Chapter 526: Necessary Failure

The New York Knicks have entered a period of decline.

Fan Xi's departure destroyed most of the Knicks' tactics; they still run a fast offense, but its efficiency is no longer comparable, and their losses continue to increase.

After losing to the Miami Heat, they went to the West; aside from a pitiful win in Minnesota, they were beaten by three opponents: the Denver Nuggets, the Phoenix Suns, and the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Knicks' fans did not complain. Their originally fragile patience was fully healed after Fan Xi arrived, and they know the team won't stay this bad forever. Previously they were so "capricious" because there was "no hope".

No hope means despair, and a desperate person is naturally fickle.

Fan Xi's injury report is slightly more severe than previously announced; his recovery time has been extended from two weeks to three weeks. Because people captured Fan Xi and Megan Fox shopping at a luxury store in New York Manhattan Center before Thanksgiving, many speculate that the condition worsened because Fan Xi did not let the injury rest.

Some "terrible" media even mocked Megan Fox on their talk‑show, saying her tongue is poisonous and she could play a super‑hero movie villain whose skill is a venomous tongue. Of course, they also hinted… perhaps Fox has a poisonous body part elsewhere?

Being a celebrity means being mocked like this.

Fan Xi takes it as normal, yet he cannot explain. On one hand he is speaking less now; on the other, how can this be explained?

The long break made days bland, and the 101‑point hype slowly faded.

With the Knicks' recent losing streak, the Nets' winning streak, even Brooklyn shows signs of healing and forgetting the pain.

Some supportive media subtly say the Nets had the upper hand in that deal. The Knicks' current performance is a preview of next season's Knicks. Lacking Jieke Fan means the Knicks are a lottery team.

Honestly, that claim does have some market.

But the Knicks now outright refuse to discuss this.

Phil Jackson even shouted on TV, "As long as we win the championship, those whiny mosquitoes will vanish without a trace."

He also emphasized, "We have no plans to trade Brook Lopez, and we won't buy him out; we can keep him."

Phil Jackson's tough statement is taken as a sign that he is already weakened, and Brook Lopez's trade window has effectively opened.

Otherwise, why would he say that?

Many teams began making offers to the Knicks, but their offers came while they were looting.

To this, the Knicks uniformly reject.

Fan Xi occasionally visits Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan's office; he is idle in New York as well. He hopes for a buffer period amid the nonstop "human‑making campaign".

"Did you greet Tyson Chandler?"

Phil Jackson asked Fan Xi, "I feel he's been performing worse lately, and his chemistry with the Nets is deteriorating."

Fan Xi spread his palm and said, "No."

At this point, Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan couldn't stay calm and asked, "The Nets still haven't contacted us?"

Phil Jackson shook his head.

Fan Xi smiled and said, "They're waiting for an opportunity we can't refuse. I guess it should arrive soon."

Hm?

Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan doesn't quite grasp Fan Xi's "strategic planning", and Phil Jackson is also a bit unclear.

At that moment, Fan Xi said he needed to return to Los Angeles for a trip.

Next, after the Warriors finish their game, the Knicks will head to Los Angeles to play the Lakers and the Kuaisuan.

Many had predicted Fan Xi would return in the Knicks‑Kuaisuan game to showcase his strong influence on both teams. But now the new injury report shatters that forecast; what if Jieke Fan gets injured during the game?

After all, the Kuaisuan now boast the nickname "Copper Wall Iron Shield, Historically the Dirtiest".

The players earning that nickname are none other than Leonard and the Greek Monster duo. This season, at least five offensive stars have been injured under them.

Asian fans even call them the "Injury Notebook" combo.

This season, after only a short time, Blake Griffin, Al Jefferson, Brandon Jennings, Jamal Nielsen, and Paul George have suffered varying injuries under their defense.

Mike Brown's defensive scheme after Fan Xi left can be summed up in one word: hard!

Two words: tough!

Little Jordan, Mili Xiqi, White, Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rubio… which of these guys isn't a defensive stalwart?

So far this season, they average 82.8 points per game, while opponents average 81.2.

They currently sit sixth in the West, only one game behind fifth.

The massive collapse imagined by basketball experts never came, even though the Kuaisuan lost Fan Xi, Nowitzki, Butler and other championship core members.

Leonard, selected by Fan Xi, took the main beam, and Antetokounmpo, taken by Fan Xi with a high‑lottery pick, also did not disappoint him.

He's a little monster; he's too fierce.

During the off‑season, he trained with Kobe, who taught him tough confrontation. After the new season began, the Kuaisuan's development of him was guided by shaping another Butler.

However, Antetokounmpo's physical quality surpasses Butler's, and by far. The guy has long arms and legs, outstanding athleticism, and his ball‑handling is rapidly improving; he can launch a layup directly from beyond the three‑point line, and his massive stride and arms shrink the court area in his sight.

Arenas is still focusing on developing his shooting; Arenas is a hard‑working shooter, and having him lead Antetokounmpo is simply perfect.

Moreover, the Kuaisuan assign top trainers to Antetokounmpo; tactically, Mike Brown is also a fundamentals master, and under Bilupusi's instruction, Antetokounmpo receives the most elite, academic‑style defensive techniques.

He and Leonard's wing‑to‑wing coordination improves steadily. Leonard is the little master of wrap‑around defense, while Antetokounmpo is the rapid spearhead of the mobile unit.

Few can withstand their double‑ghost block.

Their most classic game was when they held the Thunder to just 81 points. Kevin Durant blocked five shots total, two on layups and three on jump shots!

Kobe once said, "Since Kevin Durant raised his shooting point from his forehead to the top of his head, I knew he would become an undefendable shooter."

That sentence shows Kobe's admiration for Kevin Durant. With Durant's height and wingspan, when he lifts the ball overhead, no one in the two‑ or three‑position can block him.

But the Kuaisuan did it.

Leonard applied wrap‑around defense on Durant, while Giannis helped with a side‑steal.

Durant was robbed of two blocks.

Another was forcefully suppressed by Giannis.

Front!

The Greek little monster displayed top‑tier defensive talent; his height and wingspan even opposite Durant aren't inferior, let alone his jump and muscle definition appear superior to Durant's.

Even though the season isn't halfway through, the media already praise Fan Xi's scouting eye; Giannis Antetokounmpo truly deserves a high‑lottery pick.

Especially after the Cavaliers' top pick performed disappointingly, many began to claim that Fan Xi once again snatched away the strongest player of the 2013 class.

However, some still cannot understand Fan Xi's trade of Butler.

Because Butler took off in Charlotte, Qiao Dan gave him Unlimited Shooting Right. He also bottled up a lot of effort to study; it is said that Qiao Dan personally arrived at the training camp several times to coach him.

Moreover, Qiao Dan also had Butler endorse his sneakers.

Butler has been galloping all the way on the road to becoming a star.

This season so far, he averages 27.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game; he has entered the top five of the scoring list and has a strong chance of becoming the fastest‑improving player this season.

If he can help Charlotte make the playoffs, he will cement his status as a superstar, and an All‑Star appearance will come naturally; becoming a super‑star will require him to have even more clout in the postseason.

This trade is undoubtedly a good thing for Butler himself.

However, it also created some strange ties.

At the end of October, when Butler played an away game in Los Angeles, he was matched against Lun Na De the whole time, and their collisions were extremely intense.

Before the game, people thought Butler's arrival would hit Yang Ni Si, since the two were the main parties of the trade, and the media widely reported that Fan Xi selected the Greek little monster to fill Butler's void.

But unexpectedly, Butler pointed the spear directly at Lun Na De.

The former "childhood sweethearts" now faced each other head‑on.

Lun Na De scored 21 points with 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block in the game, while Butler posted 33 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.

Butler took the win, and in the clutch he assisted a teammate for the game‑winning shot.

After the game.

When Butler was interviewed by Los Angeles Media, he hinted, "I have no issue with Jie Ke; I know, it's just my luck that's not good enough."

Butler showed no excited or joyful expression after winning, even though he is now Charlotte's absolute leader and core.

And he showed great "discontent" toward Leonard. When he spoke privately with Mike Brown, he said, "If I were the core of the Kuaisuan, I would do better than Kawhi."

Moreover, he displayed great resentment toward Lun Na De. In a private talk with Mai Ke Bu Lang he said, "If I were the core of Kuaisuan, I would do better than Ke Huai."

"He just got a bit luckier; he happened to finish that Finals game‑winner."

Mike Brown did not intervene in the youngsters' bond; he simply smiled after listening to Butler's talk, patted his head, and said, "I am proud of your current achievements." That is also what Jie Ke hoped to see.

Mai Ke Bu Lang did not intervene in the youngsters' tie; he simply smiled, listened to Butler's words, patted his head and said, "I am proud of your current achievements." That's also what Jie Ke hoped to see.

"If Jie Ke comes to Los Angeles, tell him I actually don't want to be the leader of another team," Butler said. "But now that I'm Charlotte's core, my task is to defeat Kuaisuan again and again, until he himself tells me he regrets it!"

Mai Ke Bu Lang chuckled and said, "Go tell him yourself."

"I don't dare."

Barrett's timidity was just right.

Even though he now looks imposing and is already a regional lord.

At night, he showed up at a Los Angeles bar, effortlessly leading his teammates to experience the night of the City of Angels. He was also photographed entering a hotel with two white women.

That means little for a basketball player. The gossip media merely mused: Barrett still can't match Jieke Fan; wherever Jieke Fan goes, Fan's ladies follow. And his little brother, after leaving Los Angeles, had his celebrity girlfriend immediately distance herself.

Barrett and Mai Li Sai Le Si broke up in the summer, and Mai Li has already officially announced her new lover.

Although Butler verbally said it was nothing, it is clear that it still affected him.

He blamed it on the detestable Lun Na De, who was kept because of his good luck.

He never felt he was inferior to Lun Na De; in fact, their levels are currently neck‑and‑neck. However, for Kuaisuan, after Fan Xi's departure, which of the two is more suitable to guard the team?

Everyone's votes pointed to the silent Lun Na De.

This was not a decision made by Fan Xi alone.

Lun Na De not only has a higher floor but also a higher ceiling.

However, with Butler's spirit and effort, he will surely have a sky of his own and will undoubtedly become a superstar.

But with Butler's drive and effort, he will surely have a sky of his own and will become a super‑star; that is beyond doubt.

After Fan Xi returned to Los Angeles, Mai Ke Bu Lang relayed Butler's remarks to Fan Xi.

He is very satisfied with the Clippers' performance, and he also put forward a request, hoping the Kuaisuan can lift the team's standing into the Western top four before the All‑Star Game.

He is very satisfied with Kuaisuan's record, and he also made a request, hoping Kuaisuan can lift its standing to the Western top four before the All‑Star Game.

Mai Ke Bu Lang immediately wore a troubled expression; both he and Bilupusi wore sour faces, and he said, "The Western competition is too fierce this year."

Fan Xi said, "Thunder, Rockets, Spurs. Apart from these three teams, is there any team that could be stronger than us?"

It does seem that way; the positions of those three teams cannot be shifted. The other teams, even though they are also very fierce, have no reason to fear them.

It does seem that way; the positions of those three teams are immovable. Other teams, though also full of momentum, have no reason to fear them at all.

"We can let Ke Huai bear a bit more of the load, and be bolder in developing Yang Ni Si. They need to grow quickly this season; next season, we will launch a challenge for the championship," Fan Xi said.

Then Bilupusi suddenly asked a very emotionally intelligent question: "When we face the Knicks next, should we ease up a bit? You all are about to slip to eighth in the Eastern."

Then Bilupusi suddenly asked a very emotionally intelligent question: "When we face the Knicks next, should we ease up a bit? You guys are about to slip to eighth in the Eastern."

Fan Xi smiled and said, "That is the purpose of my trip."

Bilupusi and Mai Ke Bu Lang gave knowing smiles.

But Fan Xi immediately corrected him: "What I mean is, you should crush the Knicks mercilessly—win by as many points as possible; never hold back."

Hm?

Mai Ke Bu Lang was puzzled.

Bilupusi asked directly, "Is it because you were unhappy in New York?"

"No, this concerns the New York Knicks' championship; we must create the necessary loss," Fan Xi said with a somewhat mysterious smile.

Mai Ke Bu Lang and Bilupusi couldn't see through it. But there were too many things about Fan Xi they couldn't fathom.

So they chose to execute it wholeheartedly.