Chapter 194: Jack, everything is left to you

Being killed by a buzzer-beater has become a forbidden zone Wade cannot touch.

He has already been killed by Fan Xi twice in the Finals, and now he can finally go back to rest.

For Wade, he thinks he has retired with merit; he took down Bynum, the Lakers' personnel arrangement is stretched thin, and Miami still has two big giants left on the court.

Taking this game is no problem at all.

Returning to Miami next, the Lakers, with no more tricks, will be even less able to escape.

"This is a decisive offensive."

Charles Barkley says the same.

Andrew Bynum's injury means the Lakers' only advantage on the court no longer exists, and Fan Xi will lead a group of teammates who are clearly exhausted to fight the Heat.

LeBron James returns to the bench with joy; although Wade's departure makes him sad, the important thing is that he sees the dawn of victory.

Miami has no reason to lose.

The counterattack officially begins from this moment.

Dwyane Wade burned himself, but he lit up the entire Miami sky.

He is the guardian of the American Airlines Arena; next, it's up to the "Chosen One" to forge ahead.

The Heat players are also optimistic, including Pat Riley, whose tight eyebrows lift inadvertently.

The momentum has shifted.

Finally, the momentum has shifted.

Although Pat Riley didn't expect the Los Angeles Lakers to be so hard to chew under Fan Xi's leadership, he originally thought the Lakers' remnant lineup could hold on for at most one quarter.

He didn't expect the Lakers to hold on until the final stage, and Miami only broke their last fortress after paying the price of Wade's injury.

Next, what do the Lakers have left?

Jack Fan?

That guard who still hasn't learned the stop-and-go jump shot?

Or that group of lone warriors who can't crawl up anymore?

In the face of absolute strength, the strength of willpower is not enough to affect the final outcome.

Pat Riley has always firmly believed in this point of view.

So, he is very happy now.

Fan Xi returns to the bench; the Lakers have to call a timeout. Bynum's injury makes them unable to stop thinking about how to continue the remaining 3 minutes and 35 seconds.

Phil Jackson looks at all the players around him; Kobe and Pau Gasol, who are wearing suits, don't count. Andrew Bynum is fouled out; the three of them, put together last season, were 90% of the Lakers' tactical starting points.

This season, there's just an extra Jack Fan.

Fan Xi sits calmly on the bench; he has no expression. But everyone knows he must be thinking about how to win this game.

Except for Fan Xi's posture, which is still somewhat normal, Lamar Odom and Mike Dunleavy have not recovered from the huge physical exertion; Matt Barnes is already exhausted, Luke Walton's breathing sounds like a tired old ox, and Joe Smith, although he has a tough posture on the court, is old after all.

Just as Wade said to Fan Xi when he left the court, the current Lakers can't even put together five people who can play.

The war has reached the point of running out of ammunition and food.

At this time, even if the Lakers choose to give up, no one will blame them.

They have already proven tonight what it means: "The Iron Armor Still Remains."

Phil Jackson can't bear it, but he has to say to the players: "Next, we need five players on the court."

Then, he looks at his players.

No one shows any emotion of fear of battle; everyone looks at him with burning eyes.

At this point, with the game played to this stage, even if there is a mountain of knives and a sea of fire ahead, even if they faint on the court tonight, everyone will risk their lives for the championship!

Kobe Bryant looks at this scene and is immensely moved.

All along, he thought Lakers players were only delicate, lacked fighting spirit, and lacked competitiveness.

Back in 2008, when playing against the Boston Celtics, they were beaten by them and didn't dare to resist.

But this Lakers team now is still the same core as in 2008, even missing him and Gasol, the two interior and exterior cores.

However, the Lakers are unexpectedly tenacious.

This proud man starts to reflect: Why are they so fierce under Jack's leadership, but so wilted under mine? It must be my problem as the leader. It seems Shaq was right back then; I take myself too seriously, I like being a hero too much, ignoring other people's feelings; I really don't have any leadership talent.

Phil Jackson calls the players' names.

Joel Smith, Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, Derek Fisher, Fan Xi.

As soon as he finishes speaking, someone stands up.

It's Mike Dunleavy, it's Matt Barnes.

"Coach, I must return to the court; the team needs my three-pointers. I've rested enough. I can provide Jack with the best screen and the most accurate three-point shooting."

Mike Dunleavy requests to play very decisively.

And Matt Barnes, although his lips are a bit purple, says very toughly: "I must guard the flank for Jack so he can kill freely. No one's defense is better than mine; no one can clear obstacles for Jack better than me."

Phil Jackson looks at the two players who are clearly exhausted but still tenaciously asking to fight.

He is embarrassed.

At this time, Fan Xi speaks: "Let them go."

Dunleavy and Barnes get the chance to play, replacing Luke Walton and Derek Fisher.

Beep!

The whistle blows.

The game continues.

Miami's last five are Eddie House, Mario Chalmers, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Juwan Howard.

Compared to the Lakers' fragmentation, although the Heat have also lost a lot, the overall structure is still strong and can still be called an organized unit.

Swish!

Swish!

Chris Bosh shoots free throws in place of Dwyane Wade, hitting both, and the Heat take a 1-point lead. The game continues.

Chris Bosh is in high spirits at this time; his pace becomes light because of joy. Both he and James joined from outside last summer. When Wade was still on the court, it was inevitable that they would feel like "strangers in a strange land." Now, it is the moment for them to truly be the masters and fight for themselves.

Fan Xi brings the ball to the frontcourt, and Eddie House defends him.

Eddie House is the most famous journeyman in the NBA; he changes teams almost every season. This shows one thing: he has ability, but the ability isn't that strong. His most glorious moment in his career was in 2008, when he helped the Celtics defeat the Los Angeles Lakers as a bench bandit.

He is a "microwave" player, good at outputting violently as soon as he gets on the court.

However, his defense is terrible; it just looks powerful.

Fan Xi passes him like passing a morning street, but just after breaking through him and killing into the three-point line, Chalmers defends him. Fan Xi takes his defense into the free-throw line, James quickly double-teams, and the two trap Fan Xi.

Fan Xi passes the ball out to Dunleavy.

Dunleavy, this three-point shooter who had complaints about Fan Xi when he was just traded over and is now submissive to Fan Xi, catches the ball and aims upward.

He realizes his current physical fitness cannot support such a long-range shot.

This guy, known for his shooting, unexpectedly takes the ball and charges into the paint. Not only did Fan Xi not expect it, but the players didn't expect it even more.

Dunleavy kills into the paint, jumps up with unstoppable momentum. Although he doesn't jump high, he has full momentum. He crashes directly into Howard's defense; the aging Howard is knocked away, and he forces the ball into the basket while losing his balance... Pfft!

Immediately after, his legs go soft when he lands, and he falls to the ground.

This suicide goal makes the Lakers take a 1-point lead again.

Staples Center echoes with earth-shattering sound waves.

Dunleavy clearly looks "exhausted," but in such a situation, he doesn't choose an open shot; instead, he kills directly into the paint to draw a goal, using his drained body to create a success rate.

Such actions have frequently happened to Lakers players in the past; this is a scene rarely seen in NBA history.

Dunleavy falls to the ground; he doesn't rest much, quickly crawls up, and joins the defense, although his movements are a bit limping.

"I didn't waste one of your possessions, Jack." Mike Dunleavy raises his eyebrows at Fan Xi while defending, but his voice is already very weak.

Fan Xi gives him a thumbs up and says: "You are the greatest shooter I have ever seen, none other."

Dunleavy smiles.

Fan Xi's praise weighs ten thousand stones in his heart; he is full of admiration for this young undrafted player.

At this time, LeBron James takes the ball, breaks through Lamar Odom's defense, and kills viciously toward the paint.

The "Chosen One" bares his hideous fangs.

He wants to tear apart the Lakers' last line of defense; he wants to tell the whole world that he is already the king of the basketball world, and no one can block his path.

He wants to conquer the City of Angels with a dunk.

Turning Staples into the first victim under his iron hooves.

James's momentum is surging; he is known as the NBA's number one tank. Even super-heavy centers like Yao Ming and Bynum are not very willing to defend him; guards and forwards often choose to open a channel when facing his impact.

In an instant, James rushes into the free-throw line.

Just when everyone thinks James's dunk is a sure thing and will completely crush the Lakers' last resistance.

A tough figure stands on the path James must take, motionless, gritting his teeth, eyes looking straight at LeBron James.

Pfft!

James's impact arrives as scheduled; he is like a barbaric super-heavy truck, wanting to sweep away all obstacles blocking him.

The already very weak Dunleavy, of course, can't stop James; he is knocked straight to the ground... Bang!

Dunleavy falls heavily to the ground.

Like a stone statue being pushed over.

Although Dunleavy didn't fall into shattered stone pieces, the huge sound lets people know what kind of pain he is enduring.

Beep!

The whistle blows, and the head referee very decisively calls an offensive foul on James.

James is still arguing there, thinking his behavior was very clear, and he questions Dunleavy for moving his feet.

He uses his superstar privilege to appeal forcibly, and the head referee watches the replay.

When the replays from various angles are clearly played on the big screen overhead and on TVs in thousands of households.

James's previous jumping around looks particularly ridiculous.

Mike Dunleavy, however, receives unprecedented respect because his steps didn't move at all; his body was straight, like standing at attention.

Most importantly, the moment James was about to hit him, he actually smiled and closed his eyes slightly.

He gives people a sense of heroism, ready to die.

He makes people unable to believe what kind of faith supported him to make such a tenacious and firm decision; you have to know the opponent is LeBron James! When has a bullfighter ever closed his eyes and smiled while waiting for a bull's charge?

And while James is appealing, Fan Xi runs to Mike Dunleavy's side immediately.

When Dunleavy sees Fan Xi coming, a smile appears on his distorted, painful face.

The reason he was so calm when facing James is that he firmly believes Jack Fan will kill the Miami Heat, Jack Fan will avenge him, and Jack Fan will definitely seize this possession to push the arrogant Miami Heat into hell.

"Am I brave enough?" Mike Dunleavy asks Fan Xi in a weak voice; he is really too tired and too painful.

Fan Xi nods repeatedly.

His heart feels blocked; he quickly turns back and calls: "Team doctor, team doctor! Substitution, substitution!"

Fortunately, James's appeal on the side gives him a lot of time.

The Lakers' team doctor rushes over to check Dunleavy; they are also not sure what Dunleavy's condition is.

But they quickly request a stretcher, and Dunleavy is pushed onto it.

This is already the second player in this game to leave on a stretcher.

This shows how intense and cruel this game is.

When Dunleavy is pushed off the court, the big screen overhead is replaying his smile when he was knocked down.

Then, Dunleavy, lying on the stretcher, slowly extends his right hand, makes a fist, gently taps his chest, and then raises it to the sky. He says in his heart: "Jack, it's left to you."

This scene is projected onto the big screen by the cameras at the scene; more than 20,000 Lakers fans are hit in an instant, and then they roar out the shouts in their hearts.

"The Iron Armor Still Remains!"

"The Iron Armor Still Remains!"

I don't know who started shouting first, but it quickly becomes a surging and crazy sound wave, forming in Staples Center with unstoppable momentum, sweeping the entire City of Angels, and then all the viewers watching in front of their TVs.

Fan Xi stands in the storm, the huge sound completely surrounding him.

His fist is pressed against his chest unconsciously, his heart beating wildly and surgingly, his blood seems to be boiling, rushing wildly through his limbs and bones.

And, it rushes to his head quickly.

He feels as if his brain has been hit.

Unprecedented brain waves are born in the uniform shouting... Hum!

Without suspense, energy that hasn't been lit for a long time is stimulated.

Then, Fan Xi sees familiar faces in the energy body, as well as the thing he dreams of most.

... ===== CHAPTER 195 =====