Chen Yu sat back down and watched the game quietly.
The Lakers didn't seem to anticipate that the Phoenix Suns would push Nowitzki to the center position. If Nowitzki were a power forward like Duncan, this move wouldn't have been an issue. But surprises aside, it didn't stop the Lakers from immediately opting to let Yao Ming force the issue.
Kobe drove and kicked the ball out. Yao Ming caught it and made his move. He couldn't completely bump Nowitzki away with his first step, so he paused slightly and pulled up for a hook shot, sinking it smoothly. Relying on his towering height, Yao's hook shot had become just as unguardable as his turnaround jumper. Unsurprisingly, Nowitzki simply couldn't stop him. There was no room for fantasies on the court, only the cold, hard reality of the skill gap.
However, the Phoenix Suns picked up the pace.
