Chapter 683: Playoffs? Streetball Court!
For the next 5 minutes, Chen Yan took only 2 shots and made 1.
Durant's defense produced an unexpected effect.
He had strong mobility, exaggerated height, and a long wingspan, allowing him to greatly interfere with Chen Yan's shooting.
As for drives, he relied on his teammates help defense.
Chen Yan did not force the issue.
During those 5 minutes, he focused on passing, but aside from Curry, the Knicks shooting was generally poor.
Boston extended its lead to 7 points.
The score was 76 to 69.
Rivers strategy had worked by accident, but this defensive arrangement placed a heavy burden on Durant.
During those 5 minutes, Durant took only 2 shots, missing both.
However, Durant had no complaints.
If containing Chen Yan could help Boston win, then making a small sacrifice was acceptable.
Just as Durant thought he had found a way to deal with Chen Yan, Chen Yan erupted again.
New York offensive possession.
Chen Yan received the ball on the left side beyond the 3 point line.
Durant's long arms loomed in front of him, while another defender on the other side was ready to help at any moment.
Rose closely guarded Curry.
At the moment, among the Knicks, only Curry posed a real threat besides Chen Yan.
Everyone else's shooting was average, and Boston was not afraid of them taking shots.
Chen Yan held the ball in his left hand and pointed his right index finger toward the sky.
His teammates quickly spread out.
They knew Chen Yan was about to start a 1 on 1 play.
Durant lowered his center of gravity.
After defending Chen Yan for several possessions, he had gained confidence.
Chen Yan's dribbling shifted from slow to fast.
"Bang!"
Chen Yan slapped the ball hard, lightly shook his right shoulder, and stepped out to the right with his right foot.
Then he immediately crossed over to the left, pressing his center of gravity extremely low.
Durant immediately turned his body to follow.
Chen Yan then used a close range between the legs dribble, switching the ball to his right hand.
Durant turned again.
He was agile enough, but Chen Yan was even faster.
Chen Yan directly rose into a high arc jumper.
Durant did not have time to jump and could only symbolically extend his hand.
"Swish!"
The shot dropped in cleanly.
76 to 71.
Durant suddenly felt the pressure double.
Chen Yan's speed was clearly different from the previous few minutes.
Boston offense.
After Durant received the ball, Battier guarded him closely.
After using a screen, Durant drove inside.
The Knicks quickly collapsed the defense, leaving Durant no room to attack, so he immediately passed the ball out to the perimeter.
After Rose received the ball, his left foot naturally stepped out to the left.
The moment Curry's center of gravity shifted, Rose lowered his body and successfully broke through from the right.
Rose's explosiveness was simply too fierce.
His legs were like rocket launchers as he charged into the restricted area.
Kenyon Martin jumped to block the shot, but Rose had already built up momentum and jumped directly, ignoring the challenge.
The 2 met in the air.
Rose hung there for a moment, then completed a reverse layup, flicking the ball upward from under Kenyon Martin's arm.
The referee's whistle blew.
The basketball rolled around the rim once before falling through the net.
2 plus 1.
Sitting on the floor, Rose clenched his fist and roared, instantly igniting the arena.
Durant and Stoudemire quickly went over to pull him up.
Amid the cheers and shouts of tens of thousands of fans, Rose made the free throw.
79 to 71.
The Knicks inbounded from the baseline.
Chen Yan dribbled into the frontcourt, bending low as he adjusted his rhythm, while his teammates consciously created space.
Chen Yan challenged Durant 1 on 1.
Durant tugged at his shorts, lowered his center of gravity, and focused completely on Chen Yan.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Chen Yan continuously dribbled between his legs, then suddenly gave a light shake of his right shoulder and powerfully stepped diagonally forward with his right foot.
He is going to change direction.
Durant thought so and anticipated the move, leaning his body to the right.
Indeed.
Durant's prediction was correct.
In the next second, Chen Yan executed a low crossover, slapping the ball to his left hand.
He is going to drive.
Durant naturally took a small step back, thinking Chen Yan would do the same thing as the previous possession.
Chen Yan sprang up and directly pulled up for the shot.
This was something Durant had not expected.
Durant thought Chen Yan would be wary of his height and wingspan and would not dare shoot like that in front of him.
Chen Yan precisely exploited that psychology.
"Swish!"
Durant looked back.
The ball had gone in again.
79 to 74.
After being scored on twice in a row, Durant could not accept it.
He immediately posted up and attacked Battier by force.
Durant backed him down twice, then directly shot a fadeaway using a Nowitzki style release.
This shot was too rushed.
He had not fully pushed Battier away.
Battier's eye shielding defense worked, and Durant angrily missed the shot.
Chen Yan saw through Durant's mentality.
He was getting anxious.
On the next possession, Chen Yan continued calling for the ball to play 1 on 1.
Durant continued defending him alone.
Chen Yan continuously performed stationary crossovers, shaking his left shoulder, then his right, followed by a between the legs dribble into a behind the back pullback.
Just as Durant was dazzled, Chen Yan suddenly used a half spin explosive dribble to create space, then showed off a Sam Cassell move.
The fans in the arena and in front of televisions everywhere were stunned.
They could hardly believe their eyes.
Chen Yan seemed to be dancing on the court, performing moves usually seen only on streetball courts.
In the eyes of the fans, this series of moves by Chen Yan was clearly provocative.
But in Durant's eyes, it was more than provocative.
It was an insult.
Durant immediately lost his temper.
After losing his composure, he reached in to swipe at the ball.
This was exactly what Chen Yan wanted to see.
Once Durant's defense broke, a flaw appeared.
Chen Yan executed a swift spin back, completely blowing past Durant.
Stoudemire immediately left Al Harrington to help defend, and Weaver also came over to double team from the other side.
Chen Yan pulled the ball up and used Phantom Steps.
His footwork was elusive, weaving through Stoudemire and Weaver before finishing with a left handed reverse layup.
79 to 76.
The moment the ball went in, Stoudemire and Weaver exchanged glances, both knowing they would likely become the backdrop for Chen Yan's top 5 plays.
Of course, the most embarrassed person was still Durant.
Chen Yan's entire sequence of dazzling moves and penetration had all happened against him.
Looking at Durant's ashen face, Chen Yan knew his strategy had succeeded.
He wanted to mess with Durant's mind.
"Wooow! What did I just see?" Barkley exclaimed. "Is this the Playoffs or Rucker Park?"
Kenny Smith laughed. "If any other player used those moves, he would probably get subbed out by the coach immediately, maybe even benched."
"Chen was born for basketball," Barkley said. "He truly has that unity between man and ball. He is absolutely 1 of the most entertaining players in NBA history."
Kenny added, "I saw people on the Celtics bench almost jump up. Chen's skills are so fun to watch that even his opponents cannot help reacting."
The 2 commentators showered Chen Yan's play with praise.
After Durant demanded the ball, he disregarded everything and started isolating.
He was furious now, and he had somewhat lost his composure.
After a shake, Durant forcefully drove inside for a layup.
The Knicks immediately collapsed their defense, and the paint became extremely crowded.
Durant stopped short, preparing to take a jumper.
Chen Yan left Weaver and ambushed from behind, swatting Durant's shot away with 1 slap.
Chen Yan was simply too familiar with Durant.
He understood Durant's playing style.
Even more than that, he understood Durant's personality.
…..
Enjoyed the chapter? Join our newly created Discord community for updates, discussions, games, and more!
https://discord.gg/KvMN2CFsMR