With the most annoying Croft ejected, Lin Feng's spirits lifted.
He spearheaded another scoring surge at the end of the first half, extending the Los Angeles D-Fenders' lead.
The score stood at 40-28, with the Los Angeles defense holding a comfortable double-digit advantage.
As the second half commenced, Lin Feng unleashed his dominant one-on-one game.
The small forward, a capable defender with solid fundamentals, stepped in to replace Croft as Lin Feng's primary defender. Morey, recognizing Lin Feng as the Los Angeles D-Fenders' leading scorer, naturally assigned his most reliable defensive player to the task.
However, the small forward proved to be no match for Lin Feng's invincible isolation plays. He could only watch helplessly as Lin Feng scored a variety of incredible baskets.
Early in the third quarter, the Los Angeles defense had already stretched their lead to 20 points.
With a twenty-point deficit, everyone in the arena knew that if the Albuquerque Thunderbirds couldn't find a way to contain Lin Feng, their fate was sealed.
Morey watched the game unfold with growing anxiety and a sense of helplessness.
Lin Feng moved with effortless grace, dissecting the small forward's defense at will. In the third quarter alone, Lin Feng poured in 15 points.
"A-Lin is already unstoppable! He will lead the Los Angeles D-Fenders to the NBDL championship trophy tonight! There is no doubt – the championship belongs to Los Angeles!" The fans in the arena were already erupting in cheers.
Since their inception, the Los Angeles D-Fenders had never tasted championship glory. Tonight, Raymond Lam was poised to fulfill that long-awaited dream.
"Lin is still controlling the ball and attacking. Let's see how he handles this possession."
"Oh my god, he broke through again with ease! Lin's dribbling just now was eerily similar to Allen Iverson's 'butterfly through flowers'! Am I seeing things? Did Lin just pull off Iverson's signature move? Incredible!"
"Lin lays it in!"
"BANG!"
"Lin extends the lead once more! This game is losing all suspense. Will the Los Angeles D-Fenders clinch their first NBDL championship tonight on the back of Lin's phenomenal performance? We'll have to wait and see!"
"I have to say, Lin must be wearing a divine jersey tonight! No one on the court can stop him from scoring, not even a deity!"
The two American commentators were ecstatic, heaping praise on Lin Feng in every conceivable way.
Of course, their enthusiasm was also tied to their livelihood. This was Los Angeles, and thousands of fans were witnessing Raymond Lam's brilliance.
By securing the NBDL championship, Lin Feng would become a local hero. Any misstep in their commentary at this crucial moment would undoubtedly incur the wrath of the fans, a situation neither commentator wanted to face.
Therefore, every time Lin Feng touched the ball, he was met with effusive praise.
In truth, their assessment wasn't far off. Lin Feng was indeed playing like he was imbued with otherworldly talent.
He was scoring at will – layups, floaters, thunderous dunks.
His mid-range and three-point shots were falling with impressive accuracy.
In this game, Lin Feng had taken 18 shots and connected on 15, boasting an astonishing shooting percentage of over 85%.
By the end of the third quarter, the game had devolved into garbage time. Lin Feng's individual brilliance had single-handedly dismantled the Albuquerque Thunderbirds.
They now held an insurmountable 27-point lead with only one quarter remaining.
In this situation, as long as the Los Angeles D-Fenders avoided any catastrophic errors, victory was assured.
With Lin Feng at the helm, the Los Angeles defenders were a force to be reckoned with, and the Albuquerque Thunderbirds were being thoroughly outclassed.
As expected, by the fourth quarter, the Albuquerque Thunderbirds had lost all semblance of resistance.
Even their head coach, Morey, had all but conceded defeat.
There was no way to salvage this game. Trailing by 27 points with just one quarter left, any attempt to catch up would be futile.
Morey waved the white flag, substituting his starters for reserve players to gain some experience, while his key players took a seat on the bench.
Ryan, seeing Morey's concession, also instructed his main players on the Los Angeles defense to rest.
Allowing the substitutes to play out the remaining minutes was a show of good sportsmanship. Continuing to field the starters would have appeared like Ryan was unnecessarily humiliating a defeated opponent.
Meanwhile, thousands of fans in the stadium were already celebrating wildly.
The fourth quarter becoming garbage time confirmed the Albuquerque Thunderbirds' surrender, and the Los Angeles D-Fenders were on the cusp of winning their first NBDL championship!
Fans and players alike eagerly awaited the final whistle, ready to erupt in joyous celebration.
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
"A-Lin, you are a hero of Los Angeles! Like Kobe, you will be remembered by the people of Los Angeles!"
Many fans stood shirtless in the stands, swaying and dancing in celebration.
They bestowed upon Lin Feng the highest praise, comparing him to the king of Los Angeles basketball – Kobe Bryant.
Raymond Lam looked at the ecstatic fans waving and cheering his name. At this moment, his heart swelled with exhilaration.
After embodying the spirit of Sakuragi Hanamichi, he had finally found his pride and value as a player.
He could finally carve out his own space on the basketball court.
Looking back, he had endured taunts, disdain, and ridicule.
But the persistence and unwavering determination that had brought him to this point were all worth it!
"Beep!"
Time seemed to blur before the referee finally blew the whistle to end the game.
In the 2005-2006 season, under the leadership of Lin Feng, the Los Angeles D-Fenders had won their first NBDL championship!
This was a night for celebration. Many media outlets had arrived at the stadium early, eager to interview the championship hero, Raymond Lam.
His future girlfriend, Su Muqing, was also among the reporters. Holding a microphone and followed by a photographer, she quickly made her way towards Raymond Lam.
At that moment, NBDL Development League staff presented the championship trophy to the Los Angeles D-Fenders. Streamers and confetti rained down from the sky, creating an electric and celebratory atmosphere.
The entire team erupted in cheers, and even the usually serious Coach Ryan wore a wide, happy smile.
After a long season, all the hard work had culminated in this joyous moment.
Every team fights and strives on the court for this ultimate feeling of triumph.
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
"Lin is the MVP! The forever MVP!"
The stadium buzzed with excitement, a cacophony of cheers washing over Lin Feng.
His girlfriend-to-be, Su Muqing, her cheeks slightly flushed, approached Lin Feng, who was clutching the trophy. In a sweet voice, she asked, "Lin Feng, we all know you are the absolute hero of the Los Angeles defense in this series. We are ESPN reporters and would like to ask you a few questions. Can you answer us?"
Su Muqing had recently been promoted from an intern reporter to a full-time reporter at ESPN, the most renowned sports media organization in the United States.
Lin Feng looked at Su Muqing, who was interviewing him with professional seriousness, and smiled brightly. "Of course, my beautiful lady! What would you like to know? I'll tell you everything!"