Chapter 449: A Massive Gap in Strength

The Warriors' success gave the Houston Rockets unrealistic expectations; before taking the court they gathered around James Harden, formed a circle and shouted: Beat‑LA.

They have commendable courage.

Beep!

The whistle blows, the game begins.

The Rockets' starting lineup: Omir Asik, Francisco Gacia, Chandler Parsons, Patrick Beverley, James Harden.

The Clippers' five starters: Deandre Jordan, Nowitzki, Kawhi Leonard, Fan Xi, Lu Biao.

When the referee tossed the ball into the air, Xiao Jordan easily overcame the towering white bear Omir Asik.

The Turkish power forward Asik, a 2008 second‑round pick, had previously been a benchwarmer with the Chicago Bulls, essentially a substitute among substitutes, but he worked diligently, improving his defensive skills under Coach Sibert.

The Rockets' head coach Mike Hale, with keen eye this season, lured him to the Rockets with a staggering three‑year, $25 million contract. At the time, everyone thought Houston was crazy… after years of stinginess, they gave a plain guy such a high salary.

However, this Turkish power forward with very mediocre agility erupted within Mike Hale's system, and fully blossomed after James Harden arrived.

What did he do in the Rockets' system?

He is an excellent blue‑collar post center; though not agile, he is broad‑shouldered with long arms, possesses superb rim‑protection awareness, and rebounds well. Most importantly, he gave the Rockets two dream assets: a massive screen wall—his screening ranks among the league's best, with quality surpassing the combined interior screens of the Clippers' four big men. This provided James Harden with excellent penetration chances and gave Chandler Parsons, Gacia, and Beverley—ball‑less shooters—plenty of opportunities on the wing.

Besides offering high‑quality screens, he has a keen sense for delayed rotation defense.

This is crucial in pick‑and‑roll defense.

Of course, he certainly can't match Xiao Jordan, let alone Huaiti Seda. Their mobility gives attackers more trouble. Milichich also excelled in this role this season, though his offensive destructiveness stands out even more.

Asik's greatest contribution to the Rockets is his playmaking; when Harden passes the ball to him in transition, he can easily dish.

This is something many centers lack.

However, in this regard Asik falls short of this season's Milichich… assuming Milichich's mind isn't as erratic.

Asik and James Harden are both living examples of human mobility.

They met each other.

Asik might be a benchwarmer elsewhere, but with the Rockets, he thrives in this system.

Lu Biao brought the ball up front, set a pick with Xiao Jordan at the top of the arc, then drove quickly toward the free‑throw line, but Asik stuck to him; his sturdy body halted Lu Biao, and Harden slammed in with a quick double‑team.

Lu Biao hurried a pass; Xiao Jordan received the ball at the high post, looking extremely strained.

Fan Xi at this moment is in the midst of Beverley's ferocious bite; Beverley is the Rockets' mad dog.

Xiao Jordan held the high post for two or three seconds, then passed to Leonard.

Leonard faked on the wing to shake Chandler, was about to cut into the paint, when Fan Xi used a sharp back‑run to fake out Beverley.

Leonard quickly tossed the ball toward the paint; Fan Xi rose mid‑air, Gacia tried to block, but he was too weak—before he could jump, Fan Xi's hips were already at his head, and he fled.

Boom!

Two‑hand dunk.

Fan Xi sparked the Clippers' first wave of attack.

Although ESPN was loudly proclaiming the Rockets' defense was spectacular this time.

However, the talent gap rendered the Rockets' effort insignificant.

Mike Hale clapped on the sidelines, encouraging his players.

Back on the other side, James Harden drove past half‑court, Lu Biao stayed tight on him, Harden and Asik set a high‑post pick, and using Asik's massive frame, he penetrated inside the free‑throw line, while Parsons, using Asik's screen, sprinted from the wing to the top of the arc.

Fan Xi seized this tactical point.

But when he tried to help defend, Beverley blocked him.

Chandler received the ball from Harden's pass and shot.

Leonard's help defense was a fraction too slow.

Swish!

Score.

The Rockets hit a three‑pointer.

Fan Xi glanced at Beverley.

Beverley is a fiercely spirited mad dog, like every player who clawed up from the bottom, his eyes filled with ambition and combat.

He won't treat Fan Xi as a superstar; his mission is to prevent such superstars from shining.

Fan Xi doesn't dislike tough defenders; he even enjoys battling them.

So his gaze says: "Kid, I'm not easy to handle; if you want to make a name on me, you must work harder."

Beverley caught that from Fan Xi's stare.

Fan Xi, at the top of the three‑point arc, actively tried to take the ball from Lu Biao.

Then the Clippers players automatically spread out.

Beverley stared at Fan Xi, extremely tense.

He was selected by the Lakers in 2009 with the second pick, but only this season did he find a job with the Rockets. For a long time, what motivated his relentless grind was Jieke Fan's miracle.

Fan Xi's legendary miracle in the NBA gave many low‑draft players strong hope.

These people always believe that someday good luck will fall on them; as long as they work hard enough, stay hopeful, and seize opportunities, they will create a Jie Ke‑style legend.

After all, Jie Ke was still just an undrafted player.

Fan Xi gently swayed his body, the basketball rippling with his fingertips like a tender symphony lightly tapping drums on the floor.

These sounds made Beverley's heart tighten more and more.

He didn't know where Fan Xi would go next.

He felt Fan Xi was an assassin.

Everyone worldwide says Jie Ke Fan's dribbling is the most dangerous; he resembles the previous‑generation assassin Isaiah Thomas, but he is taller, more gifted, strong, agile, fierce, with a twelve‑cylinder‑engine‑like massive burst.

However, the sudden flash of a kill that Beverley expected never came.

Fan Xi merely took a light step, his body arriving exactly at the gap in Beverly's carefully designed defensive stance.

Beverly was shocked, he hurried to fill this defensive loophole.

Fan Xi's gentle turn was like willow fluff in March rising with the wind.

Beverly's pupils lost track of Fan Xi's silhouette.

He exerted all his strength, every muscle in his body tensed.

But Fan Xi breezed past him, merely strolling leisurely.

He hurriedly turned, wanting to chase Fan Xi, he kept McHale's defensive manual in mind… which listed Fan Xi's 'weakness'.

But when he turned around, he discovered it was already too late.

Fan Xi had already sliced into the paint like lightning, his speed extremely fluid, even the defensive checkpoint Parsons set up by McHale inside the free-throw line hadn't gotten into position.

Fan Xi had already leapt into the air inside the paint.

Asik didn't attempt to block, he was a smart defender.

Boom!

Another slam dunk.

Fan Xi caused the cheers in the Staples Center to surge like a tsunami.

Beverly could even hear the frantic rumbling coming from beneath the floor.

His eardrums were filled.

This play gave him a real psychological gap. He realized Jieke Fan's strength had reached what level, his technique, experience, talent, and momentum meshing so ingeniously, no wonder he could lead his team to 76 wins.

He was already a player of another realm.

He might soon be able to play like Jordan, dominating the game while ignoring defenses with a leisurely stride.

His just‑made turn‑and‑drive already gave Beverly that feeling.

Beverly and the Rockets knew where Fan Xi's 'weakness' was, but in actual play it wasn't so simple, hard to grasp.

McHale clapped on the sidelines, encouraging the players to keep pushing forward, keep defending.

He didn't want the Rockets' defensive will to be crushed by Fan Xi's consecutive dunks.

After Fan Xi gracefully descended from the rim, he waved to the crowd, provoking an even bigger wave of cheers.

He dominated the emotional swings of the entire crowd.

Walking on the court, he gave the feeling of ruling the world.

Beverly's emotions were complex, he closely followed Fan Xi behind.

When Fan Xi had crossed half‑court, he suddenly turned back and said to Beverly, "Your defense is not bad; you have a chance to play for the Clippers."

Beverly's eyes showed some doubt; he lifted his head, only to see Fan Xi's very sincere gaze.

This was praise, not trash talk.

Fan Xi's approval instantly filled Beverly with endless fighting spirit.

He was certain that if it were Kobe, Durant, James, or Derek Rose standing before him saying that, he would definitely not take it to heart.

But he is Jieke Fan.

He actually praised my defense.

Beverly curled the corner of his mouth, saying to Fan Xi, "My offense is even better."

He was a bit proud.

After saying that, he lowered his head and darted past Asik's side, while at the same time James Harden came in with a change of direction.

Fan Xi had to switch defenses with Rubio, and Rubio hurried to chase Beverly.

James Harden, with Fan Xi's defense on him, drove toward the paint, but was locked down at the free‑throw line by Leonard and Fan Xi, just as Harden was about to gamble on drawing a foul.

Beverly's voice sounded from behind.

Harden hooked the ball and passed it from between his legs, Beverly caught it at the arc top and shot against Rubio's defense.

Swish!

Another three‑pointer.

Beverly proudly raised both hands.

Amid the boos rolling like waves across the arena, he raised his eyebrows at Fan Xi.

He displayed his energy.

Fan Xi smiled; he liked tough players.

Even if it was an obscure minor role.

"Your offense is indeed good, but I still think your chance of making the All‑Defensive Team is greater than your chance of becoming the three‑point champion."

As Fan Xi ran back, he chatted with Beverly.

"Because, your off‑ball talent actually isn't that great."

In the conversation, Fan Xi swiftly sliced into the three‑point line, like a scalpel easily cutting the link between Asik and James Harden, allowing Rubio to enter the free‑throw line, then using Harden's body to pass the ball into the paint.

At that moment Fan Xi slipped in just right, he didn't catch the ball but instead slapped it with a reverse hand, altering its trajectory so it appeared at the top of the three‑point arc.

Nowitzki received the ball, with no defender in front or behind.

He shot easily.

Swish!

Three‑pointer made.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Fan Xi told Beverly, "Guess how I did that?"

Beverly shrugged, saying, "I don't know; I only know I'll never learn this in my lifetime. So I won't waste energy on it."

Very good.

Honest.

Focused enough.

Fan Xi increasingly appreciated.

The game continued.

Harden began his offense, and his offensive rhythm was not bad.

Meanwhile, the Clippers opened up the triangle offense formation.

Over the past long season, the Clippers had practiced this tactic very successfully.

Leonard freely punished Houston's pretty boy Parsons on the wing; Parsons was just a tall shooter, yet he relied on Asik's screening and Harden's strong containment to let him guard Leonard alone, which was no different from giving away points.

Fan Xi's wandering on the weak side also strongly restrained the Rockets' attention.

Moreover, Nowitzki kept hitting mid-to-long range shots.

The Rockets horrifiedly discovered a fact: even if the Clippers didn't let Fan Xi hold the ball or let him lead the offense, they could still defeat them.

Before their series began, the meticulously planned content was utterly useless.

A team with 76 wins is far from that simple.

In the first quarter, the Rockets trailed by 8 points.

In the second quarter, the Clippers made a small adjustment: Fan Xi moved to point guard, Jimmy Butler took over shooting guard, and the center became Milicic.

This lineup adjustment directly caused the early arrival of Houston's disaster.

Milicic's defensive quality was obviously not as good as little Jordan's.

But his restriction of Asik was phenomenal.

In his words: 'When all of Europe was chanting the Milicic myth, Asik was merely a ball boy lining up in the training hall hoping to pick up balls for me.'

Milicic suppressed Asik on both ends, and he played extremely efficiently tonight.

The Clippers' triangle offense was elevated after acquiring him and Jimmy Butler.

Even Dennis Rodman, sitting in the ESPN broadcast booth, had to admit: 'This guy stole the Bulls' tactics; they played very smartly.'

Rodman is the player Phil Jackson constantly longs for in his autobiography as the smartest player in history, because he learned the most complex and intricate triangle offense in just ten days, and then directly helped the Bulls complete their three-peat; in many games, his impact was even more obvious than Jordan's.

The Rockets were overambitious.

McHale fell into silence from the latter half of the third quarter, sitting on the bench; this former basketball superstar, one of the NBA's 50 greatest players, faced the current situation with extreme helplessness.

He originally thought the Clippers' sweep in the regular season must have had flaws.

Only now did he discover that his tactical system, which shone in the regular season, was actually afraid of the fire of the playoffs.

Objectively speaking, McHale has already done quite well.

In his lineup, the absolute core used to be the Thunder's sixth man, and the other players were scraps other teams didn't want; reaching this level is indeed not bad.

He had nothing to blame himself for; the gap between first and eighth is inherently that large.

If there really was a mistake, it was that they shouldn't have raised their morale so high before the playoffs, believing they were the chosen ones destined to destroy the Clippers' legend.

At the start of the fourth quarter, the game itself had already lost its suspense.

What kept the fans in their seats was only the matchup between the Rockets' backup point guard, Lin Shuhao, who once created a miraculous experience with the Knicks, and Fan Xi; the two Asian faces always evoked some associations.

Of course, another important reason is… fans really want to see when James Harden will explode.

Khloe kept provoking him.

Khloe, after the Clippers gained an absolute advantage in the third quarter, has been attacking James Harden; she cannot tolerate being dumped by Harden's cold violence. So, she triumphantly declares that her life after leaving Harden is very high.

She pinched her throat to cheer for the Clippers.

She also kept making those universally known length gestures at Harden.

How sweet she once was with Harden, now that she's torn her face apart, she's just as vicious.

Harden inevitably followed the old path of Lamar Odom and Blake Griffin, although he had already been walking their route before.

Perhaps one day the media should get the three of them together to chat, or they themselves could find a bar to have a drink and talk about past love.

Fan Xi glanced at Khloe's new boyfriend when he came off the court.

Cleveland Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson.

Nickname TT.

Actually, Fan Xi had considered bringing him to the Clippers in the 2011 draft, but at that time the Clippers already had enough big men, and the Cleveland Cavaliers had gotten there first.

At that time, Fan Xi never imagined this guy would become Khloe's new boyfriend.

He also became Fan Xi's brother-in-law.

Fate is sometimes unreasonable, randomly arranged.

When Thompson's gaze met Fan Xi's, he reached out and greeted Fan Xi.

Fan Xi smiled and nodded at him.

This was their only interaction.

James Harden, however, muttered behind his back: 'You guys are playing pretty well. Is this a relay? Using this method to mess with my mindset, Jieke Fan, you're truly vicious!'

Harden is unwilling to admit that this loss is due to an obvious disparity in strength.

He would rather believe it's the bad luck brought by Khloe.

He clenched his jaw behind his beard, clenched his fists and swore that in the next game he would definitely fight back.

He simply didn't believe the Clippers could sweep his Rockets.

Beep!

McHale made a substitution, announcing that garbage time had arrived.

…