"The closer you are to the basket, the easier it is to score. That's a truth that never changes!"
During the break between quarters.
Howard leaned back in his chair, in a very good mood, and said this to his teammates. Naturally, they all echoed him and showered him with praise.
He had scored 16 points in a single quarter, while his opponent, Blake Su, had only scored 5. His team was also leading by as many as 13 points. In this center matchup, the difference was clear at a glance.
Of course he was happy.
And... this was exactly how he had always imagined his duel with Blake Su would go. It felt as if everything was under his control.
Sixteen points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks in one quarter. The numbers were not only impressive, but his efficiency was astonishing. Howard dominated the first quarter and became the focus of everyone's attention.
Blake Su, on the other hand.
He kept missing shots and finished the first quarter with only 5 points, practically disappearing from the game.
"A so-called era-defining center, and this is all he's got?!"
"Ouch, all that clanging off the rim is so harsh I'm starting to feel bad for the basket!"
"Heh, a center should play like a center. If he keeps drifting outside to shoot, how can he stay efficient? The closer you are to the basket, the easier it is to score.
That's an eternal truth!"
"..."
The sharp contrast between Blake Su and Howard in the first quarter made plenty of Magic fans start mocking him, and the boos kept coming.
Blake Su did not care at all.
But some hot-tempered Suns fans were irritated, and some fans whose confidence was easily shaken even felt there was some truth to it.
Fortunately.
Most fans still believed Blake Su would find his touch and show off his offensive ability one move at a time.
Amid the constant debate, the atmosphere in the arena kept rising. Soon, the second quarter began, starting with the bench units.
A team with "Superman" Howard.
People instinctively assumed they were a strong interior team, but in reality, the Magic had many players who could shoot threes from the perimeter. Among the starters,
Nelson, Lewis, and Turkoglu could all shoot.
The bench was the same.
Ryan Anderson, JJ Redick, Quentin Richardson, and Pietrus. Of the five substitutes, four could shoot threes.
And in the bench matchup.
When things go smoothly, everything starts going your way. Already leading by 13, the Magic's confident bench players kept their offense rolling and knocked down shot after shot.
If not for George's strong defense and Goran Dragić finally hitting a three tonight,
the gap would have widened to an absurd level.
Even so, over 4 minutes and 11 seconds of rotation time, the Magic's bench shooters still extended the lead from 13 points to as many as 18.
"Beep, beep!"
Alvin Gentry called a timeout.
Both teams brought their starters back.
Steve Nash walked up to Blake Su and comforted him. "It's fine. Just play at your normal rhythm. Don't let your shooting touch make you hesitate, and don't be afraid to attack.
Everything stays the same!
Remember... you're the core of this team now, and we trust you unconditionally."
"Mm."
Blake Su nodded firmly.
Although the 18-point deficit put pressure on him as well, his confidence in his shot remained the same. It had never disappeared.
The game continued.
Knowing his shot was not falling, Blake Su used his back-to-the-basket game as his starting point. He changed his footwork several times, linked it into a half-turn, then accelerated toward the rim.
"Swish!"
Against Howard's defense, he finished with a double-clutch layup.
"Wow!"
"He finished a double-clutch layup right against 'Superman' Howard's defense. Is Blake Su about to get going?!"
In the stands.
Wade cried out in surprise. LeBron nodded and said, "Not necessarily, but... besides shooting, Blake Su is also very strong at attacking the basket.
He knows his touch is off.
So he's scoring by driving instead. You have to admit, he's not only talented, he has a very high basketball IQ. He knows how to adjust to different situations on the court."
The two close friends discussed it.
But "CB4" Bosh shook his head alone in amazement. "My god! A center posts up from the perimeter, drives into the paint, and then scores with a double-clutch layup.
Is... is that really a center?!"
"Boom!"
Blake Su's gorgeous drive and double-clutch finish filled the home fans with confidence again. They felt Blake Su was about to explode.
But.
It was only that one play.
On his next several drives, Blake Su came up empty. His efficiency attacking the basket was poor too, so he tried switching to turnaround jumpers after posting up.
The results still were not good.
But... Blake Su knew very clearly that every shot he took was a normal shot. His touch was just poor tonight, and he could not make them.
However.
In the eyes of the fans, with shot after shot missing and layup after layup failing against Howard's defense,
Blake Su was not only cold. More than that... he was being stopped by "Superman" Howard.
His jumper was gone, his drives were being shut down by Howard, while Howard was wreaking havoc under the basket and doing whatever he wanted.
With 15.5 seconds left before halftime.
"Beep, beep!"
Alvin Gentry called a timeout to draw up the final play of the second quarter, hoping to cut the deficit slightly before the half ended.
Because at that moment.
Suns (42): (67) Magic.
In just over half a quarter,
the Magic had already stretched the lead to as many as 25 points.
At the commentary table.
"Ah..."
Jon Barry sighed and said, "It really is true that the closer you are to the basket, the easier it is to score. You have to remember, the Magic's outside shooting actually hasn't been that good tonight.
But.
Howard has used his powerful rebounding ability to create second chances, even third chances, for his teammates. He's basically forced some of those missed shots into makes.
And.
Howard's individual form is still outstanding tonight. He has already poured in 24 points in the half, along with 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks. He has completely dominated the paint.
As for Blake Su on the Suns, his touch has been poor tonight. So far, he's 4-for-14 from the field with 10 points, including 0-for-5 from three.
That performance... really is a bit rough.
With Blake Su playing this poorly and the deficit all the way up to 25 points, I think... the Suns are in real danger tonight."
As he was speaking.
The timeout ended.
The Suns had the final possession. Who would take it?
Still Blake Su. They still gave it to Blake Su, who was 4-for-14 from the field and 0-for-5 from three in the half. Most importantly, Blake Su's face was still full of confidence.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
Blake Su set up in the middle above the arc and slowly dribbled the clock down. He waited until only 3 seconds remained, then pulled up from one step beyond the three-point line and fired.
He had already missed five shots like this tonight.
But at this moment, as he released it, his face still carried that same confidence.
His defender, Brandon Bass, knew Blake Su had not made a three all night, so he only gave a token contest, just enough to bother him without giving him a chance at a three-shot foul.
But.
The next instant, Bass turned his head and stared in shock as the basketball flew straight into the net, splashing through cleanly.
"Swish!"
"Beep, beep!"
The shot went in, and the buzzer sounded.
Blake Su's buzzer-beating three before halftime was also his first three of the game.
At the commentary table.
Mark Jackson watched the scene unfold, looked at the confidence still shining on Blake Su's face, and suddenly laughed. "Jon, do you think the Suns are finished tonight?!"
"Yes."
"No. Never underestimate the heart of a shooter!!!"