Chapter 572: LeBron, are you ready?

Michael Jordan has been paying attention to this game.

Although he has no stake in either team playing in this game, he still cares about the outcome, because it could very well affect his historical standing.

In the first three quarters of the game, he remained as stable as Mount Tai, and he did not think the Knicks had a chance to win.

But at the start of the fourth quarter, the Knicks took the lead and kept widening the gap.

His mood was somewhat unsettled.

And when Magic Johnson said those words, he felt a jolt and involuntarily let out a sigh.

If Fan Xi wins his fourth Finals MVP in his fourth professional season, there is no doubt he will become the Thus we include: English in many people's eyes.

Although he still has many honors to catch up to Jordan, perhaps he never will in his lifetime. But Fan Xi also has his own legendary color: in his first four seasons, three teams, four championships, his single-game points, single-game super five-doubles, and so on.

Even in this game, Fan Xi already has points, and is only one rebound away from a triple-double; if he gets a triple-double plus and defeats the Three Giants, that will become another legendary statistic.

When more and more legendary statistics gather together, a person naturally becomes a god.

Magic Johnson has won five championships, his championship efficiency is high, his career total... seasons, the later comeback seasons actually shouldn't be counted. Before Jordan, he was the greatest perimeter player in NBA history.

However, he only has one Finals MVP, and after Jordan won his three-peat, he bowed down.

Now he proposes that if Fan Xi wins this year's championship, he will be his Thus we include: English. This statement will inevitably affect the whole basketball world.

No one is indifferent to their own fame after death, and Jordan is certainly no exception.

On the contrary, he cares a great deal.

If he is the greatest of all time, his shoe brand and commercial value will continue to thrive; but if he becomes second

The answer is obvious. More people remember Mount Everest; as for the second peak, who knows?

At this moment, not only Jordan feels worried.

James in the game is also like that.

Jordan's worry is like an itch through a boot, because he cannot return to the court, he cannot personally defeat Fan Xi, and he is very passive.

James, however, feels worried being right there in the situation.

He felt the team's morale was a bit loose, so he seized the time to drive straight into the paint, and despite having Josh Smith hanging on his body, he forcibly put the ball in and also drew a foul.

His extraordinary personal ability lifted the on-site morale.

James also roared.

He wanted to motivate the whole team.

He walked to the free-throw line.

Fan Xi came to his side, smiling, and leaned close to James's ear: 'You guess what everyone thinks I'm saying to you right now?'

Hmm

James looked up, puzzled.

Fan Xi smiled and walked away.

What he said doesn't matter; what matters is making this gesture.

And James's reaction.

James is a smart person; he quickly realized that Fan Xi's behavior was not meant to say something to him, but to let the whole world see what he was saying to himself.

Fan Xi is indeed a master of attacking the heart.

James took a deep breath.

He knows he must make this free throw.

He looked at the basket, striving to relax his engorged arm muscles from the recent high-intensity confrontation.

Then he aimed at the basket.

At the moment he shot, Fan Xi muttered softly behind him: 'Was this free throw delayed?'

Bang!

The basketball hit the rim.

The rebound was grabbed by Stoudemire.

Then it was passed to Fan Xi.

As Fan Xi slowly advanced, the whole arena speculated what he had just said to James, which actually left James bewildered and caused him to miss the free throw.

Magic Johnson also gossiped on TV: 'I'm really curious what else could ruin LeBron's state of mind, and what psychological pressure Jie Ke exerted on him.'

"Who knows?"

Kenni shrugged his shoulders and said: 'Maybe it's a forewarning of LeBron's fourth or fifth loss.'

Kenni Smith's comment was actually the first thought of most people.

Including the fans on site and the players of both teams.

This is exactly the effect Fan Xi wanted.

On his way back on defense, James realized he had been tricked and suffered a silent loss.

He loudly shouted for defense, reminded the players to pay attention, and personally walked toward Fan Xi.

Fan Xi directly threw the basketball to Stoudemire from the top of the three-point arc, then he himself ran to the corner of the three-point line and waited.

James could not contract.

This put him into a tactical passive state.

The Heat's best help defender is actually him; he excels at plugging gaps, and with him active in the paint, opponents dare not easily drive in for a layup.

But now Fan Xi has pulled him far away, and Stoudemire quickly broke through Chris Andersen's defense, entering the paint and laying the ball in with one hand… Birdman is certainly not a good one-on-one defender; he cannot withstand opponents, and his best season was only known for help defense.

Stoudemire's strong post play put the Knicks into a strategic advantage.

Especially after Fan Xi pulled James away, this strategic advantage expanded.

Spoelstra quickly substituted Marcus Camby for Andersen.

At the same time, Larry Brown also had Tyson Chandler go to the technical table on standby, ready to come in at any moment.

This was unexpected by everyone; who would have thought the Knicks would seize the initiative at this moment?

James continued his aggressive attack, with Fan Xi personally guarding him, but he did not engage in physical contact with James; he merely maintained his defensive distance, waiting for James to drive into the paint. James, however, did not act rashly, knowing Fan Xi's leaping ability was strong, he turned and passed the ball to Wade.

Wade caught the ball and drove inward… JR Smith went down in response.

He tried to draw an offensive foul on Wade.

But the main referee didn't blow the whistle—this is the home-court advantage.

But after the collision, Wade's balance was a little off, and he hastily shot—Bang!

The basketball didn't go in.

It bounced to the left.

Fan Xi and James leapt almost simultaneously to go for the rebound; James was a bit taller, and his fingertips touched the ball first, but he tried to simply grab it, only for Fan Xi to tip it, altering its trajectory toward Fan Xi's side; Fan Xi quickly jumped a second time, tipped it again, and the ball drifted even more toward him.

On the third jump, Fan Xi finally secured the rebound.

James failed to get this important rebound.

He clearly had the height advantage, and he even touched the ball first.

But in the end, it was Fan Xi who came out on top.

"Jie Ke is smart; he always manages to create his own advantage. The competition for this rebound is just like the rivalry between Jie Ke and LeBron over the past few years." Kenny Smith said emotionally on TV: "This also explains why, although James is superior in every aspect, it is Jie Ke who ends up winning."

"Jie Ke is smart; his way of grabbing rebounds is just like Dennis Rodman's. Rodman back then also used frequent jumps to gain a spatial advantage, because he lacked height."

Charles Barkley said.

Actually, Barkley has also won the rebounding title, and his height is even a bit less than Rodman's.

But his way of grabbing rebounds consists of three parts: instinct, physique, and leaping explosiveness. Those with better instinct than him lack his leaping power; those with better leaping power than him lack his stocky build; those with a better build than him lack his agility.

Of course, there is another reason… Barkley possesses the ability to advance the ball directly from the backcourt to the frontcourt. Some backcourt rebounds, teammates will willingly give to him.

Just as now, Fan Xi brought the ball past half-court, Xiaoen Badi'er came up to defend him, and James did not go one-on-one with him anymore.

But Fan Xi suddenly lowered his center of gravity beyond the three-point line, feigning an acceleration, and Badi'er quickly retreated.

At the same moment Badi'er retreated, Fan Xi leapt and shot a three-pointer using a one-stage jump shot.

Under James's or Wade's defense, Fan Xi would never dare take such a risk.

But Badi'er's reaction speed has declined considerably.

Fan Xi has different ways to deal with defenders.

The basketball traced a perfect arc in the air… Swish!

The three-pointer was made.

The margin widened further.

At the moment the basket went in, the Meihangzhongxin qiuguan let out wave after wave of uncontrollable painful sighs.

Fear spread through their hearts, and a voice in their minds warned: 'Here it comes again! That demon is back.'

Their restless dark memories resurfaced, and some despair took root in their hearts.

One season, two seasons, three seasons.

The trauma Fan Xi left in their hearts was so great that they all developed a stress response.

Spoelstra glanced at the clock, decided to cherish the timeout, stood on the sideline and shouted: 'Keep the rhythm, we can win!'

He hoped the team's morale would not be affected.

James also cheered on the court, his palms almost clapping to pieces.

Returning to halftime, Wade finally made a mid-range jump shot.

He shook off the annoying JR Smith.

Afterward, Wade went to guard Fan Xi.

Fan Xi attacked Wade's left side, driving with his defender into the paint; when Fan Xi made a convincing fake move down low to draw a double-team from Marcus Camby, he passed the ball to Stoudemire.

Stoudemire went up for a layup, and James came from behind to block it.

Stoudemire is very experienced; he drew a foul.

Two free throws.

He stepped up to the free-throw line.

This time, James, Wade, and Marcus Camby defended well, but they were unsuccessful.

They anticipated Fan Xi's move, but lacked a bit of luck.

At least that's how it appeared.

Fan Xi wore a smile; none of this was unfamiliar to him, he had a strong sense of déjà vu… this is probably what they call experience.

Tyson Chandler returned to the court, and the Knicks' lineup became: Fan Xi, the two Smiths, Stoudemire, and Chandler.

Swish!

Swish!

Stoudemire made both free throws.

His free-throw percentage is very high, this season it is %, highest among interior players. nb Many times it's give and take; Stoudemire doesn't like defense, doesn't like pure physical confrontation, so his touch is soft. Like Duncan, Tyson Chandler—these guys are always in blood-and-guts battles; how good can their touch be?

The game continued.

James hit a stop-and-go jump shot.

Looking back, Fan Xi and Stoudemire set a screen, but the ball was passed into the paint; Tyson Chandler turned, slipped past Camby, and finished with an alley-oop.

Back and forth.

The Heat were pressing forward, but they couldn't stop the Knicks from scoring.

The margin continued to expand.

This scene was just a copy of the first quarter, except the roles were swapped.

"Knicks are tougher than we imagined; if Miami can't score an explosive burst in the final minutes, they will be swallowed by the Knicks. Now, the Knicks have already taken the lead."

"Ba Ke Li said from the commentator's seat: 'If the Heat lose their first home game, they will become very, very passive afterward. Many negative checklists will be pulled out.'"

His words had just fallen.

Swish!

James suddenly attacked from beyond the three-point line, he made a three-pointer.

The point difference narrowed to points.

The game time still has minutes and seconds.

It looks like there's a great chance to turn the tide.

Mai A Mi home court also erupted in cheers.

Many people were praying, praying that the Heat would withstand the pressure and turn the tide against the odds.

But just then, people saw Fan Xi reach out to stop La Li Bu Lang from getting up to request a timeout.

He took the basketball from his teammate and slowly moved forward.

His gaze was sharp, his posture resolute.

James saw Fan Xi's killing intent at this moment.

He knew Fan Xi definitely wanted to use this ball to suppress the Heat's morale, he wanted to kill the game in this possession.

So, he proactively swapped positions with Wade, stepping up to switch defenses.

Fan Xi surprisingly did not take advantage of their defensive switch to attack; he was waiting for James to arrive.

He looked at James and said: "Le Bang Lang, you guess whether this ball is a three-pointer or a two-pointer."

"If I make this shot, we will completely decide the outcome."

"Le Bang Lang, will you become a historical superstar or a current superstar? Are you ready to face the watershed moment of your career?"

…