Chapter 511: What makes you think you're worthy to be mentioned alongside James?

Prokhorov sat in the Barclays Center arena's VVVIP box, and the flashy move created by Fan Xi made his eyelid twitch.

He was worried this was a bad omen.

But he still had confidence inside. No matter how you put it, the Knicks strictly speaking only have one superstar, Fan Xi, while the Nets have two or three, so the advantage is ours!

So to speak, the only thing history tells people is that people never learn lessons.

The Russian had never stayed in Los Angeles, and he had never had close contact with the Lakers' management. So-called book learning is shallow; just looking at the stupid Lakers in the newspapers, he always thought the Lakers were naturally stupid. He didn't know that before trading for Fan Xi, the Lakers were the most successful franchise in NBA history, bar none.

It was Fan Xi who made the Lakers that stupid.

To be frank, the Russian isn't worthy to touch the Lakers' porcelain.

But now he firmly stands opposite Fan Xi, not only singing against him, but also wanting to insult him and be irreconcilable with Fan Xi—what spirit is this?

Carmelo Anthony continued to hold onto isolation, he easily got past Bariyani this time, this 2006 number-one pick has mediocre talent, he's just feeding off the early years' international player bonuses… or rather Yao Ming's bonuses, since Yao made it in the NBA, the 05-06 seasons have seen international players as the top pick.

Joe Johnson went to fill the spot, but it wasn't successful.

Anthony scored with a layup in the paint… Anthony's layup has a characteristic: it's very easy to get blocked; he once had a season where he was the player with the most blocks at the rim in the NBA.

This shows two things: he easily scores in the low post, but at the same time he rarely relies on violent dunks to settle the battle.

That's how technical players are.

Kobe also liked to weave through the crowd for a layup, rather than straight-up violent dunks.

Anthony carried on this trait, but he doesn't have Kobe's divine waist.

After Anthony scored, the Knicks kept surging.

Fan Xi led the team forward with lightning speed, still as Fan Xi slicing tofu, easily cutting into the paint; after drawing a double-team, Fan Xi casually tossed the ball behind him, Joe Johnson quickly caught up and slammed another dunk.

The Knicks' offense was extremely fast, and the moves were quite simple.

But who gave Fan Xi the strongest slash‑through defense in the league today?

His breakthrough is extremely fast and sharp, his mind works extremely quickly and nimbly, his shooting is also threatening… these three combined. Give Fan Xi elite‑level shooters and he can turn any team into the Phoenix Suns.

Steve Nash sat on the bench and sighed: "Thank goodness Jie Ke entered the league after me. Otherwise, who could compare to him in sprinting? His brain processes court speed three times faster than mine."

"Only three times?" Hamilton asked him with a smile.

"Well, maybe five times." Steve Nash spread his hands. "So his processing speed is at least five times Jason Kidd's. I absolutely refuse to admit that Jason Kidd is better than me at fast breaks; he's just better at long passes."

Steve Nash back then could also be considered to have overlapped a peak period with Jason Kidd for a while, brilliant at the time. Although the old Kidd debuted earlier and his peak came earlier, Nash later emerged from nowhere, won two regular‑season MVPs, and in personal honors he has a trend of overtaking.

Jason Kidd was indeed scratching his head.

Although he was unwilling to admit he had no way to deal with Fan Xi.

He turned his gaze to his assistant coaching staff, and the assistant coaches all furrowed their brows.

They didn't know what to do.

By now.

It seems only one road remains: clash with the Knicks, use offense to burn offense, use talent to defeat talent!

Deron Williams and Tyson Chandler ran an efficient pick‑and‑roll, allowing him to smoothly enter the free‑throw line area, and he completed a forward jump shot with his back to Fan Xi.

This is a reverse back‑to‑the‑body jump shot.

Many big‑butted guards like to do this; the Rockets' James Harden even developed it into a personal trademark. Moreover, this guy is still inventing and creating, and Fan Xi always feels James Harden will eventually evolve into an ugly but efficient scorer.

After switching sides, Fan Xi and Garnett ran a pick‑and‑roll, then Fan Xi assisted Garnett, who finished a iron‑blooded big jump shot, pounding his chest and roaring.

The Wolf King revived his might.

When Fan Xi used to go online, he would also tease Garnett about his iron‑blooded big jump shot, chest‑pounding, foot‑stomping roar output. But once he actually got into the game, he found the Wolf King really does have passion, and his roar really can lift the atmosphere.

It gives a feeling of exhilaration; even soft‑boiled eggs hearing it want to 'crush their own eggs' to prove their manhood.

This is probably why Bariyani dared to stand in front of JR Smith, hit the deck hard, and create an offensive foul.

After this successful defense, Bariyani got a head pat from the Wolf King; Garnett held his head and shouted into his eardrum: 'Good job, kid. You'll succeed.'

Bariyani's eardrum was almost shattered by his roar.

But he laughed shyly and a little embarrassedly.

This shyness shows one thing: Garnett's wildness really worked; it really can boost teammates' enthusiasm.

Often, some interior players really need this kind of wild encouragement.

So, after switching sides, Fan Xi delivered a three‑point assist to Bariyani, and the Italian made the shot.

Garnett then ran over and roared at him, telling him he's a man with seed who can sleep with ten models in one night!

Garnett always has this strange yellow metaphor.

Wild, straightforward.

If you're a man, you get it.

Bariyani, this repressed European man, felt something inside him about to explode, at this moment.

Jason Kidd called a timeout when the first quarter had reached the five‑minute mark.

At that point, the Knicks were leading 18‑11 by 7 points.

In their back‑and‑forth, the Nets had not even a shred of chance to win.

Because the two sides aren't playing the same era's style.

The Nets were still grinding out a half‑court set there, while the Knicks had already entered the new era of a thousand arrows firing together.

The Knicks' lineup has five players who can shoot; Fan Xi is like the arrowhead—once he penetrates the Nets' paint, his four teammates can unleash fire from the perimeter.

Moreover, there's also a little tyrant who can directly attack the rim.

How can the Nets play against them?

The Nets' roster is indeed very good, but their head coach doesn't quite know how to cook this dish.

After five minutes, Paul Pierce came onto the court.

The Nets' lineup became a double‑star small‑forward formation.

JR Smith returned to the bench to rest; he is a famous neuro knife, but he didn't bring his knife tonight.

Upon reaching the frontcourt, Pi Ersi and An Dong Ni each seized a wing.

Deron Williams inbounded at the top of the arc, passing the ball to Pi Ersi.

Pi Ersi initiated a one‑on‑one, easily breaking through Ba Li Ya Ni's defense, then drove to the basket, drawing double‑team before feeding Ji Li Lian Ke, who scored on a layup.

At this moment… the Nets' style resembled the opening of a triangle offense, but in fact leaned more toward the Jazz system.

Deron Williams and Ji Li Lian Ke are the direct disciples of old Sloan.

Bao Luo Pi Ersi has played a lifetime in the post, and Ka Mei Long An Dong Ni is also a top post‑scrambling expert.

Tai Sen Qian De Le is plug‑and‑play; his defensive impact is strong.

Pi Ersi's appearance truly changed the Nets' atmosphere; they seemed to wake up.

Pi Ersi used his roar to remind teammates to sprint back on defense, and for the first time they truly intercepted Fan Xi's fast break.

Fan Xi simply stopped at the top of the arc.

Then he began to change direction, a rapid back‑and‑forth crossover, then flashed away, leaving Deron Williams's defense hanging in place.

When Deron Williams chased, Fan Xi had already chosen a Stop-and-Go Jump Shot… swish!

A soft, one‑motion jump shot delivered to Ba Ke Lai's center.

The arena erupted with cheers.

The Russian oligarch in the box grew increasingly uneasy, realizing this damn thing might be a wedding dress for Fan Xi and the Knicks.

The media and New York City fans all focused on this game.

But in terms of spectacle and buzz, Fan Xi and the Knicks are undeniably more popular.

The two teams are playing things that aren't even from the same era.

Bao Luo Pi Ersi continued to control the offensive tempo, feinting before passing to An Dong Ni.

An Dong Ni took over the one‑on‑one, finishing the attack with a jump shot.

The Knicks' two wings endured a heavy blow, representing the NBA's top offensive firepower.

However, the Knicks have no better option; they cannot double‑team, because once they trap one, the other opens up.

This explains why many NBA teams cling to a multi‑superstar strategy.

La Li Bu Lang later substituted in Pu Lin Si, hoping this youngster could alter the Knicks' wing defensive passivity.

However, the effect was minimal.

Fan Xi also had no plan to completely shut down the Nets.

He adheres to the philosophy that the best defense is offense; now he can only play this way.

So, he continued the mercury spill.

And he and Si Ta De Mai Er entered a high‑frequency pick‑and‑roll mode; Si Ta De Mai Er is the league's best post‑pick‑and‑roll finisher, period.

The two complemented each other naturally.

So, the first quarter ended.

The Knicks scored 42 points.

The Nets also efficiently tallied 32 points, yet still trailed by double digits.

It looks like this gap has no chance of being closed.

Even if Pi Ersi said from the bench, "As long as we play steadily, as long as we defend well, we can gain an advantage later; let the bullet fly a bit longer, if they want excitement, let them have it first."

There are times when they cry.

This is Bao Luo Pi Ersi's original line, with a hint of Boston outlaw spirit. No wonder he's the man who once beat the Lakers and won Finals MVP.

This raw ferocity is something Ka Mei Long An Dong Ni lacks. After all, this is a man who, in the middle of the Finals, even pooped on the court.

However, what Bao Luo Pi Ersi didn't expect was that at the start of the second quarter, Fan Xi came right up to him.

Fan Xi ceded the #1 spot to Si Di Fen Na Shi, who would speak directly with Bao Luo Pi Ersi.

Bao Luo Pi Ersi had been waiting for a chance to punish Fan Xi.

Now, Fan Xi stormed in to punish him.

"I'm not James, I won't be scared by you," Bao Luo Pi Ersi said in a nonchalant, rogue manner.

Fan Xi smiled and said, "How can you even compare yourself with James?"

…