Chapter 684: Only Chen Yan in Their Eyes?
"This is not the 1st time Kevin Durant has been blocked by Chen Yan in this series," Barkley laughed.
"You cannot blame Kevin Durant," Kenny Smith said with a laugh. "Chen Yan's defensive movement is just too unpredictable."
Chen Yan's speed, explosiveness, and vertical leap were not only advantages on offense.
If he wanted to, he could become a top tier player on both ends of the floor.
However, a person's stamina was limited, even for an athletic monster like Chen Yan.
That was why Chen Yan usually poured more energy into offense and took things a little easier on defense.
Chen Yan directly blocked the ball to Kenyon Martin in the paint.
After getting the ball, Martin immediately looked for Chen Yan.
Chen Yan made a stylish spin, took 1 dribble, and threw a long pass to Curry.
Curry had already been sprinting downcourt the moment Chen Yan blocked the shot, showing excellent fast break awareness.
Under Nelson and beside Chen Yan, it was hard not to develop such sharp fast break instincts.
Rose also retreated quickly.
He started almost at the same time as Curry.
Curry did not force his way into the paint. Instead, he chose an uncontested pull up mid range jumper.
"Swish!"
It went in steadily.
79 to 78.
There was only a 1 point difference between the 2 teams, practically bringing the game back to square 1.
Rivers yelled at Durant, telling him not to go 1 on 1 and to play more within the team.
Normally, Rivers would not yell at Durant like that.
He gave Durant a lot of freedom, just like Nelson gave Chen Yan.
But this time, there was no other choice.
Rivers could see that Durant had lost his composure, but he could not call timeout and bench him either.
Many conflicts between coaches and players began exactly like this.
Fortunately, Durant was not a rebellious player.
The coach's shout brought him back to his senses quite a bit.
On this offensive possession, after getting the ball, his 1st reaction was not to force a shot. Instead, he dribbled 1 step sideways and passed to Weaver, who was in a better position.
Weaver's 1st reaction after receiving the ball was to glance at the basket.
His ball protection was not good, and Chen Yan, quick eyed and quick handed, knocked the basketball out of Weaver's hands.
Fortunately, Weaver reacted fast enough and quickly regained possession.
Rose immediately moved to the top of the arc to receive the ball.
After getting the ball, Rose used Stoudemire's screen to drive inside.
New York's defense collapsed, and Durant got an open look near the free throw line.
Durant made the jumper.
81 to 78.
On the sideline, Rivers finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Boston's offense seemed to be back on track.
New York offense.
Chen Yan waved his hand, signaling for another 1 on 1 against Durant.
"Oh, wow, again!" Barkley shouted, looking excited. "1 more time. This game is getting interesting."
Countless fans in front of their televisions had the same expression as Barkley.
They loved watching Chen Yan play 1 on 1, especially against a player like Durant.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Chen Yan lowered his center of gravity, continuously dribbled between his legs, and slowly moved forward with short, quick steps.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Durant's forehead.
He did not know when Chen Yan would make his move, nor what Chen Yan would do next.
Durant retreated a small step inside the 3 point line.
He knew he had nowhere left to retreat.
If he backed up any further, Chen Yan could pull up for a 3 pointer at any moment.
Seeing Durant take a small step forward, Chen Yan immediately changed pace.
He pushed off with his left foot, bent at the waist, lowered his center of gravity, and exploded to his right.
Durant's nerves instantly tightened.
Chen Yan's change of rhythm was too sudden.
The key was 1 word.
Fast.
That was why most star players, except for Kobe, did not like defending Chen Yan.
It consumed too much energy, required complete concentration, and if the defender lost focus for even a moment, Chen Yan would tear through the defense.
Durant quickly moved sideways, trying to cut off Chen Yan's path.
Chen Yan slapped the ball hard with his right hand, then stepped back, retreating outside the 3 point line.
Chen Yan held the ball with his left hand, while his right hand moved closer to his body.
He used his signature Hesi Move again.
Chen Yan was using the Hesi, and Durant knew he was using it, but he still had to step forward to contest.
If Durant ignored him, Chen Yan would turn that move into a shot.
In today's league, letting anyone else shoot a 3 pointer was better than letting Chen Yan shoot one.
Everyone understood that.
Durant raised his hand and stepped forward.
His massive defensive wingspan still placed some pressure on Chen Yan.
If another player were defending him, Chen Yan might have already shot by now.
Durant followed, and Chen Yan immediately responded.
After dribbling a small step to the left, he executed a crossover, switching the ball from his left hand to his right.
Before the crossover, Chen Yan also gave a shoulder shimmy.
Durant's body stiffened.
He froze in place.
There was no other way.
Chen Yan being full of fakes was not an empty reputation.
Durant did not dare continue following.
If he shifted his body again, he might fall straight backward.
Stoudemire left Al Harrington to help defend, and Chen Yan continued his Hesi.
A fake.
A pump.
Then a drive.
He slipped directly past Stoudemire.
Kostic was on the other side of the basket, making it difficult for him to help.
Seeing no defensive pressure ahead, Chen Yan easily laid the ball in.
81 to 80.
"Great shot," Kenny Smith said. "Chen Yan is starting to take over the game."
Barkley laughed. "Durant got blown by like a wooden dummy."
"Durant usually looks very agile," Kenny said, "but in front of Chen Yan, he looks as clumsy as Perkins."
"Chen Yan keeps pressing him," Barkley said.
Kenny added, "Rivers needs to adjust his defensive strategy, or Chen Yan will keep targeting Durant."
"Durant's defense had some effect in the first few minutes," Barkley said, "but in these last few possessions, Chen has completely picked him apart."
This was exactly the effect Chen Yan wanted.
To destroy Boston, he first had to destroy Durant.
On the return possession, Durant missed a jumper.
His mentality was clearly showing problems.
New York offense.
Chen Yan tried to get open on the perimeter through an off ball screen.
Durant rushed up like a madman, aggressively denying him the catch.
Stoudemire also rushed out, and the 2 tried to trap Chen Yan, but they overcommitted and directly knocked him to the floor.
Chen Yan was not angry.
He patted his collar and stood up.
He wanted to see Boston's players lose their composure.
The more emotional they became, the more advantageous it would be for New York.
Since Boston had not reached the team foul limit, the Knicks inbounded from the sideline.
Battier stood out of bounds.
Chen Yan first moved toward him, then suddenly accelerated and ran toward the baseline corner.
Both Stoudemire and Durant were drawn to Chen Yan.
As Chen Yan ran, he pointed toward Al Harrington at the 60 degree angle on the wing.
Battier understood perfectly and immediately passed the ball out.
Al Harrington took an open 3 pointer.
"There it is!" Barkley shouted from the broadcast table.
Everyone felt that this shot was going in the moment it left Harrington's hands.
The rhythm was excellent.
"Swish!"
The basketball snapped through the net.
83 to 81.
Al Harrington made the go ahead shot.
The Celtics players mindset was already unbalanced.
Their eyes were now fixed only on Chen Yan.
Rivers noticed it as well and immediately called timeout.
…..
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