Chapter 271

If Beast Howard joining the Lakers was high-profile, domineering, and earth-shattering, then Yao Ming's return was low-key, silent, and even soundless.

Indeed.

The two were no longer players of the same caliber.

Howard is the undisputed number one center in the league; he has been the Defensive Player of the Year for three consecutive years, which is a first in league history, and he has been the rebounding and block leader for several consecutive years. His defense in the paint is rare in the world, and he is in his prime... another saying is that at 26, he hasn't even reached his prime yet.

Compared to him, Yao Ming even seems like a person from another era.

When Howard was giving an exciting speech at the gorgeous and grand press conference site at Staples Center, Yao Ming walked quietly into the Clippers' training facility. He put on the full set of Clippers gear, and the blue and white clothes worn on his tall body looked exceptionally... grand, giving people a sense of depth like an abyss or the sea.

The first time Fan Xi looked up and saw Yao Ming, he knew that the Clippers' big killer in the paint had arrived.

Although this big killer might only be able to be used for a few minutes per game, that was enough.

As early as a week ago, Yao Ming told Fan Xi that he was ready. The original estimate was to return after the Lunar New Year, but Yao Ming passed all tests, and he himself confirmed that he was fully prepared.

Interestingly, before he officially signed with the Clippers, he played a game against Rasheed Wallace.

The result was 11:2.

Rasheed was the one who got blown out.

Both were returning after retirement, but the little giant was much younger than the Roaring Heavenly Venerable. Moreover, the little giant's weight loss effect was very obvious; although his lower limb strength was still strong, he seemed much more agile... he could run quickly, and his movement speed had not weakened.

Perhaps in terms of confrontation, it had declined significantly compared to his prime.

However, under the current premise of the league's centers speeding up, losing weight, and becoming blue-collar, it was enough.

After Rasheed Wallace finished this game with Fan Xi, he said he wanted to retire.

He didn't want to waste a spot on the Clippers' roster.

"I completed the signing with old Deng Liwei, 2 years for 3.5 million dollars, with a player option for the second year." Yao walked in and generously told Fan Xi the result.

Obviously.

Yao wanted to complete this signing before Fan Xi officially took over the team; he didn't want to be thought of as having used the back door or brought any other relationships.

2 years for 3.5 million is the market price.

For a former All-Star player who had retired and had a history of devastating injuries, it was reasonable. Even someone as strong as Iverson received similar treatment in the last year of his career.

So, why let others have pointless discussions?

Fan Xi was stunned for a moment, then smiled. He opened his arms and said: "Welcome back, our Great Wall."

He and Yao hugged each other tightly.

This was the peak of Chinese basketball, the two greatest Asian players in history, the two greatest yellow-skinned players in history.

With Yao Ming's addition, the Clippers' center position became incredibly wealthy; DeAndre Jordan, Kwame Brown, and Yao, three major centers, each with their own style.

Although the power forward position was relatively thin, wait until Nowitzki arrives.

The Clippers might not lack the strength to compete with the Lakers in the paint.

Gasol and Howard, one offense and one defense, are indeed very powerful; just thinking about it makes people feel it's seamless and impeccable.

However, if the Clippers produce wonderful chemistry, they might not be unable to fight them.

The Clippers' training facility became lively.

The atmosphere of the Christmas game was also continuing to burn, reaching an incredible height.

"... As everyone knows, this year's preseason, the Clippers killed it in the preseason, and they crazily humiliated the Lakers. The Lakers from top to bottom were holding their breath; they had long decided to get their face back in the Christmas game."

"But the Clippers are currently in huge personnel changes, and the chaos in the upper management will directly affect the locker room. I think this will be a massacre."

In the car on the way back, the Los Angeles radio station was making pre-game predictions.

This was also a very famous commentator known for his objective views.

Yao Ming was sitting in Fan Xi's passenger seat... fortunately, Fan Xi was driving a modified Land Rover recently, otherwise it really wouldn't have fit Chairman Yao's huge body, and even so, he looked like he was crouching in the passenger seat.

"This battle is hard to fight."

Chairman Yao sighed: "The Clippers have always been inferior in Los Angeles, and now they have Howard, solving the internal instability. Our team still lacks experience."

Fan Xi nodded.

Howard's strength is far stronger than Bynum's, and he and Paul will definitely partner very well. Paul has experience successfully partnering with a similar type of center, Tyson Chandler, and Howard is definitely an enhanced version of Tyson Chandler in every aspect.

And, most importantly, Howard, like Paul, is an outsider; he doesn't have three championship rings, and he can't say to Paul: Before you came, we were already a three-peat champion.

Now, they are huddled together, having a common pursuit, pursuing a post-three-peat, or even a post-four-peat.

Interestingly, Andrew Bynum was indignant about this trade.

He finally tore off his mask; he wasn't pretending anymore.

He said in the media: "Since the Lakers were taken over by Jean Bas, they have become hypocritical, ridiculous, despicable, and laughable. This stupid woman, in order to prove her own greatness and to show the legitimacy and justification of her inheriting the Lakers' management rights, actually dismantled the championship team. It was she who personally built this powerful Clippers team. Jack Fan could clearly have become the Lakers' second Magic, but she insisted on bringing in a stupid, selfish, narrow-minded, self-righteous little dwarf."

"The Lakers have long been a mess, broken at the roots. They look lush now, but they will soon collapse suddenly, and Howard's arrival will accelerate this collapse process."

"Just wait and see, Jack and I will definitely win a championship before this Lakers team. Oh, and Lamar."

Bynum said it very harshly.

However, it didn't attract much attention. When the league's number one center, the best defensive interior player, joined the Lakers, the Lakers were already invincible.

"No matter how strong they are, our goal is always to take them down. In the Christmas game, we can only win, not lose!"

Fan Xi's eyes were burning, and he said with absolute certainty.

When he said this, his whole body exuded a strong momentum.

This momentum was something Yao Ming had never seen before.

He suddenly felt very fortunate, yet also very regretful. He was thinking, if T-Mac had had this kind of spirit when he was playing with him back then, how good would that have been?

T-Mac's talent was also the top in history; his talent was better than Kobe's, he was younger than Kobe, and he even won the scoring title before Kobe. Originally, the combination of T-Mac and Yao was highly anticipated, and everyone thought they could become the next OK combination, but in the end....

In fact, Chairman Yao also had the opportunity to join the Lakers back then; Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant were actively recruiting him, but at that time he chose to stay in Houston.

Now, after twists and turns, it is no longer the appearance of his prime back then. One has to sigh at the ruthless changes of time.

The focus of the basketball circle was once again concentrated on basketball itself. Howard's joining made the discussion of the Christmas game reach an unprecedented height. The heat was chasing last year's finals; after all, this is a Los Angeles derby, and also a duel between the two most watched teams in the league today.

Their heat completely stole the other Christmas game: Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls.

This made LeBron James a little unhappy, and his private conversation was made public: The Lakers building this kind of super team is really boring. I don't know why the league would pass such a trade; the Lakers have already robbed twice. Before they robbed Pau Gasol, and now they robbed Dwight Howard.

After James's words were spread through unreliable sources, everyone felt it was quite ironic. Anyone in the league is qualified to criticize the Lakers for building a super team, except James. Because he was the first person in league history to build a peak super team as a marquee superstar.

Of course, these were just some rumors, and James couldn't possibly take it personally.

But judging from the current coldness of the Miami Meihangzhongxin qiuguan, they must be jealous of this Christmas game happening on the West Coast.

Although Howard's words were extremely arrogant, they had to admit that the league landscape had changed significantly because of it. No one wants to meet the super hexagon: the Lakers, in the finals.

"All along, Lakers fans have been discussing the trade that happened in the summer. I know that many fans like Jack very much; Jack is an extremely excellent player, and he possesses the qualities and fighting spirit of a competitor."

"However, I want to tell everyone that now, what I am wearing is the Lakers jersey. I am fighting for the Lakers, and I hope to win the championship for the Lakers, one, two, three... the more the better."

"I am really tired of those rumors, whether it's mockery or sarcasm."

"Jack and I need to have a showdown."

"I want everyone to know that I am the player most suitable for the Lakers now. Only I can help and lead the Lakers to win the trophy everyone wants."

Chris Paul suddenly posted a long handwritten manuscript on social media.

He expressed it very solemnly.

It looked like he had had enough of the grievances; he hoped to use this game to completely end the influence Fan Xi left on the Lakers, and he wanted to establish his own authority.

This Christmas game was his battlefield.

This meant he would no longer back down; he was going to fight to the death.

Fan Xi thus stood on the life-and-death ring again with the league's number one point guard.

Although this was proposed by Chris Paul, once Fan Xi loses this game, he will lose a lot.

Paul has enough confidence in himself, and now the advantage is all on the Lakers' side; he wants to achieve success in one battle.

Worthy of being the league's number one point guard, smart brain, and first-class perception of the situation.

When Fan Xi saw Paul's "declaration of war," it was already the next morning.

He was on the phone with Liu Yifei. Liu Yifei came to the United States; this was a trip they had agreed upon in the summer. Fan Xi originally planned to go to Malibu to pick her up, then go to eat together, and then head to the training facility to make the final sprint for tomorrow night's game.

However, when he saw the "declaration of war" from Chris Paul sent by Lu Yuan. He changed his plan; he apologized to Liu Yifei, saying he might not be able to accompany her, I have a difficult battle to fight, and I must win this victory.

Liu Yifei expressed full support.

Then, Fan Xi asked Lu Yuan to arrange for someone to send two VIP tickets to Liu Yifei. In this way, their next meeting would be in an NBA arena.

"Saint Paul is determined to take me down."

Fan Xi hurriedly finished breakfast, called Chen Ye, and headed straight to the arena.

Along the way, Chen Ye was also complaining about Paul, saying that Paul was clearly "bullying others with power" and "taking your life while you're sick."

Fan Xi, however, calmed down; all is fair in war, and Paul shooting at him at this time was most beneficial to him.

However, Fan Xi was also completely fearless.

Let's see the truth on the court!