8:00 p.m.
US Airways Center.
One hour before tipoff.
Inside the Suns locker room.
The players were adjusting their shoes and uniforms, getting ready to head out for warmups, when Coach Gentry walked in and gathered everyone together.
He said, "Guys, we clinched a playoff spot 17 games early and beat the Heat's 'Big Three.' We can say we're one of the best teams in this league.
"But.
"Carter's injury is bad news for us.
"So... from now until the end of the regular season, while we protect the No. 1 seed in the West as much as possible, we also need to get George integrated into the starting lineup.
"We need to build good chemistry as soon as we can."
"Yeah!"
"Got it!"
Everyone answered in unison.
After beating the Heat, the Suns players were full of confidence.
Off to the side.
George, who was quietly straightening out his gear, nodded to himself. This was his chance. He would work hard, play well, and complete his transformation as soon as possible.
"Oh, right."
Gentry had just finished speaking and was about to leave first, but then he remembered something and turned back. "The Grizzlies' core is the 'Black and White Bears.'
"But.
"Zach Randolph has been out recently with a back injury, so the only player who poses a truly major threat in the paint is Marc Gasol.
"Even so.
"Don't underestimate them. The Grizzlies' identity is defense. Even without Randolph, they're still very strong on that end."
"Got it!"
Curry nodded in response.
Only after saying that did Gentry leave.
"Defense..."
Blake Su murmured softly.
[Ding!]
But just then, the System notification suddenly sounded in his mind.
[Ding! Random task triggered. Break or set at least three records in a single playoff series, and receive the reward: ["The Glove" Gary Payton's Defense]]
"Oh?"
"It's here?"
The sudden random task caught Blake Su a little off guard. But... when he saw the reward, his heart immediately stirred.
How good was "The Glove" Gary Payton's defense?
Very good.
It was Payton's suffocating defense, holding the player he guarded as firmly as a baseball in a glove, that earned him the nickname "The Glove."
"Even though it's not a strength boost, 'The Glove' Payton's defensive awareness and experience, combined with Iverson's personal steals and the instant activation of [Eagle Spear].
"When the time comes.
"My defense will definitely improve another level. That will give me a much better chance in the playoffs, where defensive intensity will rise sharply.
"Not bad at all.
"But... completing this task doesn't look easy. Breaking or setting three records in a single series is no simple thing.
"Still.
"It's better than nothing."
Thinking this, Blake Su nodded slightly. He was now full of anticipation for the playoffs, for completing the task, and for "The Glove" Payton's defense.
"Go, go, go!"
George, who was looking forward to his first start of the season, called everyone out to the court for training. Together, they headed out to warm up for the game.
Soon.
One hour later.
Warmups ended, and both teams' starters began taking the floor.
Phoenix Suns starting lineup: 191-centimeter point guard Steve Nash, 191-centimeter shooting guard Stephen Curry, 206-centimeter small forward Paul George, 211-centimeter power forward Channing Frye, and 215-centimeter center Blake Su.
Memphis Grizzlies starting lineup: 185-centimeter point guard Mike Conley, 193-centimeter shooting guard Tony Allen, 203-centimeter small forward Rudy Gay, 206-centimeter power forward Darrell Arthur, and 216-centimeter center Marc Gasol.
"Jump ball!"
Blake Su and Marc Gasol faced off for the tip.
Although Marc Gasol was one centimeter taller than Blake Su, the gap in leaping ability was far too big. Blake Su once again got to the ball first and tapped it away.
"Smack!"
Nash caught the ball.
He pushed into the frontcourt to run the Suns' first possession. At the top of the arc, he handed the ball to Blake Su, who was facing... Arthur's defense.
A jab-step drive fake, then he rose to shoot.
"It's a jumper!"
Arthur had read the play carefully and did not bite on the fake. His gaze sharpened, and he jumped to contest. But little did he know... Blake Su's shot fake was still a feint.
"Step!"
He slid one step to the side.
"Whoosh!"
As Arthur flew past him, Blake Su raised the ball and fired a three. The basketball traced a parabola through the air and dropped straight into the net.
"Swish!"
Nothing but net.
"What the hell?!"
Arthur looked helpless, but there was nothing he could do. Blake Su's shooting threat was too great, and he was too tall. If Arthur did not commit to that kind of contest after making his read, there would be no effect at all.
Given another chance.
He would still defend it the same way, because only that gave him a chance to block Blake Su.
Unfortunately, it seemed he was still thinking too much.
"Swish!"
After Conley drove past Nash and finished a layup, the possession changed. Blake Su brought the ball up, stopped at the middle of the arc, one step beyond the three-point line.
"Whoosh!"
Facing Arthur, Blake Su fired a sudden three right over his defense.
"Step!"
Arthur's pupils shrank. He rushed forward almost at the same time to contest, thinking that even if he could not block it, his timing would create a lot of interference.
But.
"Swish!"
The thought had barely formed in his mind when he turned back in shock. With an extremely crisp sound, the basketball pierced the net again.
Another clean make.
"How?!"
Arthur was stunned.
What he believed was flawless defense looked completely insignificant in front of Blake Su. Blake Su still scored as if Arthur were not there, doing it with effortless calm.
"What... what a strong rookie!"
Arthur's mind took a heavy blow. Before the game, Head Coach Lionel Hollins had repeatedly stressed that if rookie Blake Su started torching him.
He had to keep his composure.
Arthur had nodded again and again, but... once he was actually blown up by a rookie, crushed in such unreasonable fashion, his mentality still began to crack.
Fortunately.
Marc Gasol kept scoring inside, and Conley's touch from the perimeter was good tonight as well. With the inside-out combination working, the Grizzlies' offense looked fairly organized.
In addition.
On defense, Tony Allen and Rudy Gay were both excellent defenders, and Marc Gasol was anchoring the paint. For the time being, the gap did not grow too large.
After the first quarter.
Suns (28): (24) Grizzlies.
Even with Blake Su scoring 16 points in the quarter, the Grizzlies, playing without Randolph, were down by only 4. That was a situation they could absolutely accept.
And.
It gave them plenty of confidence heading into the next three quarters.