Chapter 460: Lakers Lose, It's Only Natural

In the second half, the Lakers launched a fierce counterattack.

They executed a triangle offense on offense and adopted an iron‑blooded linkage on defense.

It indeed played a crucial role, so much that Fan Xi even wanted to bring out his secret weapon.

But at that moment, Nowitzki stepped forward.

Nowitzki hit two consecutive Three‑Point Shots from beyond the arc, not only stabilizing Kuaisuan's slump but also forcing the Lakers' defense to expand; they could no longer run a grinder‑style defense in the cramped space.

Kevin Durant was right about one thing: Larry Brown's system is indeed outdated, three‑point shooting is becoming ever more important, and space‑type forwards like Nowitzki are everywhere.

Jordan Hill, tasked by Larry Brown, had to come out to defend, while Gilbert Arenas was scrambling around, creating damage.

Fan Xi merely by passing was enough to shift the Lakers' defense.

The third quarter ended in a tie.

Both sides only scored 23 points.

Entering the fourth quarter.

Kobe Bryant returned to the bench to rest, while Fan Xi stayed on the court; the age gap widened the disparity in their stamina reserves. Kobe had to admit he was getting old, his current conditioning could no longer support more than 40 minutes of high‑quality output per game, and the Lakers' coaching staff had previously limited him to about 30 minutes.

But tonight he had already played three quarters, and he had to sit on the bench.

Pau Gasol was by his side. Gasol's condition over the past two years looked even more worn than Kobe's, despite being younger. Yet Gasol has never been a player with strong ambition; he has already earned enough salary and three consecutive championships. His mindset has never been the same as that of Chris Paul or Dwight Howard.

Although he never mocked Chris in the locker room the way Andrew Bai Na Mu once did, saying, "We were already champions before you arrived."

Kuaisuan also employed a rotation lineup at the start of the fourth quarter.

【7】 Fan Xi, Hamilton, Deng Taiqiong, Huaiti Seda, Mili Xiqi.

Fan Xi, Han Mi Er Dun, Deng Tai Qiong Si, Huai Te Sai De, Mili Xiqi.

This lineup was even more makeshift than the Lakers'.

Nevertheless, it was this lineup.

Kuaisuan built a 15‑point lead.

Facing a lineup of Chris Paul, Matt Barnes, Jamison, Jordan Hill, Dwight Howard.

Kuaisuan completed an extremely easy Three‑Point Shot in the first possession of the fourth quarter.

Fan Xi drove into the half‑court, set a screen with Huaiti Seda, then passed to Deng Taiqiong sprinting to the corner; Deng Taiqiong raised his hand and shot… Swish!

This 3‑D defender contributed power as soon as he stepped on the floor; he is truly a microwave player.

Then Kuaisuan erected a fierce defensive formation.

Howard was blocked by Huaiti Seda, shocking even the Beast… He had thought the dunk was a sure thing; he and Chris had already used a pick‑and‑roll to completely clear Mili Xiqi, but when he drove into the paint for the dunk, an unknown guy directly blocked it.

Even more unbelievable for Howard was that after Huaiti Seda knocked Howard down, he surged forward again, tipped the ball out, passed to Fan Xi, and Fan Xi launched a lightning fast break.

"Dwight, my little brother can take you down."

Mili Xiqi's taunt arrived as expected.

Howard's complexion turned rather grim.

He is the league's top center, yet every time he faces Kuaisuan's interior he feels the pain. Last year it was Kuameibulang, this year Mili Xiqi. Now an unheard‑of name, Huaiti Seda, appears.

Jieke Fan, where did you dig them out from?

Howard was still confused.

Over there, Hamilton knocked down another Three‑Point Shot.

Swish!

It was a chase‑down three.

The Staples Center erupted in turmoil.

Larry Brown was like the Jade Emperor after Sun Wukong attacked the Heavenly Palace; he panicked and hurriedly called for a timeout.

At that moment, De'Anthony, as the official head coach, stood in front of him and said, "Larry, I respect you. But next time a timeout request must come from me. The team's problem now is not defense but offense. Your system isn't as effective as you imagine."

De'Anthony then thrust a sword at Larry Brown.

Previously De'Anthony had kept a low profile in his rivalry with Larry Brown, letting Larry take over, but now he decided not to tolerate it.

He gathered the players.

Then he set up new tactics and a new style of play. Of course, he didn't make it seem like he was overturning Larry Brown; he still emphasized tenacious defense on the court.

However, he accelerated Chris Paul's offensive tempo and put Kobe back on the floor.

The game continued.

Paul knocked down a jump shot.

It steadied the Lakers' slump.

But then Fan Xi drove into the paint and, under Howard's block, pulled up with a reverse layup and scored.

No one can underestimate Fan Xi.

After Fan Xi's hand‑eye coordination improved, his aerial moves became more anticipatory; he could execute even more astonishingly fluid motions.

Eye on target, hand on target, ball on target.

The Lakers then struggled to chase the gap.

But Kuaisuan gave them no chance.

That rotation lineup lasted until the fifth minute of the fourth quarter.

Then the starters came in.

After the starters entered, the offensive pace changed slightly, yet they still suppressed the Lakers.

"I don't even know which Kuaisuan lineup is the starter and which is the bench, but I can say… Kevin Durant is about to tweet."

Kenny Smith made a 'vicious' little joke on TV.

It was no shortage of rubbing salt into the Lakers' wound.

Perhaps inspired by Kenny Smith, internet‑social prince Kevin Durant quickly logged onto his account and typed a line: "Chris Paul leaving the Lakers countdown: 4!!"

Although the game hasn't ended yet.

But Du Lan Te couldn't wait any longer.

He knew the Lakers lacked the ability to turn the tide, especially after Ke Bi, due to stamina issues, threw up an airball.

Baluoluo and Jia suo er's pick-and-roll posed no threat; they were merely role players.

Baluoluo never proved his clutch ability from start to finish, especially after he lost his explosiveness due to injury.

As for De huai te Huo hua de, although he always claimed to be the league's top center, everyone actually thought so. However, his true peak moments came with the Magic, where he was a top-tier blue-collar worker. Da Fan Gandi's half-court tactic made De huai te Huo hua de.

But De huai te Huo hua de left because he didn't take enough shots.

As a result, even after joining the Lakers, he still played a blue-collar role.

Could he carry the team?

Obviously not.

He could barely hold up Huaiti Seda.

The Clippers' Xiao Qiaodan matched his type; he was slightly better than Xiao Qiaodan in every aspect, but Xiao Qiaodan was taller than him.

Huaiti Seda also matched De huai te Huo hua de's type to some extent, but he had more self-awareness than De huai te Huo hua de.

As for Mili Xiqi, he was practically a magic weapon to counter De huai te Huo hua de… if Kuameibulang were the physical weapon to counter De huai te Huo hua de.

…