During the timeout, D'Antoni deliberately asked, "Should we double-team Kobe?"
Up to this point, Li Feng had been guarding Kobe one-on-one, with only occasional double-teams, so Coach D'Antoni was worried Li Feng couldn't handle him.
Li Feng wiped off some sweat and explained, "Coach, those few three-pointers Kobe hit just now, double-teaming didn't help at all. It was pure individual skill."
Coach D'Antoni smiled wryly, "Indeed, Kobe's scoring ability is undeniable. We can only hope his hot hand cools down."
Li Feng nodded, "Yes, I don't believe he can stay this accurate. I'll stick with guarding him one-on-one. As long as everyone else guards their man well, we'll be fine."
This timeout was primarily to disrupt Kobe's rhythm.
When the timeout ended and the game resumed, to stabilize the team's morale, Li Feng immediately shot a long-range three-pointer as soon as he crossed half-court!
Swish!
The logo three made its return!
The fans at Madison Square Garden were already on their feet.
As home fans, they had bought expensive tickets specifically to see Li Feng perform.
Witnessing Li Feng hit a super long three-pointer made the ticket price worthwhile!
It was the same for the Warriors fans at the Oracle Arena when they saw Curry's deep threes; they would be equally excited.
Kobe's face darkened. He gestured to his teammates, signaling that he would continue to shoot three-pointers and go head-to-head with Li Feng.
Fisher, understanding perfectly, passed the ball to Kobe after they crossed half-court.
Kobe intended to recapture his earlier magic, but he underestimated Li Feng's ultimate defense.
Everyone knew Kobe was going to shoot, so Li Feng didn't need to worry about defending his drive.
The moment Kobe pulled up for his jump shot, Li Feng leaped up simultaneously, giving it his all.
When defending Kobe, not giving it your all was impossible.
Kobe reached his apex and was about to shoot when his vision suddenly darkened. He found Li Feng completely blocking his path.
"This kid is jumping so high..."
If Kobe forced the shot, it would inevitably be blocked. With no other option, he had to adjust his shooting arc mid-air, increasing the difficulty.
Clank!
The ball bounced off the rim.
Under Li Feng's tenacious defense, Kobe's scoring spree was forcefully halted.
Kobe angrily flung his arm, knowing that his duel with Li Feng had put him at a disadvantage.
Yao Ming secured the rebound and passed the ball to Du Hong again.
Du Hong and Li Feng initiated a fast break, while Kobe rushed back to defend.
However, Li Feng and Du Hong's chemistry on passes and cuts was too strong. After a regular season of playing together, they could anticipate each other's movements without needing to look, knowing exactly where the other would run.
This was the embodiment of chemistry.
Despite Kobe's strenuous defense, Du Hong assisted Li Feng for another two points!
The Knicks were in high spirits in the second half. The roar of Madison Square Garden rarely subsided, with the home fans constantly cheering for Li Feng and the Knicks.
"Li Feng, I love you!"
"Go Knicks!"
"Beat LA!"
"Beat Kobe!"
...
The Knicks' arena, already the largest in the league, was now packed to capacity, with everyone in a state of heightened excitement.
Such a home-court atmosphere could make any visiting team tremble.
Kobe had outscored Li Feng in the first half, but in the third quarter, his scoring became difficult, and Li Feng surpassed him.
At the end of the third quarter, the score was 85-72, with the Knicks leading by 13 points. Li Feng had scored 17 points in the quarter alone.
Kobe only scored 2 points in the third quarter, far below his usual performance.
After winning the championship the previous year, Coach "The Zen Master" Jackson believed Kobe had reached a new level, comparable to Jordan, and was unstoppable in the NBA Finals.
However, Kobe's performance against Li Feng today brought him back to reality. The Zen Master had to admit that Kobe still had a considerable gap to bridge to reach Jordan's level.
As the fourth quarter began, Kobe and the other starters rested on the bench, with only Gasol remaining on the court.
Gasol leading the bench unit was another emergency tactic for the Lakers.
This was because Gasol possessed the ability to create his own offense and was an exceptional playmaker and organizer.
Often, when the starters were not performing well, Gasol leading the bench could spark a run and close the score deficit.
Li Feng, resting on the sidelines, was surprised to see Gasol enter the game in the fourth quarter.
As expected, Gasol's frequent scoring and assists made it difficult for the Knicks' bench players.
After more than three minutes into the fourth quarter, the deficit had shrunk to just 4 points.
D'Antoni couldn't sit still any longer and quickly brought the starters back onto the court.
The suspense of the game remained, with a 4-point difference and over eight minutes left.
Kobe, with his usual arrogance, pouted, his eyes burning with intensity. He would not miss the opportunity to secure their first road win.
This was, after all, the defending champion!
The moment Kobe re-entered the game, he displayed a different level of offensive aggression.
Facing Li Feng's tight defense, Kobe faked a drive and then, using the moment Li Feng was sticking close to him, pulled up for a quick jump shot!
The rhythm change was too fast for Li Feng to contest and he could only watch as Kobe's mid-range shot found the net!
The deficit narrowed to 2 points!
Madison Square Garden fell silent again. The home fans felt the killer instinct emanating from Kobe, an unstoppable aura.
All eyes were now on Li Feng.
What is a superstar?
Only someone who can step up in critical moments is a superstar!
Regardless of how they played before, they must grit their teeth and lead the team to victory in the end!
Li Feng dribbled the ball past half-court. Kobe lowered his stance and, along with Fisher, double-teamed Li Feng.
Facing the double-team, Li Feng did not choose to pass this time. Instead, he used his strength to push away Fisher, who was slightly weaker, and drove to the right.
Kobe pursued relentlessly, denying Li Feng any space to jump.
Li Feng knew Kobe's pride and ego. To defeat Kobe, he needed to shatter his inner resolve.
So, Li Feng employed Kobe's signature move from the "Offensive Kaleidoscope" skill – the fadeaway jumper.
Although the fadeaway jumper was a common move, Kobe's fadeaway was more exaggerated, with his entire body leaning backward, making it extremely difficult.
Seeing Li Feng leap backward, Kobe knew he was going for a fadeaway and smirked inwardly, "Trying that move against me? You're asking to be blocked!"
Swish!
Kobe raised his right hand high and jumped almost simultaneously with Li Feng.
Both reached their highest point. Kobe was astonished to find that he couldn't block Li Feng's shot.
This...
Li Feng calmly released the ball, Swish!
He scored a long two-pointer!
Then, Li Feng landed gracefully!
The roar of the home crowd erupted instantly.
The large screen above replayed Li Feng's shot from multiple angles.
It was truly a beautiful sight!
Kobe snorted and muttered under his breath, "Not bad..."
Li Feng smiled and replied, "Just you wait, I'll use all your moves."
"You?"
The two continued their verbal sparring.
Subsequently, Kobe hit another clutch three-pointer.
Li Feng matched him shot for shot, hitting another clutch pull-up three.
The game became exciting, and the moment the fans had been waiting for finally arrived.
The players on both sides cooperated, feeding the ball to Li Feng and Kobe, letting them do the scoring.
The score remained tight, with neither team able to pull away as Kobe and Li Feng showcased their best skills.
With just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Li Feng, imitating Kobe, drove to the basket and slammed down a powerful dunk!
He scored 2 points, and Bynum was called for a blocking foul.
A three-point play!
At this point, Bynum already had five fouls.
With little time left on the clock, Coach Jackson decided not to substitute him.
Li Feng stood at the free-throw line and sank the additional free throw.
102-101, the Knicks took a one-point lead!
Kobe yelled, "Give me the ball, I'll hit another one!"
Fisher immediately passed him the ball.
Kobe, with the ball, attempted another fadeaway jumper.
However, Li Feng was well-prepared. He leaped up simultaneously to contest Kobe's shot.
To evade Li Feng, Kobe made a dodge move in mid-air, an incredibly difficult maneuver.
Li Feng's block attempt missed, and Kobe, with a difficult shot, swished it!
He hit it again!
Despair washed over the home crowd, but they also admired Kobe's offensive prowess, his ability to score from anywhere with so many moves.
Li Feng also nodded inwardly, recognizing Kobe's exceptional hang time.
103-102, the Lakers retook the lead by one point.
Li Feng, through off-ball movement, received a pass from a teammate and hit another three-pointer.
105-103, the Knicks regained a two-point lead.
In this era, Li Feng's three-point shooting ability was almost unfair.
Kobe also had a strong three-point game, but it always required immense effort, involving fadeaways and pull-up jumpers.
In contrast, Li Feng's three-pointers looked effortless, as if he could just casually toss the ball in.
Kobe continued to trade shots with Li Feng, but Li Feng's efficiency was clearly higher, which allowed the Knicks' lead to grow.
With 53 seconds left in the game, the score was 114-109, the Knicks leading by five points.
The scoring for both teams was almost exclusively done by Kobe and Li Feng.
The Zen Master knew the final few possessions were crucial and immediately called a timeout.
Li Feng walked to the sidelines amidst the roar of the entire arena.
Li Feng had exerted a lot of energy in the past few minutes, as Kobe and Fisher had hounded him relentlessly.
Every time Li Feng got a shooting opportunity, he had to run multiple laps and endure constant physical contact from opponents.
In the NBA Finals, minor fouls were rarely called, so Li Feng was the most fouled Knicks player.
The Zen Master designed a play for Kobe to attempt a three-pointer.
With the game in its final moments and a 5-point deficit, a three-pointer was essential; a two-point shot wouldn't be enough.
Kobe wiped sweat from his brow and drank his beverage deeply. He never expected the first game to be this challenging.
The current situation suggested a high probability of losing.
Kobe had to step up.
The timeout ended, and the game resumed.
The Zen Master and Kobe, both accomplished coaches and superstars with multiple championships, designed a precise play.
Kobe received the ball at the 45-degree angle and, with lightning speed, shot and scored!
114-112, the Knicks' lead was cut to just 2 points.
The Knicks were on offense!
With 42 seconds remaining.
The Knicks did not call a timeout. D'Antoni knew Li Feng's decision-making ability on the court, so he entrusted the ball to him.
He simply made a gesture from the sideline, signaling the players to follow Li Feng's lead!
His teammates spread out. Li Feng didn't force anything and called for a double screen.
Using his teammates' double screen, Li Feng drove all the way to the baseline.
The Lakers players were focused entirely on Li Feng. To their surprise, Li Feng suddenly threaded the ball through the defenders to Yao Ming.
Bynum realized something was wrong and quickly turned to defend, but it was too late.
Yao Ming executed a one-handed slam dunk for 2 points.
Simultaneously, the whistle blew, and the referee pointed at Bynum.
A blocking foul!
This meant Bynum, the Lakers' biggest defensive anchor in the paint, fouled out and had to leave the game!
The Lakers players were filled with despair; their chance was slipping away.
Yao Ming stood at the free-throw line and calmly made the shot!
117-112!
The deficit widened to 5 points again, with only 23 seconds left on the clock.
Time was running out for the Lakers.
Despite Kobe's desperate efforts, the Lakers failed to complete the comeback, thanks to Li Feng's efforts on both ends of the court.
In the end, the Knicks defeated the Lakers at home with a score of 118-112, securing their first victory in the NBA Finals.
Li Feng played 36 minutes today, scoring 41 points, with 17 of those coming in the fourth quarter alone.
Yao Ming played 29 minutes, scoring 26 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, providing crucial support in the paint for the Knicks.
Kobe played 37 minutes today, scoring 38 points.
Although Kobe's performance was outstanding, he still fell slightly short compared to Li Feng.
Li Feng was, as expected, named the Most Valuable Player of the game.
Madison Square Garden was filled with the excited cheers of the fans, making it almost impossible to hear anything else.
The Knicks players were as excited as the fans. This was their first NBA Finals game!
Many players never get the chance to stand on this stage in their lifetime, let alone win.
"Li Feng!"
"Li Feng!"
"Li Feng!"
...
Li Feng's teammates and the fans chanted his name in unison, then lifted him into the air!
Although Li Feng was also happy, he understood very clearly that this was only the first game and didn't signify anything definitive.
Back in the day, the 76ers, led by Iverson, defeated the Lakers, led by the OK combination, in the first game of the Finals.
However, the Lakers went on to win the next four games, ultimately losing the championship.
Li Feng did not want to win just one game.
After celebrating with his teammates for a while, Li Feng signaled for them to put him down.
"Brothers, let's forget about this game!"
"We need to prepare for the next one. Until we win four games, we have no right to celebrate!"
Seeing Li Feng suddenly turn so serious, his teammates, startled, returned to the locker room.
The next morning, Jenna called Li Feng, wanting to have dinner with him, but Li Feng refused.
He had decided that he would not meet anyone until he won the championship.
...
D'Antoni and the coaching staff reviewed the tape of the first game and felt there was room for improvement in the Knicks' defense.
He called Li Feng into his office and curiously asked, "Li Feng, why is the Knicks' defensive intensity not on par with their performance against the Magic?"
Li Feng knew what the coach was getting at.
When facing the Magic, Li Feng had used the system's "Defensive Boost Package."
This was because the Magic had many shooters.
However, the Lakers' offense was centered around Kobe, so a team-wide defensive boost package wasn't immediately necessary.
"Coach, perhaps the Lakers' offense is different from the Magic's. Don't worry, when needed, my teammates can elevate their defensive capabilities."
Seeing Li Feng's confidence, D'Antoni nodded and smiled, "Alright, it seems your command on the court is even more effective than mine from the sidelines."
Li Feng quickly replied humbly, "It's still the coach's guidance that is most important."