NBA's King of Talking

The word "handsome guy" has a special flavor when spoken by a genuine Cantonese person.

"Jia Fei, your Mandarin is also very good, and you can even speak Cantonese. I'm very surprised!" Although Yi Jianlian is already the core of the national team, he is still very shy when he speaks.

Jia Fei remarked that Yi Jianlian's personality was indeed not well-suited to playing in the NBA. Sometimes it's not just a matter of ability; there are many reasons why he might not be able to adapt.

"I usually like to speak Mandarin, but I rarely have the opportunity!" Of course, Jia Fei couldn't say that he was a time traveler; even if he did, Yi Jianlian probably wouldn't believe him. Yi Jianlian probably thought of him as a "banana" (a person with a Westernized, Westernized appearance) like Jeremy Lin. This is understandable; many "bananas" can't speak Mandarin. They can understand it, but they can't speak it very well.

"Let's all do our best later!" Jia Fei said with a smile. After saying goodbye to Yi Jianlian, he returned to his team's half of the court to practice.

"Do you know him?" Reggie's gossip-loving heart trembled, and he couldn't help but ask.

Jia Fei nodded: "He is Yi Jianlian, the core player of the Chinese men's basketball team. I have watched his games on TV."

Reggie wasn't familiar with Yi Jianlian. He was a rookie himself, and Yi hadn't had any outstanding performances in the NBA over the years, so not many people knew him.

Soon, the starting lineups for both sides took to the field, and the match was about to begin.

The commentators for this game were ESPN's chief commentator Mike Breen and former Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy.

After the game started, neither side's offensive efficiency was very high. The Thunder's starting lineup this season has excellent defense, but it also has its problems. The offensive pressure is basically all on Durant and Westbrook. Ibaka can only shoot spot-up mid-range shots and lacks finishing ability inside, while Perkins' offense isn't really his responsibility. Neither Thabo Sefolosha nor Daequan Cook at the shooting guard position have particularly strong offensive capabilities. Unless Harden is moved to the starting lineup, the starting lineup's offense will never reach the league's top tier.

Perhaps driven by a thirst for revenge, the Thunder's dynamic duo, Durant and Westbrook, played aggressively, but their shooting touch was off, with frequent missed shots. On the other hand, the Mavericks' veteran Dirk Nowitzki played very efficiently, and Serge Ibaka simply couldn't contain him one-on-one.

The Thunder, playing at home, had been trailing for most of the game. At the official timeout of the first quarter, Jia Fei and Reggie Jackson returned to the court. With 2 minutes and 03 seconds remaining in the first quarter, the score was 19-15.

At this point, the Thunder's lineup consisted of Durant, Harden, Collison, Jafi, and Reggie Jackson. Since the last game, the Thunder have started using a more frequent nine-man rotation, significantly reducing the playing time of veteran Muhammad, who was not in good form. In this game, he didn't even make the regular rotation.

The Mavericks' lineup at this time consisted of Mahinmi, Terry, Beaubois, Odom, and Yi Jianlian.

The game continued, and Reggie dribbled the ball across half-court.

Durant came out to ask for the ball, and Reggie quickly passed it to him.

Durant dribbles past Yi Jianlian, and the two 2007 lottery picks begin their direct confrontation.

Durant tried to drive past Yi Jianlian with a crossover, but the Mavericks double-teamed him!

Durant barely managed to pass the ball, and Reggie Jackson received it and drove hard for a layup, but Mahinmi blocked it!

Durant retrieved the ball but missed his shot!

Yi Jianlian collected the rebound and handed it to Terry to push forward.

Jia Fei was responsible for defending Odom on the court.

Lamar Odom was once known as the "Left-Handed Magician," and his all-around abilities helped the Lakers win back-to-back championships. However, he is no longer the player he once was and has become one of the NBA players who has been effectively contained by the Kardashian women.

Terry runs a pick-and-roll with Mahinmi, drives in, and passes to Boubowa in the corner!

Bubowa breaks through again and passes to the weak side of the Ukrainian team!

Yi Jianlian took a three-pointer after receiving the ball—but missed!

Jia Fei leaped to secure the rebound and passed it to Durant to advance the ball!

Durant drove in, got double-teamed, and then passed to Harden at the top of the arc!

Harden had excellent vision and immediately moved the ball to Jia Fei in the left corner!

Empty seat!

Even if Jia Fei hadn't made a three-pointer before, he still had to take this shot, otherwise the opponent would leave him wide open. As an outside player, being left wide open severely limits the team's offensive space, allowing the opponent to double-team your star player with impunity.

Jia Fei decisively took a three-pointer!

The ball traced a beautiful parabola through the air and swished cleanly into the basket! Wow—

19:18, the score difference has narrowed to 1 points!

Mike Brin, the commentator, exclaimed, "Bang! Jia Fei hit a three-pointer from the corner! OKC has narrowed the gap to one point!"

The home fans at the Ford Center responded with cheers, as this was the team's second three-pointer of the quarter, after a series of poor shooting!

Jia Fei was also very happy. He finally made a three-pointer in an NBA regular season game (outside of garbage time). This feeling of going from nothing to something is the best. It's like breaking through a mental barrier and achieving a qualitative leap.

"Great pass, James!" Jia Fei signaled to Harden that he had made a good pass.

Harden had no expression; that's just how he is, as if nothing concerns him.

The Mavericks were on offense, and Terry responded with a pull-up jumper!

During the Thunder's offense, Durant continued his one-on-one challenge in the midfield, only to be double-teamed again. He didn't linger in the fight and passed the ball to Harden!

Harden passes the ball again, this time to the right corner!

Jia Fei received the ball and fired a three-pointer – great!

Jia Fei hits a 3-point double kill!

21:21, both sides draw!

The Ford Center stadium began to erupt in cheers...

Mike Brin used his classic commentary line: "Jay's two corners, Bang—Bang—"

Jia Fei was also very happy; he felt the ball was going in as soon as he released it. He suddenly remembered a basketball star saying that when you're in a good shooting mood, the basket feels like the ocean.

The Mavericks were on offense, and Beaubois tried to respond with a three-pointer, but he didn't get one!

Yi Jianlian grabbed the offensive rebound, but his putback attempt was blocked by Durant!

Mahinmi got the ball, went up again, but was blocked by Jia Fei who came over to help defend!

Jia Fei gets the ball and passes it to Reggie, who's making a quick run down the frontcourt!

Reggie passed to Harden again, who then sank a three-pointer—and there's more!

21:24, Thunder take a 3-point lead!

The Ford Center erupted... not just because of the three three-pointers, but also because of the consecutive blocks. After being constipated on offense for most of the quarter, the team suddenly seemed to have been relieved.

Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle looked annoyed. He wanted to call a timeout, but there were only 22 seconds left in the quarter.

On the last possession of the first quarter, Odom faced Jia Fei with the ball, forced his way in, but missed his turnaround jump shot, ending the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Durant rested and Ibaka entered the game.

Harden dribbled the ball across half-court and passed it to Collison at the high post!

Collison hands the ball to Reggie, who then drives and passes to Jia Fei in the corner!

Jia Fei received the ball, faked a shot, and got Odom out of position. He then cut along the baseline and passed to Ibaka, who was cutting into the middle!

Ibaka receives the ball and dunks over Mahinmi!