Chapter 596

O'Neal was a bit dazed.

Hearing the familiar "My grandma and him teaming up could also monopolize the championship," he couldn't hold it. He stared for a few seconds before saying: "Jieke Fan has already monopolized all the championships?"

He looked at Barkley.

Barkley spread his hands and said: "Yes."

"But it actually does have reasons; sometimes the opponent underestimates, sometimes… a miracle happens. Also, like this year, the two sides' strength is vastly different…"

Barkley tried to make up for it.

But these efforts were meaningless, because Kenny Smith would help him recall: "In 2011, with Kobe, Gasol, and Bai Na Mu successively injured, he single-handedly took down the Heat, tore a ligament and killed James on the spot. He won the championship and was crowned MVP."

"'In 2012, he was traded to the Kuaisuan. The Kuaisuan began rebuilding; at the time everyone said the Kuaisuan had no future, old, weak, sick, and disabled. But they defeated the Lakers, who had Kobe, Gasol, Howard, and Paul, in the West. Then in the finals they defeated the Heat's Three Giants. He was crowned MVP for the second time.'"

"'In 2013, he led the reorganized Kuaisuan forward, indisputably took down the Heat, won the championship, and was crowned MVP.'"

"'Then this year, due to rules he was forcibly sent to the Eastern; the Knicks obtained his one-year signing rights through trading Anthony and others. Now he leads the Knicks in the finals. At his feet are the Nets with a superstar lineup, the Eastern powerhouse Bulls, and the Miami Heat at its peak.'"

"'Charles, do you really think Jack's championships are so lacking in value? I don't think any of Michael Jordan's championships have more value than any of Jieke Fan's championships.'"

As a die-hard fan of Fan Xi, Kenny Smith laid out the facts.

This let the fans in front of the TV fondly recall Fan Xi's legendary first four years of his career.

It also made many fans feel that it seemed Jieke Fan surpassing Michael Jordan to become Thus we include: English was no problem.

"'Putting facts aside, could it be that Jack's championships have no luck component?' Barkley spoke a bit without filter."

Putting aside the facts, could it be that Jie Ke's these championships have no luck factor? Barkley spoke a bit indiscriminately.

In the course of their discussion, JR Smith caused an offensive foul on Paul.

When Paul charged at JR Smith's defense, as he was moving he just raised his elbow, and JR Smith fell down in response.

He learned the essence of flopping.

The head referee was closely watching Paul. He also worried Paul would repeat his old tricks.

Now Paul is the focus of observation; fans worldwide are watching him, and nobody wants the game to be ruined by some malicious actions.

Now Baoluo is the focus of observation; fans all over the world are watching him, and nobody wants the game to be ruined by some malicious moves.

JR Smith got up but then made faces; however, half of his face was covered by a black mask, so his gleeful expression couldn't be seen.

After changing sides, Fan Xi again drove into the paint, he passed to Stoudemire, who used a jumper at the free-throw line to punish Dwight Howard.

The Rockets' interior is strong, but their defense doesn't extend outward.

The game's pace didn't differ much from before; after Paul came on, the Rockets' offensive schemes became much more refined, and their arc-top defense improved a lot.

But these improvements were not enough for the Rockets to make a qualitative leap.

"'I've said before, Paul is just a control guard at the conference finals level. Give him a weak team and he can take them to the second round of the playoffs; give him a superstar-laden team and he can only get this far.' Qian Qian Xiao Bo"

Kenny Smith said on TV: "I don't know what the Rockets fans are expecting from Paul."

"'In recent years many people have been misled, thinking that a player who assists is a good team player, and that a star with flashy advanced stats is a great star. These are just one indicator. Don't believe me? Ask Shaquille O'Neal why, when he paired with Hardaway, they could only be swept in the finals; but when he paired with Kobe, they could win three championships. And pairing with Wade also yields a championship.'"

"In recent years, many people have been misled, thinking that players who can assist are good team players, and that stars with flashy high-level stats are great stars. These are just one indicator. Don't believe me? Ask Sha Ke Ao Ni Er why, when paired with Ha Da Wei, they could only get swept in the finals, but when paired with Ke Bi, they could win three championships, and when paired with Wade, they could also win a championship."

O'Neal said: "Hardaway, Kobe, and Wade are all top guards. I didn't win a championship with Hardaway because we were both still young back then. However, I agree with Smith's point. Sometimes, being able to link the team and assist doesn't make one a championship player."

"'That guy Kobe, although he never passes, can solve many defensive problems; as soon as he encounters a strong interior, he can win a championship. And a strong interior encountering him can also win a championship.'"

"'Basketball is a very complex science; just looking at statistics makes it hard to fully explain.'"

Basketball is a highly complex science; just looking at statistics makes it hard to fully explain.

O'Neal's words gave fans some inspiration.

The game's pace remained firmly in the Knicks' hands; the Knicks frequently rotated their lineup, but the Rockets could never find an opportunity.

After the first quarter, the Knicks led by 10 points.

The double-digit deficit woke many Rockets fans; they truly realized the game wouldn't develop as they imagined. Moreover, Paul could not become their savior.

In the second quarter, Paul had a burst, scoring consecutively from mid-range.

Moreover, linking with Beverley, they established a strong perimeter defense.

At one point he reduced the deficit to 4 points.

This gave many fans hope of a Rockets comeback.

But there were some oddities: at this time Harden wasn't on the court.

TNT's camera precisely captured Patrick Ewing watching from the sidelines; Ewing also consciously showed a 'charming' smile, and his gaze was directed toward James Harden.

TNT's camera precisely gave to the courtside spectator Pa Te Li Ke You Yin, Pa Te Li Ke You Yin also consciously showed a 'charming' smile, and his gaze turned toward James Ha Deng.

Back then, as the Knicks' star, after losing him the team actually played more smoothly. This also let Jeff Van Gundy directly bench him in many crucial moments of important games.

D'Antoni obviously lacked the courage of Jeff Van Gundy; after all, Jeff Van Gundy was the head coach who dared to rush over and hug Mourning's thigh. Jeff Van Gundy's prestige in the Knicks locker room back then was very high.

However, D'Antoni could not truly control the Rockets' locker room; his power was sometimes limited by the Three Giants.

So, when the second quarter was halfway through, he had to put James Harden on the court.

James Harden stepped onto the court, and Beverley was substituted out.

He teamed up with Paul.

The feeling of Paul controlling the team like an arm and finger instantly vanished; Harden's defense is far inferior to Beverley's, and Beverley is willing to give his all to run tactics for Paul, while Harden is unwilling, and Harden's threat with the ball is greater.

Baoluo's feeling of controlling the team as if using his arms vanished instantly; Ha Deng's defense was far inferior to Bei Fu Li's, and Bei Fu Li was willing to give his all to run tactics for Baoluo. Ha Deng was unwilling, and his threat with the ball was even greater.

But looking back, Fan Xi also helped the newly subbed-in Joe Johnson hit a three-pointer, and Bariani also made one.

But looking back, Fan Xi also helped the newly substituted Qiao Yue Han Xun make a three-pointer, and Ba Li Ya Ni also made one.

"'The Rockets' strength is far too different from last season's Lakers, even though they share Paul, Howard, and coach D'Antoni.'"

Charles Barkley suddenly lamented: "From this we can conclude that James Harden's strength is not even as good as the aging Kobe Bryant."

O'Neal didn't shy away from the topic, he said: "Kobe made many sacrifices last season; I've watched his games. If he had been willing to play like that when he was young, we would have already won five in a row."

O'Neal didn't shy away from this topic, he said: "Kobe made many sacrifices last season; I've watched his games. If he had been willing to play like that when he was young, we would have already won five consecutive championships."

Kenny Smith beside him smiled and said, "Kobe said, if you work a little harder, train actively, you would have already won five consecutive championships."

O'Neal raised his eyebrows, he neither agreed nor disagreed.

But no matter how you say it, three consecutive championships is already a great achievement.

That two constantly feuding players could achieve such an accomplishment makes it all the more rare.

By comparison, James Harden and Chris Paul are not arguing as fiercely between them. But they really… are not a good fit.

The second quarter ended quickly.

The score between the two teams was 59:47.

The Knicks expanded their lead to 12 points.

At this moment, JR Smith suddenly shouted loudly at Fan Xi: "Jie Ke, we can't keep playing like this. If we only lead by 12 points at halftime, we need to win by an additional 28 points in the second half to set the record for the largest margin in history. The Lakers back then lost to the Celtics by 39 points."

Smith's "loud secret talk" wasn't afraid of being overheard; he was afraid that Chris Paul wouldn't hear it.

He just wanted to provoke Paul.

Paul's face turned ashen; this active-duty first point guard, ever since being traded to Los Angeles and becoming Fan Xi's direct rival, has been unhappy… He has never felt pleased.

The anger he had been holding inside was already near the point of explosion.

So this time, after taking two deep breaths, he decided he could no longer tolerate it.

He shouted at JR Smith: "JR Smith, and Jieke Fan. If you have the ability to let me swallow the largest margin in history, then come. Don't just bluster over there; do you really think you have that ability? Stop dreaming, you're still far off."

When Paul showed a confrontational stance, the nearby chief referee hurried over to intervene.

Paul had already made himself into a powder keg, a player viewed differently by referees and officials.

Although causing Leonard and Durant to get injured in succession allowed him to advance smoothly to the finals, it also damaged his image, reducing his chances of getting superstar calls in the future, and the league will pay more attention to his minor moves.

He will become the new-era Stockton.

Stockton is the league's all-time assists leader and was once the league's top point guard of his era.

However, Stockton rarely receives respect from others; people only say he is a superstar player and also a dirty superstar player.

Fan Xi smiled at Paul and gestured to the chief referee, saying this was just a private chat.

He did not want to escalate the matter.

But he told Paul: "Chris, since you said that, then this game and the next, I've got you covered!"

Fan Xi's tone was not sharp.

But it revealed an extremely firm and strong will.

This is the will of the league's number one person.

…