Chapter 66: Leader Style Jack

Kenny Smith said this, and Charles Barkley immediately grabbed and said: "It's a deal, Kenny, I'm waiting for you to kiss my ass, hahahaha."

Barkley was afraid that Kenny Smith would go back on his word; he had long had the idea of pranking Kenny. And he even thought triumphantly: Because of a Chinese player back then, I kissed a stupid donkey; tonight, I will take revenge, I will let Kenny lose all face too.

Earl Johnson, sitting in the middle, said to Smith with great regret: "Kenny, you've been fooled. The probability of Jack becoming the Rookie Game MVP is too low. You should bet with him on whether Jack can help the first-year team defeat the second-year team; that way maybe you have some chance of winning."

"Hey, Earl, it's settled now, you can't change it." Barkley reminded quickly.

Kenny Smith realized he was too arbitrary. However, he didn't want to be someone who went back on his word; he stiffened his neck and said firmly: "I just believe in Jack. Jack is the child of miracles; he won't let me fail."

Hehe.

Barkley's triumphant laughter came from the side.

He said in his heart: Your child of miracles is having trouble even getting on the court now. How could the Spurs-affiliated assistant coach give a Lakers guard a chance to perform? Dream on.

The audience in front of the TV watched the game more intently because of their bet. Although most people thought Barkley would win, they looked forward to the miracle happening again.

The game has already started.

The Rookie Game is the same as the All-Star Game. When it starts, it is very loose and relatively entertaining.

No real defense is put in.

Cousins beat the Spurs' second-year forward Blair in the jump ball and then flicked the ball to John Wall. Wall rushed to the front court like lightning. Curry and Harden didn't perform any real defense against him... although their defense is mediocre.

Wall killed into the paint... Boom!

He lifted the curtain of the Rookie Game with a lightning dunk.

Although his dunk height is not as good as Fan Xi's, and his elegant posture is not as good as Fan Xi's, he wins in momentum.

John Wall is worthy of being the fourth point guard top pick in history. His physical fitness is slightly weaker than Derrick Rose, Allen Iverson, and Magic Johnson, but to be a top pick, how can he be an ordinary person?

During this period, his limelight was snatched away by Fan Xi.

He held a big energy in his heart; he wanted to vent it in Los Angeles, on Fan Xi's turf, and become famous.

In contrast, the resentment of the second-year team didn't seem to be as strong as the first year's. They have a psychological advantage. So, after Stephen Curry arrived at the front court, he even politely gave the ball to James Harden.

James Harden received the ball and jumped to shoot outside the three-point line.

Harden at this time already had a relatively considerable beard, but his three-pointer hadn't reached the peak state, although he used a step-back.

But... bang!

The ball hit the iron.

Griffin protected the ball, and then he actually didn't pass the ball!

He rushed forward with the ball himself.

Charles Barkley said on TV: "Is Blake Griffin trying to imitate Shaquille O'Neal playing point guard in the All-Star Game back then?"

Blake Griffin's ball-handling ability is indeed good; thanks to the loose defense, he arrived at the front court quickly.

Then he deliberately performed a change of direction in front of Blair, and then, he killed into the paint.

In the case of no defense, he performed a magnificent two-handed heavy dunk.

This ball is top-notch in terms of power, explosive power, and absolute height.

Staples Center was excited, and everyone cheered loudly.

Cheering for this violent power forward from Los Angeles.

Fighting again, DeRozan of the second-year team killed into the paint, and he also performed a dunk in front of his hometown folks.

DeRozan and Harden of the second-year team are both native Los Angeles people, and they were excellent representatives of the California region during high school.

It's just that they were not selected by the hometown team in the draft.

DeRozan's dunk set off the offensive of the second-year team.

The first-year team, however, was visibly caught in factional fighting.

Griffin and Gary Neal were obviously closer, while John Wall and his college classmate Cousins were full of energy.

As everyone knows, John Wall and Griffin are competing for the best rookie of the season, and Cousins was ruthlessly dunked over by Blake Griffin before.

In the case of loose defense, this kind of fighting on their own will not affect the offensive.

However, this looseness will not continue forever.

The Rookie Game is divided into upper and lower halves, 20 minutes each, referring to the NCAA rules, as if to let these newcomers recall the pure basketball of the college period.

When the game reached the fourth minute, the defense of both sides improved.

These young and vigorous rookies are obviously not as steady as those successful stars. They are in the active period of competitive psychology.

Especially after Brandon Jennings was substituted in the third and a half minutes.

Brandon Jennings replaced Stephen Curry, who was kind and gentle. Curry is always quiet in such performance games; he even wanted to rush in to show a dunk in a certain round... although he has a dunk dream, his jumping height made him compromise to become a layup.

Brandon Jennings is different; he is a player with super strong enterprising spirit.

From the fact that he chose not to join the NCAA after graduating from high school, but went to Europe to earn an annual salary of 1.65 million US dollars after tax, it can be seen that his ambition is very great.

In fact, he also broke the rookie player single-game scoring record in his rookie season. However, he soon hit the rookie wall. His slightly thin body, and his explosive power and speed that are not particularly outstanding, made it easy for other teams to find ways to target him.

However, in the Rookie Game, he is still very strong; he is facing young children.

He came up and hit a 3-pointer.

Also shook his finger at John Wall, igniting the gunpowder smell.

And, the fans on the sidelines clearly heard his voice: "You are not good, you get down quickly, let Jack Fan come up!"

Brandon Jennings was brooding about Fan Xi breaking his rookie scoring record.

But such words of his are undoubtedly a trampling injury to John Wall.

John Wall was originally a proud person; he had always been unconvinced by Fan Xi, thinking Fan Xi was a flash in the pan. Now this damn second-year student actually shook his finger at him, putting him under Fan Xi.

If this can be endured, what cannot be endured.

John Wall launched a strong counterattack.

He rushed to the front court, changed direction to shake off Jennings, killed into the paint, and hit a floater. And turned back to shake his finger at Jennings: "Your clumsy defense is not as good as my 80-year-old grandmother with a cane. You and Jack Fan are both representatives of a flash in the pan."

John Wall also showed an aggressive side.

The gunpowder smell between the two quickly spread to both teams.

The two groups of young and vigorous players started to fight.

The experience of the second-year team presents an advantage at this time, although the talent of the first year is obviously stronger.

However, they are fighting on their own.

Blake Griffin and John Wall didn't work together at all; they had no interaction at all. In the case of the second-year team improving their defense, the first-year offensive was in a semi-misfire state.

The second-year team's shooting percentage was not high, but they gradually mastered the advantage.

Time passed quickly.

Both sides were changing players in this process.

Until the eleventh minute, Fan Xi hadn't appeared yet. Mike Budenholzer had already changed three players in succession, but was unable to change the fact that the first-year team was behind.

At this time, the first shout sounded in the arena: Fan! We need Jack Fan!

Then, all the fans at the scene were awakened.

Started to shout in unison: Jack Fan! Jack Fan! Jack Fan!

One wave higher than another.

The fans at the scene all want to see Fan Xi's performance. Fan Xi's popularity in Los Angeles is extremely high.

Mike Budenholzer was a bit embarrassed; he was still hesitant.

McHale said to him at this time: "If you don't change Jack to the court, can you bear the anger of Los Angeles fans? This will even affect your reputation in the basketball circle."

This is a warning. McHale's qualifications are far deeper than Mike Budenholzer's.

Mike Budenholzer pursed his lips, and he finally "followed the public opinion." He called Fan Xi's name, let Fan Xi go on the court to replace Gary Neal, and partnered with Landry Fields in the backcourt. At the same time, Cousins, Monroe, and Wesley Johnson were also on the court.

This lineup is very messy; Monroe and Cousins are both centers, and they are biased toward traditional centers. Fields and Wesley Johnson overlap in function, belonging to the defensive forward type.

This lineup itself is not very reasonable, even a head coach like him couldn't knead out a systematic combat lineup.

So, he let Fan Xi go on the court at this time, and there was even a thought of watching Fan Xi's joke in his heart.

Because the second-year team on the opposite side is still strong.

Brandon Jennings, Jrue Holiday, DeRozan, Ibaka, and Blair.

The lineup is very reasonable, with offense and defense, talent and technique, and rich experience.

Fan Xi walked onto the court.

The cheers of the whole audience had already come one after another.

All the fans at the scene were looking forward to Fan Xi's arrival in the posture of welcoming heroes, and everyone expected Fan Xi to present the posture of a savior to help the first-year team save the double-digit lag.

At this time, Kobe Bryant was uneasy, and he noticed the flaws in the first-year team's lineup.

Barkley in front of the TV was also saying: "This lineup will make Jack Fan fall into the mud. Even a command master like Jason Kidd may not be able to drive this double-center play. You know, this is a Rookie Game that fights at a fast pace. And, do you think these guys in the first year will listen to Fan Xi's command?"

"No one can enjoy a companion who is proud of the spring breeze. This is the root of human nature."

Charles Barkley said with some gloating.

Kenny Smith frowned; he was indeed anxious.

However, if he could see Phil Jackson sitting in front of the TV through the TV signal, he would definitely be much more relaxed.

Because Phil Jackson was not worried at all. He was clear about Fan Xi's understanding of tactics, and he thought Fan Xi had the ability to drive this double-tower lineup.

Only to see Fan Xi walking to the court in the cheers, receiving the inbound pass from Wesley Johnson.

Then, he made a gesture that even a beginner would understand; he let the team perform a 2-3 position.

Brandon Jennings immediately grinned and ran up; he showed his fierce state to Fan Xi.

Jennings had a very glorious time last season; he once rushed to the top of the rookie list. At that time, people even thought he was nailed to get the best rookie, but afterward he was studied thoroughly, he hit the rookie wall, and he hasn't pulled it out yet.

He is very likely to fall in front of the rookie wall and never become an NBA elite-level star in his life.

So, he hated Fan Xi to the bone.

Fan Xi is also infinitely glorious now, but he looks... completely without signs of falling in front of the rookie wall.

Such signs made Jennings jealous and crazy, so he wanted to punish Fan Xi.

He ran to defend Fan Xi with teeth and claws.

However, Fan Xi didn't give him a trace of opportunity.

The moment he rushed up... bang!

Fan Xi sharply completed the crossover, cutting from left to right like lightning... instantly throwing Jennings aside.

Even easier than Fan Xi imagined.

Fan Xi flashed away, and a thought popped into his mind: How can such a person be compared with me?

Instantly, Fan Xi killed into the paint.

At this time, a completely open shooting opportunity appeared in front of him.

However, he didn't do so, but continued to go deep... Blair, the forward treasure dug from the low pick by the Spurs, quickly used his full experience to assist in the defense; he wanted to contain Fan Xi in the corner.

However, Fan Xi just made a stop, and this excellent forward of the Spurs system quickly stuck to him. Fan Xi jumped up again, threw the ball out, and shouted: Alley-oop!

Cousins immediately woke up, he jumped up, and was surprised to find that the ball appeared in his hands just right, and he took advantage of the trend to exert force toward the basket... Boom!

The dunk happened!

Cousins felt like he was sleeping with a girl for the first time, wishing he could stuff the egg in!

The basket was smashed by him, roaring and shaking.

All his depression was vented out.

After landing, he roared to the sky excitedly.

Then, he extended his right hand toward Fan Xi and high-fived Fan Xi: "Passed very well, Jack, worthy of being Taylor Swift's man."

Fan Xi rolled his eyes at him.

And when he returned to defense, he reminded his temporary teammates: "As long as everyone appears in the correct position, I will definitely choose to pass the ball the first time, not shoot."

Fan Xi reminded them loudly.

This scene fell into the eyes of Kobe Bryant on the sidelines, and Kobe was deeply touched.

At this time, a familiar voice came from behind him; it was Shaquille O'Neal speaking: "If some people had this awareness back then, we would have at least five consecutive championships."

O'Neal was of course referring to something, and he was of course saying it to Kobe Bryant.

O'Neal once formed an OK combination with Kobe that swept the league. Those years they killed the league, won three consecutive championships, and were the peak period in Lakers history. However, afterward they fell into quarrels, various quarrels, and finally ended with the shark going east to Miami, so the Lakers fell into a low valley. Although Kobe successfully became the team boss as he wished, and became the league's number one person with amazing personal ability, winning several scoring titles. But it wasn't until 2009 that he got the championship again.

So, they still have a knot in their hearts.

Just like a divorced couple.

When O'Neal started to complain about the past with sarcasm.

Kobe of course had to counterattack: "If some people had half of Jack's effort, we would have been six consecutive championships long ago."

"You actually compare that rookie with me?" O'Neal yelled: "You can't even get a championship."

O'Neal was very angry; he felt that Fan Xi was not qualified to be compared with him; he thought this was Kobe's greatest humiliation to him.

However, Kobe Bryant said coldly: "Then wait and see, anyway, you will definitely live to June this year."

June is the time for the NBA Finals.

... ===== CHAPTER 67 =====