Chapter 589: Unstoppable Momentum
Fisher organized the offense at the top of the arc while Kobe rotated out to the wing.
Raja Bell stayed glued to him. The two were old rivals, and they understood each other far too well. Bell used every trick he had, hands, forearms, hips, and knees, all to keep Kobe from catching the ball comfortably.
Kobe's response was just as direct.
An elbow.
Neither of them complained. In their eyes, this was normal contact. This was playoff basketball.
Fisher chose to lob the ball toward the free throw line.
Garnett caught it and began to facilitate, using his height and vision to survey the floor.
Fisher moved from the baseline to the 3 point spot in the corner. Garnett misread the movement, thinking Fisher was cutting, and fired a hard pass straight to him.
The ball slammed into Fisher's shoulder and bounced out of bounds.
The crowd erupted.
Fans loved seeing opponents make unforced mistakes. There was a strange satisfaction in watching a veteran team miscommunicate under pressure.
Fisher and Garnett both gestured, each indicating what they had meant to do.
Possession switched.
Jason Williams brought the ball across half court and lobbed it to Stoudemire.
Stoudemire caught it at the left elbow. Seeing the Lakers' paint open, he decisively put the ball on the floor and attacked.
Garnett's physical tools were no longer what they had been 2 years ago. Against Stoudemire's explosive first step, he looked half a beat slow.
Camby and Ariza quickly collapsed into the lane.
Stoudemire powered through the contact. As the referee's whistle blew, he released the layup.
The ball spun once around the rim and rolled out.
It had nearly been a 2 plus 1.
Stoudemire clapped his hands in frustration. Before taking his free throws, he removed his goggles. It was one of his personal habits. Playing with goggles still felt uncomfortable, and it could affect his rhythm.
He made both free throws.
4 to 0.
The Lakers came back on offense. Garnett established position, received Fisher's pass, and smoothly hit a turnaround fadeaway.
4 to 2.
It was an immediate response to Stoudemire's strong drive on the previous possession.
Phoenix quickly inbounded. Jason Williams caught the ball and launched a long pass to Chen Yan.
Chen Yan took 1 dribble and pulled up immediately.
No fancy moves.
No hesitation.
The shot was not only difficult, it was bold. The Suns' players had not even crossed half court yet. If the shot missed, they would have no chance at an offensive rebound.
But Chen Yan was that confident.
Swish.
The shot was as precise as a falling blade.
Ariza reacted quickly, but even that was not enough to stop him.
As the ball dropped cleanly through the net, Ariza shook his head helplessly. Chen Yan was like a madman. His shot selection was impossible to predict.
The Lakers came down again, and Kobe actively called for the ball.
Chen Yan had already opened his scoring account. Just when everyone expected Kobe to answer, he chose to drive and kick instead.
After drawing the double team, Kobe found a wide open Fisher.
The two had completed that play countless times throughout their careers. Fisher rose without hesitation, and the ball splashed through the net.
7 to 5.
Since last season, Kobe had rarely taken on the primary scoring burden in the 1st quarter. More often, he acted as a facilitator, getting his teammates involved early. He was getting older, after all. Asking him to attack from start to finish was too draining, especially over the long grind of the regular season.
Phoenix continued to push the pace.
Against the Lakers, speed was mandatory. If the Suns let the game settle into a half court battle, they would be dragged into the Lakers' rhythm. That was how they had lost their last regular season meeting against Los Angeles.
The ball went straight to Chen Yan.
Chen Yan turned on the jets and advanced rapidly.
His full court sprint with the ball was the most uncomfortable thing for defenders. He had elite speed and elite 3 point range, which meant defenders could not press too close, but they also could not give him space.
Ariza focused every ounce of attention just to stay in front of him.
Seeing no defensive opening, Chen Yan did not force it. After crossing half court, he passed to Jason Williams and immediately started moving without the ball.
Jason Williams could not organize an offense the way Nash did, but he was still above average by league standards. His passing creativity was even more impressive. With the ball in Williams's hands, Chen Yan trusted that his off ball movement would be rewarded.
Chen Yan ran from the right side along the baseline, paused in the corner, then burst upward again.
Ariza's attention stayed locked on Chen Yan. He never noticed Stoudemire quietly sliding beside him.
Stoudemire screened Ariza, and Chen Yan continued upward, catching Williams's pass at the left 60 degree angle beyond the 3 point line.
Camby needed time to switch and close out.
Chen Yan used that brief timing gap perfectly.
He rose for the 3 point shot.
Swish.
Perfect rhythm.
10 to 5.
Kenny Smith said, "His touch showed up fast tonight. He is 3 for 3 already, with 8 points."
Barkley nodded. "Nash being hurt has opened the door for Chen to score even more. Over these past few games, you can see it clearly. More isolations, more shots, and more pressure on the defense."
Kenny added, "Now we wait for Kobe to open his scoring account. He has not scored tonight."
That was what most fans were waiting for too.
When the Suns and Lakers met, everyone wanted to see Chen Yan and Kobe go head to head.
The Lakers set up their offense. Fisher brought the ball across half court and looked for Ariza in the corner. Ariza lobbed it inside to Garnett.
After the pass, Ariza rotated to the opposite corner, appearing to clear space for Garnett to attack 1 on 1.
At that moment, Kobe suddenly moved from the top of the arc along the 3 point line toward Garnett.
Fisher set a screen to block Raja Bell.
Bell had already noticed Fisher's position and slammed into the screen with all his strength, but Fisher did not budge.
There was nothing Bell could do. Fisher's base was too solid.
Seeing Kobe break free, Garnett immediately delivered the pass.
Kobe caught the ball, took a small hop to settle into his preferred rhythm, then fired from beyond the arc.
Kobe answered with a 3 point shot.
10 to 8.
The arena quieted slightly, but Chen Yan paid no attention to it.
Kobe could not facilitate forever. He was a killer. He would shoot sooner or later. It was only a matter of when.
Diaw inbounded from the baseline. Williams dribbled over half court and handed the ball to Chen Yan.
Once Chen Yan's touch caught fire, the Suns' offense naturally shifted toward letting him isolate.
Chen Yan moved left with the dribble. Raja Bell came over to set a screen, and the Lakers switched decisively.
Kobe now stood in front of Chen Yan.
"Take him, Chen!"
"Go at him!"
"Shake him!"
"He cannot guard you!"
The crowd roared through the arena.
Chen Yan put the ball on the floor and began to isolate, dribbling back and forth between his legs.
Kobe's center of gravity stayed low and stable. He did not move carelessly. Chen Yan only needed a sliver of space to launch a 3 point shot, but Kobe refused to give him that opening.
Chen Yan continued the isolation. His rhythm was excellent now, and with his teammates clearing space, there was no reason to pass.
Chen Yan crossed the ball to his right hand, lowered his center of gravity, drew Kobe's defensive focus, and spun back.
As he turned, he gathered the ball, completed the rotation, and faded away.
Kobe closed out immediately. He used this move often himself, so he knew exactly how to contest it.
Chen Yan extended his hang time and increased the arc of the fadeaway.
It was an extremely difficult shot.
His body was clearly drifting off balance when he released it. It did not look like the ball had any business going in.
But his body was off balance.
The shot was not.
Swish.
The ball dropped cleanly through the net.
"Wow. A high post jumper, and that was a miracle shot," Kenny Smith exclaimed.
Barkley chuckled. "For him, that is not a miracle shot."
With that basket, Chen Yan reached 10 points.
Tonight, he looked unstoppable.
.....
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