Dazed! Stunned! Frozen in disbelief!
The home fans never imagined that the Suns, holding the league's best record and home-court advantage, would start the very first game of the playoffs by getting hit with a brutal 10-0 run by the eighth-seeded Grizzlies.
At the commentary desk.
Van Gundy asked, "Mike, what do you think is going on with the Suns' start? Did they rest too much? Or were they too confident and got caught off guard?"
"No."
Mike Breen shook his head. "Neither. Even in the playoffs, the Suns take every opponent as seriously as ever.
But honestly, this situation was predictable."
"Oh? Why is that?"
Van Gundy blinked, signaling for him to continue.
Mike Breen thought for a moment, then said, "The reason the Suns are off to such a nightmare start is because... because this is the playoff stage.
This is a stage where defensive intensity, offensive intensity, offensive targeting, the opponent's desire to attack, and their hunger to win are all one level, even several levels, higher than in the regular season.
And for the Suns.
Curry and George have no playoff experience. Even the 'Monster Rookie,' the Suns' strongest core, the 'league's top center,' Blake Su.
He has no playoff experience either.
When the playoffs arrived, when Game 1 of the first round against the Grizzlies tipped off, when they felt the defensive pressure of the playoff stage from the very first possession.
Even if they were taking the game seriously, they still got caught off guard."
"Ah, so that's what it is!"
Mike Breen nodded thoughtfully, then looked into the camera and said, "So the Suns need to adjust and adapt to the defensive intensity of the playoffs as quickly as possible.
They need to get the Suns' offense going!"
As the commentators analyzed the game.
The Suns' bench.
"So this is playoff-level defensive intensity? It really is something else!"
Blake Su sat on the bench with a grave expression.
Curry's face was just as serious. With Blake Su facing double-teams right from the start tonight, Curry had gotten several decent opportunities.
But by the time he actually took the shots, none of them were good looks.
That was strange.
That was not Curry's usual offensive rhythm.
"How did the Grizzlies suddenly get so much stronger?"
George was confused too.
It was the same defense. In the regular season, he had been able to limit the Grizzlies players' offense, but now he felt powerless, like he could not stop them at all.
"What's going on?"
He frowned and thought it over.
Alvin Gentry walked in front of everyone and said in a deep voice, "Guys, stay calm. This is exactly what I've been telling you about.
This is the defensive intensity and style of play that belong to the playoffs.
Take it slow. Adapt to this intensity and rhythm as quickly as you can. Then we'll still be ourselves, still the Suns leading the league."
"Oh!"
Everyone answered in unison.
The head coach's words lifted the players' spirits again.
"Beep, beep!"
The timeout ended.
Play resumed.
"Swish!"
Coming out of the timeout, Blake Su made a reverse cut and curled out, earning a one-on-one chance against Allen. Without the slightest hesitation, he took one step as if to drive. When he saw Allen's center of gravity drop just a little, he rose up smoothly.
"Swish!"
Facing Allen's defense, he buried a clean three-pointer.
Blake Su seemed to have an "upgraded" unblockable shot. The instant Allen lowered his center of gravity, he lost any chance of defending Blake Su.
Blake Su returned to the floor.
The effect was immediate.
He broke the scoring drought and gave the fans a shot of confidence.
On the very next possession, George, now calm and fired up again, defended Marc Gasol on a mismatch in the low post and got a solid result.
He limited his offense.
"Wow!"
"Coming out of the timeout, the Suns' form changed completely. It's as if they've already adapted to playoff-level defensive intensity, as if they've already adapted to the Grizzlies' defense.
Especially Blake Su. That point is still just as impossible to solve."
That was Van Gundy speaking.
A veteran "Su fanboy."
But in reality... although the players had steadied themselves and Blake Su's offense had started to pick up, quickly adapting to the defensive intensity and rhythm of the game against the defense-first Grizzlies did not seem easy.
The first quarter ended.
Suns (21): (27) Grizzlies.
Facing playoff-level, high-intensity double-teams, Blake Su scored 9 points, but his offensive efficiency was not high. He also had 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
On top of that.
With Blake Su drawing so much defensive attention, his teammates actually had plenty of chances, but Curry, the second-in-command, failed to make good use of them. Unable to adapt, his offensive efficiency was also low.
Although "Captain Canada" Nash had plenty of playoff experience, his individual scoring ability was limited.
As for George, his offense had already been poor during the regular season, and in the playoffs he stayed cold. On the defensive end, he was also slightly worse than he had been in the regular season.
So.
By limiting Blake Su, their strongest point, even though they knew they could not completely shut him down, the Grizzlies still took a 6-point lead in the quarter.
"Tsk, tsk..."
During the break between quarters.
Van Gundy could not help clicking his tongue. "The eighth-seeded Grizzlies in the West are facing the top seed in the West, even a championship favorite, the Suns.
And on the road, they opened with a brutal 10-0 run.
They led by 6 after one quarter and controlled the rhythm and momentum of the game. I have to say, the Grizzlies really are tough. As for who will have the last laugh tonight.
It's honestly hard to say."
"Exactly."
Mike Breen nodded. "Before the game, expert predictions and fan polls had more than 90 percent believing the Suns would win tonight.
But looking at the situation now.
The trailing Suns need to adapt to playoff-level defensive intensity and a faster game rhythm. The inexperienced Suns.
They may have to pay the price of defeat in exchange for experience.
I'm not saying they'll lose the series, but in this first game, there really is a chance they could lose."
"Yes."
The commentators' words were recognized by many viewers watching the live broadcast on TV.
And then.
When the second quarter began.
Throughout the entire second quarter, the Grizzlies continued to control the tempo of the game and put maximum pressure on the Suns. Rookies like Curry and George still could not get going on either offense or defense.
As for Blake Su, who kept getting double-teamed, his offense could not fully open up either.
By halftime.
The Grizzlies had already stretched their lead to as many as 13 points.
Halftime.
Inside the broadcast studio.
Van Gundy glanced at the stats and shook his head. "Mike Breen, Blake Su put up an all-around stat line of 15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in the first half.
And yet the team is actually down by 13.
The Suns can't rely on Blake Su alone!"
"Yes."
Mike Breen nodded. "The role players haven't played well tonight, especially Curry, the second-in-command. He really hasn't performed well and wasted a lot of opportunities.
Of course, this is his first time on the playoff stage, and not being able to adapt to playoff-level defense is one of the reasons he's struggled.
Fortunately.
It's only halftime. A 13-point deficit isn't a problem for the Suns."
...
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