Chapter 339

Kobe understands Fan Xi, just as Fan Xi understands Kobe.

Fan Xi didn't intend to play a war of attrition with the Lakers, because he knew the Clippers' lineup structure stability was not as good as the current Lakers, and the ceiling was not as high as the Lakers.

Only by disrupting them and taking chestnuts from the fire would it work.

Of course, most importantly, Fan Xi wanted to kill the Lakers in a simpler way, and then kill in the finals without reservation; there was no need to use up all the bullets in the Western Conference Finals.

So, Fan Xi increased the rhythm on the first ball; he caught the ball in the backcourt, quickly assaulted the front court, he accelerated from the wing into the paint; when the Lakers' defense shrank, he used a fast maze step to shake off the defense, flashed into the basket, jumped up violently, and backhanded the ball into the basket against Howard's block.

"You are too slow."

Fan Xi provoked the Lakers' defense after scoring. "The positioning is too conservative."

Howard was provoked by him with fierce eyes.

Kobe sneered; he retorted to Fan Xi: "Jack, I know what you are thinking, don't think about it."

Fan Xi glanced at Kobe, and then looked at Chris Paul.

He didn't say anything, just shrugged.

Sometimes, sowing discord doesn't require speaking.

Fan Xi's action was hinting to Paul: What I think is not important, what is important is, what are you thinking?

Kobe got the ball in the next round; he still played steadily, attacking the city and pulling out the stronghold with his rhythm.

Kobe forcibly attacked the paint, then handed it to the following Howard; Howard turned around and threw the ball into the basket.

Kobe is a player who drives the team system with personal offense. He is a pure offensive player.

He used suicidal hard training to acquire the most complex and complete offensive methods in NBA history.

However, the NBA now emphasizes "cooperation" more and more; I don't know when it started, point guards and organizational forwards became the masters of the league.

Kobe's way of playing, attacking steadily and forcibly, is increasingly considered "out of place."

Chris Paul doesn't recognize it deep down; he thinks cooperation and unity can make the game progress more smoothly, and make victory more stable.

Although he had never achieved success in the past, and had never touched the floor of the Western Finals. But he firmly believed that his basketball philosophy was correct; he didn't like Kobe's way of playing. But he listened to Kobe.

Because the Lakers are still Kobe's team.

And, Fan Xi is eyeing them from the side, they must be united.

Even if this unity, in the eyes of mid-generation super superstars like Paul and Howard, is sacrificing oneself.

Howard also doesn't like this kind of work-only style deep down, and he even vaguely thinks Kobe is too harsh on himself. Not only harsh on the training ground, but in terms of the game, he often requires Howard to not leave the front line with minor injuries, and requires Howard to not slack off at all when very tired.

In Kobe's own words: I can do it, you must all be able to do it.

Jeanie Buss thinks the Lakers have a bright future, but in fact, the only person in this world who can withstand Kobe's strict attitude and make Kobe willingly hand over leadership is Fan Xi.

Now the Lakers are united, because they crave the championship.

Once they get the championship, their wishes are fulfilled. Some internal contradictions will be highlighted.

Fan Xi observed this point; from a very, very early time, he knew.

He wanted to use Paul and Howard's rebellious mentality, but he never found a point to start.

After Kobe scored, the Clippers' pushing speed was still very fast.

Fan Xi let Kwame Brown move to the free-throw line to screen for himself, he killed into the paint, Kwame followed, Fan Xi used a hand-off to give the ball to Kwame... he was afraid Kwame would have butterfingers.

Kwame Brown caught the ball, slammed it on the ground, his bull-like body arched strongly inside, Howard was forced to retreat, then Kwame Brown jumped violently... Boom!

Kwame Brown completed the dunk.

He walked the bully step in the Lakers' paint very domineeringly.

Fan Xi praised loudly: "Kwame, you finally found your original self, you are an offensive and defensive super center."

Kwame Brown was excited when he heard this sentence, just like a big black bear stealing two cans of honey.

He shouted back: "Thank you Jack, I finally found the right way to play."

Saying that, he also deliberately glanced at Kobe.

He was counterattacking Kobe for all the sarcasm and urging he had given him for so many years.

Kobe's "torture" of Kwame Brown on the training ground was no less than Howard's; Kobe had the intention of comparing himself to Michael Jordan: the center Jordan couldn't teach well, I can teach well.

But the final result was, Jordan didn't teach him well, and Kobe didn't teach him well either. Now under Fan Xi, he is showing signs of an elite player.

Kwame Brown originally wanted to stimulate Kobe, but Kobe was light and breezy; he was a person with a heart like a stone, he didn't care about this bit of trash talk attack, just like dust falling on a bluestone slab, just brush it off lightly.

However, it stimulated Dwight Howard.

Howard could substitute himself into Kwame Brown's state of mind too well, although they were opponents. However, the devastation Kwame Brown suffered, he didn't suffer any less.

Moreover, Howard left the Magic to play his own basketball. But now, he was doing even worse than in Orlando; although he was still averaging 20+10+2, he was fighting like a grandson every game, his shot attempts were ranked third or fourth in the team, and there was almost no autonomous one-on-one.

If it weren't for the championship, he wouldn't have endured it long ago.

Where would it be Kwame Brown's turn to boast in front of him.

If Kwame Brown can play the basketball he likes, why can't I?

Howard increasingly felt that he had joined the wrong team; wouldn't it be fragrant to join the Clippers and play happy basketball when he was shameless? Why did he have to be so cautious now.

Howard is a typical representative of weak will.

What Kobe wants to train now is his will; Kobe hopes Howard will become a tenacious person, because talent will eventually decrease with age, but technique and will will be weapons that accompany him for life.

On the way back to the half-court, Howard and Chris Paul exchanged a look, fingers showing 3.

Meaning the 3rd tactic.

Chris Paul secretly glanced at Kobe, then he nodded.

Then, Paul held the ball at the arc of the 3-point line.

Fan Xi defended up, Paul accelerated instantly.

When he accelerated, Fan Xi defended sideways, Howard topped up, he carried Fan Xi.

Fan Xi saw the Lakers suddenly change tactics, he felt a little happy in his heart.

He hurriedly switched defense to Howard's side, but Howard squeezed past him forcibly, he rushed to the paint, and Paul also killed in.

Paul walked two Euro steps in front of Kwame Brown, and Brown was a bit confused.

At this time, Paul jumped high, Kwame Brown hurriedly went to block, but saw Paul smash the ball directly onto the backboard.

Meanwhile, Kwame Brown sprinted from the other side, jumped up, his butterfingers grabbed the ball firmly in the air, and then smashed it hard toward the basket... Boom!

Howard used all his strength to pull the basket hard, the basket shook and trembled because of his huge force.

The entire Staples Center also vented because of his violent dunk.

Howard landed from above the basket, and in the cheers of the whole arena, he hammered his chest hard, looking up to the sky and roaring.

He was too excited.

This is the feeling he wanted.

He had a feeling of being proud and elated.

He and Chris Paul high-fived hard. Similarly, Paul also liked this feeling of controlling a bomber; he didn't want to give the ball to Kobe, and then turn around aimlessly like a kite released.

Although he knew this was more likely to make the team closer to victory.

Honestly, Paul and Kobe's cooperation was actually quite good; his mid-range, his positional combing, his positioning, were all very compatible with Kobe.

However, Paul still preferred to be the leader.

Fan Xi watched Paul and Howard complete the offense they imagined, and then he pushed forward steadily, because he comforted Kwame Brown: You did a good job, you didn't let Chris Paul complete the offense alone, they needed to add up to occupy the paint you guarded.

"Next time, they won't succeed even if they join forces." Kwame Brown told Fan Xi very seriously.

His eyes were full of confidence and decisiveness.

Fan Xi didn't have any teasing expression, he said seriously: "I believe in you, you have always possessed this ability."

Kwame Brown needed affirmation, affirmation without hesitation and without reservation.

Fan Xi did it.

He brought the ball to the front court.

He gave the ball to Nowitzki.

He ran to the paint himself, Nowitzki played one-on-one with Gasol, used a fake to trick the defense, threw... bang!

Clank.

However, Fan Xi jumped up, and smashed the ball into the basket with one hand.

Paul couldn't stop this from happening at all.

He could only pretend to be hit by Fan Xi's raised hand when Fan Xi landed, and fell to the ground in a fake.

Beep!

The head referee gave Fan Xi a foul.

Fan Xi glanced at Paul, who was performing on the ground; he didn't complain, he just said to the head coach: "Paul is very good at using the referee's visual blind spot to do small moves; in fact, I didn't touch him at all. I learned this trick when I was acting in Hollywood; when the heroine hits the hero, they will all be misaligned."

The new chain reaction brought about after the Clippers reached match point was that Kobe Bryant destroyed the Jazz in Salt Lake City, and they advanced early with a 4:0 sweep. The Spurs also fired on all cylinders, killing the Nuggets on the road, also a 4:0 sweep.

Lakers fans were all cheering for Paul's wit.

Although they didn't get free throws.

The game continued after this disturbance.

Paul suppressed the urge to do a two-man turn with Howard, gave the ball to Kobe, Kobe and Gasol cooperated, and Gasol scored with a layup.

Looking back, Fan Xi increased his speed, he continued to pick-and-roll with Kwame Brown, killed into the paint, and hit a stop-and-go jump shot.

The Lakers were still Kobe holding the rhythm.

Both sides came and went.

The Clippers were getting faster and faster, the Lakers were getting steadier and steadier.

Kobe was like a shrewd old fox, he was waiting for the Clippers to make a mistake.

But this loophole never appeared.

After the third quarter was over.

Both sides were tied at 80:80.

Then the fourth quarter started.

The Clippers even brought Steve Nash onto the court.

Fan Xi used this way to lure Chris Paul toward "independence."

Nash was too tempting: he had no defense at all.

But... Kobe still held the rhythm, played positional, didn't play pick-and-roll, played the triangle offense system.

The Lakers didn't concentrate their power to seek a grand annihilation battle, still maintaining stability.

Kobe thought this was the right way.

Paul didn't agree, but he obeyed.

However, with 3 minutes and 19 seconds left in the game, an inconspicuous change appeared.

Fan Xi saw the Lakers didn't increase the rhythm, he judged that it would be consumed until the last second tonight; he didn't fear this. But he made one last effort.

At this time, the Clippers' lineup on the court was Steve Nash, Fan Xi, Butler, Kwame Brown, Jordan.

In this lineup, the Lakers should have launched a comprehensive counterattack, at least they should have pulled the rhythm of "defensive counterattack" to the full. But Kobe still strictly required the team to play positional, not dancing to the Clippers' rhythm.

He firmly believed that Fan Xi was a master of chaotic battles, he didn't want to give Fan Xi a chance.

Magic Johnson, sitting behind the Lakers' bench, was also like this; Magic Johnson was amazed by Fan Xi's chaotic battle ability in the last finals. He still believes that Miami lost the championship last season because they didn't hold steady and were led by Fan Xi.

Fan Xi arrived at the front court quickly, he and Kwame Brown screened, he killed into the paint, he jumped in the air, Howard flew over, Fan Xi used amazing hang-time to make a turn around his body, just when Fan Xi was about to end the battle with a back-spin reverse layup.

He saw Kwame Brown sprinting over, Chris Paul followed him closely, but was no threat.

So, Fan Xi made a bold decision, he shouted Kwame Brown's name, and threw the ball up in the air in a frontal form.

Kwame Brown saw this, immediately accelerated his big steps, he subconsciously stretched out his hand and pulled Paul hard; he wanted to clear the runway.

But he didn't pull him, instead, he hit Paul's back of the head with an elbow; at that time Paul was stunned by this elbow, instantly a bit heavy-headed, his body staggered, but Kwame Brown jumped violently, his butterfingers grabbed the ball firmly in the air, and then smashed it hard downward.

At this time Howard had just landed, he faced the oncoming Dwight Howard head-on.

Howard hadn't reacted yet... Pfft!

Kwame Brown's body of nearly 300 pounds slapped him like a sea wave; he was originally a bit unstable, and after such a hard bump, he fell straight to the ground.

While he fell to the ground, Kwame Brown smashed the ball hard into the basket.

Meanwhile, the staggering Paul kicked Howard's shoe, and also fell onto Howard, the two fell into a ball.

Kwame Brown roared above the basket.

He was excited beyond measure.

"Top five plays in history! Top five plays in history!!"

After landing, Kwame Brown roared excitedly.

And, he also hammered his chest, just like Howard before.

Paul and Howard lay on the ground, looking at the water-goods god-like tall man, they felt suffocated in their hearts.

They had never suffered such humiliation in their lives, actually being messed up like this by a water-goods.

"Foul! Foul!" Paul climbed up, he shouted excitedly at the head referee.

The head referee was unmoved; he saw Paul's fall, but he wasn't sure if it was Paul's performance again. Fan Xi had explained to him that it was Hollywood's movie technique.

So, when Paul rushed over to shout at him.

He almost didn't hesitate, Beep!

He blew the whistle and gave Chris Paul a T.

People must learn to be content.

You have already performed once, you can't perform a second time.