The second quarter ended.
Suns 73, Heat 70.
The Suns held a three-point lead.
Playing the role of the "superhero," Blake went head-to-head with the "villains," the Heat Big Three, and exploded for 17 points in the second quarter alone!
Twenty-seven points in the first half.
That was the answer Blake delivered through two quarters.
"Blake is just incredible. Against the suffocating defense of the Heat Big Three, he still put up 27 points in the first half. Seriously, a player like this...
"Other than Blake, I've never seen anyone else like him."
In the stands, Wall looked completely stunned.
Kobe couldn't help but smile. "Tonight, if Blake wants to win this game and take the championship, he'll have to rely on individual heroics taken to the absolute limit.
"Just like the fans are chanting.
"Tonight, Blake has to become the 'superhero' and take down the 'villains,' the Heat Big Three."
"Awesome!"
Yi Jianlian clenched his fists, excitement written all over his face. "Blake is on fire again tonight. He's playing incredibly well. What a performance."
"Heh."
Yao Ming was smiling too. "'The Emperor' Blake. That kid is writing a basketball legend one step at a time.
"Keep it up!
"Keep playing like this all the way to the end. Win the game and bring home the championship!"
Watching Blake deliver a flawless first-half performance, his fellow players Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian couldn't have been happier.
"Yes!"
"Blake is playing so well!"
In the front row, Mia Quinn clenched her little fists, her face flushed red with excitement. Yoona was all smiles, just as thrilled.
"Blake is so cool!"
"Tonight, he's going to become the 'superhero,' defeat the 'villain' Heat, and win the championship!"
Young and beautiful, Mia Quinn and Yoona sat in the front row, and every smile and little gesture from them had the male fans nearby completely captivated.
Even quite a few foreign female fans couldn't help envying Mia Quinn and Yoona for their looks.
Across the arena, Paul frowned.
"Blake really is incredible. The league may be gradually moving toward the small-ball era, but still... a center attacking from the perimeter like this?
"Shooting threes from that far out?
"And making them at such a high percentage?
"That's ridiculous."
"Yeah."
Anthony nodded with a frown. "And the biggest thing is... Blake is still a rookie. Playing at this level...
"It's almost unbelievable.
"LeBron, Wade, and Bosh have all been good too, but they have to limit Blake as much as possible.
"Otherwise, if this game really comes down to the final few possessions, with how clutch Blake is, whether the Heat can actually win tonight is still a huge question."
A little farther down in the stands, Pippen asked, "Michael, who do you think wins tonight?"
"The Suns!"
Michael Jordan answered almost without hesitation, his voice full of excitement.
"'The Emperor' Blake is already unstoppable. Especially those ultra-deep threes of his. He's hitting them with incredible accuracy, and there's simply no way to contain him.
"The Heat Big Three have three stars taking turns attacking, while Blake is only a rookie, yet they're still trailing by three at halftime.
"Whether you look at momentum or individual ability, Blake has the edge.
"Tonight, Blake is going to make history. He's going to defeat the Heat Big Three through pure individual heroism and carry his team to the championship all by himself!"
Before this, Michael Jordan's view of the series had been simple. He wanted Blake to win, but believed the Heat Big Three would ultimately take the championship.
But now, the "God of Basketball" was absolutely certain that Blake would carry his team to the title through sheer individual heroism.
That change in opinion came from one thing alone.
The phenomenal level of dominance Blake had shown.
In the second quarter, once both teams went deeper into their rotations and the defensive intensity rose, Game 7 of the Finals turned into a true "superstar showdown."
It became "Superhero" Blake against the "villains," the Heat Big Three.
And the battle was far from over.
Halftime passed amid endless discussion and anticipation from the fans.
Then the second half began, and the war between the Suns and the Heat resumed.
"Here we go!"
In the broadcast studio, Mike Breen's eyes sharpened. He was ready to call a second half that was sure to be even more exciting.
"The teams switch ends for the second half, and the Heat get the first possession. LeBron goes one-on-one against George, accelerates down the right side, powers into him...
"LeBron!!!
"He muscles through George's defense and finishes another layup. What a strong take!
"Possession changes.
"Blake brings the ball up and gets Bosh in front of him. Before even a second passes, Wade rushes over. Are they really going to double-team Blake?
"Whoa...
"Blake is a full meter beyond the three-point line. He rises and fires another deep three before the double-team can close in.
"This one?!
"Yes, yes, yes!
"Blake's three rips through the net!"
"LeBron tries to power past Blake but gets nowhere. Still, he kicks it out to Wade, who bursts past Curry, attacks the rim, and takes off for the layup.
"After twisting and adjusting in midair, he banks it home.
"Back the other way.
"Curry uses Blake's screen and tries to answer with a layup, but Wade bothers the shot and it doesn't fall. The rebound?!
"Frye? Haslem?
"Wow!
"Neither one! Blake comes flying in from nowhere and throws down a put-back dunk right over Haslem!
"If his teammates miss, no problem.
"Blake can tear apart the Heat's defense all by himself."
"Wade attacks like a bolt of lightning but gets disrupted by Blake. He kicks it out to LeBron, who drives again, and George is extremely decisive on defense this time.
"LeBron?!
"His layup doesn't fall either.
"But don't forget, the Heat still have a third superstar. 'CB4' Bosh grabs the rebound, turns, rises, and knocks down the jumper.
"You stop one star, then another one gets you.
"The Heat have three superstars. Even if two of them are shut down on a possession, they can still rely on the third to create a basket on his own.
"That's the strength of the Heat Big Three. It's also one of the reasons they're seen as the villains.
"It almost feels unfair.
"Now the Suns.
"Blake drives and finds George cutting to the free-throw line. Bosh rotates over to help, and George... George doesn't have the ability to create a shot at the rim by himself.
"Chalmers closes in. Is the possession about to fall apart?
"George barely manages to get the ball out to Nash on the left side above the arc. Nash swings it to Curry in the left corner, and Curry lets a three fly!
"Good?
"No!
"But Blake tips the rebound out! Frye collects it near the high post and sends it back out to Nash.
"Nash fakes the pass inside to George, but instead kicks it back out to 'The Emperor' Blake, who's set up on the right side above the arc.
"Now Blake is two full steps behind the three-point line, and LeBron is watching him like a hawk.
"How is Blake going to attack this?
"Oh my God.
"Blake launches another ultra-deep three! He doesn't care how ridiculous the shot is!
"LeBron doesn't even bother trying to block it.
"This is an incredibly difficult shot!
"And this one?!
"Good heavens!
"Blake hits another one!
"For the Heat Big Three, LeBron attacks, then Wade. Wade attacks, then Bosh.
"But for the Suns, it's Blake, Blake, and Blake.
"One man against three.
"Here in Game 7 of the 2011 NBA Finals, Blake is taking on the Heat Big Three all by himself!!!"