Chapter 509: The So‑Called Long‑Termist

Even though this was just an ordinary preseason game that doesn't count toward the record, after the game ended.

New York fans couldn't wait to crown Fan Xi, calling him the magnificent king, the master of New York, the glory of Madison Garden.

These flattering words manifested before the game ended as the arena's cheers and the incessant MVP shouts.

Even after the final whistle sounded, the shouting continued.

The media recorded this ongoing process as 155 seconds, until Fan Xi vanished into the players' tunnel.

The media said this was the long‑tormented nerves of New York fans undergoing a strong revival, and the change Fan Xi brought in this game let them truly see the hope of New York's rise.

After sinking in hardship for so many years, they finally welcomed their revitalizing lord.

By the way, the final score of the game was 165–85.

The Knicks created the largest preseason point differential in history, slaughtering the Orlando Magic by 80 points. If Fan Xi had played a few more minutes in the second half, he might even have reached 200 points.

But Fan Xi felt it wasn't necessary; he thought it was a bit cruel.

After becoming a father, he suddenly became more homely and kind‑hearted.

"We never intended to create such a huge margin; we were just playing normally, running our tactics. Maybe everyone had perfect touch today, maybe we discovered an unprecedented chemistry… but whatever the case, this is the result, and I don't know how to explain it to you. If an apology is needed, I apologize."

Si Ta De Mai Er appeared at the press conference after the game; he scored 48 points tonight. He was the highest‑scoring player of the night, while Fan Xi recorded 28 assists, but he doesn't usually attend press conferences.

So, Si Ta De Mai Er could only express this kind of 'apology'.

Sitting beside him, La Li Bu Lang wore a serious expression and affirmed Si Ta De Mai Er's statement: "What A Ma Lei said is the truth."

Their words sounded very 'Versailles', giving the feeling that we didn't even try, yet somehow we ended up being awesome.

The vibe they exuded made the whole of New York heat up rapidly; Fan Xi's debut was even crazier than they imagined.

Previously many were worried they couldn't understand the Knicks' strategic plan, but now it's crystal clear.

La Li Bu Lang went on a running barrage.

That sounds absurd.

But for Orlando fans, it was a painful blow. Before the game they were analyzing whether the Knicks would go into a set‑piece battle, yet once the game started they saw a charging wild horse trample over their formation.

They couldn't block it.

In fact, La Li Bu Lang was also asked this question at the press conference. (Read the book.)

The reporter was even somewhat hostile, saying: "Coach Brown, as everyone knows, you are a very traditional academic‑style coach, your style has always been renowned for set‑piece defense, you even made headlines years ago for limiting Allen Iverson. Why are you making such a disruptive change now?"

La Li Bu Lang cleared his throat before answering, then said: "First, I've never limited Allen's offense; he was the league's scoring champion when he was with the 76ers. Second, no one stays the same. Jie Ke often discusses with me, and one of his sayings resonated with me: 'Live to learn, learn to live.' From defense to offense, there should be no boundaries."

"Moreover, when you have Jie Ke Fan, what established tactical system would you still care about? He himself is the system."

La Li Bu Lang's words instantly elevated Fan Xi to an unprecedented status.

La Li Bu Lang holds a reputation in the basketball world; he is one of the few head coaches who can be called a 'coach'. Now, he is using his stature to pave the way for Fan Xi.

He said Fan Xi is the tactical system.

The statement is profound; remember Michael Jordan and the triangle offense were merely complementary, yet Fan Xi can form his own system, and even the most traditional, stubborn academic coach La Li Bu Lang is willing to change for him.

What does this indicate?

Jie Ke Fan, at least in tactical positioning, has a chance to surpass Jordan.

New York fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming games.

With this shocking slaughter‑style victory, they are increasingly looking forward to the promise Fan Xi made this summer in Los Angeles.

…

New York City's massive publicity advantage made the entire basketball world aware of this shocking preseason massacre, or perhaps the biggest slaughter in history.

Frankly, before this game many doubted the Knicks because their roster truly resembled a senior club, even older than the first championship core of Kuaisuan.

Moreover, the players' styles differ greatly, making cohesion difficult.

But in this game, everyone looked at them with new respect.

La Li Bu Lang surprisingly launched a running barrage; all players, under Fan Xi's direction, moved like fish in water, and the offense was crazier than the Phoenix Suns of yesteryear.

This left many fans dumbfounded; they began to believe Fan Xi truly is the kind of player who can bring victory wherever he goes.

Of course, more fans think we still need to wait and see.

After all, this is only a preseason game, and the Orlando Magic aren't strong.

However, core players of the Miami Heat watched this game.

For Miami, this year is one they cannot afford to lose. It's also their most opportunistic year; James and others signed five‑year contracts in 2010, now in their fourth season.

They quietly watched the full‑game highlights.

James spoke first, saying: "The team's offensive capability exceeds expectations, even though their Three-Point Shot percentage was unusually high in this game. However, we must not underestimate their destructive power. If we get caught in an offensive war, we could be beaten by them."

James's remarks were very objective, even a bit cautious.

Others present, after watching the game, would deem it a low‑level match; the Knicks never faced any decent defense, so they could easily execute their tactical details and maintain a sky‑high shooting rate to achieve the largest point‑differential massacre in history.

Pat Lai Li also believes the current Knicks are still not ready to challenge the Heat; after three intense seasons, the Heat should also sweep the six titles and claim the championship.

…

The Knicks' second opponent is the Chicago Bulls.

The Chicago Bulls have been the Eastern regular‑season runner‑up for the past two or three seasons, always just a hair behind the Heat, seemingly poised to reach the Finals each time, yet missing out each time.

This season, they kept their established roster and made some upgrades. Most importantly, Derek Rose's jump shot has become more consistent… he has improved his off‑ball abilities.

Derek Rose is already a phenomenon‑level super‑star.

Without Fan Xi, he would be the strongest two‑way guard currently active. His way of announcing plays is fierce yet elegant.

This owes to Chen Ye's care for him after that injury.

That night at Madison, Derek Rose played only five minutes, and Fan Xi played only ten minutes.

The Bulls focused on rehearsing new tactics, caring little about preseason results; they only aim to advance further in the playoffs, so shaping the roster is what they hope to accomplish in the preseason.

After experiencing the first game's massive slaughter, the Knicks also felt they should cool down a bit.

So in this game, Fan Xi barely played.

La Li Bu Lang practiced three tactics.

The first was Si Di Fen Na Shi and Si Ta De Mai Er revisiting their old Phoenix days, with Qiao Yue Han Xun playing a supporting role, since he is also considered a member of Phoenix.

The second had the Detroit warriors together with Kai Wen Jia Nei Te reviving their former iron‑blooded spirit, launching a wave of trench grinding battle.

The third followed Fan Xi's suggestion, letting Qiao Yue Han Xun and Si Ta De Mai Er, two super scorers, play freely and operate on the flanks.

The first tactic ran smoothly, and the team built a lead.

The second tactic was a bit stagnant, because they no longer had the bodies of those days. But, old me feeling youthful again, Jia Nei Te, Hua Lai Shi, Pu Lin Si, Han Mi Er Dun and Fei Dun, although they couldn't break through offensively, still possessed a dead‑lock grinding skill that prevented others from scoring.

This phase was a steel‑melody grind.

The third tactic was subtle: Si Ta De Mai Er and Ka Mei Long An Dong Ni could not cooperate at all; only one of them could be effective.

However, Qiao Yue Han Xun's style was not much different from Ka Mei Long An Dong Ni's; both were isolation play.

Yet, they were like a husband and wife both in love, stubbornly playing in perfect harmony, with flawless connections.

Kai Wen Jia Nei Te, from the bench, analyzed: "I think Qiao and Ka Mei Long are still different?"

Fan Xi originally thought Jia Nei Te was being serious. "What difference?"

But Jia Nei Te still cracked a joke: "Qiao Yue Han Xun's wife has no doughnuts."

What the heck.

Hua Lai Shi used his hand to brutally pound Jia Nei Te's head twice, yet he laughed heartily.

Jia Nei Te also enjoyed Hua Lai Shi's rubbing, since he surely couldn't beat Hua Lai Shi, so he just enjoyed it.

"Alright, seriously. Ka Mei Long is the type of offensive player who loves three‑threat probing steps; he's too classical. When the ball is in his hands, it stops, and teammates watch him flaunt subtle tricks. That hinders teammates' active runs. Qiao is actually a scoring guard; his three‑threat moves aren't many. He can post up, he can drive and then use a Stop-and-Go Jump Shot… Si Ta De Mai Er will clear the flank for him, and they have cooperated before. Moreover, Si Di Fen Na Shi's flank containment means they can certainly coexist."

Jia Nei Te explained afterward.

Fan Xi thought for a moment, nodded, and approved Jia Nei Te's analysis.

Jia Nei Te played half his life in the NBA, though uneducated and foul‑mouthed, but his basketball IQ is extremely high. At his peak he could be called the best four‑position defender and best help‑defender in NBA history. Moreover, on offense he could play from the three to the five position. He is one of the few players who can fill every statistical column, even up to five. As a typical long‑handed, long‑legged monster, he resembles a middle ground between Wilt Chamberlain and Kevin Durant.

His historical standing is certainly below Tim Duncan and still some way behind Nowitzki. Yet being in the top twenty of history is a sure thing, even if he does nothing thereafter.

However, if he wins another championship in New York, his historical rank could rise into the top fifteen and surpass Nowitzki.

133–128.

The Knicks finally sealed the win with Qiao Yue Han Xun's three‑pointer.

The victory sent Madison Garden into another frenzy; if the super‑massacre two nights ago was an unexpected surprise, a sudden passion.

Then tonight, they seemed like a long‑planned fulfillment of desire.

The Chicago Bulls aren't the Orlando Magic; beating the Magic by any margin still brings little sense of achievement, just hormone release and revelry.

But taking down the Chicago Bulls, this Eastern regular‑season runner‑up of recent seasons, makes fans secrete endorphins.

The Knicks have wanted to surge back to the Eastern summit for far too long.

As one of the NBA's oldest franchises, they haven't reached the Finals in many, many years.

They've even forgotten what an Eastern championship feels like.

If the New York Knicks of the '80s and '90s still had something worth remembering, at least they forged a notorious gangster reputation, iron‑blooded and imposing.

Since entering the twenty‑first century, the Knicks have become synonymous with basketball jokes.

Now, they finally enjoy a strong resurgence.

They are desperate to achieve peak glory.

Fan Xi arriving now is like a person wandering a desert for over ten days, on the brink of death, suddenly seeing an oasis, already smelling the fragrance of grass and flowing water, certain it's not a mirage; just a few steps forward and their wish will be fulfilled.

After Fan Xi and the Knicks secured two home victories, they headed to Brooklyn.

They will face a highly important, highly unusual game.

A city derby.

The Nets, though this season moved from rural New Jersey to New York City, still lack many local supporters here, the Knicks' influence runs deep, even though they were a joke team for a long time.

But jokes remain jokes, influence remains influence.

People paying to enter Madison Garden to watch jokes has become tradition.

The Russian wants to quickly change this trend; he must do many eye‑catching things.

He spared no expense to build an ultra‑luxury team, and, having obtained Fan Xi's situation, he chose a trade, acquiring the Knicks' Anthony and Tyson Qian De Luo.

He does this to prove he is a long‑termist. He doesn't want to gamble on Fan Xi's one‑year usage rights like the Knicks.

Securing a win is his philosophy, and he believes he will surely claim ultimate victory.

That's why he spouts grand statements before the media.

…