Chapter 480: There Is Only One Winner

James comes to Fan Xi's front, spreads his arms, and must admit that Fan Xi has become his inner demon, the greatest challenge of his professional career.

Although Fan Xi looks shorter and more slender than him.

But this… ordinary guy knocked him out in his first professional year, took his championship trophy and Finals MVP, then the second year, then the Olympic gold medal, and now the third year has arrived.

Besides his on‑court achievements, this guy also shattered the thing James is most proud of in business. Fan Xi made Nike a small shareholder and had Kuaisuan under his name while he was still a player.

In the past year James has been fighting desperately; his spirit is constantly tempered between nightmare and reality. He is no longer the pampered Heaven's Chosen Son; he has become a true warrior.

This is Fan Xi's merit.

Even James himself admits that Fan Xi made him stronger.

Yet, facing Fan Xi standing calmly before him, he still feels a hollow in his heart.

The reason he feels hollow is that he doesn't know what Fan Xi will do next, nor how many trump cards Fan Xi still holds… Fan Xi has always given people an inscrutable mystery.

Even the famous, truly learned sports science and basketball experts do not know how to analyze Fan Xi's technical and physical characteristics.

He is like the sum of all top Chinese people; when he appears before you, you think he is harmless, but you never know what he'll do the next second.

Fan Xi takes his Probe Step, just as before, steady and even, the rhythm not fierce, looking simply like a simple step.

But when James relaxes slightly, Fan Xi's body thrusts forward violently, like a rocket instantly ignited, the huge explosive force propelling Fan Xi's body with massive kinetic energy.

James instantly falls half a step behind; his massive broad body is more passive in turning than a short player, despite his extraordinary talent, it still follows basic laws.

Fan Xi drives into the free‑throw line, James pursues relentlessly, as James chases.

Fan Xi performs a Stop-and-Go, catching James off guard.

But his instinctive braking, he does not immediately jump to block; in his mind, Fan Xi's Stop-and-Go poses no threat.

However, this time Fan Xi directly stops, then jumps; during the upward jump, he flicks the basketball out… he does not seek the highest point of the shot, nor does he look for a contest… this is a fast‑and‑accurate shooting style that values speed, precision, and ruthlessness!

Swish!

The basketball drops into the hoop.

Fan Xi opens the game with eight consecutive points.

The stale atmosphere of Meihangzhongxin qiuguan resurfaces.

They cannot even hiss, because fear is born in their minds. Countless times it has been proven that as long as Fan Xi finds his shooting rhythm, if God does not wear a Heat jersey, no one can stop him.

Pat Riley's expression has lost control; his eyes seem fixed, the terrifying thoughts in his mind cause a stress reaction, trembling lips, thinking: Is this Jie Ke Fan's secret weapon? A Stop-and-Go mid‑range jumper? This odd shooting posture resembles the Golden State Warriors' precise super‑point guard.

Pat Riley has studied Stephen Curry deeply; he has foresight, knowing Curry will definitely lead the three‑point era.

But he did not expect Fan Xi would also use Curry's moves.

Later, he recalled that Fan Xi and Curry were college classmates, close friends; Fan Xi even personally funded Curry to become his brand ambassador, making signature shoes… It proved to be an extremely successful commercial investment, but at that time Curry was still a fringe elite player, only after Stephen Col joined did he emerge.

"LeBron, you can no longer defend me the old way."

Fan Xi tells James: "This is a friendly reminder."

James looks calm and composed; his expression is serene. Yet beneath the calm lies a surging tsunami; Fan Xi's play has shattered his defensive logic. He is a person with very high basketball IQ, fully aware what Fan Xi's shot implies.

Moreover, he is certain Fan Xi has mastered ball‑handling offense.

This will bring a devastating disaster to the Heat's defense; as is well known, Fan Xi is a super‑star, a super‑star who has at least two outstanding advantages among the three "drive‑cut‑shoot" skills, or a historic advantage.

Previously, Fan Xi's penetration and infiltration ability was already near‑historic, his passing also reached near‑historic level. Adding a slightly below‑average ball‑handling jump shot and an outstanding off‑ball jump shot ability, he has firmly occupied the super‑star spot, even with his astonishing record advantage, successfully entering the top three of various active super‑star rankings, even trending toward first place.

Now, Fan Xi's Stop-and-Go jump shot has also reached elite level.

Then, who can guard him?

How many super‑stars in history have possessed the three "drive‑cut‑shoot" advantages?

"I can assert that Miami has already lost this game, and the upcoming games. The Clippers will clinch the championship in Game Six. Although selling one more ticket would bring them more revenue, it is no longer necessary."

Kenny Smith said on television with certainty, after repeatedly watching replays, that "When Jie Ke shoots, he is proactive, confident, and carries a one‑shot‑kill belief. This shows he has fully mastered this offensive style. Once he controls the shooting advantage, all the defensive logic the Heat previously built is destroyed."

"They cannot rebuild a new offensive logic within two games, even if the Clippers lack Nowitzki."

"In fact, Nowitzki's injury is still a good thing for the Clippers, because Fan Xi can truly hold all the power; he no longer has to consider anyone else."

Smith provides his analysis.

Charles Barkley thinks his astonishing view is eye‑catching nonsense, and viewers at home share this thought, believing Smith over‑mythologizes Fan Xi. If Nowitzki is so unimportant to him, then hasn't Fan Xi surpassed Jordan, after all Jordan still had Scottie Pippen by his side.

However, the unexpected thing is that the bench‑sitting Nowitzki turned his head and said to Gilbert: "Gilbert, I think my injury might be a good thing. Jie Ke doesn't need to pass to me; he has a chance to create a more efficient chemistry."

Arenas was first stunned, then nodded.

He said: "We will have more material for our personal biographies later. I guarantee that after we retire, just talking about Jie Ke Fan will bring us decent income."

Arenas's thinking is always different from the crowd.

Yet, what he says is factual.

Some of Jordan's teammates survive on this.

Swish!

Le Bu Lang Zhang Si drives to the basket, draws a double‑team and passes to Wade, who makes a follow‑up drive and scores.

The two super‑stars join forces, breaking through the Clippers' sturdy defense.

Then Fan Xi continues the surge; the Heat's defense contracts early, Fan Xi instantly decides to pass, handing the ball to wing player Deng Taiqiong, who shoots and hits a three‑pointer.

The Heat's biggest fear materializes; Fan Xi's individual offense is not just personal—it elevates the entire Clippers' offensive system.

Those who previously thought Fan Xi was being mysterious all vanish at this moment; everyone knows the Heat is in danger.

The game continues.

James gives his all to drive the Heat's offense; they play very well, Deng Taiqiong's relentless pressure disrupts James's rhythm, but James adjusts in time, Wade provides crucial support on the wing, and Ke Li Si Bo Shen's touch is also excellent.

This is the offensive rhythm they imagined.

They score 32 points in a single quarter.

Scoring that many points in a Finals‑level defense in a single quarter is extremely, extremely difficult.

Thus, the Heat trailed by 8 points after the first quarter.

Because the Clippers scored an astonishing 40 points in a single quarter, the Pistons and Spurs in those Finals could not even reach 40 points by halftime.

The Clippers threw in 7 three‑pointers in the first quarter: Fan Xi made 3, Deng Taiqiong 2, Hamilton and Butler each 1.

The Clippers' offensive pace showed a hundred‑flower‑blooming posture.

After the first quarter ended, everyone clearly knew that the Heat had run into big trouble.

If they cannot effectively curb Fan Xi in the second quarter, they will undoubtedly lose the game.

Pat Riley sat on the bench, the man nicknamed "Divine Computation Unit" now at a loss, not knowing how to improve the tactics.

Spoelstra decided to gamble in the second quarter, betting on Fan Xi's offensive level; he assigned Xiaoen Badi'er to guard Fan Xi, letting James and Wade unleash their offensive talents.

He doesn't believe that two superstars against one super‑star still can't take down Fan Xi.

Spoelstra, a Filipino descendant, has a huge gambling streak.

The second quarter begins.

The Clippers switched to a new lineup: Arenas, Fan Xi, Leonard, Mili Xiqi, Xiao Qiao Dan.

They appear more composed.

Fan Xi immediately began to actively shadow Wade, Arenas defended Xiaoen Badi'er, and Leonard still matched up against James.

James and Ke Li Si Bo Shen ran a pick‑and‑roll, then hit a mid‑range shot.

Turning back, Fan Xi didn't hold the ball but let Arenas carry it across half‑court.

After crossing half‑court, Arenas passed the basketball to Leonard.

Leonard positioned for a back‑to‑back post‑up against James, Fan Xi made a cut… Xiaoen Badi'er chased relentlessly, but Xiao Qiao Dan's screen caused him to lose his defender… the defender's aging made this quality defender powerless in some complex situations.

Swish!

Fan Xi received Leonard's pass and nailed a three‑pointer.

His personal score rose to 19 points.

The Chinese fans in front of their TVs have already begun to expect Fan Xi to break the Finals "Heavenly King Mountain" personal scoring record.

Fan Xi's pre‑game "Please Rest Assured, Motherland" had already set their blood boiling.

Now is the moment to fulfill "Do Not Say It Was Not Foretold".

In the hearts of Chinese, "Do Not Say It Was Not Foretold" and "Even If Far, Must Punish" are two ultimate romances.

Now, Fan Xi is showcasing this fierce romance on the South Coast.

"You can't guard me, Xiaoen. Your championship is out of the question." Fan Xi trash‑talked Badi'er: "When I used to watch Rockets games, I was impressed by you, but now you're a bit old."

Badi'er is a modest gentleman; like his senior brother Grant Hill, he is also a cultivated gentleman.

Beep!

In the meantime, Spoelstra made another substitution, putting Lei Alun in and taking Badi'er out.

The Heat is shifting into full‑force attack mode.

Fan Xi is not afraid of this offensive showdown.

Even if the Heat's offensive talent on paper is greater.

However, a game has never relied solely on stacked talent.

There is only one basketball.

There is only one victor.

…