Yao Ming smiled, "How would I know? We just have to do our best."
"We must contend for the championship, at least reach the finals!" Li Feng declared with conviction.
Seeing the determination in Li Feng's eyes, Yao Ming knew he wasn't joking.
"Li Feng, I've been there before. When I first came to the NBA, I was also full of ambition. But some things aren't that simple. I can only say we should try our best."
Yao Ming meant well. He had experienced too much in the NBA and didn't want Li Feng to be too disheartened by failure.
Thus, he wanted to mentally prepare Li Feng beforehand.
Li Feng understood Yao Ming's intentions but still stated firmly, "Brother Yao, I believe in the Knicks' strength. We can definitely reach the finals, and you will be healthy for the finals. We need you!"
Yao Ming was deeply touched.
He knew that the Knicks were Li Feng's team. After Yao Ming joined, the team had devised many special tactics and adjustments for him.
This allowed Yao Ming to perform at his peak while maintaining his health.
"Brother Yao, you have to believe in yourself and in our team's strength. We can absolutely make it to the finals!"
Under Li Feng's encouragement, Yao Ming's mood improved significantly.
...
The tense and exciting playoffs finally began.
The Knicks hosted the Hornets in their first game.
Because the entire Knicks team was well-prepared and had a positive attitude, they led by 21 points in the first half.
Li Feng scored 17 points in two quarters, while Yao Ming efficiently scored 15 points.
Led by the two, the Knicks encountered little resistance and easily blew out the game.
In the second half, the Knicks extended their lead to over 30 points in the third quarter. Li Feng and Yao Ming had finished their work after three quarters!
By the end of the game, the Knicks had defeated the Hornets by 34 points.
If it weren't for the Knicks substituting their bench players at the end, the score difference would have been even larger.
The Hornets were utterly defeated, their players lacking confidence.
The second game that followed was also without suspense. The Knicks won convincingly at home, taking a 2-0 lead!
Although the media and fans generally believed the Knicks were highly likely to sweep the Hornets, they were still somewhat surprised by how thoroughly they had won these two home games.
Returning to their home court, the Hornets' morale seemed to improve.
With the roar of the home crowd, the Hornets put up a good performance in the first quarter.
The scores were tight, and at the end of the first quarter, the Hornets actually led by 2 points, 31-29.
Just as the Hornets' home fans thought their team would win one game back, the Knicks started to exert pressure.
In the latter half of the second quarter, driven by the combined efforts of Li Feng and Yao Ming, the score gap widened again.
The Hornets' fans felt a sense of despair.
At the end of the first half, the Knicks entered halftime with an 8-point advantage.
The second half saw the game become one-sided again.
The Knicks unleashed their "Run-and-Gun 2.0" tactic, going on a run that instantly pushed the lead to over 20 points.
Ultimately, the Knicks secured the first home win for the Hornets without breaking a sweat.
The series score became 3-0!
The Hornets players were stunned, seeing no hope of a comeback.
The fourth game was a battle for pride for the Hornets: would they be swept, or would they manage to win one game?
The outcome was not unexpected.
In the fourth game, the Knicks led throughout the entire match, ultimately winning 116-102.
They swept the Hornets 4-0, advancing to the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
In these four games, Li Feng averaged 26 minutes per game, scoring 28.4 points, grabbing 7.2 rebounds, and dishing out 9.3 assists.
Because the games were too easy, his stats weren't as explosive.
Yao Ming averaged only 23 minutes per game, scoring 21.5 points, and displayed immense dominance in the paint.
Most impressively, Yao Ming averaged 1.4 three-pointers per game.
This indicated that he had integrated three-point shooting as a regular weapon.
...
The playoff situations for other teams were as follows:
The Cavaliers led the Bucks 3-1, the Magic swept the Heat 4-0, and the Hawks were tied 2-2 with the Celtics.
In the Western Conference, the Lakers led the Thunder 3-1, the Mavericks were tied 2-2 with the Spurs, the Suns led the Trail Blazers 3-1, and the Nuggets were tied 2-2 with the Jazz.
Currently, only the Knicks and the Magic had advanced to the second round, giving both teams a few extra days of rest.
The Knicks' next opponent would be decided between the Hawks and the Celtics.
The coaching staff studied the games between the two teams and organized targeted training for the entire team.
After watching the four games between the two teams, Li Feng already had an answer in his mind.
Although the Hawks were a strong team with players like Joe Johnson, Al Horford, Mike Bibby, and Josh Smith, the veteran Celtics possessed superior strength.
As expected, in the crucial Game 5, the Celtics, with a late-game surge from Paul Pierce in the fourth quarter, secured the victory.
However, the Hawks were not to be trifled with. In Game 6, at the Celtics' home court, Horford and Bibby performed exceptionally well.
Joe Johnson hit an ultra-long three-pointer in the most critical moment of the fourth quarter, giving them a 1-point lead and securing the win.
The series was tied 3-3!
These two teams were truly engaged in an earth-shattering battle.
In the decisive Game 7, the Celtics lacked home-court advantage, and many did not favor them.
However, Li Feng still believed the Celtics would advance!
As Li Feng predicted, the three veteran Celtics proved superior. After a closely contested three quarters, they regained control in the fourth quarter.
Ultimately, the Celtics narrowly defeated the Hawks 96-93, winning Game 7.
The Knicks' next opponent was revealed: the Celtics!
Although Li Feng had scored 78 points against the Celtics in a regular season game, he remained unfazed.
This was because the Celtics were the kind of team that played better in the playoffs, possessing incredible resilience!
The regular season was not that important to them.
...
The results of other matchups were also finalized.
The Cavaliers defeated the Bucks 4-1, advancing to the second round.
They would face the Magic in the second round!
It was a close encounter. The matchup between these two teams was highly anticipated, with countless fans eager for the Cavaliers to get revenge and defeat the Magic!
The four teams from the Western Conference had also been determined.
The Lakers defeated the Thunder 4-1, and the Mavericks lost to the Spurs 3-4, becoming the second team to be upset.
The Nuggets defeated the Jazz 4-2, advancing to the second round.
The Suns defeated the Trail Blazers 4-2, advancing to the second round.
The Lakers would face the Nuggets in the second round, while the Spurs and the Suns would meet in the second round.
The games were becoming increasingly exciting, with many rivalries set to clash in the second round.
Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony had engaged in several intense physical battles during the regular season.
This was a feast for the fans.
The Spurs and the Suns were also long-standing rivals, and their years of animosity would be settled in this playoff series!
The two matchups in the Eastern Conference were even more like a dramatic script, filled with intensity.
The league's new dominant force, the Knicks, would face the veteran Big Three of the Celtics.
The Cavaliers and the Magic were rivals from the previous season, with the Cavaliers signing Shaquille O'Neal specifically to counter Dwight Howard.
...
Before the first game of the Knicks against the Celtics, Li Feng and Yao Ming attended a press conference.
A reporter was the first to ask, "Mr. Yao Ming, you've reached the second round with the Rockets before. Do you see any differences compared to the Eastern Conference?"
Yao Ming, with his high emotional intelligence, always handled reporters with a blend of humor and toughness.
"No significant differences. Teams that reach the second round of the playoffs are all very strong. I respect every player, and my teammates and I will give our all to win."
Another reporter asked, "Mr. Li Feng, you scored 78 points against the Celtics in the regular season. Does this indicate that the Celtics' defense is easy for you?"
"No, that's not how it works. In that game, my shooting touch was hot, but it was a narrow victory for the team. This shows that the team's overall strength is more important!"
Seeing Li Feng's humility, the reporters felt he didn't act like a rookie; he was too mature and seasoned.
"Li Feng, who do you consider the Celtics' strongest defender?"
Li Feng answered without hesitation, "Kevin Garnett!"
The reporters nodded in agreement, acknowledging that Garnett was indeed the Celtics' formidable interior defender.
"However, now that we have Yao Ming, Garnett poses no threat to us!" Li Feng changed the subject, pointing at Yao Ming, and then burst into laughter!
The reporters also laughed, realizing Li Feng's witty comeback.
...
At the Celtics' press conference, Garnett and Pierce were interviewed.
Garnett was 34 years old this year, and Pierce was 33.
They had already won one championship together, and by all accounts, they had no regrets. However, in competitive sports, the pursuit of championships was always their goal!
"Garnett, the Knicks have had a dominant season. Do you have any specific tactics to counter them?"
Garnett stated seriously, "We have rich experience. We will cause trouble for the Knicks on both offense and defense, and ultimately win the game!"
The reporter pressed further, "But you lost three games to them in the regular season!"
"Regular season? Does it matter? We will show the Knicks what the playoffs are all about in the postseason!" Garnett reiterated the difference between the regular season and the playoffs.
Another reporter asked Pierce, "Mr. Pierce, who do you think is the most formidable player on the Knicks?"
Pierce pondered for a moment and replied, "Yao Ming is the most formidable. He has many offensive moves in the paint, which will make it difficult for us."
"What about Li Feng? He scored 78 points against you!"
Pierce visibly flinched. He actually recalled how terrifying Li Feng's performance had been in that game.
However, he deliberately downplayed it, saying, "Li Feng is just a scorer. We didn't pay much attention to him, and he won't do much in the playoffs!"
...
The highly anticipated second round of the playoffs began.
Madison Square Garden, 7:30 PM.
The Knicks faced the Celtics, with their Big Three.
Although most fans believed that the veteran Celtics would not be able to stop the Knicks' momentum, the Knicks players remained focused.
The Knicks' starting lineup was Li Feng, Yao Ming, Scola, Gallinari, and Duhon.
The Celtics' starting five were Garnett, Pierce, Ray Allen, Rondo, and Perkins.
Yao Ming and Perkins contested the tip-off, and Yao Ming easily secured the first possession for the Knicks.
As Li Feng dribbled past half-court, Rondo and Ray Allen immediately double-teamed him.
This showed how much the Celtics feared Li Feng, resorting to double-teaming from the start.
Despite their words of not fearing Li Feng's scoring, their actions were quite telling.
Li Feng did not force his own shot; he wanted to get his teammates into rhythm first.
He immediately passed the ball to Duhon and retreated to the corner at mid-court.
Even without the ball, Rondo and Ray Allen dared not relax, keeping a close eye on Li Feng.
Duhon saw Yao Ming extending his hand for the ball near the baseline and passed it to him immediately.
Perkins was a mere decorative piece in front of Yao Ming.
Although Perkins appeared sturdy, Yao Ming had more weight. Even after losing weight, he was still not someone Perkins could easily handle.
Yao Ming then drove forcefully towards the basket twice, preparing for a layup.
The Celtics were prepared. Knowing that Perkins alone couldn't stop Yao Ming, they sent Garnett for help defense.
With two players double-teaming Li Feng, and now two players double-teaming Yao Ming, only Pierce was left to defend three Knicks players.
Therefore, Yao Ming immediately passed the ball to the open Scola.
Pierce lunged towards Scola, and Scola then passed to Gallinari in the corner.
Gallinari had never had such an easy three-point shot.
Swish!
With no defender in sight, he made it with ease!
3-0!
The Knicks took the first lead!
The home crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers!
For many years, Knicks fans had never been as excited as they were this year.
The Celtics initiated their offense.
Rondo dribbled past half-court. Facing one-on-one defense from Li Feng, he dared not attack impulsively and passed the ball to Pierce.
Pierce, facing Scola, played very comfortably. With a shoulder shimmy, he found space to shoot.
Swish!
He scored with a jump shot!
Pierce used his versatile scoring style to get the Celtics' first basket.
As expected, Pierce's performance in the playoffs was entirely different from the regular season.
In the playoffs, Pierce's shots were more decisive, and he played with immense composure, resulting in a higher shooting percentage.
3-2, the Knicks led.
Li Feng dribbled past half-court. Facing the double-team, Li Feng patiently passed the ball again, letting Duhon organize the offense.
This time, Yao Ming did not call for the ball; instead, he drew Perkins out of the paint.
Duhon passed the ball to Scola.
"The Diamond" received the ball and used his elusive footwork to shake off Garnett and score a layup.
Garnett was an extremely strong defender, but he felt powerless against the Diamond's footwork because Scola's rhythm was so perfect!
After scoring, Scola gave Garnett a calm look, as if to say, "You're the only DPOY?"
Garnett was furious and roared at Scola, "There won't be a next time!"
Yao Ming and Scola had a very good relationship. With both of them joining the Knicks together, they were like brothers, so naturally, he had to stand up for his brother.
He walked up to Garnett and said coldly, "What? He'll score on you again!"
This was the playoffs, and the intensity was palpable.