The 2010-11 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 3, tipped off at the Knicks' home court!
Back on home turf, the Knicks players' spirits were noticeably lifted.
Motivated by Li Feng, the players approached this game as if it were their last, fighting with all they had.
By the end of the first quarter, the Knicks delivered a crushing blow to the Bulls, with everyone contributing to a commanding 11-point lead.
The New York home crowd was also incredible, cheering from the moment the players entered the court, putting immense pressure on the visiting Bulls.
Li Feng only attempted one shot in the first quarter but dished out five assists, completely revitalizing the team.
Furthermore, with his teammates' shooting touch being so hot, Li Feng had no desire to take more shots himself.
As the second quarter began, the Knicks' bench, led by Billups, played smoothly. The Bulls' bench seemed unaccustomed to the New York atmosphere.
As a result, at halftime, the Knicks led the Bulls 64-47, a 17-point advantage.
Li Feng started scoring in the second quarter, netting 13 points in the period without exerting his full effort.
During the halftime break, Li Feng cautioned his teammates in the locker room not to get complacent, anticipating a strong comeback from the Bulls in the third quarter.
Rose, at this point, shared a similar mindset to Li Feng, having focused on enabling his teammates in the first half, but the Bulls' other players were having an average game.
As expected, once the second half began, Rose started to assert himself, frequently driving to the basket.
Even after a few possessions, Li Feng personally switched to guarding Rose, but Rose was on a roll. Coupled with his teammates finding their shooting rhythm again, Rose became unstoppable.
Fortunately, Li Feng was also having a good shooting night and scoring.
The deficit gradually narrowed, and by the end of the third quarter, the Knicks' lead was only 5 points.
Rose's MVP season was truly living up to its reputation; his ability to draw fouls was exceptionally strong.
Moreover, after receiving advice from Li Feng, Rose had done a lot of thinking. He was no longer solely relying on his physical talent but striving to improve his leadership, playmaking, and defensive abilities.
This Rose in this parallel universe might not be as visually explosive as before, but overall, he was even more formidable.
It could be said that this season's Rose had reached eighty percent of Li Feng's capabilities!
At the start of the fourth quarter, Li Feng took a brief rest, with Billups leading the team.
Because Yao Ming had been whistled for two fouls by Rose in the third quarter, he had only played for a little over three minutes.
Yao Ming entered the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Billups and Yao Ming didn't have many opportunities to practice together, but when high basketball IQ players are on the court, extensive practice isn't necessary; their chemistry becomes apparent as soon as they play together.
Led by Billups and Yao Ming, the bench unit unleashed a scoring run, excelling both inside and out, completely dismantling the Bulls' reserves.
Coach Thibodeau was taken aback. Rose had played the entire third quarter and had wanted a little more rest.
However, within the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, the Knicks had extended their lead to 14 points.
Desperate, he called a timeout and brought the starters back onto the court.
D'Antoni wore a relaxed expression. The Knicks held a significant lead without Li Feng even playing; how could they possibly lose now?
D'Antoni kept Yao Ming on the court, as he had been playing very smoothly.
Once the Bulls' starters returned, their impact was marginal. While Rose's drives were sharp, Billups' experience allowed him to make it very uncomfortable for Rose.
After all, Billups, the core point guard of the Spurs' impenetrable defense, knew how to contain guards like Rose.
Often, before Rose could even initiate his drive, he was screened by Billups and Felton.
With his drives restricted, Rose had to resort to more jump shots.
Fortunately, Rose's shooting was decent today, making 3 of 5 attempts in the fourth quarter.
However, with renewed energy, Yao Ming showcased his exceptional post-up game, fully displaying his center skills.
Occasionally, he would even run to the corner to shoot a three-pointer.
As a result, after seven minutes of the fourth quarter, the deficit was rapidly approaching 20 points.
Li Feng and the other starters were overjoyed, waving towels from the sidelines, serving as the hype squad.
D'Antoni felt it was time. This lineup had played for seven minutes, and it was time for a break.
Li Feng and the other starters re-entered the game to deliver the finishing blow to their teammates.
The Bulls' morale had completely collapsed. After another two minutes, Thibodeau threw in the towel.
Li Feng and the starters also retreated to the bench, awaiting the moment of victory.
Ultimately, the Knicks defeated the Bulls at home, taking a 2-1 series lead.
After this game, the vast majority of the media favored the Knicks, as the Bulls felt like a weakened version of the Knicks.
Their interior defense, perimeter offense, and overall strength were all slightly inferior to the Knicks.
If it were a single-game playoff, they might have had a chance, but in a seven-game series, they had no hope of advancing.
In Game 4, the Knicks gave the Bulls no chance, securing another home victory and extending their lead to 3-1!
The Knicks had now reached match point.
...
Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, a similar one-sided affair was unfolding.
After winning Game 2, the Thunder suddenly lost their fighting spirit, losing both of their home games to the Mavericks.
Consequently, after four games, the Mavericks led the series 3-1.
Li Feng had already shifted his focus to the Western Conference Finals. Back home, he would review the game tapes of the Thunder and the Mavericks.
The fact that the Mavericks could so thoroughly defeat the "Thunder Four" indicated how fearsome and resilient this year's Mavericks team was.
It seemed that the Western Conference landscape had not changed after his transmigration; the Mavericks were definitely on track to emerge from the West.
...
The New York Knicks returned to Chicago.
Li Feng had made up his mind; he would not give the Bulls any more chances to fight back. He was determined to win this game and give his entire team some much-needed rest.
However, the Bulls' strength and home-court advantage meant they wouldn't concede easily.
In the first quarter of Game 5, the two teams played a very close game. Fueled by the roar of the home crowd, the Bulls adopted a desperate style of play.
During the game, players were falling all over the court, with players tumbling to the ground frequently.
At the end of the first quarter, the score was 26-24, with the Bulls leading by 2 points.
Li Feng only scored 3 points in the first quarter, taking two shots, while Rose scored 13 points, half of the Bulls' total.
Rose was truly giving his all, living up to the nickname "The Windy City Rose."
However, in the second quarter, Li Feng began to assert himself.
He led by example on defense, locking down Rose alongside Lowry.
On offense, Li Feng entered scoring mode, dropping 23 points in eight minutes of play in the second quarter.
This masterful individual performance silenced the Bulls' home crowd, who seemed to witness the return of Jordan.
By halftime, the score was 61-42, with the Knicks leading by 19 points.
Li Feng's explosive performance instilled fear in the Bulls players.
Especially Rose, seeing Li Feng's performance, felt it was the way he dreamed of playing.
In the second half, the Bulls played even more aggressively, aiming to close the gap in the third quarter. However, Li Feng played even smarter, directing his teammates to focus on intensifying localized defense.
This made it difficult for the Bulls' offense, leading to increased turnovers. The Knicks capitalized on this, executing several fast breaks.
The deficit not only failed to shrink but also began to approach 25 points.
Thibodeau was in despair. He sat on the sideline with a blank expression, no longer shouting as he used to, nor calling timeouts.
Finally, an assistant coach, unable to bear it, called a timeout for him.
With over six minutes played in the third quarter, the score was already 75-51, with the Knicks leading by 14 points.
Li Feng added two more steals and a block in this quarter, showcasing his dominance on the defensive end.
After the timeout, the Bulls showed no improvement, although their shooting touch improved slightly.
Korver entered the game early, receiving a pass from Rose and hitting two consecutive three-pointers.
These two three-pointers were crucial, serving as a lifeline for the Bulls.
By the end of the third quarter, the score was 87-61, with the Knicks leading by 26 points.
The Bulls' fate was sealed.
In the first half of the fourth quarter, the Bulls made a symbolic effort to chase the score for a few minutes. Seeing no change in the deficit, they effectively surrendered.
Ultimately, the Knicks defeated the Bulls on the road, eliminating them with a commanding 4-1 series victory and advancing to the NBA Finals!
This marked Li Feng's second trip to the Finals since joining the Knicks, an incredibly efficient pace!
Today, Li Feng played 27 minutes, scoring 32 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, dishing out 15 assists, recording 4 steals, and blocking 1 shot.
Although he didn't achieve a triple-double, his all-around statistics were the primary reason for the Knicks' overwhelming victory.
Rose played 33 minutes today, scoring 31 points, also a strong performance.
After the game, the two embraced tightly. Despite the loss, Rose was genuinely impressed.
"Li Feng, I'm going to watch the tape of this series ten times. I've learned so much from you!"
If it were anyone else, these words might have been a compliment or a standard congratulatory phrase.
But coming from Rose, it was undoubtedly sincere, and he would follow through.
"Rose, you'll continue to improve. We'll be lifelong rivals in the future, keep up the good work!"
The best way to inspire a rival is to promise them they will be adversaries for life!
The best way to respect a friend is to give your absolute all on the court, fighting fiercely!
What made Li Feng feel particularly gratified was that Rose had already adjusted his playing style. He would never fall into obscurity early like he did in another parallel universe. Fans would be fortunate to see Rose grace the court for many more years!
Although the Knicks players were all excited and cheering, they knew in their hearts that the Knicks had reached the pinnacle of world basketball!
They would engage in a thrilling contest against the winner of the Western Conference Finals!
Upon returning to the locker room, Li Feng and his teammates continued their celebration, spraying mineral water on each other.
This was a release, not just a simple celebration.
The playoff series placed immense mental pressure on the players, and many succumbed to it.
Some players possessed top-tier skills and dominated the regular season.
However, in the playoffs, if their mental fortitude faltered, they would falter at crucial moments when a superstar was needed.
This was also a form of talent, and even more so, a result of acquired training.
Sometimes, you just needed to grit your teeth and persevere; once you pushed through, looking back, you would find yourself standing at the summit!
A new vista would unfold before you, and you would suddenly realize that all your past efforts had been worthwhile.
...
Back in New York, the club granted the players a day off.
Li Feng was about to discuss their vacation plans with Jenna when Jenna herself arrived in New York, directly asking him to open the door.
"Why are you in New York? Didn't you say you were going to France for a while last time?" Li Feng asked, surprised, as he held Jenna in his arms.
"I've already returned early from Paris. How important is work compared to you?" Jenna replied, leaning into Li Feng's embrace like a little bird.
Li Feng couldn't control his desire, nor did he want to.
After three rounds of playoff series, Li Feng needed to vent and completely relax.
Thus, Li Feng wasted no more words, and he and Jenna entered a passionate, earth-shattering mode!
...
In the Western Conference Finals, the Mavericks, without much resistance, like the Knicks, won Game 5 and advanced to the NBA Finals.
After 2006, the Mavericks returned to the NBA Finals once again.
Nowitzki was in exceptional form, and his teammates were equally supportive. The entire team's unity made this Mavericks squad a formidable force in the playoffs, unstoppable against any opponent.
Li Feng and Jenna had just finished a couple of intense rounds. Lying in bed, he reached for the remote and turned on the TV, starting to watch the Mavericks' game footage.
Jenna was very considerate. She quietly nestled against Li Feng's broad chest, accompanying him without disturbing him.
Seeing Li Feng so focused, Jenna got up, put on her pajamas, went to the kitchen, prepared some food, and brought it in.
"Feng, you must be hungry. Eat while you watch," she said.
Li Feng gratefully patted Jenna's backside. "Thank you, my dear. Why do I feel like we're already married?"
Jenna blushed and playfully retorted, "Do you want to marry me? You haven't officially proposed yet!"
Li Feng knew it wasn't the right time. They had only been dating for a few months, and Jenna was only 18 years old.
However, Jenna's behavior just now showed that she very much wanted to marry Li Feng.
Although in the other parallel universe, Jenna was somewhat promiscuous, it was likely because she hadn't met the right person.
Perhaps in this world, after meeting Li Feng, Jenna had settled down completely.
Moreover, based on Jenna's usual behavior, she was already different from the other women in the Kardashian family.
She was no longer enthusiastic about luxury brands and didn't frequently appear in major media outlets.
Instead, she lived a rather reclusive life, rarely interacting with the media outside of her work, which surprised Li Feng.
What was particularly surprising was Jenna's significant improvement in her cooking skills, and she was even trying to make Chinese food.
This touched Li Feng deeply, indicating that Jenna truly saw Li Feng as her lifelong partner.
...
The opponents for the NBA Finals had been determined, and the media naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity for pre-game hype.
The media not only engaged in predictions and discussions on various programs but also launched various polls.
For instance, what kind of statistics Li Feng would achieve, and whether Nowitzki would continue his efficient play.
In a poll predicting the championship winner, over sixty percent of fans voted for the Knicks, as the Knicks were the reigning champions.
However, there were also many supporters of the Mavericks, especially some basketball legends who believed the Mavericks were the strongest team this year.
They argued that besides the Miami Heat's Big Three in the second round of the playoffs, the Knicks' other series opponents were not sufficiently strong.
In contrast, the Mavericks had demonstrated dominant performances throughout their progression.
Their 4-0 victory over the Lakers and 4-1 win over the Thunder were incredibly convincing records.