Chapter 620: Making Bold Talk to Seize the Initiative!
Tickets for the Suns' 1st home game of the playoffs were gone almost immediately. As always, Phoenix fans showed their support through action.
The outside world generally favored the Suns to advance, but not many people believed they could sweep the Portland Trail Blazers.
After Stoudemire's departure, Phoenix's interior offense had declined sharply. Their lack of force inside could give Portland's star power forward, Aldridge, a chance to deliver a standout performance in this series.
During the interview before the game, Roy remained as steady and reserved as ever.
"I won't think too much about the final result," Roy said. "I'll only focus on playing every offensive and defensive possession the right way."
Aldridge was more direct.
"The Suns are strong," he said. "But that doesn't mean they're invincible. We're ready."
Chen Yan arrived at the arena in a casual suit, and the moment he appeared, an ESPN female reporter immediately stepped forward.
"Chen, Aldridge just said the Trail Blazers are ready to win this game. What is your prediction for the series?"
Chen Yan raised 4 fingers.
"4 games to end it."
After saying that, he walked straight into the locker room without looking back.
He usually did not let interviews take up too much private time before a game. That had always been his habit.
Tonight, from warmups to introductions, Chen Yan did not put on any extra show. This was the 1st playoff game of the season, and he had to be fully locked in.
The Suns' starting lineup was Nash, Chen Yan, Grant Hill, Diaw, and Gallinari.
This was a lineup built toward perimeter offense, almost a pure scoring lineup. D'Antoni had tested it many times during the second half of the regular season, and the results had been good.
However, playoff intensity was far greater than the regular season. Whether this lineup would still work under that pressure remained to be seen.
The Trail Blazers' starting lineup was Andre Miller, Brandon Roy, Marion, Aldridge, and Joel Przybilla.
Looking at Portland's lineup, Barkley said, "The Trail Blazers have size. No question about it. Especially in the paint. The only question is whether they know how to use it."
Kenny Smith chuckled. "Sometimes an advantage can become a disadvantage. If the Suns speed this game up, Portland will have trouble keeping pace, especially with a 216 cm center like Joel Przybilla."
No matter whether Przybilla's height would become an advantage or a liability during the game, it was at least useful for the opening tip.
Przybilla easily outjumped Gallinari and helped Portland win the 1st possession.
Andre Miller crossed half court and passed the ball to Roy on the perimeter.
Chen Yan immediately applied tight pressure, making Roy uncomfortable from the opening possession.
He not only denied Roy any clean shooting opportunity, but also disrupted his dribbling rhythm.
During the regular season, Chen Yan had occasionally conserved energy on defense for the sake of carrying the offense. But that would not happen in the playoffs.
From the very 1st game, the fans could see that Chen Yan was giving everything on both ends of the floor.
Roy also wanted to compete with him.
Young players were supposed to have some pride. Without that fire, what kind of young star were they?
Roy did not call for a screen. He lowered his center of gravity and dribbled with his right hand, preparing to find a lane to attack.
But Chen Yan had already read his next move.
The moment Roy put the ball down, Chen Yan reached out and poked it free.
His hand speed was lightning fast. After knocking the ball loose, he slipped around Roy from the other side and accelerated.
The steal came too suddenly.
The Trail Blazers on the floor had not even reacted before Chen Yan was already dribbling past half court.
Front court, 1 on 0.
It was Chen Yan's showtime again.
Gather.
Step.
Rise.
"Boom!"
A full windmill dunk detonated the arena.
The home crowd exploded in an instant.
Barkley shouted, "Oh, come on, man! We just started the game! The man already brought out the windmill!"
Kenny's voice rose as well. "That's how you set the tone in a playoff series. Defense first, then a statement finish."
The 2 commentators had expected Chen Yan to ignite the crowd.
They just had not expected it to happen so quickly.
Portland attacked again.
Roy received the ball on the perimeter from Andre Miller.
Chen Yan continued his suffocating pressure.
This time, Roy did not stubbornly try to challenge Chen Yan by himself. He calmly called for a teammate to set a screen.
After the screen, Roy lobbed the ball to Miller, who had slipped into the low post.
Although Andre Miller was a point guard, he loved operating in the post. Low post isolation was 1 of his most reliable scoring methods.
Nash was the primary defender, and Miller backed him down twice with force.
Nash looked overwhelmed, so Gallinari came from the interior to double team.
But Miller had already driven too deep with the ball. Once the double team arrived, he could not shoot comfortably, and even finding a passing angle became difficult.
Miller forced the pass out.
Joel Przybilla caught it awkwardly and nearly lost control.
Gallinari immediately recovered to his defensive position and disrupted Przybilla's shot.
"Clang!"
The sound of an air ball echoed through the arena.
Chen Yan had already sensed the opportunity. He quickly leaked out, looking for a fast break chance.
Diaw failed to control the rebound on the 1st attempt.
The ball was tipped outward and eventually secured by Grant Hill.
Hill immediately threw it ahead.
Nash got the ball, and Chen Yan was still sprinting forward.
Suns front court, 2 on 2.
Nash delivered the pass in rhythm, and Chen Yan caught the ball at the top of the arc.
Roy was still trying to determine whether Chen Yan would drive or shoot.
Then Chen Yan suddenly exploded into a dribble and stepped back.
For an ordinary player, this shot would have been extremely difficult.
For Chen Yan, it was routine.
"Swish!"
The 3 pointer dropped cleanly.
0 to 5.
Portland possession.
This time, Chen Yan pressured Roy before he even caught the ball.
Roy still had not adjusted to Chen Yan's playoff intensity. Every catch, every step, and every dribble felt uncomfortable.
Andre Miller did not force the ball through Roy on this possession. After running a screen action with Aldridge, he passed it out.
Aldridge missed a high post jumper from the right side.
Once the playoffs began, every team studied its opponent thoroughly. The Suns' scouting staff had long analyzed the Trail Blazers' data, tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses.
Aldridge was a big man with range, but his weakest area was the right high post, where his shooting percentage was only 40.9 percent.
Because of that, Phoenix's defenders intentionally tried to guide him into that area whenever they defended him.
This was a defensive strategy D'Antoni had prepared before the game.
On this possession, Portland retreated quickly on defense, so the Suns entered their half court offense.
Chen Yan received the ball at the top of the arc, defended by former Suns player Marion.
Chen Yan held the ball with 1 hand behind his back.
Diaw understood immediately and came up to set a screen.
Chen Yan dribbled 1 step sideways, then suddenly accelerated, pushing the ball through the gap between Diaw and Aldridge.
The moment Chen Yan broke through, Portland's defensive shape collapsed.
Przybilla stepped up to help.
Chen Yan calmly delivered the ball to the open Gallinari.
Andre Miller rotated over to cover Gallinari, and Gallinari immediately swung the ball across to Nash.
Wide open.
Nash drew his bow and fired.
The 3 pointer went in.
0 to 8.
Although Chen Yan's box score did not change on that possession, he had played the most important role in creating the offense.
Portland had failed to find any rhythm at the start, and head coach McMillan quickly called the 1st timeout of the game.
On the Suns' sideline, D'Antoni clapped continuously, encouraging his players.
He had told the team before the game that they needed to strike first and seize control early.
So far, Phoenix had executed that plan perfectly.
.....
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