Chapter 832: No Interest in Records

Chapter 832: Chapter 832: No Interest in Records

Chapter 832: No Interest in Records

San Antonio opened the 2nd quarter with Ginóbili and Diaw leading the second unit.

Ginóbili had already played 7 and a half minutes in the 1st quarter and stayed on the floor to begin the 2nd.

Tonight would be a serious test of his stamina.

Duncan and Parker remained ready on the bench.

If the situation began slipping away, Popovich would send them back immediately.

San Antonio had come prepared to fight.

If the Spurs lost this game, they would return to New York down 3 to 1.

At that point, Game 5 could easily become the final game of the series.

There was no room to conserve too much.

San Antonio continued playing at a relatively fast pace.

Ginóbili controlled the ball and used a pick and roll to attack the paint.

Kenyon Martin rotated over and disrupted his floater.

During the NBA Finals, Nelson had once again begun trusting Martin with important minutes.

Compared with Yi Jianlian, the veteran had far more postseason experience.

Yi had also struggled when used at small forward, which led Nelson to reduce his playing time during the Finals.

Through the first 3 games of the series, Yi averaged only 9.5 minutes.

In those limited minutes, he produced 4.1 points and 3.5 rebounds.

It was difficult to blame Nelson.

Yi simply did not hold a clear advantage over the other players competing for those minutes.

His outside shot was inconsistent.

His physicality was not strong enough.

His experience remained limited.

And when asked to play small forward, his offensive skill set became even more restricted.

Opponents had already begun recognizing his preferred moves.

Chen would never pressure the coaching staff into playing Yi simply because they were compatriots.

That was not his style.

He believed roster spots and minutes should be earned through competition.

There had been rumors that Yi might be traded or waived after the season.

In reality, the situation was nowhere near that dramatic.

For one thing, Kenyon Martin was already 35 years old.

Even if Martin was more reliable right now, he did not have the long term advantage over Yi.

Nelson also still believed in Yi’s potential.

He saw a player who worked hard, stayed disciplined, and still had room to develop.

Yi was very likely to remain with New York next season.

Another Asian player faced a less certain future.

Jeremy Lin had averaged only 7.1 minutes during the Finals.

Among New York’s point guards, he ranked behind Curry, Barea, and Beverley.

Offensively, Lin did not possess a clear advantage over Curry or Barea.

Defensively, he could not match Beverley.

His explosive stretch during the middle of the season had already proven that he belonged in the NBA.

Several teams had contacted him.

Lin, however, had refused to negotiate anything before the season ended.

He wanted to stay professional.

The Finals came first.

Everything else could wait.

Back on the court, Al Harrington secured the rebound.

Chen received the ball and pushed across half court.

Then he fired a long pass across the floor to Barea.

Barea caught it and immediately rose for a 3 pointer.

Clang!

Miss.

The result was poor.

The decision perfectly represented New York basketball.

Fast.

Aggressive.

No hesitation.

Ginóbili grabbed the rebound and immediately pushed the other way.

He drove into the defense and forced New York to collapse.

Pass to the corner.

Gary Neal caught it.

Rise.

Swish!

34 to 28.

Neal was not much of a playmaker.

His defense was average.

But he could shoot.

41 percent from beyond the arc this season.

That alone was enough to earn Popovich’s trust.

New York came back down.

Barea controlled the ball.

Beverley and Kenyon Martin moved together.

They closed the gap behind Chen and sealed off his defender.

Elevator door.

New York ran one of its favorite actions again.

Barea recognized the opening immediately.

Pass.

Chen emerged into space.

Catch.

Shoot.

Swish!

37 to 28.

The broadcast booth laughed.

"Looks like Chen carried that shooting touch straight into the 2nd quarter."

"At this point, San Antonio has tried just about everything. He is still making shots."

San Antonio inbounded quickly.

Ginóbili attacked again.

Kick out.

Neal received another opportunity.

This time, the shot missed.

New York ran.

San Antonio immediately sent 2 defenders toward Chen.

They had finally decided they could not allow him to attack transition defense freely.

The pressure created an open look for Al Harrington.

3 pointer.

Miss.

Ginóbili grabbed the rebound and started forward.

Before he could accelerate, Beverley came flying in from the side.

Hard foul.

Ginóbili hit the floor.

Whistle.

Chen walked over and patted Beverley on the back of the head.

Correct decision.

There were moments when a team had to play with force.

If New York allowed San Antonio to build confidence and momentum, becoming physical later might already be too late.

The Spurs’ second unit continued performing well.

Neal hit from outside.

Stephen Jackson connected.

Ginóbili scored.

Diaw contributed too.

San Antonio’s bench was never weak.

Ginóbili was an All Star level guard.

Diaw and Jackson were experienced veterans who understood how to survive high pressure games.

Even with those contributions, San Antonio could not erase the deficit.

Chen’s individual ability was too overwhelming.

With him leading New York’s reserves, the Knicks kept scoring.

With a little more than 6 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter, Popovich finally sent Parker and Duncan back onto the floor.

From San Antonio’s perspective, the second unit had done its job.

It had survived long enough to give both veterans meaningful rest.

Ginóbili exchanged high 5s with Parker and Duncan before walking toward the bench.

His work for the 1st half was finished.

Ginóbili was not Chen Yan.

Stamina had always been one of his biggest limitations.

Even in his younger years, Manu could not sustain maximum intensity forever.

At his current age, Popovich had to manage him carefully.

Parker returned with fresh legs.

Almost immediately, he used a screen and attacked the paint.

Spin.

Change of angle.

Layup.

Good.

51 to 43.

New York immediately inbounded.

Curry had also just returned.

He accelerated across half court.

Chen initially moved into traffic.

Then suddenly burst back toward the 3 point line.

San Antonio’s defense had become extremely focused on denying him.

Chen wanted to use the confusion created by multiple bodies to manufacture space.

It worked.

He emerged beyond the arc and received Curry’s pass.

Catch.

Knees bent.

Ball rising.

Shooting motion.

Ginóbili panicked.

Another 3?

He rushed forward.

Chen paused for only a fraction of a second.

Then exploded into him.

Contact.

Whistle.

But Ginóbili had already made the mistake.

He had been too eager.

Normally, Manu was the master of drawing fouls.

This time, Chen had used the same idea against him.

Ginóbili desperately wanted to prevent another 3 pointer.

Instead, he gave Chen exactly what he needed.

Chen rose through the contact.

Release.

Swish!

The arena reacted instantly.

4 point play.

The broadcast booth exploded.

"Count it! Chen gets the 3 and the foul!"

"That is why he has been one of the best players in the league at creating 4 point plays. You need the shooting ability, the balance, and the awareness to recognize when the defender is out of control."

Ginóbili shook his head.

Chen walked calmly toward the line.

The broadcast graphic showed the number.

6 made 3 pointers already.

One commentator immediately raised the possibility.

"At this pace, Chen could threaten the NBA Finals record for made 3 pointers."

Chen bounced the ball.

Once.

Twice.

Free throw.

Swish!

55 to 43.

Then he turned and ran back on defense.

No celebration.

No reaction to the record discussion.

Chen did not care.

He had only 1 goal tonight.

Win.

As for the NBA Finals record for 3 pointers?

He had no interest in chasing it.

After all, the record already belonged to him.

....

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