Chapter 593: Who Is the Most Beloved Little Brother?

Ke Li Si Bo Shen expressed regret over the result of Game 1 of the Finals.

In a radio interview, Ke Li Si Bo Shen said, "This was originally the year we were closest to winning the championship. If we hadn't lost the first-game victory, if Le Bu Lang Zhang Si's game‑2 buzzer‑beater hadn't gone overtime, and if the game‑3 buzzer‑beater hadn't rim‑bounced out. Even if we had only won one of those three games, the Knicks still couldn't have the last laugh."

"I didn't expect the Rockets to be so fragile."

Ke Li Si Bo Shen said on the radio.

He was very regretful.

But his regret was a serious wound for Houston fans.

Frankly, it wasn't only Bosh who felt regret. Some Bulls players also said in private chats that they hadn't expected the Western champion to be so weak.

After Game 1 of the Finals, some commentary began to think that since the post‑Jordan era, the pattern of a strong West and weak East had already changed.

Then, some deduced… that it was caused by Fan Xi's three‑year Western championship streak. Many free agents aiming for a title reflexively choose the Eastern side when picking a team.

Who knew that this season Fan Xi would come to the Eastern side, sweep everything, and become the King of the East.

Then looking back, he tidied up the old mountains and rivers.

The Houston Rockets ran into the muzzle.

In fact, if it were the Thunder, they would also not have fared much better in the Finals.

So, after Game 1 ended, when Fan Xi called Kevin Durant, he said, "You have nothing to lament either."

Kevin Durant, just recovered from a concussion, remained stubborn and said, "If the Thunder made the Finals, your lineup would have had no breathing room at all. The Houston Rockets only look strong. The true representatives of the West are us."

"Okay, okay, okay, you're right about everything. Rest well, remember to watch the games, and I'll avenge you."

Fan Xi coaxed Kevin Durant over the phone as if soothing a child.

Kevin Durant remained frustrated.

Oklahoma was even more frustrated.

They and the Rockets nearly spilled their brain juice in the Western Conference Finals, and the Knicks ended up the ones who profited.

The Thunder were eliminated, Paul was suspended. The remaining half‑Rockets got beaten in the Finals!

At that time, who could have imagined it would be like this?

…

Game 2 of the Finals arrived quickly.

But the heat of this game was waning.

Basketball fans' enthusiasm for the game was lower than that for the Eastern Conference Finals.

The showdown between Fan Xi and James generated great anticipation, but after the result of Game 1 of the Finals with the Rockets was revealed, people thought the Rockets could no longer produce new tricks; at least before Paul paid the price, there was nothing to look forward to.

No one thought James Harden's ability could be compared with Le Bu Lang Zhang Si's.

However, in Game 2 James Harden played especially aggressively. Because the Kardashian family came to Houston to ride the hype; as North America's most hype‑riding socialite family, Kole Kardashian had no reason not to swing by Houston to ride the hype of James Harden, his former fiancée.

Kole Kardashian has a solid NBA record; her titles include former fiancée of Odom, ex‑girlfriend of Griffin, former fiancée of Harden, and now she adds a new member, the former Cleveland forward Tang Pu Sen, nicknamed tt.

This Thompson is a defensive stalwart, and he balances out Kole Kardashian.

The buff that brands Kole Kardashian as the NBA's strongest defender didn't apply to tt; he remains fierce on the court. Hence many think tt is strong, able to counter the Kardashian family's curse.

tt also arrived at the arena tonight, and he even made a point of greeting Fan Xi. He said to Fan Xi, "Jie Ke, I've always been your fan. I'm glad to become a member of the Kardashian family with you …"

Hm?

The title made Fan Xi frown.

Fan Xi is not a member of the Kardashian family; he's Chinese and is very sensitive about this. He hurriedly emphasized to Kole's new boyfriend, "I'm not a member of the Kardashian family, but congratulations on becoming Kole's new boyfriend, and I wish you happiness."

Fan Xi exchanged a brief chat with him, then talked a couple of lines with Kanye West, and then got ready to take the court.

James Harden thought Kole was there to show off.

So, he started off very aggressively, constantly charging into the paint; with the home‑court whistle's boost, in the first three minutes of the first quarter he forced Tyson Chandler into two fouls.

Tyson Chandler had to sit out to rest.

At this point, some Rockets‑supporting commentators got excited. They believed James Harden disrupted the Knicks' rotation; the Knicks already lacked stamina reserves, and a key rotation player was injured.

Thus, the Rockets' opportunity arrived.

However, they soon couldn't laugh any longer.

Because after Tyson Chandler's injury, the Knicks simply switched to an all‑offense lineup.

Stade Myer at center, Josh Smith at power forward, Bariani at small forward, Fan Xi at shooting guard, Stephen Nash at point guard.

When this lineup switched, the Knicks started moving wildly.

Fan Xi was the first to hit a three‑pointer.

Then the scoring spread out; the Houston Rockets' defensive efficiency is actually above average in the NBA, but lacking Paul removed a crucial component.

Moreover, the Knicks had just come from defensive systems like the Bulls and Heat, so the Rockets' matchup pressure was nothing.

Just playing 'offense is the best defense' was enough to overwhelm them.

James Harden kept scoring.

The efficiency wasn't low.

But the Knicks scored even more fiercely, with higher efficiency.

The Knicks played a mercury‑flow style, a full‑blown seven‑second offense. The Knicks poured almost all their energy into offense, making it extremely dazzling.

Even the home Rockets fans thought, "Wow!"

Viewers in front of their TVs were even more drawn to this brilliant attack, cheering involuntarily.

Kenny Smith said at the commentary desk, "I've never seen a team play such an unreserved offensive system in the Finals; the Knicks are too strong. Also, I want to say something to De Antonis."

"This flourishing era is as you wish!"

Smith's remark was sarcastic.

But there's no doubt this is De Antonis's knot; back when he was with the Suns, he produced a groundbreaking offense that rewrote the league's tempo. He and Nash both reached their peaks, each earning Coach of the Year and back‑to‑back regular‑season MVPs respectively.

But in the end, that glamorous Suns ultimately could not escape disintegration.

Because they never broke through in the playoffs. And when the Lakers, also in the Pacific Division, acquired Pau Gasol in the 2007‑2008 season, the Phoenix front office panicked; they hurriedly used Xiao En Ma Li Ang to trade Sha Ke Ao Ni Er… From then on, run-and-gun became a thing of the past, and the Suns never regained their former glory.

Now, what De An Dongni sees in his drills are familiar figures, familiar tactics. Moreover, it is on the Finals stage he has long coveted: run-and-gun finally proved itself.

But he is no longer the coach. His former beloved players are no longer his teammates, but his opponents.

It feels as if from another lifetime.

Chris Paul coughed softly on the sideline to remind him, then stood up and shouted from the bench: "Defense! Defense! Secure the rebound, secure the second‑chance. Beverley, lock down Stephen Nash, don't let him get going, give him pressure!"

It's a bit dark humor, hard to believe those words came from De An Dongni's mouth.

But he has no choice, because he knows clearly that employing run-and-gun, the Rockets could never be the Knicks' opponent.

Run-and-gun requires a smart brain.

In today's league, the two brains best suited for run-and-gun are both with the Knicks; although James Harden is also smart, his intelligence cannot command the massive yet swift run-and-gun system.

Even if Chris Paul returns, De An Dongni would not try run-and-gun. Because Chris Paul is also unsuited to this tactic; he is a more classical point guard, the Isaiah Thomas plus Stockton style.

Beverley tore into Nash like a mad dog, and Nash's speed slowed down.

But the ball was passed to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi quickened the pace, his speed became even sharper, his passes more decisive. Moreover, when Nash is off the ball, he remains an excellent shooter, consistently dominating the league's 180 Club.

The Rockets ran into a hard rock.

Many home fans left the arena early, before the second quarter even ended, as if they had already seen the game's result.

It is cruel.

For die‑hard fans, a result that can be seen at a glance is far more ruthless than an opaque result.

The Rockets have invested so heavily this season, and their hopes are so intense.

But the Three Giants only laboriously carried them to the Finals, only to face Jieke Fan's crushing.

How cruel.

At halftime, the Knicks led 66–55, an 11‑point advantage.

The Rockets also played well, just not as well as the Knicks.

Kobe Bryant sat in front of the TV, and said to his son Jie Ke Sun: "In the future, fast‑paced offense will be the league's trend. So from now on you must hone your shooting, and make it quick."

Kobe is a classical guard, adept at grinding in half‑court battles, battling regardless of defense. Many consider his basketball IQ low, but his eyes are far sharper than Jordan's; he can discover Fan Xi and also see the league's future trends.

He now believes Fan Xi is a versatile talent, a generational star bridging past and future.

However, if the league undergoes earth‑shattering changes, Fan Xi will soon be replaced.

That is his belief. He hopes his son can grow rapidly.

On Kobe's home court hung a countdown clock; today reads: 6,205 days until Jie Ke Sun Bryant enters the NBA.

Rigorous!

Kobe knows clearly his historical standing is at most a top‑ten guard, so he must train his son; he wants Jie Ke Sun to absorb the essences of him and Fan Xi, becoming the basketball GOAT!

Chris Paul, during halftime, was interviewed and said: "We didn't control the Knicks' engine well; we gave their point guard too many favorable chances. That's why we trailed in the first half; we'll make adjustments in the second."

Paul gave an objective assessment of the game.

Then, a tnt reporter provocatively asked him: "JR Smith says he wants to create the largest Finals margin ever in this series; what do you have to say about that?"

Paul was a bit angry.

He currently holds many records. He holds the playoff largest margin record, the preseason largest margin record, and also the regular‑season best margin record.

He is always the sacrificial character.

If he finally makes it to the Finals, only to have the largest margin inflicted on him.

Then from now on Paul might as well be called 'Largest Margin Record'.

"I won't pay attention to this nonsense; I don't know that person," Paul said coldly.

Then he walked toward the players' tunnel.

Paul's words naturally expressed his toughness, and that JR Smith doesn't deserve to be compared with him.

It is a kind of arrogance.

tnt enjoys the spectacle without finding it too big.

Charles Barkley said on TV: "The current largest Finals margin is from Game Six of the 2007‑2008 Finals, when the Celtics beat the Lakers 131–92, a 39‑point gap. The Knicks need only lead the Rockets by 40 points to rewrite that record."

"The Knicks now lead by only 11 points; they must win by at least 29 in the second half. It's a daunting task. I think it will be hard for them. Moreover, even if they succeed, it seems meaningless, since Paul isn't on the court."

"So could the Knicks have a chance to return home and achieve this record? By then Chris Paul will be back in the Rockets lineup. Likewise, the Knicks' Kevin Garnett and JR Smith could also return to the court, especially JR Smith, who has already put on a practice jacket in this game."

Charles Barkley provided a game analysis.

This greatly attracted fans' attention.

However, Er Johnson fairly said: "Actually Paul isn't wrong; JR Smith's status isn't enough to represent the Knicks' voice. Most of what he says is just talk. The Knicks only need to chase victory; there's no need to chase a massacre. Moreover, after Paul's return, the Rockets' strength is visibly enhanced…"

"No!"

At this moment, as a die‑hard Fan Xi fan, Kenny Smith offered a completely opposite view: "Past experience tells us JR Smith's words can represent the Knicks' will. Though it's possible he's just venting online."

"But, from my knowledge of Jie Ke, he would never easily let Chris Paul off; Paul injured his beloved little brother Leonard, and he cannot not avenge that. How to exact the most satisfying revenge within the rules? Put him on the shame record!"

"Jie Ke has always been the embodiment of ruthlessness; he won't miss this chance."

Kenny Smith analyzed on TV.

His analysis made many nod.

Only Jimmy Butler, however, said angrily: "Why claim his beloved little brother is Leonard? Why?"

"Because I stayed in Los Angeles, you went to Charlotte," the taciturn Leonard said quietly from beside.

"I'll choke you!!!!"

Jimmy Butler lunged like a tiger.