That's right.
Blake Su was indeed facing targeted defense, but this was something he chose. With his athleticism and shooting ability, if he wanted to use screens, he had plenty of other ways to score.
However, aware that his offensive arsenal was still limited, Blake Su wanted to test himself and see how he would perform against this kind of focused defense.
Although he was somewhat restricted, he felt he had done fairly well under such pressure. Still, winning the game was what mattered most, so he decided it was time to adjust.
He planned to use the [Jordan's Post-Up Ability].
...
During the timeout.
Inside a luxury villa in Charlotte.
"The God of Basketball," Michael Jordan, sat in his spacious living room watching TV, where the Lakers vs. Suns game was being broadcast.
"They're targeting him, huh?"
Jordan stared at Blake Su on the screen, narrowed his eyes, and shook his head.
"I told you, your offensive game isn't versatile enough. If you had properly learned Jordan's Post-Up Ability, you wouldn't be struggling like this tonight.
But I don't think you'll go down that easily. Otherwise, I'd be disappointed in you, Blake Su."
...
Back on the court.
The timeout ended, and play resumed.
The Suns had the ball.
Curry held it at the top of the key, slowed the tempo, and used a left-handed in-and-out move. Kobe took a step back, and Curry immediately took advantage.
He pulled up for three.
"Clang!"
Miss.
The rebound.
Frye and Odom battled for it, but Blake Su slipped into the paint and snatched the ball from the crowd. Bynum and Gasol immediately collapsed on him for a double team.
"Whoa!"
Blake Su kicked it back out to Curry, who fired another three.
Kobe lunged to contest.
But Curry's release was lightning quick. The ball flew past Kobe's fingertips, drawing a smooth arc through the air.
"Swish!"
Nothing but net.
28.4 seconds remaining.
Kobe brought the ball up, calm and unhurried at the top of the key. With 10 seconds left, he dribbled to the right high post and turned his back to Carter.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
He backed down repeatedly, then made a half-spin with a series of shoulder fakes. As Carter lost his balance for a moment, Kobe turned and rose into a picture-perfect fadeaway jumper.
"Swish!"
Clean.
"Kobe's post-up into that fadeaway is just unstoppable!"
"Of course. That move came from Jordan. Now that Kobe has refined it to a level comparable to Jordan, it's incredibly powerful!"
...
The Suns had 9.1 seconds left.
Carter inbounded from the baseline to Steve Nash. The Suns pushed the pace. Nash swung the ball across midcourt to Curry at the top, who saw Blake Su calling for it at the left high post.
He passed it over.
Blake Su caught the ball. Odom pressed up on him, and at the same time Pau Gasol slid over, preparing to double-team.
Blake Su faked a pass to Curry at the top.
Gasol immediately chased out.
Blake Su had his back to Odom.
"That stance. Is he going to post up?"
Van Gundy was startled.
In the next moment.
Blake Su drove with his lower body into Odom, engaging in physical contact. He executed a half-turn and a shoulder fake, completely shifting Odom's balance.
"Whoa!"
Blake Su pulled it back, then turned and rose for a jumper.
"Swish!"
Nothing but net.
The Lakers had only 2.1 seconds left. Kobe caught the ball and launched a full-court heave, but it missed.
The first quarter ended.
Lakers (31): (27) Suns.
The Lakers led by 4.
At the commentary table, Van Gundy's eyes were wide with disbelief.
"Mike, did you see that? Was that a post-up just now? His technique looked incredibly solid."
"Yeah."
Mike Breen was equally surprised.
Because that post-up move from Blake Su, whether it was the lower-body strength, the half-turn fake, or his control of balance, was far beyond what a beginner could achieve.
Yet before tonight, Blake Su had never shown any post-up ability. If he was using it now, he should still be a beginner.
That was what made it so puzzling.
"Maybe he's been practicing recently. Or maybe it was just luck. A one-time thing. Let's keep watching, we'll know soon enough."
"Right."
...
During the break between quarters.
On the Lakers bench.
Kobe, who had just watched Blake Su's entire post-up sequence, was stunned.
"That post-up. There's no way that's beginner level.
Has this kid been training in private?
To reach that level, it takes at least a year, maybe several. And he's never used it before. How did he do it?
Or was it just a fluke under defensive pressure?"
On the Suns bench.
Steve Nash approached Blake Su in disbelief.
"Blake Su, just now. That post-up. Your footwork was incredibly solid, like you've been learning from Michael for quite some time.
Did you really master it already?"
Beside them, Curry, George, and the others were equally curious.
"Uh..."
Blake Su thought for a moment, then gave an awkward smile.
"Yes. Mr. Michael explained everything very clearly. I gained a lot. With more practice, I got the hang of it."
For now, that was the only explanation he could give.
But hearing this, Curry and George felt a chill run through them.
"Just half an hour of instruction, and he mastered it? And he could already use it in a real game against a defender like Odom and score?
What kind of monstrous learning talent is that?"
George was completely stunned.
Curry shook his head and pulled George away, as if saying they should not compare themselves to a genius because it was too discouraging.
As for the fans in the stands, most did not think much of it. After all, it was just one play, and few paid special attention to Blake Su's post-up.
However.
Back in Jordan's villa, as he watched the game, the moment he saw that post-up from the first quarter, his mind roared.
No one understood his offense better than he did. That was why he knew exactly how solid the fundamentals had to be to execute that move.
"No way."
A hint of shock rose in Jordan's heart.
"Just half an hour of explanation and a bit of simple practice, not even real game training.
The kid who stood me up.
Blake Su... he really mastered my post-up?!"