Chapter 730: Quiet Evolution
At halftime, Chen Yan had already entered a berserk state.
He had 49 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 2 assists.
From the statistics alone, it was clear where Chen Yan's focus was tonight.
"Chen Yan might score his 1st 70 plus point game of the season tonight," Barkley said.
Kenny Smith smiled.
"Chen Yan's goal might be more than 70. If the score stays this close, he might even challenge his personal single game high."
Hearing this, the fans in front of their televisions immediately became wide awake.
This was a moment where they might witness history.
Fans on basketball forums also joked that the phrase historical moment had become worthless because of Chen Yan.
After all, he had the ability to create historical moments at any time.
During halftime, inside the Knicks locker room, Nelson directly told Chen Yan to go all out.
He also instructed the rest of the team to set screens and grab rebounds for him.
As long as the Warriors did not double team or triple team him, Chen Yan would find a solution.
Chen Yan had no objections.
He would play however the coach arranged.
Although he was a superstar, Chen Yan had a clear understanding of his role.
As a player, his job was to execute the coach's tactical deployment on the court and unleash his energy to the maximum.
He never interfered with the coaching staff or management unless they specifically asked him to.
Nelson was not deliberately trying to make Chen Yan score.
The other players were simply underperforming tonight, and their hands were cold.
If Chen Yan did not continue the offensive rhythm from the 1st half, whether the Knicks could win tonight would still be questionable.
On the Warriors side, the coaching staff looked very troubled.
Double teaming Chen Yan was certain.
But how many players should they send?
A 2 man double team had already been tried in the 1st half, and the effect was mostly poor.
Chen Yan's ability to break double teams was too strong, and he could also constantly call teammates over to set screens.
A 3 man or 4 man double team?
Mark Jackson did not plan to do that.
Although the Knicks players were currently in average form, if too many open shots appeared, they might regain their touch.
That would only push the Warriors further and further away from victory.
Mark Jackson chose to shrink the paint while maintaining single coverage.
If Chen Yan drove, they would immediately swarm him.
Mark Jackson also specifically instructed Monta Ellis not to compete with Chen Yan.
Such competition was meaningless.
Chen Yan had scored 49 points in 1 half, while Monta Ellis only had 18, less than half of Chen Yan's total.
The 2 were not players on the same level.
Of course, Mark Jackson would not tell Monta Ellis that directly.
He told Monta that if the team wanted to win, he had to play more team basketball.
The game resumed.
Monta Ellis held the ball at the top of the arc and continuously ran pick and roll actions.
After a screen, he passed the ball to Klay Thompson on the perimeter.
"Monta Ellis is playing very reasonably and patiently after halftime," Kenny Smith said.
Klay Thompson faked, dribbled 1 step to the right, then immediately passed the ball.
Klay had learned from the lesson of the 1st half.
With his ball handling skills, he absolutely could not dribble for more than 3 seconds in front of Chen Yan.
Brandon Rush caught the ball and shot a 3 pointer.
The basketball swished through the net.
Brandon Rush averaged 3.4 3 point attempts and 1.5 makes per game.
He was not a high volume shooter, but his shooting percentage was definitely not low.
The Warriors liked this type of player.
At present, the team had 5 players averaging more than 3 3 point attempts per game while shooting over 36 percent.
62 to 55.
A 7 point difference.
Knicks offensive possession.
Brandon Rush defended Chen Yan tightly, only guarding against the shot and not the drive.
If Chen Yan drove inside, a group of teammates would help.
Chen Yan saw through Golden State's defensive deployment and thought to himself.
You want me to drive, so I drive?
Would that not be humiliating?
Chen Yan continuously used jab steps to create shooting space.
Rush did not fall for it.
His defensive goal was very clear.
Do not let Chen Yan shoot in front of him.
Chen Yan then directly burst out, driving hard to the right.
Brandon Rush was too close and was immediately left behind by Chen Yan's 1st step.
The Warriors defense quickly collapsed.
Chen Yan pulled up from the area between the free throw line and the 3 point line.
Swish.
A stylish make.
The Warriors players were helpless against this shot.
They were guarding against Chen Yan's drive, but who knew he would simply stop and shoot a high post jumper?
His 51st point.
Chen Yan looked unstoppable tonight.
Warriors offense.
Monta Ellis suppressed his offensive desire, drove, and passed to Brandon Rush, who shot again.
This time, the Knicks defense had no lapse, and the basketball arced before clanking off the rim.
Chen Yan immediately ran toward the frontcourt.
Tonight, he wanted nothing but to attack the basket.
DeAndre Jordan got the ball but was interfered with by Biedrins, so he could not pass it out immediately.
Chen Yan did not blame him.
Everyone had their own characteristics.
DeAndre Jordan, after all, was not a passing big man like Diaw.
The Knicks offense settled into a half court set again.
Chen Yan's movement was obstructed.
Warriors players chased and blocked him, refusing to let him easily receive the ball, let alone get open.
Chen Yan immediately realized that moving without the ball was now more difficult than attacking with the ball.
So he circled to the top of the arc and received a handoff pass from Barea.
Brandon Rush continued to defend tightly.
This time, Chen Yan did not use jab steps.
He simply started driving.
Simple and brutal.
Brandon Rush quickly followed.
The Warriors defense began collapsing, already setting up a trap and waiting for Chen Yan to drive into it.
The next second, Chen Yan executed a reverse between the legs pullback, then shot from the high post.
Swish.
It went in again.
On his way back to the defensive half, Chen Yan kept gesturing toward the camera, asking for the ball, indicating that he could defeat the Warriors even with mid range shots.
The fans at Madison Square Garden spontaneously began doing the wave.
They loved watching Chen Yan perform like this.
When Chen Yan scored 101 points, he had been wearing a Suns jersey.
As New York fans, they naturally hoped Chen Yan could achieve such a feat while wearing the Knicks jersey too.
Mark Jackson hesitated.
He was wondering whether to double team Chen Yan, because his momentum seemed unstoppable.
Warriors offense.
Monta Ellis finally could not resist and drove for a 1 on 1 attack.
Barea's agility was comparable to his, but their explosiveness was not on the same level.
Monta Ellis drove to the basket after continuous changes of direction and finished with a scoop layup.
Monta Ellis desire to attack the rim was too strong.
Chen Yan had sensed it early.
The moment Monta shot, Chen Yan arrived like cavalry, directly blocking the ball.
Chen Yan did not jump high for this block.
What mattered was timing, and that came from reading the game.
In his 1st 2 years as a professional, Chen Yan relied almost entirely on physical talent and skill.
After coming to the Knicks, he evolved quietly.
Now, he often relied on his brain and his ability to read the game.
.....
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