Chapter 34: Leaving Li Rui an Opening Is a Crime!

The most terrifying aspect of Li Rui’s fusion with Klay Thompson is his shooting ability. While Klay has suffered major injuries, Li Rui has not, and his physical condition is even better than that of a 35-year-old Klay.

If Marbury keeps his hands extended and maintains his defensive position, his athleticism is enough to contest Li Rui’s shots. However, the moment he tries to go for a steal, he finds himself exposed to Li Rui, and that is when he can only feel despair.

"A three-pointer! Li Rui hits his first triple of the night. His touch looks excellent. Haven't the previous three games served as enough of a warning to his opponents? Leaving him open is a crime; you absolutely cannot leave him with space."

Kenny Smith, the TNT commentator, is absolutely correct. Li Rui’s ability to capitalize on open looks is remarkable, displaying the prowess of an elite shooter. It is just that Marbury clearly has not realized this yet.

On the next possession, Marbury dishes the ball to Crawford, who drives inside, avoids Odom’s defense, and finishes with a hanging layup. The score is 3-4.

The Lakers go on the offensive again. This time, Li Rui runs off-ball on the right side while Odom organizes the play from the top of the arc. The Knicks' defensive coverage is not as tight as their previous opponents', appearing somewhat lazy instead. This gives Odom plenty of time to observe.

Odom dribbles to the left and passes to Kobe. As soon as Kobe touches the ball, the Knicks become tense, with Crawford and Frye quickly swarming to double-team him. The two defenders are not small and occupy a significant amount of space. Kobe, naturally, does not want to force a one-on-two, so he pulls the ball back.

"Here!"

Just as Kobe considers whether to pull up for a three-pointer, a familiar voice calls out. Li?

Kobe sees Li Rui on the right side, using Bynum’s screen and a sharp cut to shake off Marbury for an opportunity to receive the ball. Without a second thought, Kobe fires a jump pass to Li Rui.

After catching the ball, Li Rui looks to shoot, but Marbury grits his teeth and fights over the screen to contest. Li Rui executes a nimble pump fake that draws Marbury into the air, then puts the ball on the floor and drives to the right, leaving "Starbury" easily behind. The improvement in his ball-handling attributes allows Li Rui to perform basic penetration moves with ease.

"A beautiful pump fake."
"Li Rui seems to have anticipated the defender's move in advance."
"That move, combined with the drive, was seamless. Clearly, he is more than just a catch-and-shoot player."
"Li Rui’s range has greatly expanded the Lakers' offensive options."

Su Qun praises Li Rui’s slick move. On the floor, Eddy Curry tries to rotate over to help, but his heavy frame leaves him stuck; his eyes react, but his body cannot keep up.

Li Rui finds himself in open space, as there is a huge gap in the middle of the Knicks' defense. He slows down and stops on a dime in the midrange. He gathers the ball and leaps high, flicking his wrist. The ball traces a beautiful arc.

"Swish!"

It rips through the net. 5-4.

"Great job!" A Chinese fan in Madison Square Garden stands up and shouts excitedly. Watching a yellow-skinned Chinese player showcase his own style on an NBA court fills him with emotion. He is not the only one; many fans who love the "Linsanity-esque" story of Li Rui find their emotions stirred.

Li Rui turns back and trash-talks Marbury: "You know why the New York fans are standing up? Because they want to see the back of you as I blow past you."

The back of him as he gets blown past! A brutal mental blow!

Marbury hears the cheers from the home crowd, and at this moment, they sound incredibly grating. This is New York’s home court—why aren't they booing him? These trash fans are insufferable.

Seeing Marbury’s sour expression, Li Rui feels great. It’s no wonder NBA players love talking trash; he is starting to fall in love with the feeling.

On the Knicks' possession, Marbury brings the ball up and passes to David Lee, and that’s the last time he touches it. The Knicks' current style is just like that—there is no structured system, and whoever gets the ball wants to make a play.

David Lee tries to post up Odom inside but fails; there is no space. He kicks the ball out to Crawford on the perimeter. Crawford executes a flashy, wide-sweeping crossover against Kobe. It is a beautiful move, but Kobe’s defense is sound, and he contests Crawford’s three-point attempt.

"Clang!"

The ball hits the rim hard. Bynum doesn't let David Lee get the offensive rebound; he uses his massive frame to box out and snatches the board. He hands it to Odom.

Odom brings the ball up and motions for the team to settle down. Seeing that Kobe isn't looking for the ball, he turns his eyes to Li Rui.

Li Rui continues to run off-ball on the right, dragging Marbury with him. He feints to the right as if to receive Odom’s pass, but it is another counter-cut. Marbury is left behind once again. Marbury defends ball-handlers well, but he suffers from lapses in concentration when defending off-ball players.

Odom decisively feeds Li Rui, who charges toward the paint with the ball. Eddy Curry strides over to help, determined to teach this rookie—who has recently become a global sensation—a harsh lesson. Physical confrontation is what big men with size advantages love most. While such contact risks a foul, it is effective in stopping an opponent's attack.

"Eddy Curry looks like a tank."
"He's in trouble."

Many fans worry that Li Rui will be flattened by Curry. He is already near the baseline; if he wants to finish the play, it seems almost impossible to avoid the collision.

Just as they are about to crash, Li Rui wraps the ball around Curry’s waist and feeds Bynum under the basket. Bynum, holding the advantage inside, backs down David Lee, leaps up, and slams the ball through the hoop with both hands.

"Bang!"

He hangs on the rim for a moment before landing. On the other side, after releasing the ball, Li Rui executes a flexible spin to dodge Curry’s reckless charge. Li Rui’s speed isn't necessarily elite, but to him, the current Eddy Curry is far too slow; he can fully predict the defender's movements.

"Next time you need help from your teammates, remember to raise your hand in advance, otherwise I’ll think you’re asking me for an autograph," Li Rui says with a playful smirk as he walks past Marbury.

Marbury’s face turns livid. How does this rookie have so many ways to mock him? Every word stings! He glares viciously at the rookie who keeps making him look foolish.

"Slap!"

"Nice pass, man."

Bynum excitedly comes over to high-five Li Rui. Their chemistry on the court is excellent. He sets screens for Li Rui, and Li Rui occasionally feeds him for easy buckets.

Although Li Rui has a scoring target, he doesn't force things; passing to Bynum was the most suitable choice. As for his 30-point goal, Li Rui has a plan: as long as his playing time is sufficient, he can reach his target by scoring about 8 points per quarter.