Chapter 669: Scoring Performance
The arena erupted.
Boston fans tried to pressure the Knicks with their cheers.
After Curry brought the ball past half court, Chen Yan called for it.
On the very 1st possession, Chen Yan wanted to solve the problem with isolation.
Starting strong in this kind of game was extremely important. Otherwise, the Celtics would use their home court advantage to gain a psychological edge over New York.
For the Knicks, the simplest and most direct way to start strong was to give the ball to Chen Yan and let him isolate.
Boston chose to have Daniels guard him 1 on 1.
Daniels was not an elite defender, but Chen Yan did not take him lightly.
He gave every defender the same respect.
Chen Yan continuously dribbled between his legs on the left side at the top of the arc.
Daniels did not dare rush forward.
Chen Yan had too many variations in that area. He could go left or right in an instant.
Daniels lowered his center of gravity, observing Chen Yan's next move.
The moment he lowered his center of gravity, Chen Yan pulled up directly.
"Swish!"
The basketball pierced the net like a sharp blade.
3 to 2.
Chen Yan's ability to read the game was simply too strong.
That was why his scoring always looked so effortless.
Many of Chen Yan's moves could be executed by NBA level guards, but the effect was worlds apart.
The difference lay in his ability to read the defense.
Boston attacked.
Several passes failed to create a result. Seeing the possession stall, Rose took the ball and charged hard inside, attempting a difficult scoop layup against Kenyon Martin's help defense.
The movement was fluid, but Martin still bothered him.
The ball bounced off the rim.
This was why the Knicks had signed Martin.
His mobility and athleticism gave New York an excellent interior barrier.
As for offense, the Knicks perimeter duo had enough firepower. They did not need Martin to contribute too much on that end.
New York quickly initiated a fast break, playing at the same pace in the Playoffs as they had in the regular season.
Chen Yan dribbled to the left 45 degree angle beyond the 3 point line, then suddenly lowered his center of gravity, took a long between the legs stride, and cut toward the middle.
Rose took 1 step back to help defend.
Chen Yan decisively whipped the ball behind him.
Curry took a push shot from a small step beyond the 3 point line.
Good.
6 to 2.
Chen Yan and Curry high fived in celebration.
The Knicks once again struck Boston from beyond the arc.
"2 for 2 to start," Kenny Smith said. "Chen Yan and Curry are hot early."
"That is the last thing Boston wants to see," Barkley said. "If Chen and Curry start hitting 3s this early, the Celtics defense is going to be under serious pressure."
Boston responded with star isolation.
Durant received the ball with his back to the basket near the elbow.
Battier defended him 1 on 1, constantly making physical contact and preventing him from turning comfortably.
KD held the ball sideways with 1 hand, suddenly shrugged his shoulder, dribbled 1 step to the right, then pulled up for the shot.
Battier's height was a disadvantage against Durant.
Even if he kept up, he could not block the shot. He could only try to bother Durant by covering his eyes.
"Clang!"
Durant missed.
The eye cover affected him to some extent, but the miss was more because of Durant's own shooting touch.
Stoudemire tipped the ball but could not secure the rebound.
Al Harrington grabbed the 2nd loose ball.
After securing possession, New York had already lost the chance for a fast break.
Chen Yan received the ball near midcourt and dribbled to the right 45 degree angle beyond the 3 point line.
Boston was still defending him 1 on 1.
Chen Yan continuously dribbled between his legs on the wing.
His center of gravity was high, deliberately exposing a weakness.
Daniels fell for it.
He had paid the price on the previous possession, so this time he decided to be proactive.
Daniels reached out to poke the ball.
Chen Yan immediately sped up his rhythm, pulling the ball back to his right hand with a crossover.
Daniels rhythm was forced to speed up as well.
Then Chen Yan crossed over again, shifting the ball to his left hand.
The sudden change in rhythm caused Daniels body to lose control.
He slipped and fell to the floor.
Chen Yan drove left.
Daniels was extremely determined and still tried to stay with Chen Yan while on 1 knee.
The next second, Chen Yan completely shattered that hope.
He did not charge inside with the ball as most people expected.
Instead, after a hard left hand dribble, he retreated back beyond the 3 point line.
At that moment, Daniels could only watch Chen Yan shoot.
There was nothing he could do.
The basketball spun rapidly before falling into the net.
9 to 2.
Barkley shook his head.
"That is a visual feast."
Kenny Smith also shook his head.
"Daniels tried very hard. Everyone knows that is not his fault. That shot cannot be defended."
Barkley said, "Boston needs to consider putting someone else on him, or Chen Yan might score 50 tonight."
Kenny laughed.
"50? I think you are being conservative."
Boston attacked.
Rose passed the ball inside to Stoudemire.
On this possession, the Celtics intended to find a breakthrough in the paint.
Stoudemire took 1 dribble, then drove hard and scored 2 points with his signature move.
9 to 4.
Stoudemire used his mobility advantage to create the scoring opportunity.
Kenyon Martin, after all, was getting older. His agility naturally could not compare with Stoudemire's.
New York offense.
Chen Yan brought the ball past half court, and Curry ran to the corner, creating offensive space for him.
Chen Yan took advantage of Boston's defense not being fully set, accelerated, and charged hard through the defensive line.
The Celtics defense collapsed.
Chen Yan looked at Curry in the right corner, then flicked his wrist and passed to Battier in the left corner.
Curry was a key perimeter defensive target for Boston.
By comparison, Battier's position was better.
Battier caught the ball and shot immediately without adjustment.
Very confident.
12 to 4.
The Knicks opened with 4 straight 3 pointers, leaving the Celtics players dazed.
Rivers did not call timeout.
He felt it was too early to stop the game, and doing so would disrupt his tactical arrangements.
Boston attacked.
Durant screened for Rose, then popped out to the wing.
Rose turned and passed the ball back.
Durant caught and shot immediately.
"Swish!"
Good.
12 to 7.
The home fans cheered together.
Barkley sighed.
"Boston still has to rely on Durant."
On the next possession, Curry brought the ball past half court, used Al Harrington's screen, and shot directly from 2 steps beyond the 3 point line.
"Clang!"
Missed.
The 4 straight 3 pointers had clearly hyped Curry up, and this shot was not as reasonable.
However, no one on the Knicks felt there was anything wrong with his choice.
Deep 3 pointers were standard weapons for Curry and Chen Yan.
The ball bounced far out, and Rose used the opportunity to launch a quick counterattack.
With a burst of speed and a change of direction, he got past Curry and drove straight to the basket.
"Boom!"
He finished the possession with a 2 handed dunk.
12 to 9.
Changing direction without slowing down.
Landing without bending the knees.
Same recipe.
Same old flavor.
Boston quickly closed the gap, and the louder the home fans cheered, the more excited they became.
At the end of the 1st quarter, New York led by 2 points, 28 to 26.
Chen Yan recorded a comprehensive stat line of 13 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds.
Durant was the highest scorer of the 1st quarter with 15 points.
Durant focused solely on scoring, but even so, his offensive performance left a much weaker impression on the fans than Chen Yan's.
The reason was simple.
Durant's scoring expressiveness was far inferior to Chen Yan's.
Chen Yan's playing style was too cool and too flashy.
Every shot he made left a deep impression on the fans.
Sometimes, 2 points from him felt more memorable than 8 points from someone else.
.....
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