Chapter 607: Is This a Science Fiction Movie?
The Grizzlies were completely speechless.
The double team strategy was not working against Chen Yan tonight. Not even off ball traps could slow him down. He was too agile, constantly using movement to drag defenders in circles until Memphis looked like it was chasing shadows.
Even if it felt useless, the Grizzlies still had to keep sending help. They hoped Chen Yan would burn himself out with constant running and eventually watch his shooting percentage drop.
But Chen Yan's nonstop scoring was also crushing Memphis mentally. Perhaps this was the clearest explanation of the phrase, offense is the best defense.
After a pick and roll, Conley failed to find a clean look and passed the ball back to Beasley.
Beasley faked, drove to the rim, and tossed up a floater.
The ball hit the backboard 1st, bounced off the rim, and flew out.
Stoudemire boxed out and secured the rebound. He could not pass directly to Chen Yan, so he gave the ball to White Chocolate Williams instead. Williams took 1 dribble, then immediately fed Chen Yan to ignite the fast break.
"Get back! Get back!" Grizzlies head coach Hollins shouted from the sideline.
He did not tell his players to press immediately. Pressuring Chen Yan was 1 way to slow his advance, but if the steal attempt failed, it would leave him with open court in front of him.
Chen Yan sprinted up the sideline at full speed.
Sam Young stayed attached to Chen Yan's hip. He looked like he was in position, but in truth, he was completely passive.
1 step beyond the three point line, Chen Yan suddenly rose for a pull up jumper.
Sam Young did not dare to jump. He was defending too closely, and if he left his feet, he could easily invade Chen Yan's landing space and send him to the line for 3 free throws.
Because of his momentum, Chen Yan leaned slightly forward as he released the shot.
"Clang!"
The miss allowed Sam Young to breathe a little easier.
But the rebound was snatched by Diaw. Neither of Memphis' big men had made it back into the paint, allowing Diaw to grab the offensive board with ease.
Diaw's intention to pass the ball back to Chen Yan was too obvious, and Sam Young managed to get a hand on the pass.
But Young failed to secure possession. He and Diaw wrestled for the ball, and Diaw came away with it.
Young tried to turn back and find Chen Yan, but it was already too late.
Chen Yan accelerated, cut straight to the rim, caught Diaw's pass, and exploded into the air.
Love had already retreated into the paint. As he jumped, he slapped Chen Yan across the forearm.
Chen Yan initially lost control of the ball, but with his ridiculous hang time and body control, he recovered it in midair and gently pushed it in.
"Swish!"
And 1.
A 2+1.
Chen Yan repeatedly pointed to the floor with his index finger, visibly fired up.
The entire arena began chanting.
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
Amid the overwhelming cheers, Chen Yan calmly made the free throw.
61 to 81.
His 63rd point.
During the dead ball, D'Antoni replaced Hill with Novak.
To outsiders, this looked like a move to add even more three point firepower. Only D'Antoni knew the truth. He was deliberately lowering Phoenix's defensive intensity.
The Grizzlies had been missing too often during this stretch. If that continued, the game would turn into garbage time too quickly.
That would waste Chen Yan's form tonight.
D'Antoni wanted to help. As a head coach, he wanted to see his star player break another record.
Novak made an immediate contribution, just not on offense. He lost Love on defense, allowing Love to calmly knock down a mid range jumper.
63 to 81.
Phoenix came back down the floor, with White Chocolate Williams bringing the ball across half court.
Chen Yan started in the baseline corner, cut into the paint, then burst straight out to the perimeter.
Novak and Stoudemire set a screen for Chen Yan at the same time, trapping Sam Young.
Elevator door action.
The play had been around for a long time, but it was rarely used because few teams had a super three point specialist worth running it for.
It was also a sneaky action. When the 2 screeners closed the door, all they needed to do was raise a shoulder slightly into the defender's path. That small bump was enough to make the defender stumble. It was almost impossible to get around cleanly, and referees rarely called it as an illegal screen.
Chen Yan caught the ball beyond the three point line.
Conley and Beasley immediately rushed at him.
Chen Yan gave a light fake.
Both defenders jumped at the same time.
The commentators could only sigh. It was not that Conley and Beasley were easy to fool. Chen Yan's threat from the perimeter was simply too terrifying.
After getting both defenders in the air, Chen Yan casually drove into the lane.
Love stepped up to help, but this time he did not jump. Giving Chen Yan another 2+1 was not worth it.
Chen Yan finished with a delicate left handed layup.
63 to 83.
His 65th point.
Hollins was starting to panic.
He already had 65 points. Why did Chen Yan still show no sign of slowing down?
Chen Yan's motto tonight was simple.
If the opponent was not dead, keep hitting until it was.
Unless Memphis waved the white flag, his offense would not stop.
Chen Yan was in explosive form, and more importantly, he still had plenty of stamina. As long as he wanted to, his point total could keep climbing.
The only thing he had to guard against now was opponents trying to take cheap shots.
Even then, Chen Yan was not too worried. He had his cheat, and that gave him the confidence to stay healthy.
On the next possession, Chen Yan hit another pull up 3, pushing his total to 68 points.
After that, he missed his next 3 shots.
Memphis' coverage on him reached a ridiculous level. On 1 possession, the Grizzlies even sent 4 defenders at him, a completely insane trap.
On offense, the Grizzlies repeatedly attacked the paint. Led by Love and Marc Gasol, they cut the deficit to 71 to 83.
A 12 point gap gave Memphis a spark of hope.
Phoenix had the ball again. Chen Yan kept weaving through traffic, moving in and out of the crowd.
The Grizzlies' defense was tense, dragged around by every step he took.
Even though Chen Yan had missed 3 straight possessions, Memphis still guarded him as if he were holding a live grenade.
Chen Yan came off a teammate's screen, caught the ball near the right 45 degree angle beyond the three point line, and suddenly raised his hands.
Sam Young did not jump.
Did not bite the 1st time?
Then Chen Yan tried again.
He faked twice in a row, and Sam Young finally could not resist. He left his feet.
Although Young had been fooled, Beasley, responsible for the trap from the other side, did not bite. Chen Yan's shooting space was extremely narrow.
Even so, Chen Yan rose without hesitation.
Of course, Chen Yan did not always shoot just to shoot.
After leaving the floor, he leaned into Sam Young.
The referee's whistle sounded.
Three point shooting foul.
Sam Young grabbed his head and claimed Chen Yan had flopped.
The referee ignored him, and Chen Yan ignored him as well, walking straight to the free throw line.
To limit Chen Yan's shooting, Memphis had been defending him incredibly tightly. That kind of coverage had benefits and costs. It could bother his shot, but it also made it much easier for him to draw fouls.
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
The US Airways Center echoed with the fans' unified chant. It was not the 1st time they had chanted for him tonight.
Chen Yan made all 3 free throws.
His single game total had officially passed 70 points.
71 to 86.
The Grizzlies still attacked the paint. Conley passed to Love after a pick and roll, and Love forced in a bank layup against Novak's defense.
73 to 86.
Phoenix came back on offense. On this possession, Memphis showed a small crack in its defensive focus.
No team could stay locked in for an entire game. There would always be gaps.
Chen Yan seized it, drove to the basket, and with Marc Gasol staying back in the paint, released a clever floater from 1 step in front of the free throw line.
"Swish!"
Clean.
His 73rd point.
On the next Memphis possession, Chen Yan deliberately lost Sam Young, allowing him to cut inside for an easy 2.
Everyone had selfish thoughts, and Chen Yan was no exception. He wanted to keep the score close enough to justify staying on the court.
With 2 minutes and 37 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, the Suns had no interest in ordinary offense anymore.
Everyone had 1 goal.
Help Chen Yan keep scoring.
Chen Yan's shooting percentage had dipped slightly, but his desire to attack remained ferocious. He took every Phoenix shot over the final 2 minutes and 37 seconds of the 3rd quarter.
With 16 seconds left in the quarter, Chen Yan buried a difficult fadeaway over 2 defenders, pushing his personal total to 80 points.
The crowd roared.
And at the same time, everyone felt confused.
80 points in 3 quarters.
Was this really not a science fiction movie?
.....
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