Chapter 680: Getting Angry
Chen Yan successfully converted the free throw.
The score was 6 to 5.
Rose dribbled past half court, passed the ball to Daniels, then ran to the right 45 degree angle beyond the 3 point line to receive it back.
Rose posted up and bumped Curry twice, then immediately dished the ball to Durant.
Durant ran horizontally to receive the pass, using an off ball screen to shake off Battier.
After catching the ball, Durant took 1 dribble and shot with a smooth, rhythmic motion.
Battier could not catch up.
Al Harrington rushed out in time, but even so, he could not interfere with Durant's release.
Durant's mid range jumper went in steadily.
Boston led, 7 to 6.
"Both sides have started aggressively on offense, and the efficiency is very high," Barkley said.
"This is the kind of game fans love to watch," Kenny Smith said. "Usually, the main theme of the Playoffs is defensive intensity, but this kind of pace is much more appealing to the audience."
"Exactly," Barkley nodded. "If I were just an ordinary fan, I would be glued to this game too."
New York offense.
Chen Yan posted up and called for the ball.
Curry lobbed it in, and Chen Yan fiercely bumped his defender twice with his back to the basket.
Durant immediately came over from the high post to help defend.
Chen Yan had already anticipated this.
He immediately gathered the ball and spun back toward the baseline.
While posting up, Chen Yan had constantly been observing and reading the court.
He knew Boston would not let him keep playing like this. They would definitely send the double team.
After the spin, Chen Yan made strong body contact with Daniels.
As the referee's whistle sounded, Chen Yan pressed into Daniels and made the shot.
2 plus 1.
In the stands, Taylor Swift happily jumped up.
Chen Yan was playing very tough at the start, and Taylor liked tough men like him.
"Another 2 plus 1!" Mike Breen shouted. "Chen Yan is playing with incredible force tonight."
Van Gundy said, "Chen Yan is sending a message. No matter how Boston fouls him tonight, no matter how physical they get, he is not afraid. He is going to be even more aggressive and even tougher."
Van Gundy was right.
Chen Yan could have scored in ways he was more skilled at and more comfortable with, but he chose to engage in a physical battle.
His goal was not only to score.
He wanted to break Boston's will.
Standing at the free throw line again, Chen Yan missed this free throw.
He was a little too excited, and the shot was too strong, bouncing off the rim.
Stoudemire grabbed the rebound and passed it to Rose.
Rose did not choose to push quickly.
After dribbling into the frontcourt, he first observed his teammates movement.
Stoudemire did not get into position immediately, and Durant did not create an opportunity without the ball either.
Rose suddenly changed direction and accelerated, deciding to attack by himself.
Curry moved laterally and tried to keep up, but he ran directly into Kostic.
Rose used the screen to drive to the elbow, then took a mid range shot.
Kenyon Martin rushed up, but the ball's trajectory was clearly off.
It fell directly under the basket without touching the rim.
After landing, Rose angrily slapped his elbow, signaling to the referee that Kenyon Martin had hit his arm.
The referee ignored it.
Referees were not electronic eyes. They could not observe every tiny detail.
Boston's transition defense was very quick.
New York did not blindly chase speed.
Curry slowed the pace, then made a hand off pass to Chen Yan at the top of the arc.
Chen Yan received the ball and immediately flung it inside, a no look pass to Kenyon Martin.
The pass had perfect power and height, but for Kenyon Martin's current athleticism, it was still too difficult.
To be safe, Kenyon chose to land before attacking the basket.
After he landed, Boston's defense was already in place.
Kenyon Martin took 1 lateral dribble, then shot a small hook.
The ball hit the backboard and bounced out.
Durant grabbed the rebound and dribbled it himself into the frontcourt.
Stoudemire came up to set a screen.
After the pick and roll, Durant passed the ball.
Stoudemire's high post jumper missed.
Chen Yan secured the rebound and quickly pushed the ball.
Curry quickly cut to the corner.
Chen Yan made a long pass from the logo to Curry.
Rose defended very actively, not giving Curry a shooting opportunity.
Curry faked, then took 1 dribble.
Seeing no opening, he passed it back to Chen Yan.
Chen Yan immediately passed without stopping to Al Harrington, who was cutting behind him.
Al Harrington took the open shot from outside.
Missed.
The basketball bounced high and flew behind the backboard.
Out of bounds.
As the game progressed, both teams shooting percentages began to drop.
Boston inbounded from the backcourt sideline.
At the top of the arc, Rose stopped the ball, and Durant cut out using a screen.
This time, Boston's play was executed perfectly.
As Durant received the ball, Kostic also kept Battier in front of him.
New York's switch was late.
Durant paused, then accelerated into the paint.
1 step in front of the free throw line, Durant attempted a short floater.
There was no interference on the shot, but Durant himself left it soft.
The ball hit the front of the rim and was collected by Curry.
Curry, like a small sports car, floored the accelerator and sped forward.
Curry went up strong amid the triple team of Durant, Rose, and Stoudemire.
After hanging in the air, Curry cleverly dished the ball to Chen Yan, who was trailing on the left.
Chen Yan faked a shot, then made a low pass to Kenyon Martin.
After 3 passes and 2 assists, Boston's restricted area was completely empty.
Kenyon Martin leaped up and threw down a 2 handed dunk.
New York led, 10 to 7.
Boston offense.
Rose made consecutive crossovers, then used a screen to drive right.
The referee blew the whistle, calling Boston for a moving screen.
Stoudemire cursed, and Rose glared at the referee to show his dissatisfaction.
Boos erupted from the crowd.
Tonight was Boston's home game, but the whistle did not favor them.
In return, the referee soon called Kenyon Martin for a foul while boxing out under the basket.
It was a way to balance things out.
Only then did the boos from the home fans subside slightly.
Boston offensive possession.
Daniels cut out using a screen.
Chen Yan did not stick too close to him.
He knew Daniels role was to act as a ball handler.
Sure enough, Daniels received the ball and passed it horizontally to Durant.
Durant caught the ball and suddenly threw it into the air with both hands.
Stoudemire leaped high and slammed it down with 1 arm.
A powerful dunk.
Boston completed the alley oop.
10 to 9.
The camera focused on Stoudemire, who looked very excited.
He liked this style of play.
Back when he was with the Phoenix Suns, he almost always received passes like this from Nash and Chen Yan.
After coming to Boston, such opportunities became much rarer.
Durant and Rose were both ball dominant offensive players.
Passing was not their strongest skill.
Curry dribbled into the frontcourt.
Kenyon Martin made a fake screen, then rolled.
Curry understood perfectly and made a bounce pass to Kenyon Martin.
Martin took the ball and wanted to attack the rim, but he handled this possession poorly.
When he took off, he could not push past Stoudemire, and Stoudemire got the better of him at the release point.
"Slap!"
Stoudemire gave Kenyon Martin a huge block.
Rose reacted sharply.
He grabbed the rebound and quickly pushed the ball.
Rose changed direction in motion without slowing down, blowing past Curry.
With sparks flying, Rose showcased his exceptional athleticism.
Chen Yan followed closely behind.
Although Rose was fast, he was not reckless.
He played very intelligently and noticed Chen Yan behind him before taking off.
Both jumped at the same time.
Rose suddenly twisted his body in the air, attempting a reverse layup from the other side.
This layup was extremely difficult, even somewhat forced.
Trying to avoid Chen Yan, Rose missed the shot.
Daniels, who was trailing, also missed the putback.
Stoudemire grabbed the 2nd offensive rebound.
Kenyon Martin had just rushed back from the backcourt.
He tried to block Stoudemire from behind, but ended up slapping Stoudemire across the nose.
Blood gushed out instantly.
A conflict was about to erupt.
This was not the 1st time tempers had flared between the 2 sides in this series.
.....
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