Laga, if necessary, you can let their wing players shoot. He scored 33 points in just one half; I’d rather be defeated by their other players than let him wreak havoc tonight."
If it were any other opponent, D’Antoni wouldn’t mind engaging in a "you take the stats, I keep the win" scoring ga with him.
But considering the city’s animosity toward Qin Yue in Phoenix...
D’Antoni knew very well that if Qin Yue’s shooting touch remained in the second half, wouldn’t he beco the one who let Qin Yue dominate the ga in Phoenix?
Moreover, D’Antoni vaguely felt that Qin Yue’s in-ga level had already reached a whole new height tonight.
D’Antoni, who ca to the NBA from Italy in the 97/98 season, knew what the state of Jordan was like when he flipped the "Celestial God Descending" switch back in those days.
In D’Antoni’s view, Qin Yue tonight... his on-court state was just like the Jordan he rembered who pressed the "Celestial God Descending" button.
Therefore, even if he had to adopt a more aggressive strategy on defense, he must guard against the increasingly formidable Qin Yue.
After halfti, the Warriors kept Murphy on the court.
Regarding this, Biedrins, whose playing ti was reduced on-site, said understandingly, "I completely understand the coach’s decision; big brother Troy is indeed more suitable for this ga than I am."
Within the Warriors, ever since soone was out due to injury...
Biedrins had already made the team completely forget about their previous starting center.
On the court, the Warriors had the first attack, and Qin Yue, noticing the Suns’ defensive changes, assisted Richardson for a mid-range jump shot after being double-tead by Bell.
Coming back, Nash stepped on the accelerator to the floor and scored two points for the ho team with a low-handed layup.
The Suns’ "quick as a flash, Nash fast" offense was tough to defend against, thankfully the two-ti MVP was not too aggressive, otherwise Jack would definitely be taught a lesson by Nash.
Following that, it was the Warriors’ offensive possession.
Qin Yue actively stepped up to the high post to catch the ball as Jack dribbled past half court.
D’Antoni’s intuition was not wrong, as the ga progressed, Qin Yue indeed fought more valiantly.
On the outside, first using a drag step to ss up Marion’s defensive steps, Qin Yue quickly changed direction and accelerated, completing a reverse layup against Stoudemire in the Suns’ paint.
And then...
AND-ONE!
The whistle blew as the ball went through, with an additional free throw coming!
Stoudemire’s indecisiveness resulted in giving Qin Yue a free throw opportunity for nothing.
At the free throw line, Qin Yue calmly sank the shot amidst the booing from Phoenix fans.
When it was the Suns’ turn to attack, Nash quickly brought the ball past half court, and through a pick-and-roll with Stoudemire, created a chance to retaliate against the Warriors.
But Murphy did not allow Stoudemire to complete the dunk on the Warriors’ rim.
At the mont Stoudemire drove towards the basket, Murphy grabbed him and said with a wry smile to the frustrated Stoudemire, "You’re truly too strong; I really can’t guard you."
Murphy’s words instantly brought a brilliant smile to Stoudemire’s face, who just a second ago wanted to argue, "So that’s how it is, then it’s indeed not your fault."
On the side, looking at the happily walking to the free throw line Stoudemire, Qin Yue finally understood what pure and naive ant.
Gifted with free throws by Murphy, Stoudemire made both shots.
After Jack brought the ball past half court, Qin Yue once again stepped up to the high post to catch the ball.
Having learned from the first ti, Marion stayed tightly attached to Qin Yue.
However, on the right side of the court...
Because Bell was helping Nash to defensively support, he accidentally left Richardson unmarked.
Nash’s overly committed defense changed the play’s dynamics in an instant.
As Jack unexpectedly broke away with an off-ball movent, Nash, fervently pursuing the play, unintentionally created a double team with his teammates against Jack.
By the ti Bell recovered, Richardson had already slipped out to the three-point line and sank a three-pointer off Qin Yue’s perfect pass.
This was Qin Yue’s fifth assist in the ga.
Following this, both teams missed several attempts until Qin Yue grabbed an offensive rebound under the basket and assisted Murphy to score, breaking the stalemate.
Affected by fatigue, the Suns’ offensive quality inevitably declined in the third quarter.
And on the court, the team asserting dominance in the ga beca the Warriors.
During the Warriors’ offensive possession...
At the top of the arc, upon passing the ball to Artest, Qin Yue dashed into the Suns’ paint area.
Throughout the evening, Marion’s attention was fixated on Qin Yue, making it difficult for him to recover under the basket quickly to contest for rebounds.
As a result, just as Stoudemire was positioned under the basket awaiting the rebound, in the instant Artest missed, he was sandwiched by Qin Yue and Murphy.
By the ti Marion rushed to the spot, Qin Yue had already grabbed the offensive rebound for the Warriors.
Then, Qin Yue passed the ball back to Artest.
Swish—!
Artest did not miss the opportunity again and successfully capitalized on it.
Even though the "Champion Scholar" was absent due to injury tonight, the Warriors still possessed an overwhelming advantage in the paint over the Suns.
This was the primary reason they could dominate the third quarter.
That is, when both teams’ shooting accuracy inevitably declined, the Warriors’ offensive rebounds gave them more second-chance opportunities in the ga.
Historically, any player with a notable reputation could wreak havoc on this Suns’ interior.
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