Chapter 233: Uncle, I'm Going to Start the Back-Hitting!
The starting lineups were announced as the crowd roared.
Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash, Chen Yan, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, Amar'e Stoudemire.
Denver Nuggets: Anthony Carter, Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin, Marcus Camby.
"Welcome to Game One of the Western Conference First Round between the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets!" the TNT announcer boomed. "Both teams are rolling out their standard starting fives tonight, and all eyes are on Chen Yan in his playoff debut!"
"You said it," the other commentator added. "Fans have been waiting all season for this moment—let's see if the rookie can handle the pressure."
As the referee tossed the ball up, Camby outjumped Stoudemire for the tip, and the game began!
Anthony Carter corralled the ball and wasted no time. He fired a long pass downcourt to Iverson, who sprinted through the middle like lightning. The Suns' defense hadn't even set up when AI drove straight to the rim.
Iverson glided into the lane, his body twisting gracefully in midair for the easy layup—
Until a dark shadow appeared behind him.
Bang!
The block echoed through the arena.
Chen Yan came flying out of nowhere and smacked the ball clean off the glass—his very first defensive play in the postseason was a statement.
"Chen Yan just served up a spicy Phoenix block on Iverson!" the commentator shouted, his voice cracking with excitement. "Welcome to playoff basketball!"
Iverson landed, glanced back, and muttered under his breath, "You've got to be kidding me…"
Before the Nuggets could react, Chen scooped up the ball and started the break himself.
From the logo, he whipped a perfect one-handed pass to Nash, hitting him in stride. Nash pushed the pace, drawing defenders in, then dished a slick bounce pass to Diaw cutting toward the rim.
But Diaw wasn't shooting—he faked, spun, and dropped a no-look pass behind his back to Amar'e Stoudemire.
Boom!
Stoudemire thundered down a two-handed dunk, hanging on the rim as the crowd exploded in cheers.
The Suns were on the board, and the energy inside America West Arena was electric.
---
On the next play, Denver slowed things down.
Anthony Carter brought the ball up, looking for Iverson again. This time, AI's eyes were burning.
After being blocked on the opening possession, there was no way he'd let the rookie get the last laugh.
Iverson called for a screen from Kenyon Martin. Diaw switched onto him.
AI danced on the dribble—quick crossover, sudden hesitation—then darted past Diaw like a ghost. His first step was still deadly, even after all these years.
Stoudemire rotated to contest, but Iverson cradled the ball under his arm, switched to his right hand midair, and finished with a high-arching layup off the glass.
2–2.
As the ball dropped through the net, Iverson turned toward Chen Yan. "Open your eyes, rookie. That's how you score in the playoffs!"
Chen just smiled, jogging back on offense. Trash talk didn't faze him.
Nash crossed half court and swung the ball immediately to Chen, who caught it with his back to the basket.
A murmur rippled through the arena. Iverson was guarding him. A six-foot guard against a six-foot-six forward.
Chen grinned and said softly, "Uncle, your drive was nice… but I'm about to start backing you down."
Iverson's jaw tightened.
The Nuggets' small backcourt—Iverson and Anthony Carter—was quick but undersized. It was a matchup nightmare waiting to happen.
"Bang!" Chen's shoulder hit Iverson's chest.
"Bang!" He backed him down again.
Iverson fought hard, digging in, refusing to give ground—but Chen's strength and balance were on another level now. His offseason work in the post was paying off.
"Chen Yan's using his size advantage. Smart move," the TNT commentator noted.
Chen continued to push AI back, step by step, into the paint. Then Iverson saw his chance.
As Chen turned his body slightly, Iverson reached in for the steal—
But Chen anticipated it.
He pivoted on his right foot, spun gracefully away, and lifted a smooth fingertip layup high off the glass before Camby could rotate over.
Swish!
4–2, Suns.
"Man, that's beautiful footwork," Kenny Smith exclaimed. "He used the contact, spun off perfectly, and finished soft. You can't teach that."
"Chen plays like a veteran," Barkley added. "When he's up against taller defenders, he uses his speed. When he's got smaller defenders, he uses his strength. And when it's even, he uses his skill. That's what makes him dangerous."
The camera caught Chen jogging back on defense, expression calm, almost unreadable.
Iverson glanced at him again but said nothing this time.
The rookie wasn't backing down—and everyone in the building could feel it.
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