Meng Dong’s stubbornness kicked in, and he tossed his backpack to the side of the court, shouting, "Come on! Who’s afraid of whom? You guys just wait to get crushed by me!"
Ronnie gave a mischievous grin and signaled to the people beside him. Then, everyone split into two groups.
Meng Dong's group included two Americans and two Europeans.
They did this intentionally, wanting to make Meng Dong look foolish!
Meng Dong didn't care and started playing seriously.
To be honest, Meng Dong's skills were around the mid-level among these people.
But after pointers from Li Feng and Ross, Meng Dong always managed to pull off unexpected moves and score at critical moments.
During one of Meng Dong's drives, Ronnie fiercely rammed into him, simultaneously tripping him with his foot.
If it were before, Meng Dong would have surely fallen flat on his face.
But today, Meng Dong's physical condition had somehow changed. The moment Ronnie charged at him, he suddenly dodged, his foot landing on the ground!
*Whoosh!*
Meng Dong surprisingly darted over a meter forward to the right.
Then, Meng Dong attacked the basket and scored with a layup.
Ronnie, however, was in a bad way. He had missed his charge, lost his balance, and fell to the ground with a thud.
Because the incident happened so quickly, everyone else hadn't seen it clearly.
Ronnie's friend, Carlos, thought Meng Dong had knocked Ronnie down and became furious.
As soon as Meng Dong scored, Carlos rushed over and threw a punch at Meng Dong, yelling, "You little brat, how dare you touch my brother!"
Carlos was 2.07 meters tall, strong, and had even trained boxing for a few days.
If that punch had landed, Meng Dong would have definitely been knocked out.
The others were just waiting to watch the show, and no one stepped in to stop it.
Just as the fist was 1 centimeter away from Meng Dong, Meng Dong suddenly ducked his head, evading Carlos's punch, and simultaneously threw a straight jab!
Meng Dong had never trained boxing or any combat sport before. He didn't know why, but instinctively, his fist shot out!
*Bang!*
This punch landed right on Carlos's rib cage!
The "liver shot" in boxing!
Carlos grunted in pain and bent over, squatting down.
The others were still laughing and watching, but in the blink of an eye, it was the burly Carlos who was squatting!
"What happened? It was too fast, did Carlos get hit?"
"I heard a bang, but I didn't see who hit whom!"
"Carlos must have pulled a muscle, I didn't see Meng Dong throw a punch…"
…
Not only these few people, but even Meng Dong himself was dumbfounded.
He looked at his fist, then at Carlos, his lips trembling, unable to speak.
Ronnie wasn't having it. He hadn't seen how Meng Dong counterattacked and assumed Carlos had just been clumsy.
So, he roared and walked towards Meng Dong, "You dare hit my big brother, I'll kill you!"
Saying that, he swept his leg towards Meng Dong.
Ronnie had also trained in combat sports, and this kick was fast and accurate, aiming for Meng Dong's head.
If this kick had landed, Meng Dong would have been in grave danger.
Meng Dong, by reflex, extended his left hand, *Bang!*
He blocked Ronnie's kick and simultaneously swept his right leg!
*Thump!*
Ronnie was directly knocked to the ground by Meng Dong's sweeping leg!
Clean and swift!
The others were all stunned.
Li… Li Xiaolong?
Carlos and Ronnie, embarrassed by their predicament, called out to the others –
"What are you all looking at? Beat him up! We can't let this Chinese kid be arrogant!"
Except for the two European guys, all the other American players rushed over, wanting to gang up on Meng Dong.
After the two counterattacks, Meng Dong suddenly gained confidence. He stayed calm, dodging and counterattacking.
It was truly spectacular!
It was like a classic one-against-many battle.
In less than 5 minutes, seven or eight players had lost their fighting ability. Some were lying on the ground groaning, while others limped, afraid to advance. wap.kanshu伍.net
Meng Dong was very excited. He continued to roar, "Come on! Are you still going to fight!"
While the conflict was happening, someone had quietly gone to call Reggie Miller.
Reggie Miller didn't take it too seriously when he heard about the players fighting.
After all, they were all young and hot-blooded, and some friction during a game was normal.
However, when he heard that Meng Dong had taken on multiple opponents and beaten them all, he found it incredible.
So, Reggie Miller headed towards the gym.
Just then, Reggie Miller saw someone standing at the entrance of the gym, looking inside.
"Hey, who are you? This is a training camp, if you want to watch, go inside and watch…"
Before he could finish, Miller froze when the person turned around.
"You… Li Feng?"
Li Feng had arrived a bit later than Meng Dong and was just waiting to watch the fun.
He was engrossed in watching when he heard Miller call him, so he smiled and extended his hand, "Miller, I came to see how Meng Dong's training is going."
Although Miller was a senior, Li Feng was currently the most popular player in the league.
So, Miller was very enthusiastic, shaking his hand, "Oh, why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have picked you up. Come in quickly!"
The two entered the gym one after the other.
Miller was also surprised when he saw the scene –
Meng Dong was standing there, with several people lying on the ground.
"Meng Dong…"
Miller's face stiffened, and he was about to question Meng Dong, but he suddenly remembered Li Feng was there, and he had to give face.
So, he softened his tone and asked, "Meng Dong, what's going on? Can you explain it to me?"
Meng Dong straightened his back and answered calmly, "They bullied me, so I fought back!"
Miller wasn't a homeroom teacher, so he didn't pry too much. And Meng Dong's feat of taking down so many people by himself was indeed quite shocking.
"Awesome, Meng Dong. It seems Chinese people are not to be trifled with, haha!"
Then, Miller sternly shouted at the others, "Are you guys not getting up yet? Are you injured?"
Meng Dong had been careful with his blows. They sounded impactful but didn't hit any vital spots.
So, after those people got up and moved around a bit, they were fine.
They were all young people, not overly complicated.
"Miller, I'm fine, let's continue training!"
"Uncle Miller, Meng Dong played well, let me team up with him!"
"I'll team up with him too, Meng Dong's skills are very impressive."
…
These people weren't foolish. They saw how friendly Li Feng and Meng Dong were and knew what was going on.
Miller smiled, "Alright, then you guys continue training."
Afterward, Miller pulled Li Feng aside, and the two started chatting.
While they were talking, several players ran over with jerseys or shoes, respectfully asking Li Feng for autographs.
Even funnier was Carlos, who took out his phone to take a picture with Li Feng.
Li Feng was approachable, smiling and fulfilling everyone's requests.
Miller and Li Feng watched from the sidelines for a while, occasionally calling out and correcting players' mistakes.
After the minor disturbance, no one dared to challenge Meng Dong anymore.
Especially Ronnie and Carlos, their attitude towards Meng Dong underwent a 180-degree turn.
Young Americans are hero-worshippers. As long as you defeat them, they will completely submit to you.
Meng Dong played with great enjoyment, showcasing all his skills and developing better chemistry with his teammates.
Miller watched from the side, nodding frequently, "Li Feng, your compatriot from China is really good, very spirited! He doesn't lose out in confrontations either."
Li Feng replied proudly, "Yes, I met him through a friend when I returned to China during the offseason. Among kids his age, he's outstanding. Brother Miller, you have to pay extra attention to him!"
"Then you can rest assured. I've put a lot of effort into this training camp, and Meng Dong will definitely make it!"
When Miller was a player, his style of play was ahead of his time. He had a very accurate three-point shot and was also very aggressive in confrontations.
The most classic moment was in the Eastern Conference Finals when he pushed Jordan aside and hit a game-winning shot!
He looked thin, but deep down, Miller was incredibly tough.
"I trust you, which is why I sent him to you, Brother Miller, please take good care of him!"
…
After leaving the training camp, Li Feng went directly to the Knicks training facility to train with his teammates.
The Knicks' next three games were against weaker opponents, one home game and two away games.
Yao Ming rested for one game and returned to play after fully recovering.
With the normal performance of the Chinese trio, the Knicks achieved five consecutive victories.
However, in an away game against the Pacers, the entire Knicks team had a cold shooting night and trailed for the first three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, led by Li Feng, they went on a run and finally tied the score.
Unfortunately, in the end, the Pacers' Granger and Paul George suddenly exploded, and the twin stars powered the home team to victory.
Despite Li Feng scoring 16 points in the fourth quarter, it couldn't overcome the Pacers' exceptional performance.
The Pacers had indeed made great progress this year, mainly due to Granger still being in his prime, Paul George's sudden rise, and the contributions of Hibbert and David West.
Li Feng knew that the Pacers would definitely cause trouble this season and would have a significant impact in the playoffs!
When the media saw the Knicks lose to the Pacers, they immediately started hyping up Paul George as the future hope of the league.
Of course, Paul George had the ability, but the Paul George of 2011 had not yet reached All-Star level.
Li Feng was very angry after reading these reports.
He made a solemn vow to play dominantly in the next matchup between the two teams!
The All-Star voting was about to begin.
The Chinese trio of the Knicks had very high fan support.
Li Feng hoped that Yi Jianlian could also make it to the All-Star Game because it would boost Yi Lian's confidence.
Furthermore, if the Chinese trio could all make it to the All-Star Game, it would also significantly enhance their commercial value.
Li Feng and Yao Ming were certain to be starting All-Stars, so in the subsequent few games, the entire team deliberately passed the ball to Yi Jianlian.
In home games against the 76ers and Hornets, and an away game against the Kings, Yi Jianlian averaged 26.4 points.
These were some of Yi Lian's best games since entering the NBA.
His body was also very healthy, without injuries, which excited many Chinese fans.
In his first two years in the NBA, unfortunately, Yi Lian would get injured after playing just a few good games, leaving fans speechless.
The Knicks' next game was crucial, an away game against the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies had improved significantly this season. The "black and white bears" were developing increasing chemistry, and the other players were becoming more mature.
Conley, Tony Allen, and Rudy Gay were all skilled players.
Although it was still uncertain whether the Grizzlies could break out of the Western Conference, the Knicks would need to play dominantly against the Grizzlies to achieve their three-peat!
The Knicks team flew to Memphis to prepare for the game.
In fact, the Knicks weren't very afraid of the "black and white bears." As long as Yao Ming was healthy, they weren't afraid of any interior player.
What they were most worried about now was the Grizzlies' perimeter players.
The wing group of Rudy Gay and Tony Allen, both excellent in offense and defense, posed a huge challenge for Yi Jianlian and Bill Walker.
And Conley's perimeter play was also a challenge for Li Feng.
Conley had excellent physical attributes and a very accurate three-point shot. In this era, Conley's three-point shooting was quite advanced. He wasn't just taking open shots but was shooting off the dribble.
For the Grizzlies, strengthening their perimeter game had led to a qualitative leap in their overall strength.
Because in past seasons, the Grizzlies had always given the impression of being too traditional.
Their scoring methods relied on pounding the ball inside, again and again.
You'd exert a lot of effort, score two points, and be drenched in sweat.
Then, the opponent would hit two quick three-pointers and pull away.
Therefore, the Grizzlies' record in past seasons hadn't been ideal.
The Knicks took the Grizzlies very seriously and, after watching game footage, began to study their tactics.
…
The next evening at 8 PM, at the FedExForum in Memphis.
The Grizzlies hosted the visiting New York Knicks.
The Knicks' starting lineup was Li Feng, Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, Bill Walker, and Ty Lawson.
The Grizzlies' starting five were Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, and Tony Allen.
Yao Ming won the opening tip-off.
The Knicks' strategy was clear: focus on Yao Ming inside and Li Feng outside.
The other players would cut and move, ready to receive passes, as both Yao Ming and Li Feng had playmaking abilities.
Li Feng dribbled past half-court, with Conley tightly defending him.
In the past two seasons, Conley hadn't gained any advantage against Li Feng.
He respected Li Feng a lot, but this season, the Grizzlies' chemistry had improved.
Conley had realized that he couldn't beat Li Feng through individual effort alone.
So, on defense, he pressed up, and Tony Allen nearby was ready to double-team.
Li Feng was prepared; he had seen it all.
Yao Ming clashed with Randolph inside twice, establishing position, and called for the ball.
Li Feng immediately passed the ball to him.
Facing Randolph, Yao Ming turned halfway, preparing for a short hook shot.
Unexpectedly, the Grizzlies gave him no opportunity. Marc Gasol quickly rotated over, and the two double-teamed Yao Ming!
In the league, the only center who could force the "black and white bears" to double-team him was Yao Ming.
Even Shaquille O'Neal wouldn't require the "black and white bears" to double-team him now, as he was older and his dominance wasn't what it used to be.