Chapter 672: The Devil's Home Ground
After Game 2, outside predictions still leaned toward the Knicks winning the series 4 to 2. If things went smoothly, some even believed New York could finish it 4 to 1.
Winning at home did not suddenly make people optimistic about Boston again.
However, the league did not want this series to end too quickly. Before the series began, the officials had already promoted many talking points for this matchup.
A lopsided result would be a huge disappointment.
Before Game 3, Durant got into an argument with fans online.
Winning Game 2 had given him the courage to use social media again.
Knicks fans specifically targeted Durant's sore spot, saying that he would never surpass Chen Yan.
Durant fired back, "Basketball is a 5 player sport. You little brats do not understand basketball."
The fans continued to stab at him.
"Basketball is a 5 player sport, but there is only 1 protagonist on the court. Unfortunately, it is not you."
Durant kept typing.
"We will play like we did in Game 2 and shut all of you up."
Before Game 3, Chen Yan accepted an interview.
When asked about Durant arguing with fans online, he laughed and said, "Hahaha, that is just his personality. He stays true to himself online and does not hold back just because someone is a fan. Maybe that is his way of releasing emotion and relieving stress."
Chen Yan was telling the truth.
While other stars spent their days off with luxury cars, beautiful women, and parties, Durant was always online.
Online.
Online.
When Durant came out for Game 3, he did not greet Chen Yan.
It was not because their friendship had broken down.
He simply wanted to stay angry.
Durant felt that not speaking was the best way to maintain that anger.
As both teams starters stood at center court, Kenny Smith said, "Boston's starting lineup is the same as the first 2 games. Derrick Rose, Daniels, Durant, Stoudemire, and Kostic."
Barkley looked at the other side of the floor and said, "New York made a small adjustment. Curry, Chen Yan, Battier, Turiaf, and Kenyon Martin. Nelson is starting Turiaf tonight."
Kenny said, "Nelson has replaced Al Harrington, who played well last game, with Turiaf. Let us see what the mad scientist has cooked up this time."
Barkley nodded. "Nelson is a creative coach. He makes bold moves, and sometimes those moves produce results nobody expects."
In reality, Nelson's substitution was not as mysterious as the commentators made it sound.
He simply wanted to strengthen the interior defense, especially at the start of the game.
In the previous game, Boston had frequently attacked the paint early, and Al Harrington, who was an offense oriented player with weak defense, had almost been overwhelmed.
As a defensive big man, Turiaf would certainly do a better job than Harrington at limiting Boston's drives.
The jump ball came at center court.
Stoudemire won it again.
In vertical leap, quickness, and height, he had a slight advantage over Kenyon Martin.
Turiaf immediately retreated to the basket, while Kenyon Martin closely followed Stoudemire.
Stoudemire did not post up low.
Instead, he moved to the top of the arc and set a screen for Rose, creating a possible 3 point opportunity.
After the pick and roll, Kenyon Martin immediately switched, while Chen Yan guarded Stoudemire.
The Knicks opened with a man to man defense, switching on pick and rolls.
Rose faked but failed to shake off Martin.
He took 2 steps back to create space and reorganized the offense.
Durant used a screen to cut without the ball, but Turiaf switched in time, preventing Durant from shooting immediately after the catch.
New York's switching defense was very decisive on the 1st possession.
Durant tried to drive past Turiaf, but Battier immediately chased from the other side, forming a double team on Durant.
Durant raised the ball over his head with both hands, leaned back slightly, and tried to pass through the gap between the 2 defenders.
"Slap!"
Chen Yan flashed out like lightning and completed the steal.
The moment Battier and Turiaf trapped Durant, Chen Yan had been waiting for that exact opportunity.
After the steal, Chen Yan drove all the way into the Celtics paint and finished with a 1 handed gliding dunk.
2 to 0.
Chen Yan delivered a heavy blow to Boston right from the start.
Madison Square Garden instantly erupted.
Not only inside the arena, but also in bars and homes across New York, countless Knicks fans burst into huge cheers.
This was the Knicks 1st home Playoff game of the year.
The fans had been waiting for this moment for far too long.
Boston possession.
Rose called for a screen, and Kenyon Martin continued to switch.
This time, Rose was ready.
He did not waste the obvious mismatch.
Rose found his rhythm with a crossover, then quickly changed direction with a behind the back dribble. Using a fake and a 2nd burst of speed, he forced his way past Kenyon Martin.
Turiaf rotated over.
Knowing that he could not stop Rose cleanly, he committed a foul.
"Smack!"
Turiaf's foul was hard.
He slapped Rose on the right hand, absolutely refusing to give him a chance at a 2 plus 1.
The referee blew the whistle, and Rose stepped to the free throw line.
On the sideline, Nelson clapped and shouted, "Good job. That is the toughness we need."
This was the interior intensity Nelson wanted to see.
Even if they could not stop the opponent, their fouls had to be quick, accurate, and ruthless.
That kind of physicality could create a certain deterrent effect.
Rose adjusted his breathing and made both free throws.
2 to 2.
New York offense.
Curry quickly advanced the ball, then slowed down at the top of the arc, habitually looking toward Chen Yan.
It was not just Curry.
The entire Knicks team depended heavily on Chen Yan.
Curry found Chen Yan being tightly guarded by Daniels.
Although Daniels defensive level was average, he was very diligent. He had scored only 3 total points in the first 2 games.
The coach kept him in the starting lineup precisely because of his defensive attitude.
Curry could not immediately pass to Chen Yan, but he did not hesitate.
He quickly turned and found Battier on the other side.
Battier received the ball, faked, then drove toward the basket.
Battier rarely drove with the ball, and Durant did not react immediately.
But Battier himself also hesitated.
When he drove near the paint, his gaze swept toward Chen Yan.
He had originally intended to run a drive and kick, but Boston's defense was not pulled apart by his penetration.
Their attention was still mostly on Chen Yan.
Battier then gathered the ball and took a hurried floater.
"Clank!"
Because he was not fully prepared for the shot, Battier wasted a good opportunity.
However, neither Stoudemire nor Kostic correctly judged the rebound.
Turiaf grabbed the offensive rebound directly.
After securing the offensive board, Turiaf's 1st reaction was also to find Chen Yan.
Chen Yan moved to the top of the arc with his hands open.
In his excitement, Turiaf threw the ball too hard.
Chen Yan had to retreat 2 steps, then make a slightly leaning jump to catch the pass.
After landing, Chen Yan saw that Daniels was still 1 step away.
He immediately launched a long range 3 pointer.
"Clank!"
Missed.
This was Chen Yan's 1st 3 point attempt of the game.
Seeing it miss, Durant let out a long breath of relief.
Chen Yan's 3 point shooting had reached the point where opponents felt dread the moment he released the ball, no matter where he was on the court.
However, Chen Yan did not let Durant relax for long.
Boston missed its shot on the next possession, and New York quickly turned defense into offense.
Chen Yan made a serpentine cut, finding a brief opening at the 60 degree angle on the right side beyond the 3 point line.
Curry whipped a left handed pass and found Chen Yan immediately.
After Chen Yan caught the ball, Daniels and Durant rushed over from the other side.
They were fast.
But Chen Yan was faster.
Chen Yan fired a quick sniper shot, the ball barely staying in his hands.
Chen Yan was already an MVP level player now.
He could no longer expect to get as many comfortable open looks as he did when he first entered the league.
Even when he did find space, defenders would immediately close in.
So he had to shoot quickly.
"Swish!"
A crisp sound echoed, and a white ripple bloomed through the net.
"Yeah!"
"Wooooooow!"
The entire crowd erupted as if the roof had been ripped off Madison Square Garden.
There was nothing more exhilarating than watching Chen Yan score.
To match the fans cheers, Chen Yan instinctively spread his arms.
That gesture pushed the atmosphere even higher.
Durant's legs trembled slightly.
The pressure of Madison Square Garden was truly powerful.
The deafening cheers gave him a dizzying sensation.
.....
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