Chapter 565: Miami, I'm Coming

Knicks bring a 3:1 match point to Chicago.

At this moment, Chicago fans feel completely different from when the series began. When they won the first game, they were on a roll, believing taking New York was a piece of cake. Defeating the so‑called league's top player was just a walk‑over. Some even shouted that Jieke Fan's miracle should fall in the Windy City.

But now, their home‑court momentum has slipped.

Fan Xi's voice after the first game grew ever louder, and after winning three straight to claim the match point, the Bulls are now on the edge of a cliff, about to end their Eastern Conference Finals run.

The ESPN commentator was modest before the game; McBlin stopped shouting "hit‑and‑run", Jie Fu Fan Gan Di evaded the question, no longer claiming Chicago's defense was unbeatable. Lately he's been praising the Los Angeles Kuaisuan's defense.

During the long pre‑game break, Reggie Miller filled the program, introducing both lineups and analyzing the match.

He believes the Chicago Bulls can win this game, provided they don't let Fan Xi drive the team's offensive momentum.

Moreover, he added another view: "The current Knicks are stronger than the first‑round Knicks. They have honed their roster using the Bulls' defensive system, and I think they'll improve further after advancing."

At that point, McBlin finally spoke up: "If Fan Xi and the Knicks somehow manage to advance, I think they'll lose to the Miami Heat. The Heat are stronger than ever; this year they're gunning for the championship. Le Bu Lang Zhang Si has been with Miami for four years; he can't come up empty‑handed!"

McBlin spoke with absolute confidence.

Heat fans in front of the TV begged him to shut up.

The guy is like a reverse clock; he always predicts a completely opposite outcome.

The game started quickly.

Under the expectant eyes of Chicago fans, the Knicks fielded a new lineup: Si Di Fen Na Si, Fan Xi, Yue Shi Shi Mi Si, Si Ta De Mai Er, and Kai Wen Jia Nei Te.

As Reggie Miller said, the Knicks, now holding the match point, must train their troops. They aren't afraid to lose this game; losing would send them back to New York for the next round.

Kai Wen Jia Nei Te beat Qiao Jin Nuo A in the jump ball.

To reward the old man's effort, Fan Xi carried the ball past half‑court to the top of the three‑point arc, then lobbed it to Jia Nei Te at the free‑throw line.

Facing Qiao Jin Nuo A's defense, Jia Nei Te performed a slick feint, tricking the defender's weight upward. If he were younger, he could have easily driven to the basket for a dunk.

But he's old now. So when Qiao Jin Nuo A's weight shifted, he suddenly made a sharp inward probing step.

Qiao Jin Nuo A's defense was again drawn, and he stepped back.

Jia Nei Te now had enough space and rushed the basket from the opposite side.

Qiao Jin Nuo A chased, halted abruptly under the hoop, and mimicked a realistic shooting motion.

Nuo A jumped again, but Jia Nei Te executed a beautiful turn, swiping the ball with his left hand toward the rim… At that moment, after a failed jump, Qiao Jin Nuo A desperately leapt again.

He lunged hard.

Yet he failed to touch the ball.

When he landed, his left foot slipped; he cleverly fell to avoid injury, a typical pro athlete's move.

However, after landing his body slid forward with great inertia, and his head slammed into the camera tripod at the sideline.

The sideline camera tripods in the NBA are usually softened.

But they're still made of metal.

Qiao Jin Nuo A's head struck it hard; the sharp edge cut his scalp.

Fresh blood streamed down his hair, dripping tick‑tock.

The scene was quite terrifying.

He clutched his head; half his body was stained red.

The team doctor rushed to treat him.

After quickly handing him a gauze, they hurried Nuo A off the court.

From his condition, he likely has no sports injury, but he'll find it hard to return tonight.

This casts a shadow over the United Center arena.

Qiao Jin Nuo A is the Bulls' defensive core; most of Xi Bo Du's strategies hinge on him.

Now, with Nuo A injured, the TV camera caught Xi Bo Du lifting his head and gently closing his eyes, as if saying: "Heaven wants to doom me!"

It's a tragic moment.

Many Bulls fans share this sorrow.

They can only pin all hope on Rosa, hoping Rosa will unleash a killing spree and single‑handedly keep the suspense alive.

Rosa is fierce; he isn't discouraged by the loss of his most vital aide… even though many Bulls players now wear a look of "giving up".

Yet he still charges forward, a more reckless, death‑defying assault.

Just like his commercial tagline, he lets speed speak.

His speed shattered the Knicks' loose defense.

This delighted Fan Xi, who wanted to test how much impact this fragile defensive setup could withstand.

In today's league, no one rushes like Rosa more than Le Bu Lang Zhang Si.

After Rosa's explosive scoring, Na Si launched a fast break.

Fan Xi sprinted without the ball, shaking off Ka Long Ba Te Lie's defense, like a centrifuge separating egg whites from yolk.

Swish!

When Fan Xi hit the three‑point corner, Butler was still looking into the distance under Jia Nei Te's off‑ball screen.

Reggie Miller said on TV: "Jieke Fan is copying the Warriors' tactics. He's turning himself into the Warriors' Curry; they're friends."

Yes.

That's exactly how Fan Xi thinks.

He pondered for a long time how to deal with the Miami Heat, and finally recalled the Warriors' style.

He believes he can do more off the ball; although his three‑point release speed and accuracy aren't Curry's, his movement isn't weaker, and his ball‑carrying damage far exceeds Curry's. Simulating the Warriors' tactics will surely showcase a different brilliance.

Moreover, the Knicks' roster weakness is relative.

As long as Si Ta De Mai Er, Jia Nei Te, and Yue Shi Shi Mi Si unleash their energy, they might still shake a strong team's foundation.

The slaughter begins now.

Fan Xi arrived at the 2‑spot, the ease the Bulls imagined never came, and instead they saw the shadow of the Grim Reaper's scythe.

This lineup amplified Fan Xi's offensive firepower infinitely, not only Fan Xi's personal output but also Fan Xi's pull as a powerful attacking weapon, plus his assist role as a great passer.

The Knicks' offensive efficiency rose like a rocket soaring into the sky.

After the Bulls lost Qiao Jin Nuo A, their defense could no longer hold; they could only rely on Rosa, Carlos and Deng Liwei's offensive combo to counterattack.

Their counterattack firepower was not weak, and its efficiency was relatively high.

However, compared with the Knicks, the gap was huge.

At the end of the first quarter, the Knicks led 39‑29, a 10‑point lead.

In the second quarter, the Knicks changed the lineup; Fan Xi rested, JR Smith came in to replace Fan Xi, played half a quarter, then Garnett went out and Tyson Chandler came in.

The Knicks practiced their rotation lineup.

They still played relatively well, exchanging blows with the Bulls. The Bulls failed to close the gap.

At halftime, the Knicks still led by 5 points.

In fact, at this moment one could announce that the Bulls' season was over.

But the second half still had to be played.

In the second half, Fan Xi practiced the triangle offense.

He formed a temporary triangle with Montaelis, Stade Miller, paired with Tyson Chandler and Josh Smith.

This lineup performed rather average.

Montaelis and Stade Miller have relatively low basketball IQ; they cannot grasp the essence of the triangle offense. Although Stade Miller had previously received triangle offense training, still… it just doesn't work.

He cannot build chemistry with Carmelo Anthony, and with Montaelis it's even less likely to connect.

In this quarter the Bulls reduced the deficit to just 1 point at most, but when Fan Xi hit a three‑pointer from beyond the arc, the gap quickly widened again.

Rosa played two minutes in the fourth quarter before exiting, because he collided in the air with Josh Smith and felt knee pain.

Sibert quickly substituted him out and never put him back in.

In this game Derek Rose scored 37 points; had he not left early, reaching 50 points would have been no problem.

He averaged an astonishing 39.2 points in this series, a miracle even Michael Jordan could not achieve.

That's why McBlin said on TV that this is the Bulls' failure, not Derek Rose's.

Before the game ended he forced a self‑preservation, saying: "If it weren't for Qiao Jin Nuo A's injury, if it weren't for Derek Rose's injury, the Knicks' chance of winning would be negligible. They always have good luck, just like the super three‑pointer in Game 2, the collective performance in Game 3…"

McBlin said: "The Knicks aren't scary at all. Putting aside win‑loss, I think they have nothing brilliant in this series."

When McBlin uttered that "putting aside win‑loss," Reggie Miller's eyes widened.

Competitive sports, can you really put aside win‑loss?

How is that different from putting aside the facts?

Is this guy black‑Fan Xi blackened into a demonic obsession?

The game neared its end; when JR Smith finally tossed the ball into the air, the whistle blew, and the Eastern semifinals ended.

Fan Xi and his Knicks advanced to the Eastern Finals at the United Center.

At the moment the whistle sounded, Fan Xi, standing by the sideline, was captured looking up at the arena's ceiling, staring at Michael Jordan's #23 jersey.

Everyone knew what he was looking at.

Everyone knew what he was thinking.

When he claimed a three‑peat, when he achieved a single‑game 101 points and a single‑game super five‑double, his only remaining goal was: Michael Jordan.

This year's semifinals enriched his résumé; he defeated the team that Michael Jordan once represented in the arena Jordan once ruled.

This is historically significant.

"If— I mean if. If this season Jieke Fan wins the championship again, what historical standing should he be given? Will the gold content of his four championship trophies surpass Michael Jordan's six championships? He's only played four seasons…"

Reggie Miller couldn't help but tremble with emotion.

Actually, in his mind, he already had an answer. He believes Fan Xi's first four professional years winning four championships is more difficult than Michael Jordan's two dynasties. One must know Fan Xi won those championships with different teams.

"Oh! My god, Reggie, stop bragging. Jieke Fan won't get a championship this year; they barely survived the Bulls and have exhausted all luck. They'll clash with Miami, bloodied, LeBron's pride will never allow him to lose to Jieke Fan a fourth time, especially in the East. LeBron is the Eastern Finals king!"

McBlin quickly grabbed the floor, not wanting Reggie Miller to keep bragging about Fan Xi on TV.

Reggie Miller wanted to retort him, but ultimately said nothing.

Jeff Van Gundy rationally analyzed: "The Heat, whether in lineup or tactical cohesion, are not something the Knicks can exploit. The Knicks versus the Bulls essentially win on the flanks, but the Heat's wing strength is league‑first, even can chase the all‑time best."

The two of them said everything thoroughly.

It would be impolite for Reggie Miller to say anything more.

"The Bulls are done, seems there's nothing remarkable about them."

JR Smith, in post‑game interview, said this without any courtesy. Moreover, his arrogant remarks cut off any future possibility of joining the Bulls.

Smith is New York's powder keg and the team's hatred absorber; when he's on the court, other teammates can relax a bit.

For example now, his barrel is already aimed at Miami.

"In the next game, I'll personally match up against Dwyane Wade. He'll feel what defensive power is."

"I've always thought he has nothing worth boasting about. The only time he won a championship, if it weren't for the whistle, could he beat Dallas? Dream on!"

"This time I'll burst their illusion!"

"Miami, I'm coming!"

…