"Oh?!"
Hearing Mark Jackson's words, Jon Barry was startled, but Mark Jackson did not continue. It was as if he had deliberately left a suspenseful pause.
However, in the stands, the home fans' eyes were filled with disappointment.
After all... they had given Blake Su two full quarters tonight, and Blake Su had only put up 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.
As for "Superman."
Howard had exploded for 24 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks in the first half. More importantly, he had led his team into halftime with a massive 22-point lead.
Throughout the entire first half.
In the duel between the two superstar centers, whether it was individual dominance or the ability to lead the team, Howard had crushed Blake Su in a complete victory.
That naturally disappointed the fans who wanted to see Blake Su destroy Howard.
"Sigh..."
"He's still a rookie after all. He's just not stable enough!"
"No one can stay consistent forever, but... struggling against Howard and getting defended into having no offense at all is the part I really can't accept."
"I think the battle for the league's number one center has already been settled. It still has to be 'Superman' Howard."
"Exactly. Blake Su is still too young. He still needs time to grow and sharpen himself!"
Amid the constant discussion,
the fans felt that Blake Su had already lost to Howard tonight.
Of course.
If seventy percent of the fans felt that way, the remaining thirty percent still believed in Blake Su. They believed he would definitely adjust and come back.
Because.
Like Mark Jackson, they would never underestimate the heart of a super shooter, and they would never underestimate Blake Su's ability.
More importantly.
In the Suns' locker room.
Even down by 22 points, not a single player on the team had lost confidence. In the second half, they would keep playing the way they always did. They remained full of belief.
They still... believed completely in Blake Su!
Soon.
The second half began.
A 22-point deficit.
Magic ball.
Nelson brought the ball up, then threw another high entry pass to "Superman" Howard, who was calling for it in the low post against Frye.
He had an absolute advantage.
But... almost the moment Howard caught the ball and Frye pressed up on him, George also flashed over from the wing to double-team.
George?!
Yes.
Coming back from halftime, Alvin Gentry took Carter off and sent in the defensive-minded George. "Superman" was attacking too fiercely. They could not let him keep scoring however he wanted.
Only.
"Bang!"
"Superman" Howard was full of confidence. He bumped Frye aside, and even with George coming over to contest, he still muscled the ball into the basket.
Another make.
24 points!
"Howard's offense is still fierce."
"The Suns desperately need to chase points now!"
Suns ball.
Steve Nash pushed the ball across half court. In the middle above the arc, he handed it off to Blake Su as Blake Su trailed the play. Facing Bass's defense, a calm light flashed in Blake Su's dark eyes.
"Step!"
His right foot tapped forward. A jab step into a possible drive.
"Step!"
Bass instinctively took a step back. He had no choice but to retreat.
"Whoosh!"
Blake Su rose with the motion. Facing Bass's defense, he lifted his hand and fired a three. Bass rushed up at him, but it was already too late.
"Swish!"
Clean release, clean finish.
The ball dropped straight through the net!
"Blake Su's three. He..."
At the commentary table.
Jon Barry froze, just about to say something.
"Pop!"
Curry stole the ball from Nelson, then fired a long pass across half court to Blake Su in the frontcourt. On the right side above the arc, one step beyond the three-point line, Blake Su pulled up for a transition three.
"Swish!"
Another one.
One three, one steal, then another pull-up three in transition. In less than twelve seconds, Blake Su scored 6 straight points, enough to make everyone's scalp tingle.
"Blake Su's three-point shot is back?!"
Jon Barry's eyes lit up, and he nearly shouted.
"Heh!"
Mark Jackson smiled faintly but said nothing.
"It finally came, huh? This kid!"
In the stands.
The corners of Kobe's mouth lifted slightly into a smile. Pau Gasol clicked his tongue and exclaimed, "That three-pointer... Blake Su's touch seems to be warming up."
In the seats diagonally above them.
"Is he about to catch fire?!"
Wade was startled.
LeBron smiled faintly and said, "Just watch. This game is about to get exciting."
Bosh also nodded, his eyes fixed on the court. "Look at the confidence on Blake Su's face. Look at those two decisive, precise threes. The 'Monster Rookie' is back."
"Boom!"
Blake Su's two straight threes were like two stabilizing shots to the heart. The home fans instantly felt that his touch was coming back, and cheers erupted throughout the arena.
On the court.
Howard glanced at Blake Su with disdain. "So what if you hit two threes? Your unstable shooting can't compare with my steady scoring in the paint."
And then...
10:33.
"Swish!"
Blake Su curled out from the corner, caught the ball, turned, and fired another three over Bass's defense. His height and astonishing leaping ability
left Bass with no good answer.
"Swish!"
Another make.
9:13.
It was Blake Su again. Once again, he curled out from the corner around a screen. Once again, he received Steve Nash's pass, turned, and launched an extremely confident three.
"Step!"
"Step!"
This time... he fired it against the contests of both Bass and Lewis, a difficult three sent up in the face of four big hands.
But.
"Swish!"
Once again, it pierced through the net. A completely unreasonable make.
7:47.
In the left corner, Curry drove and looked toward Steve Nash in the right corner, only to whip a brilliant behind-the-back pass back to the left corner. Blake Su caught it once again, raised his hand, and fired another three.
"Swish!"
Dead center.
Another make.
"Wow! Blake Su has hit five straight threes, and on only five attempts. Fifteen straight points. My God, once Blake Su catches fire, his accuracy is terrifying!"
Jon Barry roared.
However.
On the court.
On the very next possession.
"Swish!"
It was still Blake Su. He had completely found his shot. He dribbled across half court and stopped on the left side above the arc, a full meter beyond the three-point line. One in and out crossover.
Then.
"Whoosh!"
He pulled up directly. His release was so fast it felt as if he had not even finished his shooting motion, and defender Bass did not react in time.
But.
"Swish!"
Another make.
"Wow... that went in too? That's just ridiculous!"
Jon Barry was stunned.
"Superman" Howard was so angry he roared, and on the next possession, he took the initiative to step out, ready to guard Blake Su one-on-one.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
Blake Su held the ball at the top of the arc. Everyone thought he would drive, using speed and a change of direction to shake Howard off.
"Whoosh!"
Two meters beyond the three-point line.
Blake Su suddenly fired, launching an extended three right over "Superman" Howard's defense. The basketball flew over Howard's fingertips.
The home fans had already raised their arms, ready to cheer.
The spinning ball drew a beautiful arc through the sky.
"Swish!"
A crisp sound rang out as it pierced the net.
Blake Su shot it right in Howard's face, hitting an ultra-deep three and making his seventh three-pointer of the quarter.
The next instant.
Cheers and shouts surged like a tidal wave!
...
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