When James stood before Li Feng, the entire audience erupted in cheers.
Spike Lee, in particular, cupped his hands into a megaphone and shouted loudly, "Li Feng, drive past him! Drive past him!"
Li Feng, of course, heard the excited shouts of the crowd and would not miss the opportunity for a one-on-one with James.
James knew that Li Feng had immense popularity in New York, so he intended to strike a blow at Li Feng's momentum today.
"Come on, Li Feng, this is our second encounter! Let me see if you've improved!"
During the Olympics, one-on-one matchups between them were rare due to the abundance of stars on the Dream Team.
Li Feng dribbled the ball, his eyes fixed on the basket. James involuntarily raised his hands.
There was no other option; Li Feng's shooting ability was too strong, and James had watched Li Feng's game footage.
Li Feng seized the moment when James raised his hands, bent down, and quickly drove past him on the right side!
So fast!
The league's fastest first step was no empty claim.
Moreover, since the Olympics, Li Feng had undergone countless arduous training sessions, and his speed attribute had increased from 85 to 92.
Few in the league could keep up with him.
However, James was one of them!
As Li Feng reached the middle of the court, he found James still tightly guarding him, not losing his position at all!
Li Feng was utterly shocked. James, a towering player over two meters tall, possessed such incredible speed.
In previous games, Li Feng had easily gotten past any defender over two meters.
With only a little over 4 seconds left on the shot clock, Li Feng feigned a move.
Unexpectedly, James, with his extremely high basketball IQ, didn't fall for it. Without jumping, he stretched out his long arms, completely blocking Li Feng.
In a moment of desperation, Li Feng executed a half-turn and unleashed a move that stunned everyone.
The hook shot!
While the hook shot wasn't a novel move, the legendary center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had perfected it to an extreme degree, earning him the affectionate nickname "The Skyhook."
This was Li Feng's first time using a hook shot since acquiring the "[Offensive Kaleidoscope]" skill.
He had used a small hook shot before, but facing James's defense, he needed to employ a large hook shot!
Li Feng leaped diagonally away from James, simultaneously lifting the ball high with his right hand!
James was greatly alarmed. He realized Li Feng was going for a hook shot, but it was already too late.
Li Feng's motion was incredibly fluid, his right arm swinging, swish!
The arc was exceptionally high!
The basketball dropped into the basket almost vertically.
James looked at Li Feng and shook his head in resignation, unable to comprehend it.
Why would a small guard possess the moves of a dominant center?
And execute them so flawlessly!
The score was tied at 2-2!
The Cavaliers went on the offensive, with James once again holding the ball at the arc.
The Knicks were still defending James one-on-one.
Having been scored on by Li Feng earlier, James felt he had lost face.
Therefore, he wouldn't pass this time; he had to score himself!
Facing Jeffries, James called for a screen and drove directly into the paint.
Since O'Neal had scored easily previously, the Knicks' help defense this time only involved one player.
Jordan Hill stepped up to contain James, while David Lee firmly guarded O'Neal.
James's shooting wasn't exceptionally strong, but it wasn't weak either. Facing Jordan Hill's isolation defense, he easily executed a turnaround jump shot!
Swish!
Two points!
It was evident that James was playing with ease and was well-prepared today!
The Cavaliers led 4-2!
In the ensuing possessions, the score alternated between both teams.
Li Feng and James showcased their distinct styles.
However, it was obvious to everyone that while Li Feng had scored on James multiple times, James had not scored against Li Feng.
This was perfectly normal, as their positions were different.
After over five minutes of play in the first quarter, the score was 10-9, with the Knicks leading!
The official timeout was called.
The game was exciting, with Li Feng and James shining brightly, much to the satisfaction of the fans.
However, James's face showed no smile; he had a nagging feeling that Li Feng was holding back his true strength.
He had watched Li Feng's game footage and knew that Li Feng's help defense was strong and his steals were quick.
Yet, today, in the past five minutes, Li Feng had barely participated in help defense.
Could it be that Li Feng was planning to exert himself in the second half?
James, with his extremely high basketball IQ, began to ponder Li Feng's strategy.
The Cavaliers' head coach was Mike Brown, who placed great emphasis on defense.
Therefore, during the timeout, he repeatedly stressed the importance of tight defense on Li Feng.
James interjected at this point, saying, "Coach, we need to strengthen our offense. We must build a significant lead in the first half!"
Brown was taken aback and nodded, "You're right. The Knicks' defense seems ordinary. We must establish an advantage and widen the score!"
The timeout ended, and the game resumed.
The Cavaliers intensified their offense, with James constantly driving and dishing, and O'Neal repeatedly attacking the basket.
The Knicks' interior defense, unfortunately, was once again being dominated.
Considering that the Lakers' "Little Shaq" could wreak havoc in the Knicks' paint, it was even more so for the real "Big Shaq."
The Cavaliers widened the lead, and their defense on Li Feng became increasingly aggressive.
Li Feng found it difficult to play, as James's style was completely different from Kobe's.
Kobe was a killer, striking directly to end you!
Whereas James was a commander, directing his teammates in both offense and defense according to the game situation, executing tailored tactics.
This was incredibly formidable.
After Li Feng had scored on James earlier, James began orchestrating double-teams on Li Feng.
By the end of the first quarter, Li Feng had only scored 7 points.
Although James also only scored 8 points, he had provided 4 assists, while Li Feng had only 2.
For the all-around Li Feng, he was encountering an even more all-around James today.
At the end of the first quarter, the score was 32-21, with the Cavaliers leading by 11 points.
Li Feng and the starters left the court to rest, and the bench players came in.
The Cavaliers' bench lineup was impressive, featuring Varejão, Gibson, Ilgauskas, and West.
This lineup was considered top-tier among the league's bench units.
The deficit continued to grow.
Li Feng, from the sidelines, grew restless.
The Madison Square Garden crowd was deeply disappointed.
Losing to the Lakers was one thing; after all, they were a Western Conference team, playing them only twice a year.
However, the Cavaliers were currently second in the Eastern Conference, and if they were to lose, the Cavaliers might even surpass them.
The Knicks, for so many years, had seen no hope. This year, they had finally achieved a dreamlike start.
If they were to be thrashed by the Cavaliers again, this season would be over.
Even if the game remained close until the end and they lost narrowly, the fans would still have some consolation, as the season was still long.
D'Antoni repeatedly shook his head. He looked at Li Feng, wanting him to re-enter the game sooner.
Li Feng stood up and walked to the coach's side, saying, "Coach, let's bring the starters back in."
D'Antoni nodded, "Then how do you think we should play?"
Li Feng was now like an assistant coach, so D'Antoni consulted him on offensive tactics during the game.
"Let's adopt the 'Hack-a-Shaq' strategy!"
D'Antoni's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly!
With the Cavaliers leading by such a significant margin, their main advantage was in the paint.
Although James orchestrated the plays, O'Neal was the primary reason.
However, implementing "Hack-a-Shaq" would incur fouls, so he needed to brief a few players.
Li Feng gathered a few key players and whispered instructions to them.
...
At 5:11 into the second quarter, the Knicks starters returned to the court, and the Cavaliers also brought back their starters.
The Knicks were on offense. Li Feng dribbled past half-court and attempted another logo three-pointer.
Because Li Feng had taken few shots in the first quarter, the Cavaliers' perimeter defenders had become careless again.
Swish!
Li Feng's three-pointer narrowed the deficit to 12 points.
James waved his hand, held the ball in his backcourt, and prepared to respond.
Unexpectedly, before James even crossed half-court, Jeffries grabbed O'Neal and signaled to the referee, "I fouled him!"
The referee blew his whistle, and O'Neal shook his head in frustration.
In the past couple of years, O'Neal hadn't been as dominant as in his prime, so he rarely faced the "Hack-a-Shaq" tactic.
Who would have thought that the Knicks would employ this strategy so early in the second quarter today.
James's brow furrowed. This was precisely what he feared most, and it had happened.
O'Neal aimed for a long time, but he missed both free throws.
David Lee secured the rebound and passed it directly to Li Feng.
Li Feng drove to the basket for a one-man fast break. James stepped up to defend him closely.
This possession was crucial. The Knicks had gained momentum, and if James could stop Li Feng, it would be a severe blow to the Knicks.
Li Feng, of course, understood this. So, he feigned a drive into the paint.
Just as James rapidly moved to help defense, Li Feng suddenly changed direction and ran towards the three-point line.
James was stunned, realizing it was bad, and quickly went to chase, but it was too late.
Li Feng had retreated to the three-point line and directly attempted a three-pointer!
Swish!
Another three-pointer made!
In his previous life, only Curry played like this, and no one dared to shoot like this.
But Li Feng was playing this way in 2009.
The Knicks fans in the arena erupted in joyous shouts; this shot was incredibly audacious!
The deficit narrowed to 9 points.
James shook his head again in frustration.
Despite James's exceptionally high basketball IQ, Li Feng's style of play was completely beyond his comprehension.
Who played like this!
The Cavaliers went on the offensive again, with James holding the ball in the backcourt. The Knicks again "hacked Shaq"!
O'Neal's face turned ashen. He took a deep breath and stepped up to the free-throw line.
This time, it was not bad. O'Neal, with a shot resembling a shot put, made one, bringing the deficit back to 10 points.
The Knicks were on offense. James directed his teammates to aggressively pressure Li Feng.
Li Feng, with his skillful dribbling, crossed half-court, but it was impossible for him to get an easy shot.
At this moment, Jordan Hill arrived at the corner; he possessed shooting ability.
So, Li Feng directly delivered a long pass, accurately passing the ball.
Jordan Hill proved to be up to the task, hitting a three-pointer!
The deficit was reduced to 7 points again.
The Cavaliers' head coach, Brown, couldn't sit still and quickly called a timeout, substituting O'Neal.
The Cavaliers' backup center was Varejão.
Varejão lacked height and had average jumping ability. His strength lay in his cunning and quick thinking.
But the Knicks' interior players were not afraid of such opponents.
Therefore, after O'Neal went off the court, the Knicks immediately showed renewed spirit!
Although James's drives remained sharp, his passes could no longer be converted into assists, as Varejão's dominance in the paint was far inferior to O'Neal's.
The Knicks began to close the gap, and the deficit slowly diminished.
At 9:43 into the second quarter, Li Feng's floater went in, and the teams were tied again.
James shook his head in anger. He hadn't expected the Knicks to resort to such tactics, which completely befuddled the Cavaliers.
"Hey, Li Feng, if you have the guts, don't use such underhanded tactics!" James shouted at Li Feng.
He thought that as a rookie, Li Feng might be susceptible to psychological tactics.
However, Li Feng, being a transmigator, had a very mature mindset and completely ignored him.
"Heh heh, as long as we can win, any tactic is fair, isn't it?"
Seeing that Li Feng wasn't taking the bait, James snorted and fell silent.
O'Neal, sitting on the bench, was also frustrated.
His free throws remained underdeveloped, which was peculiar.
He had been greatly troubled by the Spurs' "Hack-a-Shaq" strategy during his time with the Lakers.
There was a famous scene where, just seconds into the first quarter, the Spurs began hacking Shaq.
O'Neal was bewildered at the time and then exchanged a helpless smile with Popovich.
The Knicks quickly took the lead, and James grew anxious.
Without O'Neal, the Cavaliers couldn't defeat the Knicks, and James would lose considerable face.
Therefore, James intensified his individual offensive attacks.
He first executed a tank-like drive, facing David Lee, and made a layup while drawing a foul for a 2+1!
Then, James made a sudden attack from the 45-degree angle, hitting a three-pointer.
After sinking the three-pointer, James even gave Li Feng a provocative look, as if to say, "I can shoot three-pointers too, what do you say?"
Li Feng sneered, turned back, and responded with a step-back three-pointer!
The Knicks fans roared with excitement; Li Feng's response was incredibly dominant.
In the final moments of the first half, it almost turned into a scoring duel between James and Li Feng.
The game clock lit up, signaling the end of the first half. The score was 56-55, with the Knicks leading by 1 point!
A neck-and-neck battle!
Li Feng scored 17 points in the first half, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists.
James recorded 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists!
Looking at the statistics, James had the edge.
However, the Knicks had the advantage in strategy, and Li Feng didn't pay much attention to his own stats.
...
During the halftime break, the three commentators on the TNT broadcast analyzed the game.
As this was a heavyweight matchup being broadcast nationwide, the three engaged in a spirited discussion.
Barkley praised Li Feng's performance today, completely changing his attitude.
"Li Feng was a bit restrained in the first quarter today, but he showed great composure in the second quarter!"
Miller agreed with Barkley's assessment and nodded, "Yes, Li Feng and James are somewhat similar; they communicate with their teammates from time to time on the court."
Smith also observed, "Indeed, during that Knicks offensive play just now, Li Feng yelled at his teammates, telling them to run their plays, very timely!"
"For a rookie to be so familiar with tactics is also rare."
"Initially, I thought Li Feng was a scorer like Kobe! But seeing him now, I realize he is very well-rounded, and different from Kobe!"