76: The Birth of the Prophet

"I just... see things more clearly."

Lin Feng's answer was an understatement.

But to Kobe, it was more alarming than any arrogant declaration.

Seeing things more clearly?

What kind of ridiculous explanation is that!

Kobe refused to believe it.

He picked up the ball, reset his stance, and focused his gaze to the absolute limit.

"Again!"

This time, he didn't attempt any probing moves.

He poured all his skill and experience into this single offensive play.

A lightning-fast crossover, with a body feint large enough to fool ninety-nine percent of the league's defenders.

He anticipated that Lin Feng would move to the left.

However, Lin Feng didn't move.

Lin Feng stood his ground, like a statue, watching him with calm eyes.

As if saying, "I've seen through your performance."

Kobe's heart sank, and he forcefully pulled his center of gravity back, transitioning into a post-up.

He used his back to feel Lin Feng's strength.

It was weak.

Completely inconsistent with his terrifying predictive ability.

Kobe felt certain: the opportunity had arrived!

He suddenly spun toward the baseline, executing a silky smooth fadeaway jumper.

This was his signature move, his imprint!

His body stretched to its maximum in the air, and his wrist gave a slight flick.

A perfect shooting form!

However, just as the ball was about to leave his hand.

That hand appeared again.

Still the same position, still the same angle.

Lin Feng didn't even jump; he just moved to Kobe's landing spot ahead of time and raised his arm high.

It was as if he was waiting for Kobe to voluntarily deliver the ball right into his hands.

"Clap!"

A soft sound.

The ball was lightly tipped, its trajectory changed, and it hit the rim and bounced out.

Kobe landed, staring intently at Lin Feng.

He felt his entire basketball philosophy had been completely overturned in that moment.

"Again!"

Kobe gritted his teeth, forcing the two words out through clenched jaws.

For the next hour.

A one-on-one match that Kobe would never forget unfolded in the training gym.

No, it wasn't a one-on-one.

It was a one-sided, brutal execution.

Kobe utilized every offensive weapon he possessed.

Whether it was driving, fading away, or low post footwork.

Lin Feng could always predict it beforehand.

He was like a prophet from the future; Kobe's every move, every pump fake, and even the rhythm of his breathing, were precisely calculated by him.

When it was Lin Feng's turn to attack, the scene became even stranger.

Lin Feng's movements weren't fast; they could even be described as simple.

A most ordinary change of direction.

A most basic spin move.

But to Kobe, it felt like facing a phantom.

Lin Feng always launched his attack precisely when the smallest, even imperceptible, flaw appeared in Kobe's defensive balance.

He felt as heavy and clumsy as a bear.

Time after time, he was faked out and lost his balance, and time after time, he was easily blown by.

"Bang!"

When Kobe, once again thrown off balance, crashed miserably into the equipment rack on the sideline, he finally broke down.

He didn't get back up.

He sat on the cold floor, gasping for air, his black practice jersey soaked with sweat.

He looked up at Lin Feng, who was standing in the middle of the court barely sweating.

His eyes were filled with shock, confusion, and bewilderment... Finally, all the complex emotions melted into a bitter smile.

And a deep, heartfelt sense of relief.

"You truly... have evolved."

Kobe's voice was hoarse, carrying the relief of a man who had been thoroughly defeated.

He knew that the kid who had been desperately chasing after him no longer needed him to lead the way.

He had found his own path.

A path leading to the realm of the gods, one that even Kobe himself couldn't comprehend... 9:00 AM.

The rest of the Lakers players arrived at the training gym one after another.

They sensed immediately that the atmosphere today was unusual.

Kobe, the team's leader, wasn't doing his usual extra practice. Instead, he sat quietly on the sidelines, watching Lin Feng practice shooting alone with an extremely complicated look in his eyes.

And Lin Feng had changed too.

He was still silent, but the gloom brought on by the losing streak had completely vanished.

In its place was an impenetrable calm and confidence.

head coach D'Antoni clapped his hands, gathering everyone together.

"Guys, I know this six-game losing streak is tough on everyone."

"But we don't have time to be depressed!"

"Tonight, at the Staples Center, our opponent is—the Los Angeles Clippers!"

The Clippers!

Hearing that name, every player's nerves tightened.

This wasn't just a derby match.

It was a direct confrontation with the league's number one point guard, Chris Paul!

He was a court magician who could shred any defensive system with his passing.

For the Lakers, who had just suffered six consecutive losses and whose defense was like paper, this was undoubtedly a disaster.

Everyone's eyes instinctively turned toward Lin Feng.

They wanted to see how this new core player, on whom the team placed high hopes, would perform against a truly elite point guard.

Lin Feng, meanwhile, listened calmly.

Chris Paul? The league's number one point guard?

This touchstone was exactly what he wanted... Night fell, and the Staples Center was brightly lit and packed.

The Los Angeles Derby never lacked excitement.

The Lakers lost the opening tip-off.

The Clippers gained possession for the first offensive sequence.

Chris Paul calmly dribbled the ball across half-court, his eyes scanning the Lakers' defensive alignment. His brain, like a supercomputer, instantly calculated several offensive options.

He raised his hand and gave a tactical signal.

The Clippers players began executing complex off-ball movement and screens, like precise mechanical parts.

This was a play they had run countless times, designed to use movement to create an absolutely open shot opportunity on the weak side.

However.

In the vision granted by Lin Feng's Eye of the Heavenly Emperor, everything changed.

The running trajectories of all the Clippers players were no longer random.

Blue lines, representing their next direction of movement, clearly appeared on the court.

Griffin would roll down from the high post to set a fake screen for Jordan.

Redick would use the screen to curl to the forty-five degree angle, feigning a catch-and-shoot attempt.

And Paul's true passing target was Matt Barnes, who was quietly slipping toward the baseline corner using a double screen.

A clear, dynamic offensive blueprint was fully presented in Lin Feng's mind.

Just then, Paul moved!

He executed a highly deceptive behind-the-back dribble, suddenly dropping his body to the right, feigning a strong drive!

A collective gasp erupted in the Staples Center!

Everyone thought Paul was going to use his individual skill to tear open the Lakers' defense!

The Lakers' defenders subconsciously collapsed to the right.

But Lin Feng stood still, rooted to the spot.

He didn't even look at Paul; instead, he suddenly shouted to Gasol, who was guarding Griffin behind him.

"Pau, cover the baseline!"

The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached Gasol's ears despite the noisy arena.

Gasol paused for a moment.

But almost instinctively, he abandoned his coverage of Griffin and immediately darted toward the left baseline corner!

At the exact moment Gasol moved!

Paul's drive to the right was indeed a fake!

With a flick of his wrist, the ball instantly switched from behind his back to his left hand, and he accelerated sharply toward the open left side, like a phantom!

This was his classic "Split the Defense" move!

However, when he drove, spun, and prepared to pass the ball to Barnes in the corner.

He saw a high yellow wall.

Pau Gasol, like a divine soldier descending from heaven, had already spread his arms and was firmly waiting in his path!

Paul's mind went blank!

He tried to stop his feet, but it was too late!

"Thud!"

He slammed solidly into Gasol's chest.

"Beep—!"

The referee's whistle echoed throughout the arena!

Offensive foul!

The entire arena erupted in an uproar!

Lin Feng hadn't moved, yet he had directed his teammate to execute a perfect predictive defense!

Kobe, sitting on the sideline, watched the scene and jumped up from his seat in excitement.

He knew that the true core and future of the Lakers had officially been born tonight!