Team China advanced the ball forward. As Kobe and Paul were closely guarding Li Feng, Yi Jianlian passed the ball to Sun Dasheng first.
Sun Dasheng did not dribble; he was waiting for Li Feng to break free.
After two consecutive back cuts, Li Feng managed to shake off Kobe and Paul, but only gained half a step.
Sun Dasheng immediately passed the ball to Li Feng.
The moment Li Feng caught the ball, Kobe and Paul acted as if facing a great enemy and swarmed him again.
Other Team China players immediately made frantic runs, disrupting the US defense.
Li Feng slowly dribbled the ball, observing his teammates' positions.
Suddenly, Li Feng passed the ball to an open Sun Dasheng.
However, Sun Dasheng's mental fortitude was not strong enough; he wouldn't take this shot, so he looked around, intending to pass to a teammate.
At this moment, Li Feng again broke away from Kobe and Paul, driving towards the basket.
Since Li Feng had just scored on Howard, no one dared to ignore him!
Good heavens, as Li Feng charged into the paint, four Dream Team players converged on him.
Just then, Da Yao suddenly retreated from the inside and ran to the corner.
Howard knew it was bad, but it was too late to chase Yao Ming. Sun Dasheng quickly passed the ball to Da Yao in the corner!
After receiving the ball, Da Yao shot a three-pointer without hesitation!
Swish!
It was a clean swish!
This was Yao Ming's third three-pointer of the game; he had made three out of four attempts previously.
After the score, the Wukesong arena erupted in a deafening roar, as if an earthquake had struck!
Who would have thought that China would take the lead with Yao Ming's three-pointers!
107:106, China led by one point!
After the score, Yao Ming himself was extremely excited, clenching his fists and pumping them fiercely.
Li Feng rushed over and hugged Yao Ming tightly.
Although this score did not add anything to Li Feng's stats, the players on the court knew that Yao Ming had gotten that open three-pointer entirely because Li Feng had drawn the attention of the US defenders.
The Dream Team superstars looked ashen; they were truly starting to panic.
With 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Team China led by one point, and the Dream Team was pushed to the brink of elimination.
Coach K called a timeout.
For the US team, every star player was capable of taking the final shot.
This was because they all had the ability to make crucial shots multiple times for their respective teams.
Therefore, the Dream Team's coach had a happy dilemma: he didn't know who to give the final shot to.
Seeing Coach K's slight hesitation, LeBron James stepped forward.
"Coach, give me the ball. I'll handle it!"
Coach K's eyes lit up. LeBron was right; his basketball IQ was top-notch.
His observation of the game situation on the court always allowed him to seize fleeting opportunities.
Furthermore, LeBron's clutch performance was very reassuring; whether passing to a teammate or shooting himself, he could deliver the final blow and win the game!
"Alright, this last possession is yours!"
LeBron's status in the team was also very high, and no one objected. They all put their hands together and shouted loudly:
"Victory!"
"Victory!"
...
In the final 16 seconds of the men's basketball finals of this Olympics.
Would the US team take home the men's basketball gold medal, or would the Chinese men's basketball team keep the championship at home?
Countless eyes were fixed on the ten players on the court.
The referee's whistle blew, and the US team inbounded the ball.
Anthony passed the ball to LeBron, and Yi Jianlian moved up to defend closely.
Against LeBron, you cannot double-team him; double-teaming him is a death sentence because LeBron's passing ability is too formidable.
Facing Yi Jianlian, LeBron called for a screen.
Howard immediately moved up to the high post, and LeBron, like a tank, broke through and drove into the paint.
This tactic was very similar to Li Feng's earlier play. Team China had no choice but to shrink their defense.
Suddenly, Kobe quietly moved towards the top of the arc.
Li Feng had been keeping an eye on Kobe, but Paul had held him back, and the referee hadn't called a foul.
Generally, at such critical moments, referees wouldn't make calls.
LeBron, with his eyes scanning the court, drove into the paint, drew the defense, and then whipped the ball backward!
It was unclear how he spotted Kobe being open.
Kobe received the ball with no one in front of him. Sun Dasheng tried to close out, but he was half a step too late. Kobe pulled up for a three-pointer!
The spectators were stunned. The clock showed just over 2 seconds remaining.
By the time Kobe jumped and released the shot, only 1 second was left.
If it went in, it would be a game-winner!
If it missed, China would win the championship!
The basketball traced an arc towards the hoop.
Swish!
It was another clean swish!
The Chinese fans in the Wukesong arena let out a collective sigh.
There was nothing they could do; the LeBron and Kobe combination was truly invincible.
They had both resolved the battle in the most powerful way possible.
Li Feng and Yao Ming stood there dumbfounded, also letting out sighs.
The outcome was as they had somewhat expected.
Despite a sliver of regret, everyone had given their all, with no regrets!
Kobe and LeBron embraced each other, filled with excitement.
Compared to previous games, this way of winning would be even more unforgettable for them.
Perhaps this was the most thrilling championship victory for the US.
Li Feng and Yao Ming walked over and hugged the Dream Team players one by one, graciously offering their congratulations.
The Dream Team superstars looked at Li Feng with newfound respect. They chatted with Li Feng for a long time, especially LeBron and Kobe.
Both of them held Li Feng in very high regard.
"Li Feng, you proved me wrong today, haha. You're great. You'll definitely make a mark in the NBA," Kobe said, patting Li Feng's shoulder.
"You surprised me today, Li Feng. We might compete against each other on the same court in the future! I'll be waiting for you!" LeBron also said with a smile.
Li Feng also admired these two superstars and nodded with a smile, "Okay, it's a deal. Don't hold back when the time comes!"
The three of them chatted for a long time. Yao Ming walked over and joined the conversation for a bit.
Although they were like enemies during the game, after the competition, everyone was a colleague and a friend.
...
In this game, Li Feng scored 28 points and dished out 15 assists. Yao Ming had 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, being the two best performers for China.
For the Dream Team, LeBron and Anthony combined for 45 points, being the biggest contributors to the Dream Team's championship.
Kobe scored 17 points; he focused his energy on defense, with fewer shots.
He had been defending Li Feng throughout the game and later double-teamed him with Paul.
...
Although China lost the finals, Li Feng's performance earned everyone's respect.
It could be summed up by an old saying from the forums: "The game was lost, but Li Feng didn't lose!"
A US reporter specifically sought out Li Feng for an interview.
"Mr. Li Feng, your performance in this game was astonishing. How did you adjust your condition?"
Li Feng knew what the reporter meant. He had played poorly in the first quarter but adjusted in the second.