Chapter 590: Performance Time
The Suns' opening strategy was simple: create opportunities for Chen Yan, whether through isolation, fast breaks, or mismatches. The goal was to maximize his firepower.
The Lakers quickly caught on. In the next 2 possessions, they set defensive traps, pretending to allow Chen Yan to isolate before immediately sending a double team, or even a triple team, from the wing the moment he put the ball on the floor.
Chen Yan adjusted just as quickly. After missing 2 straight shots, he immediately changed his approach, using his own gravity to distribute the ball and find teammates.
He wanted to open the game through assists. If the Suns' shooters started hitting, the Lakers would not dare to double team him so recklessly.
However, the other Suns players were cold to start. Raja Bell and Diop both missed open opportunities.
Phoenix was a typical offensive team. Offense was its greatest weapon. When that weapon failed, the Suns immediately fell into a passive position.
The Lakers seized the opportunity and answered with a 9 to 0 run, forcing Phoenix to call a timeout.
12 to 17.
"D'Antoni needed that timeout," Kenny Smith said. "Phoenix's opening plan did not work. Chen Yan found his touch early, but the Lakers adjusted very quickly."
Barkley nodded. "They are sending bodies at Chen from the start. Nash being out takes away one of Phoenix's biggest scoring and playmaking threats, and the Lakers are attacking that weakness. The rest of the Suns have to start making shots, or this gap is only going to get bigger."
As the timeout ended and the Suns prepared to return to the floor, Chen Yan loudly encouraged his teammates.
"Keep shooting! If you get an open look, take it! Do not hesitate. You only score if you dare to shoot. Do not overthink the offense."
The Suns inbounded, and Chen Yan chose to bring the ball across half court himself.
Ariza guarded him closely the entire way. When Chen Yan reached the top of the 3 point line, the defenders on both wings were already prepared to collapse at any moment.
Chen Yan signaled for Jason Williams to come up and receive the ball.
Just as the 2 of them were about to execute a handoff, Chen Yan suddenly changed pace and accelerated toward the basket.
Ariza immediately tensed. The sudden rhythm change caught him slightly off guard.
Chen Yan dribbled with his right hand, then executed a between the legs crossover without slowing down, completely blowing past the unprepared Ariza.
At the free throw line, Chen Yan gathered the ball and took 3 powerful steps.
Camby and Garnett immediately converged. The 2 big men blocked his path like 2 doors slamming shut.
Chen Yan pushed off 1 foot and rose, his posture like he was lifting fire toward the sky.
Camby and Garnett jumped at the same time.
After hanging briefly in the air, Chen Yan made a pump fake and turned it into a pass.
It was not a layup.
Diop caught the ball and went up for the layup.
His hand trembled.
It missed.
The crowd gasped.
Are you serious? He was served a basket on a silver platter and still could not eat it?
Diop himself froze for a moment. It was clearly a basic mistake.
Fortunately, the rim was still open. Diop still had a chance. He quickly jumped again and tipped the ball in.
14 to 17.
Chen Yan patted Diop on the backside.
"That is cold. You would rather grab your own rebound than give me an assist?"
Diop smiled. "Not on purpose. My hands are soft. I drank too much coffee yesterday and could not sleep."
After joking with Diop, Chen Yan retreated to the defensive half. The Lakers did not play as fast as Phoenix, which gave the Suns time to communicate.
The Lakers came down on offense.
Kobe caught the ball on the wing and dribbled toward the baseline.
For most players, the baseline is not a good choice. Once you go there, the angle shrinks and your options decrease.
But Kobe loved the baseline. His signature move was a baseline drive into a reverse dunk.
Raja Bell had plenty of experience defending Kobe. He planted 1 foot to cut off the baseline and deliberately gave up the middle. If Kobe forced his way baseline, the wing defender could help at any time.
Kobe took 1 dribble toward the middle with his left hand, and Jason Williams on the wing retreated 1 step.
Seeing that, Kobe immediately fired a wide pass to Fisher at the top of the arc.
The distance was not short, and the pass was not particularly fast. By the time Fisher caught it, Williams had already recovered.
Old Fish was experienced. While Williams was still off balance, Fisher faked left, drove right, and hit a mid range jumper.
14 to 19.
Jason Williams dribbled across half court. Stoudemire moved to the high post. Williams did not use the screen to drive. Instead, he lobbed the ball to Chen Yan at the left elbow.
Ariza guarded Chen Yan tightly, using his body to keep him from turning. Garnett quietly slid over from the other side, planning to swipe at the ball from behind.
That move worked wonders against big men, but it was useless against Chen Yan.
Chen Yan had already spotted Garnett with his vision. He immediately dribbled sideways and retreated, avoiding the steal.
Chen Yan passed the ball back to Williams, then moved again to reset his rhythm.
Williams immediately returned the ball to him.
Chen Yan used his left shoulder to nudge Ariza, turned to face the basket, then quickly drove left. Before the double team could arrive, he stepped back and rose.
High post jumper.
Good.
16 to 19.
"Beautiful," Kenny Smith said. "That is Chen Yan's 12th point already."
Barkley shook his head. "You cannot relax for even a second against this guy. The moment you lose focus, he punishes you."
The Lakers came back down, with Kobe organizing from the top of the arc.
Fisher used a screen to cut without the ball. Kobe saw it and immediately passed to the side.
Fisher's touch was good during this stretch, and Kobe clearly wanted him to lead the scoring for the moment.
The Suns switched quickly. Diop did not block Fisher, but he gave him maximum interference.
Fisher deliberately raised the arc to avoid Diop's contest.
The ball hit the rim hard and bounced out.
Chen Yan rushed in for the defensive rebound and immediately pushed forward.
Fast.
Very fast.
Just as everyone locked onto him, Chen Yan flicked the ball to the right with 1 hand.
The trailing Raja Bell was wide open.
The Lakers, wary of Chen Yan's drive, had all packed the paint.
Raja Bell took the fast break 3.
Swish.
Tie game.
19 to 19.
Chen Yan's encouragement after the timeout had worked. Raja Bell did not hesitate despite missing his previous 3 point attempt.
In the blink of an eye, Phoenix had caught up.
Now it was Phil Jackson's turn to feel pressure, but he did not call a timeout. The Zen Master still felt the game was under control.
The Lakers came down again. Kobe actively called for the ball, and Garnett stepped up to set a screen.
After the switch, Diop was guarding Kobe.
Diop was agile, so this was not a traditional guard against big man mismatch.
Diop pressed up tightly, not giving Kobe room to shoot. Kobe tried a change of direction into a strong drive, but Diop retreated smoothly and maintained the gap.
Diop defended the possession perfectly. He bothered Kobe's shot without giving up a clean lane.
Kobe could have taken a contested jumper, the kind he had made countless times before.
But he did not.
One step inside the arc, Kobe attempted a wide pass to Fisher.
Chen Yan had anticipated it. He left Ariza, flashed into the passing lane, and struck.
Slap.
The gamble worked.
By the time the Lakers' veterans reacted, Chen Yan had already crossed into the frontcourt.
The Suns fans rose as 1.
Showtime.
Chen Yan did not disappoint them. He calculated his steps, launched with full force, and rose into the air.
Boom.
Reverse dunk.
Chen Yan hammered it home with a move usually reserved for a dunk contest.
21 to 19.
The entire arena leaned back at once, as if the dunk had created a shockwave. The scene looked almost comical.
.....
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