And this was also one of the reasons why the Suns managent later decided to trade O’Neal to the team.
However, for the Suns to truly solve their backcourt rebounding issues...
They had to wait until Grant Hill joined and Alvin Gentry took charge.
In the 09/10 season, under the joint efforts of Hill and other forwards, Suns fans would be surprised to discover that...
As long as the forwards didn’t always think about sneaking out for fast-breaks like in the D’Antoni era, they could completely protect their backcourt rebounds well.
To aggressively push the speed of transition offense, the early fast-breaks by Bell, Diaw, and others indeed provided Nash with more passing options on offense.
But as long as the Warriors could grab the offensive rebounds, the points that should’ve been fast-break scores for the Suns would turn into an excellent second-chance opportunity for the Warriors.
Let the opponent score 2 fewer points.
While we score 2 more points.
Throughout the third quarter, the Warriors gradually established a 14-point lead on the court using this thod, which was essentially a 4-point swing inside and outside.
After three quarters, 97 to 83.
In this quarter, Qin Yue, who had 7 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block in a single quarter, saw his personal stat line grow to 40 points, 17 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.
TNT TV Station, during the break, Barkley held back his excitent and said: "Troy Murphy, who played the entire third quarter, will likely return to the bench for a rest at the start of the fourth quarter.
This will leave the Warriors’ second lineup missing an important scoring point. I think this is an excellent opportunity for the Suns to catch up."
Barkley’s premonition was correct.
Although his good partner Kenny Smith was quite puzzled as to why Barkley sotis cheered for Qin Yue and sotis rallied for the Suns...
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, thanks to the combined 13 points from Leandro Barbosa and Jas Jones, the Warriors were forced to bring Qin Yue back prematurely.
On the court, when Qin Yue returned to action, the boos in the entire arena were noticeably harsher than before.
However...
The Suns fans’ boos couldn’t stop Qin Yue from executing an and-one against Kurt Thomas as soon as he got on the court.
The 34-year-old veteran Thomas tried his best but couldn’t pull Qin Yue down from that damn sky.
Qin Yue made the additional free throw and scored his 43rd point.
About two possessions later, D’Antoni brought back all the starters.
With the Suns’ possession, Nash crossed the half-court while observing Marion’s movent, then this freak received Nash’s perfect pass and cut into the basket for two points.
Compared to the third quarter, in order to protect the backcourt rebounds, the Suns obviously shrank their defensive area proactively.
So, when Qin Yue chased Marion into the low post and was imdiately double-tead, he decisively passed the ball to Jack.
This season, Jack’s three-point shooting percentage has increased to 35.4%.
Although his three-point attempts are not high, Jack does not hesitate when he needs to shoot.
Swish——!
Jack’s three-pointer succeeded, allowing Qin Yue to achieve his 9th assist of the ga.
At this ti, Barkley didn’t hold back and straightforwardly said: "Tonight, ssiah is only 5 points and 1 assist away from achieving a ’50 ’ super triple-double."①
(①: Before the Suns brought back the starters, Qin Yue hit a jump shot at the free-throw line)
Beside him, seeing Barkley reveal his true intentions, Smith wryly smiled and agreed: "ssiah’s performance tonight is indeed shocking."
Is it just shocking?
Barkley was dissatisfied with this and said: "ssiah’s performance once again proves that he is the most outstanding player in today’s NBA!
If the league awards this year’s regular-season MVP trophy to anyone else, I will personally go burn down the NBA headquarters!"
On the court, with 4 minutes and 17 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Qin Yue assisted Artest in scoring two points under the basket, earning his 10th assist.
Then, under Barkley’s expectant gaze, in the next Warriors’ offensive possession, Qin Yue successfully drew a foul from Marion and earned two free-throw opportunities.
At the free-throw line, Qin Yue made both shots, extending the Warriors’ lead to 8 points.
Returning, in the Suns’ offensive possession, Nash, finally showing his intent to kill Jack, shook Jack with a three-pointer from the outside, scoring.
At the Arican Airlines Center, Nash’s crucial three-pointer ignited the scene.
But Qin Yue, receiving a hand-off from Murphy and dribbling back to the Suns’ restricted area, once again found an opportunity to attack the Suns’ interior.
Stoudemire once again had the problem of not being heavy-handed enough while assisting the defense.
As a result... Qin Yue, who had body contact with him, sent the ball into the basket with a bank shot without any suspense.
Moreover...
Beep——!
The shot was made with the whistle, and there’s an additional free throw!
On TNT TV Station, Barkley was seen shouting "AND-ONE" frantically while kneeling in the studio.
This kneeling was nad:
——Please take my knee!
At the free-throw line, after Qin Yue hit the additional free throw and officially achieved the "50 triple-double" feat, Barkley shouted wildly: "Ladies and gentlen, ssiah has at this mont beco the fourth player after Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to achieve a ’50 ’ triple-double in the NBA! He is undoubtedly the NBA banner of our era! I never doubted he could accomplish all these on the court! No adjectives or language can describe my feelings at this mont! He is the undisputed MVP of this year’s NBA, and I do not accept any rebuttals! Further, no one is allowed to rebut!"
Barkley’s madness at this mont sharply contrasted with the despair of Suns fans in the final monts of the ga.
At the end of the ga, the Suns failed to reverse the situation, with the scoreboard reading, 121 to 114.
Throughout the ga, Qin Yue, who totaled 54 points, 23 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal for the Warriors, almost instantly ignited the entire basketball world.
Before Jas Harden and Russell Westbrook stunned the world with one staggering super triple-double after another...
Qin Yue’s "50 triple-double," as well as his story of leading an undermanned Warriors to a road victory over the Suns, is destined to beco a legendary tale of the current era in the NBA.
"Tonight, he is God!"
At the mont when the ga ended, Barkley, already in tears, shouted out.
...
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