Chapter 534: A Well Rounded Performance at the Start
With the regular season MVP and the honor points accumulated through the first two rounds of the Playoffs, Chen Yan's total had reached 447.
After opening the system, he began assigning points. During his first 2 years as a professional, Chen Yan had won a large number of games and collected plenty of honors, so his attributes had risen quickly. But the higher an attribute climbed, the more honor points each upgrade required.
He first spent 100 honor points to raise his stamina to [97].
The deeper a run goes in the Playoffs, the more important stamina becomes. Chen Yan was already known as a stamina monster, but he still had room to improve. Better stamina meant he could do even more on the court.
He then used 30 honor points on [Free Throw]. In the Playoffs, details decide everything, and every point matters when the game tightens.
After that, he spent 200 honor points to raise [Mid Range Shooting] to [99]. That gave him another maxed out scoring attribute besides his [Three Point Shooting]. At this point, he truly had no dead zone once he got anywhere near scoring range.
Name: Chen Yan
Height: 198 cm
Weight: 94.5 kg
Wingspan: 218 cm
Vertical Jump: 105 cm
Running Vertical Jump: 118 cm
Ball Handling: 93
Speed: 97
Stamina: 97
Vision: 88
Driving: 95
Layup: 95
Mid Range Shooting: 99
Three Point Shooting: 99
Free Throw: 90
Passing: 87
Off Ball Movement: 91
Steal: 90
Strength: 86
Rebounding: 90
Defense: 86
Block: 81
Spirit: 98
Skills: God Tier Steal, The Answer Crossover, Magic Shadow Maze, Hot Start [Passive], Perfect Hand Shape [Passive], Juggling Finish [Passive], Godly Pull Up Jumper, Passing Master Lv3, Sam Good, Iron Will [Passive], Mamba Step Lv3, Post Up Skills Lv2, Lightning First Step, Fingertip Floater, Divine Shot Baptism, Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg, Classic Floater, Magnetic Gloves [Passive], Rebounding Monster [Passive], Spiritual Leader, Buddha Crossing Move
Honor Points: 117
Overall Rating: SS
Besides assigning points, Chen Yan also spent 25 honor points to buy a [Status Enhancement Card].
He took Game 2 very seriously. He planned to go all out in this one. If Phoenix lost both home games, the series would be all but finished.
Game 2 was still at US Airways Center, and before tipoff, the two commentators were already breaking things down.
Charles said, "This game is absolutely crucial for the Suns. Going to Los Angeles at 1 to 1 and going there at 0 to 2 are two completely different situations. For Phoenix to win, the first thing they need to do is settle down and play the way they did in the regular season. Beating the Lakers at home should not be too difficult, but if their mindset is off and they shoot like they did last game, then this will be a very hard night."
Kenny added, "If Phoenix plays at its normal level, its offensive firepower is greater than the Lakers'. I believe the players have all adjusted after 2 days of rest, and the coaching staff must have prepared plenty of solutions. Now let's see what they actually put on the floor."
The starting lineups were quickly announced.
Phoenix Suns: Nash, Chen Yan, Grant Hill, Diaw, Stoudemire.
D Antoni adjusted the lineup by putting Hill into the starting group. Hill brought more offensive skill and experience.
Even the domestic fans had started to figure out D'Antoni's substitution habits after 2 seasons of watching Phoenix. If he wanted to strengthen perimeter defense, he used Raja Bell. If he wanted more offense, he used Grant Hill. The other 4 starters basically stayed the same.
The Lakers kept their starting lineup unchanged. Coaches rarely alter a winning lineup without a strong reason.
Before the game, Phil Jackson's instructions were similar to the previous one. He told Kobe to pass more and connect the team more. Kobe nodded. He trusted Phil Jackson, and that approach had worked perfectly in Game 1.
D Antoni, meanwhile, demanded a high offensive efficiency from the opening tip. If Phoenix could grab the lead early, the rest of the game would become much easier. Against a veteran team like the Lakers, falling behind early often meant playing on their terms the rest of the night.
"Earvin, who do you like tonight?" Kenny Smith asked Magic Johnson.
Alongside Barkley and Kenny Smith, Magic Johnson was also at the desk today.
Magic smiled. "I support the Lakers anywhere and anytime, but this game is going to be difficult. Phoenix can't keep shooting like that forever. The chances of them losing 2 straight at home are not high."
"Kenny, Charles, what about you?" he asked.
"Of course Phoenix," Barkley said without hesitation. "The Suns are winning this one. And I hope it gets a little tense too. Good basketball needs a little drama."
It was almost a rhetorical question. Barkley had played for Phoenix, and Magic was a Lakers legend. There was never much suspense about where their loyalties stood.
Before stepping onto the floor, Chen Yan did not forget to use the [Status Enhancement Card].
[Ding! Item [Status Enhancement] has been used. Duration: Single game, including overtime.]
Garnett won the opening tip against Stoudemire, and the Lakers got the first possession.
Fisher brought the ball across half court. With Raja Bell on the bench, Grant Hill took the primary assignment on Kobe.
Kobe was not a pure speed guard. A large part of his offense still came from post ups and isolation footwork, so Hill was not at a severe disadvantage in that matchup.
Kobe faked toward the ball, then drifted outside. Fisher fed Camby in the paint instead.
The Lakers were still determined to establish their interior game early.
Stoudemire defended tightly and refused to let Camby turn comfortably. He had played an awful game last time, and from the opening whistle tonight, he was fully locked in. He wanted to redeem himself.
Camby kicked the ball back out to Kobe on the perimeter.
Kobe caught it and went into triple threat. Garnett came up aggressively to set a screen, forcing the switch. Diaw took Kobe, and Hill slid onto Garnett.
Kobe bounced the ball to Garnett. It was a mismatch opportunity, and Garnett wasted no time, rising into a mid range jumper right over Hill.
Clang.
The shot came off badly and bounced off the rim.
Nash retreated a step, secured the rebound, and before the Lakers could get back, fired a long pass to Chen Yan.
The ball landed perfectly in Chen Yan's hands.
Even before he caught it, Chen Yan had already read the floor. Only 2 Lakers had gotten back beyond the 3 point line, and one of them was still occupied by Hill.
From the right side, outside the arc, Chen Yan stopped and launched a trailing 3 immediately.
It was good.
He opened his scoring account with a difficult transition 3.
The Lakers came back on offense.
Garnett received the ball at the free throw line, and the Lakers flowed into their triangle offense.
He took 1 dribble, then spun left. Nash left Fisher and came to double him. Garnett was quick and balanced, and midway through the spin he kicked the ball back out to Fisher on the perimeter.
Nash was late on the closeout. Fisher's release looked awkward, but it was quick.
Swish.
2 to 3.
Phoenix came right back.
Nash brought the ball over half court and immediately signaled for a set. Stoudemire screened for Chen Yan on the wing.
Using that screen, Chen Yan shook free from James Posey and caught the ball on the wing. Camby stepped out to meet him. The instant Chen Yan caught it, he came to a sudden stop, then exploded past him with a Crossing Move and knifed into the restricted area.
Garnett rotated over at once. Phil Jackson had been clear before the game: better to give other Suns open looks than let Chen Yan score easily.
Even though Chen Yan got by Camby, it was still a brutal window. Garnett was in front of him, Camby was behind him, and the two Lakers bigs had him pinned like a club sandwich.
In the middle of that squeeze, Chen Yan flicked the ball upward.
Stoudemire exploded off the floor, caught it with both hands, and hammered it through.
3 to 5.
Assist for Chen Yan.
Over the next few minutes, he stayed frighteningly efficient. In just 3 minutes and 26 seconds of the first quarter, Chen Yan already had 6 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals.
It was a complete performance right out of the gate.
.....
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