The scene felt magical to countless people in the stadium. Kobe spoke quietly to Lin Feng, a hug following. Looking at Kobe's face, the pain seemed to have lessened significantly. Could it be that A-Lin had indeed given him some kind of magic medicine?
"Oh my God! I've heard of traditional Chinese medicine in ancient China. Could the painkiller Lin gave Kobe be related to that ancient art?" Albert exclaimed, recalling his travels to China and the long history of Chinese medicine.
"OMG! I think you're right! The pain-relieving ointment A-Lin gave Kobe must be connected to ancient Chinese medicine!" The two commentators were astounded, and the 30,000 fans roared their approval, giving Lin Feng thumbs up.
"Oh my God! Lin, you can't be so partial! You give the boss a painkiller; do you have any for us?" Odom, witnessing everything, couldn't hide his envy. This was a potential game-changer for every athlete. With this white jade ointment, who would fear injuries?
Lin Feng, however, wasn't about to share his secret weapon. The system was his alone. He shrugged apologetically. "Old Ao, I'm so sorry, I only have this one piece. My mother gave it to me as a just-in-case before the game. Now that I've given it to my big brother, it's all gone."
"Shit, Lin, you're too biased!" Odom playfully slapped Lin Feng's backside, but Lin Feng knew he was just kidding.
The Pistons' camp watched Lin Feng chatting and laughing with Kobe and Odom, a sense of wonder and perhaps a little unease among them. What kind of medicine was that? It was incredibly potent, working instantly. Even hemorrhoid treatments weren't that effective!
McDyess, in particular, felt a knot of guilt. He knew his foul on Kobe had been dirty, intended to sideline him for the game. Yet, Lin Feng's mysterious ointment seemed to have negated his plan. It was unbelievable.
After the brief commotion, the game resumed. Kobe's forced drive had indeed been to draw a foul and get to the free-throw line. McDyess's overly aggressive play had resulted in the harder foul.
But Kobe wasn't one to back down. He was a true competitor, and such tactics from opponents often fueled his intensity. On the next possession, receiving a pass from Chris Mihm, Kobe elevated and shot directly over McDyess. It was an ultra-long three-pointer. McDyess could only watch as the ball sailed through the air and dropped cleanly through the net.
"Oh hoo! BANG! The bloodthirsty Mamba is here, he's back! McDyess has poked the bear!" Albert's commentary crackled with excitement and a hint of warning. "My little darling, you should never anger the Mamba. You should know the consequences. If you don't, just ask Raja Bell or Jalen Rose."
Raja Bell, once dubbed the 'Kobe Stopper,' had famously been driven to frustration by Kobe's scoring barrage, leading to a public choke and an ejection. As for Jalen Rose, he was the primary defender during Kobe's legendary 81-point game. These two knew firsthand the power of an enraged Kobe. Albert and Jerry Allen couldn't resist teasing the small-time player who dared to play dirty with the Black Mamba.
McDyess's face paled, as if a raw nerve had been struck. Kobe had just hit a three over him and punctuated it with a finger wag, a clear message: dirty play wouldn't work; they were going to win.
"Fuck!" McDyess cursed, his composure slipping.
On the offensive end, he tried to redeem himself, but Raymond Lam met him with a thunderous block. Lin Feng, who had been keeping a close eye on McDyess, seized the opportunity. He elevated and swatted the shot with such force that McDyess landed on the floor with a stunned expression.
"Hahaha, McDyess wanted to save face on offense, but he forgot about A-Lin, who plays incredibly fierce defense!"
"Hmm? The referee seems to be reviewing the play for a foul?"
"The referee actually called a foul on A-Lin? That was a perfect block!" The fans were incredulous.
McDyess went to the free-throw line and missed both shots. Lin Feng smirked, and as he passed McDyess, he whispered, "I gave you a chance, but you're useless!"
"Shit! Damn it, what did you say? Say it again if you dare!"
"I said, I gave you a chance, but you were useless!" Lin Feng repeated, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Damn it! You're an Asian monkey crawling out of the slums, do you really want to die?" McDyess feigned aggression, stepping close to Lin Feng, his head nearly touching Lin Feng's chest, spewing trash.
But Lin Feng was smarter this time. He ignored the bait and raised his hands innocently to the referee.
"Beep!" The whistle blew, and McDyess was assessed another technical foul. Two technical fouls meant ejection. Lin Feng also got a free throw.
This was strategy. Basketball wasn't just about skill and athleticism; it was about using your mind. Lin Feng had deliberately provoked McDyess, causing him to lose control, trash-talk, and even threaten a fight. The referee had no choice but to penalize the out-of-control player.
McDyess stormed off the court, seething with rage. He barely sat down on the bench when Lin Feng's voice, laced with mockery, reached him again.
"Hey, Mike, watch this. You missed both of yours, but I can make this one with my eyes closed!"
And with that, Lin Feng closed his eyes and nonchalantly swished the free throw, a display of ultimate showmanship, a move he'd learned from none other than Michael Jordan.
"Oh, oh! Unbelievable! A-Lin and McDyess are at it again! A-Lin told McDyess he could make a free throw with his eyes closed!"
"Haha, this reminds me of someone... Michael Jordan! Lin is amazing. He imitated Michael, closed his eyes, and made the free throw!"
"A-Lin is invincible!"
"A-Lin, I love you! You're so cool!"
The screams and shouts at the Staples Center reached a fever pitch. Lin Feng's audacious move had completely won over the fans. Imitating the legendary Jordan, sinking a free throw with his eyes closed, all while taunting the player who kept resorting to dirty tactics. And it had worked perfectly, leading to McDyess's ejection.
Cool! So incredibly cool!