Tomorrow was All-Star Weekend.
Yet today, fans were still passionately discussing every highlight from last night's battle between the Suns and the Magic.
Blake Su and Howard, a clash between the strongest centers of the new and old eras, had become the topic fans could not stop talking about.
But Blake Su's performance did not cause a stir only among fans.
Eleven threes in one quarter, 35 points in that quarter, 14 threes for the game, 68 points overall, and then an unbelievable alley-oop three to beat the opponent at the buzzer.
Teams across the league were gradually turning their eyes toward Blake Su. And they were not only looking at this player whose ability had exploded beyond imagination. They were also looking at... his style of play.
First came the Magic.
Inside the head coach's office at the Magic practice facility.
Stan Van Gundy called "Superman" Howard over and said, "Howard, 43 points, 25 rebounds, 3 assists, and 7 blocks. No matter what era you put those numbers in,
they would be enough to dominate the league.
Last night, you played extremely well, but... in the end, we still lost. Tell me, or rather, what do you think of Blake Su's style as a center?"
"Uh..."
Howard fell into thought.
In fact, he had been thinking about this question ever since losing to Blake Su last night. If Blake Su had made one fewer three, or if Howard himself had been able to make one three,
then the victory would have belonged to him.
Three pointers? A center shooting threes?
To Howard, this had once seemed unbelievable, even a little ridiculous. But for the first time, that thought had entered "Superman" Howard's own mind.
After thinking for quite a while,
"Superman" Howard slowly said, word by word, "Coach, should I... should I start practicing some threes?"
Hearing that,
Stan Van Gundy thought for a moment as well, then nodded. "Yes. This era is about to move into a fast paced small ball era.
It isn't that traditional centers aren't strong.
It's that if you can't adapt to the era, you'll struggle. Just like in the old center dominated era, guards had a hard time standing out. It's the same principle.
So.
If you want to keep being aggressive, and going one step further, if you want to lead this team farther, you really should develop some perimeter ability.
If you can become like Blake Su and carry a three point threat on the outside, combined with your dominance inside, I believe that even in the small ball era, you would absolutely remain among the best."
"Yeah. I understand."
Howard nodded heavily.
Last night, when that absurd idea had first surfaced in his mind, he had actually felt a little lost. Fortunately, now that his coach had given him affirmation and support,
he understood.
"Mm."
Stan Van Gundy nodded too, then reminded him, "That said, developing reliable outside shooting is not something that can be done overnight.
I hope you keep training."
Stan Van Gundy said this to Howard very seriously, because he knew that although Howard's talent stood above countless players,
when it came to training, Howard was not exactly the most hardworking.
...
At the same time.
Inside the Grizzlies practice gym.
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
Marc Gasol was practicing threes, but... his shooting percentage was worrying.
When Randolph saw it, he looked surprised and asked, "Marc, what are you doing? Practicing threes? Or just taking your frustration out on the ball?"
"Yeah."
Marc Gasol admitted it directly. "I'm practicing threes. I think if I can develop some three point ability from the outside,
I'll definitely become stronger."
"Oh?"
Randolph was a little surprised by Marc Gasol's sudden idea.
Just then,
Conley came over while dribbling and said, "I think it's a good idea too. After all... we have a living example right in front of us.
Rookie Blake Su might be the center in this league who has taken the three pointer to its absolute limit. With one three after another, he has shown the entire league
that when a center catches fire from outside, it really is terrifying."
"Yeah."
Marc Gasol nodded heavily, still shaken. "We, the 'Black and White Bears,' were smashed by 'Superman' all by himself. Then 'Superman' got smashed by a rookie.
A rookie center shot him down with three after three.
I think if centers like us can develop some three point shooting, it would become a huge threat to opponents. It would also make it easier for us to attack the paint.
Scoring would become simpler too."
"Uh..."
After listening, Randolph thought for a moment, then could not help nodding. "That's true. This era is gradually moving toward small ball. Centers like us
will be eliminated soon if we don't keep up with the times.
Marc, starting today, after basic training ends, I'm going to add more three point practice too and expand our offensive weapons."
"Of course."
They acted as soon as they said it.
The "Black and White Bears" began practicing threes. But... the sound of bricks echoed throughout the gym.
However,
Coach Lionel Hollins, watching from the side, was quite pleased with the scene.
Before Blake Su, he had not supported big men practicing threes. After all, with Gay and Conley on the perimeter, they did not lack firepower, and the Grizzlies' true strength lay in interior defense.
But after Blake Su, especially after last night's game where he hit 11 threes in one quarter, 14 threes for the game, and beat the Magic with an alley-oop three,
Hollins realized something.
Even centers needed to adapt to this era.
Even centers could shoot threes from the outside. And once they became accurate, they would become extremely powerful, powerful enough to frighten people.
Right now,
Blake Su was exactly that kind of center, one who shot threes from the outside and was strong enough to terrify opponents.
...
Aside from the Magic and the Grizzlies, and aside from Howard and the "Black and White Bears," centers across the league were all thinking about whether they should start practicing threes.
Coaches were thinking the same thing.
Although it was not yet completely clear or certain, at the very least... everyone had truly begun to take seriously the idea of centers shooting from the outside, and even shooting threes.
At the same time,
some power forwards who had originally relied mostly on attacking the basket, shooting mid range jumpers, or using low post hooks were also starting to think.
Should they extend their mid range? Or should they also practice threes?
As for guards, they already had three point shooting, but they were also thinking about improving it even further, making their threes even more accurate.
In short,
players across the entire league were all thinking about expanding their range.
And the reason everyone was thinking this way was precisely because of Blake Su's repeated miracle like performances, those spectacular, unreasonable threes.
They were no longer influencing only centers. They were also influencing players at other positions.
Blake Su, a center with a completely different style, had pushed his own offensive identity to the extreme. Now, he was already influencing an entire era.
Or rather, he was accelerating the full arrival of the small ball era.