In short, here's something that neither Qin Yue nor James would like to hear...

At least from the process of this game, Harden and Durant have already become dual stars.

On the court, with Harden and Durant stepping up to the free throw line time and again, this "free throw duo" almost immediately turned the tide of the game for the Knicks.

Because stepping up to the free throw line not only provides the easiest scoring method in basketball...

The increasing number of fouls by defensive players often leads to their side becoming increasingly hesitant on defense.

At the end of the first quarter, it's 31 to 31.

Madison Square Garden, facing the GOAT who re-established connections with teammates in the third game, the free throw duo in the Knicks team turned the game around with 16 free throws in a single quarter.

On TNT TV Station, Barkley said, "This repeatedly interrupted game has clearly severely affected the Warriors' own offensive rhythm."

Indeed, at this moment, the offensive rhythm Barkley mentioned is also one of the factors affected by the Knicks' unbelievable free throws in this game.

In the second quarter, feeling that the team situation was not optimistic, Mike Malone even actively applied for a technical foul.

"Damn league! Isn't it obvious they don't want us to win?" Courtside, Malone, furious, smashed the tactical board into pieces.

However, just when the entire Warriors team was deeply affected by the Knicks' unbelievable free throws, Qin Yue calmly said, "Don't panic, I'm here."

As someone who's been through it, Qin Yue knows better than anyone...

Since the Warriors couldn't take advantage of the Knicks at home, naturally, at the away game, the Warriors could only prepare themselves mentally for being "punished by the whistle" by the Knicks.

Even for the defending champions aspiring to a four-peat, this is an unfair challenge.

But right now, only by overcoming the home whistle power of the Knicks and regaining home-court advantage can the Warriors regain the upper hand in this series.

Therefore, compared to confronting the referees.

At this moment, there's only one thought in Qin Yue's mind.

And that is...

How to lead the team to conquer Madison Square Garden in such an adverse situation.

In the second quarter, after resting for only three minutes, Qin Yue took the initiative to go to the scorer's table.

"After the finals are over, I have plenty of time to rest."

"Now, since my team needs me, of course, I have to get back on the court early."

In the Holy Land of Basketball, the GOAT returned to the stage amidst the booing of the home crowd.

On the court, the Warriors attacked.

Faced with Howard, Qin Yue accelerated and decelerated along the three-point line.

Although, at the moment Qin Yue seemed ready to shoot, Howard, with his historically good reaction, moved his body to block him.

But where Qin Yue released the ball was not something Howard could reach by mere reaction!

Swish—!

At this moment, Madison Square Garden was silenced by Qin Yue once more.

Meanwhile, knowing that with Wallace, Green, and Brown facing foul troubles, the Warriors substitutes had to hang in there a bit longer in the second quarter, they all looked towards Qin Yue.

As a former opponent...

If, in Ray Allen's mind, Qin Yue is the most terrifying presence on this planet.

Now, fighting alongside Qin Yue, Ray Allen felt an unprecedented peace of mind.

Because with the Warriors, no matter when, you can always choose to believe in Great Qin.

Returning to the Knicks' offense.

Pushing his limits, Qin Yue, having anticipated Durant's breakthrough path, took over the defense against Durant at the last moment.

Unlike facing others.

Due to the "Qin Yue's Law" which retains star calls for the GOAT on defense.

In this instance, where Durant intended to create a foul with a swinging arm and draw a free throw, he instead met a merciless block from Qin Yue.

And, seeing Durant trying to signal the referee for a whistle after landing, Qin Yue quipped, "Next time you might try kneeling to the ref, like LeBron."

"Maybe then you'll get to the free-throw line."

Durant, hearing this, was enraged: "Don't compare me to that chosen son of God!"

Qin Yue shrugged and said, "What's the difference? You both can't play without free throws."

On the court, Qin Yue's trash talk clearly affected Durant's mentality.

In the next possession, eager to prove to Qin Yue that he's not a player who can only play with free throws, Durant, with too much force, bricked a pull-up jumper, instantly transforming it into Qin Yue's defensive rebound.

See, this is why the young can't compete with the veterans mentally, right?

In the Knicks' half, using a screen to switch Durant onto him, Qin Yue, overpowering Durant, drove to the rim and slammed it home with one hand.

"LeBron's defense isn't as soft as yours."

And, never one to spare words just because his opponent is a fan or friend, Qin Yue gave Durant a valuable lesson.

That being, once you're on the court, there's no room for friendship.

Only how to find a way to crush your opponent exists. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Whether on the court.

Or mentally.

On the court, it's the Knicks' offensive possession.

With only "LeBron's defense isn't as soft as yours" echoing in his mind, Durant bricked another pull-up shot.

And after protecting the defensive rebound for the team, Qin Yue charged down the court with large strides.

Swish!

At the scorer's table, with Ray Allen knocking down a three from Qin Yue's assist in transition, Knicks' coach DAntoni urgently called a timeout.

Notably, when Durant returned to the bench with his teammates, he angrily slammed the towel handed to him by a teammate onto the floor.

"What exactly did you say to 'KD'? Why does he suddenly seem like a completely different person?" On the Warriors' bench, Brown curiously asked.

Seeing this, Qin Yue laughed and said, "I just mentioned he's not as good as LeBron."

"..."

Not as good as LeBron?

At this moment, Brown never expected that Qin Yue could insult someone so deeply without using any foul words.

In Brown's view, given James' current street-legend status and his rivalry with Durant...

That statement's damage to Durant was no less than directly insulting Durant's ancestors.

After the timeout, the game resumed.

Iguodala, who always nails threes in crucial moments, hit a stabilizing three-pointer for the Knicks from outside.

However, in the Warriors' subsequent offensive possession, Durant once again faced a meltdown moment.

Because during Durant's attempt to help Howard double-team Qin Yue, Qin Yue, with the Knicks' double-team on him, made an incredibly difficult fadeaway shot, saying to Durant, "Your choice to double-team is as lousy as LeBron's. Hasn't anyone taught you how to defend?"

LeBron!

LeBron!

LeBron again!

Can't you damn well stop mentioning that loser in front of me?

On the court, it's the Knicks' offense.

The more Durant thought about it, the angrier he got. Determined to shut Qin Yue up with his signature move.

But the next second, after a double crossover past Butler, Durant, unfortunately, gifted another defensive rebound to Qin Yue.

Madison Square Garden, Qin Yue, surprised that James could influence the game even without being on the court, quickly started a transition offense.

Without a doubt.

This is absolutely James' greatest impact in Qin Yue's mind.

In the Knicks' half, Qin Yue assisted Butler cutting in for two points.

And on the scoreboard, the Warriors and Knicks' scores moved to 47 to 41.

Originally, with the advantage brought by the home court whistle power, the Knicks turned the tables on the Warriors, yet ironically handed the initiative back to the Warriors due to James' formidable presence.

During the game, until the last moments of the second quarter, Durant, stepping out of James' shadow, posted only 7-for-2 from the field and 1-for-2 from the free-throw line, completely lost in Qin Yue's constant critique of "you're not as good as LeBron" and "how are you different from LeBron".

At halftime, with a difficult situation of 8 free throws to 28, the Warriors entered the halftime break with a 10-point lead at 65 to 55.

And at this point, realizing that he was mentally toyed with by Qin Yue, Durant uttered something many players can't help but say when facing Qin Yue:

"Goddamn it!"

...

PS: Update delivered! Still owe one more, Ah Qiao will try to finish it quickly. (Additionally, predicting tonight's score between the national team and Indonesia, barring any surprises, Indonesia, with a full Netherlands second team of naturalized players, is expected to win 3-0 or 3-1.)