Chapter 603: Another Super Stat Line?
"Beautiful. That was a tough shot," Barkley said. "Chen Yan has the nerve and the skill to open a game like that."
Kenny Smith nodded. "Memphis is going to feel that right away. When Chen starts a game by making a shot that difficult, the defensive pressure changes immediately."
The fans at US Airways Center exploded after Phoenix's first offensive possession.
On the Grizzlies bench, Lionel Hollins already looked troubled. Chen Yan had thrown the first punch at the opening bell. If the game had not just started, Hollins might have called timeout on the spot.
Memphis went to work on offense. They moved the ball inside and back out, eventually finding Rudy Gay beyond the 3 point line.
Chen Yan only raised a hand in token resistance. Gay was shooting under 30 percent from deep this season, so Chen Yan did not overcommit.
Gay's rhythm looked good, and the ball hit the back rim before dropping in.
5 to 3.
That shot gave Gay a little confidence back.
Phoenix answered on the other end.
The Grizzlies had 2 big men inside, which meant their perimeter defense was weaker. Chen Yan cut from the left corner to the right corner. Stoudemire screened Rudy Gay for a moment, and Marc Gasol did not switch out.
The instant Chen Yan turned, Barea's pass arrived.
Chen Yan caught it, made a small 2 foot hop to set his rhythm, and rose into a 3 point shot.
Gay fought around the screen, but he was already too late.
Direct hit.
Another 3 pointer.
5 to 6.
2 straight 3 pointers from Chen Yan had Memphis tightening up. Was this man about to go nuclear again?
"He's locked in tonight," Kenny said. "2 for 2 from deep already."
Barkley laughed. "That's MVP confidence right there. Scoring champion confidence. He's not thinking. He's just shooting."
Chen Yan could feel it too. After being promoted to SSS, his command of the court had risen another level.
To put it simply, scoring felt easier.
Memphis came back with a pick and roll between Conley and Love.
Love could play inside and out, giving the guard more options in the action. Conley successfully forced Diaw to switch onto him, then passed the ball to Love at the high post.
Barea defended with great energy, but his physical tools were what they were. At 178 cm, with short, thick limbs and a compact frame, he looked tiny standing in front of Love.
Love did not simply shoot over him. Instead, he took 1 step forward and initiated contact.
After bumping Barea, Love turned and made a short hook from 1 step inside the free throw line.
7 to 6.
At this stage of his career, Love had not yet been overused. He still possessed a variety of footwork and low post moves.
Phoenix went back on offense.
Barea saw Chen Yan's hand was hot, and his thinking instantly became simple.
Just keep feeding him.
Diaw and Stoudemire also kept setting screens for Chen Yan away from the ball.
Chen Yan caught it and took a difficult fading shot.
Clang.
It missed.
But that was fine. Chen Yan did not need to make every shot. He only needed enough attempts and a strong overall percentage. With that, a huge scoring night would naturally follow.
On the next possession, Chen Yan found another opening outside, used a fake to send Rudy Gay off balance, then buried another 3 point shot.
"That's the 3rd one," Kenny said. "3 already. Is he chasing the single game 3 point record tonight?"
Barkley grinned. "Chasing it? The record already belongs to him. Man is racing against his own shadow."
Chen Yan's opening approach was simple.
Shoot without mercy.
He shot after creating separation in isolation. He shot after forcing a switch through a screen. He shot after running into space away from the ball. Every attempt came from beyond the 3 point line.
Nobody knew why Chen Yan was so obsessed with the 3 tonight.
Everyone only knew that his point total was rising fast.
A little over 6 minutes into the 1st quarter, Chen Yan had already scored 15 points, going 5 for 8 from deep.
Memphis had already started shading its defense toward the arc, but Chen Yan kept making them anyway.
His desire to attack was ferocious tonight.
This was Chen Yan's first game after reaching SSS, so a little excitement was normal.
The game continued, and Memphis kept emphasizing the interior.
Gasol had the size advantage against the Suns' frontcourt.
On this possession, though, Phoenix sent a double team. Gasol was not quick enough to adjust, and under pressure, his pass went wide.
Chen Yan shot out like lightning, stealing the ball in 1 stride.
Gay chased with everything he had, but Chen Yan accelerated past half court.
Screech.
A harsh braking sound seemed to cut through the arena.
Chen Yan stopped in transition and pulled up for another 3 point shot.
Swish.
Another make.
His 6th 3 pointer of the game.
18 to 22.
The Suns bench erupted. Chen Yan had eyes only for the rim tonight, and it looked as if he wanted to score the most points possible with the fewest shots possible.
Memphis came back on offense. Gay drove right off a screen, with Chen Yan trailing from the side and rear. Gay immediately dished to Love in the middle.
Love caught the ball, turned, and attacked the basket. Diaw disrupted his extension, and Love's layup off the glass missed.
The moment the ball came down, Chen Yan sprinted upcourt. It was pure fast break instinct.
Diaw secured the rebound and immediately fired a clean, accurate pass ahead to Chen Yan.
Chen Yan caught the ball, took 1 dribble beyond the 3 point line, then stopped abruptly.
Rudy Gay instantly tensed, thinking Chen Yan was about to shoot another 3.
He did not know that Chen Yan understood the art of deception.
Feint and strike.
By the time Gay realized the truth, Chen Yan had already blown completely past him.
Only Conley had retreated inside the 3 point line for Memphis, but he did not have the courage to take another step.
Chen Yan's physical power and explosiveness were not on his level.
Rather than give up a 2 plus 1, Conley stayed where he was and watched the show.
Chen Yan finished the break with a clean, brutal tomahawk dunk.
Boom.
His 20th point of the game.
After landing, Chen Yan flexed for the camera. Confidence was pouring out of him. Tonight felt a little like the night he scored that absurd 89 points last month.
Memphis brought the ball up again. Gay caught it, glanced at Chen Yan, and chose to pass.
He had no confidence in trading shots with Chen Yan. The 2 of them were not in the same class.
After a round of passing, Conley ended up with the ball.
From the left 45 degree angle, Conley hit a midrange jumper.
20 to 24.
Phoenix took its turn. Barea held the ball at the top, watching Chen Yan's movement.
Chen Yan cut diagonally from the left corner to the right 45 degree angle, with Stoudemire and Grant Hill taking turns screening for him away from the ball. Chen Yan caught it beyond the 3 point line.
By now, every Memphis defender grew nervous whenever Chen Yan touched the ball outside the arc. Conley immediately left Barea to double team him.
Chen Yan passed it back to Barea, then cut inside.
Barea understood at once and delivered a bounce pass.
Chen Yan caught it and lofted a soft little floater.
Easy 2 points.
Memphis went back on offense. Gay took the ball and began dribbling with more initiative.
Chen Yan deliberately gave him 1 step of space. It was not disrespect. He was simply saving energy on defense.
Chen Yan felt explosive tonight, and he wanted to spend more of that energy on offense.
Gay took 1 dribble and shot from outside.
Miss.
Chen Yan's expression seemed to say, I gave you a chance. You just did not use it well.
Phoenix packed the paint on defense. They knew Memphis lacked reliable 3 point shooters, so there was no need to burn energy chasing them too far outside.
The Suns immediately looked to counter.
Barea dribbled too much on this possession and missed the best fast break window, so Phoenix flowed into a half court set.
Barea, after all, was not a passing master like Nash or White Chocolate. His strengths were driving and attacking, not delivering razor sharp advance passes.
Chen Yan received a handoff at the top of the arc, and Stoudemire immediately came up to screen for him.
After the switch, Chen Yan found himself isolated against Marc Gasol.
Chen Yan lowered his center of gravity and drove left toward the baseline. Gasol stayed locked in and did not lose his position.
Then Chen Yan slammed on the brakes, pounded the ball, and gave a fake half spin.
That move left Gasol dizzy. Seeing Gasol's center of gravity wobble, Chen Yan decisively pulled the ball back.
Gasol stumbled forward.
In the next instant, Chen Yan accelerated, completely blowing past him.
For a big man of Gasol's size, he had defended the possession well.
Unfortunately, he was facing Chen Yan.
Chen Yan palmed the ball with 1 hand and took 2 steps into the paint.
Love rotated over to help.
Chen Yan rose into the air.
After the upgrade, his physical tools felt even more explosive. His second jump was quicker, his vertical was higher, and his body felt lighter at takeoff.
But Chen Yan did not try to dunk over Love. Not to spare him, but because the baseline angle was too tight to finish that way.
Instead, Chen Yan collected the ball in midair and completed a wide, flowing scoop layup.
Seeing that, Hollins immediately called timeout.
If Chen Yan kept going like this, he was about to produce another monstrous stat line.
.....
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