Altitude sickness?!
Yes.
Salt Lake City sits at an elevation of about 1,300 meters (4,300 ft). The lower air pressure at that altitude means the Jazz's home arena is constantly in a relatively oxygen-thin environment.
Without proper conditioning, even NBA players with elite physical fitness can feel uncomfortable. The air is thinner, and under high-intensity play, fatigue sets in quickly.
And since physical responses vary from person to person,
some players experience "altitude sickness" at higher elevations. The most common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and blurred vision.
Now,
Blake Su, who had been completely fine earlier, suddenly felt a slight headache. The most likely explanation was that after arriving in Salt Lake City and being exposed to the high-altitude, low-pressure environment,
he had developed… altitude sickness.
Although it was only a mild headache and not severe,
it still had an impact. Especially for Blake Su, who had just finished three road games and was now facing a fourth on a back-to-back, the situation wasn't ideal.
"That's probably it."
Curry quickly realized what was going on. He set his phone aside, poured a cup of hot water, and handed it to Blake Su.
"Here, drink some hot water. It'll help with altitude sickness.
Make sure to stay warm.
And get some rest. That'll help too."
"Alright, thanks."
Blake Su took the cup.
Curry placed the kettle aside and continued, "There's still some time before the game. You should rest for a bit and see how you feel closer to tip-off.
If it doesn't improve,
I'd suggest sitting this one out. Playing with a headache isn't a good idea."
"Yeah…"
Blake Su pressed his lips together slightly.
"I'll rest for now. Maybe I'll adjust after a while."
"Okay."
Curry nodded.
He then informed the team doctor about Blake Su's condition and also notified Alvin Gentry. Soon, the three of them came to Blake Su's room and saw that he was already resting.
They didn't disturb him.
After closing the door, Alvin Gentry pulled Curry into the hallway, his expression serious.
"You know, Blake Su having altitude sickness is something none of us expected.
It's an unforeseen situation.
But even a mild headache will affect his performance. There's even a chance he might not play. And as our absolute core,
he'll be the X-factor in this game.
As for you guys, I'll say it again. We've come this far, and I want you to keep winning. If something happens to Blake Su, there's nothing we can do about it.
So,
if he's not in good form or can't perform well, you need to step up, take over scoring, and keep the streak alive."
"I understand, Coach."
Curry nodded firmly.
As the team's second option, it was his responsibility.
...
8:00 p.m.
Energy Solutions Arena.
There was still an hour before tip-off, but the arena was already packed. The home crowd had begun cheering loudly for the Jazz.
The atmosphere was intense.
On the court,
Alvin Gentry approached Blake Su.
"How are you feeling? You okay?"
"I still have a bit of a headache, but I think it'll be fine."
Blake Su replied.
"Are you sure?"
Gentry frowned slightly and spoke seriously.
"Blake Su, if you're not feeling right, don't force it. I want wins, but I care more about your health. Do you understand?
Our real goal isn't just a winning streak. It's the playoffs, even the Finals. But all of that depends on you being healthy. Completely healthy."
"Yeah…" Blake Su murmured, pressing his lips together.
"I understand, Coach. Don't worry."
The headache was still there, but not to the point where he couldn't play. And he knew exactly how much his absence would affect the team.
Maybe… it would mean a loss.
Either way,
with 20 straight wins already in hand, he didn't want to lose now. At the very least, he didn't want the team to lose because he sat out.
...
At the commentary table,
Van Gundy adjusted his blue tie.
"Mike, you know what? I think it's going to be very difficult for the Suns to beat the Jazz tonight."
"Oh? Why's that? The Suns are the top team in the West, while the Jazz are only tenth."
Mike Breen responded, puzzled.
Van Gundy raised a finger.
"First, this is the Suns' fourth straight road game, and it's a back-to-back. With constant travel, their stamina and form are both declining.
Even with a 20-game winning streak and the best record in the West, this won't be an easy win.
Second, the Jazz have Deron Williams. He's a physically dominant point guard, easily top five in the league. He was named Western Conference Player of the Month last month, which says it all.
If he gets going both as a scorer and a playmaker, he becomes a huge problem.
Third, the Jazz have what's known as the 'Devil's Home Arena.' Do you know why?"
"Why's that?"
Mike Breen played along.
Van Gundy continued.
"First, the altitude of 1,300 meters forces opponents to play in a low-pressure, oxygen-thin environment. It's very hard to adjust, and performance can drop off quickly.
Second,
the home crowd is incredibly intense. Visiting teams hear constant boos and insults. From warmups onward, you're surrounded by hostile stares.
During the game, fans will heckle you nonstop, calling you trash, a rookie, even worse.
That kind of environment makes Salt Lake City one of the loudest arenas in the league. It can even influence the referees. For visiting teams, it's a serious challenge.
On top of that,
Energy Solutions Arena has a different structure. The stands are steep, making it feel like you're playing at the bottom of a pit.
It's suffocating.
That's another reason visiting teams struggle here.
All of these factors combine to create the Jazz's 'Devil's Home Arena.'
There's even data to back it up. The Jazz have only a 41 percent win rate on the road this season, which explains their tenth-place standing in the West.
But at home, their win rate is as high as 91 percent.
That's how terrifying this arena is. Winning here… is extremely difficult.
And fourth, the most important factor.
The Suns announced before the game that their core player, Blake Su, is dealing with a headache caused by altitude sickness.
He might not play.
From what we can see during warmups, he looks okay, but that's just on the surface. We don't know how he really feels.
However,
with Blake Su dealing with altitude sickness, his performance will definitely be one of the key X-factors in deciding this game."