Chapter Ninety-Seven: Provocation

The seventh game determined who would advance to the second round and defined the weight of a superstar’s legacy. There was a legendary figure who never made it past the first round—a pain he carried forever. Revered as the “Playoff Virgin,” he was also branded as weak and incapable. That player was Tracy McGrady, once the unquestioned number one.

If Durant fails to overcome this hurdle, his stature as a superstar could be severely diminished. Conversely, if the Warriors triumph over the Thunder, Lin Fei would undoubtedly earn yet another accolade to his growing legend.

This match was widely regarded as the most suspenseful first-round playoff game.

The game began with the Warriors’ home court filled with a long-missed fervor.

Amidst flowers and applause, Lin Fei took the court, while Durant was met with a barrage of boos. It was Lin Fei’s first time receiving such playoff-level adulation, while Durant rarely faced such jeers in postseason play.

The Warriors started with Lin Fei as the point guard, and the Thunder maintained their core lineup.

The Thunder struck first. Durant unleashed his formidable offensive prowess right from the start. In the league, whenever he desires to score, no defender can stop him. Facing Kain’s defense, Durant executed a high-post pull-up jumper, reminiscent of his idol, McGrady. Back when Durant entered the league, he was dubbed “McGrady’s second coming.” Now, he stood at the pinnacle of the league, the darling of the NBA, arguably even surpassing McGrady.

Durant’s dominant offense immediately provoked Lin Fei. These two had battled through countless playoff clashes—scoring against each other, each fighting fiercely for their team’s glory.

Lin Fei dribbled to the midcourt, tightly guarded from front and back, seemingly cornered. The defense aimed to suffocate him completely. The man in front was no match for Lin Fei, so the defenders opted for a pincer move, trapping him from both sides, hoping to deny him open shots. But it was obvious what Lin Fei would do—pass the ball out. It was a simple countermeasure.

Originally, the Warriors’ fast-paced assault was hard to contain, even with six defenders on the floor. Now, with Lin Fei drawing two defenders, the Warriors effectively had a four-on-three advantage. Lin Fei passed to Aikesi, who made no hesitation and scored with a layup. While it wasn’t credited as an assist for Lin Fei officially, anyone watching could see his pivotal role.

Then Westbrook refused to be overshadowed. Using his speed and strength, he effortlessly shook off Lin Fei’s defense and converted a layup.

Was the defense faltering? The scoreboard showed the Thunder’s two baskets came with ease. Their defensive quality seemed even worse than the previous game. The commentator bluntly stated that if the Thunder didn’t adjust their defense, victory would be out of reach.

Lin Fei pushed the ball to midcourt again, tightly guarded by two defenders. With a sudden sharp crossover, he deftly slipped past Westbrook, who was guarding him up front, then charged straight to the basket. The Warriors’ pace was swift, and Thunder defenders were still trailing behind. Lin Fei was clearly trying to change his approach—breaking through defenses before seeking the right moment to strike.

Scott Brooks was bewildered. He had been desperately trying to limit Lin Fei’s shooting, but if Lin Fei could so easily break through, all his defensive schemes were in vain. Had he been foolish? This problem with Lin Fei was driving him to distraction. How could he have overlooked such a simple tactic?

Lin Fei drove directly to the basket. Westbrook chased from behind, possibly aiming for a chase-down block. But Lin Fei noticed the defender closing in, abruptly stopped, spun a full 360 degrees, and smoothly floated a teardrop shot into the net.

Incredible! Truly incredible! Lin Fei’s ball-handling was lightning-fast, yet he could halt instantly and deliver a delicate floater in one fluid motion. The seamless transition from explosive speed to gentle finesse was something only a handful in the league could achieve.

Lin Fei had secured the Warriors’ second basket, prompting Scott Brooks to call a timeout just two minutes into the game—an unusually early pause. But there was no choice; the Thunder were faced with a player who defied all norms.

After the timeout, the Thunder’s strategy was clear: clamp down on the Warriors’ drives, specifically to prevent Lin Fei from slicing through defenders and scoring at will. If Lin Fei could break through so easily, then pass to open teammates, the Warriors’ offense would become unstoppable. The Thunder’s defense risked becoming a Maginot Line—impenetrable in theory, but utterly ineffective in practice.

The Thunder’s offense resumed with Westbrook handling the ball, assisting Perkins for a strong inside score. The Warriors always struggled against powerful interior players, especially those with formidable physiques like Howard or Jefferson.

Following the inbound, Lin Fei quickly passed to the cutting Kain, who returned the ball to Lin Fei. However, still on the move, Lin Fei mishandled the pass, allowing Westbrook to intercept. Westbrook then charged uncontested to the Warriors’ basket and slammed a dunk with force, clearly venting his frustration.

It was understandable. Westbrook, alongside Rose, was among the league’s most elite offensive guards, both MVP-caliber talents. Yet in this series, despite averaging nearly a triple-double with relentless effort, he was overshadowed by this sophomore phenom. The most frustrating part: Lin Fei had barely played in three games. Now given a chance to release his pent-up anger, Westbrook seized it with fierce intensity, nearly shaking the rim to pieces.

Lin Fei understood it all.

Facing Westbrook again, Lin Fei dribbled into the frontcourt. Surrounded by a double-team and an anticipated help defender ready to challenge his drive, Lin Fei showed no hesitation. With a swift sidestep, he created space between himself and the defenders. The Thunder had made a critical error—how could they let Lin Fei break free so easily?

Lin Fei took a step, jumped, and drained an ultra-deep three-pointer.

That shot was a provocation: “You can dunk, I can hit the long-range shot. Let’s see whose defense holds stronger and who will ultimately prevail.”