Chapter 588: Advice for Curry: Blitzkrieg
The Phoenix Suns opened December against the New York Knicks.
The Knicks currently had a record of 4 wins and 13 losses. Stephen Curry's arrival had not improved their record much, but even with such a poor start, Madison Square Garden was still packed.
This was the largest city in the United States, with a massive basketball market. No matter how the team performed, fans would still pay to watch.
That was why the owner could ignore the team's record year after year. If you had a business that made money even when you did nothing, you would probably be tempted to do the same.
In this game, Stephen Curry finally met his idol, Chen Yan, and he played with extra energy.
In the first quarter, Curry buried 3 shots from beyond the arc. In the second quarter, he added 2 more.
Curry's nonstop outside firepower also ignited Chen Yan's competitive spirit.
In the second half, Chen Yan immediately answered with 2 straight 3 point shots. In the third quarter alone, he drilled 5 shots from beyond the arc.
The game slowly changed from a team battle into a personal duel between 2 shooters.
However, Curry was still too young.
Whether in skill, physical strength, or experience, he was still a long way behind Chen Yan.
The gap between the 2 became increasingly obvious in the third quarter.
Chen Yan repeatedly targeted Curry in isolation, and on defense, he actively sought the matchup against him. Chen Yan precisely exploited Curry's eagerness to respond, constantly engaging him physically and disrupting his shooting rhythm.
Curry began to lose his accuracy.
Chen Yan suffocated him on both ends of the court. The emotional swings even affected Curry's ball handling, and at one point, Chen Yan stripped him clean in a direct 1 on 1 matchup.
In the third quarter, Chen Yan delivered a complete individual showcase.
3 point shots.
Dunks.
Full court drives.
With 1 minute left in the third quarter, Chen Yan finished a 3 point play. When he stepped to the free throw line, the fans at Madison Square Garden once again switched sides and chanted in unison.
"MVP!"
A quick scan of the crowd showed that most Knicks fans were smiling.
They genuinely loved Chen Yan.
For a moment, it almost felt like the game was being played at US Airways Center in Phoenix.
Most of the Knicks players were unfazed. They were used to this kind of scene at Madison Square Garden.
But Curry was still a rookie. He could not accept it calmly.
He felt deeply ashamed.
At that moment, Larry Hughes walked over and patted Curry on the shoulder.
"Don't take it too hard, rook. This is Madison Square Garden. You'll get used to it."
After hearing that, Curry only felt worse.
The final score was 119 to 96. Chen Yan scored 48 points in only 3 quarters.
After the game, Chen Yan gave Curry some advice.
"Stephen, I suggest you add some muscle. This isn't the NCAA anymore. If you stay this thin, it will be hard to maintain your accuracy through physical contact, and your ceiling will be limited. Adding strength will also help protect your body and reduce the risk of injury."
Curry nodded humbly.
"I understand, Chen. Thank you. That's exactly what I plan to work on next."
In his postgame interview, Curry said, "Chen Yan is the kind of player who gives opponents nightmares. I'll never forget the fans chanting MVP for him here. That was a disgrace to my career, and it will motivate me to keep improving."
After securing their first win of December, the Suns immediately traveled to Cleveland.
This was their second meeting with the Cavaliers this season.
James had a dismal performance in this game. He shot 6 of 15 from the field, missed both of his free throws, and scored only 12 points.
Many fans began criticizing James's attitude.
Even if his jumper was not falling, attacking the paint should always be available, right?
Taking only 2 free throws in the entire game did seem like an attitude problem.
Some fans even joked that James had developed Suns phobia, saying he had been intimidated by Phoenix in recent years and got nervous every time he saw them.
In reality, those were just baseless guesses from fans.
Over an 82 game regular season, fluctuations in form were normal. It just so happened that James ran into the Suns on one of his off nights.
With James playing like that, the Cavaliers naturally had no chance to win. They suffered an 86 to 120 blowout loss at home.
Chen Yan easily posted 39 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Entering the new month, Chen Yan had clearly reduced his passing and increased his personal offense. He believed that when the team's overall performance was unstable, his scoring was the fastest way to help the Suns win.
But December did not bring only good news.
After 2 straight wins, Nash was sidelined again.
Because of a leg injury and back nerve pain, Nash would have to miss a significant amount of time. The team doctor conservatively estimated that Nash would be out for at least 1 month.
In the first game without Nash, Chen Yan continued to increase his offensive load and simply went all out.
He exploded for 51 points, leading the Suns to a 118 to 104 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
There was not much pressure in this game. Chen Yan simply kept catching the ball, scoring, and then closing out the win.
The Kings were a rebuilding team. They did not care much about winning or losing. Their priority was developing their prized rookie, Tyreke Evans.
Evans was indeed a good point guard. His size and strength allowed him to bully almost any guard in the league. If he continued developing at this pace, he could at least become an All Star level player.
Unfortunately, he had run into the Kings' management, whose decision making was questionable.
In another timeline, the Kings made Evans play 3 different positions in 3 years, effectively ruining this promising star.
After playing the Kings, the Suns faced the Los Angeles Lakers in their second regular season matchup on December 6.
This game was broadcast nationally.
It was Sunday morning, and many fans were glued to their televisions.
Kobe against Chen Yan always generated buzz.
The Rockets game was scheduled later because of the time zone difference between the East and the West. Watching the Suns first and then the Rockets made this period an incredibly happy time for domestic basketball fans.
Before tipoff, TNT analyzed the recent situation of both teams.
Kenny Smith said, "The Lakers are rolling right now. They're sitting at the top of the Western Conference. Phoenix has won 3 straight games in December, but their lineup is not complete. Nash is on the injury list, and this game is in Los Angeles. That makes this a huge test for the Suns."
Barkley nodded. "No Nash means Chen has to carry more of the offense. The Suns can still win, but they have to play fast, shoot well, and make the Lakers' old legs run. If they let this turn into a slow half court game, that's exactly what Los Angeles wants."
Barkley pointed out Phoenix's hidden danger, and many fans were not optimistic about the Suns' chances.
Before the players stepped onto the court, D'Antoni emphasized the game plan to his starters.
Then the game began.
The Suns' starting 5 were Jason Williams, Chen Yan, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, and Stoudemire.
D'Antoni did not put Barea in the starting lineup. Barea was explosive, but Little Beard believed the more experienced Jason Williams was better suited for a game against a team like the Lakers.
The Lakers' starting 5 were Fisher, Kobe, Ariza, Garnett, and Camby.
This lineup had both offense and defense. Everything was perfect except their age.
Garnett won the tip, but possession went to Phoenix. Raja Bell smartly got an early step and secured the ball on the wing.
Jason Williams immediately sprinted forward, and the Suns launched a lightning attack to start the game.
After receiving the ball, Williams drove diagonally into the lane. The Lakers' formation was already scattered, and his penetration made their defense even more chaotic.
The situation looked messy, but White Chocolate's mind was perfectly clear.
As he reached a step beyond the free throw line, he fired a no look pass to Chen Yan.
Ariza, who was guarding Chen Yan, had sagged too far inside.
Chen Yan rose without hesitation and took the midrange jumper.
Swish!
Just 4 seconds into the game, Chen Yan opened the scoring and gave the Suns the first 2 points.
.....
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