The league's No. 1 center, best defensive player, one team in one defense during the season, recognized as the No. 1 player in the penalty area. When a player like this says he wants to join, anyone on any team would be overjoyed to hear this.
But Fan Xileng stayed in place. He looked at Howard, whose expression was exciting and full of expectations. He was very calm, and he didn't feel the slightest bit excited.
Howard is very strong, very strong to the naked eye. His current strength is equivalent to the combined strength of DeAndre Jordan and Griffin.
However, Fan Xi didn't have the urge to play ball with him.
It’s not just because he came over today and greeted me with a smile, or it’s not just that he made a lot of nonsense on TV.
Fanci simply felt that Howard was not ready to become a fighter. He became famous at a young age and was extremely talented. He succeeded easily in Orlando and was loved by many fans.
His career has been going smoothly. He treats basketball as a game. Fan Xi doesn't like playing games with others.
Therefore, from the beginning to the end, Fanshie never thought about becoming teammates with Dwight Howard.
Even if he knows that Howard is extending an olive branch, as long as he catches it, the Lakers will suffer a strong blow, and the Clippers will solve many of the current extremely troublesome problems.
However, Fan Xi didn't answer.
He just raised his eyebrows and said to Howard: "This proposal is too impactful. I need to digest it."
Howard's face was a little stiff with great expectation. He didn't expect that Fan Xi didn't agree immediately.
But he didn't taste Fan Xi's rejection. He thought this was indeed too big news for Fan Xi to digest. He also felt that Fan Xi might not have the power to agree to join him.
"It doesn't matter, I'll let my agent contact your general manager."
"We will meet each other soon and win the championship."
Howard hugged Fanshie warmly, and he seemed to think it was natural for him to put on the Clippers jersey. He believed that no team could refuse his offer of an olive branch.
Therefore, he even has a patronizing mentality, thinking that he is giving the Clippers a chance and repaying Fan Xi's blessing.
From his previous inconsistent words and deeds, his current vaguely arrogant attitude, and some behaviors in the news, Fan Xi has concluded that Howard cannot be a good teammate of his.
He knew that rejecting Howard would be a difficult thing, but he had already made a decision in his heart.
…
The peak of the Orlando Magic was in 2009. Under the leadership of Turkoglu and Howard, they took advantage of the weakness of the Eastern Conference to reach the Finals, but were easily eliminated by the Lakers 4:1.
The Lakers thus began their three consecutive championship dynasty in 2009, 10, and 11.
However, the Magic slowly declined after that season. This season, it has fallen to fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The conflict between Howard and the management and coaching staff has become public. This young and famous genius is full of restlessness, and he can't wait to do something.
career, and believed that it was the system that tied his hands and feet, rather than what made him famous.
The game between the Clippers and Magic arrived as scheduled.
Just as Fan Xi's father taught him since childhood: Don't become a working partner with an unserious person.
Howard is the one who's not serious.
His pre-game shout-out filled the arena with people, his teammates also tried their best to fight for him, TV reporters also came, and TNT broadcast it live across the United States.
However, when he appeared on the court, his face was full of smiles.
He looked very happy.
His happiness is a brilliant happiness.
Snapped!
At that time, Jordan beat him in the jump ball and stared at him fiercely.
The Clippers didn't play tricks with him.
On the first kick of the game, Fanci took the ball to the penalty area. Facing Howard's defense with open arms, he made a beautiful feint like a flower arrangement. Howard, as the best defensive player in the league today, was deceived.
, Fanci used his left hand to throw the basketball over Howard's head.
At that time, Howard's eyes were staring at Fan Xi's right hand, but while Fan Xi was taking steps, the basketball changed hands behind his back.
This is a beautiful and provocative goal.
"Jack taught Howard a lesson at the beginning. The big man who claimed to block Jack's shots couldn't even figure out what Jack was doing when he actually faced Fan Xi. He was like a stupid kid who was at a loss."
"Howard puts too much thought into his mouth that should be kept shut."
Kenny Smith said sarcastically that Howard has quickly become a troublesome player in the past two years.
Of course, Barkley, who was sitting next to him, was still soothing Howard's cheek. He said: "Dwight is just not ready. What's more, this is a trick by Jack Fan. He did not dare to challenge Dwight's defense head-on.
From a defensive point of view, Howard has even succeeded. His teammates did not prevent Jack Fan from entering the penalty area. He did his job as an inside player. You can't expect every ball to be slapped out by him. This is God's doing.
thing."
Kenny raised his eyebrows. He thought this was due to Buckley's past prejudice against Fancy.
When the two were talking, the camera was focused on Howard. TNT tried to let the fans see some gunpowder, but in fact, what they saw was Howard's still bright smile.
He didn't take it seriously.
boom!
Back at halftime, Howard insisted on holding the ball and beating Jordan one-on-one. Jordan held him tightly, and finally Howard threw the basketball out with his stiff floater. Bang! Strike!
Blake Griffin picked off the rebound.
Pass to Fan Xi.
Fan Xi launched a quick offensive.
Magic point guard Duhong tracked Fan Xi. Fan Xi accelerated past him from outside the three-point line, and then passed the ball. Griffin rushed in from the other side. He received the basketball and jumped up in a domineering manner.
, faced Stoudemire's defense and hit the basket hard.
Howard had just arrived in the penalty area in a hurry. When Griffin had become the trend, he knew there was nothing he could do, so he stopped... Boom!
Watch Griffin complete a dunk.
There was an uproar at home in Orlando.
They obviously didn't come to watch the Clippers dunk.
But... Howard can't seem to be blamed for this ball... His running speed is already very fast. He never misses a shot, pursues defense from the backcourt to the frontcourt, and his running speed and distance are already the fastest in the Magic.
.
But...who asked him to say that before the game?
The Clippers are now working together, and every ball wants to hit Howard's head.
Howard still looked cheerful, but this guy seemed heartless.
The game continues.
The Magic finally scored when former dunk king Jason Richardson hit a mid-range jumper.
Now the Magic is a one-star four-shooting system. Chris Duhon, Jason Richardson, Turkoglu and Ryan Anderson all have the ability to shoot from beyond the three-point line. Howard serves as the backbone in this tactic.
The patron saint of interior rebounds and defenders.
He was very dissatisfied with this tactic.
But in fact, this is a tactic that maximizes his talent and ability. With four shooters opening up the space, he can defend to the extreme.
He relied on this tactic to reach the top, but now he has to start his own offense again.
Based on this situation, it is actually an easy job for the Clippers to beat the Magic.
boom!
Change sides and fight again, the Clippers will show their power again.
This time it's Butler.
Fanshi brought four young and aggressive teammates, Butler, Leonard, Griffin, and Jordan, on the field tonight in order to kill Howard's majesty and let him know that what he said was not nonsense. At the same time, he also let
The team members took this opportunity to express their frustrations.
Fanci broke through and reached the free throw line. At that time, Jason Richardson came up to help defend. Unexpectedly, Fanci passed the ball hand-to-hand. Butler turned around and rushed to the paint area. Jordan had a tacit understanding to block Howard.
behind.
Finally, Howard used his experience to squeeze away from DeAndre Jordan. Butler had already soared into the sky and hit the basket hard. Howard, who had squeezed out half of his body, quickly retracted his head.
He has excellent skills in avoiding dunks.
Looking back, the Magic continue to encounter obstacles on the offensive end. The defense of the young guys of the Clippers is too strong. Although Griffin is not good at defense, he is facing Ryan Anderson. What ability does Ryan Anderson have? He used to give Yi
Jianlian plays as a substitute. Although he comes from behind, he still has a presence beyond the three-point line. Using his height advantage, wouldn't it be easy for Griffin to guard him?
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The magic continues to strike.
The Clippers were on a roll, scoring like a frenzy.
Orlando's true character was soon revealed.
Ordinary team.
About the same as the New York Knicks.
The fifth place in the East and the sixth place in the East were originally only separated by a thin line.
"The pattern of the weak in the east and the strong in the west has not changed. It is hard to believe that the fourth in the Western Conference will beat the fifth in the Eastern Conference like this."
At the end of the first quarter, Kenny said angrily: "You lead by 11 points in the first quarter, and you still can't score 44 points after four quarters?"
"Howard didn't block a single shot in the first quarter, but the Clippers had 4 direct dunks."
Kenny Smith never forgets old things and brings them up again.
He took out Howard and whipped the corpse repeatedly.
But Barkley was kind. He said: "Actually, there is no point in pursuing this. Defense is the whole team's business. Howard can only do his job. If he is dunked from the front, it is his personal problem."
"My opinion is different from yours. After watching the first quarter of the game, I really understood why Howard wanted to leave the Magic. If I were Howard, I would also want to join a strong team, just like the Clippers. If the Clippers
If the ship replaces DeAndre Jordan with Howard, I dare say they will be a championship-level team immediately."
The only effective message extracted from Barkley's words by Kenny Smith was: "Charles, are you saying that the Clippers are a strong team? Oh, my God, this should be the first time this season that you will
The ship is called a strong team, right?"
Charles Barkley gave Fanci a fair evaluation in the finals last season and praised Fanci very highly.
But in the offseason, his stance changed. He felt that the Jeanie Buss trade was reasonable. Although it hurt Fanci emotionally, the Lakers became stronger because of it. From a business perspective, there was no problem.
When the new season started, although he didn't attack the Clippers very fiercely, he also pointed out that Fan Xi's remarks about winning the championship in three years were nonsense and eye-catching. After the Clippers defeated the Lakers and Bulls, he also said that the Clippers were not real.
's strong team.
Now, he relaxed.
"Okay. I have to admit that the Clippers are really a strong team in the standard sense now. Their rebuilding speed is beyond imagination. I didn't expect that their old players can play such a huge role. They can still
Being on the court and definitely bringing a lot of experience to these young guys who are making rapid progress."
Barkley said: "However, they are still far away from the top teams, and they still do not have the conditions to compete for the championship."
Such a debate is meaningless.
The second quarter of the game started quickly.
The Clippers took the newcomers off the court and replaced them with Nash, Carter, Dunleavy, Rasheed Wallace, and Kwame Brown.
Played a run and gun lineup.
The Clippers' attack rhythm instantly became faster, and at this time, Howard finally seized the opportunity.
His talent has been demonstrated. He is a very fast, explosive, jumping and extremely strong upper body insider.
When opponents play fast-paced offense and defense with them, he will become a huge disruptor.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Dunleavy and Rasheed Wallace hit three-pointers.
However, Howard was training Kwame Brown in the paint at this time. The two No. 1 picks had very different reputations. Howard was called the model of the No. 1 pick among high school students, while Kwame Brown, who was also the No. 1 pick among high school students, was the No. 1 pick.
of shame.
Although Kwame Brown has made great progress this season, averaging 6.8 points and 6.9 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game, which is already a first-class rotation level.
But facing Howard, he was still powerless.
He was beaten roughly by Howard in the back and hit consecutive hooks.
After Howard scored two goals, he became excited.
He yelled to the Knicks bench: "Hey, guys, let me show you what I'm capable of."
In fact, his words were not hostile, and even meant to show kindness.
However, the audience on the sidelines cheered loudly.
The absence of hostility turned into great hostility.
What made the Clippers players extremely angry happened in the third round.
At that time, Nash and Rasheed Wallace were playing a pick-and-roll. Fanshie passed Duhon's defense. He entered the paint area and was about to pass the ball to Rasheed Wallace who was stretched to the outside as planned.
Unexpectedly, Wallace followed directly from the other side.
Nash reflexively passed the basketball to form a V-shaped pick-and-roll.
Rasheed Wallace received the basketball without any hesitation. He felt that his training during this period had restored his body to its peak.
He grabbed the basketball and dunked it toward the basket. He wanted to use a dunk to show off his roaring energy.
But...he is really too old, and his speed, jumping, and explosive power have all been weakened.
He jumped just high enough to dunk.
At the same time, Howard threw away Kwame Brown and came forward to cover the position. He stretched out his arms and rushed to cover him like a fierce god, using the maximum strength of his body... Bang!