Rose’s shooting ability was average, and with the game at the last moment, he was a bit nervous.
*Clang!*
He missed his first free throw, and the crowd let out a collective sigh.
Rose was very popular, especially this season, when he had once led the Bulls to the league's best record.
They were only surpassed by the Knicks and the Heat later.
However, his explosive style of play had won him countless fans, making him the most popular player this season.
Kobe walked over first and congratulated Li Feng. The two embraced, with Kobe patting Li Feng on the back repeatedly.
"You really make people despair, haha, losing to you in last year's finals wasn't unfair!"
When Li Feng mentioned the finals, Kobe smiled and said, "Last year is in the past. Let's do it again this year! I'm not confident I can beat you again."
"You're too humble. If we really meet in the finals, we still won't be able to contain you."
After a brief conversation, Kobe left, and the other Western stars came over to greet Li Feng.
Li Feng played 27 minutes today and scored 32 points, the same as Kobe, making them the two highest-scoring stars on either side.
But because the Eastern Stars team won, and Li Feng performed outstandingly at the end, Li Feng once again became the most sought-after player in this All-Star game.
…
Despite Li Feng’s low-key approach, only participating in the All-Star Game itself, he still became the most eye-catching superstar.
Consequently, after the All-Star Game, Li Feng’s signature shoe sales reached new heights.
The image of Li Feng wearing his fifth-generation signature shoes and hitting a three-pointer under the double-teaming of Kobe and Westbrook became the front-page headline for all media!
Red Star Sports made a fortune, with its stock price soaring again, making it the undisputed number one sports brand in China.
Internationally, it also ranked among the top five.
Li Feng, with his own efforts, had elevated a little-known sports brand to the status of a major international brand!
…
After the All-Star Game, the players had a three-day break, and Li Feng went out to play with Jenner again.
Since they had established their relationship, they were no longer low-key.
The media captured many photos of their sweet trip, and they didn’t seem to mind.
However, even during their travels, Li Feng still spent three hours training in the hotel gym every day.
This was the professionalism of a player.
Although Jenner would sometimes complain a little, Li Feng still had to maintain this habit.
The system had provided Li Feng with a lot of help, but Li Feng knew clearly that he couldn't rely on the system entirely.
His own hard work was even more important!
…
The second half of the regular season would be more intense and unpredictable.
With the season halfway through, players were bound to be fatigued, and the risk of injuries increased.
The Knicks were no exception. Yao Ming's knee had been swollen, and for safety, the team doctor advised him to continue resting and receiving treatment after the All-Star Game.
Kyle Lowry, having played too hard and trained diligently in the first half, also felt the strain, experiencing muscle cramps in his thigh.
Therefore, Lowry was also placed on the observation list.
Additionally, Luis Scola was getting older, and he had a minor back issue that required more rest.
Coach D'Antoni made a decision based on these circumstances.
That is, for the second half of the regular season, the goal would be to maintain a top-four position, and they wouldn't go all out to win every game.
For the reigning champions, health was the top priority, and the regular season record was not as important.
Li Feng's physical condition was excellent, partly due to his youth, partly due to his self-discipline, and also due to the system's buffs. Therefore, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Li Feng could play in all the remaining games.
For someone who loved basketball, playing games was his life, so Li Feng hoped not to miss a single game.
He now had many fans, some of whom had traveled thousands of miles from China, bought tickets, just to witness Li Feng play.
If Li Feng were to be sidelined, it might be a lifelong regret for those fans.
However, there were a few games in the second half of the season where the Knicks absolutely had to fight for the win.
These were against potential playoff opponents for the Knicks.
For example, the Miami Heat's Big Three, the Chicago Bulls, the Boston Celtics, and the Orlando Magic.
Currently, the Knicks held a 2-0 record against the Heat, 2-0 against the Bulls, 1-0 against the Celtics, and 2-1 against the Magic.
Just the second week after the All-Star Game, the Knicks faced the Miami Heat's Big Three again.
In this game, Yao Ming was injured and couldn't play, Scola couldn't play, and Lowry had just returned from injury in the previous game, with the team doctor requiring him to play only 20 minutes.
Under these unfavorable circumstances, the Knicks faced a difficult challenge playing the Heat's Big Three on the road.
However, the Knicks players remained confident because Li Feng was still there, and in recent games, Li Feng had been in good form, scoring 30+ points consecutively!
With several teammates sidelined, the Knicks still ranked in the top three in the Eastern Conference, so Li Feng's MVP ranking had climbed to first place, surpassing Rose and James.
The Heat had won six consecutive games and were on a strong momentum, with the chemistry between their Big Three becoming increasingly better.
Therefore, James was secretly determined to win against the Knicks at least once.
Otherwise, being swept by the Knicks after the hype of the Heat's Big Three in the offseason would be too embarrassing.
Li Feng didn't hold out much hope for this game. With too many teammates injured, he knew he couldn't carry the team alone.
Although they had beaten the Heat twice in the previous two games, both were close calls, with narrow victories only secured at the very end of the game.
At the pre-game press conference, Li Feng answered only a few questions before leaving.
…
At the American Airlines Arena in Miami, at 7:30 PM.
The Heat hosted the Knicks.
As Li Feng had predicted, the Heat displayed an extremely strong desire to win in the first quarter.
The intensity was so high that the fans felt it wasn't just a regular season game, but more like a Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
The play was fierce, and James's eyes seemed bloodshot.
In contrast, the Knicks players' morale was not as high.
Li Feng played steadily, not exerting his full effort, still creating opportunities for his teammates in the first quarter.
However, his teammates' shooting touch was ordinary. By the end of the first quarter, the Heat led the Knicks by 8 points.
With Lowry's playing time reduced, the burden on the bench became even heavier.
As soon as the second quarter began, the Heat's bench unit, leveraging the home-court advantage, went on a run.
The point differential continued to widen. By the time the main players returned to the court, the deficit had reached 13 points.
Although Li Feng hit a three-pointer as soon as he came back on, James immediately responded with a basket plus a foul!
So dominant!
The point differential remained around 15 points, and Li Feng intensified his individual offensive efforts.
Fans familiar with the Knicks knew that they had no other option but to rely on Li Feng to carry them.
At the end of the first half, the score was 56:45, with the Heat leading by 11 points.
Although they hadn't been blown out, judging by the on-court performance, the Knicks had few options left, while the Heat played as a unit and delivered a better performance.
Li Feng and his teammates walked off the court with their heads down, everyone knowing that the odds were stacked against them today.
The Heat's Big Three had shown dominance in the latter half of the regular season, and today's game was a clear indication of that.
With the playoffs drawing closer, today's loss could put significant psychological pressure on the Knicks players.
…
In the Chinese sports channel broadcast booth, Yu Jia and Director Zhang were commentating on the game.
Although the Knicks had swept the Heat on the road before the All-Star Game, the two commentators remained objective.
In their pre-game analysis, they did not blindly favor the Knicks.
Considering the current form of both teams, both believed that the Heat had a higher chance of winning.
"Director Zhang, how much impact do you think Yao Ming's injury has on the Knicks?"
Director Zhang's expression was solemn as he sighed and replied, "If they were playing against an average team, Li Feng could still lead the team to victory with Yao Ming resting."
"But against the Heat's Big Three, Yao Ming's absence will weaken the Knicks' defense by two levels and make them a target for the Heat's offense."
Director Zhang's analysis was correct; James's drives today had torn the Knicks' defense to shreds!