Chapter 567: Won

The Houston Rockets unsurprisingly clinched a decisive victory.

However, before the game result was released, Leonard's injury report came out first; thank heavens, it was only a mild ankle ligament tear, and a slight issue with the patellar tendon in his knee.

Fan Xi has already ordered Leonard to enter treatment mode; he will have a long break until he is fully healthy.

In a sense, the discovery of Leonard's knee injury is a blessing in disguise for him; if it were allowed to progress silently, it would affect the Iron Man's attendance rate.

However, Chris Paul's actions will not be absolved because of this.

After the game, Maikelbang said at the post‑game press conference that it was the worst foul he had ever seen in his career, and he would file a complaint with the league.

This was not only Maikelbang's view, but also Kuaisuan's.

Meanwhile, netizens compiled videos of Chris Paul's dirty tactics in this game: his elbow strikes, pulls, and foot‑hooks on Lu Bi'ao were all edited together, and after he knocked Leonard out, he didn't stop; in the fourth quarter he elbowed Yangnis again and snatched the ball from Yangnis's hands.

"Chris Paul is the dirtiest, most despicable basketball star in the world." Kao Xin Si of the Kings was the first to speak out, saying, "Some players' halos hide his ugliness."

And his Kentucky senior, La Jian Long Duo, also reposted his comment. They have long hated Paul.

At the same time, fans are also verbally and in writing condemning Paul's behavior.

In contrast, when De An Tong Ni was asked about this at the press conference, he simply said, "We didn't notice the incident; during high‑intensity contests on the court, some actions are uncontrollable. I don't think Chris Paul's defense was intentionally malicious."

De An Tong Ni's words were full of tea flavor.

It was not accepted.

Public opinion is raging; everyone has eyes. Everyone knows why Paul did that… If the team they built with such effort is beaten by a Kuaisuan without Fan Xi, they will have no foothold left.

So, he used vile tactics.

The NBA issued a follow‑up punishment at noon the next day.

Chris Paul was assessed an additional technical foul and suspended for one game.

This follow‑up punishment seemed more like a token gesture to calm things, neither painful nor impactful.

From a business standpoint, the NBA naturally prefers the Rockets to advance to the Western Finals rather than a Kuaisuan with ugly play and no superstar.

So they suspended Paul for one game.

The additional penalty had a clear effect; it dampened public outcry a bit. Moreover, Paul was seen going to the hospital himself to visit Leonard.

The crisis management in this regard was handled very precisely.

However, such a move will not quell the fury of those truly angry.

The fire in Fan Xi's heart is burning fiercely.

…

The Miami Heat defeated the Pacers in Game Six on the road in Indiana, displaying extraordinary dominance; with both offense and defense firing at full strength, they allowed the Pacers only a few points while they scored many. The point differential revealed Miami's true power.

Such a huge margin made it clear that the New York Knicks were doomed.

Although the Knicks swept the Eastern second‑seed Brooklyn Nets in the first round and eliminated the Eastern third‑seed Chicago Bulls in the second round, both were underdog victories.

However, the first round was seen as a result of deliberate scheming, and the Nets' strength was not recognized by anyone.

In the second round, amid media clamor, it was attributed to luck.

Therefore, in front of the Heat's unprecedented strength, almost no one thought the flaw‑ridden Knicks could win. Even some New York media said: a narrow loss is a win.

Anyway, there will be future chances. In his first season after joining, Fan Xi reached the Eastern Finals. In the second season, after bolstering defense, he basically took off.

Fan Xi promised he wouldn't leave without winning a championship.

Based on this 'guaranteed' mindset, Knicks fans are calmer than neutral fans.

Winning is certainly joyful, but losing isn't that hard to accept, and there's even a faint sense of anticipation.

That's intense!

In contrast, Miami fans are even more anxious. They know the Heat are unprecedentedly strong this year, and they also know the Knicks' strength certainly doesn't match last season's Kuaisuan.

But… after all, the opponent is Jieke Fan.

The basketball demon that has beaten them in the Finals for three consecutive years.

They feel insecure; they would rather face the Bulls than contend with Fan Xi.

Because of this sentiment, there were no wild statements from Miami, and their media stayed low‑key. Even when JR Smith pre‑emptively mocked them, they gave no response.

This atmosphere turned out to be peaceful.

After all, on one side are the laid‑back Knicks fans.

On the other side are Miami fans' 'anxious low‑key' stance.

In contrast, after the Western Finals lineup was announced, the hot topics quickly erupted.

The Oklahoma Thunder, in Game Six, pulled off a stunning feat with Kevin Durant scoring a massive number of points in a single game, eliminating the San Antonio Spurs.

The Houston Rockets, despite lacking Chris Paul in Game Six, saw Harden excellently take on the point‑guard role; he is a combo guard by nature. He and Howard, as an inside‑outside duo, eliminated the Kuaisuan.

They thus smoothly advanced to the Western Finals.

Yet they received no praise. Dan Ze Er Hua Sheng Dun voiced his opinion at the Staples Center, saying, "I'm a staunch Kuaisuan fan. The Rockets didn't win this series; if Leonard hadn't been injured, the Kuaisuan would have easily reached the Western Finals, and the Thunder wouldn't have been a Kuaisuan opponent. It can only be said that Chris Paul's elbow destroyed the Kuaisuan's Finals journey."

The Oscar‑winning actor's remarks resonated with many fans; everyone knows what's going on.

However, it can't change any result.

It's like Kings fans constantly mutter that the Lakers and the referees colluded to steal their win, yet the historical record still shows the Lakers' championship, the Lakers' three‑peat dynasty.

The Thunder‑vs‑Rockets matchup is packed with highlights.

It is dubbed by Asian fans as the Battle of the Rogue Ninja and Konoha Village.

Harden, a player traded to the Thunder, rose to fame after leaving Oklahoma. It's like the opening of a Hao lai wu movie, where the abandoned protagonist returns home for revenge.

Harden said in an interview, "I still can't understand why they won't re‑sign me; I didn't even ask for a max contract. Anyway, I have to thank them."

Harden's words undoubtedly ignite a powder‑keg vibe and elevate the showdown's storyline.

This fuels the stickiness of fan discussion.

The pre‑game hype for the Rockets and Thunder even seems higher than that of the Eastern Finals.

Fan Xi and James' fourth or perhaps fifth peak showdown is so thrilling; Fan Xi had already won three Finals and one Olympic Finals before. Now the battlefield has come to the Eastern Finals—will LeBron James hold onto the title of King of the East?

This is another incursion by Fan Xi; if he presses step by step, he will slaughter the Heat in the Eastern Finals.

Then the Miami Heat's three-star policy would completely fail; they would become a laughingstock, and all their investments would come to nothing.

For James personally, it is also the utter collapse of the "Heaven's Chosen Son" brand; he has rarely mentioned that title in the past two years. When Fan Xi rises like a comet, he can hardly claim anymore that he is the one blessed by heaven.

James and his Miami Heat have no way out.

Fortunately, everyone now believes the Heat's roster and strength are superior.

At the same time, another voice is spreading. Fan Xi, after defeating the Bulls, looked up at Jordan's retired jersey; that photo went viral online, and people discuss whether, if Fan Xi eliminates the Heat in the Eastern Finals this season and then defeats the Western opponent in the Finals, he would achieve a personal four-peat.

Then, how far is his historical standing from achieving two three-peat dynasties like Jordan?

Jordan created many records, many of which cannot be matched. At the same time, his championship count exceeds Fan Xi's.

But Fan Xi also has an advantage: his championships came from two teams; if he wins another, he would be a four-peat with three different teams. Many think this difficulty surpasses Jordan achieving two dynasties with a stable roster.

Moreover, most importantly, this is Fan Xi's first four seasons.

That is to say, since entering the NB, he has never allowed the championship to slip away—what dominance.

More and more fans are viewing this series deeply.

…

When Fan Xi arrived in Miami, the scenery before him was so familiar.

Miami has been his most frequent away venue over the past few years.

Every year he plays several important games here.

"Jie Ke, what should I watch out for when facing the Miami Heat? I'm worried Dwyane Wade will find a loophole and really give me a one-on-one beating." JR Smith sat beside Fan Xi, lowering his voice to speak to him.

Fan Xi smiled and looked at JR Smith.

He thought, you brat, you're not really shameless after all; deep down you still have fear.

"There's nothing special to watch out for when facing the Heat, or rather, if you don't pay attention to their moves, you've already won half the battle." Fan Xi and JR Smith said a tongue twister.

JR Smith's brain capacity doesn't allow such complex thinking; he said, "Just tell me straight—what should I do if Wade challenges me to a one-on-one?"

"Just run your normal routes, and I'll pass the ball to you," Fan Xi told him.

"That's right," JR Smith clapped his hands, putting his mind at ease.

With Fan Xi backing him, he felt very resolute inside.

In fact, this situation isn't limited to JR Smith; the other Knicks players all regard Fan Xi as their pillar.

If Fan Xi sits there smiling, they feel reassured.

The Miami Heat's strength is obvious; various media analyses have looked at it and also found it reasonable.

The Knicks' current situation is that they have many veterans, and these veterans each have their own familiar style of play, with most of their defense being quite ordinary.

As for the Heat side, not to mention that the three stars are at their peak.

The role players also need no further comment.

What Mario Chalmers, Ray Allen, Shawn Battier, Haslem, Michael Beasley, Chris Andersen, Marcus Camby, Kenyon Martin….

These guys not only have ability, but their roles are clear, and they are tightly united around the three stars.

Just setting the lineup, the Knicks are already behind.

It's impossible for Knicks players not to feel nervous.

Moreover, although the Knicks players don't say it out loud, having come this far, they all think of one thing: following Fan Xi to create a miracle.

They want the championship.

They want it more and more.

This is the Knicks' overall mindset.

…

One hour before the game started, Fan Xi accepted an interview from CCTV on the sidelines.

CCTV will broadcast the game live in its entirety, and their commentators have all come to the venue.

They asked Fan Xi three questions.

The first question is: "How do you view facing the Miami Heat for the fourth consecutive season, especially the matchup against James?"

"I know fans are very concerned about this; it's indeed a hot topic. The reason we've faced each other for four straight seasons is that the Heat are very strong, always able to top the league. Of course, my strength is also unquestionable."

Fan Xi was relaxed before the domestic media, saying: "The showdown with James is highly anticipated by fans and much talked about. James is an extremely strong player; his ability improves each year, and I believe his ability has now entered the top historical tier. In that tier, only Jordan, Chamberlain, O'Neal, and I."

Fan Xi rarely talks about these things in front of American media.

But these are things he has thought over carefully.

He knows that once this list is released, it will surely spark much discussion—for example, why Jabbar isn't included, why the Magician isn't, why Russell isn't, why Duncan isn't…

But he follows his own heart.

The second question is: "This year's Knicks have been questioned a lot about their roster; everyone says you're strong on offense but weak on defense—will you strengthen defense in this series?"

Fan Xi's answer was: "No, after defeating the Bulls we held three training sessions, but we didn't practice defense; we mainly practiced offense targeting the Heat's defensive traits."

The third question is: "What do you think the Knicks' chances are of beating the Heat? If we beat the Heat this year, enter the Finals, and win Finals MVP, would you consider yourself already surpassing Jordan?"

"The chance of beating the Heat is not small; there is a certain possibility. As for surpassing Jordan, that's actually a rather empty topic. I believe that in the eyes of Chinese and even Asian fans, I have already surpassed Jordan. Jordan never brought an Olympic gold medal to Asia, while I have done so. But it can be discussed that when people put me and Jordan side by side for comparison, that already counts as my victory; before me, no one could be mentioned in the same breath as Jordan. As for when I will surpass Jordan, I think it will be a natural, inevitable process. Once others have nothing left to say, I will naturally have surpassed Jordan."

"This process won't be very long."

"This season is also part of the process."

Fan Xi spoke very confidently.

He appeared completely relaxed, which made the CCTV reporters very certain that Fan Xi must have come well prepared.

He will not be easily defeated by Miami as American basketball experts claim.

…