"You can't say that either. That's just how the game is. We can only say that Li Feng is too strong, his dominance is invincible, especially in high-stakes games."
"Honestly, I feel like I'm dreaming. China finally has a world-class superstar!"
"When Da Yao first burst onto the scene, I was full of hope, but he had too few helpers on the national team."
"Yeah, if Li Feng and Yi Jianlian had come out a few years earlier, plus a prime Da Yao, the Chinese national team could have dominated the international stage for years."
"Fortunately, Da Yao's prime is still lingering. At least in the NBA, Li Feng and A Lian have formed a legend!"
"If they can win the championship three consecutive times this year, Da Yao's career will be complete."
"Indeed. Yao Ming, despite his injuries, has given his all. In my heart, he will always be China's Great Wall!"
...
The second half began. Li Feng, fueled by the home-court advantage, led his Knicks teammates against the Heat in a head-on confrontation!
As soon as LeBron James stepped onto the court, he drove towards the paint like a tank.
Just as James was about to go up for a layup, Li Feng roared and took off vertically from behind and to the side, swatting the ball with a decisive "pa!"
A rim-rattling block!
This was Li Feng's first rim-rattling block on James in the five games the Heat and Knicks had played.
The ball ricocheted far out to the 45-degree angle, beyond the three-point line, where Bill Walker secured it and immediately launched a fast break.
The quick Lowry sprinted past half-court, received the ball from Walker, and scored with a layup!
This block not only crushed the Heat's momentum but also turned Madison Square Garden into a sea of jubilation!
James suddenly lost his will to resist. In the next possession, he didn't even actively demand the ball.
Dwyane Wade once again shouldered the offensive burden, but his knees couldn't withstand such high-intensity combat.
After a few more exchanges, Wade fell to the ground without any contact and struggled to get up for a long time.
The team doctor quickly came over, examined him, sighed, and shook his head, indicating that Wade could not continue the game.
Wade adamantly refused, insisting on playing, but his teammates and coaches persuaded him to rest.
After Wade left the court, James and Bosh took on the main responsibility, with Chalmers filling in for Wade.
Although the Heat continued to fight, it was clear to anyone watching that the outcome of the game was already decided.
All that remained was the final whistle.
After the third quarter, the Knicks led by 13 points.
The game ended with the Knicks defeating the Heat 107:98.
With this victory, the Knicks eliminated the Heat with a 4:1 series advantage, advancing to the Finals!
Including the year with the Cavaliers and the two years with the Heat, James had now been eliminated by the Knicks for three consecutive years.
After the game, James stood on the court in a daze for several minutes.
Li Feng had expected James to head straight to the locker room. To his surprise, after a moment of contemplation, James walked towards him.
"Congratulations, Li Feng. You won again..."
Li Feng had great respect for James's ability. The fact that James played 41 minutes that day showed he had given his all for the team.
"James, we were a bit luckier. Let's battle it out again next year!"
To his surprise, James let out a bitter laugh, "Next year? Alas..."
Li Feng's heart stirred; he seemed to sense something.
However, as the victor, he couldn't say much. He could only pat James on the shoulder and offer some words of comfort.
After his interview, Li Feng specifically went to visit Wade.
"Wade, how are you feeling?" Li Feng sat down beside Wade.
Wade looked dejected and sighed, "It's an old problem. It's fine. We'll come back next season. I don't believe we can't beat you Knicks!"
This was Wade for you, defiant and ready for another fight!
Li Feng felt a surge of admiration. He clasped Wade's hand and said, "Wade, how about this: during the offseason, I'll take you to China. We'll find an old Chinese doctor, and your knee should still be salvageable!"
Wade's eyes lit up. "Really? Chinese medicine is that magical?"
"Yes. I remember last year, a Chinese player injured his knee, and that old Chinese doctor cured him. I keep my word. We must get your knee healed!"
Wade was deeply moved. He nodded vigorously, patting Li Feng's hand, unable to speak.
...
Li Feng leading the Knicks to the Finals for three consecutive years was a feat that garnered immense media attention.
Not only the sports media but also other media outlets published Li Feng's story, inspiring countless young people worldwide.
From his rookie year, he led the team to a championship, with the veteran Yao Ming as his most capable support.
Such a track record was truly impressive!
If they could achieve a three-peat this year, it would be something even Michael Jordan would be envious of.
However, in Li Feng's heart, Jordan would always be the God of Basketball! Always the greatest of all time!
...
After a brief celebration with his teammates, Li Feng gathered the entire team for a short meeting.
D'Antoni spoke first, "Kids, we've reached this point again. This isn't the end, not the goal, but a new beginning!"
The players nodded slightly, all understanding his meaning.
Kobe Bryant once said, "The runner-up is the biggest loser!"
That statement was powerful and profoundly true.
"Li Feng, you say a few words."
Li Feng stepped forward and said, "Brothers, the next step is the Finals. The Spurs and Thunder haven't finished their series yet, so we can rest for a few more days. But everyone should find time to watch their game footage."
"Also, starting tomorrow, we continue training. We need to practice some new tactics!"
The players were stunned, and even D'Antoni was perplexed.
At this stage of the playoffs, the team's tactics were already transparent, with no secrets.
At such a critical juncture, practicing new tactics – could it really work?
Seeing their confusion, Li Feng smiled and explained, "In the Finals, our talent is inferior to the Thunder's, and our discipline is not as good as the Spurs'. What we can rely on is versatile tactics!"
Only then did the players understand and nod repeatedly.
D'Antoni laughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder, finally comprehending.
Li Feng's way of motivating the team wasn't that of a tyrant. He knew the players were exhausted.
Therefore, during the training the next day, he tried to reduce the players' strength and endurance training.
The main focus of the training was practicing coordination and tactics.
This included practice between starters and starters, as well as between starters and reserves.
For example, Yao Ming and Billups, Yi Jianlian and Marion, and Bill Walker were all practicing various screens and off-ball movements.
Don't underestimate these details; they often play a crucial role in turning the tide of a close game.
...
Two days later, the Western Conference Finals also concluded. The Thunder, after losing the first two games, came back to win four consecutive games, defeating the seasoned Spurs!
This result stunned countless fans.
Had the NBA truly seen a change of guard?
Li Feng, a third-year rookie, had led his team to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time.
And the Thunder's "Big Four" were full of youthful vigor, managing to defeat the Spurs!
Would the Knicks complete their quest for a three-peat, or would the Thunder's emergence lead them to claim the championship!
Fans worldwide were eagerly awaiting the outcome!
The Knicks had a strict team rule against accepting interviews before games.
The Thunder, on the other hand, were the complete opposite, with several core players constantly giving interviews.
Kevin Durant said, "The Knicks' two championships are enough. It's time for our Thunder era to begin!"
Russell Westbrook stated, "We are the new kings of the league. The Knicks will become our stepping stones!"
James Harden commented, "When the Knicks won those championships, we couldn't even get out of the West. That was the Knicks' luck. This year, they won't be so lucky!"
Serge Ibaka declared, "I will get five blocks against Li Feng in one game to show him how good my defense is!"
...
Facing the Thunder's arrogant bravado, the Knicks remained silent, with no one issuing a response.
On basketball forums, however, fans were in an uproar.
Li Feng's fans, along with Yao Ming's fans, were already numerous.
But due to winning championships for two consecutive years, they had offended the fans of too many other stars.
Therefore, with the Knicks reaching the Finals again this year, many fans of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant, and others had joined the Thunder's camp.
On the forums, there was an overwhelming number of anti-Li Feng commenters.
Of course, Li Feng's loyal fans were fighting back, but they were outnumbered.
Fortunately, the sheer volume of Chinese fans meant that some fans managed to VPN their way in and participate in the battle, making it quite lively.
"Crush the Knicks! This yellow-skinned monkey, Li Feng, stole two championships by riding on others' coattails. It's infuriating!"
"Go Thunder Big Four! The responsibility of defeating the Knicks is now yours!"
"I'm rooting for Durant. He'll definitely sweep the Knicks. No one on the Knicks can guard the Thunder!"
"The Thunder represent the future of the NBA. The Knicks' championships lack substance."
"Westbrook will run circles around the Knicks, and Durant's pull-up jumper is unstoppable. I don't see how the Thunder could lose?"
...
Li Feng enjoyed reading forum comments on his phone in the evening.
When he saw the outrageous remarks from the haters, Li Feng couldn't help but chuckle.
Jenner had also returned to the US and was leaning beside him, looking at the phone together.
Li Feng wasn't upset, but Jenner was quite infuriated.
"What kind of people are these? They're being so viciously hateful, are their brains full of excrement?"
Li Feng stroked Jenner's hair and comforted her, "Don't get angry with them. Forums are for venting. If they were really standing in front of me, they'd be begging for my autograph."
Jenner huffed, "I don't know what these people are trying to achieve. Does insulting star players make them feel good? Is their own life not going well?"
Li Feng turned to look at Jenner, hooking her chin with his finger, and teased, "Do you think everyone is like you, born with a silver spoon in their mouth? Don't ordinary people just need to relieve stress this way?"
Jenner smiled charmingly and kissed Li Feng on the cheek, "If I saw them, I'd slap them twice."
"Forget it. Hitting them would be rewarding them. You should reward me instead!"
With that, Li Feng scooped Jenner up and headed back into the bedroom.
...
The highly anticipated Finals were about to begin.
At the Knicks' pre-game press conference, Li Feng and Yao Ming accepted media interviews.
"Mr. Li Feng, did you expect to face the Thunder in the Finals?"
Li Feng shook his head, "Honestly, no. I thought the Thunder would fall to the Spurs. But after watching the game footage, both teams are very strong, and the Thunder played exceptionally well."
"So, do you think anyone on the Knicks can contain Durant?"
Durant had performed exceptionally well in the Western Conference Finals, averaging 32.4 points per game.
This statistic was even more formidable than his regular-season average.
Furthermore, Westbrook and Harden had also played very well, especially Harden, who was crucial coming off the bench.
In the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs, he averaged 18.4 points on 12 field goal attempts per game, with a shooting percentage close to 50%.
The Spurs simply couldn't contain Harden.
It could be said that without Harden, the Thunder would have absolutely no chance of getting past the Spurs.
In Li Feng's memory, Harden had played exceptionally well in the Western Conference playoffs, but in the Finals, he seemed to falter, performing poorly.
Li Feng replied, "We've studied the game footage. Durant is indeed very strong, but we're not afraid at all. He can't win the game by himself!"
The reporters were delighted. Li Feng had been very low-key, not accepting interviews for days.
It seemed Li Feng was about to drop some bombshells today.
"You defeated the Heat 4-1, which surprised many media outlets. Can you predict the outcome against the Thunder?"
Li Feng recalled that in his previous life, the Heat had defeated the Thunder 4-1 to win the championship.
However, games aren't like mathematics. Just because the Knicks defeated the Heat 4-1 doesn't mean they would defeat the Thunder 4-0.
Therefore, Li Feng calmly stated, "Games have to be played one by one. I can't predict. I can only tell you that we will definitely win the three-peat!"
The reporters applauded. Li Feng's confidence was indeed invigorating.
Yao Ming also high-fived Li Feng and laughed heartily.
Another reporter asked, "Yao Ming, how is your physical condition? It seems you haven't played many games in this postseason."
Yao Ming nodded, "My body is fine. The team has protected me very well."
"Mr. Yao, it's rumored that you plan to retire after this season. Is that true?"
Yao Ming remained silent and lowered his head.
Li Feng had discussed this with Yao Ming earlier. He had indeed mentioned it, but the final decision hadn't been made yet.
Li Feng grabbed the microphone and replied, "Brother Yao hasn't made a final decision yet. Right now, all we're focused on is the Finals. Please don't ask about this!"
The reporters reluctantly moved on from the topic.
...
At the Thunder's pre-game press conference, Durant and Harden accepted interviews.
"Mr. Durant, what are your thoughts on reaching the Finals for the first time?"
Durant was indeed excited and replied with a smile, "I feel like I'm living in a dream. It feels great to reach the Finals, but we won't stop here. The championship this year will definitely be ours!"
Seeing that Durant seemed to have much to say, the reporter continued, "The Knicks have won two championships already and are aiming for a three-peat this year. What advantages do you think the Thunder have compared to the Knicks?"