82
"He puts it in!"
"BANG!"
"Lin hits another buzzer-beater! He has done it again! The Lakers steal a win against the Detroit Pistons! What a night for Lin Feng!"
When the red light illuminated the backboard, the basketball, still in flight, swished cleanly through the net, and Albert and Jerry Allen erupted in wild cheers.
It was exhilarating, even more shocking than before!
This was just an ordinary regular-season game, yet it had unfolded into an epic showdown worthy of the Finals!
Kobe, in an uncharacteristically selfless act, assisted Lin Feng in completing the game-winning buzzer-beater at the most critical moment.
94-92
The Lakers snatched victory with a last-second shot, sending the Detroit Pistons home empty-handed.
"Ahhh! Lin!"
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
The entire arena rose to its feet, chanting Lin Feng's name in unison, as celebratory streamers rained down from the Staples Center rafters.
In just six games for the Lakers, he had already hit two buzzer-beaters. He was undeniably an epic player.
"Hahaha, Lin! I love you so much!"
Odom, overcome with excitement, rushed to Lin Feng, helped him up from the floor, and enveloped him in a bear hug.
Fisher, Chris Mihm, and even the usually stoic Kobe Bryant all ran towards Lin Feng, laughter etched on their faces.
The group surrounded Lin Feng and hoisted him onto their shoulders.
On the bench, even the normally composed Zen Master stood up, his fists clenched in a rare display of exhilaration.
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
The deafening chants continued to cascade from the stands.
The fans' fervor reached a fever pitch.
This buzzer-beater against the Pistons ignited the fans even more than the one against the Golden State Warriors.
After all, the Pistons' formidable starting five had defeated the Lakers in the 2004 Finals, snatching a championship that many felt should have belonged to Los Angeles, and the Lakers faithful held long memories.
"Lin! Well done! I knew you wouldn't let my pass go to waste. You are the MVP of this game; even I pale in comparison!"
Kobe clasped Lin Feng's head, showering him with praise.
He knew that with Lin Feng on the team this season, both the Lakers and himself had struck gold.
While the buzzer-beater against the Golden State Warriors in the opening game might have had an element of luck, with Lin Feng finding himself in a relatively open position, tonight's game-winner against the Pistons was a testament to Lin Feng's undeniable ability.
Wallace had pounced on him, yet Lin Feng waited until the very last second to make his move. This demonstrated his extraordinary mental fortitude. As the clock ticked down, he only grew calmer.
He had also used a clever fake shot to deceive Wallace before decisively launching the ball.
Dale Davis, seeing Wallace stumble, rushed to contest the shot, but it was too late.
Lin Feng had already released the ball, which soared through the air in a beautiful arc, finding the center of the net.
This was Lin Feng, an epic player who had fought his way back from the NBDL Development League to the NBA!
He had boldly declared to Wallace that he would defeat the Pistons from that very spot, and he had delivered.
Indeed, he had received a pass from Kobe near the left corner and sunk the game-winning shot against the Pistons.
Wallace and Dale Davis slowly rose to their feet, gazing at the jubilant Lakers players with bewildered expressions.
It was a difficult, uncontested buzzer-beater, and they had no choice but to accept the outcome.
The Chinese sensation had officially arrived in the NBA, showcasing to all of America that the Chinese were not only skilled in table tennis but were also an undeniable force in basketball.
…
Across the vast ocean, in China, friends who had stayed up late to watch the Lakers versus Pistons game were screaming with excitement.
When Kobe once again passed the ball to Lin Feng, who then sank the game-winning shot with the assist, basketball enthusiasts all over China erupted in joyous pandemonium.
Countless people discussed this epic buzzer-beater on major online forums, in mainstream news reports, university cafeterias, bars, internet cafes, on the streets, and in every household!
Lin, the pride of the Chinese people.
He represented every Chinese man who loved basketball, demonstrating the courage and prowess of a Chinese man on the international stage of the NBA!
"Damn it! That's so awesome! Lin Feng will be my idol from now on. If anyone dares to slander Lin Feng, I'll fight them to the death!"
"Yes, yes, Lin Feng is my idol too! If Lin Feng could become a Chinese citizen one day, I would sell everything I own to go to Staples Center and watch one of his games."
"Yes, I really hope Lin Feng can change his nationality and represent our national team! If that happens, I'm sure that in the 2008 Olympics, with him, Yao Ming, and the others, we'll have no problem reaching the semi-finals!"
"Yes, Lin Feng is amazing. I feel like he's even more amazing than Kobe Bryant."
"That's not true! Don't you see who Lin Feng is? He's one of us, Chinese!"
"Awesome! I love Lin Feng so much!"
"——"
The Chinese people on the other side of the world were in a frenzy of admiration for Lin Feng.
All major Chinese mainstream media outlets, including People's Daily and Basketball Pioneer, provided extensive coverage of Lin Feng's heroics.
For a time, Lin Feng's popularity in China rivaled that of even Yao Ming.
…
In Houston, since the Rockets didn't have a game that night, Yao Ming stayed home to watch the live broadcast.
Witnessing Lin Feng's epic buzzer-beater, Yao Ming smiled with satisfaction.
"Lin Feng, I knew you could do it, but it's strange. When did Kobe become such a willing passer? It really puzzles me."
Yao Ming murmured to himself, then picked up his cell phone, typed a text message, and sent it to Lin Feng:
{Lin Feng, there's progress on your nationality change. I've informed the domestic basketball association, and they are currently in a meeting to discuss it. I'll keep you updated on the specific progress in real-time.}
{Also, I'm so proud and happy to see you perform so well for the Lakers! Keep it up; Chinese basketball needs talents like you.}
Lin Feng returned to the locker room, greeted by a wave of admiration from everyone he encountered.
As he walked through the player tunnel, fans screamed his name and reached out, eager to shake his hand.
Several children had even dyed their hair red, sported three Band-Aids on their faces, and wore No. 10 Xiangbei jerseys, all emulating Lin Feng.
Today, Lin Feng was a rising star in Los Angeles, his fame approaching that of Kobe.
After showering and retrieving his cell phone from his locker, Lin Feng saw Yao Ming's text message, a slight smile gracing his lips as a feeling of warmth washed over him.
When you're in a foreign land, meeting close friends from your hometown is a rare comfort.
What's more, this fellow countryman was Yao Ming, and Brother Yao Ming cared so much about him.
Lin Feng smiled and typed a reply to Yao Ming: "Brother Yao, if I remember correctly, our next game is Lakers versus Rockets. We're playing away. You better watch out! On the court, I won't go easy on you just because we're both Chinese. I'm coming for you!"
Lin Feng understood one thing clearly: the greatest respect for an opponent was to give your all to defeat them on the court!