Chapter 85: You Charming Little Fellow

Dao Ge Li Fu Si stood on the scene.

He is the Celtics' head coach and also the All‑Star Eastern team's head coach. When he saw Fan Xi's fluid, flowing drive, the two wall‑crashing combos pierced straight through the Eastern's restricted zone.

He panicked.

All along, the Lakers' weakest position has been point guard; whether De Li Ke Fei She Er or the earlier Qiao Dan Fa Ma Er, Wu Jia Xi Qi, Xiang Nong Bu Lang, they were all easy holes for the Celtics to exploit.

Last year's Finals, the Celtics and the Lakers played seven games before a winner emerged. If it hadn't been Luo En A Tai Si Te's clutch shot in Game Six, the Celtics would have already lifted the O'Brien Cup.

The Celtics remain ambitious this season; although the Three Giants are a year older, they all believe there is still a chance to vie for another championship ring… because the Miami Heat Big Three, though younger, lack sufficient chemistry.

Most importantly, the Celtics' point guard Laga Rondo is getting stronger, evolving from a role player into an elite player.

The Celtics previously were convinced that as long as they met the Lakers again in the Finals, Laga Rondo would certainly play a key role and help the team avenge and capture the championship.

But now, when Dao Ge Li Fu Si saw this basket.

His confidence wavered.

He is an experienced head coach, though his in‑game reactions are often criticized. Yet he could see the significance of Fan Xi's attack in breaking down the Three Giants' defensive line.

Previously, the Lakers' triangle offense shifted strength between the interior and perimeter; Pau Gasol was a crucial initiator, while the perimeter's positions one and three could only serve as cannons, making the tactics highly versatile.

This could give the Celtics a great opportunity.

But just now, the Celtics' tactical advantage vanished.

Fan Xi moved like a nimble sprite, his spirited footwork shattering Boston's Final Fantasy. Fan Xi is a true tactical initiator; he refined the Lakers' weakness at position one.

He had the chance to team with Kobe to display the triangle offense's ultimate secret… a two‑man duet of Qiao Dan and Pi Peng.

Moreover, the Lakers' interior is somewhat stronger than the old Bulls. Pau Gasol with Andrew Bai Na Mu, plus Lamar Odom, may lack the mobility and defensive ferocity of Luo De Man with Lang Li and Ku Ke Qi, but their passing continuity and low‑post offense far surpass those of the former Bulls.

Hoo!

Dao Ge Li Fu Si exhaled a deep breath of stale air.

At that moment, Deron Williams was forcibly one‑on‑oneing Fan Xi.

Deron is a burly, hefty man, and his lateral swings on offense are exceptional; he swiftly and sharply executed two direction changes.

But he failed to fool Fan Xi, because Fan Xi's coordination is superb, inherited from Mai Ke Er Qiao Dan.

Deron had to resort to the simplest method, launching a charge with brute force.

Fan Xi was indeed pushed aside by him.

But Kobe's timely help defense jumped in.

Deron Williams quickly passed to the open Lei A Lun.

Lei A Lun caught the ball and shot immediately; his motion was textbook‑standard.

It was a classic two‑stage jump shot.

Yet the instant he reached his apex and released the ball, Fan Xi lunged forward at speed, unleashing his jumping gift to the fullest, extending his astonishingly long arms for a block… *Sss! *

His fingertips brushed the ball.

Lei A Lun's shooting arc was disturbed.

The ball fell midway down.

Kai Wen Du Lan Te smoothly swung his arm, snatched the ball from Bao Luo Pi Er Si's head, and immediately passed it to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi drove forward with the ball.

Sss!

Dao Ge Li Fu Si watched from the sidelines with crystal clarity, inhaling a gasp of cold air.

He was profoundly shocked inside.

Fan Xi and Kobe's coordination made his heart race with fear.

Previously, the Lakers' position one was always a defensive flaw, an automatic cash machine for other teams.

But just now… when Kobe sprinted to switch defense onto Deron, Fan Xi instantly locked onto Lei A Lun and rushed to switch defense in the first instant… almost completing it in a flash.

Then, he also leapt to block Lei A Lun.

Although in official games Lei A Lun would be more alert, this switch defense… was of too high a level.

Dao Ge Li Fu Si increasingly believed the pre‑game assessment by Mai Ke Hai Er: Jieke Fan will become the Los Angeles Lakers' new logo.

At the time, he thought Mai Ke Hai Er's claim was sensational. Dao Ge Li Fu Si has never been superstitious about a rookie bursting onto the scene; he believes a true superstar should be known to the world by his eighth or ninth grade, then undergo the wild promotion of the U. S. youth training system, finally enter the NBA with a high draft pick and make a stunning impact in the fierce elimination competition.

But Fan Xi skipped those steps, dazzling instantly.

He thought it was a castle in the air.

But now, the castle in the air delivered a 'fatal strike' to him.

Fan Xi reached the frontcourt and passed to Kobe.

Then he started moving; his routes were not top‑tier, pale in comparison to Hamilton, Lei A Lun and other elite off‑ball athletes.

However, his tactical thinking was clear; he knew he should go from point A to point B.

This clarity is lacking in many other rookies. Many gifted newcomers on the court act like headless flies, with terrible spatial sense.

Fan Xi used Ge Li Fen's screen to burst into the corner; Kobe Bryant didn't pass to him immediately: it's hard for people to overcome their own habits.

But he still passed the ball later to Kai Wen Du Lan Te, because at that moment he was being deliberately double‑teamed by Lei A Lun and Pi Peng.

Kai Wen Du Lan Te received the ball, feigned a shot, and passed to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi got an open opportunity… *Swish! *

He hit another three‑pointer.

Hoo!

Dao Ge Li Fu Si again adjusted his breathing and then called for a timeout.

He decided to substitute out Boston's Three Giants.

That is his authority as head coach.

As the All‑Star Game head coach, he usually does not want his star player to expend a lot of stamina in such a game; on the contrary, they prefer the opponents to waste energy.

Doug Reeves decided to put in the Miami Heat Big Three, as well as Orlando's Dwight Howard and Chicago's Derek Rose.

He did this not only to let his own players rest, but also to make the opponents consume more stamina.

Another reason is… he wants Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen to sit on the bench, observe Fan Xi's style, so that they will have a countermeasure when they meet him later.

Although Paul Pierce looked very depressed, he did not want to see Fan Xi swaggering. Because Fan Xi had embarrassed him in the Three‑Point Shot competition.

But Doug Reeves did not have a detailed discussion with him.

"We should keep the victory in the Eastern."

Doug Reeves told the Miami Heat Big Three.

James answered Reeves with a very confident look.

Before the game started, Doug Reeves already knew the Three Giants were dissatisfied with Fan Xi, especially Le Bu Lang Zhang Si. James held a grudge over Fan Xi's sponsorship contract; the young emperor does not want any NBA player to achieve greater commercial success than him.

At that time, Doug Reeves thought that little guy Fan Xi was doomed; James would definitely crush him.

But now he thinks that Fan Xi might escape, his style is cunning, and he has the help of his teammates.

However, it seems James's tolerance for Fan Xi has also reached its limit.

With the two parties fighting, Doug Reeves and his Celtics want to be the fisherman.

Beep!

The whistle sounded quickly, and the game continued.

Before Le Bu Lang Zhang Si took the court, he called Wade, Bosh, Rosa and Howard to discuss; he said they could play a real game now, fans came here to see top stars truly battle, not a friendly family show.

Especially he instructed Rosa: "Derek, don't let people think you're inferior to that rookie; he's just better at pleasing the fans."

That's a provocation tactic.

But Rosa is not a fool.

He is a player under Adidas; he absolutely does not want to get involved in the Nike camp's conflict.

When James passed the basketball to him, he quickly passed it to Wade.

Like a non‑stick pan.

Wade and Bosh performed a simple pick‑and‑roll; he broke through the defense into the paint and completed a forceful dunk.

Then Fan Xi, holding the ball, arrived at the frontcourt and also set a screen for Blake Griffin. He originally wanted to drive to the basket for a layup, but found that after the switch, Bosh was tightly marking him step by step.

He quickly changed his mind, passed to Griffin, who caught the ball and leapt skyward, showing his proud jumping ability… Boom!

Two‑handed dunk.

It sparked cheers in the Staples Center.

At this moment, Wade simply passed the ball to James.

James, holding the ball past half‑court, the Heat trio visibly increased their offensive focus. James used his strong body to suppress Durant as he drove into the paint, then assisted the cutting Wade to complete a dunk.

Their talent was on full display.

The game entered a new mode.

The Western team played relatively loosely, while the Eastern, led by the Miami Heat Big Three, executed a precise offense.

Because Fan Xi was targeted by the Miami Heat Big Three's defense, he had to keep passing to teammates; their offensive efficiency was decent, and his assist numbers rose sharply.

After playing four minutes on the court, Fan Xi was substituted back to the bench.

The Miami Heat Big Three kept playing until the end of the first half.

Before halftime, Doug Reeves asked the most experienced member of the Boston Three Giants, Kevin Garnett: "How do you view Jieke Fan?"

Garnett frowned, and said cautiously: "Nothing concrete yet; I can only say that on the court he knows what he can do and should do, and he understands human affairs well."

Garnett's so‑called understanding of human affairs means Fan Xi doesn't cling to the ball; whenever any teammate gets a chance, if he can pass to them, he definitely does.

As for his performance during this period, Garnett thought Fan Xi was ordinary and the gap with the Miami Heat Big Three was huge.

At that moment, something that slightly surprised Garnett happened: he actually saw Zack Landof and Fan Xi shoulder‑to‑shoulder walking toward the locker room.

Landof had been a hard‑to‑deal bad kid from early on.

Garnett is a player who loves to spew trash talk; he insults anyone, uses profanity, likes to attack others, and has caused many conflicts. For example, he mocked Vila Niuwa, who lost all his hair due to illness, and also taunted Carmelo Anthony, saying Anthony's wife tastes like a donut…

Therefore, on the court he and Landof were almost mortal enemies, and each held the other in low regard.

Yet now he actually saw Landof so close with Fan Xi.

He was greatly surprised.

How could Landof befriend such a well‑dressed "person of color"?

Yet, that's how it happened.

Landof and Fan Xi chatted on the bench for a while about a comic: it's hard to believe that a thug like Landof, who seems to do no good, would also read comics, and even a hot‑blooded shōnen manga.

They had previously bonded over their shared anger toward Le Bu Lang Zhang Si.

Adding their common hobby, the relationship quickly heated up.

On his way back to the locker room, Zack Landof seriously promised Fan Xi: "Jack, if Le Bu Lang Zhang Si really does something to you tonight, I will definitely step up for you. I hate those who think they're superstars and can command others at will."

Fan Xi smiled.

Then he saw a familiar figure.

Si Jia Li Johnson, whom he had seen just last night.

What surprised Fan Xi was that she came alone.

Moreover, she, who usually dresses very sexy, today wore something "simple": a tight pair of jeans with a white trendy brand hoodie.

Yet even this simple outfit could not hide her graceful figure and sexy aura.

She hooked a hand toward Fan Xi: "Hey, Jack."

Fan Xi hadn't reacted yet.

Zha Ke Lan Duo Fu gave him a push: "Hurry up and go, Jie Ke."

He squinted at Fan Xi, winking, eager to facilitate Fan Xi's good deed.

But in fact, Fan Xi is very afraid of being with Si Jia Li.

Si Jia Li is just too good at flirting; they always have a feeling they can't hold back. Subconsciously, they think that if Si Jia Li tried to tempt them, they probably wouldn't last a second.

In fact, they dreamed of Si Jia Li last night.

In the dream, Si Jia Li made advances on them, and just as they lost control, they woke up.

Fortunately, they woke up.

"Are you shy? Or are you scared?"

Si Jia Li Yue Han Sun smiled and asked Fan Xi.

Fan Xi raised an eyebrow, adopting a relaxed demeanor: "How could that be? I'm just a bit tired from playing basketball earlier."

"But you didn't even say hello to me, nor call my name," Si Jia Li stepped forward, closing in on Fan Xi's body.

Fan Xi instinctively leaned backward.

At that moment, they heard a whistle from behind.

It was Bu Lei Ke Ge Li Fen.

Seeing Fan Xi and Si Jia Li standing together, they naturally thought of something odd.

Fan Xi looked at the squinting, winking them, unsure how to explain.

Then Si Jia Li suggested, "Let's go over there to chat."

Fan Xi also felt it was too conspicuous, so they walked over.

They didn't even think of anything to talk about.

When Si Jia Li reached a corner and saw no one nearby, she suddenly reached out and yanked Fan Xi toward her forcefully.

"You charming little guy, I've missed… sister so much."

…