Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Free throws remained a matter of uncontrollability for Duncan.

2+1 became 2+0.

Mason grabbed the rebound, and the other Spurs as if anticipating this move, retreated early in defense, not allowing the Bucks a chance for a fast break.

The inside lane, the inside lane, the Spurs' inside lane was the lifeline; they believed in it, obsessed over it, it was their main path.

But that main path led to hell.

Yu Fei dribbled into the frontcourt, ready to take his own lesser-known path.

Set a screen, break, the second pick-and-roll, the perimeter opens up, the third pick-and-roll... Eventually, the intricately woven defensive system came undone with the successive pick-and-roll offenses.

Yu Fei, like an assassin, drove deep into the paint with the ball, Duncan spread his arms, ready to block the way.

Unexpectedly, Yu Fei pulled off a magician's classic juggling act; right hand gripping the ball, a feint left, a feint right, then slung the ball towards the corner—Michael Redd's spot. Find more to read at empire

Redd was unguarded!

Catch, shoot.

"Swish!"

70 to 85

The most terrifying thing wasn't Duncan being limited, or the Spurs' inability to attack.

The most terrifying thing was that even though Duncan had begun to make an impact and the Spurs had achieved their strategic intent, the score gap had hardly changed.

The ball was passed to the Spurs' low post once again.

This time, the Bucks deployed two additional men for a double team, leaving even Bruce Bowen open in the corner.

Duncan, desperate like a drowning man clutching at straws, reached out—he passed the ball.

A wise move!

Only he didn't anticipate that Yu Fei, like a predator swooping in from the top of the key, would dash towards the corner. Bowen received the ball, squatted, shot, not too fast or too slow, but just enough to allow the man determined not to let him easily take the open three-pointer to arrive on the scene.

Yu Fei jumped two to three meters in front of Bowen; with a one-meter vertical leap and a wingspan of 220 centimeters, the ball flying towards the center of the basket didn't stand a chance to reach its apex before being brutally swatted out of bounds.

Victory in the King of the Hill battle was slipping away from the Spurs.

At the moment of blocking Bowen's shot, Yu Fei seemed to understand the reason he was brought here.

Starting with arranging Jordan's retirement ceremony, shattering the idols of each deity, that was his mission.

Life's endpoint is largely determined by such moments.

Yu Fei's confidence was rapidly expanding, for those who reject fate never reach the endpoint.

After the ball was inbounded again, the Spurs opted for a desperate three-pointer.

Miss.

Yu Fei grabbed the rebound, not pushing the pace, as the Spurs were retreating faster.

Hold the breath, focus, then take a deep one.

Yu Fei raised his hand, seemingly about to call for a pick-and-roll; Stephen Jackson was on high alert, but that hand suddenly dropped, followed by a thunderous drive with the force of an earthquake.

The unprepared Jackson was breached by Yu Fei in one step.

The Spurs defense suddenly collapsed, Duncan was the last guardian; worried about Yu Fei passing to Mason, he couldn't just watch him drive to the basket and do nothing.

The sense of responsibility to guard the paint made Duncan move forward a step, blocking Mason and also cutting off Yu Fei's path.

However...

Yu Fei, after charging into the paint and powering up for his jump, pulled his right hand back in a full bowing posture, like a wild beast roaring, and at the moment when Duncan was caught off-balance, devastatingly slammed into his body.

Duncan, who didn't jump in time, crumbled upon impact, and Yu Fei knocked The Stone Buddha over, using all his strength to smash the ball into the basket.

"!#!@￥!@#￥%￥"

"Beep beep beep!!!"

The foul was called on Duncan by Dick Bavita.

The boos, curses, wails, and roars rose from every direction in the SBC Center, no matter how intense the San Antonio People's indignation was, one thing couldn't be changed.

That was the Spurs' defeat tonight.

Bill Walton said excitedly, "Tim Duncan is Goliath in the Pantheon, but for someone who doesn't worship the gods, his existence and that of the Pantheon are meaningless!"

The Pantheon recorded Duncan's dominance in 1999, but from today on, it is no longer important.

Just as Jordan's six championships aren't important today either.

In Game 5 of the 2003 Finals, Goliath was toppled, and from today on, even the nightingales of San Antonio will sing of Yu Fei's victory.

Finally, 101 to 82, just as Yu Fei had predicted, the Bucks won two out of three away games, winning the King of the Hill battle, and firmly held the match point of the series in their hands.

Post-game Interview

"We let an under-21 player get 28 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 blocks in the Finals; that's why we lost." — Greg Popovich discussing why they lost.

"Winning feels like kissing a lover, while losing is like kissing a grandma who takes out her dentures right in front of you." — Stephen Jackson discussing the sensation of losing.

"The rumors are always there, I just want to concentrate on playing my own game." — Tony Parker stating he's undisturbed by Jason Kidd's rumors.

"Right now, we need to be thinking about Game 6. I don't care about the MVP; Frye deserves it." — Tim Duncan discussing the MVP and the future.

"I think winning a championship in my final season would be dreamy, and I will give it my all for that." — David Robinson reiterated his determination to win the championship.

"I believe no one will talk about who deserves the MVP anymore, people will feel lucky because they have witnessed the rise of a superstar. In the future, you can tell the people around you that you adore Frye at 30, at the peak of his game, but I saw 20-year-old Frye, and that was the beginning of a legend." — George Karl praising Yu Fei unceasingly.

"Stop harping on about Frye all the time, everyone's playing hard." — Ray Allen, annoyed by the persistent questions about Yu Fei.

"I have nothing to say, it's all thanks to Frye's passes. Do you have any more questions about Frye?" — Michael Redd excited about questions concerning Yu Fei.

"Tonight's Frye was stronger than Tim Duncan. I've said it, nobody can handle him!" — Anthony Mason responding to comparisons between Yu Fei and Duncan.

"An under-21 player performing like this is terrifying, not to mention he still has a 15-year period of ascent and prime. I think he will become the next Larry Bird." — Latrell Sprewell highly commends Yu Fei.

Yu Fei sat in the media room, surrounded by hundreds of media outlets, each person eager to ask a question.

The first to ask was the New York Times: "What made you foresee that the Bucks would take 2 out of 3 in San Antonio?"

"Just a casual remark, unfortunately it hit the mark."

Next was a question from Chinese media: "How do you view the Spurs' accusation that you intentionally injured Bruce Bowen during the game?"

"You know, this is my second year in the NBA; I still don't understand how to defend properly, so sometimes I might appear a bit clumsy."

Then came a question from the local San Antonio media: "Tim Duncan says you deserve the MVP; what do you think about that?"

"Next question."

"You've always been fraught with doubts about your MVP, but tonight you proved yourself in front of the whole world. How do you feel about that?"

Yu Fei sneered, looking at that self-satisfied San Antonio reporter, and said sarcastically:

"It's you who got me wrong; I have nothing to prove."

PS: Taking a day off tomorrow, the writer's block is quite severe