Due to their regular season record, the Mavericks held the home-court advantage over the Knicks.
This presented another disadvantage for the reigning champion Knicks.
As the Knicks team meticulously prepared, another piece of bad news emerged from New York.
Stoudemire had collided with a teammate during practice, his arm taking an unnatural force.
Little S had broken out in a cold sweat from the pain at the time.
After examination, the diagnosis was a mild elbow strain.
Fortunately, Stoudemire was strong, and after deliberation, the team doctor announced externally that Little S would miss three games.
Although Li Feng and Yao Ming were the core of the Knicks, Stoudemire's offensive arsenal was crucial, serving as an excellent finishing point.
In this three-round playoff run, Little S averaged 14.5 points, highlighting his importance.
D'Antoni was in a terrible mood; Stoudemire was a favored player he had coached in Phoenix.
Stoudemire's role in the NBA Finals was significant, as Li Feng and Yao Ming would undoubtedly face double-teams.
This made the face-up game of Stoudemire a potential solution to their problems.
However, the Mavericks' second option, Caron Butler, had also been injured before the playoffs and would not be playing in the Finals.
On paper, the situation was similar for both teams.
But Stoudemire had been effective throughout the playoffs, while Butler hadn't played at all, and the Mavericks had still been dominant.
From this perspective, Butler seemed less essential to the Mavericks.
However, basketball games are not decided by paper strength; sometimes, stacking stars doesn't guarantee victory.
With good chemistry, even a seemingly mediocre team can achieve excellent results.
...
The entire Knicks team arrived in Dallas, preparing for the first game of the NBA Finals two days later.
At the pre-game press conference, Li Feng and Yao Ming spoke with the media.
Given it was the NBA Finals, the media presence was immense, with CCTV from China also sending reporters.
A local American male reporter asked, "Mr. Li Feng, this is your second consecutive NBA Finals appearance. Do you feel any difference this time?"
Li Feng smiled and replied, "Of course, it's different. Last year we were the challengers, and this year we are the challenged. Last year, even if we lost, I wouldn't have had any regrets, but this year, as the reigning champions, we must defeat the Mavericks and achieve a back-to-back championship!"
The reporters were very impressed by Li Feng's determination and burst into applause.
Yao Ming nodded and applauded, strongly agreeing with Li Feng's statement.
Another American female reporter asked, "Li Feng, Stoudemire is injured and will miss several games. Will this greatly impact the Knicks?"
Li Feng sighed and answered, "Stoudemire is a very important member of our team. His face-up offensive ability is a primary scoring method for us. However, we are a unit, and others will do their best to compensate for his absence. At the same time, we all hope he recovers quickly and rejoins the team!"
The female reporter from CCTV pushed her way to the front and asked, "Mr. Li Feng, I'm a reporter from CCTV China. We want to know how the Knicks plan to limit Nowitzki?"
Li Feng responded very seriously to the Chinese reporter's question, "Nowitzki is a good friend of mine. His shooting ability is strong, and his drives are sharp, making him very difficult to defend. However, our Knicks defense has always been a strong point, and we will use our team defense to guard Nowitzki."
The Chinese female reporter nodded and then turned to Yao Ming, "Yao Ming, hello!"
From her tone, it was evident that she and Yao Ming likely knew each other.
Yao Ming smiled and waved at her, saying, "Hello, it's been a long time."
The female reporter felt honored and asked, "Yao Ming, before you joined the Knicks, you seemed to have many injuries. However, since joining the Knicks, your physical condition has been getting better and better, and we fans are very happy. Can you tell us why?"
Yao Ming nodded, "The main reason was that I had gained weight before, and my ankles and knees couldn't handle it. However, after joining the Knicks, the team made changes tailored to my situation, allowing me to adapt in the most suitable way for myself."
"First, I lost over 20 kilograms, and then I healed the injuries in my knees and ankles. Additionally, in terms of playing style, the Knicks allowed me to rediscover my old agile, technical game while increasing the emphasis on my shooting, which is why my physical condition improved."
The Chinese female reporter was asking on behalf of the fans. Upon hearing Yao Ming's explanation, she happily started to applaud.
It was believed that many Chinese fans hoped Yao Ming would continue to play well and win his second championship.
Another German reporter asked, "Mr. Yao Ming, as an international player who has fought in the NBA for many years, who do you think is the better player between you and Nowitzki?"
Upon hearing this, both Li Feng and Yao Ming frowned, and the reporters began to whisper.
This question put Yao Ming in a difficult position, as it was clearly a provocation from the German reporter.
Indeed, Nowitzki had a more successful career in the NBA than Yao Ming, having won an MVP.
However, this was also related to his teammates and the team he played for.
Moreover, with the NBA Finals about to begin and Yao Ming and Nowitzki being opponents, any answer would be awkward.
Just as some media outlets were waiting to see Yao Ming stumble, Yao Ming's high emotional intelligence came into play.
Yao Ming let out a snort and replied, "Nowitzki is a player I deeply respect, and we are in contact privately. If you ask me who is better, I will tell you that basketball is a team sport, and the Knicks are definitely better than the Mavericks!"
The other reporters let out exclamations, then all applauded, celebrating Yao Ming's emotionally intelligent response.
The provocative German reporter also chuckled sheepishly and retreated to the back.
...
On the Mavericks' side, Nowitzki and Kidd also attended the pre-game press conference.
For Nowitzki, this year might have been his best opportunity to win a championship.
Because the team's strength was balanced, and players at all positions had played well in the playoffs.
If they could maintain this form in the NBA Finals, the Mavericks were confident they could defeat any opponent.
A reporter asked, "Mr. Dirk, you've finally made it back to the NBA Finals. What are your thoughts at this moment?"
Nowitzki confidently replied, "I will never forget the loss in '06. This year, we will definitely reclaim what we lost!"
The reporters all nodded.
Another reporter asked, "But the Knicks have Yao Ming in the paint and Li Feng on the perimeter. How will you limit them?"
Nowitzki said seriously, "Although Li Feng and Yao Ming are very strong, we also have many good players like Kidd, Terry, Barea, Chandler, and Marion. They will not let the Knicks win."
A reporter then asked Kidd a question: "Mr. Kidd, what do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of the Mavericks' perimeter game?"
Kidd thought for a moment and replied, "Our perimeter defense is very strong, and our three-point shooting is also very accurate. Everyone is in great form this postseason, and we will carry that momentum into the NBA Finals!"
...
The highly anticipated NBA Finals began.
The American Airlines Center in Dallas was packed with spectators, with not an empty seat in sight.
Many celebrities were also in attendance, especially in the front rows, which were filled with A-list stars.
There were sports stars, such as football legends like Ronaldinho, Messi, and Beckham.
In addition, there were other sports superstars like Federer and Bolt.
Many entertainment stars also showed up, including Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Kanye West.
Quite a few Chinese celebrities were also present, with Deng Chao and Eddie Peng sitting courtside.
Such a gathering was a sight not seen for many years.
At 8 PM, the game officially commenced.
The Knicks' starting lineup consisted of Li Feng, Yao Ming, Sean Williams, Bill Walker, and Lowry.
The Mavericks' starting five were Nowitzki, Kidd, Stevenson, Chandler, and Marion.
At the center-tip, Chandler secured the first possession.
Although Yao Ming was taller than Chandler, Chandler possessed better explosive power.
Kidd dribbled in the backcourt, and Li Feng pressed him.
Typically, full-court pressure wouldn't be applied at the start of a game.
But Li Feng took the initiative as the visitor, aiming to send a message to the Mavericks.
In an away game, morale was crucial, and Li Feng needed to show his teammates his effort.
Kidd was a relatively stable top-tier point guard, but under Li Feng's tight defense, he was in disarray.
Fortunately, his fundamentals were solid, and despite the awkwardness, he managed to stumble his way past half-court.
Nowitzki had established his position in the post, extending his hand to call for the ball.
This was the Mavericks' strongest point, and Kidd immediately passed him the ball.
Nowitzki received the ball, faced Sean Williams, and after a post-up, easily turned and shot!
This was his signature move.
Sean Williams, as a reserve player, hadn't played much before, but suddenly starting today, he was a bit nervous.
Especially with the matchup, he had to guard Nowitzki, which was immense pressure.
Swish!
Nothing but net!
Nowitzki scored first for the Mavericks, putting them up by two points.
The home crowd was ecstatic; they had waited so many years and finally reached the NBA Finals again.
Nowitzki's basket sent the entire arena into a frenzy.
Li Feng had intended to double-team, but Nowitzki was too well-prepared, seemingly cautious of Li Feng and releasing his shot exceptionally quickly, leaving Li Feng no time.
"It's okay, let's play a good one!"
Li Feng gestured to his teammates and shouted loudly.
He brought the ball up court, crossing half-court.
Kidd guarded Li Feng one-on-one.
Li Feng hadn't been guarded one-on-one in a while, but Kidd's defensive ability was strong, and he employed many subtle tactics, making it difficult for Li Feng to shoot.
So, he decided to drive straight to the basket, as Kidd, being older, wouldn't be able to keep up with his speed.
Li Feng faked a shot, then suddenly drove to the basket, accelerating towards the left.
Kidd felt a blur in front of his eyes, and the player was gone.
He knew he had been beaten and could only chase after him.
As Li Feng drove into the paint, he saw Marion positioned directly in front of him.
Marion, nicknamed "The Matrix," had a peculiar appearance, but his athleticism and defensive capabilities were top-notch.
His unusual shooting form was also eye-catching, and even more surprisingly, his shooting percentage was quite high.
It wouldn't be easy for Li Feng to get past Marion, but Marion also had a weakness: his incredible leaping ability made him prone to jumping.
So, Li Feng suddenly looked up at the rim and performed a "hustle" move.
Marion thought Li Feng was going to shoot and immediately jumped, preparing to block!
This was the effect of a player with strong shooting ability; a slight movement would make defenders as skittish as startled birds.
Li Feng, taking advantage of his jump, ducked his body and drove to the basket.
Chandler and Yao Ming were locked in a struggle, leaving no opportunity for help defense. They could only watch as Li Feng soared for a powerful dunk!
Bang!
Li Feng forcefully returned with 2 points.
The score was tied 2-2!
After the basket, Li Feng roared and high-fived his teammates.
He hoped this basket would ignite the Knicks' morale!
As expected, the Knicks players were visibly energized and shouted along with him.
Nowitzki observed this and felt a bit uneasy, as Li Feng's abilities seemed to have improved.
On the Mavericks' possession, Kidd didn't hold the ball for long, passing it to Stevenson early.
Stevenson had a beautiful mid-range jumper and was also a key scorer for the Mavericks.
The Knicks were prepared; Bill Walker immediately stepped up to defend him closely, preventing him from getting a shot off.
Since being moved to the starting lineup, Bill Walker's defense had become increasingly steady.
Stevenson was left with no options and passed the ball back to Nowitzki.
This was the Knicks' strategy for today: they would rather let Nowitzki have his individual battle than allow the Mavericks to have a well-rounded offensive attack.
Although the Mavericks' journey to the Western Conference title was largely credited to Nowitzki, the contributions of others were also significant, especially in crucial moments.
Basketball was, after all, a team sport, and this was normal.
Nowitzki received the ball and once again executed his signature "flamingo" post-up, scoring another 2 points.
In the next few minutes of play, Li Feng's efficiency was good, whether through drives, layups, or passes to teammates.
Meanwhile, the other Mavericks players were well-restricted, with only Nowitzki hitting 4 out of 5 shots for 9 points.
With five minutes gone in the first quarter, the score was 13-9, with the Knicks leading.
Li Feng had only scored 4 points, but he had 2 assists, while Yao Ming had 5 points, and Lowry had 4 points.
The official timeout was called.
Mavericks head coach Carlisle was very angry.
Although the Mavericks often trailed in the first quarter of their Western Conference series this year and then came back to win, they couldn't afford to be careless against the Knicks, who were the reigning champions.
"From now on, do not guard Li Feng one-on-one. You must double-team him, and help defense needs to be more active. Do not give him space to pass!"
Carlisle issued a strict order to completely lock down Li Feng!
After the timeout, the game resumed.
Li Feng noticed that the game had returned to a familiar pattern. Facing double-teams, he calmly walked to the corner and passed the ball to Lowry.
Lowry had grown increasingly confident after the Eastern Conference series.
Seeing that the Mavericks' defense on him was not tight, he immediately took a three-pointer!
Swish!
Lowry punished the Mavericks' double-team strategy with a three-pointer.
The lead widened again.
Carlisle shook his head slightly, realizing the Knicks had become more mature. The other players were more decisive, without the hesitation they had shown before.
Just as the Mavericks players were starting to look flustered, Nowitzki stepped up again.
The 7-foot-plus big man suddenly pulled out to the three-point line and hit two consecutive three-pointers, instantly erasing the deficit.