the topic to another thing: "It's not good for young people to be too arrogant, not to mention, Jack Fan doesn't have enough capital yet. As strong as Derrick Rose, he was suppressed by the Big Three, he... can't."

Earl Johnson was very arbitrary.

He was a "power worshiper"; whoever had strong strength, he would hype up. In the current situation, naturally, the Miami Big Three were the most powerful.

Although the Lakers led by 11 points in the second half under Fan Xi's rate, still no one thought the Los Angeles Lakers could defeat the Heat.

However, one phenomenon was that more and more fans in the home court were wearing purple-gold support T-shirts, and more and more home fans firmly stood on the Lakers' side.

The boos for Fan Xi at the start also turned into full-arena cheers following Fan Xi's aggressive performance.

Some confidence sprouted in the hearts of Lakers fans, with an unstoppable trend.

…

Scarlett and Selena were blocked outside the player tunnel.

They were very angry.

"Do you know who we are?" Scarlett asked this strong black security guard angrily.

She planned to execute the halftime plan with Selena, which was to trick Fan Xi into that familiar black room, and then let Selena cook the raw rice into cooked rice.

Scarlett had experience with such moves, and she was full of confidence.

However.

The mission failed before it even started.

Two strong black security guards blocked their way, telling them that if they weren't players or staff, they weren't allowed to enter the player tunnel.

Selena said she wanted to go to the bathroom.

They pointed to another direction, the non-player tunnel.

Then, Scarlett spoke softly to them again, praising them for being handsome in the tone of Black Widow in the movie, and also indicating that she could get them the signed figurine of Iron Man.

However, these two security guards were too dutiful.

No matter what, they wouldn't let go of a passage.

So, Scarlett showed her cards and used her big move.

She asked the two security guards if they knew who she was?

"Of course I know, Ms. Scarlett, and Ms. Selena. You are world-renowned superstars. However, I think you don't want the media to know that you are violating the rules now, right?" This black security guard had principles; there aren't many black people with such principles.

"We are in a relationship with Jack, you know that, let us in." Scarlett had to take out Jack Fan's name; he was the current star of the Lakers, and he was the biggest contributor to Los Angeles's lead tonight.

"Precisely because we know you are Jack's scandal objects, we can't let you in even more. He is resting well now, and he will soon win a victory for Los Angeles."

This black security guard was very serious, and his expression had a divine radiance: "Women only affect the speed of a man's shooting."

"You will definitely regret it, buddy. We can help Jack if we go in; the Lakers will win the championship because we go in. Believe me, only we can help Los Angeles win the championship..." Scarlett said to them very decisively.

But they didn't believe it.

They all thought women would only affect Jack's state.

"You will regret it."

Scarlett threw this sentence down loudly and helplessly, pulling Selena back to their seats; she was very angry, especially angry.

The elaborate plan was disrupted by two security guards.

When they left, the two security guards smiled at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and spread their palms. One of the matte blacks said: "Jack definitely won't blame us, we are also doing it for his own good."

The other matte black replied: "Of course, we are for the whole of Los Angeles. Moreover, Kendall Jenner just went in, Jack can handle one woman, we have to block the other two scandal girlfriends for him, so they don't fight."

"Yeah."

The matte black sighed: "We have paid too much for Los Angeles."

…

Jenner sat outside the locker room, chatting with Vanessa.

The locker room is a restricted area for every team, and even the players' wives are not allowed to enter.

Listening to the various excited sounds coming from the locker room, Vanessa suddenly sighed and asked Jenner: "You didn't rest well last night?"

Jenner smiled.

Then, Vanessa asked again: "Jack, is there any secret recipe? He seems to be full of energy."

Jenner blushed, and then said: "I don't know. He is my first love..."

The two chatted one sentence after another.

At the same time, Kobe in the locker room also asked Fan Xi: "Jack, are we good brothers?"

Fan Xi frowned: "Of course we are. How could you ask such a question."

"Then..." Kobe hesitated for a while and said to Fan Xi: "Do you have any magical medicine over there, like making a man tireless at night..."

Fan Xi heard it.

He hurriedly said: "I'm not very clear about this, but I'll help you ask later."

Kobe was suddenly a bit lost, and then said to him: "Miami will definitely launch a fierce attack in the second half. Their cooperation in the first half wasn't good. Once they find an opportunity, they will definitely tear open the gap fiercely."

"You have to be more tenacious and fierce than them. Because..." Kobe said to this point, lowered his voice, and whispered in Fan Xi's ear: "Your teammates' willpower isn't strong; they play well in favorable situations, but in adversity, they easily collapse."

Fan Xi took Kobe's words to heart.

No one knows Lakers players better than Kobe.

…

*Beep! *

The whistle sounded, and the second half started.

At this time, the home fans were no longer as "cold" as before the game; from the moment the whistle sounded, they began to shout loudly for the team.

They were cheering for the team because they expected to harvest an unexpected victory tonight. This would be their biggest surprise.

At the same time, the Miami Heat's enthusiasm was also raised to the highest. Pat Riley smashed a tactical board in the locker room and sternly questioned the Big Three: Do you want to watch that playboy step on your heads and become a superstar?

He stimulated the players' sense of shame.

He let the Miami players know that if they didn't win tonight, it would be the Waterloo of their careers.

This humiliating stimulation made Miami show terrifying impact from the start of the second half.

LeBron James rushed into the paint like a beast as soon as he received the basketball. Under Lamar Odom's interception, he directly knocked open the defense. Although there was a suspicion of traveling, his performance of topping Bynum in the air and putting the basketball into the basket was really domineering.

It was completely the spirit of Xiang Yu in ancient times who could lift a tripod.

*Swish! *

James also hit the free throw.

2+1!

The point difference narrowed to 8 points.

Subsequently, Fan Xi dribbled the ball across the half-court, Flash Wade pounced on him, and he stuck to Fan Xi like sticky candy; he didn't give Fan Xi any comfortable rhythm to dribble.

Fan Xi was indeed interfered with by him.

Kobe shouted from the sidelines: "Be more decisive, fuck him!"

Fan Xi didn't do that.

He didn't have enough confidence in his pull-up jump shot.

Pau Gasol set a screen for him, he killed into the free-throw line, and when Chris Bosh's defensive defense came up, he made a beautiful feint, pointing Bosh away. Then he passed to Gasol, and Gasol could have shot directly after receiving the ball.

But he chose to kill into the paint. As a result, Haslem's iron-blooded pounce directly pressed Gasol's dunk down from the sky.

The basketball was also picked up by Wade. Wade passed long to James, and James killed into the paint like sweeping a thousand troops... *Boom! *

A dunk happened.

Scored two in a row.

The point difference quickly narrowed to 6 points.

James roared to the sky in the front court.

His rushing momentum made the atmosphere of the Staples Center, which was originally restless and positive, visibly calm down. Everyone realized... wanting to take down the Big Three with the current lineup seemed a bit whimsical.

This atmosphere even permeated the Los Angeles players.

A silent low-pressure area began to gather over the heads of the Lakers players.

"Stand in position!!"

Fan Xi's voice came firmly from the top of the three-point arc: "Make this ball."

Just like a needle to calm the sea.

Fan Xi had become the last foundation of Los Angeles.

And at this time, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Pat Riley on the sidelines all looked at Fan Xi with burning eyes.

They all realized that to capture the thieves, first capture the king; defeating the Lakers depends on this.

As long as Fan Xi's arrogance is suppressed this time, the Lakers will definitely collapse.

…