Chapter 635

The Heat's cheers were clearly higher than Kuaisuan's.

Although Fan Xi got more wins in the regular season, fans and commentators believed it was due to Wiggins' above-average performance hitting high-difficulty lucky shots. Not his fault!

Neutral fans were saying this year Kuaisuan are more likely to lose than win; although Clippers fans still have confidence, it's not as strong as in previous years.

This year's Heat truly makes people despair.

They have four max contracts, paying luxury tax so high that even the New York Knicks find it extravagant—one year's salary expenditure equals four years for Kuaisuan.

With such an investment, it only seems natural to expect to win a championship.

Moreover, the media is actually influencing most basketball fans.

When Fan Xi defeated James four times in a row, James became a sympathetic figure; everyone started thinking: "Alright. Jie Ke has already beaten James four times, so it's about time James won a championship."

If you keep playing like this, who will still want to play with you?

It's like the NBA regular-season MVP voting: if you've already won two consecutive times, even if you perform even better in the third year, it's hard to win the award.

This is the so-called balance.

But for Fan Xi, since he wants to dominate this era and occupy Michael Jordan's throne, he must assert his presence in this discriminatory league and must produce indisputable results.

Five-peat!

This is the greatest proof of surpassing Jordan!

Fan Xi is determined to do something unprecedented.

…

The fifth game between the Clippers and the Warriors was held as scheduled at Staples Center, which was packed with fans from all over; they started creating a frenzied din even before the game began, cheering for Fan Xi and rallying for the Clippers.

Under these circumstances, Fan Xi displayed an aggressiveness he had never shown this season.

Although Fan Xi won the scoring title with an average of 40+ points, for him this season he had no truly representative work; he was more often a team player, giving up many ball possessions… This sounds like dark humor, a 40+ points per game scoring champion giving up ball possessions, but it's indeed true.

This game was completely different.

At the start, Fan Xi unleashed an unprecedented desire to attack; on his first possession he strode past Curry's defense, drove into the paint, and faced Bogut and Green's help defense with unprecedented bravery, slamming the ball straight into the basket.

Afterward, Fan Xi fired from beyond the three-point line and hit a three.

Fan Xi devoted most of his energy to scoring, leaving the task of guarding Curry to Leonard.

He was completely releasing his inner passion, turning scoring into a pressure release.

He was like an elementary school student wielding a 'treasure sword' charging into a melon field, chopping melons and vegetables all the way.

Not a single watermelon escaped.

The Warriors had no defensive line that wasn't breached.

They were devastated; they simply couldn't stop it.

Steve Kerr only then realized that even in a shootout, they struggled to defeat the Clippers.

Because Fan Xi's offensive firepower was too fierce.

The reason he previously didn't focus on offense might be because he thought it wasn't necessary.

But tonight, his resentment combined with his hot hand; his shooting touch was at its peak, he kept making shots, hitting all kinds of difficult shots.

Iguodala really gave his all, and Thompson was running out of breath.

If you can't defend it, you just can't defend it.

First quarter, Fan Xi scored 19 points.

Second quarter, Fan Xi's total points broke 35.

After the third quarter, Fan Xi had 53 points.

Fourth quarter, Fan Xi played 8 minutes, his score reached 72 points.

The Warriors simply couldn't stop it; they could only announce their season's end glumly, turning the final five minutes of the season into garbage time.

This was unavoidable; aside from defeat, they had no chance to accept any other outcome.

Finally, the game's score was 138:108.

The Clippers won by 30 points; Fan Xi displayed his formidable scoring dominance, using action to tell fans worldwide: "As long as I'm willing, I can dominate any opponent through scoring at any time and place."

This is the greatest significance of Fan Xi moving to the shooting guard position this season.

He wants to defeat Jordan using Jordan's strongest suit, to give Jordan a final verdict: you shall henceforth be history's second-best. Maybe I'll appoint you as executive vice GOAT!

Just like current James, he is also the league's executive vice ruler.

Besides Fan Xi, he can beat anyone and dominate any team.

As the league's second-best, it's somewhat sad.

But now, he has encountered a turning point.

He is widely regarded favorably. This favorability differs from previous years; previously, those who were optimistic about the Heat still had a somewhat presumptuous attitude.

But this year, the Heat have long lost their filter; they are instead the underdogs, and this underdog's displayed competitiveness is unprecedented.

…

"We have no interest in the Western Conference championship."

Leonard is a low-key person; he began playing the role of J. R. Smith. J. R. Smith was suspended for two games, and he must wait until the second game of the Finals to return.

However, his on-court impact with the Clippers is far less than his impact with the Knicks last season; he's more of a bench troublemaker and atmosphere creator.

"I don't know what it takes to win a championship, but for this year's championship I'm willing to give everything."

Leonard's words were very resolute and firm.

Fan Xi stood beside him, knowing what Leonard meant by those words.

Leonard also knew that Fan Xi knew what he meant by those words.

They understood each other without words.

After this season, Leonard will leave; he already has superstar caliber. The Clippers will sign him to a supermax contract, and he has already activated the Fan Xi Clause.

Lun Na De wants to put a perfect end to his final season with the Kuaisuan.

Actually, he does not lack a championship.

Under his four-year rookie contract, he has already won two championships.

Last year, he led the team as the sole core and reached the Western Conference semifinals; if he hadn't been injured, making it to the Western Finals, or even the Finals, would have been possible.

Fan Xi patted his shoulder and gave him an encouraging look.

Lun Na De showed a smile; although leaving the main team and his hometown is sad, he knows this is good for him, for the team, and for Fan Xi.

Since it's a good thing, he should leave smiling, taking his championship ring with him.

"The Warriors are strong; they are indeed an era-defining team, but now they still lack a bit of fire." Fan Xi, after raising the Western Championship trophy, faced reporters commenting on the Warriors: "If they don't have the chance to strengthen the interior, they should work hard at the small forward position. I didn't say Yi Ge Da La and Ba En Si are bad. But if, this season, they also have a superstar scorer at the small forward position, no team could stop them."

Everything Fan Xi said was sincere.

He doesn't mind giving them some sincere advice.

Then, he was inevitably asked about the Heat.

Fan Xi said: 'They are very strong; I have watched their games, I have watched all playoff videos. I cheered for them; if this team faced my past self, my chances of winning would decrease.'

'But this season, my teammates around me are all evolving. We are a Superhero League; I don't think their four big stars can suppress us.'

Fan Xi said confidently: 'We can still defeat them.'

…

Le Bu Lang Zhang Si responded to Fan Xi's shout; he has been low-key for many years.

But this time, he is no longer low-key.

At the Miami International Airport en route to Los Angeles, accepting media interviews from Florida, he spoke with great momentum: 'This time, we will at least bring back a victory. We will not lose; we will defeat Fan Xi.'

'The angels will blow away the haze that has hovered over Miami for four years; we will finally see the light of day!'

Le Bu Lang Zhang Si said very confidently.

He also directly responded to Fan Xi's remarks: 'If they are a Superhero League, then we are the Avengers League. I believe he does not have the ability to destroy half the world with a snap. Even so, we will still achieve ultimate victory.'

The two are at odds.

This is a scene that has not appeared for many years.

When James first started, he was full of pride; at that time he did not take Fan Xi seriously. But after being repeatedly dealt with, he became honest and low-key, no longer seeking a direct confrontation with Fan Xi.

This time, he finally became tough again.

This made the media go wild; almost all US media reported James's airport speech.

Many fans went crazy; they finally waited for James to rise, finally waited for Heaven's Chosen Son to again release the pride of Heaven's Chosen Son.

Fan Xi, can you still not lose this time?

Your good luck should also come to an end.

…

After James's shout, the heat surged again.

This is the reason why the Los Angeles Kuaisuan ticket prices have risen again; when a courtside ticket reaches 4000 USD, the scalper price doubles—what does that mean?

It means sponsors must spend five times the price of the Western Finals to get their ads into the Staples Center.

The number of TV reservations also reached an unprecedented level.

Fan Xi and James—just putting their names out there can bring in super box office.

NBA is ecstatic.

Adam Silver actually wants more to create a situation where James and Fan Xi take turns resting and presiding, just like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson of the past, standing side by side, ruling the NBA.

Thus everyone is happy.

US media and fans can continue to hype James and Jordan.

Media outside the US hype Fan Xi as the greatest in history.

Neither side delays the other.

Moreover, every time they meet, it can still cause the arena to explode.

Why not?

However, many things often go against wishes; what he hopes for is not necessarily guaranteed, even if he is the league commissioner, theoretically possessing the league's greatest authority.

On the day the Finals officially arrived, the Staples Center was packed with people, and outside was the same.

Approximately over ten thousand fans loitered around, making the already terrible traffic in Los Angeles an even more severe challenge.

There were many socialites on the sidelines.

Whoever can sit there is not a multi-millionaire or above?

The camera panned past, seeing Lai Long Na, Bu La De Pi Te, Dan Ze Er Hua Sheng Dun, Pi Zi A Mu, JAY-Z, Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te, Mai Dang Na, Sai Lin Na, Ka Dai Jia Zu… This has become a showcase for the socialite circle.

Everyone takes pride in appearing at the Staples Center.

Although many of them used to chase the Lakers in the past, now the Kuaisuan has become the favorite Los Angeles team of the socialites.

Who let the Kuaisuan press down the Lakers these past years?

Everyone admires the strong.

Especially those in the world of fame and fortune.

When Fan Xi appeared, the whole arena screamed. The MVP cheers never ceased.

On one hand, this is reverence for Fan Xi; on the other hand, it is dissatisfaction with the league… Why give the regular-season MVP to James? He clearly lost in record, he fundamentally does not deserve that trophy.

When James appeared, boos rose like a tide. But his expression suggested he had blown magnesium powder and struck a special pose.

He displayed an aura of making the heavy seem light.

He has indeed changed greatly.

When he shook hands with Fan Xi, he also said with a smile: 'Jie Ke, haven't you been resting well lately? Your dark circles have gotten a bit darker.'

Fan Xi said: "You too."

James's dark circles… This sounds like dark humor.

Fan Xi subsequently also exchanged greetings with Wade.

Wade spent most of this season in recovery; he was maintaining his condition, his age is older than those of James Cameron and their peers, and his injury situation is relatively complex.

Most importantly, in the past few seasons, whenever the finals reached a crucial moment, he got injured.

"This year, I will fight to the end." Wade said to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi said: "It's meaningless."

Fan Xi thought Wade could no longer match Leonard; although Wade would still have standout performances, looking at the whole series, Fan Xi firmly believed Leonard would perform better.

Fan Xi originally didn't plan to continue greeting the Heat players, but Howard came over on his own.

He said to Fan Xi: "Jie Ke, I've said before, I will make you regret it. No one has ever been able to refuse me twice, and you can't either! So, I will take away what you cherish most. Starting from tonight."

His words were fierce, but he talked too much. The more he talked, the more his momentum collapsed.

He was just like a resentful yellow-faced woman.

Fan Xi looked at his eyes, then seriously said: "De Huait, I feel you will come begging me for shelter a third time."

"You're dreaming!" Howard said solemnly: "Such a thing will never happen; I will spend my career with the Heat, and I will win five, six, or seven championships."

Fan Xi smiled, smiling very happily.

He felt Howard was indeed a simple person; the fact that he lacks much brains is already true.

So, why argue with a fool?

"As long as you're happy."

Fan Xi walked toward the other side.

The Heat's starting lineup tonight is: Qian Mosi, Wade, James, Bo Shi, Huo Huade.

The Kuaisuan side is: Lu Biao, Fan Xi, Lun Nade, Ka Peila, Yue Jiji.

They are all regular lineups.

None have chosen to win by unconventional means.

…