Zhang Weiping said, his tone full of gratification, "Although there were very few baskets in the first quarter and the score was low, I believe every Chinese fan watching this game feels the same way we do—that this game has been incredibly exciting. A matchup of this level isn't something you get to see casually. Every defensive stand, every drive, every shot carries the players' sweat and fighting spirit. That is the charm of basketball."
At that moment, across China—from cities to villages, from streets to alleyways—countless fans were following this clash of titans, their reactions fervent and sincere.
In Beijing, on the streets before dawn, a twenty-four-hour internet café was packed with young people watching the game. Amid the swirling smoke, every face was filled with excitement and tension.
Most of them wore Li Fei Brand jerseys and the latest Li Fei Series basketball shoes. Their eyes were locked on the computer screens, terrified of missing even a single thrilling moment.
Whenever Li Fei delivered a dominant block or sank a precise mid-range jumper, they sprang to their feet, pumping their fists and screaming at the top of their lungs, "Li Fei is awesome!" and "Knicks will win!" Their deafening voices completely shattered the stillness of the early morning.
When Kobe made the buzzer-beater to tie the score, they grew frustrated, slapping the tables and urgently shouting, "Come on!" as they cheered the Knicks on.
"This is too intense! This physicality, this pace—it's more thrilling than watching domestic dramas!"
A young man in a Li Fei jersey said excitedly. His face was flushed, and beads of sweat from his excitement still clung to his forehead.
Shanghai.
In the living room of an upscale residential complex, several young people sat gathered around a television, snacks and drinks in hand