Chapter 531: Look at Jieke

De'Anthony clearly felt this passivity.

No one can guard Fan Xi.

Moreover, no one dares to gamble on Fan Xi's shooting, letting him attack, using any Jordan rule. Fan Xi already proved his scoring explosiveness in the game where he faced the Nets.

No matter how many basketball experts later claim that Fan Xi's 101-point night is unrepeatable, it was the result of many coincidences.

But do the Rockets dare to bet?

What if Fan Xi scores 102 points against them?

Look how embarrassed Deron Williams' reputation has become, and how low-key Carmelo Anthony and Paul Pierce are.

De'Anthony can only keep tightening the overall defense; he gives Chris Paul and James Harden a pep talk: "You are the best backcourt in the league; together, no one can beat you. Jieke Fan can't either!"

He must motivate these two; it's the best method he can think of.

If these two cooperate sincerely, they can certainly defeat Jieke Fan.

In any case, these are two superstars. Two top‑ten league superstars, yet they can't beat a number‑one league superstar?

De'Anthony's addition game is simple.

Beep!

The whistle blows, and the game continues.

The Rockets make no substitution.

The Knicks bench Jo Johnson for Stephen Nash, put Fan Xi at the 2 spot, JR Smith at the 3 spot. The interior remains Stoud May and Tyson Chandler.

Chris Paul sees the Knicks bring in Nash and immediately attacks him, breaking through the defense quickly and hitting a jump shot at the free‑throw line.

This is a loss the Knicks can afford.

When they decide to put Nash in, it means they accept that Nash will be blown up by Paul on defense.

However, on offense the Knicks also burst with new life.

Stephen Nash dribbles quickly to the frontcourt, and he and Stoud May execute a smooth pick‑and‑roll, cutting swiftly into the paint.

The Rockets have to double‑team, but Fan Xi runs over in time to receive the pass… James Harden is powerless to stop it.

Fan Xi catches the ball, drives into the lane, draws defense again, then bounces the ball off the floor outward; Stoud May rushes in, grabs the ball, soars skyward, and slams it hard into the rim… Boom!

Fan Xi assist +1.

Nash plus Fan Xi equals two fast‑break masters combined, and Fan Xi's off‑ball movement is league‑top, impossible to guard.

When Fan Xi has the ball, you might still be able to double‑team early and catch his rhythm. When he's off the ball, he's like a roaming horse, an omnipresent presence.

Hamilton tells his old mentor on the bench: "Larry, this is Jieke. His off‑ball ability is the league's best; he moves unpredictably, shoots quickly, has a high percentage, and his reaction is superb—he can complete a basketball relay in milliseconds. With Nash, they form the league's top backcourt."

Larry Brown nods in agreement, saying, "I saw it with the Lakers."

His words are full of bitterness.

Last season he was a consultant for the Los Angeles Lakers; he then thought his ability plus the Lakers' roster could easily beat the Kuaisuan, but in the West semifinals Fan Xi lifted his Lakers and they were powerless to respond.

Now, he finally reaps the reward; he joins Fan Xi as a consultant. Meanwhile, De'Anthony, who once vied for power in the Lakers' coaching staff, formed a new Lakers in Houston.

De'Anthony believes the young James Harden can replace Kobe.

Clap!

Fan Xi steals.

When James Harden tries a back‑to‑the‑basket one‑on‑one with his bulky back, Fan Xi slides in from the side and swats the ball away with one hand.

Steal +1.

Fan Xi darts forward with the ball, Chris Paul attempts a mid‑court steal but is faked by Fan Xi's behind‑the‑back move, racing straight into the paint; Parsons follows a couple of steps, then brakes on his own.

Fan Xi bursts to the free‑throw line, tosses the ball onto the backboard, his body airborne, drawing a perfect arc in the air—boom!

Self‑throw, self‑dunk after the steal!

Full of aesthetic, classically elegant!

James Harden's "new style" looks especially petty compared with Fan Xi's natural talent.

Even Houston locals can't help cheering for Fan Xi, a compatriot of Yao, whose graceful bearing is rare in league history.

No wonder he's the man at the top of the basketball food chain.

After three straight titles, Fan Xi earned a ticket to challenge the English, and cemented a solid foundation as the first. Having scored 101 points, Fan Xi is already an active legend, his influence surpassing the scope of a single city or pool.

The game continues.

Chris Paul breaks through Stephen Nash again, assists Dwight Howard for a slam… this is the play they ran with the Lakers.

Stoud May is clumsy on defense.

Tyson Chandler can't always clean up; after all, he's getting old.

The Knicks keep accelerating; after Nash and Stoud May's pick‑and‑roll, they add flair, assisting Tyson Chandler for an aerial relay under the basket.

Nash's physical condition is declining, but his ball‑handling hasn't waned; he remains one of the league's highest‑quality point guards.

Moreover, he now has the league's most powerful splitter beside him.

Both sides' offensive tempo is driven by a dual‑guard setup.

Although De'Anthony stresses that Chris Paul plus James Harden will eat Fan Xi alive, he didn't count on Nash being beside Fan Xi.

Nash may be a leaky bucket, but he can make up for it on offense.

After more than half a quarter, the Knicks' lead not only didn't shrink but grew by four points.

The Knicks' lead was about to exceed double digits.

At that moment, old Nash, for some reason, suddenly floated; seizing the gap where the Rockets dared not double‑team, he drove straight into the paint and executed a flamboyant one‑handed layup.

But as he flicked the ball out,

Howard, without any sportsmanship, swooped from behind, slamming the ball onto the backboard, and at the same time knocked Nash out of bounds; stumbling as he landed, Nash twisted his right foot.

The veteran's experience let him collapse to the floor smoothly.

He was about to call a timeout, when Fan Xi slapped the basketball Howard had just controlled out of his hand, leapt up, and slammed the ball with one hand into the hoop.

Then the Knicks requested a pause.

The team doctor rushed up to examine Nash; Nash was helped to his feet by the players, limping to the bench.

He is now older and pays extra attention to his health, so he quickly had the staff cut open his shoes and then remove the bandages.

He had a sprain, slightly swollen.

The doctor judged there was no further injury.

Nash insisted on getting an MRI.

Ben Wallace hurriedly went with him.

Garnett teased nearby: "Once a man gets old, he becomes especially afraid of death."

Fan Xi glared at him irritably and said, "Aren't you scared?"

"Before I won a championship, I wasn't scared. Now I have a championship ring, I won't play hurt," Garnett said honestly.

His words highlighted the difference between veteran players.

Most of these veteran Knicks already have championships in hand; coming to the New York Knicks is just icing on the cake. They won't fight as hard as the veterans of the Kuaisuan's first championship.

So this is why many basketball commentators say the Knicks' roster is weak.

Caring for old age versus fighting for historical status, the gap between the two is huge.

…

Stephen Nash's injury and exit gave Dwane Casey a huge sigh of relief; he knows just how good Nash is. It can be said that Dwane Casey leapt from a Euro‑tour coach to a top NBA head coach thanks to Stephen Nash; without Nash, his fast‑break system would never have run. Without Nash, he wouldn't have the multi‑million‑dollar salaries he enjoys now.

Dwane Casey has made a lot of money in New York, Los Angeles, and Houston. Moreover, his squads have always been super‑luxury lineups, but he has never produced the kind of madness he had with Phoenix again.

Some say Dwane Casey made Stephen Nash, but actually Stephen Nash may have contributed even more to Dwane Casey.

"Now is our chance, Stephen Nash, step down. Our number two will become a hole; Harden, whether it's JR Smith or Hamilton, I want you to blow him up!"

Dwane Casey gave him the order: "You must save the team like a superhero."

James Harden quickly agreed.

His gaze fell on the Knicks' bench and saw JR Smith chatting with his ex‑fiancée Kylie Kardashian.

Although they have completely cut off contact, watching JR Smith laughing and chatting with Kylie stirred all kinds of resentment in him.

His fists clenched, both hardening.

In fact, JR Smith was talking with Kim Kardashian, not directly with Kylie. He was praising Kim's taste in men: "You chose the world's best rap‑talking black guy; no one knows the art of the mouth better, and he's also the world's top rap producer and fashion master!"

JR Smith was flattering Kanye West.

He has always wanted to release a rap album; this appears on most black players' wish lists, their love for rap music runs in their blood.

So JR Smith wants to get close to Kanye West. If Kanye West helped him produce an album, he could brag about it for the rest of his life.

"How do you know his mouth‑talk is the best?" Kim Kardashian said with a smile, clearly a veteran.

They're all seasoned at this kind of game, and Kanye West doesn't mind.

"Because your face becomes more beautiful, whiter, finer, and glowing; that's obviously Kanye's work. I read a magical book that says the more a woman's source is moisturized, the younger she looks. That's Kanye! The silver‑tongued Kanye!"

JR Smith continued to flatter Kanye West.

His remarks made the Kardashian women burst into laughter.

Then JR Smith was called over by Larry Brown.

Larry Brown said seriously, "JR, we don't need a two‑surname expert; we need a super‑shooter. Put that research spirit into the game."

"Yes, sir!" JR Smith replied uprightly.

Then he was placed back at the shooting guard spot.

The team originally wanted Hamilton to play, but perhaps his views were too shocking, so the conservative Larry Brown wanted to test his muscles.

The Knicks' new lineup is: Tyson Chandler, Kevin Garnett, Joe Johnson, JR Smith, Fan Xi.

After the game started, facing Fan Xi's defense, Chris Paul passed the ball to Harden.

A furious Harden glared at JR Smith, saying, "I'll make you look good."

JR Smith was unapologetically indifferent.

Then Harden made a fake shot, and JR Smith instinctively jumped.

Harden leapt, grabbed Smith's arm and made a crooked shot… Ding!

The head referee blew the whistle and called a three‑point foul on JR Smith.

Harden shot three free throws.

That foul‑making… was over the top.

JR Smith looked at James Harden speechlessly and sarcastically said, "Someone as smart as you probably doesn't like women, right?"

Harden was momentarily taken aback.

His expression showed a hint of confusion.

Then JR Smith explained, "You're so clever and sly, you must be doing 'in‑only' business."

Fan Xi was stunned for a moment.

He had been strictly trained and rarely laughs on the court.

But… Pfft!

He laughed out loud.

The more he tried to hold it in, the funnier it got. JR Smith is such an interesting guy, "in‑only"… Ha!

James Harden's face turned stone‑cold; he also understood JR Smith's meaning. "To hell with you."

He cursed, then walked to the free‑throw line.

Fan Xi gave JR Smith a thumbs‑up and said, "With your trash‑talk ability, even Kevin Garnett would have to learn from you; learning from you a lifetime wouldn't be too much."

Kevin Garnett is an aggressive style; he attacks Weilaniuwa's physiological weaknesses, he attacks opponents' height, and even greets the opposing players' female relatives... among them, the most famous is the donut incident involving Carmelo Anthony's wife.

He is extremely foul-mouthed.

But JR Smith's remark is lively and interesting, and also has a bit of a quick-witted meaning.

Fan Xi feels that after playing basketball for so many years, JR Smith's trash talk is quite classic.

Bang!

Bang!

James Harden was greatly affected; the first two free throws were missed.

Only on the third free throw did he throw the basketball into the basket.

After scoring, his gaze became more resentful.

Tonight, he squared off against JR Smith; his hatred for JR Smith even exceeds Fan Xi's.

Meanwhile, Fan Xi dribbled past half-court.

His pace was very slow.

He was not in a hurry to launch an attack; he walked back and forth outside the three-point line.

The scene looked calm and peaceful.

The television broadcast also lacked any excitement.

Until Kenny Smith suddenly shouted, saying: "Look! Look at Jie Ke's current stats!!!!"

Then, people heard Charles Barkley's classic profanity: wtf!!

…