Chapter 602: SSS! James Cried
After 2 months of accumulation since the start of the season, Chen Yan had gathered a large number of Honor Points.
After another round of stat allocation, his attributes changed significantly.
Name: Chen Yan
Height: 198cm
Weight: 94kg
Wingspan: 218cm
Standing Vertical Leap: 105cm
Running Vertical Leap: 118cm
Ball Handling: 95
Speed: 97
Stamina: 96
Vision: 90
Driving: 96
Layup: 96
Midrange Shot: 96
Three Point Shooting: 99
Free Throw: 90
Passing: 88
Off Ball Movement: 93
Stealing: 91
Strength: 86
Rebounding: 90
Defense: 86
Blocking: 81
Mentality: 98
Skills: God Tier Steal, The Answer Crossover, Phantom Steps, Hot Start, Perfect Hand Shape, Juggling Finish, Godly Pull Up Jumper, Passing Master Lv3, Sam Good, Iron Will, Mamba Step Lv3, Post Up Skills Lv3, Lightning First Step, Fingertip Floater, Divine Shot Baptism, Nowitzki Fadeaway, Classic Floater, Magnetic Gloves, Rebounding Beast, Mental Leader, Hesi Crossing Move, God Tier Stepback Lv2
Honor Points: 99
Overall Rating: SSS
SSS?
Chen Yan nearly jumped when he saw the rating.
He had finally leveled up.
At first, Chen Yan thought he would need every attribute to reach 99 before being promoted to SSS. Now it seemed he had overthought things. The system was not that cruel. Once it determined that the host's overall strength had reached the next level, the upgrade would be completed automatically.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host. Your overall rating has been upgraded to SSS. You have received 1 opportunity to evolve a skill."
"Once a skill is upgraded, it cannot be changed. Please choose carefully, Host."
The familiar system prompt sounded.
It was time to evolve another skill.
Chen Yan did not hesitate. He chose to upgrade God Tier Stepback.
This was something he had already decided long ago.
3 seconds later, a stepback icon featuring Chen Yan's silhouette was generated.
Godly Stepback: When the Host uses this skill and shoots within 3 seconds, the chance of being blocked is reduced by 18%, interference free shooting is increased by 10%, stability is increased by 8%, and 1 guaranteed make opportunity is provided per game. This opportunity can only be used in the first 3 quarters and within the offensive half court.
Chen Yan could not help clapping his hands.
This evolution was absurdly powerful.
Now his stepback was no longer just dangerous.
It was invincible.
Besides the exaggerated attribute boosts, it also came with a guaranteed make.
Chen Yan could already imagine the helpless expression on an opponent's face after he buried a logo stepback 3 pointer.
On January 2, the Phoenix Suns hosted their first game of the new year against the Memphis Grizzlies.
A few days earlier, the Grizzlies had undergone a major roster change. They traded Pau Gasol, who had been eager to leave, to the Miami Heat in exchange for promising rookie Beasley, blue collar big man Joel Anthony, and 2 future draft picks.
This trade could be considered good for both sides.
The Miami Heat could pair Wade with an All Star caliber big man and once again contend for a championship.
The Grizzlies also acquired a promising rookie. With their group of young players, Memphis could now be considered one of the most dynamic teams in the league.
The only loser was probably James.
Originally, his first choice had been to join the Miami Heat in the offseason.
Now that Wade had gained a powerful teammate in advance, would Miami still accept him when the time came?
Chen Yan was very curious about what choice James would make that summer. After a series of butterfly effects, even he, a transmigrator, was no longer familiar with the future.
This game was not broadcast nationally.
There were only so many national broadcast slots each season. Although the Suns had become one of the league's hottest teams over the past 2 years, the Grizzlies had long been a team near the bottom of the Western Conference. Broadcasters were not willing to waste a valuable slot on such a matchup.
The Grizzlies' roster was very young.
Their playing style, however, was not.
Overall, this Memphis team played an old school brand of basketball. They preferred half court sets and liked giving the ball to Kevin Love or Marc Gasol in the post to initiate offense.
That made them a rather unique presence in the league.
At 7:15 PM local time, the game officially began.
Phoenix Suns starting lineup: Barea, Chen Yan, Grant Hill, Diaw, Stoudemire.
Barea received a starting opportunity tonight. He had known the news 1 day earlier, and before the game, he had arrived 2 hours earlier than usual to warm up. He looked extremely excited.
Memphis Grizzlies starting lineup: Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, Sam Young, Marc Gasol, Kevin Love.
Newly acquired Beasley did not appear in the starting lineup. He was not yet familiar enough with his teammates or the team's system.
The 2 sides lined up for the opening tip, and Marc Gasol won it.
Stoudemire looked a little uninspired.
In the second half of December, he had fallen into a negative mood again, and the reason was simple. Management had once again started shopping him around.
Before this, Phoenix's management had even approached tonight's opponent, the Grizzlies, and asked about the possibility of trading Stoudemire for Pau Gasol.
However, Memphis ultimately chose Miami's package. Beasley was younger and had more potential, while the Grizzlies already had Marc Gasol and Kevin Love. Their frontcourt was already crowded, so they needed a perimeter player like Beasley more.
Conley brought the ball up and organized the offense from the top of the arc.
Kevin Love moved to the high post. Sam Young ran to the weak side. Everyone cleared space for Marc Gasol.
Memphis made its intentions clear from the opening possession.
They wanted to play through the post.
Marc Gasol received the ball, muscled against Diaw, turned, and hit a hook shot.
2 to 0.
Phoenix began its first offensive possession.
Barea dribbled across half court and stopped at the top of the arc, looking for Chen Yan.
The Grizzlies guarded Chen Yan closely and were ready to switch on screens. Everyone knew he was excellent at using teammates' screens to get open.
This time, however, Chen Yan did not call for any off ball action.
Seeing Barea stop the ball, he casually jogged out beyond the 3 point line.
Rudy Gay stuck close to him, refusing to let him receive the ball easily.
It did not matter.
Chen Yan had never planned to receive the ball that close to the arc.
After taking 2 steps back, Chen Yan successfully caught Barea's pass.
The distance was far, but not far enough to be out of Chen Yan's range. Rudy Gay understood that clearly and stayed tight.
Chen Yan did not use any fakes.
He simply put the ball on the floor and drove.
Rudy Gay lowered his center of gravity and quickly prepared to follow.
Who would have thought Chen Yan would suddenly hit the brakes and move in the opposite direction?
Rudy Gay tried to keep up, but Chen Yan took 1 step back toward the logo.
Reverse drive, then stepback.
It was the kind of move that felt unreasonable even before the shot left his hands.
Rudy Gay could not keep up. His only thought at that moment was simple.
No one shoots like that.
But how could a mere Rudy Gay see through Chen Yan's mind?
After the stepback, Chen Yan immediately activated the guaranteed make effect of Godly Stepback.
"Swish!"
When the net snapped, Rudy Gay froze.
He was completely dumbfounded.
He had never seen anyone play basketball like this in his life.
On the very first Suns possession, Chen Yan shattered his opponent's worldview.
And judging from Rudy Gay's expression, the psychological damage had already landed.
.....
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