Chapter 622: It's Not That Simple
Portland's offense resumed.
Andre Miller dribbled past half court.
Although the Trail Blazers had fallen behind early, they did not panic. Miller calmly organized the possession, moving at his own rhythm.
Aldridge received the ball near the 3 point arc and served as the hub of the offense.
Marion moved to the wing, and Nash switched onto him.
This mismatch was intentional for the Suns. If Andre Miller kept going into low post isolations, Nash would become a defensive liability. Having Nash guard Marion was not unreasonable. Marion's ball handling was average, he lacked strong dribble drive ability, and his release point was low enough that Nash could still bother the shot.
After facing up in triple threat position, Marion took a lateral dribble and prepared for a handoff with Roy.
Chen Yan kept applying pressure. He stepped forward aggressively and almost forced Portland into a turnover during the exchange.
Fortunately for the Trail Blazers, Roy stayed calm and kept possession.
Roy took a lateral dribble, then suddenly went between the legs, but he still could not fully shake Chen Yan.
He made a long pass to Andre Miller in the corner.
Miller caught the ball and immediately cut toward the basket.
Grant Hill stuck to his side. After absorbing contact, Miller finished with a reverse layup.
6 to 15.
After scoring, Miller lost his balance and fell to the floor, accidentally taking Przybilla down with him.
Miller immediately got up and sprinted back on defense.
Przybilla could not do the same. He was a 216 cm big man, and getting off the floor was not exactly a guard's job.
The Suns seized the chance and launched a fast break.
It became a 5 on 4 situation across the court.
Nash immediately passed the ball to Chen Yan near the baseline, and Portland decisively sent the double team.
Marion and Roy directly trapped Chen Yan's position.
Nash cut into the paint.
Chen Yan delivered an imaginative behind the back pass, threading the ball to Nash as he slipped inside.
The 2 connected perfectly, and Nash scored the layup.
6 to 17.
Portland offense.
Roy received the ball with his back to the basket near the elbow.
The Suns immediately double teamed him. Otherwise, Portland's leading scorer would turn and attack.
Roy still had not scored tonight, and Phoenix wanted to keep pressing that advantage. As long as Portland's main scorer remained quiet, the Trail Blazers' offense would struggle to breathe.
Roy passed across the court, sending the ball back to Andre Miller.
Miller caught it without a fake and immediately accelerated into a drive.
Miller was 34 years old this year, but Grant Hill, the veteran defending him, was already 38. Miller still believed he had an edge in speed.
He drove hard.
Nash sank into the paint, and Miller tried to pass back out, but the ball was knocked out of bounds.
The referee pointed forward, signaling Portland would keep possession in the front court.
Roy received the ball and came off a screen for a mid range jumper.
Missed.
His touch still had not arrived.
Grant Hill easily grabbed the defensive rebound and brought the ball up himself.
When he reached the wing, Hill suddenly accelerated.
For a brief moment, that move showed a shadow of the fastest 1st step he once had.
Hill's sudden drive drew Portland's defensive attention.
He decisively whipped the ball to the opposite corner.
Before driving, Hill had already spotted Chen Yan waiting there.
Chen Yan caught the ball and immediately released a 3 pointer.
The ball splashed through the net.
6 to 20.
Phoenix's offense was flowing so smoothly that the fans almost forgot this was a playoff game.
The camera zoomed in on Chen Yan.
Expressionless, he extended 3 fingers, then ran them across the forearm of his other arm.
That was Chen Yan's personal 3 point celebration.
Portland's next possession began with an attempt to attack the paint.
Andre Miller passed to Marion, and Marion lobbed it inside to Aldridge.
2 Suns players immediately came to double team him.
Aldridge could not turn, and he had no clean passing lane. He was forced to dribble the ball back beyond the 3 point line.
Roy pulled out near the logo to receive the pass.
After catching the ball, Roy had a wide open look.
He stared at the rim, but chose not to shoot.
Influenced by Chen Yan, Roy had also practiced a lot of ultra long range 3 pointers this season.
But he still passed on this attempt.
Portland's offense was already struggling, and the team's morale was low. If he forced a difficult shot and missed in this moment, it would only hurt them further.
No matter the situation, Roy remained calm.
Chen Yan directly gave Roy 2 steps of space.
He knew Roy could shoot from ultra long range, but it was not Roy's regular weapon. Chen Yan did not think he needed to pressure him too aggressively there. If Roy made that kind of shot, Chen Yan would accept it.
Roy hesitated for a moment, then passed across the court to Andre Miller.
Miller took 1 dribble and rose into a high post jumper.
Phoenix's perimeter defense was loose on this possession, making Miller's shot almost a half open look.
But it still missed.
Przybilla grabbed the 1st bounce and tipped the rebound outward.
Aldridge dove to save the ball.
He would have been better off letting it go.
His save sent the ball straight into Chen Yan's hands.
Portland's players instantly tensed up.
This was practically handing Chen Yan an invitation to sprint straight into their backyard.
However, Chen Yan fumbled the ball on the 1st touch and lost the best fast break opportunity.
Once Phoenix settled into the half court offense, Chen Yan pulled up for a 3 pointer.
Missed.
Chen Yan was human, not a god. He made mistakes on the court too.
It was just that most of the time, his mistakes were buried beneath his brilliance.
Roy grabbed the rebound and pushed the fast break, passing the ball to Andre Miller at the arc.
On this possession, Nash was once again defending Miller.
Miller did not try to overpower him with speed. His speed was not enough to gain an obvious advantage against Nash.
After a hesitation, Miller changed direction and cut along the left side.
Inside the paint, Miller suddenly paused, his eyes looking toward the perimeter.
Just when everyone thought he was about to pass, he suddenly jumped and finished the layup.
8 to 20.
Portland had not collapsed tonight because of Miller's stubborn veteran effort.
After watching that possession, many fans joked online that Andre Miller had fooled everyone with his eyes.
Miller did bear some resemblance to singer Karen Mok, not only in appearance, but even in that strange, expressive charm.
The Suns immediately inbounded quickly.
Nash received the ball and made a long pass to Grant Hill.
The pass was comfortable and not too fast. After catching it, Hill had a chance to attack the basket directly.
But at that moment, he suddenly fumbled.
He failed to secure the ball on the 1st touch, then, in his hurry to recover it, knocked it straight out of bounds.
The Suns crowd sighed in regret.
On the Portland bench, the players clapped enthusiastically.
Their morale seemed to rise a little.
.....
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
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