Chapter 665: Perfect Kill!
Over the next week, the Knicks continued their winning streak.
It was not until March 10 that Chen Yan tasted his 1st defeat since joining New York.
The Knicks lost to the Mavericks on the road, 114 to 105.
Nowitzki, Ray Allen, and Artest all scored more than 20 points, while Jason Terry added 16.
Dallas was a strong championship contender this year.
The roster was balanced, and the offense was powerful. In the Western Conference, only the Lakers and Spurs could truly compete with them.
The Lakers biggest problem right now was Kevin Garnett's rapid decline.
This season, Garnett was averaging only 14 points and 8 rebounds in 31.1 minutes per game.
Those numbers would not even qualify as ordinary All Star production, let alone the output expected from the core of the Lakers interior.
Kobe's shot attempts and scoring had both increased significantly this season. He was averaging 28.9 points on 22.5 attempts per game.
There was no other choice.
With Garnett declining, Kobe needed to contribute more on offense.
The Spurs, meanwhile, were becoming increasingly formidable.
With the core lineup led by the Three Carriages unchanged, and with small adjustments made to the role players, they had climbed directly to 2nd in the Western Conference, even 1 spot higher than Dallas.
Here, one had to admire Popovich's strategy.
This season, the Spurs had also followed the trend and started to speed up their pace.
However, they did not have a suitable shooting guard who could fill even the first 6 to 7 minutes of the game.
Popovich, with an experimental mindset, put Ginobili into the starting lineup, and the result was quite good. So far, the Spurs had achieved excellent regular season results.
Ginobili shone brightly this season, often playing the role of team savior. At 1 point, he even entered the top 10 of the MVP rankings.
Many fans exclaimed that Popovich had buried Ginobili, saying that if he had started earlier, he would definitely have been an MVP level shooting guard.
In reality, those fans were thinking too simply.
A player's achievements were not decided only by skill and basketball IQ, but also by durability.
Ginobili's biggest weakness was stamina.
That was why he was known as the 20 minute Jordan.
Ginobili's body could not sustain long stretches as a full time starter.
So Popovich had not buried him.
On the contrary, Popovich had made him.
With another coach, Ginobili might have already retired by now.
In the next 2 games, a back to back series against the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks completed a sweep.
Those 2 victories were crucial for New York.
The Pacers were currently ranked 8th in the Eastern Conference, making them the Knicks direct opponent for a Playoff spot this year.
After sweeping Indiana, the Knicks surpassed the Charlotte Hornets and moved into 10th in the Eastern Conference.
They were only 3.5 games behind the 8th ranked Pacers.
The entire Knicks team was full of confidence.
At this rate, their Playoff goal this year looked secure.
However, things then took an unexpected turn.
The Knicks suffered consecutive losses in the next 2 games, falling to the Memphis Grizzlies and the Detroit Pistons.
Neither team was a true contender right now.
The real problem was that New York's roster was too unstable.
They still needed more time to develop chemistry and sharpen their coordination.
Chen Yan knew very well that the team did not have much time left to gel.
If they kept waiting for chemistry to build naturally, they would be waiting until next season.
In the following games, Chen Yan exploded.
He scored 65, 61, and 58 points respectively, leading the team to another 3 game winning streak.
Chen Yan used his individual ability to compensate for the team's lack of coordination.
While commentating on those 3 games, Barkley delivered a classic line.
"Chen determines the Knicks ceiling."
Throughout March, the Knicks won 13 of 18 games and soared to 8th in the Eastern Conference.
However, the entire team did not relax because of this.
The Pacers currently had the same number of wins as New York. They were ranked behind the Knicks only because of head to head results.
With 7 games remaining in April, the Knicks had entered the true sprint phase.
In their 1st game of April, the Knicks opponent was the Cleveland Cavaliers.
This was essentially a free win.
Cleveland's overall strength was a tier below New York's, and their goal this season was to compete for the number 1 pick.
Everyone knew before the game even started that Cleveland would give it away for free.
Sure enough, the Knicks easily defeated them, 121 to 96.
By contrast, Indiana's schedule was much tougher.
Their 1st opponent in April was the Milwaukee Bucks, who were ranked 10th in the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee was only 2 games behind the Knicks and Pacers, theoretically still having a chance to make the Playoffs.
In this game, Milwaukee's inside and outside lines both performed strongly.
Jennings scored 25 points, and Bogut added 20.
However, for Indiana, this was also a game they absolutely could not lose.
The entire Pacers team fought with full effort.
In the end, 5 players scored in double digits, helping them repel the visiting Bucks, 90 to 88.
After losing this game, Milwaukee's chances of making the Playoffs became very slim.
Indiana, meanwhile, kept its hopes alive for a top 8 spot.
The Pacers players wished to God that some team would step up and ambush the Knicks at this time.
Their wish was not answered.
In the next 3 games, the Knicks swept through the Raptors, 76ers, and Nets with unstoppable momentum.
Indiana went 2 and 1 in its next 3 games, losing to the Chris Paul led Charlotte Hornets.
On April 10, the Eastern Conference welcomed a highly anticipated matchup.
The Knicks traveled to challenge the Pacers on the road.
From the players to the fans, Indiana was on high alert.
The fans stood from the opening minute, creating a true Playoff atmosphere.
The Pacers players indeed treated this game like a Playoff game.
If they lost, their season would essentially be over.
Indiana played its own brand of basketball.
They did not have 1 particularly overwhelming player, but the scoring of their starting 5 was very balanced.
That kind of team was the hardest to defend because it was difficult to find a single focal point.
The game turned into a fierce battle.
With 2 minutes left, both teams were still tied.
The score was 100 to 100.
Tonight, the Knicks as a whole had an average shooting touch.
Up to this point, they were relying almost entirely on Chen Yan, who had already scored 60 points, more than half of the team's total.
Indiana possession.
Darren Collison dribbled past half court, looking slightly cautious.
Everyone understood the importance of this possession.
Paul George came off a screen, but Collison did not pass him the ball.
At this stage, Paul George was still a young player, mostly standing around in a supporting role.
Collison paused at the top of the arc before passing to Danny Granger.
After catching the ball, Granger gave a fake.
Battier stepped up to defend him.
Tonight, Granger was 4 for 7 from 3 point range, so he was still a major threat.
Granger saw Battier's footwork shift, immediately took 1 step, and drove toward the middle.
Battier followed, maintaining his defensive position.
Granger leaned into him and began to move.
Kenyon Martin also came over to help.
Granger charged toward him like he was carrying a bomb.
The referee's whistle sounded immediately.
Martin was called for a defensive foul.
After shrugging his shoulders, Granger stepped to the free throw line.
He had gone for the foul on that possession.
After making both free throws, the arena erupted.
100 to 102.
The Pacers took the lead with 1 minute and 42 seconds remaining.
The Knicks did not rush the inbound.
At this point, settling into a half court offense would be more efficient.
Curry crossed half court, and Chen Yan came off a screen to receive the ball.
Indiana immediately double teamed him, not even wanting to give him a chance to catch it.
Chen Yan had already scored 60 points tonight.
The Pacers strategy in the final moments was simple.
Do not let Chen Yan get the ball.
If anyone else stepped up, they would accept it.
At this moment, Stephen Curry stepped up to break the deadlock.
After observing the situation on the court, he accelerated and drove inside.
Curry's drive successfully drew some of Indiana's defensive pressure, achieving the effect of relieving pressure on Chen Yan.
Of course, Curry's ultimate goal was not to attack by himself.
He saw Chen Yan shake off his defender and cut to the basket.
Curry made a 1 handed cross court pass, completing the connection between the 2.
Paul George and Granger chased closely behind him.
Both were tall players with long arms, and both were aiming to block Chen Yan at the moment of release.
After receiving the ball, Chen Yan took 1 step forward, then raised his right hand diagonally.
Paul George and Granger instinctively leaped into the air.
The next second, Chen Yan used his left foot as the pivot, collected the ball, and turned outward.
He faked out both defenders, then easily scored with a close range floater.
"Dreamy footwork!" Mike Breen exclaimed. "Chen once again shows his deep offensive arsenal at a critical moment."
Van Gundy said, "That is Chen's power. His offensive repertoire is so rich that sometimes you forget he even has certain skills."
After that shot, the score was tied.
Neither side scored again over the next minute.
With 31 seconds left in the game, it was Indiana's possession.
At this point, the Pacers had 2 options.
The 1st was to take a quick shot. Whether it went in or not, they would still have 2 offensive possessions in the final moments.
The 2nd was to play it safe, score a basket, then defend the Knicks next possession.
Indiana chose the latter.
Danny Granger held the ball at the top of the arc.
Collison and Paul George spread out to the 2 corners, creating offensive space for Granger.
Granger isolated against Battier, adjusted his breathing, and ran the shot clock down to the last 9 seconds.
After 1 dribble, he drove to the free throw line area and shot a fadeaway.
The basketball bounced off the rim.
Chaos erupted under the basket.
At that moment, Hibbert used his height advantage.
The big man gently tipped the ball.
The basketball flew toward the place the Knicks players least wanted to see.
"Swish!"
The Pacers arena erupted.
102 to 104.
Only 11 seconds remained.
Nelson called timeout.
He designed 2 plays, both aimed at getting the ball to Chen Yan.
As for how Chen Yan would finish, Nelson did not care.
After the timeout, the Knicks spacing was completely messed up.
Kenyon Martin failed to screen Paul George for Chen Yan, so Chen Yan immediately cut back door to the far side.
Battier hesitated for a moment and did not throw the ball out.
With the 5 second inbound violation approaching, Battier could only hastily pass the ball to Curry.
Curry received the ball, drove 1 step left, then used a behind the back dribble to shift it to his right hand.
Curry intended to finish, but Collison guarded him tightly.
He could not shoot immediately, so he quickly passed to Al Harrington at the free throw line.
Harrington had an open look and pulled up for a mid range jumper.
"Clang!"
Missed.
The ball hit the rim and bounced hard.
At this point, only 5.1 seconds remained.
The Pacers were just 1 step away from victory.
But at that moment, Chen Yan burst out from the corner, refusing to let the game end like this.
Chen Yan leaped high from behind Hibbert and touched the basketball.
He gently tipped it, knocking away the rebound that was about to fall into Hibbert's hands.
Kenyon Martin in the corner dove to save the ball.
Chen Yan had already nimbly run back out to the 3 point line.
As he received the ball, Chen Yan took 1 step and dribbled out beyond the arc.
He had no extra time for moves.
He gathered the ball and immediately turned for a jumper.
Paul George was right in his face, so Chen Yan adjusted his release point and launched an extremely difficult last second shot.
Impossible.
Watching the ball's arc, Paul George thought exactly that.
His defense on that shot had already been nearly perfect.
Chen Yan's shooting form was slightly distorted, and to avoid the buzzer, Chen Yan pulled back his shooting hand the instant the ball left his fingers.
In short, this was not Chen Yan's usual shooting motion.
The form was unconventional.
But the result was the same as always.
"Swish!"
"Bang! Chen does it again!" Mike Breen exclaimed. "A buzzer beating game winner!"
Van Gundy said, "Ball in, light on. There is no more perfect way to win at the buzzer."
All the Knicks players rushed onto the court, surrounding Chen Yan in a wild embrace.
Winning this game was almost equivalent to securing a Playoff ticket.
Chen Yan looked very happy as he stood among his teammates.
Behind him, Paul George's dejected figure created a stark contrast.
.....
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