213: Chapter 213 The Emperor's Choice! A Deadly Pass!

Spoelstra's tactical board was drawn exceptionally simply.

So simple there was only a single arrow.

An arrow pointing straight from the top of the arc to the rim.

All the Miami Heat players gathered around, the atmosphere heavy.

“LeBron.”

Spoelstra's voice was raspy but incredibly firm.

He didn't say anything superfluous, just used his marker to tap heavily on the end of that arrow.

The rim.

“Put the ball in.”

James didn't speak, he just gave a heavy nod.

In his eyes, a fire was burning.

Dwyane Wade stepped forward and slapped James hard on the chest.

“It’s on you, brother.”

Chris Bosh also walked over.

“We believe in you.”

This was the promise of the Miami Heats Big Three.

It was also their absolute trust in their own king.

...

On the other side, the Los Angeles Lakers bench.

D'Antoni's face was pale, his forehead covered in sweat.

He looked at the players on the court and opened his mouth, only to find he had no idea what to say.

Tactics?

At this moment, any complex tactics would be an insult to the players.

Defense.

Only defense.

“Kobe...”

D'Antoni subconsciously looked toward the man sitting at the end of the bench.

Kobe still had a thick ice pack strapped to his Achilles, but his gaze was sharper than anyone else's on the court.

He felt the head coach's gaze.

“Defend his shot.”

Kobe's voice was soft, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

“Don't give him room to drive, but absolutely do not give up his jumper.”

“Lin, you take the primary defense.”

Kobe's gaze turned to Lin Feng.

“Don't think about steals; stick to him and use your height to interfere with him.”

“Trust the teammates behind you.”

“Pau, Dwight, get ready to help on defense.”

“If he tries to charge in, let him taste what the Los Angeles No-Fly Zone feels like!”

Kobe's words were like a shot of adrenaline, instantly steadying everyone's nerves.

Lin Feng took a deep breath and met Kobe's eyes.

In that man's eyes, he saw a passing of the torch.

“Understood.”

“Beep—!”

The whistle sounded, ending the timeout.

The moment for the final battle had arrived.

The players walked back onto the court.

Every fan in the Staples Center stood up.

The entire arena was pin-drop silent.

Around the world, hundreds of millions of eyes focused on this small court through their screens.

Focused on the man wearing the number 6 jersey.

LeBron James.

The Emperor of the basketball world.

He stood at the top of the arc, slowly dribbling the basketball.

One.

Two.

Three.

The sound of the ball hitting the floor was heavy and rhythmic, like a hammer striking everyone's heart.

Lin Feng stood before him, arms outstretched, body low.

In his eyes, there wasn't a trace of fear.

Only the purest fighting spirit.

King against King!

General against General!

This was the ultimate showdown!

Time ticked away, second by second.

20 seconds.

18 seconds.

15 seconds.

James still hadn't moved.

He was just observing, calculating.

Like a lion poised to strike, waiting for the most lethal moment.

At the commentary desk, Barkley clenched his fists nervously.

“What is he waiting for?”

“He's draining the clock; he wants to use the final shot to kill the game once and for all!” Kenny Smith's voice was trembling.

On the sidelines, Spoelstra and D'Antoni, the two head coaches, stared fixedly at the court.

Their hearts were nearly jumping out of their throats.

In a corner of the audience.

Taylor Swift clasped her hands together in front of her chest, as if praying.

In her eyes, there was only the figure of that boy from the East.

And in the far-off East.

Countless fans sat before their screens, not even daring to breathe.

Time finally reached the last 10 seconds.

9 seconds.

8 seconds.

7 seconds.

6 seconds.

5 seconds!

Now!

James moved!

His powerful body suddenly dipped to the right!

A crossover of extreme power!

His whole body was like a cannonball shot from a barrel, charging toward the basket!

Lin Feng's reaction was pushed to the limit!

He slid laterally instantly, firmly cutting off the path!

But!

James's strength was too terrifying!

He was like a heavy tank, crushing everything in his path!

Lin Feng felt as though his chest had been hit hard by a bull!

He was forced back step after step!

But his footwork didn't falter!

His gaze remained steady!

He was still defending!

He was still in front of James!

“Roar!”

James let out a low growl and applied more force!

He had already broken through the first line of defense!

The rim was within reach!

But at that moment!

The Lakers' defensive formation instantly collapsed inward!

Pau Gasol!

Dwight Howard!

Two interior towers, like two guardian gods, one on the left and one on the right, completely sealed off the path to the basket!

This was a desperate situation!

A cage surrounded on three sides!

Everyone thought James would choose to force a layup!

Using his unreasonable physique to create a miracle!

To complete a heroic game-winner!

Barkley was already prepared with words of praise.

Fans around the world were ready to witness the Emperor's coronation!

However!

The moment James jumped, his body colliding with three defenders in the air!

He made a choice that surprised the whole world!

His eyes weren't looking at the rim at all!

Instead, they swept toward the right corner of the court!

In the air, his powerful body had already lost balance.

But a split second before losing balance.

His wrist flicked lightly!

The basketball, as if given a life of its own, zipped through the gap between the players!

Accurately!

Flying toward that empty corner!

There!

A figure had been waiting for a long time!

Ray Allen!

The greatest three-point shooter in NBA history!

He was completely wide open!

A collective gasp echoed through the Staples Center!

All the Lakers players felt a bone-chilling cold!

From the perspective of basketball theory, this was the most logical and correct choice!

James drew all the defense and then passed to the teammate in the best position!

This was the ultimate embodiment of team basketball!

Ray Allen caught the ball.

His form was as perfect as a textbook.

Without the slightest hesitation.

Bending knees.

Jumping.

Releasing.

The entire motion was smooth and seamless.

The ball flew from his fingertips, tracing a perfect arc in the air.

Everyone's eyes followed that orange leather ball.

At this moment, time seemed to slow down.

Despair appeared on the faces of the Lakers players.

The Heat bench was already prepared to rush onto the court to celebrate.

The whole world thought the game was over.

But just as Ray Allen caught the ball, jumped, and prepared to take this game-killing three-pointer!

A black shadow!

Like a phantom!

From a completely impossible angle!

Lunged toward him with reckless abandon!