Chapter 230: The Lakers' Most Painful Night

Lamar Odom sat out.

His condition wasn't good to begin with, and he and Kole Kardashian have been feuding lately. On that seaside cliff trip, Jie Ke's lasting stamina shocked Kole, unintentionally widening the rift between them.

Moreover, Lamar believed the downtime would last a long time, so he eased his training, causing his physique to swell rather dramatically.

This left him unprepared on the court, both physically and mentally, unable to focus fully.

That's why Leonard reversed the ball and slammed him onto the celestial lid.

In fact, the Lakers' problems aren't limited to Lamar Odom's poor condition. Andrew Bai Na Mu is the same; his build is far from a typical athlete's, and he didn't even attend training camp last summer, spending his time training the Los Angeles nightclub atmosphere crew.

Although the Kuaisuan side is labeled by those vicious commentators as old, weak, and crippled, each player's condition is actually excellent.

And their competitive drive is extremely strong.

Kuameibulang passed the basketball to Stephen Nash, and Nash drove the ball across half‑court.

Chris Paul shadowed Nash step‑for‑step, fully focused, but that wasn't enough to curb Nash's moves. Nash, nicknamed the Wind Child, is as untouchable as the wind.

Fan Xi tangled with Kobe, the two being both mentor and friend, and they got along extremely well privately.

But at this moment, both gave their all.

After backing down and holding his position against Kobe for a while, Fan Xi suddenly turned, swept his leg and sprinted, then slipped into the paint. Kobe was caught off guard; he had thought Fan Xi wanted to duel him.

Consequently, Fan Xi's development turned grotesquely lewd.

Fan Xi drove into the paint, and Kuameibulang's hefty body instantly took effect; he stepped across and blocked Kobe squarely.

Fan Xi sprinted to the corner, and Nash quickly executed a wonderful no‑look pass.

The basketball arrived in Fan Xi's hands, smooth and comfortable.

Fan Xi caught the ball, shot... swish!

It rang out and fell through the net.

A beautiful three‑pointer.

Although Nash is old, his handling has become increasingly deft, and he possesses a passing flair that Fan Xi lacks; he has a wildly imaginative side.

Lakers new head coach De'An Dongni sat on the bench, feeling a bit down.

Nash was his most prized disciple of his career, but when he joined the Lakers and took the reins, Nash had already reached an agreement with Kuaisuan, so he was a step late.

When he saw Nash's brilliant combo with Fan Xi, a thought flashed in his mind: I should go to Kuaisuan, and Mike Brown should come to the Lakers.

Phil Jackson announced his departure from the Lakers on the day the NBA halted, and later he found a job with the New York Knicks, becoming the Knicks' president.

Phil Jackson has always wanted to dominate a team; with twelve championship rings and four dynasties under his belt, he doesn't have a strong drive for the head‑coach role.

If Fan Xi had stayed with the Lakers, perhaps he could have persisted in achieving a four‑peat or even a five‑peat.

But Fan Xi left. His bedside companion Jean Bas bore no nostalgia; she strictly followed her father's will and gave Phil Jackson not a single share. So Phil Jackson chose to leave.

Jean Bas made no attempt to retain him.

She quickly employed her tactics, poaching De'An Dongni from the New York Knicks.

De'An Dongni is also a renowned NBA coach today, and after Chris Paul arrived, the Lakers struggled to readjust to the triangle offense. Although De'An Dongni claimed that upon his arrival he would incorporate the successful triangle experience and not change tactics lightly.

But everyone knows the Lakers will undergo a massive change this season.

Looking back, Kobe Bryant backed down and one‑on‑one attacked Fan Xi; although Fan Xi knew Kobe's moves well, Kobe still seized the fleeting chance with an ultra‑difficult fade‑away jump shot, completing the attack.

That's Kobe for you; he always finds a way to leave defenders desperate.

He attacks facing the defender; although his offensive efficiency isn't as high as the mid‑generation or new‑generation superstars, if the defensive stalwarts were to vote, they'd certainly cast their ballots for Kobe.

Because Kobe's style dates back to ancient times; he doesn't chase efficiency, he just wants to crush his opponents.

Such a style, in today's increasingly fast‑paced league, at least in the regular season, doesn't seem as appealing.

For Chris Paul, he prefers Kobe to be more efficient, preferably operating under his coordination, attacking while evading defenders.

The feeling is like Han Xin meeting Xiang Yu; Han Xin wants to follow his own orders, weaving through ten thousand troops, using his unrivaled might to achieve glory. But for Xiang Yu, he charges straight ahead, with the same effect.

This kind of issue also once arose between Fan Xi and Kobe.

Back then, Fan Xi was still relatively weak; during Kobe's one‑on‑one, he would move on the weak side, creating space for Kobe and staying ready to receive Kobe's passes to link teammates, acting as the liaison beside the tyrant.

For Chris Paul, achieving this is difficult.

After all, he is the league's top point guard.

The game continues.

Former league top point guard Stephen Nash quickened the pace, raising the speed.

And in the frontcourt, he executed a rapid screen with Kuameibulang.

This is a classic pick‑and‑roll in the fast break.

But Kuameibulang isn't Stoudamire; Stoudamire possesses a full suite of post‑up skills, able to shoot immediately after catching the ball or bulldoze into the paint for a dunk.

Kuameibulang can't even secure the ball consistently.

Just as Lakers head coach and pick‑and‑roll master De'An Dongni exhaled in relief, Fan Xi darted like lightning from Kuameibulang's side, and Kuameibulang again blocked Kobe's path.

Fan Xi received the ball, didn't linger, made a direct pass into the paint; Leonard sprinted over, seized the ball and leapt... boom!

A dunk.

Staples Center boiled over.

Kuaisuan pressed the Lakers with a heavy beating.

The three commentators from Time Warner stared at each other, and when Kuameibulang took the floor, they sarcastically remarked: 'Kuameibulang is just a toilet paper, he serves no purpose. Kuaisuan spent nearly seven million to sign him, only to stack a double‑buff of a junk top pick and a garbage contract.'

Now, Fan Xi tells the world that even a piece of toilet paper can be useful.

Kuameibulang is relatively fast, his frame is solid, and he's fairly agile.

A person like that makes an unparalleled human wall.

Kuameibulang was ineffective with the Lakers, turning from a man into a ghost under Jordan and Kobe.

Now, with Kuaisuan, he plays an active role; Fan Xi has turned him from a ghost back into a man.

"Well done, Kuameibulang."

Fan Xi praised Kuameibulang, saying to him: "If you can find your own strength on the offensive end and swing your sword ten thousand times, you'll be invincible."

Fan Xi has a strong expectation for Kuameibulang; he believes Kuameibulang can still develop a killer move.

As for what this killer move is, both he and Kuameibulang do not yet know.

But at least for now, under Fan Xi's remodeling, Kuameibulang has a presence on offense in addition to positioning, rim protection, and rebounding on defense.

Swish!

Chris Paul burst through Na Shi's defense and continued to hit his floater.

He and Kobe Bryant form a backcourt duo worthy of being the league's strongest wing combination. Kobe Bryant remains one of the top two scoring guards in the league, and Chris Paul is the league's number‑one point guard.

In the following games, the Clippers, like a horse being dried in the sun, pulled players from the bench one after another, and, mocked by vicious critics as old, weak, and infirm, they produced a strong impact as soon as they came in.

In terms of momentum, the Clippers constantly kept the Lakers on the back foot.

The Lakers were left with only Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant struggling to hold on, though they performed very efficiently.

But at halftime, the Clippers turned the tide, leading by five points, 65–60.

At this point, the Clippers already had three players in double figures: Fan Xi with 12 points, Na Shi with 10, Ge Li Fen with 10, Lun Na De, Butler, and Ka Te each with 8, Han Mi Er Dun with 6, and Xiao Qiao Dan with 3.

The scoring distribution was very even.

In contrast, the Lakers had Kobe with 22 points, Chris Paul with 19, the two accounting for 41 points, Pau Gasol with 7, Andrew Bai Na Mu with 4, Fei She Er with 2, Ao Duo Mu with 2, and Ba En Si with 2.

Without Kobe and Chris Paul as a shield, the Lakers would have been thoroughly beaten long ago.

Jean Bas left the Lakers bench two minutes before the half ended, her face twisted in a forced scowl, visibly angry.

She had dressed up carefully to go to the arena to witness the Lakers slaughter the Clippers, but now the Clippers were leading. At this rate, the chance of losing exceeded fifty percent.

For Jean Bas, who had declared before the game that losing by less than 20 points counted as a loss, this was a heavy slap in the face.

Magic Johnson followed behind her.

He tried to calm Jean Bas down, saying to her: "The Clippers have been ready for a long time; they started preparing for the new season the moment last season ended. Our players are still on vacation, only Kobe and Chris Paul are physically adjusted. We should give the players enough patience."

"Now is not the time to be aggressive. Many injuries appear early in the season because players aren't prepared; if we tighten their nerves now, they'll collapse."

Magic Johnson earnestly urged: "It's just a preseason game; there's no need to fire every bullet. We have plenty of chances to take down the Clippers."

"The Christmas showdown. Our schedule pits us against them for the first time on Christmas; by then our players will have recovered, making it the perfect day to crush them."

Magic Johnson gradually convinced Jean Bas.

The issues Magic Johnson raised are objectively real: both sides' motivation and physical condition are not on the same level, and this is indeed just an inconsequential preseason game; there's no need to go all‑out, lest the Lakers suffer injuries.

Health is the priority.

The Lakers are an aging team; health is the foremost guarantee of a championship.

"Then what about the second half? Substitute Kobe and Chris Paul in the second half, train the bench!"

Magic Johnson said seriously.

"But if we do that… will the media mock us?" Jean Bas said anxiously.

"It's just a preseason game. Moreover, not using Kobe and Chris Paul in the second half, leaving it undecided, is the best." Magic Johnson said.

This is the best solution for the Lakers—a timely cut of losses.

Jean Bas thought for a moment, then finally nodded in agreement, and she asked Magic Johnson to go to the locker room to announce the decision; she wanted to go home early.

She needs a little red wine to fall asleep.

Phil Jackson broke up with her and left for the Big Apple City; now she is single.

Magic Johnson watched Jean Bas's departing back, sighed, "Had I known, why did it happen in the first place?"

Magic Johnson left half of what he just said unsaid.

If the Lakers substitute Kobe and Chris Paul in the second half, the Lakers' reputation wouldn't be harmed, but Jean Bas's reputation would be strongly questioned.

From the moment Fan Xi stabbed the Lakers' hoop with his right hand at the start, Jean Bas had already been hoisted, the rope descending from the pillar of shame.

Jean Bas can only untangle herself with a championship trophy.

This is the retribution for her manipulation of power to eliminate dissent.

…

"I have a way to deal with the Lakers."

Fan Xi sat in the locker room, he devised a strategy to divide the Lakers.

He plans to partner with Lun Na De in the backcourt, replace the small‑forward spot with Deng Liwei, and on defense have Lun Na De primarily guard Kobe while he himself uses his size to crush Chris Paul.

This combo is enough to force the currently unsynchronized Kobe and Chris Paul into fighting alone; Fan Xi analyzed why the Lakers had previously won streaks, concluding it was because other teams didn't give them top‑level defensive pressure.

And the Clippers can provide that defensive strength.

Even in the paint, Fan Xi prepared for Kuameibulang to pair with Xiao Qiao Dan.

If it weren't for Butler's icy touch tonight.

The pure steel, straight‑man defensive‑talent lineup of Fan Xi, Butler, Lun Na De, Kuameibulang, and Xiao Qiao Dan is enough to make many teams collapse.

Fan Xi is confident in this experimental lineup, but just as they stepped onto the court ready to go all out…

Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul both vanished.

Kobe didn't even enter the arena; he was in the locker room having a big argument with Magic Johnson, insisting that now is not the time to concede, that retreating today, when the Christmas showdown faces the same situation, would mean stepping back again—what about the playoffs?

Kobe couldn't quote the saying "Conquer five cities today, ten tomorrow," but he was just stubborn, determined to go all the way against Fan Xi.

However, public sentiment cannot be manipulated.

Magic Johnson told him this is a stopgap; by the Christmas showdown, the Lakers will have regained peak strength.

His teammates urged him, saying that enduring a moment's anger brings lasting peace. Right now everyone's condition is indeed poor; if we clash with them, what if we get injured?

De An Dong Ni also thinks this is just a preseason game…

Kobe ultimately was not persuaded; he said he would not be a surrenderer, and he stayed in the locker room, going nowhere.

Kobe Bryant was very angry.

Chris Paul didn't speak, he and his teammates returned to the court together, then sat on the bench.

Fan Xi was a smart person; his thoughts raced like electricity, and when he saw the Lakers' bench lineup, Kobe Bryant and Jean Bas, who had disappeared from the bench.

And the friendly looks from D'Antoni and Magic Johnson made him immediately understand that the Lakers were surrendering.

But.

Fan Xi turned his head.

Why should I accept your surrender?

Why should I be harmonious with you?

From the moment Jean Bas traded Fan Xi, Fan Xi and the Lakers have been in a state of irreconcilable enmity.

He never believed in the saying 'leave a line today, meet again tomorrow.'

"The massacre has begun."

Fan Xi's gaze turned cold, his will became even more resolute.

Repay resentment with virtue? That's God's doing; my purpose is to send you to meet God.

Magic Johnson never imagined that Fan Xi was a true god of killing.

Tonight is destined to be one of the most painful nights in Lakers history...

…