The entire Albuquerque Thunderbirds team was playing with a desperate intensity.
Losing this game meant their championship aspirations were over, and Morey's earlier threat of "going home to grow sweet potatoes" hung heavy in the air.
Their defense was aggressive, their off-ball movement sharp, and their cuts to the basket were precise. When the white shooting guard missed his mid-range shot, three interior players positioned themselves under the basket, ready to secure the defensive rebound.
They were visibly wary, determined to prevent Lin Feng from snatching another offensive board.
Morey's tactical adjustment to a twin-tower lineup was a clear indication of their focus on dominating the glass.
If this towering frontcourt still allowed the Los Angeles defenders to grab more than five offensive rebounds, let alone twenty, Morey might just follow through on his threat.
"Rebound! Be sure to protect the rebound!" Morey bellowed from the sideline. The rebound was high, and the two twin towers along with the small forward leaped to secure it.
However—
In that instant, a blur of red appeared. As the ball bounced high above the rim, still at its apex, Lin Feng soared through the air.
He leaped with incredible elevation, facing the two towering interior players, and slammed the ball through the hoop with a thunderous dunk right over their heads!
"Bang!"
The resounding impact of the basketball reverberated through the arena, sending a jolt through every spectator.
The fans were awestruck. His leaping ability was simply phenomenal!
A small guard, jumping straight up, dunking over two towering centers!
"Lin! You are awesome! You are this..."
In the audience, many fans gave enthusiastic thumbs up, words failing to adequately express their amazement at Lin Feng's athleticism.
The small guard had just defied gravity, soaring over the twin towers for a powerful score in the paint.
"Shit! Damn it, you are all trash! What did I tell you before the game? Protect the rebounds, protect the rebounds!" Morey was incandescent with rage, feeling the familiar throbbing of his high blood pressure.
The commentators were equally stunned.
"An unbelievable play! It's hard to fathom that Lin, at just 189cm, could dunk over the heads of two twin towers!"
"A Lin! He is a warrior, a true gladiator in the arena!"
"After the NBDL season concludes, I have a strong feeling that Raymond Lam will join his hometown team, the Los Angeles Lakers!"
"I concur! Lin is an exceptional talent. He's treating us to an unparalleled basketball spectacle!"
The two commentators showered Lin Feng with praise, igniting a roaring cheer from the captivated audience. Watching Raymond Lam play was proving to be an exhilarating experience.
"OMG! Lin! Your jumping ability is so strong, it's frightening!" The white shooting guard looked at Lin Feng with pure admiration. If he possessed even a fraction of Lin Feng's vertical leap, he would be dunking with abandon.
"Malken, I firmly believe your shooting accuracy is better than that. You need to trust your shot. While my rebounding is good, it does take a toll on my stamina," Lin Feng told Melken, the white shooting guard.
Melken looked sheepish. "Lin! I want to make those shots, but the Albuquerque Thunderbirds' overall defense has intensified, pressing us full court! God, I'm still adjusting to this level of intensity."
Lin Feng remained composed. "Just shoot! I've got the rebounds. If you really can't find an open look, just give me the damn ball, and I'll take us home!"
"Oh... Lin, you're becoming more and more confident. You're great. You'll definitely make it to the NBA." These days, Melken had developed a deep respect for Lin Feng, marveling at his transformation and the way he almost single-handedly carried the team.
Croft, his face a mask of fury, dribbled the ball, a dangerous plan forming in his mind.
Morey's instructions to stop Lin Feng at all costs, even with fouls, echoed in his ears.
But the reality was, Lin Feng seemed unstoppable. His powerful dunk over the twin towers had filled Croft with despair.
He knew that their only chance of winning the game and the NBDL championship was to eliminate Lin Feng, to sideline him for the rest of the season.
Furthermore, the memory of Lin Feng breaking his nose in the previous game still burned. The old and new grudges combined fueled his rage.
"Damned yellow monkey, I'll let you be happy for now, but when I get the chance, I'll destroy you!" Croft seethed inwardly as he passed the ball to the twin towers in the paint.
In this game, their interior size was their undeniable advantage. Morey had emphasized that scoring would rely heavily on the twin towers.
As expected, the twin towers easily established position and scored two points.
In the first quarter, Lin Feng primarily focused on facilitating the offense, not taking many shots himself.
He knew that the subsequent life-and-death battle would be his time to shine.
At the end of the first quarter, the score was a tight 17-13, with the Los Angeles defenders holding a narrow four-point lead.
Lin Feng had contributed five points, including a tip-in and a three-pointer.
That three-pointer had been launched right over Croft's outstretched hand.
Croft had attempted to step on Lin Feng's foot again, trying to injure him, but Lin Feng had deftly avoided the foul play.
However, a seed of resentment had been planted deep within Lin Feng's heart. Croft's repeated malicious attempts warranted a strong response.
As the second quarter began, Croft continued his relentless harassment of Lin Feng, spewing a constant stream of trash talk.
Lin Feng remained unfazed by these harmless taunts. In the crucial finals, maintaining composure was paramount.
If he truly wanted to teach Croft a lesson, he would do it with his basketball skills, humiliating him on the court.
Immediately, Lin Feng seized an opportunity, receiving a pass from Melken, cutting sharply to the basket, and executing a difficult aerial pull-up shot.
Despite three defenders converging on him, Lin Feng still managed to score, completing another perfect "and-one" play.
After completing this incredible shot, Lin Feng looked at Croft, who had been guarding him throughout the game, with disdain and delivered a classic piece of trash talk: "Come on! You almost guarded me!"
This particular taunt was extremely popular in the United States, famously used by Michael Jordan against Gary Payton during their intense matchups.
The phrase was dripping with irony and designed to shatter an opponent's confidence.
Hearing those words, Croft completely lost control. His pent-up rage exploded, and he swung a punch at Lin Feng.
But Croft's movement seemed to unfold in slow motion in Lin Feng's eyes. He simply turned his head and easily dodged the wild swing.
Then, taking advantage of Croft's unbalanced state, Lin Feng swiftly swept his leg, sending Croft crashing to the ground.
When it came to a physical confrontation, Lin Feng, channeling the spirit of Sakuragi Hanamichi, feared no one.
Even a renowned fighter like 'Metta World Peace' would likely find himself outmatched against the fiery redhead.
"Beep!"
At that moment, the referee rushed over and, seeing that Croft had initiated the physical altercation, ejected him from the game without hesitation.
In the previous game, Croft's underhanded tactics had nearly sidelined Lin Feng.
His continued malicious behavior tonight resulted in immediate expulsion.
Lin Feng raised his hands innocently, signaling that he was not the aggressor.
This was the finals; he couldn't afford to be ejected. If he were, the Albuquerque Thunderbirds would likely have a significant advantage in the remaining games!