Chapter 2 Section 2 The Grizzlies' Possession
With 33 seconds left in the second quarter, the Grizzlies were on offense.
The Knicks were already leading by 12 points.
This possession was crucial for the Grizzlies; they desperately needed to narrow the deficit to single digits.
Conley dribbled across half-court, facing Lowry's one-on-one defense, and passed the ball to Gasol again.
Marc Gasol's performance in the first half was better than Randolph's.
This wasn't because he was stronger than Randolph, but rather that Randolph had expended too much energy battling Yao Ming and hadn't gained any advantage.
Gasol received the ball nervously. He wasn't afraid of Yi Jianlian, but rather of Li Feng's help defense.
Seeing Li Feng on the far side, Gasol relaxed and began to pound on Yi Jianlian.
Just as he was preparing to bully Yi Jianlian, Bill Walker suddenly abandoned Rudy Gay and lunged at Gasol.
Gasol was clearly caught off guard by the double-team and fumbled the ball.
Time ticked away, and the shot clock was about to expire. Gasol was forced to drive for a layup.
However, Yi Jianlian had already positioned himself, stopping Gasol.
Bill Walker leaped and swatted the ball away from Gasol's hands!
That was a beautiful defensive play.
Li Feng's earlier instructions had paid off; Bill Walker had finally joined Yi Jianlian in the defense.
The ball was batted to Yao Ming, who bent down, grabbed it, and tossed it to Li Feng!
At this point, there were only 11 seconds left in the second quarter.
Li Feng caught the ball, and the Grizzlies players defended with all their might.
Tony Allen and Conley quickly retreated, blocking Li Feng's path.
Li Feng didn't pass. Facing their double-team, he dribbled slowly.
Both players expected Li Feng to drive, so they spread their arms, trapping him in the corner.
Just as everyone thought Li Feng had no options and would have to pass, Li Feng suddenly made an incredible move.
He tossed the ball to the backboard with one hand.
What was he doing from that distance?
Conley and Tony Allen were stunned, turning to watch.
The Knicks' coaching staff and players were also dumbfounded.
As everyone's attention was fixed on the ball, Li Feng suddenly rounded Conley and drove towards the basket.
Conley and Tony Allen finally came to their senses and chased after him, but it was too late.
Li Feng's speed was incredible; he arrived at the basket just ahead of the bouncing basketball.
The ball hit the top of the backboard and bounced out. Li Feng leaped high, caught the ball, and slammed it forcefully into the hoop!
Conley and Tony Allen could only watch Li Feng's back as he unleashed a thunderous dunk!
As Li Feng slammed the ball through the hoop, the red buzzer sounded, signaling a spectacular buzzer-beater dunk.
The Grizzlies players were completely bewildered by Li Feng's play. They had never seen anything like it.
Although such a move—a self-alley-oop off the backboard—had been seen in All-Star games before,
the most iconic example was Tracy McGrady.
He had done it not only in All-Star games but also in regular season games.
However, other players would do it closer to the paint.
No one had ever dared to attempt it from mid-court, let alone succeed!
After a moment of stunned silence, Li Feng's Knicks teammates rushed over to chest-bump him in celebration.
Yao Ming was the most ecstatic, his classic meme-worthy expression appearing as he exclaimed, "Li Feng, you're unbelievable! That was so dominant. Did you think you were in a dunk contest?"
On the jumbotron, Li Feng's bizarre dunk was replayed from various angles.
A small portion of the Grizzlies home crowd couldn't help but applaud.
Li Feng had once again won over the opposing fans!
63:49, the Knicks held a 14-point lead entering halftime.
On TNT's broadcast, Barkley marveled at Li Feng's court creativity.
"This Chinese kid is truly miraculous. What was he thinking?"
Smith was also stunned, holding his head and speechless for a long time.
"Players sometimes practice moves like this in training, but in a formal game, only Li Feng would dare to try it."
"I have to say, D'Antoni's support for Li Feng is truly remarkable. Any other coach would have probably scolded him."
"He wouldn't dare scold Li Feng. Without Li Feng, the Knicks wouldn't have made it out of the Eastern Conference; at best, they'd reach the second round of the playoffs."
"Second round? They'd be eliminated in the first round and go home to fish."
...
Not only were the commentators in the broadcast booth shocked, but fans were also flooding the NBA's live update feeds.
"What the heck is Li Feng doing? Did the dunk contest start early?"
"Hahaha, the Grizzlies players are so pathetic. They're being toyed with by Li Feng!"
"Did you see the look in Conley and Allen's eyes? Pure despair!"
"I dare say that only Li Feng in the league could break free from a double-team by Conley and Allen."
"Tony Allen is a strong contender for Defensive Player of the Year this season, and Li Feng just treated him like air!"
"I absolutely love watching Li Feng play. He's so creative; this is what a historically great superstar looks like."
...
In the Grizzlies' locker room, the players were dispirited.
The Grizzlies had high aspirations this season, vowing to contend for the championship.
However, facing the Knicks today, they realized the gap was too significant, and the primary reason for that gap was Li Feng!
Head coach Hollins entered the locker room.
This was the first time the head coach had visited the locker room this season.
He had to say something.
They could lose the game, but the players' morale was extremely low.
Especially Li Feng's circus-like basket at the end of the second quarter, which was incredibly demoralizing!
"Guys, don't be dejected, don't be discouraged. We still have a chance in the second half. It's only a 14-point difference!"
The players looked at him, remaining silent, but their expressions said it all.
"The Knicks are leading because of Li Feng, I don't need to tell you that. In the second half, you absolutely must lock him down. Can you do that?"
He looked at Tony Allen as he said this.
Tony Allen gave a wry smile, lowered his head, and muttered, "Coach, I gave it my all in the first half, but that kid is too slippery. I can't guard him."
Hollins roared in anger, "Are you still a professional player? Do you still want to win DPOY? Are you already admitting defeat?"
Conley quickly stepped in to smooth things over, explaining for Tony Allen, "Coach, we really did our best. But we need to try harder in the second half, please rest assured."
Hollins understood that the players were indeed trying their hardest.
His tone softened slightly as he said, "Our foundation in the league is defense. If we can't contain Li Feng today, then forget about a championship, we won't even make the playoffs!"
Randolph stood up and spoke on behalf of the players, "Coach, don't worry. In the second half, we'll increase our defensive intensity by three notches! Even if they knock us to the floor, we won't let them score!"
Marc Gasol chimed in, "That's right, Coach. Rest assured, victory will be ours today!"
Other players also voiced their agreement.
Hollins nodded slightly. This was the spirit he wanted to see!
Losing the game was acceptable, but losing their spirit was not!
The Grizzlies might falter on offense, but they could never falter on defense!
...
The second half of the game began.
The Grizzlies immediately ramped up their defensive intensity to a grinding halt.
As Lowry was bringing the ball up court, Conley rushed over and knocked Lowry down.
Beep!
The referee blew his whistle, calling Conley for a foul.
However, Conley appeared unfazed. His teammates came over to high-five him in encouragement.
Coach Hollins even nodded enthusiastically and clapped his hands, cheering for Conley's fierceness.
Lowry was furious. He got up to take the sideline inbound pass.
Li Feng sensed that the Grizzlies were playing aggressively!
Damn it, they're getting fired up!
Let's see how I deal with you guys.
Li Feng actively called for the ball, and Lowry immediately passed it to him.
Tony Allen was tense and immediately pounced.
Li Feng attempted to get past him with a change of direction. Unexpectedly, Tony Allen stuck out his leg, trying to trip Li Feng.
Li Feng was prepared. The moment Allen extended his leg, he suddenly lifted his foot high and stomped down forcefully.
Bang!
The stomp landed directly on Tony Allen's foot.
If it had been accidental, Li Feng would have been the one injured, as there were countless instances of players using their feet to trip opponents.
But Li Feng's stomp was intentional, and Tony Allen was the one who suffered.
Allen felt a searing pain in his instep, as if he had been crushed by a steel plate.
"Ah!"
Tony Allen cried out, retracting his foot. Li Feng easily drove past him.
However, Li Feng was careful. His stomp caused Allen considerable pain but did not result in an injury.
After crossing half-court, Rudy Gay rushed over to help defend.
Rudy Gay was also a tenacious defender. Seeing that his teammates couldn't stop Li Feng, he simply reached out, trying to grab Li Feng.
Li Feng, of course, wouldn't let him succeed. He suddenly executed a half-turn, throwing Gay half a body length behind.
Gay became anxious and tried to grab Li Feng's jersey again.
But Li Feng accelerated, driving to the paint like the wind.
Gay didn't even have an opportunity to foul!
Marc Gasol and Randolph were anxious. They realized Li Feng was going for a solo charge!
One man challenging an entire team.
This wasn't just about a single basket; it was about pride, about morale!
So, Randolph and Marc Gasol converged, determined.
They would rather let Li Feng pass to Yao Ming or Yi Jianlian than let Li Feng score!
Li Feng knew in his heart that he had to make this shot. He couldn't pass, and he couldn't fail!
To break down the Grizzlies, a team proud of its defense, one had to penetrate all their defensive lines!
Facing the Twin Towers, Li Feng didn't force his way through. Instead, he deliberately drove towards Randolph.
Randolph spread his arms wide, crouched down, and blocked Li Feng's driving lane completely.
With his physique, blocking Li Feng's path was like a towering black tower!
Marc Gasol was experienced. While clogging the middle, he kept an eye on Randolph, ready to rotate if Li Feng managed to get past him.
Li Feng dribbled slowly. Seeing only 3 seconds left on the shot clock, he suddenly accelerated, drilling into a small gap between the Twin Towers.
The Twin Towers were tense and hurried to block him.
But Li Feng suddenly pulled the ball back, causing the Twin Towers to collide!
Bang! kanδん
These two giants crashed into each other, feeling the immense impact!
As they reeled from the collision, Li Feng suddenly pulled up for a fadeaway jump shot.
Because they had collided, the Twin Towers were in pain and couldn't react in time to defend Li Feng.
They could only watch helplessly as Li Feng's jump shot swished cleanly through the net!
Spectacular!
Li Feng, in the midst of a high-speed drive, was able to make the optimal judgment and choose the best solution.
This ability was truly unmatched!
Throughout NBA history, only Michael Jordan could reach this level.
After the basket, Yao Ming let out a joyous roar and rushed to hug Li Feng tightly.
Having been in the league for many years, Yao Ming had seen it all.
He knew firsthand the brilliance of this play and was confident it would be a contender for the Play of the Year.
Li Feng's Knicks teammates also swarmed him, shouting excitedly.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies players hung their heads, severely demoralized.
Head coach Hollins' face was ashen, and he stood with his arms crossed, silent.
Li Feng's powerful response was a statement in action.
He was warning the Grizzlies: "You can increase the intensity, but don't get too dirty!"
65:49, the lead stretched to 16 points.
The home crowd fell silent.
Earlier, when the Grizzlies players took the court, they had exuded a fierce confidence, and the fans had expected a major comeback.
However, after dismantling Lowry, Li Feng went on a rampage!
What about the strongest backcourt? What about the Twin Towers?
I'm here to take down the elite!
After this play, the Grizzlies were completely out of sync.
Their morale plummeted, and their defense lost its spark. The Knicks seized the momentum and established a commanding lead by the end of the third quarter.
Just over six minutes into the third quarter, the score was already 81:55!
Li Feng and Yao Ming were substituted out, heading to the bench to rest early.
Although the Grizzlies managed to close the gap for a few minutes after Li Feng left the court, the other Knicks players stepped up and held off the Grizzlies' comeback.
At the end of the third quarter, the Knicks maintained a 21-point lead.
The Grizzlies had lost their fighting spirit, and the fourth quarter turned into garbage time.
Ultimately, the Knicks defeated the Grizzlies on the road, proving the strength of a championship-caliber team.
Li Feng finished the game with 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists.
He narrowly missed a triple-double and was substituted out early, not lingering on the court to chase statistics.
Randolph, limited by Yao Ming, scored only 13 points, while Marc Gasol had 22 points and Yao Ming had 27 points.
The Grizzlies, who had troubled many strong teams, were reduced to adorable teddy bears by the Knicks.
Following this game, the Knicks completed their three-game Western Conference road trip with victories in all matches.
However, upon returning to New York, Li Feng had a long conversation with D'Antoni.
The discussion primarily focused on the team's current atmosphere.
Before the previous game, Yi Jianlian and Bill Walker had a minor disagreement during practice.
Although there wasn't a major altercation, they exchanged words, which had an impact on the other players.
D'Antoni hadn't taken it seriously, but Li Feng thought differently.
Li Feng had watched many documentaries about dynasty teams during his free time.
Why were three consecutive championships so rare and precious?
It was precisely because after winning two consecutive titles, numerous small and large incidents would occur within the team.
Basketball is a team sport, and every component is crucial.