"Remember this: on my team, there has never been any sympathy or mercy. Everything you have now was won back with your body and through physical battles. But if you dare show even the slightest slackness in the games ahead, I'll personally kick you back onto the streets of Brooklyn to play pickup ball."
"I understand, Boss!"
Jackson abruptly straightened his back, and that terrifying fighting spirit reignited in his eyes.
"I'll show those Philadelphia bastards what real cruelty is."
Li Fei nodded in satisfaction and turned his gaze back toward the window.
The plane began to taxi down the runway. A powerful force pressed them into their seats as the steel giant, loaded with New York's ambition and killing intent, tore through the gloomy clouds and roared toward Philadelphia.
Once the plane had leveled off, head coach Jeff Van Gundy approached Li Fei with a thick stack of newspapers and statistical reports.
"Li, take a look at the league morning papers. The other two semifinal games last night were an absolute mess."
Van Gundy's eye bags were still heavy. He handed the newspaper to Li Fei, his tone carrying a trace of gravity.
"The series scores have both been rewritten to 1–1. Those teams that had been pushed to the brink all erupted with astonishing energy."
Li Fei took the paper and scanned the bold headline on the front page.
The Indiana Pacers had defeated the Chicago Bulls 108–99 on the road.
The Portland Trail Blazers had crushed the Houston Rockets 112–95 at home.
"Looks like the dominance of those old guys really is facing an unprecedented test."
Li Fei looked at the scores in the paper and let out a meaningful, cold laugh.
In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Chicago's United Center the previous night,