Dirk Nowitzki's "chicken soup" for the soul had worked its magic. The Mavericks players reflected, realizing he was right.
No one had expected to reach the Finals before the playoffs began, not even themselves.
Now that they were in the Finals, they should let go of their burdens and fight with all their might!
"Dirk, everyone was indeed playing a bit too cautiously. We'll play better in the second half, without thinking about the championship. We'll just enjoy the game!"
"Yeah! Enjoy the game!"
…
Seeing that his teammates had adjusted their mindset, Nowitzki nodded vigorously. He extended his hand, and everyone placed their hands on top of his, shouting loudly.
The second half of the game began.
The Mavericks transformed back into the Western Conference dark horse that relied on everyone. Kidd, Marion, and Stevenson shot quickly and accurately.
The Knicks were solely supported by Li Feng and Yao Ming, struggling to hold on.
Soon, the score was narrowed to just five points difference, 73:68, with the Knicks leading.
The Knicks' home crowd was not having it. They cheered and encouraged their players loudly, hoping to help the team secure their first home win.
Coach D'Antoni was a bit flustered. What he feared most was the Mavericks' all-around performance.
Although Nowitzki was in excellent form, his performance was average against double-teams.
As long as his teammates didn't step up, the Mavericks could still be defeated.
However, after sleeping for half a game, the other Mavericks players suddenly awakened in the second half, catching the Knicks completely off guard.
After a timeout, D'Antoni remained silent for a moment, leaving his players bewildered.
Li Feng was also puzzled. He looked at D'Antoni, thinking this was not his usual style.
In past timeouts, even if he didn't discuss tactics, he would usually offer some motivational words!
About ten seconds later, D'Antoni suddenly said, "Since the Mavericks are firing on all cylinders, let's go head-to-head with them. I don't believe our run-and-gun offense can't beat them!"
The Knicks players then understood that D'Antoni was quite bold.
After leaving the Suns, he had briefly doubted the run-and-gun tactics.
Therefore, after joining the Knicks, he had consistently emphasized defense.
As for offense, he had almost entirely delegated it to Li Feng, with all tactics revolving around him.
After all, it was said that offense wins games, but defense wins championships.
D'Antoni had consistently good regular-season records, but he always faltered in the playoffs, which is why he had to emphasize defense.
But now, in Game 3 of the Finals, he was mentioning offense again.
This must be D'Antoni's inherent DNA kicking in!
Li Feng was the first to raise his hand in support!
"Coach, you're right. Since they can make shots, so can we! Guys, if you have an open look, shoot it with confidence. You're all very accurate in practice!"
With the combined motivation from D'Antoni and Li Feng, the players were like injected with chicken blood, getting excited.
"Alright, everyone needs to be confident. If you have an opportunity, shoot decisively!" Yao Ming also shouted loudly.
In reality, NBA players are very accurate during practice.
Their inconsistency in games is mainly due to strong defense from the opponent and a lack of self-confidence.
Another point is that although basketball is a team sport, there is only one ball.
Almost all the tactics players practice are centered around the team's core player.
Therefore, players other than the core player will hesitate when shooting.
It's fine if the shot goes in, but if it doesn't, even if the coach doesn't scold you, the core player will be displeased.
Despite the great team atmosphere and the good temperaments of Li Feng and Yao Ming, other players would feel guilty if they missed shots.
These subtle psychological states are all components of a basketball game.
Only by handling these emotional details well can a team become a strong one.
Li Feng was doing his best to help his teammates overcome their mental blocks and shoot with confidence!
The timeout ended, and the game resumed.
Nowitzki noticed that the expressions of all the Knicks players were different from before.
So he also reminded his teammates to increase their defensive intensity.
The Knicks were on offense. Li Feng dribbled past half-court.
Facing a double-team, Li Feng passed the ball to Lowry again.
Although Lowry had scored 9 points in the first half, he didn't shoot much and primarily focused on passing.
Therefore, the Mavericks' defense on Lowry was not tight.
After receiving the ball, Lowry saw that Stevenson wasn't sticking to him and immediately shot a three-pointer!
Lowry had a very high three-point percentage in practice, almost the same as Li Feng.
In games, he wasn't as good as Li Feng mainly due to his mental state and ability to handle pressure.
Now, with the switch to an offensive duel, Lowry had no psychological pressure, his mind was clear, and his eyes were only on the basket!
Li Feng watched from the side and nodded slightly. This was the kind of decisiveness they needed at this moment!
Swish!
The ball traced a beautiful arc and went into the basket!
76:68!
The Knicks extended their lead to eight points.
The Mavericks players felt the change in their opponents.
The Mavericks were on offense.
Nowitzki was also double-teamed, and the ball went to Marion.
Marion had played well in the third quarter, making both of his previous two shots.
So, as soon as he got the ball, Bill Walker closed in on him.
At this moment, Stevenson ran to the corner, finding himself open.
Marion immediately passed the ball to him.
Suddenly, a figure lunged out, with long arms extended, swatting the ball away.
Li Feng!
Even though D'Antoni wanted to engage in an offensive battle, defense couldn't be neglected. Li Feng's help defense was even more ferocious.
Moreover, he had anticipated Marion's intention and lunged to swat the ball.
The ball landed between Shawn Williams and Marion.
Both of them scrambled to grab it.
Marion was faster, but Shawn Williams had more grit!
Shawn dove parallel to the ground, reaching the ball first and tipping it to Lowry near the top of the arc.
After tipping the ball, Shawn collided with the scorer's table.
His teammates couldn't check on Shawn's injury and immediately launched a counter-attack.
Li Feng, Bill Walker, and Lowry quickly advanced past half-court.
Despite Kidd and Nowitzki's fast defensive return, a 3-on-2 fast break was too easy.
Finally, Li Feng assisted Bill Walker for a powerful dunk!
The score difference returned to ten points.
Dallas Mavericks head coach Carlisle shook his head helplessly. He knew that the Knicks had gained momentum again.
He had no choice but to call a timeout to break the Knicks' momentum.
The third quarter had been underway for over seven minutes, with the score at 78:68.
D'Antoni was very satisfied with the past few possessions, especially Li Feng's help defense, which provided security for his run-and-gun tactics.
So, as Li Feng walked off the court, D'Antoni firmly grasped his hand and shook it vigorously.
They were both smart people; everything was understood without words.
Li Feng's stamina was also greatly depleted. He sat on the bench and used the "[Curry Stamina Recovery Technique]" to calm his heartbeat quickly.
The rule was that playing too intensely on defense would lead to unstable shooting on offense.
Historically, only a few superstars could achieve both offensive and defensive excellence.
They not only possessed extraordinary talent but also had strong willpower and an intense desire to win.
Therefore, they were willing to defend with all their might for the team's victory, yet still maintained offensive efficiency.
Many star players understood this principle, but lacking top-tier talent and strong willpower, they would slack off on defense to conserve their energy, aiming for better personal statistics.
With the help of the system, Li Feng's talent could be considered top-tier, but willpower was not something the system could provide.
That was something he possessed inherently.
The timeout ended, and both teams' players took the court.
Carlisle brought Terry back into the game, replacing Kidd.
It was evident that Carlisle had understood D'Antoni's strategy. If they wanted to engage in an offensive shootout, then they would go all out offensively!
Terry was also a player whose offense outweighed his defense. Bringing him in was clearly for scoring.
The game began to heat up. All players on both sides shot whenever they had an open look.
It seemed like neither team had any tactics left, or rather, only one tactic remained.
That is, there were no core players, no fixed focal points. Regardless of who it was, if they had an open look, they would shoot decisively!
Shoot!
Shoot!
Shoot!
Despite the offensive slugfest, the defensive intensity did not decrease.
The court was filled with scenes of players falling and colliding.
The audience was thoroughly entertained. Almost all spectators stood up, roaring and cheering for every possession!
This was the charm of competitive sports. Everyone was deeply immersed and integrated into the game.
Although both sides were attacking, there were differences in efficiency.
The Mavericks players might have expended too much energy in the first half of the third quarter, as their shooting percentage began to drop in the latter half.
But the Knicks players, with the cheers of the entire stadium, became more courageous as the game progressed.
Furthermore, Li Feng's fierce help defense on the defensive end gave his teammates more opportunities.
The score difference continued to widen, and as the number of possessions increased, the players' stamina consumption also grew.
D'Antoni, concerned about player injuries, substituted all the starters with reserves with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Li Feng was indeed very tired; he felt his calves throbbing.
However, he did not show it, sitting on the bench and covering his head with a towel.
Although Li Feng only scored 11 points in the third quarter, his teammates played at their season-best level.
Yao Ming shot 4-of-5 for 8 points, and Lowry shot 3-of-4 for 7 points.
Bill Walker shot 2-of-2 for 4 points, and Shawn Williams shot 3-of-4 for 6 points.
The Knicks' all-around offensive surge made the Mavericks' "surge" pale in comparison.
At the end of the third quarter, the score was 91:73, with the Knicks leading by eighteen points.
With one quarter remaining, an eighteen-point deficit.
It wasn't impossible to stage a comeback, but with Li Feng on the court, it would be difficult for the Mavericks.
The fourth quarter began with both teams still fielding their reserve lineups.
Led by Billups, the reserves also engaged in an offensive shootout, and Billups, uncharacteristically, took several three-pointers.
The usually conservative Billups hadn't taken such three-pointers often lately.
He shot 3-of-4!
Billups' offensive capabilities remained, leading the reserves to trade blows with the opponents, even holding a slight advantage.
More than three minutes into the fourth quarter, the Knicks' lead extended to twenty-two points.
Carlisle had no choice but to bring back his starters for a final push.
D'Antoni thought for a moment and did not substitute his starters, allowing the reserve lineup to continue playing!
After the Mavericks' starters came back, they began to slowly chip away at the deficit.
However, the Knicks' reserves, led by Billups, resisted tenaciously. Although the gap was narrowing, it wasn't happening quickly.
With four minutes left in the fourth quarter, the deficit remained eighteen points.
Seeing that the Mavericks' starters were getting anxious, their movements became rougher, and their shooting accuracy began to decline.
If this continued, players were bound to get injured. Carlisle gritted his teeth and decided to substitute all his starters.
Seeing the Mavericks make substitutions, D'Antoni let out a sigh of relief. He knew that the first home game was secured!
In the end, the Knicks defeated the Mavericks at home by a score of 117:103, making the NBA Finals series score 2:1!
After the game, Li Feng hugged all his teammates, encouraging them.
"Well done, the victory belongs to all of us!"
"Remember this feeling, you can all make those damn shots!"
"I'm proud of you all!"
…
Li Feng's encouragement was like a shot of adrenaline, reigniting his teammates' competitive spirit.
Dirk Nowitzki walked towards the players' tunnel, his head bowed in silence. He couldn't understand why the Knicks players were shooting so decisively in the latter half of the third quarter.
Why weren't Li Feng and Yao Ming actively seeking the ball, allowing others to shoot freely?
Was this the Finals?
Shouldn't the Finals be about superstars taking over?
Not only Nowitzki, but countless media basketball commentators, renowned former players, seasoned fans, and "basketball experts" were also baffled.
However, while they saw the entire team performing well, what they didn't see was Li Feng using his drawing power and his defensive efforts to re-energize the run-and-gun offense.
After this victory, some media outlets and Li Feng's detractors found another narrative.
They claimed that Li Feng's current achievements were due to riding on the coattails of his teammates.
The Knicks' coaches and teammates were too strong.
Even if another star player were on the team, the Knicks would still reach the Finals.
Yao Ming saw these comments and was furious. During practice, he pulled Li Feng aside and showed him his phone.
"Li Feng, have these media outlets gone crazy? What are they saying now!"
"Brother Yao, you've been in the NBA longer than I have. Why are you still arguing with them? Just ignore it!" Li Feng said with a smile.
Yao Ming was generally good-tempered, but this time he truly couldn't hold back.
Li Feng knew why Yao Ming was so angry. It was mainly because some Chinese media outlets were also joining in the criticism.
Because Yao Ming had a large fan base and significant influence in China, the media's instigation misled some fans.
Yao Ming didn't care about American media, but he couldn't tolerate the nonsense from his own country's media.
"Let's forget it, Brother Yao. Basketball is a team sport. As long as we win the championship, let them say whatever they want!"
Seeing Li Feng's very laid-back attitude, Yao Ming could only shake his head and sigh.
…
The fourth Finals game was about to tip off.
At the pre-game press conference, Li Feng and Yao Ming accepted media interviews.
Perhaps due to Li Feng's dazzling performances in the past two years, creating too many unbelievable games.
Therefore, after reaching the Finals again this year, a subtle whirlwind began to blow through the media.
That whirlwind was one of questioning Li Feng!