Chapter 278: The commentators tease, touchdown pass
Popovich walked into the huddle at the break looking like a man who had bitten into a lemon.
"What was that first quarter?" he snapped, pointing from face to face. "Were you all sleepwalking? Wake up. This is the playoffs, Western Conference semifinals."
Phoenix had not hung 32 on them like Game 1, but giving up 26 in a quarter still tasted awful to him.
"And watch that guy's threes," Popovich added, voice hard. "Do not let him shoot from one or two steps outside the line. Understand?"
Those logo range bombs were not just points, they were morale killers.
"Understood!"
The Spurs answered together, sharp and loud. Under Popovich, they moved like a drilled unit.
…
The second quarter started fast.
Popovich tried to make a push in the minutes without Phoenix's stars by letting Ginobili steer the offense, but the Suns bench punched back first.
Barea and Azubuike took turns attacking, and Azubuike in particular came out swinging. In four minutes he dropped 7 points on a mix of drives and jumpers, never backing down from Ginobili's pressure.
Both Azubuike and Barea had real bench talent. What they needed was trust, reps, and playoff air in their lungs.
"Keep going, Kelanna!"
"That's it, stay aggressive!"
"Good look, just shoot it."
Chen Yan led the towel wave from the bench, and the crowd followed his energy. The noise climbed every time Azubuike touched the ball.
Azubuike nodded toward his teammates and the stands, confidence rising with every cheer. Those voices meant more than any film session or coach speech.
Phoenix's locker room vibe was the best in the league, and Chen Yan felt it every day. That atmosphere had helped him settle in fast. Without it, even with his skill set, a rookie would not be putting up nights like his.
At the 7:40 mark, a dead ball gave both coaches a clean window to sub.
The score sat at 37 to 30.
San Antonio went with Parker, Finley, Bowen, Duncan, and Oberto. Popovich pulled Ginobili to buy him air. Manu had been on early in the first quarter, and Popovich would not overuse him. Ginobili's talent was obvious, but his stamina was the reason he lived in a sixth man role.
Phoenix checked in Nash, Chen Yan, Azubuike, Diaw, and Stoudemire. The only twist was D Antoni keeping Azubuike out there because he was scorching hot.
…
Phoenix opened the possession with Chen Yan screening for Nash.
They ran a smooth pick and roll. Nash turned the corner, Chen Yan popped out, and Nash hit him with a slick behind the back pass.
Chen Yan caught and fired a standard three from the line.
Clang.
The ball clipped his pinky on release, and he knew it was off the second it left his hand.
Barkley laughed. "That one was there, but he rushed it just a touch."
Kenny grinned. "Might be too used to shooting from the parking lot. Regular threes probably feel short to him right now."
San Antonio came back the other way and Parker found Bowen. Bowen's look did not fall either.
Both teams were trading simple, straightforward shots to start the quarter.
The rebound dropped into Nash's hands, and he pushed instantly, hair flicking like a flag in the wind.
Azubuike sprinted left lane, Chen Yan sprinted right. The Suns built their classic V fast break with Nash in the middle.
The V is dangerous because of the wings. The moment Nash commits the ball, either side can cut or rise for a clean look.
Near the free throw line, Nash glanced left, then right, selling pass with his eyes. The defenders bit for half a heartbeat.
Then Nash rose and leaned into a mid range pull up in transition.
Swish.
39 to 30.
Nash did not shoot often, but when he did, it was with total certainty. That was why he lived in the 180 Club for years.
After the make, Nash pointed at Chen Yan and Azubuike. Their lane spacing turned Nash's look into an easy read.
…
San Antonio answered by going inside.
Duncan caught it in the paint and saw a hard double. Diaw on his back, Azubuike in front. The Suns were willing to gamble because the Spurs had not been scaring anyone from three tonight.
Duncan stayed calm, slid a step, and kicked it out to Finley wide open on the perimeter. His vision was elite for a big.
Finley buried it, his first three of the game.
39 to 33.
Popovich was about to clap when something whistled past his line of sight.
The ball.
It was already flying half court.
Chen Yan had spotted Azubuike leaking out early. He planted and launched a one handed laser up the floor, a perfect touchdown pass.
Azubuike rose and hammered it home with one hand.
41 to 33.
That dunk gave Azubuike his ninth point of the quarter.
Phoenix had hit San Antonio with two straight fast break scores, and the tempo suddenly jumped a gear. Popovich called timeout on instinct.
"Nice pass, Chen!"
Azubuike sprinted back to half court, chest bumping Chen Yan on the way. They practiced long throws like that all the time, but pulling it off in a playoff game hit different.
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