"Damn it, are the Lakers not taking us seriously? Sending an Asian monkey to defend Richardson one-on-one?"
The Warriors players were incensed, shouting, "Richardson, tear that Asian monkey apart!"
"Just you wait and see, I'll make him collapse on the defensive end!" Richardson retorted, his face flushed with anger.
Richardson's game thrived on explosive drives, raw speed, and a quick first step. Once he penetrated the defense, his layups and mid-range jumpers posed a significant threat.
"Lin! It's all on you, shut him down!" Kobe called out from the wing, his voice carrying a note of anticipation.
Lin Feng focused his mind, intently observing Richardson's footwork and potential breakthrough paths.
His initial strategy was to cut off Richardson's preferred driving lanes and disrupt his dribble, maintaining close, suffocating pressure.
Unsurprisingly, Lin Feng's defensive approach mirrored Kobe's own renowned tenacity.
Both defenders prioritized blocking the opponent's strongest driving direction and then relied on agile footwork to mirror the attacker's every move, sticking to them like glue.
Richardson immediately sensed that something was different. Whether this Asian kid had any real defensive chops would be revealed soon enough.
He attempted to drive past Lin Feng, but found it surprisingly difficult. He tried a behind-the-back dribble to evade Lin Feng's defensive positioning, but it was futile.
Lin Feng's foot speed was simply superior. The moment Richardson made a crossover move, Lin Feng was already there, step for step.
"Fuck!" Richardson cursed under his breath, frustration evident on his face. In truth, his dribbling skills were excellent.
In Lin Feng's estimation, Richardson's overall abilities were significantly higher than those of the players he'd faced in the NBDL.
It was just his misfortune to run into Lin Feng.
Not only was Lin Feng quick and possessed sharp anticipation, but more importantly, his physical stamina was on a level that dwarfed even the best NBA players.
His stamina rating was an astonishing 110, while the NBA average hovered around 85, a full 25 points higher than players like Richardson.
With such a significant disparity, how could Richardson possibly hope to win a prolonged battle of attrition against Lin Feng?
This was not even considering that Lin Feng's running speed was also superior.
"I can't believe it! Richardson used a crossover dribble followed by a reverse dribble, but still couldn't shake free from this Asian kid! I'm suddenly very curious about his real strength. He seems incredibly tenacious?" commentator Mike Breen exclaimed, his voice filled with surprise.
Kobe, Odom, Bynum, as well as the Zen Master and Fisher on the bench, were equally astonished by Lin Feng's relentless, "dog skin plaster" defense.
Just moments ago, when Lin Feng volunteered to guard Richardson alone, the Zen Master had harbored some doubts, believing Lin Feng's speed and explosiveness were inferior to Richardson's, putting him at an obvious disadvantage.
The outcome had surprised him greatly. Lin Feng's defensive skills were truly on par with the legendary Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
NBA fans knew that Kobe and Jordan were the rare breed of players who excelled equally on both offense and defense.
Many other superstars didn't possess the same level of commitment or effectiveness on the defensive end.
In other words, they lacked the unwavering defensive mindset that defined Kobe and Jordan.
Lin Feng's defense was now earning public recognition.
Richardson tried repeatedly to break past Lin Feng but failed each time. Finally, frustration boiled over, and he carelessly flicked his wrist, allowing Lin Feng to snatch the ball cleanly.
"Nice steal!" commentator Bill Worrell shouted, his voice filled with excitement. "Lin Feng just cleanly stole the ball from Richardson! Richardson made a mistake! He made a mistake born out of nervousness!"
Lin Feng secured the steal and quickly tapped the ball towards the Lakers' backcourt.
Seeing the loose ball, Kobe sprinted after it.
Richardson and Warriors guard Baron Davis desperately gave chase.
"Baron Davis and Richardson are both trailing! Richardson is forced into a mistake! He wants to save face and must try to defend this fast break by the Asian kid!"
"Kobe is trailing! The Asian kid doesn't force a shot! He passes it to Kobe!"
"Oh my God! A perfect alley-oop!"
"This has to be a top-five play tomorrow!"
"Ahhh!"
"China-Lin!"
"Kobe!"
"MVP!"
The deafening roar of over 30,000 fans in the arena was electrifying. Lin Feng's tenacious defense resulted in a clean steal. Recognizing the opportunity, Kobe had sprinted down the court.
Instead of trying to score himself on the fast break, Lin Feng saw Kobe running towards the penalty area and decisively threw a perfect alley-oop pass, combining with Kobe for an easy score!
In a word, it was simply breathtaking!
"Ahhh! Baby, you are so handsome! Kobe, you are also handsome! I love you both so much!" Su Muqing, his prospective girlfriend, screamed from the sidelines. One defensive stop, one steal, and one assist – all within Lin Feng's first few minutes on the court.
In just two minutes of game time, Lin Feng had treated the fans to a thunderous tomahawk hanging arm dunk, a crucial defensive steal, and a beautiful assist.
He lofted the ball perfectly for Kobe to soar through the air and slam it home with authority.
After landing, Kobe raised his hand and pointed directly at Lin Feng, his meaning crystal clear: Lin, that was a perfect pass!
Lin Feng returned the gesture, and in those brief two minutes, the two players rediscovered the chemistry they had developed during the summer league.
"Keep up this iron-willed defense! We have to completely shut them down! We're still down by 14, but that's nothing we can't overcome!" Odom exclaimed, his excitement palpable.
He seemed to have a premonition that with Lin Feng's arrival this season, the Lakers were destined for even greater heights than the previous year.
"Kobe, I'll guard Richardson one-on-one. He's manageable," Lin Feng said confidently as he brushed shoulders with Kobe.
"Okay, Lin. This guy is all yours. I'll focus on offense," Kobe replied, a renewed focus in his eyes.
"Alright, Boss Ko."
Lin Feng once again took on the defensive assignment against Richardson, who this time approached the matchup with a newfound respect. He avoided any flashy dribbling. After receiving the pass from his teammate, Richardson paid close attention to Lin Feng's defensive stance.
He realized that easily driving past Lin Feng was no longer an option. This kid's tenacious, "dog skin plaster" defense wasn't a fluke.
Upon receiving the ball, Richardson held it protectively, keeping it close to his body, and repeatedly bent his knees, probing Lin Feng's defensive posture.
And just like the previous possession, Lin Feng remained glued to him, an unyielding presence.
"Fuck! Asian monkey, how much annual salary do the Lakers even pay you? Why are you working so hard for them? My sports car costs more than your entire year's earnings!" Richardson couldn't resist the urge to unleash some trash talk, mocking Lin Feng's perceived low income.
Lin Feng was impervious to trash talk. He believed in delivering his retorts after humiliating his opponents on the court, making the words carry far more weight.
"You go ahead and attack. If you score this basket, I'll eat this basketball alive," Lin Feng said calmly, his words almost causing Richardson to lose his composure entirely.
Fueled by anger, Richardson's focus wavered. Throwing caution to the wind, he abruptly pulled up for a jump shot right over Lin Feng.
However...
The next instant, a loud thwack echoed through the arena. The basketball, just released from Richardson's hands, was violently swatted away by Lin Feng, flying out of bounds!
The newly activated "Madman Block" skill was deployed flawlessly by Lin Feng.
This incredible block completely disrupted the offensive rhythm that Richardson had established in the first three quarters.