Chapter 130: The Opening Three Minutes

The sixth game of the playoffs officially commenced. The Warriors, playing on their home court, undoubtedly held the advantage.

Due to the on-court altercation involving Kainz, the league imposed a suspension on him. After careful review of the game footage, Terry was also handed a suspension. For this sixth game, the Warriors started with Curry and Lin Fei as their dual point guards—a formation the Mavericks dread most. Their speed was simply unstoppable.

Warriors fans treated these players with the highest level of enthusiasm seen in decades. From the start, applause and cheers never ceased. Some fervent fans, akin to “football hooligans” in soccer stadiums, even attempted to rush onto the basketball court, desperate to meet their beloved players. Of course, such thoughts were futile. At this game, Lin Fei had the largest fanbase, as many spectators favored quick, high-scoring guards.

At tip-off, Lin Fei appeared unharmed by his injury and immediately took control of the ball.

One issue had to be acknowledged: Smith’s breakout performance was somewhat pressuring Lin Fei. After all, reaching this stage was no small feat. Before Lin Fei, the Warriors had Curry, already a top-tier point guard in the league. Yet, through sheer effort and explosive growth, Lin Fei had become a starting guard. Would he, like others before him, be edged out by Smith? Although such cases were rare in league history, the possibility could not be dismissed.

Lin Fei quickly crossed midcourt with the ball, guarded tightly by Banya. Curry ran alongside him. This formation clearly drew inspiration from the previous game’s climax, when Lin Fei and Smith shared the court and demonstrated formidable synergy. The coach, Nelson, had evidently taken note and opted to deploy Curry alongside Lin Fei to replicate that strategy. When Lin Fei and Smith played together, their offensive roles overlapped slightly, sometimes limiting each other’s effectiveness. But with Curry and Lin Fei on court, the pace remained blistering, and Curry could better distribute the ball to teammates without pressure, allowing Lin Fei to attack more freely. Furthermore, Curry’s three-point shooting was on par with Smith’s—he ranked among the league’s top ten shooters from beyond the arc.

As Lin Fei crossed the midline, Curry ran parallel from just behind. Banya’s heart pounded; Lin Fei was now well within shooting range, capable of firing at any moment.

Yet Lin Fei did not shoot. Fans expected a swift drive to shake off Banya and a smooth basket, but instead, Lin Fei passed behind his back to Curry. Receiving the ball, Curry took a step and effortlessly breezed past Kidd, his defender. This ease wasn’t solely down to Curry’s skill—it was the result of his momentum in motion, forcing Kidd to pivot and chase, allowing Curry to slip by. More importantly, it was a testament to the Warriors’ teamwork and tactical system.

Once past Kidd, Curry surged toward the basket. A tall figure chased him—it was none other than the Mavericks’ center, Chandler. One had to admire Chandler, reputed as the league’s second-best defender, for his speed in pursuit. But Curry was no fool; he executed a quick stop and spin, then passed back to Lin Fei, who had retreated to midcourt. Earlier, by the three-point line, Curry and Lin Fei had split—Curry pressing forward to the basket, Lin Fei retreating. This “retreat” was strategic; midcourt was one of the Warriors’ prime scoring zones. Among all teams, the Warriors’ midcourt shooting was arguably the league’s strongest.

Lin Fei caught the ball, dribbled lightly, and rose effortlessly for a soft, smooth shot. The ball flew through the air as though untouched, swishing cleanly through the net.

Was this a defensive lapse from the Mavericks? The cross-screen and backdoor cut between Lin Fei and Curry could have been thwarted if the Mavericks’ defense had been tighter.

The next play underscored this further.

Again, the two guarded each other mutually, but this time Curry controlled the ball with Lin Fei moving swiftly ahead.

By the time Curry reached midcourt, Lin Fei had advanced to the free-throw line. Kidd, sensing the danger, wisely didn’t guard Curry directly but positioned himself to block the passing lane to Lin Fei. Curry hesitated briefly, then passed to Ex, who, propelled by his speed, dashed past the Mavericks’ defensive line. Now, Dirk Nowitzki came to help defend Ex. Seeing this, Lin Fei shifted along the baseline—a position traditionally for small forwards, yet here was a point guard occupying it. For a player like Lin Fei to reach this spot so quickly demonstrated his confidence and skill.

Receiving the ball near the baseline, Lin Fei found himself double-teamed by Banya and Marion. It seemed every Maverick player had eyes on Lin Fei, constantly ready to help defend. Yet, no matter the precautions, they couldn’t truly contain him.

Lin Fei’s shot was effortless and elegant, landing smoothly in the basket.

The two opening three-pointers, though not fully showcasing Lin Fei’s explosive personal skills, delivered the most concrete result—points.

The Mavericks began to feel genuine fear. When the Warriors’ offense flowed seamlessly, Lin Fei and his teammates could catch and score beautiful shots. When the offense stalled, the Warriors could unleash Lin Fei’s individual firepower, achieving similar scoring outputs.

Coach Carlisle stood on the sidelines, head bowed, face covered with his hands. He now pondered how Lin Fei always seemed to have such a lethal shooter by his side. Perhaps the championship-caliber coach’s focus had shifted. No longer solely about defending Lin Fei and the Warriors, he was now confronted with a more fundamental question: how to elevate the Mavericks’ offense to match the Warriors’ level. This challenge might well be their best hope for winning the playoffs.