Chapter 103: Thirty-Three Three-Pointers

There was bound to be a stir before Lin Fei faced off against the Mavericks.

That stir undoubtedly involved Lin Fei and Kidd. Kidd is considered one of the top three point guards in league history—a comprehensive player with unparalleled passing awareness and court vision. However, Kidd is quite advanced in age. It could be said that if Lin Fei wanted to shake off Kidd, he could almost do so in the very first step. This clash was also a collision of two basketball philosophies. Lin Fei firmly believed that scoring was paramount; no matter how important assists or rebounds were, ultimately, to win, a team needed points. Kidd, on the other hand, revered passing above all else. His presence on the court brought order and precision to his team’s offense.

Reflecting on how Lin Fei prepared to face Kidd, he said, “I remember back when I was studying, Kidd was the best guard in the league. At that time, he was still with the Nets, leading them to the playoffs twice—a truly great achievement. Later, he joined the Mavericks and achieved the pinnacle of winning a championship, earning even greater respect. He has always been a role model for me.”

As for Kidd’s assessment of Lin Fei: “His passing awareness keeps improving. His scoring ability seems innate, uniquely his own. No one else in the league combines long-range shooting and speed with such mastery. I’m a fan of his now, even though I’m old. I feel I can still learn a lot from him. As for this series, it really belongs to the young players, but us veterans will never give up easily.”

There was also the possibility that Lin Fei would directly face Jason Terry—an established veteran and one of the league’s best sixth men, seldom a starter but indispensable to the Mavericks. Lin Fei himself was the league’s newest best sixth man. Although by the end of the season and into the playoffs he had become a starter, both players logged over thirty minutes per game, making their direct confrontation inevitable.

Both teams boasted players considered unstoppable. ESPN had analyzed Dirk Nowitzki’s turnaround fadeaway jumper, concluding that no one in the league could defend it. Similarly, Lin Fei’s combination of speed and shooting was also deemed absolutely unguardable. These two were undoubtedly the cores of their respective teams, and everyone was eager to see which one was truly more unstoppable.

In terms of the roster, the Warriors had the edge on paper with their starters. However, when it came to depth, particularly the bench, the Warriors fell short. As for morale, the Mavericks, after winning a championship, might have been expected to lose their hunger for victory. Yet, this season, they had delivered astonishing results, topping the Western Conference. Their championship aspirations remained as loud and clear as ever. The Warriors, on the other hand, were something of a mystery. This young team had been a dark horse from the season’s start, storming into the playoffs and knocking out the Thunder. Though lacking playoff experience, their drive was among the fiercest in the league. Would their Cinderella run continue?

Practice sessions were open to the media the day before the game. Though “open” was more about creating buzz and boosting the Warriors’ spirits.

“Hey, Lin, how many three-pointers are you planning to shoot before you rest?” a reporter asked, curious as Lin Fei kept sinking threes from mid-range.

“Twenty in a row,” Lin Fei replied.

“What’s the most you’ve made consecutively?”

“Thirty-three.”

“Ha! Looks like you have a thing for the number three, huh? The most threes made in a row is thirty-three, and you wear number forty-three. Do you really love the number three that much?” The reporter pressed, and Lin Fei found the question amusing, opening his eyes wide as if it were a joke.

“Actually, I stopped after making thirty-three. My favorite number is thirty-three—I just like it,” Lin Fei said softly, almost shyly, as if the number held a special meaning for him.

“Lin! Lin! Lin! I heard the girl you like the most at night is named Shanshan?” Upon hearing the name “Shanshan,” Lin Fei seemed electrified, sharply turning his head.

“Heh, you guys are impressive!”

“After the playoffs, will you go back to see her?”

With each question, Lin Fei’s expression darkened. No one could tell what was truly going on inside him, as if something deep and hidden lay buried within this young man’s heart.