Chapter 831: Preparing for an All Out Battle

Chapter 831: Chapter 831: Preparing for an All Out Battle

Chapter 831: Preparing for an All Out Battle

Curry stopped near the top of the arc and surveyed the floor.

After a brief pause, he passed to Chen Yan.

Curry did not challenge Leonard in isolation.

It was not because he feared Leonard.

As far as Curry was concerned, Leonard was still a rookie. No matter how talented he was defensively, he was nowhere near intimidating enough to put psychological pressure on Curry.

But this was the NBA Finals.

The team had a plan.

Curry followed it.

Chen caught the ball and immediately went between his legs.

Gather.

Rise.

3 pointer.

Clang!

The ball struck the front rim and bounced away.

New York’s possession had been extremely simple.

Popovich remained expressionless.

The miss had nothing to do with Ginóbili’s defense.

It had nothing to do with San Antonio’s scheme either.

Chen had simply missed.

Even the greatest scorer could not make every shot.

Duncan secured the rebound and passed to Parker.

Parker immediately accelerated into the frontcourt.

San Antonio’s approach tonight had become clear.

If a transition opportunity appeared, attack immediately.

If nothing was available, slow down and enter the half court offense.

So far, the strategy had worked reasonably well.

San Antonio was not trailing because its offense had failed.

The problem was that its defense could not contain Chen.

Parker drove toward the baseline.

Then spun and pulled the ball back.

The opening disappeared.

He did not force the shot.

Parker retreated beyond the 3 point line.

Meanwhile, Ginóbili used Duncan’s screen and cut sharply into the paint.

Battier anticipated the action.

He slipped around the screen and stayed attached.

Parker decided against forcing the entry pass.

Instead, he fired the ball across the floor toward Bonner.

Bonner caught it beyond the arc.

David West followed him outside.

This was exactly why Bonner was on the floor.

His shooting forced opposing big men away from the paint.

More importantly, defenders could not simply ignore him.

Leave Bonner open, and he could punish them from 3.

Bonner gave a shot fake.

West stayed down.

He understood the matchup.

Bonner was a pure shooter.

He preferred open looks rather than contested attempts.

Bonner put the ball on the floor and moved 1 step sideways.

Bounce pass.

Duncan was cutting.

The execution was excellent.

Only after Duncan caught the ball did New York fully realize who the possession had been designed for.

Number 21.

The veteran rookie.

Duncan gathered naturally.

1 step.

Left handed floater.

DeAndre tried to contest.

Duncan had already created enough room by nudging him slightly with his right arm.

The ball bounced once.

Twice.

Then dropped.

15 to 12.

Duncan had his first basket of the night.

New York returned to offense.

Curry crossed half court.

David West received the ball near the top and immediately moved it to Chen.

Chen dribbled left around the arc.

West naturally stepped into Ginóbili’s path.

Screen.

Contact.

Ginóbili was knocked slightly off balance.

Bonner switched onto Chen.

Leonard also sagged toward the play.

Chen looked forward.

His eyes appeared to target Curry beyond the 3 point line.

No look pass.

Slap!

Leonard read it perfectly.

Steal.

For the first time in the series, Leonard had cleanly intercepted one of Chen’s passes.

A surge of excitement hit him.

He had finally taken the ball away from Chen Yan.

Leonard turned to run.

Chen immediately lunged.

He could not steal it back, but his hand reached the ball and disrupted Leonard’s control.

Leonard recovered.

He prepared to continue the fast break.

Too late.

Curry had already appeared directly in front of him.

Leonard put the ball down.

Curry struck.

Steal.

Leonard could only watch as the possession disappeared from his hands.

Curry immediately turned 180 degrees and fired the ball upcourt.

Chen reacted just as quickly.

He sprang back to his feet and accelerated.

Ginóbili, who had been responsible for guarding Chen, had already crossed half court.

Curry’s pass sailed over the defense.

Chen caught it in open space.

1 step beyond the 3 point line.

Rise.

Swish!

18 to 12.

Another 3 pointer.

His 4th of the night.

Every field goal Chen had made so far had come from beyond the arc.

The broadcast booth erupted.

"Everything happened in seconds. Leonard steals it, Curry steals it right back, and Chen immediately turns the possession into 3 points."

"That is the danger of playing New York. You lose control for 1 moment and suddenly the ball is already through the net."

Chen raised 3 fingers and tapped them repeatedly against his forehead.

His shooting touch was blazing. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

San Antonio came back down.

Parker used a screen near the top and attacked before kicking the ball toward Leonard.

Leonard used another screen to create space from Chen.

Open jumper.

Miss.

The broadcast booth noted the change.

"San Antonio started the game shooting well, but the efficiency has dropped over the last few minutes."

"And they are settling outside more. They have not consistently put pressure on New York’s interior defense."

At the other end, Curry found another opportunity.

Screen.

Space.

3 pointer.

New York’s entire bench raised 3 fingers.

If this fell, the Knicks would have opened the game with 7 made 3 pointers.

The ball circled the rim.

Out.

San Antonio’s crowd released a collective breath.

Another make might have broken the building before the players themselves.

Duncan grabbed the rebound.

Instead of immediately giving the ball away, he dribbled it across half court himself.

He occasionally initiated possessions this way.

Once over the line, Duncan passed to Leonard.

Then naturally stepped into position to screen.

Leonard dribbled toward the top.

Nothing opened.

Pass to Parker.

Parker faked.

Baseline drive.

Curry could not stay with him.

Parker’s first step was too quick.

It almost looked as though he had been launched forward.

DeAndre rotated.

Parker expected it.

Pass to Duncan.

Catch.

Short hook.

DeAndre turned too late.

All he could do was watch the ball leave Duncan’s hand.

Then the flight path suddenly changed.

Smack!

Chen had collapsed into the paint.

Block.

Clean.

Another spectacular rejection against a big man.

Chen had always been especially dangerous as a help defender.

Coming from the side allowed him to use his acceleration, timing, and explosive leap without having to wrestle for position first.

The broadcast booth immediately raised its voice.

"What a block!"

"Look how quickly he gets off the floor. Duncan barely releases it and Chen is already there."

Curry collected the loose ball and exploded into transition.

San Antonio’s defense was still scattered.

Curry attacked straight through the middle.

Like a knife cutting through the defense.

1 defender committed.

Then another.

Then a 3rd.

Curry pushed the ball with his left hand and sent a pass toward the right side.

Battier was running with him.

Catch.

Layup off the glass.

Good.

20 to 12.

The broadcast booth laughed.

"New York finally scores 2 points."

"It took them all the way to 20 before they made something that was not a 3."

San Antonio returned to offense.

Parker crossed half court and passed to Ginóbili.

Manu dribbled twice.

Then saw Bonner in better position.

Pass.

Bonner caught it.

Shot fake.

Then another pass toward Leonard.

After releasing the ball, Bonner moved toward Leonard.

Leonard thought Bonner wanted a handoff.

Bonner thought he was setting a screen.

They collided.

For a moment, the possession nearly fell apart.

Leonard recovered the ball and quickly passed inside to Duncan.

New York’s defensive plan had not changed.

The moment Duncan received it, 2 defenders converged.

Duncan leaned away from the pressure.

Short floater.

Good.

20 to 14.

San Antonio was finding its own way to stay within reach.

But the story of the 1st quarter belonged to Chen Yan.

By the end of the period, he had been almost unstoppable.

8 of 10 from the field.

4 of 5 from beyond the arc.

2 of 2 at the free throw line.

22 points.

3 rebounds.

3 assists.

1 steal.

1 block.

Behind Chen’s brilliant opening quarter, New York led 34 to 25.

Popovich was frustrated.

Starting Duncan, Parker, and Ginóbili together had been designed to give San Antonio control from the opening tip.

Instead, Chen had overwhelmed the plan almost by himself.

During the break between quarters, Nelson walked over to Chen.

The 2 exchanged only a few words.

They were already thinking the same thing.

Chen would stay on the floor to begin the 2nd quarter.

In fact, Chen had made his decision before Game 4 even started.

Tonight, if necessary, he was prepared to play all 48 minutes.

New York had no intention of allowing this series to return to 2 to 2.

This was the night for an all out battle.

....

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