Chapter 452: Kuaisuan Like a Dream Awakening

Thunder gradually found a way to respond after three quarters.

They are not just a hollow reputation; their strength is far greater than what they showed in the regular season, and the Western fourth place is far from their true level. At least they can be sure they won't be beaten by the Memphis Grizzlies in Game Seven, while the pitiful San Antonio once again got knocked out by Memphis in the first round.

All of this is part of Thunder's calculation; they hope to let the Grizzlies' black‑and‑white duo trouble the Los Angeles Lakers, and once the Lakers are exhausted, they can seize the opportunity. After all, among the four strong Western teams, their interior is the weakest.

Kaiwen Dulan Te steadied the team with a three‑pointer; he is the first player of the new century to win the regular‑season scoring title three times in a row, and also the youngest scoring champion ever.

Everyone thinks… he is the most undefendable offensive machine on the planet.

His talent is uniquely gifted, with a soft touch, towering height and wingspan, plus astonishing acceleration and footwork.

Defending him becomes a headache.

Leonard can only give his all to disrupt him.

Wei Si Bu Lu Ke later also displayed his energy; he is a bomb‑man who can ignite the arena at any moment, and his impact is second only to Derek Rose in the current league… of course, this assumes Fan Xi is the team's focus.

Fan Xi played a very team‑oriented game tonight.

He was almost constantly moving without the ball, so Leonard shouted from the bench, "Hey, Jie Ke, you need to be bolder. Show them some color."

Leonard isn't an uninformed male celebrity, but his gut wants Fan Xi to suppress the Thunder's twin youngsters.

However, Fan Xi did not follow his suggestion.

After Nowitzki and Lu Bi Ao took the floor, he leaned even more toward off‑ball movement.

Many experts say… Kuaisuan is the most lacking in "hard‑solve" ability among the strong teams. Kuaisuan's only true superstar is Fan Xi; after Nowitzki won the championship, he relaxed, and throughout the regular season he played very laid‑back, his stats only at a typical elite level, lacking the former god‑slaying edge.

Moreover, although Leonard and Butler have improved enormously, they are still only at elite level and lack the clutch‑deciding ability. Therefore, they have little faith in Kuaisuan, believing Fan Xi will be locked down in critical moments, especially as strong teams study him more thoroughly.

Like other strong teams, James is locked down, with Bao Luo and Bo Shi. Durant is trapped, with Wei Si Bu Lu Ke. The Lakers need not be mentioned; Ke Bi, Bao Luo, Gaso Er, Huo Wa De—none can break free. The Chicago Bulls' situation is somewhat similar to Kuaisuan, but the Bulls' system is more mature.

Experts can always find a reason.

Fan Xi employed a completely different style tonight; he didn't even touch the ball, just roaming and orchestrating… dragging Thunder's defense and tearing their system apart.

After the first quarter, Kuaisuan led by 5 points.

After the second quarter, Kuaisuan led by 6 points.

In the third quarter, Wei Si Bu Lu Ke repeatedly attacked, causing damage, narrowing the gap to 3 points.

In the fourth quarter, Fan Xi began creating frequent high‑post pick‑and‑rolls with Nowitzki; Nowitzki's touch wasn't great tonight, but Butler stepped up on the wing, spacing the three‑point line.

Inside the paint, Mili Xiqi became a good recipient of passes.

This allowed Kuaisuan's pick‑and‑roll system to operate fully.

The game stretched to the final two minutes; at that point, Fan Xi thought Nowitzki's touch had recovered a bit, so he chose to pass to Nowitzki, whose shot missed.

Ibaka grabbed the rebound, Thunder pushed a fast break, and Kaiwen Dulan Te abruptly stopped one meter inside the three‑point line, sinking a golden three‑pointer.

His personal scoring total reached 39 points.

Thunder also secured their only lead of the game since the start with that basket.

95–93.

Beep!

Kuaisuan head coach Mai Ke Bu Lang called a timeout.

"Jie Ke, the twist of fate has begun."

When heading to the bench, Kaiwen Dulan Te said a philosophically religious line to Fan Xi: "The basketball world will get back on track."

Fan Xi looked up at the clock, 1 minute 49 seconds left in the game.

He walked toward the bench.

The overhead screen displayed Fan Xi's stats for tonight: 15 points, 15 assists, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks.

Back on the bench, teammates stared at Fan Xi, and Nowitzki looked somewhat guilty.

He didn't expect his touch tonight to be so poor.

This game gave the perennial winners some psychological pressure; they feared losing the home victory, because the regular‑season MVP vote was already decided at halftime, with Fan Xi the undisputed winner.

If they lose the game on a night like this.

"We just play normally; they only look impressive."

Fan Xi calmly reassured the players.

Whenever there's a big event, stay calm; that's what Fan Xi's parents taught him from childhood.

Moreover, the setting of this game is hardly a big stage for Fan Xi. In past seasons he's handled situations even more tense, complex, and suffocating.

Without exception, they all ended with his victory.

Mai Ke Bu Lang discussed the final lineup with Fan Xi.

Nowitzki still got minutes, but his partner switched from the previously outstanding Mili Xiqi to a "little Jordan." In the backcourt, Fan Xi's partners are Arenas and Leonard.

Beep!

The whistle blew.

The TV commentator expressed great puzzlement at Kuaisuan's lineup, saying Kuaisuan should have kept the previously outstanding Mili Xiqi and Butler on the floor instead of substituting Arenas.

"Who do you think will win this game?"

In the Lakers' conference room, La Li Bu Lang amusingly asked his players.

Getting these billionaires to give up vacation time to sit in a conference room and watch a game isn't easy. But La Li Bu Lang's discipline and their hunger for the championship brought them together.

"It should be Thunder."

Bao Luo said, "Durant's touch is outstanding tonight, and Wei Si Bu Lu Ke is playing brilliantly; they've chased hard, and their confidence and fighting spirit are high."

Huo Wa De stayed silent; inside he hopes Thunder wins, but he fears that speaking would turn the win to Kuaisuan.

He's been in this spot many times; before facing Kuaisuan last season, he would boast that the Lakers must win… then, the pre‑game swagger was him, and the one being pressed to the ground was also him.

"Kuaisuan."

After a long silence, Ke Bi said, "Still Kuaisuan."

La Li Brown said nothing; he kept watching the game.

Fan Xi did not quicken his pace; he arrived at the frontcourt.

Wei Si Bu Lu Ke stood eagerly before Fan Xi, and Wei Si Bu Lu Ke played exceptionally tonight, already posting 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists.

He also performed well on defense; under his pressure, Lu Bi Ao became a silent player tonight.

Although Lu Bi Ao has always been a player whose real value far exceeds his statistical value.

But tonight, he truly fell silent.

Fan Xi gently dribbled the ball in front of Wei Si Bu Lu Ke; unlike Wei Si Bu Lu Ke, Fan Xi's attacks are fierce. His explosiveness, speed, and strength are on the same level as Wei Si Bu Lu Ke and Derek Rose, perhaps a tad less explosive… after all, he inherited them from forward Xiao En Kan Pu, yet Fan Xi's strength is actually greater than theirs.

However, Fan Xi does not like to force acceleration with his body.

He is a technique‑oriented player.

Even the most discerning critics dare not criticize Fan Xi's technique; his ball‑handling is considered league‑top, and his back‑to‑the‑basket one‑on‑one skill is also deemed elite… only slightly lacking at the finishing moment.

Bang bang!

Amid a gentle dribbling rhythm, Fan Xi suddenly slapped the ball hard twice, then abruptly changed direction; his body flickered, and Fan Xi drove into the three‑point area.

But after beating Wei Si Bu Lu Ke by one step, Fan Xi's speed did not fully engage; one could even see a deliberately slowed pace as he entered the free‑throw line.

Yi Ba Ka moved forward to double‑team, while Wei Si Bu Lu Ke blocked from behind.

Fan Xi became surrounded, seemingly about to lose the ball.

Fan Xi suddenly pivoted on his right foot, turning half a circle; this slight turn gave him a sliver of an opening. He leapt quickly, leaning back to release… at that moment, Yi Ba Ka's hand was covering his brow, and Wei Si Bu Lu Ke sealed from behind.

Fan Xi shot the ball out of the gap.

It was an extremely high‑difficulty shot.

It was also labeled by basketball experts as a lazy, poor‑choice attempt.

Yet as Fan Xi was knocked off balance and fell, the ball traced a beautiful arc… Swish!

It landed cleanly.

Staples Center erupted with a deafening roar.

MVP! MVP! MVP!

The entire crowd of fans shouted Fan Xi's name in unison, singing loudly for the city's basketball hero.

Such an ultra‑high‑difficulty shot was thrilling.

In the past, throughout Angel City, only Ke Bi could dominate hearts at such moments.

Now Fan Xi's actions are even more intense than Ke Bi's.

The two sides are tied.

"Defense!"

Fan Xi roared, pulling the players back.

On the way back on defense, Fan Xi saw Lai Ang Duo Na wildly waving his arms on the sideline, and the Kuaisuan bench was boiling.

The morale generated by such a play is unparalleled.

Fan Xi's expression was calm, but his teeth were clenched tightly.

He had to bring out a skill he hadn't used in a long time.

Fan Xi is one of the few players in the league whose shooting becomes more precise as defensive pressure increases.

In this attack, Fan Xi admitted there was a gambling element, but he won the bet.

He got the result he wanted.

Even though life and death hinge on a split second.

A slight misstep and he would be blocked.

Yet throughout history, anyone who achieved greatness was daring and unyielding.

La Li Brown exclaimed in front of the TV, "Facing this kind of guy is often the most painful thing for us scheming defenders. Ke Bi, Jie Ke is far stronger than you were back then."

La Li Brown said to Kobe Bryant.

If someone else said that to Ke Bi, Ke Bi would surely be furious. But when La Li Brown said it, Ke Bi remained silent.

Back then, in a match against the Pistons, Ke Bi indeed struggled against the Pistons' iron‑clad defense, especially Prince's wrapping defense, which left him very upset.

But after that, Ke Bi devoted himself to studying offense under high‑difficulty defense, achieving outstanding results; for a long stretch, his shooting became more precise as defensive intensity grew.

At that moment, Huo Wa De suddenly said, "Jie Ke is such an odd guy; sometimes I give him an open shot and he misses. When I block his face, he can still launch the ball under extreme leverage—what a Miracle Child."

Ke Bi, hearing that, suddenly realized.

He inhaled deeply, thinking: Could this be the hidden strength of Jie Ke, that he shoots more accurately as defense tightens? Did he undergo special training???

Bang!

On the court, Kai Wen Du Lan Te missed his shot, rimmed out under Lai Ang Duo Na's wrapping.

Fan Xi grabbed the rebound.

He launched a fast break, cutting into the defense, then halted abruptly amid the double‑team of Du Lan Te and Yi Ba Ka, releasing an ultra‑high‑difficulty jump shot… Swish!

It went in again.

Ke Bi slapped the table, his realization clear.

Exactly—that's the technique I discovered back when I studied ultra‑high‑difficulty defense, even the timing fit perfectly.

A smile curled at Ke Bi's mouth.

On one hand, he marveled at how strikingly similar Fan Xi and he were.

On the other hand, he was pleased to have seized Fan Xi's true trump card.

He grew more confident of victory, believing his seventh championship was imminent.

In Ke Bi's mind, his only opponents are Fan Xi and Kuaisuan.

Although they lost the opening game to the Heat, although Miami is ambitious this year, although Le Bu Lang Zhang Si is improving rapidly, … once the game gets underway, the Lakers still have enough confidence to quash the Heat.

Whew!

Kobe Bryant let out a long sigh.

He stood up and said, "I can finally go home and take a proper shower."

Howard asked him, "Aren't you going to watch the rest of the game?"

"No."

Kobe Bryant waved.

"The result no longer matters to us; I know what Jie Ke's trump card is."

Kobe Bryant was very happy.

The kind of especially happy.

In fact, what Kobe Bryant doesn't know is… Fan Xi's so‑called "trump card" actually originates from Kobe; he inherited this trait of Kobe from the Energy Halo in his mind and has amplified it.

Frankly, Fan Xi intends to use this move at the crucial moment, just as last season's finals he used it against Miami Heat, where it worked extremely well.

But tonight the Thunder played so fiercely that he feels there's no need to deliberately conceal it.

Moreover, he thinks no one will make a fuss over this; they'll just exclaim, "What a god‑damn divine shot."

However, Fan Xi calculated countless possibilities, yet miscalculated that Kobe Bryant would sit in the conference room, watching the game intently. He also didn't expect that Le Bu Lang Zhang Si and Howard would sit together, creating a wonderful opportunity that would awaken Kobe like a dream.