116: Popovich's insane gamble!

Every single seat in the arena was occupied by a fan wearing a black and white jersey.

When the arena DJ called out the names of the Lakers players, they were greeted by a landslide-like wave of boos.

And when Lin Feng's name was called...

The boos reached a crescendo.

It was no longer just simple booing.

It was a sound wave mixed with anger, curses, and pure malice, powerful enough to shake the arena's dome.

Kobe's prophecy was about to come true.

A true battle from hell was about to unfold.

“Beep—!”

The whistle blew to start the game.

During the tip-off, Howard easily beat Splitter and tapped the ball to Blake.

The Lakers' first possession.

At the commentator's table, Charles Barkley adjusted his seating position.

“Alright, the game has begun! Let's see what kind of adjustments Popovich and his Spurs will make after that epic collapse in G3.”

“I'm guessing they'll return to the strategy from G1 and G2, using even more frantic physical contact to wear down Lin Feng's stamina.”

Kenny Smith agreed.

On the court, Blake dribbled the ball, advancing toward the frontcourt at a steady pace.

Everything seemed the same as usual.

Lin Feng also began his off-ball movement, preparing to find an opening to receive the pass.

However, the moment he just crossed the half-court line.

An anomaly occurred.

Kawhi Leonard, like a hunting leopard, suddenly pounced from the wing and stuck right to Lin Feng's body.

At the same time, Danny Green on the other side also abandoned the player he was guarding and, like a shadow, came to double-team from the other direction!

Two people!

Before Lin Feng had even touched the ball!

Right at the half-court position!

The Spurs directly double-teamed him!

A suffocating cage made of arms and bodies was instantly formed!

“My god! What are they doing?!”

Barkley jumped out of his chair in shock, his voice filled with incomprehensible disbelief.

“Double-teaming an off-ball player?! And at half-court?!”

“Popovich is crazy! He's completely lost it!”

The entire AT&T Center, after a brief moment of stunned silence, erupted into an even more frantic roar!

They understood!

They understood the crazy determination of their head coach!

The extreme nature of this tactic was that while Leonard and Green were surrounding Lin Feng...

The Spurs only had three defensive players left for the rest of the half-court.

While the Lakers had four offensive players!

Howard, Gasol, Blake, and Artest!

A bizarre situation of '2 defending 1, and 3 defending 4' appeared nakedly before everyone's eyes!

This was a crazy gamble by Popovich, wagering his reputation as a legendary coach!

At the center of the cage, Lin Feng immediately felt that immense, pervasive pressure.

Leonard and Green were like two octopuses, using every part of their bodies to squeeze his space and interfere with his vision.

He didn't panic, nor did he try to force his way through his opponents.

[Eye of the Heavenly Emperor, Activate.]

In an instant, his field of vision changed.

The entire court transformed into a 3D model composed of countless data streams.

Leonard's next positioning move and Green's reaching arm were all predicted in his mind in advance.

More importantly...

He clearly saw Blake at the top of the arc, Gasol at the free-throw line, and Howard under the basket—green indicators representing 'absolute open space' appeared over their heads!

Lin Feng didn't try to break through himself.

He merely made a very subtle passing gesture toward Blake, who had the ball.

Then, his voice pierced through the enclosure of those two men.

“Pau!”

Blake understood perfectly; without the slightest hesitation, he threw a high lob pass toward the free-throw line!

There, Pau Gasol was standing all alone.

Within three meters of him, there was not a single soul!

Gasol caught the ball.

He froze for a moment.

He couldn't believe his eyes.

This was the Western Conference Semifinals, not the team's practice facility.

He had just been given the easiest, most comfortable open mid-range shot of his entire career.

He even had time to adjust his breathing, look at the rim, and then calmly take the shot.

Perhaps because it was too easy, that tense competitive feeling actually relaxed for a split second.

He jumped and flicked his wrist.

The form was textbook.

“Clang!”

The basketball hit the front of the rim hard and bounced high into the air!

The entire AT&T Center erupted in a massive cheer of relief!

Duncan boxed out Howard, easily grabbed the defensive rebound, and immediately threw a long pass to the fast-breaking Parker!

Parker finished the layup!

2-0!

The Spurs successfully executed a fast break!

In front of the bench, Popovich watched all this expressionlessly.

He didn't applaud for this successful defense.

His face still held that same unruffled, icy calm.

But in his heart, waves were already surging.

He had bet correctly!

He bet that in this hellish away environment of the AT&T Center, under the immense pressure created by nearly twenty thousand fans, the Lakers players other than Lin Feng simply wouldn't be able to hit those damn open shots!

This was his open scheme!

Using Lin Feng to crush the other Lakers players!

On the Lakers' bench, D'Antoni's face turned very grim.

He saw through Popovich's intention, but there was simply no solution.

On the court.

Lin Feng's expression didn't change at all.

He didn't feel discouraged because of Gasol's miss.

He patted Gasol on the back.

“It's okay, Pau. Keep shooting; the next one will go in.”

Then, like a true floor general, a calm quarterback, he began to use his gravity to orchestrate the team's offense.

The Lakers attacked again.

The same scene played out once more.

As soon as Lin Feng crossed half-court, he was tightly entangled by Leonard and Green.

This time, Lin Feng didn't have Blake pass to Gasol.

“Dwight!”

He shouted while using a subtle pivot to pin Leonard firmly behind him.

Blake's pass flew directly toward the rim!

Alley-oop!

The unguarded Howard leaped high under the basket, preparing to slam the ball home!

“Tweet!”

The referee's whistle blew!

Under the basket, Splitter used what was almost a football-style tackle to pull Howard down from the air!

Foul!

Howard walked to the free-throw line.

Amidst the deafening interference from the crowd, he made one of two free throws.

2-1.

Over the next few possessions.

The game turned into a bizarre 4-on-3 offensive and defensive drill.

Lin Feng became the most unique decoy on the court.

He kept moving, drawing the Spurs' two strongest perimeter defenders.

Then, using shouts and gestures, he directed his teammates to attack the Spurs' depleted defense.

Blake got an open three-point look.

“Clang!”

Missed.

Artest also got an opportunity in the corner.

“Clang!”

Still missed!

The Spurs players' morale grew higher and higher.

The atmosphere at the AT&T Center also became increasingly feverish.

Under such immense pressure, the Lakers' role players' shooting touch went cold.

Every time they took a shot, they appeared hesitant.

The point gap was widened bit by bit.

8-2!

D'Antoni paced back and forth on the sidelines in anxiety, yet he had no solution.

Just then.

Lin Feng once again drew a double-team.

This time, through a brilliant piece of movement, he created a massive opening for Nick Young on the wing.

Blake's pass was delivered precisely into Nick Young's hands.

Another open shot!

Nick Young caught the ball.

He heard the boos that were almost piercing his eardrums and saw the wide-open basket in front of him.

In his mind, images flashed of the final game of the regular season after he hit that game-winner.

That feeling of the whole world going quiet for him.

He glanced at Lin Feng, who was being tightly pinned down by two people.

He knew this was an opportunity Lin Feng had traded his own body to get for him.

He couldn't hesitate any longer.

A signature, slightly cynical smile appeared on Nick Young's face.

He took a deep breath and resolutely took the shot!