Chapter 591: Chen Yan's One Man Show
Now it was Phil Jackson's turn to call a timeout.
Chen Yan's flashy dunk had lit up the arena, and the entire building was roaring.
"That was spectacular," Kenny Smith said. "Chen Yan's athleticism is never in question. When he gets a runway, he can finish with anyone in the league."
Charles Barkley laughed. "Man, when he gets going downhill, the Lakers look like they don't even want to run back. They just stand there and watch the show."
The two commentators praised the dunk, but neither sounded especially shocked. Everyone knew Chen Yan had that kind of move in his bag, and he made it look effortless.
After the timeout, the Lakers steadied themselves.
Kobe and Garnett executed a clean pick and roll. After receiving the ball, Garnett faked to shake off Diaw, then rose for a powerful one handed dunk to finish the play.
21 to 21.
The best way to stop Phoenix's run and gun offense was simple. Score the ball, and deny them the chance to fly out in transition.
On the Suns' next possession, White Chocolate Williams brought the ball up the floor.
Stoudemire came out to set a screen. Williams used it, took a step back, while Stoudemire cut hard toward the rim.
The Lakers' defenders were in good position, so Williams did not force the pass.
On the other side, Chen Yan and Ariza finished their physical battle and moved toward the top of the arc. Williams faked a handoff to Chen Yan, changed pace, and attacked the paint himself.
Fisher and Ariza had their full attention on Chen Yan. They completely lost track of White Chocolate.
Camby stepped up from the paint. His shot blocking was among the best in the league.
But White Chocolate's floater was even prettier.
Williams tossed the ball up at lightning speed. As he released it, his legs split apart in his signature style.
Camby stretched with everything he had. The ball looked close enough to touch, but stayed just out of reach.
Swish.
23 to 21.
White Chocolate had scored with pure finesse.
D'Antoni clapped hard on the sideline. This was exactly what he wanted to see. Other Suns players taking the initiative would ease Chen Yan's scoring burden and prevent the Lakers from throwing reckless double teams at him.
Fisher slowly dribbled past half court. The Lakers still chose to keep the tempo steady.
Ariza came up to facilitate for Fisher at the top of the arc, and Fisher gave him the ball on a short pass.
The moment Ariza put the ball on the floor, Chen Yan stepped up with tight pressure. He knew Ariza's handle was not strong and wanted to force a turnover.
Ariza made a simple change of direction, shielded the ball with his body, then passed it back across to Fisher.
Fisher hesitated after receiving it. Garnett was fighting for position inside, while Kobe was tangled with Raja Bell in the corner.
After a brief pause, Fisher passed the ball back to Ariza.
At that moment, the referee's whistle sounded.
A positioning foul was called on Diaw.
Diaw argued for a few seconds, but quickly returned to the play.
The Lakers inbounded the ball, moved it through several hands, and eventually gave it to Garnett for isolation.
Diaw did not dare defend too aggressively on this possession. Picking up 2 quick fouls would put him in trouble.
Garnett, experienced as ever, immediately recognized that hesitation. He leaned into contact and went right at him.
Diaw kept backing up. Garnett spun inside the restricted area, attacked the rim, and finished easily off the glass.
23 to 23.
The Suns came back down.
Williams organized while Chen Yan ran into position.
Chen Yan cut along the baseline, and Stoudemire screened Ariza off him.
It was a classic Suns action.
Ariza fought hard around the screen. Phil Jackson's assignment for him tonight was clear. He did not need to focus on offense. His job was to chase Chen Yan relentlessly on defense.
Chen Yan received the ball in the right corner. White Chocolate's pass from the top of the arc was still sharp.
After catching it, Chen Yan turned with the momentum.
Ariza had already cleared the screen and was closing fast. Chen Yan deliberately paused, and the instant Ariza accelerated toward him, he put the ball on the floor and drove right.
Ariza slammed on the brakes to follow, but Chen Yan immediately changed direction and blew past him in a single step.
The play perfectly displayed Chen Yan's vision and feel for the game.
He had read Ariza's intention before Ariza even completed the move. It was like chess. When Ariza made his 1st move, Chen Yan had already calculated the 3rd and 5th moves.
Many of Chen Yan's drives looked like pure athleticism and skill, but they were built even more on vision and basketball IQ, something casual fans often missed.
On the surface, that crossover looked like delicate ball handling and elite burst.
In reality, Chen Yan had already trapped Ariza before the dribble began.
After beating Ariza, Chen Yan rose from the 45 degree angle and hit a jumper over Kobe's help defense.
25 to 23.
Chen Yan was in rhythm tonight. Give him a window, and he would cash it in.
"Do not let him catch it in the corner," Phil Jackson shouted from the sideline. "And do not let him catch it on the wings either."
The Zen Master had already seen what Chen Yan wanted.
The corners and the 45 degree spots were difficult places to double team. If the defense sent help, obvious passing lanes would open. If they stayed home, Chen Yan could operate freely. Drive, shoot, attack and pass. Everything was available.
The Lakers came back on offense.
Kobe directly ran a pick and roll with Garnett. After forcing Diaw to switch onto him, Kobe surveyed the floor but did not pass.
He faked once, drove left past Diaw, took 1 step, and immediately delivered the ball to Ariza.
Kobe's scoring desire was not especially high tonight. More accurately, he was playing with discipline, constantly creating opportunities for his teammates. It was effective basketball. If Chen Yan had not been so hot, the Lakers might have already pulled ahead.
Ariza faked and drove inside.
Chen Yan knew Ariza's individual ability very well. Ariza was not the kind of wing who thrived as a ball handler, so Chen Yan pressed him tightly.
As expected, Ariza looked uncomfortable under Chen Yan's pressure. After 1 step, he immediately gave up the ball.
Before Camby could even attempt a shot, Stoudemire pulled him down.
The referee called a holding foul on Stoudemire, but there were no free throws.
The Lakers inbounded again. After a series of passes, Ariza missed a three point shot.
Stoudemire grabbed the rebound and passed to White Chocolate Williams, who pushed the ball quickly up the floor.
The Suns had a 3 on 2 fast break.
In the past, Williams might have shown off with an elbow pass, or at least a no look feed.
But after so many years as a pro, White Chocolate was far more mature. The flashy label had become more stereotype than reality.
He made the simple play.
Chen Yan caught the pass and attacked without slowing down.
Kobe had no choice. He grabbed Chen Yan and pulled both man and ball down.
The whistle blew.
2 free throws.
Kobe's experience showed there. Once he chose to foul, he made sure Chen Yan had no chance at an and one, locking his arm tightly and preventing even a layup attempt.
Chen Yan made both free throws.
27 to 23.
During this stretch, both teams were shooting at a high level. Only in the final minutes of the 1st quarter did their efficiency begin to normalize.
At the end of the 1st quarter, the Suns led 35 to 34.
Despite the Lakers' tight defense, Chen Yan had already poured in an astonishing 21 points.
Kobe's 1st quarter numbers were more modest, with 6 points and 3 assists.
The superstar duel the crowd had expected had turned, at least for the opening quarter, into Chen Yan's one man show.
.....
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