Chapter 540: Derek Rose Is Straightforward

The celestial sister returned home after a romantic trip to Miami, and Fan Xi, in short, gave everything away.

Later, the media filmed Fan Xi and Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te heading to Boston together, making the situation somewhat murky, and media speculation rose and fell.

But they will not receive a response.

Whether it's the top figure in the basketball world or the nightstand goddess.

Time quickly moved into the end of December, and the Knicks, after a complete Eastern away trip, returned to Madison Square Garden, making them one of this year's Christmas showdown protagonists.

Their opponent is the Chicago Bulls.

Then in that game, they unquestionably lost.

Fan Xi only played the first half of the game; he received a call from across the ocean, and on the other end his mother, excited, told him: I'm pregnant!

This plunged Fan Xi into great surprise.

So he decided not to play the second half.

In fact, this was also a drill match. Fan Xi paused for half the game, while the Knicks and Bulls continued the fierce battle.

Derek Rose and the Bulls he leads grew increasingly fierce, not only continuing Coach Xi Bo Du's relentless high‑press on defense, but also becoming more flamboyant on offense.

Derek Rose advances one step each year.

He is now the best player at the #1 position, if Fan Xi is not counted as a point guard.

If not for Fan Xi, Derek Rose would be the one to challenge the magician Yue Han Xun.

He's too fierce.

Last season he averaged 29.6 points, 8.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.1 blocks per game, making him the strongest guard for the Bulls since Jordan's retirement.

This season, Derek Rose pushed his scoring average past the 30‑point mark, and his assists also reached double digits. He is becoming the first ever super point guard with averages of 30+10+5.

All Illinois fans are convinced he is the greatest player in the state's history, surpassing Yi Sai Ya Tuo Ma Si and De Huai En Wei De; the three share similar playing styles.

Yi Sai Ya Tuo Ma Si even stated that Derek Rose's ability has already surpassed Jordan, making him the greatest Bulls player in history.

That's somewhat nonsense, all personal sentiment.

In the game that beat the Knicks, Derek Rose scored 47 points with 16 assists, blasting the Knicks' loose backcourt; although the Knicks' interior defense improved greatly after adding Tyson Jia Nei Te.

But the perimeter remained extremely loose.

Moreover, Tyson Jia Nei Te rested in this game.

The Knicks strictly enforce a rest policy: every player over 30 can play three games then rest one; Kevin Jia Nei Te, Stephen Nash, and Hamilton can even play two then rest two. As for Ben Hua Lai Shi, he rests three and plays one, purely to fill a slot.

In terms of labor law, the Knicks are at the forefront of the entire league.

Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan is very tolerant; in his view, one or two shocking games per season are enough—after being terrible for so many years, what scene hasn't been seen?

Moreover, this season has already been crazy for so long.

Just making the playoffs is enough.

The Knicks are definitely going to make the playoffs; given the current situation, they will most likely enter as the Eastern seventh or eighth seed.

This is an enormous test for the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat.

After the game, Derek Rose looked angry. He said, "They didn't put in any effort at all; the league shouldn't encourage this kind of rest behavior. They just want to rest and then go all‑out in the playoffs."

Rosa felt aggrieved.

He is an honest person.

However, La Li Bu Lang's response was very scientific; he said, "Derek shouldn't demand every player be as fierce as him. Our team has far too many veterans; we must be responsible for their health. They've been in the league for over a decade, and I think fans' expectations for them differ from those for a prime‑age superstar."

La Li Bu Lang is steady and balanced.

He also didn't forget to wish Derek Rose a Merry Christmas and remind Xi Bo Du to take care of his health.

Xi Bo Du is the best defensive coach currently active.

He has some suggestions for La Li Bu Lang's current system; he said, "This isn't the La Li Bu Lang I know. I think he will build a disciplined, defense‑first team. He shouldn't align with today's fast‑paced teams; that's not his strength."

Xi Bo Du has a defensive sentiment; in his mind, La Li Bu Lang is like a towering mountain. But now that mountain has rebelled, becoming the league's fastest‑paced, most offense‑obsessed head coach.

What he truly cannot bear inside is….

La Li Bu Lang did not respond to Xi Bo Du's remarks.

There was a small side story in this game: Qiao Jin Nuo A and Kevin Jia Nei Te argued on the court and carried the dispute off the court.

"I won't respect him anymore," Qiao Jin Nuo A said after the game when asked about the head‑to‑head clash with Jia Nei Te in the second quarter: "I mean, he's no longer worthy of respect. Whether it's his filthy, stinky mouth or his increasingly declining, clumsy skills."

Qiao Jin Nuo A was riding high.

He is the Bulls' second‑in‑command; his defensive ability is excellent, he developed a mid‑range jump shot, and most importantly, his playmaking is among the league's best inside the paint. His partnership with Rosa is seamless, constituting the Bulls' most crucial tactical element.

He made the league's Second Team last season; this season he is likely to make the First Team and aims for Defensive Player of the Year.

His conflict with Jia Nei Te stems from Jia Nei Te's perpetually foul mouth. After Jia Nei Te hit two consecutive mid‑range jumpers over Qiao Jin Nuo A's head, he insulted Qiao Jin Nuo A's mother, saying she had once wanted to date him and even used a nickname for her.

Nuo A's mother was a beauty pageant champion, Miss Universe.

Jia Nei Te may have bought Nuo A's mother's magazine when he was young. There is definitely no relationship between them.

However, as a son, Nuo A being insulted to that degree must respond. So they clashed.

Fan Xi mediated the matter before leaving the arena.

This itself is a minor arena incident; such disputes can happen in any game. The difference is Jia Nei Te's habit of greeting opponents' family members is particularly poor.

And after the game, Nuo A's attacks on Jia Nei Te were also somewhat over the line. Most importantly, he attacked Kevin Jia Nei Te's skills: "Kevin Jia Nei Te's current level can't even play in the NBA; he relies only on past fame and that stinky mouth."

This made Jia Nei Te angry.

Jia Nei Te didn't respond publicly, but privately told teammates, "Next time I meet Nuo A, I'll give him a good showing."

His teammates echoed him.

But everyone also thinks Jia Nei Te may no longer have the ability to deal with Nuo A.

…

December's schedule ended quickly.

Troy was already able to stand up on New Year's Day, and he took a few steps, showing excellent athletic ability.

Jennifer often said, this kid would definitely become a sports star.

But she also said in her private communication with Fan Xi: I will never let this little guy become a basketball player; he will never surpass his father. I will take him to Europe to play soccer.

Fan Xi thought this was a good suggestion.

His relationship with Jennifer was very harmonious; they sometimes lived together, bringing Troy along, like a family of three.

Fan Xi would not be stingy with his affection.

In fact, he already had the feeling of having so many debts that he didn't worry.

Compared to the Goddess Sister quickly getting pregnant, Scarlett Johnson had no news, even though she came every month to ask for it.

But… nothing came of it.

She had suggested doing some medical assistance, but Fan Xi rejected the suggestion.

Then, in January, when she visited Fan Xi's home once, she discovered Troy, who had been brought here by the nanny.

Then, she fell in love at first sight with this fair, tender, black-haired handsome little guy.

She held him and kissed him over and over.

Troy also opened his arms to express his affection for this pretty aunt, and he looked like a playboy.

This made Scarlett worried: wouldn't this little guy someday paralyze all of Hollywood?

Fan Xi smiled and said, "No, his mother is preparing to send him to Europe to learn to play soccer."

Scarlett then asked about the child's mother; Fan Xi did not hide it, and Jennifer happened to come over. She came directly through the underground passage… the two of them had completed an underground passage beneath their rooms in the past two months, connecting their underground garages… this reduced the trouble.

Scarlett was somewhat surprised, but also felt it was natural. After all, Jie Ke's first movie male lead went to Jennifer; how could a female lead not fall for Jie Ke?

They got along very well in their conversation.

Scarlett asked her for a lot of experience, and Jennifer shared it without reservation.

Such a harmonious relationship is hard to believe.

When Scarlett and Jennifer brought the child to the mother-and-baby store, it also did not cause any major sensation.

…

For the Knicks, the January schedule was just a copy of December's.

The Knicks maintained a. 500 record this month, winning the games they should win and losing the ones they should lose. No surprises, no shocks, very steady.

But this month, Phil Jackson said in an interview that this is not the Knicks' final roster; the Knicks are still seeking a trade, and something will definitely happen before the trade window closes.

However, the media predicts that no major trade will occur.

Because the Knicks don't have many trade assets, they are a team built around veteran stars. Their trade value is not high, and their salaries are not low.

After finishing January's games, time came to February.

Fan Xi took a week off, he flew back to China, citing family reasons.

The Knicks also did not confirm his return date, only saying that Jie Ke would return to the team before the All-Star weekend.

This led many basketball experts to mock and ridicule the Knicks, saying the Knicks' owner is a sucker.

After paying such a high price to send away Anthony and others, just to obtain Fan Xi's one-year usage rights, the result was that Fan Xi still loafed on the job; the team's record not only didn't improve, it fell below last season's. Next season, when Fan Xi leaves, the Knicks will want to cry, their tears all dried up.

These guys have always been laughing at the Knicks.

The noise they make is not small, because the Knicks' mediocre performance gives them plenty of room to speak.

In fact, some New York media have also begun to doubt. Although this season the Knicks' game ratings are very high, the attendance and ticket prices at Madison Square Garden are also extremely astonishing.

But if the team remains in this state and the playoffs yield nothing, then there is no doubt that James Dolan's sacrifice last summer was meaningless and doomed the Knicks' future.

James Dolan responded to this matter.

On his personal TV station.

He appeared before the camera, beard unkempt, wearing a long robe, giving off the air of a down-and-out scholar.

"It's understandable for ordinary people to have such doubts; that's why they can only write articles, pretending to point out the country, while I am the team's owner, and the reason I control billions of dollars in assets."

James Dolan's words really sound like they deserve a beating.

Many people, having been stepped on where it hurts, jumped up and shouted: "You're just born into a wealthy family. If you had good rebirth, even a pig sitting in the Knicks' owner's office wouldn't do worse than James Dolan."

James Dolan also explained the performance issue.

"I and Jie Ke have agreed that we will enter the playoffs as the Eastern Conference's seventh seed. We won't become the sixth seed, because that would be picking on soft persimmons."

"We want to play the Chicago Bulls or the Miami Heat."

"Jie Ke said, we play the elite."

James Dolan brewed a pot of tea in front of the camera and said, "Those who drink Coca-Cola should not interfere with our tea-drinking affairs. It's not the same level."

James Dolan is not good at pretending, but he has money, and with money he can get the news channel to give him a long gradual out shot.

His remarks also quickly became a hot topic in basketball circles.

What does not wanting to be sixth mean? What does not wanting to pick on soft persimmons mean? What does only wanting to play the elite mean?

Who are they looking down on?

Many fans developed great resentment over his remarks.

But when people discovered: currently the Eastern Conference's third place is the Brooklyn Nets.

Oh! Then it's fine!

When the Knicks play the Nets, everyone knows the Knicks will surely win!

The vast majority of people believe there will be no other outcome.

Although the Nets team is unhappy, they don't say anything.

If they don't speak, there will be no trouble.

The Miami Heat also don't say anything, since Fan Xi has shown his hand. They also feel relieved, for they will surely be fighting for first place in the East—first place avoiding the seventh seed, perfect.

Of course, they also have doubts internally.

「Could Jieke Fan be setting up a false front? In reality, he aims for Eastern eighth, but deliberately says Eastern seventh. He previously made similar moves in the Western. 」

「No. »

James said firmly: 「He is already the current number one, he is the one who will challenge Jordan's status; there's no way he would lie again. 」

James understands Fan Xi's psychology.

Derek Rose also understands.

The day after Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan spoke out, he was absent—not for rest, but due to injury.

Look!

Derek Rose is just straightforward.

…