Chapter 421: Good People Should Be Woken Up

Fan Xi becoming a starting shooting guard became a reality in the preseason, with ample evidence supporting that Fan Xi and Ricky Lubi'ao complement each other well, and the efficiency is high.

In the first preseason game they cleanly eliminated the Sartento Kings, even though no one took the preseason win seriously.

But after the game, Mike Brown exclaimed to Fan Xi, "Jie Ke, I literally see the shadow of the Bulls dynasty on you."

He meant the performance when Lubi'ao, Fan Xi, Leonard, Nowitzki, and Miliichi were on the court together; he could see the corresponding Bulls dynasty shadows in each player.

In fact, Kuaisuan is also running a half‑court set that resembles a Triangle Offense System.

Nowitzki has reduced his isolation play this season; although the champion still wants another championship ring, injuries have given him more to ponder, and he has decided to conserve his energy and drive in most games.

In fact, this is beneficial for Kuaisuan.

Kuaisuan is developing prospects like Leonard and Butler; Lubi'ao's arrival even prompted Fan Xi to shift voluntarily to the shooting guard spot.

The Golden State Warriors are Kuaisuan's second preseason opponent.

Before the game, the Warriors' new coach… Steve Kerr praised Kuaisuan: "Kuaisuan looks stronger than last season; their roster is more balanced. Though I don't think Fan Xi can achieve Michael‑level feats at shooting guard."

Steve Kerr was a key shooter of the Bulls dynasty and holds a pivotal place in Bulls history.

He became the Golden State Warriors' head coach this season, which sounds almost destiny‑like, since he came from a three‑point shooting background. And Stephen Curry is an electrifying sharpshooter, with sophomore rookie Klay also carrying a cold‑blooded killer gene.

Last season, the Warriors' frantic offense already forced Kuaisuan into defeat.

The game ultimately ended with a Warriors victory; Fan Xi logged a decent amount of time, still 22 minutes. However, his jump‑shot was a bit shaky—he took six mid‑range shots, making only one, though his three‑point shooting was decent, 2 attempts with 1 made, and he repeatedly drove into the paint to finish.

But that pales compared to Klay and Curry's three‑point barrage; they're playing a very new style of basketball.

Stephen Curry, as point guard, hardly handles the ball; he runs a ball‑less offense while their power forward Green dishes from the high post.

This brand‑new system didn't click for Kuaisuan. In the second half, Fan Xi returned to the bench, letting Miliichi unleash his crucial inspiration on the court. The red‑haired #99 center spun wildly in the paint; his footwork was indeed more agile, far surpassing what Howard bought for $100,000 to learn from Olajuwon.

After the game, Steve Kerr commented again on Kuaisuan, saying: Kuaisuan is trying to emulate the 1990s Bulls system.

However, he believes the era is no longer suited to the Triangle Offense System.

"This is the era of fast offense. Teams clinging to inefficient isolation will eventually reap the consequences."

Steve Kerr is eager to discuss his tactical ideas in front of the media.

If it were another opponent, he says such remarks would surely draw criticism from conservatives.

But in this game, their opponent was Kuaisuan.

Outside Los Angeles, Kuaisuan is viewed by most U. S. media as a league adversary, especially in New York… New York is a media hub.

After the London Olympics, New York media became the most anti‑Fan Xi faction.

They originally had no connection at all, yet they constantly criticize, even bringing up Stephen Nash.

Nash went to New York simply to chase a big contract and earn more money: who can resist cash?

The media twisted it, making it seem like Nash disliked Fan Xi's autocratic style.

It forced Nash to call Fan Xi in the dead of night to explain that he never said such a thing.

Old Nash is an honest man.

Kuaisuan's remaining five preseason opponents are the Trail Blazers, Thunder, Nuggets, Spurs, and Rockets.

Kuaisuan won all five games, as both sides played loosely, focusing on restoring player condition and scouting players on training‑camp, two‑way, and non‑guaranteed contracts.

When the preseason ends, the regular season follows.

Kuaisuan's opening game this year is against the Chicago Bulls.

This seems to be an NBA custom: the Western champion faces last year's Eastern runner‑up, the Eastern champion faces last year's Western runner‑up… Of course, it's not a strict rule; some years are exceptions.

Derek Rose didn't play in the Olympics this year, and he's especially angry; his two brothers have been saying in the media that Derek Rose being sidelined is the real reason the Dream Team lost, and if Rosa were on the Dream Ten, they could never have lost the gold.

The same claim is echoed by Russell Westbrook's management team.

For the two, missing this year's Dream Ten is a real pity. They absolutely had the talent to make the roster, yet, yet.

When Derek Rose saw Fan Xi, he still looked unsettled and said that if he were on the Dream Team, there'd be no easy interior chances for the Zhongguo team.

Fan Xi said, "Alright, I get it. In that case, Russell already told me that. Kobe said something similar, but it changes nothing; I've already pocketed the gold medal."

This left Rosa feeling helpless, and then he asked Fan Xi, "What about the gold medal?"

Fan Xi was momentarily at a loss for an answer, so he said it was kept with someone he absolutely trusts.

Before the game against the Bulls, the NBA held a grand awards ceremony, and Fan Xi and his teammates received championship rings.

Yao Ming flew in from Zhongguo, along with Grant Hill, Bilupusi… these retired players all returned here, while other players who switched teams will receive theirs by courier or other means.

The presentation of the championship rings made the atmosphere at Staples Center soar; it's Kuaisuan's most glorious achievement, and many fans in the crowd raised the slogan "ONE‑MORE."

Fan Xi smiled at those slogans.

That's also what he thinks; according to league rules, he must leave Kuaisuan next season. If he doesn't win another championship this season, his personal three‑peat will be broken.

Fan Xi doesn't want that to happen, so he'll give his all.

Tonight Kuaisuan's starting lineup is Lubi'ao, Fan Xi, Leonard, Nowitzki, and Miliichi.

Deandre Jordan didn't start because his body‑fat percentage is too high; he still hasn't shed his weight gain and now enjoys a wonderful vacation. Fan Xi decided to let him drop his body‑fat to a normal level before restoring his starting role.

Little Jordan has no complaints.

Kuaisuan's internal atmosphere is more harmonious than imagined; there's competition for the same position, but it's all healthy rivalry.

The Chicago Bulls still retain last season's roster.

Joakim Noah, Carlos Buzell, Roland, Caron Butler, Derek Rose.

This lineup has been long‑tested, full of chemistry and formidable combat power.

Miliichi won the tip‑off against Joakim Noah.

Lubi'ao dribbles past half‑court.

Lubi'ao's organizing talent is exceptional; he controls the tempo masterfully, can launch fast breaks, quickly locate teammates on the move, and also pause for half‑court sets, with a strong desire for pick‑and‑roll.

After several training sessions, Fan Xi gave Lubi'ao a high rating, claiming he is the most suitable point guard for Kuaisuan and calling him a geometric blend of Nash and Kidd.

Even Bilupusi, an assistant coach from the Nash‑Kidd era, had no comment on that.

Because Lu Bi'ao, when launching a fast break, often makes passes as creative as Nash's, and his catch‑and‑shoot shots are very accurate.

And when he settles into the paint, his screens, big‑picture view, and defense are like Jia Sen Ji De's. Of course, the early Jia Sen Ji De's flaw also appears in him: his ability to shoot while holding the ball is absurdly weak.

So Fan Xi says he is a geometric combination of Nash and Kidd, not a set.

Lu Bi'ao drives to the high post, faces Rosa's defense, and skillfully executes two under‑the‑leg direction changes. He then looks up to Mi Li Xi Qi, assuming a breakthrough stance… Rosa retreats, and Lu Bi'ao quickly passes the ball to Fan Xi moving on the weak side; Fan Xi receives it, changes direction to get past Butler, draws Carlos Buzer's lateral movement, and with a flick, Nowitzki gets the ball and shoots easily… swish!

They play very relaxed, extremely fluid.

Lu Bi'ao and Fan Xi both have extremely high basketball IQ.

Their coordination works like a perfect match and yields unexpected results.

The Bulls' defensive efficiency was second in the league last season, but this time on offense, the Clippers weave back and forth through their defense at will.

"The Clippers play very smart, fluid," TNT commentator Kenny Smith said on TV.

Looking back, Derek Rose played extremely aggressively.

He used a sharp direction change to get past Lu Bi'ao's defense, drove to the free‑throw line and released a Stop-and-Go Jump Shot… swish! A swift strike.

Derek Rose is rapidly entering his peak; he is a monster‑type player. You could say he is a 191‑cm Ai Fei Sen, or you could say he is a Le Bu Lang Zhang Si at the point guard position.

During the past off‑season he has been honing his shooting, and his shooting level is soaring.

Because Fan Xi, this suddenly emerging outsider, exists, the NBA's top players are also rapidly improving. After avoiding injuries, Derek Rose is moving toward the unicorn‑star tier.

His astonishing physical qualities have forged delicate technical skills, and he also has a lineup built entirely around him.

Rosa can reach heights that others may not dare imagine.

In the next half, Fan Xi still roams the weak side; he doesn't score proactively, but Ka Long Ba Te Le does not dare to relax at all.

Lu Bi'ao passes the ball to Leonard, who is spaced on the strong side; Leonard backs down Luo Er Deng, uses a quick spin move to get past Deng, and as he turns to shoot, he sees Fan Xi running around Mi Li Xi Qi's body, and he swiftly passes the ball over.

Fan Xi receives the ball and, without stopping, flicks it behind his back into the paint; Mi Li Xi Qi grabs it, even shows off a trick, and passes it straight to the corner… a bit redundant.

Lu Bi'ao receives the ball, shoots… and scores.

The basket again ignites a cheering frenzy at Staples Center.

"This shot feels a bit like the Lakers' show‑time of old," Charles Barkley said. "I didn't expect the Clippers to play so egalitarian this year; it's like an organic blend of Princeton and triangle offense."

Barkley hit the nail on the head with that remark.

With Lu Bi'ao's arrival, Leonard and Butler's abilities have risen, plus Nowitzki; each can launch an attack alone, and Fan Xi threads the needle. At least in the regular season, they play exceptionally fluid.

Moreover, their stability is extremely high.

Looking back, Chicago still relies on Derek Rose to start the offense; the Xi Bo Du tactics are Rosa‑centric, a very traditional style.

Rosa has extremely strong individual ability; he can easily drive the offense, and can produce flashy stats and excellent results.

But he doesn't play with ease.

Fan Xi now is very relaxed.

The Clippers truly have a system, each fulfilling their role.

In this system, Fan Xi is a powerful glue, an excellent secondary passer, and a perfect off‑ball commander.

Although he plays as a shooting guard, he doesn't handle the ball, nor is he required to break the opponent's defense with the ball.

Lu Bi'ao will use screens to find the first spot; usually that first spot is enough to dismantle most of the opponent's defense. If not, Fan Xi will use off‑ball movement to loosen the defense; if that still fails, he passes to Fan Xi, who makes the final play.

The Clippers' starting lineup has a frighteningly high basketball IQ.

Even Mi Li Xi Qi, the red‑haired second‑pick flop, often seems unreliable, but when his mind sparks, it's something the usual big men can't anticipate… sometimes even teammates can't guess his intentions.

He's somewhat reminiscent of the ailment Jia Sen Wei Lian Mu Si had during the Kings era.

After the first quarter, the Clippers led by 2 points, 33–31.

In the second quarter, Butler appeared on the court, Xiao Qiao Dan substituted for Mi Li Xi Qi, and Huaiti Seda replaced Nowitzki.

The backcourt remains Lu Bi'ao and Fan Xi.

In the second quarter, the Clippers' offensive efficiency visibly declined.

Lu Bi'ao had no individual offense, and Xiao Qiao Dan and Huaiti Seda's offensive levels were poor, with average basketball IQ, and Butler isn't well‑suited as a wing initiator.

Therefore, Fan Xi subbed Lu Bi'ao out and brought in Han Mi Er Dun.

The game instantly came alive.

Fan Xi drives aggressively; he and Derek Rose become of the same type. Rosa's offensive firepower exceeds Fan Xi's, while Fan Xi's passing penetration surpasses Rosa's.

The two were evenly matched; at halftime, the Clippers expanded their lead from 2 to 5 points, thanks to Butler's buzzer‑beating three‑pointer at the end of the game.

The two teams' strengths are not far apart, on the same level.

In the third quarter, Fan Xi and Rosa rested for most of the period.

That long stretch widened the gap; Lu Bi'ao led Arenas, Butler, La Sha De, Liu Yi Si, and Xiao Qiao Dan in a fast‑break run.

The Bulls' bench lineup was a bit lacking.

When Rosa returned to the game, Fan Xi also came back.

Although the Bulls once cut the deficit to 5 points, that score became a minefield they could not surpass.

Ultimately the Clippers beat the Chicago Bulls 126–118, securing a season‑opening win and drawing a perfect close to the championship award ceremony: many champions' award presentations have been sabotaged by opponents.

In this game the Clippers had six players in double figures; the top scorer was Ji Mi Ba Te Le with 21 points. Ke Huai Lun Na De had 17, Nowitzki 16, Fan Xi 15, Arenas 10, La Sha De Liu Yi Si 10.

Besides his 15 points, Fan Xi added 16 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

So complete that no flaw can be found.

After the game, many said he wears a shooting guard's skin but plays as a point guard.

When these experts discuss it, they even feel a humiliating sense of being betrayed by a player.

Because before the game they swore that Fan Xi would keep grinding to prove his scoring ability to surpass Jordan, yet Fan Xi didn't follow the script at all; he only took 11 shots, ranking third on the team.

Lu Bi'ao logged 8 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals tonight. He isn't the type of point guard known for stats, but anyone who watches his play sees his crucial role.

After the game Fan Xi praised Lu Bi'ao, calling him the strong‑team's safe‑deposit box, the current number‑one classic point guard.

At the same time, Fan Xi also praised Huaiti Seda, who performed excellently on defense tonight; although he only played 13 minutes, he recorded 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks—very talented.

Fan Xi praised two people.

Mili Xiqi tossed and turned at night, unable to sleep, and called him: "Why didn't you commend me? There are five newly signed players in total; Deng Tai Qiong Si didn't play tonight, La Sha De Liu Yi Si doesn't need praise. Of the remaining three, you praised two—are you trying to imitate La Li Bu Lang?"

Fan Xi was puzzled at the time and said to Mili Xiqi: "Did you also call La Li Bu Lang like that back then?"

"I wouldn't dare." Mili Xiqi replied, timid yet frank.

"Then you dare call me?"

"Because you're a good person."

"Damn, a good person should be woken up by a midnight call?"

"Anyway, next time remember to praise me, don't provoke me." Mili Xiqi hung up.

Fan Xi turned over; he still couldn't sleep.

Just then he saw a message from Si Jia Li: "Are you asleep?"

…