Chapter 633: What Is the Spirit of Sports?

The one who strikes first is strong; the one who strikes later suffers.

When facing villains, one must resort to even more ferocious tactics.

Diamond‑hard eyes blaze, the might of thunder.

The game continues.

The Warriors' perimeter firepower stays high, but the Clippers also constantly have strong offensive bursts, and both sides have been locked in a stalemate since the opening.

End of the first quarter: 31–31.

It's a tie.

This thrilled the ESPN commentators, who lavishly praised the Warriors, hailing them as a groundbreaking team and claiming they will reshape the league's landscape.

The second quarter begins.

The Clippers strike first: Fan Xi moves to point guard, the shooting guard is Leonard, the small forward is Giannis Antetokounmpo, the power forward is Huaiti Seda, and the center is Mili Xiqi.

They made a fundamental change.

At the start, Fan Xi broke through Curry's defense, drove into the paint, and single‑handedly dunked… Bogut tugged at Fan Xi, but couldn't stop him.

The head referee tacitly accepted that this defensive intensity was reasonable.

Then Mili Xiqi used the same defensive pressure on Iguodala, who failed to make the shot.

Fan Xi spun and launched a fast break; he and Giannis double‑teamed the paint, the Greek "little monster" leapt, caught Fan Xi's pass in midair and slammed it home.

The rim buzzed from his slam; Iguodala is a physically gifted player, but he couldn't stop the Greek monster's charge.

Giannis Antetokounmpo possesses phenomenal physicality; he can be mentioned alongside Kevin Durant and Le Bu Lang Zhang Si as one of the three top forwards.

Warriors head coach Stephen Kurl covets the Clippers' newcomers, repeatedly saying Jieke Fan had a sixth‑sense in the draft. He has almost always selected the best player each year.

From Leonard, Butler, Giannis to Jokic.

Even low‑pick rookies can be gems. Huaiti Seda, Capela and the like are his masterpieces.

Now these players have become the backbone of the Clippers.

Moreover, once these guys leave the Clippers, they quickly join the ranks of superstars.

Thus, many teams now seek trades with the Clippers. After Jordan acquired Butler from the Clippers, the Hornets took off, becoming a playoff team and continuing to improve steadily.

The Warriors have fallen into a defensive swamp.

This lineup's defensive pressure is intense; everyone employs a press. Though the Warriors are masters of spacing, the Clippers' athleticism and talent fill that space.

At this point, the Warriors grow frantic.

When substitute center Pachulia stepped under Fan Xi's layup, Fan Xi landed on his foot and nearly twisted it. If Fan Xi weren't exceptionally gifted and experienced enough to fall safely, another player would have been injured and left the game.

The camera captured the scene verbatim and replayed it on the big screen; the Staples Center erupted in boos.

But the ESPN commentator said, "Pachulia's height makes him clumsy; it's normal he can't control his footwork, after all the NBA is high‑intensity competition…"

If a person's seat is crooked, their mind follows suit.

In the next possession, Mili Xiqi made Pachulia pay.

When Pachulia was boxing with him, he suddenly pulled the chair away, and Pachulia fell flat on his backside.

He stayed restless on the floor, kicking Mili Xiqi twice.

The head referee blew the whistle and warned against causing trouble.

The Clippers receive the ball and free throws for a technical foul.

At this moment, Fan Xi walked up to Steve Kurl: "I want you to play tough defense, not dirty tactics. If you insist on that, I'll make you regret it."

It's a warning.

Fan Xi's gaze locks onto Kurl like a leopard.

Kurl says nothing, feigning calm with a smile.

Swish!

Swish!

Mili Xiqi makes both free throws.

Then the inbound goes to Fan Xi, who immediately backs down Curry for a one‑on‑one.

He arches his back and pushes Curry inside; Curry can't withstand it.

After retreating three steps, Fan Xi spins.

Displaying monstrous strength, he then bursts with explosive power into the paint, leaps, collides midair with Pachulia, who grabs his shoulder and pins Fan Xi down; before being pinned, Fan Xi tosses the ball out.

Click!

The head referee blows the whistle.

Fan Xi glares at Pachulia, slowly telling the dirty bug, "From now on I'll guard you one‑on‑one every possession; I'll crush you."

Fan Xi shows unprecedented ferocity and outlaw spirit.

Swish!

Swish!

Both free throws go in.

Afterward, the Clippers deploy an iron defense.

All players press tightly.

The Warriors are stuck like gum, caught off guard.

They didn't expect the Clippers to drag the pace into such a quagmire.

Under this high‑intensity pressure, Curry's movement can't break the line, the Warriors waste 24 seconds without even attempting a shot.

Turning back, Fan Xi still attacks Curry aggressively, his back‑to‑back… a fierce collision leaves Curry helpless.

He can only watch as Fan Xi spins, charges the paint again, halts before Pachulia, fakes, causing Pachulia's balance to be fooled and he jumps, brushes past and shoots… Swish!

Hit.

Kuaisuan displayed grit.

They brought out the iron-blooded defensive posture from last season, and Fan Xi defended with all his might more than ever.

Kuaisuan's defensive intensity rose to historic levels.

The Warriors never imagined they would face such a predicament.

Kerr requested a timeout.

He demanded the players move more actively, he demanded everyone enter a fast‑moving state.

Moreover, he did not take Fan Xi's words to heart.

He still gave the interior players some hints.

Someone has to do the dirty work; why can't it be you?

The game continued.

Curry finally found an opening in the gap, the Warriors used the elevator door tactic to block Fan Xi, and Curry hit a three‑pointer under Leonard's help defense.

He steadied the Warriors' declining momentum.

But afterward, Fan Xi continued to attack the paint.

Pachulia threw an elbow, trying to knock Fan Xi down in the air.

But, at the moment Fan Xi was about to exert force, using his astonishing waist‑and‑abdomen strength and his naturally gifted hang time, he circled Pachulia once; the rotational force plus Pachulia's own downward violent force… instantly sent him crashing down…… Swish!

At the moment Fan Xi made the basket, Pachulia fell onto him, his raised elbow first striking the hard floor.

Then came Pachulia's pig‑like howl; he turned over lying down, but found his elbow could not be lowered… his 'weapon' underwent a substantive change.

After the head referee announced that Fan Xi's score was valid, he called a stop to the game.

The Warriors' team doctor rushed onto the court to examine Pachulia.

The examination results were far from optimistic; they all frowned… after all, Pachulia's massive weight, still exerting force in the air… the gravitational acceleration upon impact concentrated entirely on the tip of his elbow.

The team doctor hurriedly helped him up, then sent him out of the arena; he needed emergency care.

As the team doctor left, he said something that chilled the Warriors' players: 'It cannot be determined whether his career will be over.'

Their gazes at Fan Xi turned to fearful awe.

Fan Xi, however, was untroubled and guiltless, staring directly at each Warrior player. He thought, this is what happens when one does too much wrong and brings ruin upon oneself.

Green no longer leapt up and down from the high post.

Kuaisuan held the initiative, but the Warriors could always use three‑pointers to pull the deficit back into a safe zone.

The first half also ended quickly.

Then the third quarter arrived.

Isaiah Thomas got a chance to play; this was a gamble.

Because the second‑quarter lineup had played well, facing such a strong opponent as the Warriors, any change would easily give them an opening. Stability, stability is the biggest factor in the playoffs.

But Fan Xi deliberately went against convention.

But then Isaiah Thomas and Jokić ran a pick‑and‑roll, he got the chance, decisively shot, and made the three‑pointer to recover.

Fan Xi had told him, this is your best chance.

Fan Xi was willing to give these hard‑working lower‑tier players a chance.

But the premise is that it must not be wasted.

Isaiah Thomas gave his all, desperately chasing Stephen Curry, his small stature constantly darting about.

Curry was somewhat affected.

His second shot missed.

The deficit widened further.

The effect Fan Xi hoped for appeared.

They drew the Warriors' defensive fire to the top of the arc.

Fan Xi, Antetokounmpo, and Capela frenetically attacked their paint.

It was like a flood bursting a corner of a dam, instantly collapsing with a roar.

Third quarter, the Warriors collapsed.

None of them expected the collapse to start at the top of the arc, triggered by Isaiah Thomas.

Kuaisuan established a 15‑point lead.

Then, in the fourth quarter, Kuaisuan reverted to a defensive stance again.

The impregnable defensive connection reappeared in the jianghu.

At most the Warriors narrowed the gap to six points, but thereafter Kuaisuan played steadily.

Finally, they won with a score of 112:103.

Kuaisuan defended their home court.

The effect Fan Xi hoped for appeared.

They drew the Warriors' defensive fire to the top of the arc.

Fan Xi, Antetokounmpo, and Capela frenetically attacked their paint.

Fan Xi, Antetokounmpo, and Capela frenetically attacked their paint.

The Warriors' interior defense collapsed.

It was like a flood bursting a corner of a dam, instantly collapsing with a roar.

In the third quarter, the Warriors collapsed.

None of them expected the collapse to start at the top of the arc, triggered by Isaiah Thomas.

89：74。 -> "89:74."

Kuaisuan established a 15‑point lead.

Then, in the fourth quarter, Kuaisuan reverted to a defensive stance again.

The impregnable defensive connection reappeared in the jianghu.

At most, the Warriors narrowed the gap to six points, but thereafter Kuaisuan played steadily.

Finally, they won with a score of 112:103.

Kuaisuan defended their home court.

Although the score difference was 9 points, the game was still heart‑pounding.

In a showdown between experts, even a slight lapse in any area will lead to a collective defeat.

After the match, Fan Xi did not discuss the game's issue. He was talking about sportsmanship: "I believe any player playing in a top league like the NBA, the most important point is to impart a healthy, positive sports spirit to basketball fans worldwide. If for victory one uses any means, goes all out to blow out others' lamps, to let others spend the rest of their lives with injuries."

"I think such players should be universally condemned. Furthermore, I urge all other teams in the league to refuse to establish working relationships with such so-called tough guys."

"The Kuaisuan will do just that."

"Fan Xi expressed his stance."

"His gun barrel pointed directly at the Warriors."

"…"