Chapter 562: What It Means to Walk the Talk

Xi Bo Du placed Fan Xi's rank above Ai Fusen's, which did not surprise Ben Hualaisi. He himself thought the same. Yet Xi Bo Du actually said Fan Xi was two levels higher than Ai Fusen, which left Ben Hualaisi astonished.

Ben Hualaisi and Ai Fusen are of the same class; he has witnessed Ai Fusen's peak, when Ai Fusen, a super powerhouse, stormed into the finals single‑handedly and, despite being under 1.8 m tall, claimed the genuine scoring title. If, as La Li Brown says, Fan Xi is two tiers stronger than Ai Fusen, what suspense could this game still hold?

Ben Hualaisi thought this.

The game continued.

The Bulls still pressed their offense and defense with tenacity, playing with great structure; they belong to the steady‑and‑progressive style.

But they lacked excitement.

With five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Derek Rose drove into the paint, drew a double‑team and passed, but the ball was stripped by Fan Xi from behind.

Then Fan Xi sprinted with the ball, and before crossing half‑court, lofted a long pass to the newly‑subbed JR Smith, a maniac who abruptly stopped just beyond the three‑point line and shot.

Swish!

The ball pierced the net.

The Knicks extended their lead to ten points.

Xi Bo Du called another timeout.

Mai Ke Er Qiao Dan sighed, loosening his clenched fist.

The Bulls have still played very well lately; although there are mistakes, they are tolerable.

However, the Knicks have been extremely wild lately: first Fan Xi went on a scoring tear, then he began to lift the whole team. Even though the Knicks' defensive intensity never rose, Kai Wen Jia Nei Te, after receiving a technical foul, was not substituted back onto the floor.

But Fan Xi displayed something that set him apart from other superstars.

His control over the 'shi' (momentum).

When he led the Knicks to generate 'shi', he didn't let that momentum halt; he expanded it quickly, and under the overwhelming pressure forced the Bulls into errors. Once the Bulls slip, they gladly tear open Chicago's wound.

The Bulls tried to keep their lineup steady, intending to counterattack, but never seized the initiative.

Derek Rose's individual ability is great, yet he cannot command the 'shi'; he can trigger it, but cannot sustain, amplify, and use it in one surge to crush the opponent.

Fan Xi ran many experiments in this game; he still hasn't solved the Knicks' defensive issue against high‑intensity pressure. Yet he set that aside, and when his own fierce scoring wave rose, the Bulls were drowned.

The Bulls have a very high floor; for the past three years they've reached the Eastern Conference Finals each season.

But Fan Xi's team has a very high ceiling.

As long as Fan Xi is on the floor, he can seize opportunities.

Fan Xi's knack for grabbing chances is unrivaled, and his ability to steer 'shi' is equally unparalleled.

That's why La Li Brown says Fan Xi's ability is two tiers above Ai Fusen's.

The Bulls are not without chances.

According to Xi Bo Du's usual traditional logic, as long as you steady the formation and proceed patiently, you can always turn the game around.

In fact, any team in any game can generate 'shi'; its concrete manifestation is an 'offensive wave', such as scoring bursts of 11‑2, 8‑0, 13‑3, and the like.

However, most of these small scoring surges end due to a team's own grasp and the opponent's targeted defense.

Yet stopping Fan Xi is far too difficult.

After the timeout, Xi Bo Du chose a risky opportunism, abandoning his long‑term mindset.

He let Derek Rose go on a rampage and assigned Rosa to have Deng Liwei on the perimeter as a cannon. He also paired in Luo Er Deng, Bu Ze Er and Qiao Jin Nuo A.

In some ways, it resembled the Knicks' tactical lineup.

When Rosa took the floor, his style became sharp; he was like a steel blade cutting into the Knicks' paint. He completed a thunderous layup, breaking through Tai Sen Qian De Le's defense to score, and earned a free‑throw chance.

He unhesitatingly used his talent to punish the defense of the former best‑defensive first‑team center.

The United Center fans stood and cheered for him.

Rosa sank the free throw steadily.

Almost everyone felt only one sentiment: this is a superstar.

A superstar is the one who, when every tactic fails at the crucial moment, steps forward and declares: I am the tactic.

Switch sides and continue.

Rosa stared intently at Fan Xi, looking like a beast with blood‑red eyes, his expression resolute as if to die together with Fan Xi.

People are all anticipating a one‑on‑one showdown between superstars.

Fan Xi executed a beautiful crossover; the ball moved in a bizarre manner, and the CCTV commentator said it was like a sky‑leaping monkey darting under the hips, drawing an uncatchable trajectory.

Fan Xi slipped past Rosa with his skill and talent. When he surged into the paint, everyone expected Fan Xi to punish Qiao Jin Nuo A's defense with an aerial move, and Nuo A thought the same.

But Fan Xi halted abruptly before the legal contact zone, gently flicked his hand to the left, A Ma Lei Si Ta De Mai Er followed up and, with one hand, slammed the ball into the hoop.

Fan Xi's eyes were not on Rosa alone.

He was still controlling the 'shi'.

And stacking chemical reactions.

"That kid's a bit scary," Dan Ni Si Luo De Man finally said some approving words at this moment.

Meanwhile, Qiao Dan, who had already accepted this, told Dan Ni Si Luo De Man, "Ke Bi once told me that the Jieke Fan on the court is a hundred times scarier than the Jieke Fan in a one‑on‑one."

"The Bulls are going to lose this game," Dan Ni Si Luo De Man said.

The game continued.

Rosa surged into the paint again; his driving ability remains among the league's best. He leapt alone, twisted in the air, and passed the ball to Deng Liwei in the low corner.

Deng Liwei hit a three‑pointer.

The United Center rose again.

They cheered Rosa's performance.

They watched the gap shrink steadily.

McBlin of ESPN shouted, "Who's the league's top guard besides Derek Rose??"

After Fan Xi crossed half‑court, he passed the ball to Si Ta De Mai Er.

He makes a quick off‑ball run. Stade Miller goes one‑on‑one against Buzer; he drives into the paint, and just as he's about to be trapped, Fan Xi appears beside him and swiftly passes the basketball. Fan Xi catches the ball without pausing, flicks it backhand, and the ball changes its path to the top of the arc.

JR Smith moves to that spot with no defender in front of or behind him.

He jumps and releases… Swish!

The nerve knife shines brilliantly tonight.

This is his fourth Three-Point Shot of the game, and he lets out various excited shouts.

Sibert tries to request a timeout, only to discover the team has just one timeout remaining.

He quickly stands at the sideline and loudly makes adjustments.

Rosa and Buzer set a screen; he passes to Buzer, who jumps and shoots, and as he releases, Fan Xi rushes over and interferes slightly.

Rim.

Tyson Chandler grabs the rebound.

Pass to Fan Xi, who passes to the fast‑moving Bariani, Bariani drives into the paint and scores on a layup!

The Italian shouts excitedly after scoring.

The Knicks' momentum continues to spread wildly, forming a wildfire‑like surge.

The Bulls, however, slow down.

Rosa is fouled by Fan Xi in the paint.

Two free throws, one makes.

Fan Xi retreats to the backcourt but draws a 2+1 on Lor Deng.

The point gap widens.

"The Knicks' luck is just too good," McBlin says, sounding indignant. He begins to attribute the Knicks' advantage to luck. Apart from luck, nothing else seems to explain it.

In the first three quarters the Knicks were barely hanging on, shifting positions to steady themselves. Yet in the fourth quarter they suddenly erupted, Fan Xi's burst igniting the whole team, each player's touch soaring.

This isn't luck—what is it?

Many strong teams that lost to Fan Xi think the same.

In his first year Fan Xi took down the Heat, a classic underdog victory. At that time everyone called Fan Xi the Miracle Child, saying he only creates miracles.

In the second year he eliminated the Lakers in the Western Finals, also deemed a miracle, a matter of luck. Defeating the Dream Team at the Olympics was considered luck taken to the extreme.

In the third year he beat the Heat again, still attributing it to luck; if the Heat had taken the game back to Miami, the Kuaisuan would have been dead.

But why is Jieke Fan always so lucky?

Larry Brown, after the Lakers lost to Kuaisuan last season, figured it out. So when the Knicks extended an olive branch to him, he joined without hesitation, completely changing his mindset.

When Ben Wallace asks about Allen Iverson and Fan Xi, he blurts out that Fan Xi is two tiers above Iverson.

Which two tiers are higher?

The first tier is skill level; Iverson doesn't have Fan Xi's all‑round reach.

The second tier is mental; Iverson is gritty, but he easily becomes stubborn and extreme.

The game is almost without suspense.

Sibert's opportunism didn't yield the result he wanted, and he has only one timeout left; he dares not make a decisive strategic change. He can only let the game run, making minor tweaks from the sideline with frantic shouts.

Rosa plays well, producing many beautiful attacks.

However, he doesn't change the game's trend. The Knicks' efficiency is higher.

"If the Bulls had stuck to a defensive strategy, fully locking down Fan Xi, they wouldn't be this passive. That's a tactical failure."

Jeff Van Gundy says on TV, expressing regret for the Bulls, believing they could have taken a winning path.

McBlin strongly agrees, saying Sibert should be held responsible.

Reggie Miller doesn't echo them; he just smirks inwardly, waiting to see after the game how those two who swore the Bulls would win will explain their pre‑game misjudgment.

At present, they are placing the blame on Sibert.

And they have reason and evidence.

Interestingly, Dennis Rodman, while chatting on the bench with Jordan, voiced a similar view.

Jordan says, "Actually there's no difference. When Jieke Fan strings together scores and finds his rhythm, it's too hard for the Bulls to stop him. Unless the firepower is total coverage, or defense can completely lock down Jieke."

"He once scored 101 points in a single game, with a five‑double,"

Michael Jordan says.

"Do you think the Chicago Bulls have no chance in this series? They clearly have a better lineup and more chemistry. The Knicks' roster structure is fundamentally unreasonable," Dennis Rodman asks.

Michael Jordan says, "It depends on whether they can curb Jieke's shooting feel. After Jo Johnson got injured, the Knicks actually solved some issues. Look at how well JR Smith is playing. Also Hamilton, Bariani, Prince, Montaelis…"

"Chicago's small and power forwards have no individual advantage against those guys,"

Jordan says, "The real test for the Knicks' small and power forwards is the Miami Heat."

Dennis Rodman says, "Can they really eliminate the Bulls? Then why are you still coming to the arena?"

"I originally thought the Bulls could win," Michael Jordan says candidly.

The game continues.

With one minute left, the Bulls narrow the gap to seven points thanks to Lor Deng's super three‑point shot.

But immediately after, Fan Xi takes control, drives to the basket, and finishes a layup at the buzzer.

Then Rosa makes a floater, scoring his 40th point of the game.

Fan Xi still controls the pace, advancing unhurriedly. After halftime, Sibert shouts about a foul.

Lor Deng and Rosa both dive for a foul; Fan Xi, just past midcourt, pushes the ball away amid their tug.

The head referee doesn't call a foul.

This gives the Bulls a chance to take the lead.

But as the basketball pierces the net.

The United Center arena was dead silent for two seconds, then burst into an unprecedented sigh.

The final judgment.

"Jieke Fan's luck is unprecedented; he can make this kind of shot, why does God always stand on his side?" McBlin said angrily.

He didn't understand.

God is clearly an American.

La Li Brown smiled on the sidelines, now wanting to light a cigar; he was gradually understanding why the red‑robed cardinal liked to smoke a cigar after a victory.

This feeling is truly delightful; without a wisp of smoke curling from his mouth, how could he outline his inner confidence and soaring emotions?

The game ended quickly.

Rosa's final attempt failed to pierce the hoop.

His final score was 40 points.

Opposite him, Fan Xi scored 41 points, with 17 assists, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 steals.

Unwittingly, Fan Xi secured a super triple‑double.

Moreover, he led the team to victory.

He fulfilled the boast he made two days ago at the post‑game press conference; he was waiting for Chicago reporters to question him.

He stood on the sidelines, yet for a while, no reporter came around.

JR Smith stood at his side like an armed guard, his imposing presence circling around; he kept shouting loudly: "I told you so! I told you so! I told you so!"

He totaled 18 points tonight.

His performance was also eye‑catching.

He now couldn't wait to prove to the whole world that whatever he said would definitely happen. He said that if he promised to bring a victory back to New York, it would certainly be possible.

What does "say it and do it" mean!

Step‑back tactic!