Carter knew his strength and speed couldn't stop Li Feng, but he still charged forward bravely.
The result was another posterization.
Carter was extremely frustrated. He had posterized so many people in his career, only to be repeatedly posterized by Li Feng.
2:0!
The Knicks drew first blood!
The fans at Madison Square Garden erupted in cheers.
In this crucial Game 5, the audience knew the stakes. They were waiting for their team to reach the Finals.
So, they roared as loudly as they could to cheer for their home team.
The Magic went on offense, continuing to attempt three-pointers.
If one player was cold, they'd pass to another.
Even if the ball reached Howard, he would pass it to an outside teammate.
After all, his isolation against Yao Ming wasn't efficient, so he might as well let the perimeter players find their rhythm.
Howard was convinced that if his outside teammates found their touch and rained down threes at Madison Square Garden, they would surely win the game!
On the Knicks' side, Li Feng's offense was energizing his teammates, and they were playing well, so the Knicks maintained a lead.
With 5:51 left, the game entered an official timeout. The score was 10:3, with the Knicks leading.
Despite the temporary lead, Li Feng remained cautious, constantly urging his teammates to put in more effort on defense.
The past two days of training had yielded significant results. The Knicks' ability to defend the perimeter had improved greatly, and the Magic's shooters didn't get easy looks.
However, this wasn't entirely due to defense; the Magic's shooting touch was unstable on the road.
After the timeout, the game resumed.
Neither team made any substitutions. The Magic continued to have their outside players shoot relentlessly, trying to find their rhythm.
Just as the fans thought the Knicks would build a substantial lead, the Magic's shooting touch finally kicked in.
It started with Barnes hitting a corner three, signaling the Magic's comeback.
Then, Lewis sank two three-pointers from the 45-degree angle.
After these two found their groove, Carter also hit a three from another corner.
This flurry of shots instantly tied the score and even gave them the lead.
Li Feng's expression turned serious. He had been doing his best to help his teammates on defense, but it was a case of plugging one hole and opening another. The Magic were scoring everywhere, and he couldn't contain them alone.
In desperation, Li Feng remembered the "Team Defense Boost Pack" the system had given him a couple of days ago.
Because the boost pack had a time limit, only usable for 20 minutes per game, Li Feng had been planning to save it.
If they could hold on in the first half, they could increase defensive intensity in the second half and decisively defeat the Magic!
However, the Magic had already exploded in the first quarter, and if he didn't use it now, it would be too late.
"System, use the [Team Defense Boost Pack]!"
[Ding, Boost Pack has been applied to the host's teammates. Countdown: 19:59, 19:58...]
The Knicks players suddenly felt a jolt, as if they had awakened. Energy surged through their entire bodies.
Their movement speed increased significantly, by a full 30%, and their anticipation abilities also improved considerably.
More importantly, their stamina was replenished, making them full of vitality on both offense and defense.
The Magic's shooters were stunned. They found that the Knicks players had suddenly transformed into Spider-Men, with every player locking down their shooting space.
No matter how they moved or used screens, it was useless; they couldn't even get a shot off.
Lewis, using his height advantage, had intended to shoot a few more times, but Scola seemed to have transformed. He was no longer a floor-bound player.
Scola was glued to Lewis, his hands held high with explosive speed.
Lewis managed to get a shot off, but it was wildly off target. The Knicks then went on the offensive and scored two more points.
With the help of the [Team Defense Boost Pack], the Magic's perimeter players collectively went cold, and the Knicks took the opportunity to close the gap.
With just over nine minutes played in the first quarter, the score was 27:21, with the Knicks leading by six points.
Before Li Feng used the boost pack, the Magic had scored 21 points, and since then, they had scored nothing!
This defensive boost pack was incredibly powerful. Not only were the Knicks players strong defensively, but they also avoided fouls, leaving the Magic's shooters completely helpless.
Van Gundy on the sidelines was dumbfounded. He knew the defensive capabilities of these Knicks players.
Aside from Li Feng and Yao Ming, the others were only at an average level.
For them to shut down the Magic's shooters was unlikely; he could only hope the Magic themselves would struggle with their shooting, as they had in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals.
But today, the Knicks players' defensive ability was astonishing; they had all become defensive stalwarts.
This was unbelievable!
With no other options, Van Gundy had to substitute his starters, hoping the bench could make a difference.
In fact, it wasn't just Van Gundy who was confused; D'Antoni also wore a bewildered expression.
He blinked repeatedly, wondering if the past two days of training had yielded such incredible results.
All of them were playing lockdown defense, giving the opponents no opportunities. This was too fierce!
D'Antoni felt that the starters' stamina had been significantly depleted, so he also replaced them with the reserves.
Seeing that both sides had substituted players, Li Feng temporarily deactivated the [Defense Boost Pack]. It had been used for 3 minutes and 42 seconds.
He had 20 minutes to save; otherwise, it would be dangerous later on.
Li Feng wanted to see how the reserves would fare. If the reserves could contain the Magic, then he wouldn't need the [Boost Pack].
Fortunately, Lowry's defensive potential had been unlocked. In the reserve matchup, he locked down Redick tightly.
The remaining Pietrus had a mediocre shooting night, going 1-of-4 after coming off the bench, a far cry from his magic in the previous game.
Li Feng watched this, excitedly waving his towel!
This way, the boost pack could be saved for later use!
The Knicks reserves played exceptionally well. By 4:28 into the second quarter, the score was 45:31.
The lead had extended to 14 points.
This was incredibly uplifting for the Knicks, who had just suffered two consecutive losses.
Seeing that the reserves were also quite tired, D'Antoni waved his flag again, bringing back the starting lineup.
The Magic also brought back their starters, intending to battle hard before halftime.
Li Feng still didn't use the [Defense Boost Pack] immediately. Instead, he urged his teammates to defend with all their might and not slack off!
The Magic shooters were a bit intimidated. They had been so thoroughly defended in the first quarter that they were now fearful.
Therefore, even when they had open shots, they hesitated to take them.
Howard was furious in the paint, shouting at his teammates, "Shoot! What are you afraid of?"
Despite the Knicks' defense easing up, the Magic shooters still missed their attempts after a few tries.
The Knicks took advantage of the situation to extend their lead again.
Li Feng played very actively today. He not only attacked the basket aggressively but also created opportunities for his teammates on the perimeter.
At the end of the first half, the Knicks led the Magic by 21 points!
This was a pivotal Game 5, and most people had expected a fierce, do-or-die battle.
Some also believed the Magic would capitalize on their momentum and overcome the large deficit.
Who would have thought that the Knicks would unleash suffocating defense, completely locking down the Magic's perimeter game!
...
In the TNT broadcast booth, Barkley was excitedly providing commentary.
He was particularly enthusiastic today because the Knicks had built a substantial lead.
Barkley's transformation from a "Feng hater" to a "Feng lover" was quite thorough.
After all, following the Magic's two consecutive victories, the media had overwhelmingly predicted that the Magic would go on to win the Eastern Conference Finals.
After all, Howard was a domestic star in the US and also under Nike's endorsement.
Li Feng, as an outsider, had gained too much attention.
As long as Li Feng kept winning, no one could say anything. But if Li Feng lost, especially in a blowout, the media would definitely not let him off the hook.
However, Barkley had stepped forward a few days prior, engaging in debates with numerous commentators who had downplayed Li Feng on his show.
Barkley had a specific temperament; when he wanted to criticize, no one could stop him, and when he wanted to praise, he was even more unstoppable!
"I told you so! Li Feng wouldn't let the Magic take this crucial game. Look, they have a huge lead!"
Reggie Miller chuckled, "It's only halftime, there's still plenty of time. What if the Magic rain threes again in the second half?"
"Impossible!" Barkley said confidently. "The Knicks' defense has suddenly intensified. I just checked the details. With that level of defense, no one can easily make a three-pointer!"
Barkley, after all, understood basketball. He could tell at a glance that the Knicks' defense had changed.
Smith agreed with Barkley's assessment, "They say offense wins regular season games, but defense wins championships. It's true!"
Reggie Miller still believed there was suspense in the second half, "Are you two ganging up on the guest again? Haha!"
"We're not ganging up on you; it's the truth. So tell us, what other options do the Magic have in the second half?"
Reggie Miller said seriously, "Haven't you noticed? The Knicks' defensive intensity isn't constant; it fluctuates. This suggests their stamina is an issue, and they can't maintain high intensity for extended periods!"
Miller's insight was indeed sharp. He had immediately spotted the pattern in the Knicks' defense.
Of course, he was unaware that Li Feng's [Defense Boost Pack] skill had a time limit.
So, Miller could only infer from his experience that the Knicks' fluctuating defensive intensity was due to stamina issues.
Upon hearing his explanation, Barkley and Smith also found it reasonable.
The crew played several slow-motion clips from the first half, and the three analyzed them again.
"Look, Scola's closeout here was incredibly aggressive, with excellent anticipation!"
"Now, look at this one. Scola seemed distracted, completely out of position!"
The three ultimately concluded that while the Knicks' overall defense had improved, there were still deficiencies.
"So, in the second half, it all comes down to whether the Magic's three-point barrage can break through the Knicks' umbrella!"
"Exactly, I'm really looking forward to it, haha!"
...
Countless fans sat anxiously in front of their televisions or computers, awaiting the second half.
Especially the Magic fans, who were getting headaches from frustration. They silently prayed in their hearts for a miraculous comeback in the second half, hoping a rain of threes would douse the Knicks!
The second half finally began.
As expected, the Magic made adjustments. Van Gundy replaced Barnes, who had shot poorly in the first half, with Pietrus.
Although Pietrus had played mediocrely off the bench in the first half, perhaps starting him would allow him to perform better.
A coach's lineup decision was a tactic; ultimately, it depended on the players' on-court performance.
At the start of the second half, the Knicks executed a pick-and-roll between Li Feng and Yao Ming. Yao Ming received a pass from Li Feng and finished with a turnaround dunk in the paint.
Howard was helpless; he couldn't stop Yao Ming.
The Magic went on offense.
According to the halftime strategy, the Magic players passed the ball quickly, used screens, and then the ball was passed to Pietrus.
Bill Walker was guarding Pietrus. Bill was defending actively, but he had been screened by Lewis of the Magic.
Pietrus shot decisively. Swish!
Three-pointer made!
The Knicks' home fans felt a surge of anxiety. They were too afraid of the Magic's three-point shooting.
Li Feng was also greatly surprised, thinking that Pietrus had played quite poorly off the bench in the first half.
He hadn't expected him to be so accurate after being moved to the starting lineup.
This was the nature of shooters; they could get hot at any moment or go cold just as quickly.
This was why, before the era of Stephen Curry, no one believed that teams primarily focused on shooting could win championships.
Reggie Miller, a prime example of traditional basketball excellence, had also never won a championship in his career.
Li Feng hesitated, wondering whether to use the boost pack.
"Never mind, there's still plenty of time. We're still leading by so many points anyway. Let's try to defend first!"
Li Feng shouted to his teammates, urging them to be more aggressive and react faster.
However, the Magic's offensive system was already very mature, making it difficult for the Knicks players to defend.
After Pietrus's basket, the other Magic players also found their rhythm, and they started hitting shots frequently.
By just over four minutes into the third quarter, the point difference had narrowed to nine points.
D'Antoni was furious, shaking his head and shouting from the sideline. He then called a timeout.
"What are you guys doing? Where's the energy from the first half? Why can't you defend their three-pointers?"
D'Antoni posed his philosophical three questions.
Li Feng knew the reason but couldn't reveal it.
The Knicks players' defense was at this level; it was their innate talent.
No matter how good Li Feng was at defense, he could only defend one player. He couldn't contain the Magic's all-around offense even with constant help defense.
"Coach, it's okay. We'll try harder. They definitely won't catch up to us," Li Feng said, trying to de-escalate the situation and prevent his teammates from being scolded further.
Seeing Li Feng's composure, D'Antoni felt a weight lifted off his shoulders.
After the timeout, Li Feng felt the time was right and reactivated the [Team Defense Boost Pack].
The system began counting down again: 16:13, 16:12...
The Knicks players seemed to have been injected with adrenaline; their defensive capabilities were once again maxed out. The Magic had just gone on a run, and their morale was high.
Howard was ecstatic. He believed that with the shooters' touch today, they could definitely make a great comeback.
Just as he was full of confidence, the Knicks players once again defended every one of their possessions.