This is the first game of the second round of the playoffs, and the Celtics must play their game.
Their opponent is the defending champion, so losing is acceptable, but the score must be close; they cannot be blown out.
If they are blown out, it will have a significant impact on the direction of the rest of the series.
It not only demoralizes the players but also makes them play more anxiously on the court.
However, Rivers had few options. The Knicks' overall strength was undeniable; it wasn't just Li Feng who was a strong point.
He could only ask his veteran players to give it their all, aiming to keep the deficit from reaching double digits by halftime.
In fact, there was no need for him to say it. Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen understood; they were already giving their best.
After the timeout, the Celtics, having recovered some stamina, increased their intensity.
Through more aggressive movement, they provided help defense and rotations. On offense, they worked to get around Li Feng, allowing Pierce and Garnett to take isolated matchups. Ray Allen also used screens and quick movements to find open three-point opportunities.
The Celtics' strategy yielded some results, and the deficit was reduced to just one point.
With 1:26 left in the second quarter, the score was 56:55.
Li Feng was displeased. He knew the Celtics were a tough opponent, which was why he felt it was crucial to deliver a dominant performance in the first game to make the subsequent games easier.
However, the Celtics' resilience made Li Feng realize that things were not that simple.
D'Antoni called a timeout, seeing that aside from Li Feng, the other Knicks players were struggling to keep pace with the Celtics' rhythm.
This clearly indicated a lack of psychological preparation.
"Remember, don't underestimate them! The Celtics' overall strength is greater than last year's! On offense, pay attention to screens; on defense, anticipate earlier and be more active!"
D'Antoni's instructions addressed the weaknesses that had recently appeared for the Knicks. After speaking, he turned to look at Li Feng.
Li Feng added a couple of sentences.
When the timeout ended, the Knicks, spurred on by the cheers of the home crowd, regained the advantage.
Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian increased their coordination, opening up the paint, while Li Feng and Lowry fired away from the perimeter.
This made it impossible for the Celtics, no matter how active, to cover everything.
The deficit widened again.
Garnett, due to his overly aggressive play and rough movements, was called for two consecutive fouls by Yao Ming.
Rivers, aware of Garnett's importance to the Celtics, quickly substituted him; he had already committed three fouls.
With Garnett off the court, the Knicks played with greater clarity. Yao Ming dominated the paint, doing as he pleased!
By halftime, the Knicks led the Celtics by exactly 11 points.
This left everyone on the Celtics feeling frustrated.
While an 11-point lead wasn't overwhelming, the Knicks' dominance on both offense and defense was evident.
No matter who you asked, they wouldn't believe the Celtics could come back and win; it was a matter of how many points they would lose by.
Barkley, during his commentary, kept praising the Celtics' veteran stars.
This wasn't an attempt to belittle the Knicks; rather, Barkley deeply empathized with the effort of these old players.
"Garnett is really good; he's playing with such grit. Truly an old steed still eager to run!"
Smith glanced at Barkley and teased, "What? Are you thinking of making a comeback yourself?"
Reggie Miller, the guest commentator for the day, burst into laughter at Smith's remark.
"You know, if Barkley made a comeback, it would definitely be huge news in the league!"
Barkley scratched his bald head and pouted, "You know, I actually want to make a comeback, but unfortunately, no team is signing me!"
Reggie Miller thumped his chest and said, "Leave this to me. If you really want to come back, I guarantee I can find you a team, a 10-day contract!"
Smith couldn't stop laughing. "That's enough, a 10-day contract is sufficient. I think 3 days would be enough to carry Barkley off the court."
Barkley joined in the laughter; these commentators certainly knew how to create a spectacle.
...
The second half of the game began. The Celtics, having regained their stamina, scored on two consecutive possessions.
Li Feng, however, did not attempt any shots, letting his teammates take two, both of which missed.
The deficit narrowed back to 6 points.
The home crowd grew restless. They wanted to see a resounding victory, as the Knicks were aiming for a three-peat.
However, the Celtics' resilience kept the game suspenseful.
Li Feng grew impatient. During an offensive possession, he yelled to his teammates, "Get yourselves together, everyone!"
This was the influence of a core player.
Although Li Feng rarely lost his temper with his teammates, no one dared to disobey when he spoke.
From Li Feng's tone and expression, his teammates understood that he was about to unleash his full power.
Indeed, after crossing half-court, Li Feng faced a double-team but showed no intention of passing.
*Bang!*
First, using his speed and strength, he pushed Allen away. Then, before Garnett could provide help defense, he attempted a long two-pointer!
This was Li Feng – showing no mercy when he wanted to score!
The Celtics had their possession. Pierce called for the ball at the elbow in the paint, looking to isolate Bill Walker.
Having been outplayed several times in the first half, Bill Walker stayed closer to him.
But Pierce had too many tricks up his sleeve. With consecutive fakes, Bill Walker's feet faltered again.
Pierce seized the opportunity, created space, drove into the paint, and aimed for a layup.
Suddenly, Li Feng exploded from the baseline, reaching out with a large hand and swatting the ball away from Pierce!
This play was a huge morale booster. The entire Knicks team roared, rushing over to chest bump with Li Feng in celebration.
The home crowd erupted in cheers, chanting Li Feng's name.
The Celtics' spirit was completely broken; they all hung their heads.
Rivers sighed, knowing it was over. If Li Feng started forcefully attacking, no one on the Celtics could stop him.
What was the playoffs about? It was about the superstars!
Even if the two teams had equal overall strength, the team with an unstoppable superstar would ultimately win.
It was like playing Dou Dizhu: no matter how many 2s you had, if your opponent held a King, they could still take out a large straight.
With Li Feng's surge, the Celtics couldn't hold on, being completely suppressed on both ends of the court.
With over eight minutes gone in the third quarter, the Knicks led by 21 points.
The game was slipping away again.
Li Feng was substituted by D'Antoni, receiving cheers from the crowd.
The other Knicks players also stepped up, weathering the Celtics' comeback in the fourth quarter and securing the victory.
Finally, the Knicks won the first game of the second round series with a score of 117:106.
This victory was crucial. The Knicks laid a strong foundation and built momentum, giving them hope of closing out the series within five games.
For a team aiming for a three-peat, reducing the number of playoff games by one meant reducing the risk of injury.
Li Feng played 28 minutes that day and scored 29 points.
Although his scoring wasn't exceptionally high, his impact on the game, dictating the flow with his court vision, was truly astonishing.
Some media outlets gave Li Feng exceptionally high praise.
"Li Feng Easily Dominates Celtics' Big Three, Leading Knicks to First Win in Second Round of Playoffs"
"Celtics Only Played One Good Quarter; Li Feng Leads Team to Victory!"
"Garnett's Pre-Game Boast Becomes a Laughingstock!"
...
After the loss in the first game, Rivers felt a sense of despair, but as the head coach, he had to motivate his players.
NBA head coaches don't play a significant role in terms of tactics; their primary function is to handle the team's psychology.
The head coach must appease the team's star player and continuously boost the team's morale.
Seeing his players with their heads down and remaining silent, Rivers clapped his hands, calling the players together.
"What's wrong with you all? Losing one game like this? Looking so dejected!"
"Pierce, you are the soul of the Celtics. You know, during the year we won the championship, did we never fall behind?"
Pierce nodded. "Yes!"
"Exactly. What's so bad about losing one game? We're playing a best-of-seven series, not a one-game decider!"
...
Under Rivers' motivational speech, the Celtics players were all re-energized.
They understood that even if they lost the game, they couldn't lose their spirit.
There was only one champion each year, but the players' careers continued.
Fans didn't just watch for championships; many fans were drawn to the indomitable spirit of sportsmanship.
This was the charm of competitive sports.
If they became disheartened after a loss, the Celtics would become a laughingstock throughout the league.
The "Iron-Blooded Green," never gave up!
With the team's morale boosted, the Celtics began their offensive and defensive drills, specifically targeting the Knicks.
...
The second game began.
To their credit, the Celtics played well in the second game, leading by 2 points at halftime.
However, the Knicks teammates did not lose their fighting spirit because Li Feng had barely taken any shots in the first half.
Li Feng could sense the Celtics' good morale, so he decided to play conservatively in the first half, avoiding their initial surge.
As long as they secured the victory, it was enough; it wasn't realistic to expect a blowout in every game.
The third quarter started, and Li Feng still hadn't unleashed his full power.
But Lowry and Yi Jianlian played well together, keeping the score tight.
By the latter half of the third quarter, the score between the two teams was still close.
Just as the fans expected the outcome to be decided in the fourth quarter, Li Feng suddenly exploded.
And Li Feng's method of unleashing his power was by continuously shooting three-pointers!
In 2012, Curry had not yet erupted, and no player was shooting three-pointers as voluminously as Curry would later.
*Bang, bang, bang!*
Li Feng hit five consecutive three-pointers, extending the lead to 17 points.
Rivers looked up to the sky and sighed.
He had never seen anyone play like this. Was he crazy?
Li Feng played with ease and joy, widening the gap in the blink of an eye, and was then substituted off the court.
The home crowd was ecstatic, standing up and bowing in unison to Li Feng.
What was expected to be a closely contested game was decided by Li Feng in just three minutes, turning into a blowout!
If you weren't watching live or streaming, who would believe that the outcome could be determined in such a short time?
After Li Feng left the court, the other Knicks players played with increasing fluidity and confidence, maintaining a lead of around 20 points.
Li Feng did not play in the fourth quarter, and the Knicks players smoothly secured the victory.
With a commanding 2-0 lead, the Knicks' future looked bright.
The odds offered by sports betting companies for the Knicks to win a three-peat continued to rise.
Most fans believed that the Knicks would comfortably achieve their third consecutive championship.
Li Feng and his Knicks teammates were feeling confident and united, determined to pursue their third championship.
...
However, an unexpected piece of news arrived—
Li Feng's mother in this parallel world had suddenly suffered a stroke and was hospitalized.
Ever since he had transmigrated, Li Feng hadn't been in frequent contact with his parents, as he hadn't grown up in this world.
But Li Feng treated his parents in this world very well, as both versions of Li Feng were kind and filial individuals.
Therefore, whenever he returned to China, he would spend a few days with his parents, and every month, he would call them to check on their well-being.
As for finances, there was no question; even though his parents weren't lacking money, Li Feng still gave them 100,000 yuan each month.
With the playoffs at a critical juncture, and his mother suffering a stroke, Li Feng didn't hesitate. He immediately informed the Knicks management and booked a flight back to China.
The Knicks management was very understanding of Li Feng's situation. Although they regretted it, they supported Li Feng's decision to return home to see his mother.
The news, released on the Knicks' official website, shocked the world!
The NBA hadn't seen a three-peat in over a decade, and Li Feng was returning to China at such a critical moment?
Most fans were supportive of Li Feng's actions, as life took precedence over basketball.
Playing in the NBA was, after all, just a job.
When a player's mother is seriously ill, it was normal for him to take time off to be with her.
However, some extreme fans were completely bewildered and began to curse.
Although they claimed to be Li Feng's fans, they valued his honors and achievements above all else.
The more honors Li Feng accumulated, the higher his historical standing, the more ammunition these extreme fans had for their boastful arguments.
"The star player I support is great, which means I am also great!"
"As long as Li Feng is amazing, I can walk around the forums with my head held high!"
"My life isn't going well, but Li Feng gives me the confidence to live, making me no longer feel inferior!"
...
In short, Li Feng's sudden departure during a crucial series in the second round of the playoffs caused a huge stir.
Of course, more fans expressed their regret. While praying for Li Feng's mother, they also hoped that Li Feng could make it back for the Eastern Conference Finals, or even the NBA Finals.
Before Li Feng left, he gathered all his Knicks teammates.
He was in a somber and complex mood.
"Brothers, you all know what's happening with me, but this game..."
Before Li Feng could finish, Yao Ming waved his hand and said earnestly, "Brother Li Feng, Auntie isn't feeling well, so it's normal for you to go back. We will do our best to contend with the Celtics, don't worry!"
Yi Jianlian also said, "Brother Feng, although you're two years younger than me, I consider you my brother. Auntie is sick, and we hope she recovers soon. Don't you worry; we'll do our best."
Other players also expressed their determination, urging Li Feng to take good care of his mother.
Li Feng didn't say much more. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he finally said, "Okay, I'll entrust it to you brothers. You are all great! I believe in you!"
...
The next day at noon, Li Feng packed his bags and prepared to head to the airport.
Just as he was about to leave, there was a sudden knocking at the door.
Li Feng was startled, thinking, Who could it be? I'm about to leave.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw Jenna standing there.
"Jenna, you... why are you here? I..."