Chapter 656: The King Was Driven Out

Le Bu Lang Zhang Si felt power being infiltrated; he realized Irving and Wiggins were being subtly provoked by Durant, and they both harbored thoughts of rebelling against him.

But he currently lacks a sufficient solution.

His coach is not Maikelbang but has become Tyronn Lue. Although Tyronn Lue also listens to him, he is not as obedient as Maikelbang.

Although the Knights remain the Knights, after wandering outside and returning empty-handed, a betraying family goes out to make a living, fails to succeed, then returns home… logically, it's hard to justify him inheriting the family business and becoming the head of the household.

This is why, after Durant's provocation, Irving and Wiggins immediately took the bait.

After the first half, the Kuaisuan led by 15 points and entered the locker room.

In the locker room, Durant said to Fan Xi: "Le Bu Lang Zhang Si surely has a headache now; he doesn't know how to deal with the two opponents inside the team. Wiggins and Irving are restraining him—what can he do? He finally experiences the feeling I had back when I was with the Thunder, being sidelined by Westbrook."

"Can Westbrook sideline you?" Fan Xi asked gossipy.

"How could he not? Sometimes he deliberately doesn't pass to me, not following tactical instructions. When he thinks he can solve the problem, or thinks I can't, he goes solo." Durant spread his hands: "Tactics can't control him."

Speaking of this, Old Two Durant felt a deep bitterness.

Still, the Kuaisuan is great. As long as I have the touch, they really feed me the ball.

"What does Leonard say about him and Westbrook being quite happy?" Mili Xiqi joked with Durant in the locker room.

If it were anyone else, Durant wouldn't respond. But Mili Xiqi is his second parents; in the previous round, he helped him take out Green, and his inner demons vanished. "Dako, if Leonard were as handsome as me, do you think Russell wouldn't be jealous?"

Pff!

Mili Xiqi really couldn't hold back.

Fan Xi had been holding back, but seeing Durant's serious expression, he couldn't hold back either.

The locker room filled with loud laughter; the Kuaisuan's atmosphere has always led the league.

By contrast, the Knights' locker room had a somewhat solemn atmosphere.

The players hardly spoke to each other; Wiggins and Kevin Love chatted for a while about music, both coming from wealthy families, so they had common ground to discuss refined music.

But everyone else was lost in their own thoughts.

James now faces a difficult problem: … after losing five times to Fan Xi, he must explain to those who challenge him why he possesses the royal authority.

Fan Xi shattered his "mandate of heaven" lifeline; now the media no longer promotes him as Heaven's Chosen Son—he is the king.

He must prove with his strength why it is him.

His strength is naturally strong, ranking second in the league.

But Irving and Wiggins haven't challenged his strength either; they still lack a decisive gap in ability.

Tyronn Lue set the second-half tactics, still centered on James.

Irving proposed an opinion, believing that launching an attack from his position would more easily open up the situation. Then Tyronn Lue looked at James.

James said something no one expected: "Fine, let Irving give it a try; if it doesn't work, I'll take over the game."

James advanced by retreating.

The game soon began.

Irving was like a novice driver who finally got the steering wheel; he directly drove the Knights onto the fast lane, plunged headfirst into the paint, and finished a beautiful spin move layup.

This goal excited him immensely; he slapped his chest and let out a roar, as if a new emperor had ascended the throne.

Fan Xi wondered why he was so excited—it's just a layup, right?

He looked at James, whose mouth curled with a slight smile.

It's obvious that Duke James finds the youths' arrogance amusing, after all, he too once went through that stage.

In the next possession, Fan Xi shoved Irving aside, drove into the paint, and completed a powerful windmill dunk.

TT was beside him, not even daring to reach out to block.

His girlfriend Khloe Kardashian screamed from the sidelines, terrified that her lover would be knocked out by Fan Xi… then there'd be nothing to use tonight.

After completing the dunk, Fan Xi glanced at Irving and asked, "Are you challenging me?"

Irving is a rebellious sort; he only entered the NBA a year after Fan Xi. He once thought that he and Fan Xi were merely a matter of luck—if he were with the Lakers, the one to become famous and make a fortune would be him, Irving. But later, as Fan Xi repeatedly dominated James, he realized the huge gap.

"No, I'm just challenging myself." Irving said from the heart.

He had the courage to throw heavy punches at James, but against Fan Xi he could only be submissive.

Because he felt he had a chance to successfully rebel within the Knights, but facing Fan Xi, he had not the slightest idea.

"Then that's good."

Fan Xi nodded, wearing an expression of "the child is teachable."

The game continued.

Irving kept launching attacks, but the effect wasn't great. His ball-handling was better than James's, his touch better too, but his height and wingspan were far inferior to James's, and his impact couldn't match James's.

If James can't even beat the Kuaisuan, how could launching an offensive work?

In the third quarter, the Knights lost another 11 points.

In the fourth quarter, James took over the Knights.

The effect was a bit better than Irving's, but not much better.

The Kuaisuan easily won the first game.

Actually, everyone already knows that with the Kuaisuan's roster this year and Fan Xi's ability, how could the Knights possibly win?

The Knights themselves are aware; they've started busying themselves with internal strife.

After the game ended, James found Irving and said, "Do you now know the gap between you and me? The future is yours, but for now you must follow my orders; only by cooperating do we have a chance to win."

He believed Irving would submit after seeing the gap.

But Irving shook his head.

Irving said to James: "You also have no chance of beating Jie Ke. I want to try my own method. Le Bu Lang Zhang Si, you've been proven unable to defeat Jie Ke—don't keep forcing yourself to improve."

Irving looked at James firmly.

His eyes were full of unwillingness.

James finally realized the enormous damage the past five years had inflicted on him. He could no longer wield absolute authority as before, nor could he summon obedience with a single call; no one dared to defy him.

Now Ouwen dares to confront him head-on.

Weijins also refuses to submit to him.

Although Kevin Love does not take sides, not taking sides is actually a form of taking sides.

James discovered that upon returning to the Cavaliers, he actually felt isolated.

The coaching staff no longer executes a single plan; they have B and C plans. Although they emphasize James as the main focus, in reality the on-court tactics often become chaotic and are not centered on James at all.

Beating the Bulls is purely a matter of overwhelming firepower.

Now, facing the Clippers, with essentially no chance of victory, plus Kevin Durant's provocation,

James is facing a crisis of trust, and his authority is under severe challenge.

The bullet Le Bu Lang fired in 2010 has now come flying back, aimed at his brow.

How should he respond?

This year's Finals, for him, is no longer a showdown with Fan Xi; the danger comes from within.

If he cannot suppress the hostile feelings in the locker room, he is very likely to be exiled. As a king banished by his own realm, there is an old Chinese saying that fits him well: A grounded phoenix is not as good as a chicken.

…

Durant, after the game, effusively gave his victory remarks: "I originally thought winning the championship was a very difficult thing; I even regarded it as my lifelong dream. But now I suddenly feel that winning the championship is as easy as drinking water."

"What hardship and struggle? What passionate fighting? It's just crushing weaklings all the way. I originally thought the Eastern Conference champion was very strong, but in fact it's no different from our first-round opponent."

"Le Bu Lang Zhang Si doesn't seem much stronger than in the regular season, and he has no new weapons to offer. Even his teammates feel they can't win by following him. Here, I suggest the Cavaliers let Ouwen try being the core; if that doesn't work, Weijins could have a shot."

"What era is this? Stop learning from Wade how to give up ball control and the core role. After all, Wade is already old, while you are still young!"

Durant's chatters on and on—he really can talk.

Naming him the NBA's trash-talk king is absolutely unproblematic.

If he continues to stir up discord like this, the Cavaliers will inevitably come to blows.

Fan Xi also reminded him.

But he replied, "Flies don't land on uncracked eggs; it's the egg that first goes bad, then the flies smell it and come."

Fan Xi snapped, "You mean you're the fly?"

Durant still proudly said, "If Le Bu Lang Zhang Si is a rotten egg, I can be the fly."

Fan Xi gave a thumbs-up.

Praise.

The second Finals game arrived as scheduled, still at the Staples Center, with Clippers fans remaining very enthusiastic. For such a lackluster match, everyone's mood was much happier.

"We're about to grab our fourth championship, feeling a bit pleased—this happens every summer." A Clippers fan showed off on ESPN TV.

Since the Lakers traded Fan Xi to the Clippers, Clippers fans' mood has kept improving. Especially after Fan Xi became the owner of the Clippers, this pleasant feeling has reached an unsurpassable level.

By contrast, Lakers fans, aside from switching allegiance to become Clippers fans, can only see their mood grow worse. After all, watching a team once far inferior to theirs become ever more glorious, piling up championships, what else can they do besides envy and sorrow?

The second game of the Finals remained a civil war.

James led the team for two quarters, while Ouwen and Weijins led for the other two.

In the first half James lost by 8 points; in the second half Ouwen and Weijins lost by 11 points.

The gap wasn't large.

But Ouwen indeed lacks James's control.

When they argued in the final moments of the fourth quarter, Fan Xi wanted to step in and mediate, but Durant was already there ahead of him, saying, "Le Bron, you're the older brother; let Ouwen have a little."

James almost beat Durant up, thinking, "Why should I yield just because I'm the older brother? Why didn't you give way to Westbrook back then?"

This isn't mediation—it's adding fuel to the fire.

Sure enough, after the game Ouwen said, "Our tactics need to change; we can't switch between the Number 3 Tactic and the Number 1 Tactic on a whim. A team shouldn't lack a leader who rose from the ranks."

When asked about this, Weijins also acted listless. He said, "I've played one more year with Ouwen than you have, so I understand him better."

This is a direct showdown, forcing the palace.

In the past, the Cavaliers would surely have sided with James, definitely suppressing Ouwen and Weijins—never mind that these two are up-and-comers; in Ohio, there has always been only one sun.

But that sun was toyed with by Miami for five years and ruined.

This feeling is like your beloved goddess, whom you treasured, being led away by a petty thug for five years, trying every trick. Then the goddess returns, saying she wants to start over with you, while you actually have a modest but virtuous maiden by your side—though her physique doesn't match the goddess's, she makes up for it with loyal affection and is pure, untainted by anyone else's shape.

Which would you choose?

The Cavaliers chose not to choose.

They opted to let public opinion ferment for a while.

Most of Ohio's media still supported James, but half of the fan base backed Ouwen and Weijins.

Anyway, since we can't win the championship, why not let the youngsters give it a try?

Trying it means death!

In the third game, the Clippers slaughtered the Cavaliers by 21 points.

In the fourth game, Tyronn Lu wanted James to step up as the core; James clasped his hands and said, "Please seek someone more capable."

His heart turned cold.

He knew his hometown had changed; it no longer welcomed him as before, and staying there felt pointless.

Since Ouwen and Weijins are seeking to rise, then go ahead and play.

Let it be destroyed.

I'm tired.

James lay flat for the first time in the Finals.

In the fourth game, Fan Xi again recorded a super-large triple-double: 32 points, 16 assists, 15 rebounds, 5 steals, 3 blocks.

Absolutely comprehensive.

In the four games of the Finals, he averaged 29.5 points, 14.5 assists, 12 rebounds, 4.5 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game.

Godlike statistics.

Although Durant averaged 32 points, he was also very fierce.

But the Finals MVP was unquestionably given to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi won both the regular season and Finals MVPs; when he raised the Finals MVP trophy.

Charles Barkley said: "I seem to have no reason to say anything more about Michael Jordan being better than Jieke Fan."

As a die-hard Fan Xi hater, he was truly convinced.

Actually, not only him, but also ESPN were convinced. They had been smearing Fan Xi for six years; now they finally can't smear him.

They started saying: "If we give Jieke Fan two more years, after more settling, he will be the NBA's goat, no one can stop him. Michael Jordan's first six years of his career were indeed not as great as Jie Ke."

Being able to say such words from ESPN's mouth shows how great Fan Xi is.

Jordan also congratulated Fan Xi on social media for winning his sixth career championship and sixth Finals MVP.

Although his mouth still doesn't loosen,... it's also meaningless.

Goat is a recognized honorific title; whoever the people support is the goat.

"Jie Ke, which team will you go to next season?"

After the game, Durant asked Fan Xi.

Fan Xi said: "How would I know?"

"Anyway I'll follow you; I think we can still win another championship." Durant said firmly.

Fan Xi however said: "Next season's team might not be as strong as the Kuaisuan; if you follow me and we fail to win the championship, what then? You should go to the Warriors."

Durant, however, would not.

He clung to Fan Xi.

They walked into the player tunnel; James was waiting for Fan Xi there, and he said: "Let's chat, Jie Ke."

"Okay."

Fan Xi walked over and placed the MVP trophy into Durant's hands.

Durant perked up his ears, wanting to hear what the league's first and second persons were saying.

After all, he, the league's third person, is also important, right?

If the league's second person seeks to cling to the league's first person, wouldn't the injured one be me, the league's third person!

…