Chapter 556: If you treat me as a pillar of the state, I will repay you as a pillar of the state

Fan Xi, after entering the fourth quarter, activated solo mode, crazily driving into the paint to cause damage, and his mid-to-long range threat was also up to standard.

But, turning around, the Bulls could easily tear apart the Knicks' defense.

The Knicks lack defensive strength above standard, even if Tyson Chandler and Kevin Garnett are both on the court… Derek Rose's damage in the paint is too great, and moreover Joakim Noah positioned at the high post, his playmaking ability is infinitely amplified.

The Bulls players have played together for so many years, their chemistry has reached perfection.

The Knicks' problem is… even if Fan Xi tears open the defense, draws a double team, and passes out, their players do not fully execute according to Fan Xi's thinking. They have their own set ways; most of them have been the main guy before, and their offensive rhythm is deeply ingrained.

Especially when facing high-intensity defense, they will enter a 'self mode'.

In the regular season, they can adopt a simple and efficient finishing method.

The Bulls' defensive intensity triggers their reactive response.

This is why the Knicks are passive tonight.

When there were still two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Fan Xi closed the gap to just three points.

But then Derek Rose hit an ultra-long three-pointer. He unreasonably launched a shot from even two meters beyond the three-point line… Normally, Fan Xi only sees such shots from Stephen Curry.

However, no one expected Rose to expand his regular scoring range to this extent.

This made Rose even harder to defend, his driving space suddenly increased to a degree that leaves defenders discouraged.

Afterwards, Fan Xi drove into the paint, choosing to pass the ball to Joe Johnson cutting to the baseline corner.

Joe Johnson could shoot directly.

But facing Luol Deng's oncoming defense, he gave a little pump fake, shook him off, then went for a jumper…… This is his habitual move.

He is not a role player.

Bang!

The basketball did not go in.

Under the basket, Joakim Noah knocked aside Kevin Garnett and grabbed the rebound.

This rebound sealed the Bulls' victory.

Chicago thereafter gave Fan Xi no chance; even if Fan Xi unleashed a frantic counterattack, the Bulls always managed to respond.

The final score was 119–115.

The Bulls won by a 4‑point margin.

Over the course of the game, Derek Rose put up 38 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block.

Fan Xi's stats were 25 points, 15 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.

Their stats each have their merits, but Derek Rose won the game.

This game left the United Center still echoing with cheers after it ended, still loudly supporting Derek Rose: mvp! mvp! mvp!

The sound wave lasted without end.

Fan Xi silently walked into the player tunnel, TNT's camera trained on his back.

Earl Johnson, broadcasting to the national TV audience, said: 'Perhaps, Jieke Fan's Miracle Journey ends here. He who repeatedly defeated strong opponents in the West finally foundered in the East.'

'He gave his all trying to beat Jordan. But now, at the United Center, where Jordan's jersey hangs, he was defeated.'

'Perhaps someone will say this isn't his fault. However, fate is what it is; he is the Knicks' core, he bears the greatest responsibility.'

'Maybe this is also a good outcome for the Knicks. They can continue to enjoy Jieke Fan for a season, if he honors his promise.'

'But… this way, after Jieke Fan returns to the West, his Clippers might also be scattered.'

Earl Johnson's voice was filled with a sense of fatalistic reincarnation.

He believed Fan Xi had already been thwarted.

The Knicks' strength displayed in this game was completely suppressed by the Bulls in every aspect.

Even… Earl Johnson felt that Fan Xi was also suppressed by Derek Rose.

Even someone like Kenny Smith, a die‑hard Fan Xi fan, admits that tonight is one of the biggest setbacks of Fan Xi's career.

Moreover, he is somewhat pessimistic about the upcoming series, even though he insists Fan Xi will step up.

But the gap between the two teams is indeed too obvious.

…

"The Knicks are tough to handle; under Jieke Fan's leadership they tried to structure our defense. But they didn't pull it off—instead we structured their offense." Thibodeau said this when interviewed on the sideline.

He wore a full‑face smile.

He was especially pleased with Derek Rose's performance tonight, saying: 'Tonight's biggest contributor to the win is certainly Derrick; he scored nearly forty points. All our tactics originate from him, and he executes this work at two hundred percent quality.'

"I don't predict the outcome of this series; I only know we will get better and better as we play."

Thibodeau said that.

He is the confidence of a victor.

JR Smith was mocked by the Chicago media; as he hurried toward the player tunnel, a reporter intercepted him and tauntingly asked: 'Hey, JR, you didn't say you would at least bring back a win, did you?'

"Screw you, isn't there still another game? Do you think you can take this win?" JR Smith cursed.

Then, nearby fans began throwing popcorn at him, along with curses.

He ran into the player tunnel, avoiding a nasty confrontation.

Back in the locker room, the atmosphere was somewhat gloomy.

Facing this loss, nobody felt good inside.

But in the end, Fan Xi stood up and clapped his hands, telling everyone that they had played very well tonight, this is merely the darkness before dawn.

Fan Xi also told everyone that he had already figured out how to win the next game, urging them to rest well and not feel any psychological pressure.

Fan Xi was easing everyone's emotions; he did not want anyone to leave the arena dejected.

Even if we lose this game, we don't need to keep our heads down.

Then Fan Xi personally went to the press conference site.

This was extremely rare.

The press officer was dumbfounded, because he was used to Fan Xi not attending post-game press conferences. Yet tonight, he had actively requested to attend.

When Fan Xi left the locker room.

The atmosphere in the locker room grew even more silent.

Everyone sat there without a word. After about two minutes, Kevin Garnett stood up and said, "We have no reason to let Jieke Fan bear all the pressure alone. In fact, our problem right now is very simple. We're like we're playing an All-Star Game, or an international competition."

"Back then, a bunch of us star players went to Athens and got thoroughly beaten too. Why? We were subconsciously each fighting our own battle."

Garnett said, "We need to find our roles as quickly as possible and simplify as much as possible during the game."

Garnett was the first to take a stand, saying he would watch the tapes as soon as he got back.

Then Joe Johnson, Stoudemire, Monta Ellis... and so on.

Many people outside said the Knicks were a flashy team of mercenaries with no team soul. But in fact, over the long, jovial, fast-paced run-and-gun regular season journey, this team had already built up team thinking.

Their cohesion was not to be underestimated.

…

"I don't think losing this game is the end of the world, and I don't think what I said before was arrogant. Words that get mocked when spoken are the ones more worth realizing."

"Besides, don't you think the reason you're all so nervous is precisely because you're afraid I'll beat the Bulls?"

Facing clearly barbed questions from Chicago reporters, Fan Xi was aggressive.

Not only did he not lower his head, he was even more forceful.

He showed no frustration or dejection from the loss.

This left the Chicago media, who had deliberately come to see a joke, somewhat deflated, but at the same time even sharper.

"So, do you still think you can beat the Bulls? Do you still think you're an almighty basketball god? Do you still think you can surpass Michael Jordan and become the number one in basketball?"

The Chicago Tribune reporter threw out three questions with great force.

These three forceful questions drew cheers from the other Chicago reporters nearby, and there was even applause.

Fan Xi was not intimidated by the momentum they had built. He looked straight at the questioning reporter and said, "I have never doubted myself."

"Answer my question directly!!" The reporter was fierce.

"What's your name?" Fan Xi asked him.

"Roy Robert!" The reporter puffed out his chest and replied.

"Alright, Mr. Roy Robert. I'll tell you, I maintain absolute confidence in myself. This confidence tells me that I can definitely beat any opponent, including the Bulls in this series. When I'm on the court, I have never doubted that there's anything I can't do. Also, surpassing Jordan is a false proposition. Jordan is great, but he never achieved what I've achieved at my age."

"I just need to focus on my own business, step by step, one step after another. Then, the players you support will have to look up at my achievements."

Fan Xi said this and stood up: "I'll remember your name, Roy Robert. In June, you'll receive a Finals ticket from New York."

With that, Fan Xi turned and left.

He left himself no way out.

The reporters all lowered their heads to write their pieces, especially Roy Robert, who now wore a triumphant smile, thinking he had made a name for himself in one stroke.

Regardless, this was an unprecedented scene.

He had forced Fan Xi into making the most concrete commitment. If Fan Xi didn't beat the Bulls, then Fan Xi's reputation would be completely ruined. Roy Robert would naturally become one of the most famous journalists in basketball.

Fan Xi had been backed into a corner.

…

Public opinion boiled over after Fan Xi's explicit remarks.

Fan Xi publicly declared he would beat the Bulls, said he would surely surpass Jordan, and that he would make the Finals... Fan Xi's memorable post-game press conference moment had surpassed the game itself.

The media was reveling.

The fans were reveling too.

But Fan Xi's supporters were worried. They thought this was too risky. This season, Fan Xi and the Knicks were in a very dangerous position. Beating the Bulls would be extremely difficult, let alone making the Finals.

The Miami Heat were no pushovers.

Dwyane Wade immediately fired back at Fan Xi: "Turns out people will say anything when they're losing and desperate, even a player who scored 101 points in a single game."

Wade didn't believe the Knicks could beat them and reach the Finals schedule in June.

In fact, the media didn't think so either.

They were all waiting to see Fan Xi made a fool of. Many basketball commentators had a bellyful of pent-up frustration to vent. Fan Xi had slapped their faces too many times in the past. They couldn't wait to thoroughly slap back this time.

Moreover, they believed they definitely could.

This was why the betting volume on the Bulls for this series multiplied geometrically.

Many people turned a war of words into real financial action.

Voting with money.

Michael Jordan also responded to the matter. He said he would appear at the Bulls' next home game.

He also said, "I'm getting older and my cervical spine isn't great. I won't be looking up at anyone."

At this point, Jordan had clearly expressed his support for the Bulls.

He said the Bulls were playing well, with great resilience, and were a model of team basketball. At the same time, he emphasized that Derek Rose was the best point guard in Bulls history.

…

After stirring up the storm, Fan Xi stayed in his hotel. He didn't follow the media coverage. He guessed what the situation would be, so he kept his head down studying the highlights of the first game.

At first it was just him and the video coordinator. Then Kevin Garnett joined, followed by Steve Nash, Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, the two Smiths... More and more people joined, and the discussion grew more and more active.

They had all seen the media coverage.

They all knew the pressure Fan Xi was bearing now.

If Fan Xi lost this series, the entire North American basketball world would viciously turn on him. They would surely describe Fan Xi as worthless, render all the achievements Fan Xi had created "virtual." They were adept at manufacturing this kind of thing.

The media, in this regard, were uncrowned kings.

If it weren't for Fan Xi's sufficiently strong battle record, they would have already destroyed Fan Xi.

Fan Xi is the only person in NBA history not under their control; even someone as strong as Iverson back then was clearly arranged by them.

Now they are like sharks that have smelled blood; as soon as Fan Xi shows a weakness and loses a game, they will frenziedly tear at him, not leaving him a single intact piece of skin.

James Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan also flew to Chicago.

He cheered Fan Xi on and arranged the best logistical support, including food, massage, and physical therapy.

He helped the team in the areas he could.

Actually, if it weren't for league regulations, he would even have shouted: "As long as we make it to the finals this year, I'll give each of you a cash check for several million dollars."

James Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan is not short of money.

Moreover, although he knows that given Fan Xi's character, losing a game would definitely make him honor his promise to stay with the Knicks and keep playing, this would be in the best interest of both him and the Knicks.

But since Jieke Fan is so sincere toward me, I certainly cannot just look out for my own interests when he faces a reputation crisis.

You treat me as a gentleman of the state; I will surely repay you as a gentleman of the state.