David Lee and Barron were also helpless; they were both players who attacked more than defended.
Despite their best efforts, some issues were due to talent, and effort alone wouldn't solve them.
During the timeout, Bucks coach Scott was also yelling about defense.
"Stick close to Li Feng, no matter where he is, don't let him shoot!"
"Even if it's a foul, you have to hold him!"
It had only been a few minutes since the start, and the Bucks coach was already driven crazy.
Jennings had boasted before the game that he would lock down Li Feng.
Now he dared not speak, standing alone behind his teammates, head bowed.
"Jennings, you and Delfino double-team Li Feng. We'd rather be beaten by others than let Li Feng play like this!"
Jennings sighed. He knew clearly in his heart that from the moment he started double-teaming, he had already lost to Li Feng.
The timeout ended, and the game resumed with the Bucks on offense.
Jennings had the ball in the backcourt. After crossing half-court, he immediately called for a screen.
Li Feng's steal had scared him, and he no longer dared to face Li Feng one-on-one.
Ilyasova screened Li Feng, and Jennings drove towards the baseline.
Jennings was known for his signature stop-and-pop jump shot near the baseline, with a super high success rate.
However, today, as soon as Jennings reached the vicinity of the baseline, David Lee rushed over and blocked his path.
Although David Lee wasn't fast enough, he still had the height advantage and was very active.
Jennings couldn't get past David Lee, and with time running out, he had to force a shot in a hurry.
Clang!
The ball bounced off the rim, and Barron secured the rebound and passed it to Li Feng at the top of the arc.
D'Antoni nodded from the sidelines, very satisfied with David Lee's defense.
Little did he know, Li Feng was very strict with his teammates during practice.
Especially with rotations and help defense, Li Feng had been constantly guiding them.
Li Feng understood clearly that he was just a player; he couldn't dictate his teammates but could only adapt to them and help them improve, thereby increasing the team's chemistry.
The Knicks once again executed a lightning-fast fast break.
As Li Feng crossed half-court, Jennings and Delfino aggressively double-teamed him.
Li Feng's other Knicks teammates had ample space. After a few passes, they created an open shot. Barron received the ball under the basket and dunked it easily!
Even though Li Feng didn't score, the Knicks' offense remained fluid.
This was an upgraded version of the run-and-gun offense.
Li Feng had learned a few tricks from the tactics of Kerr's Warriors, which involved using Li Feng's gravity to facilitate teammate cuts and passes.
The Bucks' timeout had not achieved much; instead, it allowed the Knicks to go on another scoring run.
Jennings was still in a daze.
In the first two minutes of the game, Jennings had scored seven points and thought he could dominate.
However, just a few minutes later, Li Feng showed him what true suppression was!
Li Feng played with ease, constantly switching modes.
If the Bucks double-teamed him tightly, Li Feng would casually retreat to the corner to "smoke," letting his teammates play 4-on-3.
If the Bucks eased up, Li Feng would suddenly attack, catching them off guard.
This unrestrained style of play completely dominated the game.
Jennings was locked down by Li Feng on offense and couldn't defend Li Feng on defense, rendering him almost invisible on the court.
With over eight minutes gone in the first quarter, Jennings still only had seven points.
Bucks head coach Scott had no choice but to substitute Jennings out.
Jennings walked off the court dejectedly, his head bowed, no longer possessing the swagger he had at the start.
The live audience was not lenient with him, as he had been trash-talking Li Feng non-stop when he scored.
So, the Knicks fans by the sideline shouted at him.
"Jennings, you're getting blown out by Li Feng!"
"Still talking smack? Jennings, you're not on the same level as Li Feng!"
"Your Rookie of the Year hopes are gone, haha!"
...
Jennings, of course, heard the crowd's taunts and was so angry he almost fainted.
He was still a rookie, not a seasoned veteran of the court.
By the end of the first quarter, Li Feng had scored 17 points and dished out 6 assists, helping the Knicks lead by 11 points with a score of 28:17!
As Li Feng walked off the court, he received enthusiastic cheers from the Knicks fans.
Even fans by the sideline began to bow to Li Feng.
In a place like New York, those who could afford front-row tickets were all wealthy individuals, and they were very critical of players.
Whether it was an opponent or a player on their own team, if they played poorly, they would be booed; if they played well, they would be praised heavily.
The most famous Knicks fan was the film director, Spike Lee.
He frequented Knicks home games and always booked front-row seats, virtually becoming the Knicks fans' mascot.
Only by gaining his approval could one become a king in New York!
When the Knicks announced Li Feng's arrival, Spike Lee retweeted the news on Twitter.
However, he expressed his skepticism about Li Feng.
As a seasoned fan, he believed the Knicks needed a strong power forward.
But after Li Feng's arrival, he was completely won over through five summer league games and the preseason.
Spike Lee had now become a staunch supporter of Li Feng.
So, as Li Feng walked off the court, Spike Lee high-fived him.
Li Feng also liked the old man, finding him very likable.
As the second quarter began, both teams fielded their reserve players.
The Bucks' bench was also strong, with players like Ridnour, Salmons, and Bell possessing significant talent.
However, the Knicks' bench played at a very high level at home.
Perhaps intimidated by Li Feng's playstyle, the Bucks' reserves played chaotically, failing to exhibit their usual skill.
The Knicks' bench seized the opportunity to go on a small run, extending the lead to 15 points.
Li Feng was ecstatic and enthusiastically waved his towel from the sidelines, cheering for his teammates on the bench.
The more D'Antoni learned about Li Feng, the more he realized how formidable the young man was.
Not only did Li Feng perform excellently on the court, but his communication with his teammates was also very harmonious.
Many rookies faltered precisely because of this; they found it difficult to quickly integrate into the team atmosphere.
This was especially true for Chinese players, whose cultural differences made integration even more challenging.
Yao Ming also felt a bit out of place at the beginning, but as the team's absolute core, others had to adapt to him.
Coupled with Yao's high emotional intelligence, Yao Ming was well-liked by his teammates on the Rockets.
However, Yi Jianlian had a more difficult time fitting in.
Because Yi Jianlian was introverted and his English was average, he had been quite frustrated with his previous team, the Bucks.
Although Li Feng had lived in the United States his whole life, he was not at all introverted.
On the contrary, Li Feng was able to get along with players from all backgrounds.
Don't underestimate this ability; for team sports, the team atmosphere is crucial.
For instance, when the team is on defense, whether a teammate provides help defense a moment sooner or later can make a world of difference.
Similarly, when rebounding, if a teammate screens for you, you can grab the rebound, but the teammate's stats don't change.