Chapter 337: The Zen Master Truly Is a Zen Master

Dao Ge Ruiqiu has been a ticket inspector at Staples Center since 1999; he has witnessed countless events, accompanying both the Lakers' glory and decline.

He originally thought that Los Angeles' basketball history would rise and fall with the Lakers' fortunes.

However, this season gave him many unprecedented feelings.

Fan Xi was cruelly and mercilessly sold by the Lakers' new owner to Kuaisuan, after which Kuaisuan was reborn. The Fan Xi who offered several tendons for the Lakers' second three‑peat in history did not become a useless player as those despicable people expected; he led the despised Kuaisuan to launch a counterattack.

Essentially, Dao Ge Ruiqiu is a typical Lakers fan. Yet in the first regular‑season game, when Jie Ke Fan made a game‑winning dunk and stepped on the ball, he was also intensely exhilarated. The most primal human joy and anger eclipsed his identity as a Lakers fan.

Then came the New Year showdown; everyone knew that the Lakers, led by A Taise Te and his group of players, wanted to target Fan Xi. At that time the Lakers acquired Huo Wa De, becoming a formidable force. Many Lakers fans were also eager to give Fan Xi a lesson during the Zhongguo New Year, cursing him with bad luck for the whole year.

However, Fan Xi retaliated again.

Then came the final showdown, the most heartbreaking event for Lakers fans. This year the Lakers' two most important acquisitions, Chris Paul and De Huai Te Huo Wa De, were hidden in a bar and did not appear on the court. This led to the most brutal massacre in Lakers history; they were beaten by 58 points by the Kuaisuan led by Fan Xi.

The three games were like three sweeping blades, causing a structural shift in the basketball market of the City of Angels.

This place is no longer the Lakers' absolute domain.

Kuaisuan is also no longer the despised Kuaisuan.

Since Fan Xi miraculously took all the shares from Ge Lang Tai, Kuaisuan became a darling in Hao lai wu, in Beverly Hills, and in the social celebrity circles.

Trends always flow from top to bottom.

When the upper echelons of society start favoring Clippers tickets, the middle class below, even children in the slums, begin to wear Clippers jerseys as a symbol of fashion.

This is a Lakers home game.

However, in Dao Ge Ruiqiu's ticket gate, at least twenty percent of the fans were wearing Kuaisuan jerseys—a previously unimaginable scenario.

Moreover, Dao Ge Ruiqiu could even see some familiar faces.

"If the Lakers lose this series, I guarantee that the number of Kuaisuan fans in Los Angeles will surpass Lakers fans in the future."

Dao Ge Ruiqiu said to his partner during a work break.

"Yes, Dao. I urge you to quickly learn from me and become a Kuaisuan."

His partner Li Sa pointed to a small Clippers sticker on her work uniform, something she was proud of.

Dao Ge Ruiqiu was somewhat surprised, because in his previous understanding Li Sa had always been a fervent Lakers fan; during last year's finals, she was so excited that she practically made Jie Ke sit on the ground in ovulation.

Such changes happen constantly.

The Lakers' management feels a genuine crisis.

Jean Bas no longer aggressively claims she can control everything; she hasn't for a long time evaluated Fan Xi from the boardroom as merely a young man who got lucky by chance. Now she cannot help but be humble, because the Kuaisuan's offensive is too fierce.

Her several encirclements yielded nothing, but instead allowed Kuaisuan to keep growing, and ultimately made Fan Xi the controller of Kuaisuan.

The now disarmed she now shifts from offense to a strategic defense; she must have the Lakers suppress Kuaisuan for the next three years. Because in two more years, Fan Xi must, according to regulations, leave Kuaisuan and play at least one season elsewhere before returning to Kuaisuan.

That time would also roughly coincide with Kobe Bryant's retirement.

Jean Bas' strategic calculations are very good.

…

Fan Xi entered the arena, he saw familiar yet strange faces around him. Last season, Staples Center was filled with the purple‑and‑gold legion cheering for him, and he responded fiercely, proving with reckless action that the iron armor still stands.

Now, listening to the crowd's boos, he feels as if in another world.

The past has turned to dust and earth.

Fan Xi takes a deep breath, making a complete, decisive farewell to the past.

The Lakers' starting lineup tonight is: Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Ma Tai Wei Bo Si Te, Pau Gasol, De Huai Te Huo Wa De.

The Clippers' starting lineup here is: Yao Ming, Nowitzki, Leonard, Fan Xi, Stephen Nash.

This is an unprecedented change.

Previously, Yao Ming was only a three‑ to five‑minute player for Kuaisuan, a flash in the pan.

However, during his joining of Kuaisuan, Yao Ming trains very hard every day, his condition improves, and even in the high‑intensity playoffs, playing ten minutes is no problem.

Kuaisuan's original starting lineup tonight was Xiao Qiao Dan, Nowitzki, Leonard, Han Mi Er Dun, Fan Xi.

But, while discussing tactics in the locker room, Yao Ming finally mustered courage, stood up, and said to Fan Xi: "In the end, the intention remains unsettled."

The biggest regret of Yao Ming's playoff career is 2009, when he suffered severe injuries in the Western semifinals; they originally had a chance to defeat the Lakers, but he was sidelined.

That year, the Rockets had a 22‑game regular‑season winning streak, the peak of Yao Ming's career and his team's performance. Yet in the Western semifinals they faced the Lakers, at one point cornering them. However, Yao Ming's injury ruined everything.

Yao Ming once told Fan Xi at a gathering: "That year, if we had passed the Lakers. In the Western finals against the Nuggets, we would have had a huge advantage. In the finals against Magic, we also would have had an advantage. But… there is no 'if' in the world."

When he said that final sentence, his throat was choked.

So, when the Western final arrived, Yao Ming mustered courage and voiced his inner obsession to Coach Mike Brown.

Coach Mike Brown ultimately agreed to Yao's request.

He believed this was the respect Yao deserved, even if only a formal gesture.

Fan Xi finally suggested adding Nash as well. The Suns led by Nash had repeatedly clashed with the Lakers led by Kobe in the playoffs, trading wins. However, after the 2007 Lakers snatched Gasol, the once‑popular fastbreak was broken up, and eventually Nash also joined Kuaisuan.

TNT, ESPN, and all the TV stations broadcasting the game emitted shocked sounds.

However, across the ocean, CCTV commentators shouted and roared with excitement; they finally saw Fan Xi and Yao Ming appear together in the starting lineup—a scene they had long imagined.

Who would have thought that such an important, historically significant Western final would materialize.

Beep!

The head referee blew the whistle.

Yao Ming and Huo Wa De contested the jump ball.

Huo Wa De jumped very high, while Yao Ming barely left the ground.

However, as the ball descended, Yao Ming's fingertip tipped it first, sending the ball into Fan Xi's hands, who then passed it to Nash.

The Yao Ming–Huo Wa De jump ball was like their positional history: Huo Wa De dominates all other centers in the league, while Yao Ming dominates Huo Wa De.

Nash's advance was very slow.

He drove the ball into the frontcourt, Fan Xi began moving, Leonard posted on the weak side against Wei Bo Si Te, Nowitzki set a high screen for Nash's pick‑and‑roll, and Yao Ming in the paint was blocked by Huo Wa De's massive lower limbs.

If all the Kuaisuan players were at their peak, then… this would be a dream team.

Nash cuts quickly to the free‑throw line behind Nowitzki's screen, and as Pau Gasol decides to help on defense, Nash bounces the basketball out.

He doesn't pass to the trailing Nowitzki, nor to Leonard who is a stone's throw to his left, but instead feeds Yao Ming in the paint.

Yao Ming receives the ball, spins his back toward the basket, keeping Howard suppressed behind him; as Yao releases, Howard jumps to block… but Yao uses a hook shot.

Swoosh!

The ball easily swishes through the Lakers' hoop.

The first point of the Kuaisuan Western Finals comes so lightly.

Yao Ming has been in the league for almost exactly twelve years, and he finally meets the point guard who is best at feeding himself.

Unfortunately, his body is already riddled with wounds.

Steve Nash has been in the league for nearly sixteen years, and he finally encounters a true power forward/center who can attack the paint from all angles.

Unfortunately, the wind‑chasing youngster has already cut off his flowing long hair; the wind has slowed, and he too has grown old.

They meet the right teammates at the wrong time.

In an instant, countless fans in front of their TVs sigh, "If these two had met ten years ago, how wonderful that would have been."

But in Yao Ming's and Nash's hearts, there may be regret, yet more is gratitude: though it is already dusk, the sunset is still infinitely beautiful.

They still have a chance.

That is why they give their all.

The Lakers do not launch a quick counterattack.

Chris Paul is extremely restrained; he steadily pushes into the frontcourt, and he doesn't even exploit Nash's weak defense to force a breakthrough.

Instead, he patiently orchestrates the offense, waiting for Kobe to find an opening, then passes the ball to him.

Kobe opens the strong side, goes one‑on‑one in his sweet spot and eats Fan Xi's defense; his dribbles, spins, and spins again draw Fan Xi away, and he steps forward to bank the ball in.

Kobe's attack is silky, making Fan Xi's all‑out defense look rigid—as if trying hard to set up a backdrop board.

Kuaisuan's tempo does not pick up either.

Nash remains composed and unbreakable.

This time Yao Ming lifts to set a screen for him; Nash drives to the free‑throw line, passes to the cutting Fan Xi, who receives the ball and, without pause, tosses it to another Nowitzki; Nowitzki cuts to the rim and slams the ball in… fluid as clouds and water.

Nash, Fan Xi, Yao Ming, and Howard—four archetypes of offense—when they merge, the Lakers' defense may hold the Spurs to just over seventy points, but cannot contain Kuaisuan.

The old guys act as they wish without overstepping, and troops have no fixed momentum.

Conversely, the Lakers' steady play showcases their superb tactical acumen and talent, with Phil Jackson offering ideas from the sidelines. They are like previously careless top students who, given an outline by a master teacher and scrutinizing the problem meticulously… they become unstoppable, and every defense is easily solved.

Both sides push the game forward with an extremely high shooting percentage.

Whether basketball analysts on TV or viewers at home, everyone marvels at this high‑level game.

The two teams truly elevate the basketball match to the realm of art, appealing to both refined and popular tastes.

It matches every fan's expectation of a Western Finals.

"But Yao and Stephen find it hard to keep playing like this; if they were still at their peak, I would not hesitate to pick Kuaisuan to win. But now… Yao's breathing is already uneven, Dwight grabbed two consecutive front‑court rebounds right in front of him, and he still does not dare to give his all in the contest."

The famous "glass man" center Bill Walton says on the ESPN channel.

This guy, though he holds some prejudice against Fan Xi, is very kind to Yao; since Yao entered the NBA, he has been extremely supportive, even teaching Yao some basketball techniques.

Now, he begins to worry whether Kuaisuan will have anyone to step up after Yao Ming and Nash leave the court.

Beep!

At the seventh minute of the game, Kuaisuan calls a timeout.

At this moment Kuaisuan trails the Lakers 23–26, down by three points.

However, with possession, Kuaisuan still faces an evenly matched situation.

But Yao Ming's passivity is visible to the naked eye, and Mike Brown calls a timeout.

He makes a fresh deployment, substituting in Little Jordan and Arenas, and taking out Yao Ming and Nash.

The game continues.

The Lakers also adjust, pulling Chris Paul for rest, bringing in Sessions, and inserting Matt Barnes.

It is a brand‑new change.

The Lakers also pull a surprise move.

Facing Kuaisuan, D'Antoni's tactical mindset is clearly insufficient, a view shared by the Lakers' front office and locker room.

As soon as Fan Xi steps onto the floor, Matt Barnes starts to entangle him.

Barnes is a defensive stalwart, very tenacious.

Fan Xi spends an extra two seconds shaking off Barnes, then drives into the paint; with a layup after contesting Gasol, he answers the basketball experts' doubts: even after the super‑luminous offensive duo of Yao Ming and Nash, I can still single‑handedly transport and finish the ball from beyond the three‑point line to deep in the paint.

"But that's not enough."

Bill Walton says on TV, "Fan Xi's blitz can kill regular‑season teams, but cannot kill a regular‑season champion."

Back on defense, the Lakers show a new change.

Kobe swings to the weak side, Gasol pulls the ball out, spacing himself one‑on‑one with Nowitzki; he drives into the paint, Little Jordan just steps in to help, and Gasol tosses the ball skyward, Howard soars and slams it home.

Gasol's card has been activated.

The Lakers also conceal their strength.

Even when they faced the Spurs in seven games, they never activated Gasol; now…

Sss!

Fan Xi draws a sharp breath.

He finally understands why the Lakers pulled Chris Paul.

Paul had been drifting in his role all season because of the arrivals of Paul and Howard, resulting in mediocre performance.

Now Fan Xi could already be sure that the person giving the Lakers advice was Phil Jackson. The Zen Master greatly liked Gasol; among all the Lakers' interior players, he only gave Gasol the authority to advance with the ball, and Gasol's dribbling and assists were exactly to his liking.

This is also one of the two areas where Gasol is stronger than Nowitzki.

The Zen Master lives up to his title.

This move struck a vital point of the Kuaisuan, taking effect immediately.

The game is becoming more and more interesting.

…