89: The Commander's Symphony!

Halftime ended.

The players returned to the court.

The fans in Salt Lake City erupted in massive boos again, trying to crush the Lakers with noise.

But they soon discovered that the look in the Lakers players' eyes had changed.

There was no more solemnity or tension.

Only a cold, steel-like will remained.

The second half began with Lakers possession.

Everyone thought Lin Feng would continue to hold the ball and extend his playmaking from the end of the first half.

However, he just stood at center court and pointed at the backup point guard, Jordan Farmar.

"You handle the ball."

Farmar froze for a moment, somewhat unable to believe it.

The entire audience was also stunned.

What kind of play was this?

In such a crucial game, letting the team's strongest ball-handler play off-ball?

Jazz Team head coach Corbin's brow furrowed even deeper.

He completely couldn't understand the Lakers' tactics.

With a nod of approval from Kobe, Farmar somewhat nervously dribbled the ball past half-court.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng began his off-ball movement.

He didn't run complex plays to find shooting opportunities like a traditional scorer.

His movement was more like taking a stroll on the court.

But every step he took landed exactly on the nodes of the Jazz Team's defensive formation.

His mouth didn't stop either.

Just as Farmar crossed half-court, he heard Lin Feng's clear instructions.

"Farmar! Go to the left! Don't stop!"

Farmar subconsciously followed suit.

The moment he moved, a Jazz guard lunged from the right, attempting a steal.

Farmar narrowly avoided it, breaking into a cold sweat.

He looked back at Lin Feng, his eyes filled with shock.

How did he know the opponent was going to go for a steal from the right?

This was only the beginning.

Lin Feng was like a musician holding a baton, and the entire court became his symphony orchestra.

"Pau! Move to the high post! Get ready to facilitate!"

Gasol moved out without hesitation.

"Nick! Don't charge inside! Go to the corner!"

Lin Feng's voice cut through the noisy arena, reaching Nick Young's ears clearly.

"Three seconds! Gasol will pass to you!"

Nick Young was just about to rely on his individual ability for a signature pull-up jumper.

Hearing Lin Feng's shout, he hesitated for half a second.

He remembered the scene from the first half where Kobe stood up for Lin Feng.

He remembered Lin Feng's god-like defensive directing.

"Damn! I'll trust him this once!"

Cursing under his breath, Nick Young abandoned his thought of playing isolation and turned to rush toward the corner.

Almost at the same time, Lin Feng's voice also reached Gasol.

"Pau! Lob it to the corner! Now!"

Gasol didn't even look for Nick Young's position; he trusted Lin Feng.

With a flick of his wrist, the basketball traced a high arc, flying over the defender's head and accurately toward the left corner.

When the ball arrived, Nick Young's feet had just planted firmly outside the three-point line.

He found himself completely wide open!

Hayward, who was defending him, had been fooled by his earlier cutting feint and was still near the paint!

Open!

A massive opening!

Nick Young even had time to adjust his breathing and shooting form.

He took a deep breath and let it fly.

"Swish!"

The ball snapped through the net!

The entire Energy Solutions Arena fell into a dead silence!

Nick Young himself was dazed, looking at his hands in disbelief.

This shot went in way too easily!

He turned to look at Lin Feng.

But he found that Lin Feng wasn't celebrating at all, and didn't even glance at him.

Lin Feng was simply directing his teammates into defensive positions, as if that assist just now was a trivial matter.

For the first time this year, a feeling called "awe" emerged in Nick's heart toward Lin Feng.

This kid wasn't just playing basketball.

He was toying with his opponents!

Jazz Team possession.

They were already unsettled by Lin Feng's defensive directing and forced a shot.

"Clang!"

The ball bounced off the rim.

Gasol boxed out and grabbed the rebound.

The Lakers transitioned to offense again.

This time, Lin Feng's target was Kobe.

"Boss! Pretend to call for the ball on the right!"

Lin Feng shouted while moving.

"Set a screen for me! I'm going to lure Hayward to the free-throw line!"

Kobe's eyelid flickered, but he didn't ask anything.

He immediately moved to the 45-degree angle on the right, making a gesture to call for the ball, successfully drawing the attention of Raja Bell, who was defending him.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng used an extremely complex zigzag run to firmly lure Hayward, who was defending him, toward the free-throw line.

The Jazz Team's defensive formation was thrown into chaos by him alone.

Just when Hayward thought Lin Feng was going to catch the ball for an isolation play.

Lin Feng suddenly cut back and used his body to set a solid screen for the trailing Kobe!

Hayward was thoroughly blocked!

And Raja Bell, who was originally defending Kobe, still had his attention on Kobe's previous gesture; he was half a beat slow!

That half a beat was all it took!

Utilizing Lin Feng's screen, Kobe cut back and appeared in his favorite spot—the right elbow.

Catch, turn, fadeaway, jump shot.

The sequence was fluid and as beautiful as a painting.

"Swish!"

Another clean basket!

Jazz Team head coach Corbin closed his eyes in pain.

He was completely lost now.

The Lakers' two strongest scoring threats were actually starting to set screens for each other?

And that rookie was actually directing Kobe?

Has the world gone crazy?

The Jazz Team's defense was in total disarray.

They didn't know who to guard.

Guard Farmar with the ball? He was just a ball-handling tool.

Guard Lin Feng? He didn't even want the ball, wandering around the court like a ghost while constantly shouting tactical commands they didn't understand.

Guard Kobe and Gasol? But their movements were always announced in advance by Lin Feng, allowing them to always reach the most comfortable positions.

The entire third quarter completely turned into Lin Feng's personal conducting show.

The Lakers played their most fluid and perfect team basketball of the season.

The point gap was widened bit by bit.

When the whistle blew for the end of the third quarter, the score was 85 to 70.

The Lakers were leading by 15 points!

The fourth quarter.

In a desperate situation, the Jazz Team exploded with incredible energy.

They began using more frantic pressing and unreasonable shots to try and salvage the game.

On the Lakers' side, the veterans' stamina began to become an issue.

Kobe's breathing became heavy, and Gasol's pace slowed down.

The gap was slowly closed.

With five minutes left in the game, the Jazz Team tied the score at 92-92 with a three-pointer!

The Energy Solutions Arena erupted once again!

The Lakers called a timeout.

Everyone looked toward Lin Feng.

Lin Feng looked at the sweat on Kobe's forehead and Gasol leaning over with his hands on his knees.

He knew it was time for the symphony to enter its solo section.

He reached out his hand toward Farmar.

"Give me the ball."

Back from the timeout.

Lin Feng stood at center court, taking the initiative to hold the ball for the first time in the second half.

The air in the entire arena seemed to freeze at this moment.

Everyone knew that the moment of the final showdown had arrived.

Hayward stood before Lin Feng, his expression incredibly solemn.

Lin Feng made his move.

[Eye of the Heavenly Emperor]!

Every shift in Hayward's center of gravity and every twitch of his muscles was broken down into basic data in Lin Feng's eyes.

He predicted that Hayward would block his left side.

Lin Feng's body leaned left, but his entire center of gravity suddenly swung right at a bizarre angle!

[Formless Shot]!

While nearly losing his balance, he threw the ball toward the basket from an incredible angle.

The basketball traced an extremely irregular arc in the air.

"Swish!"

It went in!

And he drew a foul from Hayward!

"And One!"

The entire arena went silent!

After the free throw was made.

The next possession.

Lin Feng held the ball again, facing a double-team from the Jazz Team.

In the gap between the players, he threw the ball out again with a posture no one could understand.

"Swish!"

In again!

Next was a long-range three-pointer!

A step-back jumper that ignored the defense!

In just two minutes, Lin Feng scored 8 consecutive points by himself!

Using a completely unreasonable method, he forcefully extinguished the Jazz Team's newly ignited counterattack!

100 to 92!

The Jazz Team was forced to call another timeout.

Their head coach Corbin slumped in his chair, looking at the calm young Eastern man on the sidelines, despair showing in his eyes for the first time.

However, the Jazz Team didn't give up.

They used the remaining time to give it their all, miraculously catching up with the score.

One minute left in the game.

Tied at 100!

Possession was in the Jazz Team's hands!

This was their last offensive opportunity!

In the entire arena, everyone stood up, the air so tense it was almost ready to ignite.

For the Jazz Team's final attack, the ball was handed over without suspense to their most stable scorer, Gordon Hayward.

And the one defending him was Kobe Bryant!

Hayward looked at Kobe in front of him, dribbling and lowering his center of gravity.

The clock was ticking down.

Ten seconds, nine, eight... the efforts of the entire season and all their hopes were weighed on this final shot!

Hayward moved!

He accelerated, trying to break through!

Kobe followed him closely!

Hayward pulled up, step-back!

He was going to complete this season-defining shot under Kobe's defense!