The second half of the game began.
Although the Heat led by four points at halftime, the Big Three showed no signs of complacency.
They were well aware that for the Knicks, if their run-and-gun offense clicked, they could make up over ten points in just a few minutes.
Therefore, at the start of the third quarter, the Heat didn't rush their offense. Instead, they elevated their defensive intensity even further.
While this was physically demanding, the Big Three, at their peak, had the stamina to pull it off.
Li Feng hadn't expected the Heat to prioritize increasing their defensive pressure. He had thought they would unleash an offensive onslaught.
The Heat's strategic approach was sound; when the defense tightened, the offense naturally followed.
The Knicks' offense was stifled, leading to frustration, while the Heat grew more passionate with every play.
By the end of the third quarter, the Heat had extended their lead to twelve points.
The home crowd was immensely disappointed. This was the fourth game of the series.
If they won this one, the Knicks would lead 3-1, putting them in a strong position to advance!
But after three quarters, they were trailing again. Could they possibly turn it around in the fourth?
Li Feng played the entire third quarter, and Yao Ming played for over eight minutes.
The Knicks gave it their all, but still found themselves behind.
D'Antoni also sensed trouble. When he put in the reserves, he issued a strict order: narrow the deficit to under ten points within the first three minutes of the fourth quarter!
As a former core player of a championship team, the Pistons, Billups had to make something happen.
With both teams' reserves on the court, Billups lived up to expectations. He led the reserve unit and managed to slowly chip away at the lead.
Billups remained effective on defense, and on offense, he prioritized passing to teammates who were shooting well.
Under his direction, the Knicks' bench played with clear purpose and fluidity.
The Heat's key reserve scorers, James Jones and Mike Miller, were effectively contained, making it difficult for them to score.
After just over three minutes into the fourth quarter, the score was 86:78, with the Heat leading by eight points!
As expected, the Knicks' reserves had gained some ground, narrowing the gap to single digits.
D'Antoni was ecstatic. An eight-point lead was still manageable.
He substituted Li Feng back into the game, replacing the reserves, as he noticed Billups gasping for air on the court, indicating significant fatigue.
After all, he was over thirty, and running himself ragged on defense was no easy feat.
Heat head coach Spoelstra also felt the pressure and put his starters back on the court.
With over eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, both teams launched into a decisive final battle!
After Li Feng and Yao Ming entered the game, they aimed to stabilize the play and chase the score one possession at a time.
However, the Heat suddenly accelerated the pace!
Spoelstra was truly a master tactician; he had thoroughly analyzed the Knicks' lineup.
Generally, when Yao Ming was on the court, the Knicks would focus on half-court sets, prioritizing steady play and shooting efficiency.
When Yao Ming was off the court, they would push the pace relentlessly.
With Yao Ming on the court now, the Heat knew they had to exploit his stamina, so the Big Three initiated the surge first!
This caught the Knicks completely off guard.
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade attacked the Knicks' defense repeatedly, and after securing rebounds, they no longer advanced the ball slowly but instead launched quick long passes for offense!
The Knicks' strategy was completely disrupted.
With over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Heat went on a scoring run, extending their lead to seventeen points!
D'Antoni, helpless, called another timeout.
Yao Ming, realizing he was holding the team back, requested a substitution to rest, allowing Jordan Hill to come in.
D'Antoni had the same intention.
Only Li Feng remained silent, knowing that once Yao Ming left the court, the Heat would likely change their approach and slow down the pace.
But Yao Ming was indeed weary. He had played so many playoff games since his return, with such extended minutes, it was a huge toll for a center in his thirties.
The timeout concluded, and Jordan Hill entered the game.
Seeing Yao Ming off the court, the Heat indeed ceased their fast-paced play and opted for a steadier, slower approach.
Furthermore, with the Heat already holding a lead, their steady play maintained a high level of efficiency.
Even though Li Feng was scoring consecutively, someone on the Heat always seemed to step up.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and even Mario Chalmers all displayed high shooting percentages.
The home crowd watched the clock tick down with growing despair.
With only 1 minute and 43 seconds left in the game, the Heat still led the Knicks by fourteen points.
Seeing that the situation was beyond salvage, D'Antoni had no choice but to substitute his starters back out, conceding defeat...
In the end, the Heat defeated the Knicks in the second road game, leveling the series 2-2!
The home-court advantage the Knicks had just regained was lost once more.
The initiative had shifted back to the Heat.
The next game would be the crucial Game 5. The Knicks had to win, or the series would be in jeopardy.
Li Feng's stats for the day were excellent, performing at his usual level, scoring 36 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing out 9 assists.
A near triple-double.
The assist total clearly indicated that his Knicks teammates' shooting touch was poor today.
Otherwise, Li Feng's assist numbers could easily reach double digits every game.
Although LeBron James scored fewer points than Li Feng today with 33 points, he grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 12 assists for a triple-double.
Therefore, LeBron James was still named the Most Valuable Player of the game.
Facing reporters, LeBron James was also emotional, knowing the significance of this victory.
Li Feng and Yao Ming were dejected after the loss. After four games of effort, they were back to square one.
The Heat, with their home-court advantage, would undoubtedly press their advantage and win Game 5.
At that point, the Knicks would be standing on the precipice.
Following this game, various media outlets criticized the Knicks—
ESPN: "The Heat's Big Three Dominate, Seize Home Court Advantage Back!"
Sports Illustrated: "Li Feng's 36 Points Go Unrewarded as Knicks Lose Home Court Advantage; Pivotal Game 5 Looms!"
Yahoo Sports: "The Balance of Power Shifts to the Heat; The Uncrowned Champions Face Perilous Future!"
...
Li Feng and Yao Ming sat silently in the locker room for a long time. The other teammates hadn't showered either; everyone was lost in thought.
The home loss had shaken the Knicks players' confidence once again.
The Heat's strategy today was incredibly successful. Coach Spoelstra truly had something special, as he seemed to know every one of the Knicks' plays inside out.
In response to the Knicks' lineup changes, Spoelstra quickly adapted and countered every move!
No wonder the Heat hired such a "rookie" coach to guide the Big Three.
The next day, the entire Knicks team flew back to Miami to prepare for the pivotal Game 5.
On the plane, D'Antoni spoke briefly to the players.
He could see that the players were very down, but as a coach, he had to rally them. Otherwise, playing with this kind of morale would guarantee a loss in Game 5!
Li Feng echoed the coach's sentiment and offered a few words of encouragement.
As the team leader, Li Feng's attitude would significantly influence the other players.
Under the guidance of the coach and Li Feng, the players' morale improved considerably.
Upon arriving in Miami, the players were disciplined. No one went out to party; instead, they went to the arena for practice.
At the pre-game press conference, the Heat's LeBron and Wade boldly declared their intention to win Game 5 at home.
The Knicks, on the other hand, maintained a low profile. Li Feng and Yao Ming stated that they would give their all to bring the victory back.
Although the Knicks were prepared, regrouped, and ready to start anew, the Heat seemed to have found the key to defeating them.
In the crucial Game 5, the Heat maintained a lead throughout the game, fueled by the cheers of their home crowd.
Despite Li Feng delivering another strong individual performance, the Knicks' overall strategy was thoroughly stifled.
Spoelstra's mastery of controlling the game's rhythm was exceptional, making the Knicks constantly feel out of sorts.
Ultimately, the Heat successfully won Game 5, taking a commanding 3-2 lead in the series!
After this game, the Heat had secured match point. The Knicks were truly standing on the edge of a cliff, their fate hanging by a thread.
Following this game, the media and fans expressed extreme disappointment in Li Feng.
Although Li Feng scored 45 points in this game, a new personal playoff high for him this season, it was meaningless in the context of a loss.
As the uncrowned champions found themselves in this predicament, all criticism was directed at Li Feng.
This was perfectly normal.
When you lead your team to victory, all the accolades belong to you.
Conversely, when the team loses, you, as the team's leader, will inevitably face immense criticism.
Many media outlets were eager to interview Li Feng, wanting to know his thoughts.
Countless hecklers were at their peak, mocking Li Feng ferociously on forums, even going so far as to say, "Li Feng can't play in the NBA at all, he should go back to the CBA!"
Just as the media expected Li Feng to refuse interviews, Li Feng suddenly announced that he would hold a press conference upon their return to New York, inviting reporters to attend.
His intention was to avoid individual interviews.
Ask whatever questions you have, all at once!
Li Feng's move surprised many media outlets.
It was rare for a star player to grant interviews after a team loss.
Not only did Li Feng agree to be interviewed, but he also invited so many reporters, the more the merrier?
Was he crazy?
...
The Knicks team returned to New York, and Li Feng kept his word, holding a press conference that afternoon.
Only Li Feng attended from the entire team; everyone else was simply not in the right frame of mind.
Reporters flocked to the venue, filling the interview hall to capacity.
They expected Li Feng to be dejected and visibly disappointed.
To their surprise, Li Feng strode into the interview hall with a confident smile on his face.
The reporters were stunned, and then they began to whisper amongst themselves.
"Has Li Feng been provoked?"
"He's probably just putting on a brave face. He has quite a few endorsement deals, maybe it's to maintain his image..."
"Talk about arrogance, acting so high and mighty even after a loss."
"It's really strange. He was so low-key when they were winning, but so flamboyant after losing?"
"Anyway, they lose one more game and they're going home to fish. Might as well put on one last show!"
...
Li Feng was aware of the reporters' thoughts. He sat down and took the microphone.
"To all my media friends, I'll say a few words first. The game isn't over yet, so we won't be discouraged. Please ask your questions."
The reporters scoffed inwardly, thinking Li Feng believed these few words could silence them?
Let's see how we can make you cry!
"Mr. Li Feng, as the uncrowned champions, you are now standing on the brink of elimination. As the star player, do you bear any responsibility?"
Li Feng's expression flickered slightly, but he was prepared. He nodded seriously and said, "Of course, I take responsibility. In fact, I bear the most responsibility. It's because I didn't play well that the Knicks are trailing by a large margin."
This was Li Feng for you. He wouldn't shift the blame to his teammates or anyone else.
As the team's leader, Li Feng naturally took all the responsibility upon himself.
Seeing Li Feng admit it so readily, the reporters were momentarily at a loss for how to proceed.
"Steal others' paths, leave them with no paths to tread!"
Li Feng handled it brilliantly.
Another reporter pressed, "The Heat's Big Three clearly have a more advanced playing style and are stronger. Does this indicate that your Knicks championship last year was somewhat tainted?"
That was a rather cutting remark. If it were anyone else, they would have definitely lost their temper.
Li Feng was also annoyed, but he held back, as he was here today to challenge the media.
Losing his temper would mean admitting defeat!
"A championship is a championship. There's no such thing as a tainted championship. Other teams had opportunities to compete for the title, but why didn't they win it?"
"Furthermore, we fought our way through every playoff game. If our championship is considered tainted, what about the teams we eliminated? Do you have any respect for their efforts?"
Li Feng's words were powerful and his logic sound. The reporter's lips moved, but he couldn't articulate a response.
At this point, a tall reporter with curly hair asked, "Li Feng, you're only a little over 1.9 meters tall. Does your height limit you and become an obstacle to your further progress?"
Li Feng was almost amused to the point of laughter. With the loss, all sorts of bizarre questions were surfacing.
Haven't I been playing for years? Are you only just noticing I'm 1.9 meters tall now?
Despite a million wild horses stampeding through his mind, Li Feng chuckled and replied, "What you're saying has some merit. Basketball is indeed a game of giants. However, have you heard of Michael Jordan?"
The curly-haired reporter froze and nodded, "Of... of course, I've heard of him."
Li Feng's slightly mocking question elicited roaring laughter from the other reporters.
"You must understand that in the 1980s and 1990s, the era Jordan played in, it was an era dominated by centers. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, along with many other first-rate centers, ruled the paint, forcing many smaller guards to play supporting roles."
"But Jordan emerged. He not only won six championships but also became the God of Basketball through his exceptional skill! Do you think his height of less than two meters was short?"
The curly-haired reporter smiled sheepishly, daring not to speak further.
Li Feng faced these challenging reporters with composure and politely refuted all their questions.