Soon enough, the second quarter began.
It started with a battle between the bench units.
With players like "The Left-Handed Magic Johnson" Odom, Shannon Brown, and Barnes, the Lakers' second unit was extremely strong. That was the depth of a championship team.
The Suns couldn't match it.
Over a 4 minute and 27 second stretch, the Lakers' bench mob extended the lead from 4 points to 6.
"Beep!"
Alvin Gentry called a timeout.
Both teams' starters returned to the floor.
Cheers erupted from the stands.
Most of the home crowd's applause was for the Lakers, though some of it was for the Suns and for Blake Su.
For the fans, Blake Su's return meant they wanted to see more highlight plays from him.
But for Kobe, Van Gundy, Mike Breen, and Jordan, who was watching the game, it was about something else. They wanted to see whether Blake Su truly had a post-up game, and if he did, how polished it really was.
The game resumed.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
Steve Nash brought the ball up and settled at the top of the key. On the right side, Curry cut in before looping back out, looking ready to receive the pass. It seemed like Nash would pass to him.
But instead, he swung it to the left side.
Blake Su had come off the baseline and popped out to the left wing. Artest chased after him, but Blake Su, taller and quicker, caught the ball and turned.
Facing Artest's defense, he rose and fired a three.
"Swish!"
Nothing but net.
A clean, confident make.
"Blake Su scores right after checking in. No surprise, he's the Suns' top scoring option!"
"A center coming off a baseline cut, catching, turning, and knocking down a contested three. We've seen it many times, but it still makes you shake your head.
Blake Su is just that dominant."
Possession changed.
Kobe brought the ball up himself, called for a screen, then set up at the right high post. With his back to Steve Nash, he backed him down with strength, created space, then turned into a fadeaway.
"Swish!"
The shot dropped cleanly.
Nash had done everything he could, but against Kobe's post-up game, there was simply no answer.
Kobe responded immediately.
Curry pushed the ball up against Kobe's tight defense. The pressure disrupted his rhythm, and he couldn't break through, forcing him to pass.
The ball went back to Nash at the top, then inside to Blake Su at the right high post.
Blake Su caught it with his back to Artest. Pau Gasol had been ready to double, but seeing the setup, he held back and instead watched Carter in the corner.
"Here it comes."
Kobe's eyes sharpened. While keeping Curry in check, he focused on Blake Su, waiting to see how refined his post-up really was.
Blake Su backed into Artest, then drove with his lower body.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
They collided in a physical battle, inching closer to the paint. But Artest, known as "The Beast," had incredible strength as well.
Kobe had just bullied Nash with ease.
Blake Su could not move Artest the same way, but that did not matter. After forcing his way near the paint and engaging in another bump, Blake Su made a half-turn.
He gathered the ball and gave a convincing fake.
At the same time, he watched Artest's balance out of the corner of his eye. The moment Artest leaned, Blake Su pulled back the other way and rose into a turnaround jumper.
Artest reacted quickly and leaped to contest. Since Blake Su did not lean back much, Artest believed he had a chance to disrupt or even block the shot.
But he misjudged it.
Blake Su did not have a dramatic fadeaway like Kobe, but he was a full 17 centimeters taller.
That alone made the difference.
Blake Su released the ball. It sailed past Artest's fingertips, far out of reach, and dropped cleanly through the net.
The next possession.
"Swish!"
Blake Su used the same move again. Backing down Artest, combining footwork with shoulder fakes, he created space and knocked down another turnaround jumper.
And then.
"Beep beep!"
The shot counted, and the whistle blew.
Artest was called for a foul on the wrist.
"Wow!"
Van Gundy exclaimed in shock.
"Another perfect post-up. Once might be coincidence, twice could be luck, but including the last possession of the first quarter, Blake Su has now scored three times out of post-ups, all of them polished and flawless.
He really does have a post-up game."
"Exactly."
Mike Breen was equally excited.
"I didn't expect Blake Su, this 'super rookie,' to still be training this hard despite already being so strong.
He's continuing to expand his offensive arsenal. And now, suddenly unveiling this post-up ability has dealt the Lakers a heavy blow.
They don't know how to defend him anymore."
The commentators were fired up, and so were the Suns fans. Watching Blake Su's smooth and elegant footwork, they could all tell.
He had improved again.
On the court, Kobe narrowed his eyes.
He understood Jordan's Post-Up Ability better than anyone and knew how difficult it was to master.
Seeing how closely Blake Su's moves resembled Jordan's, and how solid and fluid his footwork was, he could not help but admire Blake Su's learning ability.
Kobe clicked his tongue softly and stared at him.
"You kid. Not only do you have insane talent, your ability to learn is just as terrifying.
And you're still just a rookie.
If you keep developing for a few more seasons, who in this league will be able to beat you?
No, even now, you're already a huge problem for everyone. Blake Su, you've already given the Suns the ability to challenge me.
But.
I won't let you succeed. At least until I restore the 'Purple and Gold King,' this league will stay under my control."
A surge of fighting spirit rose within Kobe.
He tightened his expression, fully locked in.
After Blake Su made the free throw, Kobe brought the ball up and set up at the left high post.
Carter was on him, and Nash tried to help pressure.
Kobe faked a move to shake Nash, then backed down Carter. After several bumps, he made a half-turn and went up for a shot.
Carter jumped to contest.
But it was a fake.
Kobe slipped past him, drove to the basket, and finished with a smooth layup.
On the next possession.
Blake Su held the ball at the top of the key, facing Fisher on a mismatch. He exploded forward, but immediately drew help defense from Artest and Gasol.
Blake Su faked the drive, pulling Artest away, leaving himself one-on-one with Gasol.
He went into the post.
One strong bump.
Gasol's balance shifted slightly backward.
Blake Su gathered, turned halfway, and rose for the shot. Gasol reacted instantly and jumped to contest.
But it was another fake.
As Gasol came down, Blake Su slipped toward the basket.
A soft underhand layup.
Easy points.
Van Gundy's eyes widened again.
"Blake Su's post-up just now was exactly the same as Kobe's from a moment ago!"
...
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