Chapter 335: Three Levers Pulled, an Aerial Trickster?
Not only the cameras, but the fans also turned their attention to Chen Yan.
Los Angeles Lakers fans hoped Chen Yan would step up and save the Suns again, while Lakers fans also hoped that this guy, who had been hot for a game, would suddenly cool down.
There were 2 minutes and 18 seconds left in the game.
Suns offensive possession.
After Nash dribbled past half court, Diaw proactively moved to the high post for a pick and roll.
After the action, Nash passed the ball back to Diaw at the high post.
Diaw had an open look, but he did not take it.
Every possession was crucial at this moment, and Diaw knew the ball had to go to the most reliable option.
From the left 45 degree angle, Chen Yan burst out.
Diaw showed his high post playmaking, floating an outlet pass to Chen Yan in stride.
James Posey had been glued to Chen Yan, tracking him through the catch.
The moment Chen Yan got the ball, he jabbed left.
Then he took 1 strong step off his right hand dribble.
A simple fake created just enough space.
It looked basic, but it was all detail, once Posey leaned the wrong way, he could not recover in time to bother the release.
Outside the 3 point line, Chen Yan rose decisively.
His signature pull up.
The Suns bench stood up as one. This was the possession.
Make it and they still had a path, miss it and the night started slipping away.
Swish.
Nothing but net.
97 to 101.
Yes, yes.
D Antoni clenched his fist. That 3 kept the Suns alive.
The 3 is back.
That is his 50th point tonight. Unstoppable.
Chen Yan is built for the clutch.
You can always trust Chen Yan.
Fans in front of their TVs jumped up. Chen Yan did not disappoint, and he was always sharper when the moment got heavy.
Down 4, the Suns needed 1 thing next, a stop.
This possession, Kobe chose to answer personally.
From the high post, he went to his signature fadeaway.
The line was perfect, the touch was right, but the rim was cruel.
It spun once and rolled out.
2 straight misses that were halfway down.
Kobe slapped his thigh, frustrated, then immediately locked back in.
The game was still live, and the Lakers still had the lead.
Nash crossed half court and went straight back to Chen Yan.
In crunch time, the Suns plan was simple, put the ball in the hot hand.
Chen Yan held it with 1 hand, turned sideways.
Now the defender was Kobe.
At the biggest moment, Kobe took him himself.
After missing on offense, Kobe was all edge on defense, low stance, forearm on Chen Yan's waist, reading every shift of balance.
Chen Yan kept working, crossovers, behind the back, rhythm changes, trying to open a lane. Kobe played tight then loose, constantly squeezing the dribble, hunting for a mistake.
Chen Yan stayed locked. No turnover. No gift.
As they squared up at the top, the chant started again, shaking the arena.
F**k Chen.
F**k Chen.
With 8 seconds on the shot clock, Chen Yan suddenly exploded off a drop step.
Kobe was in position. He did not bite.
But Chen Yan did not hesitate. He drove anyway, shoulder through contact, straight toward the paint.
Garnett rotated instantly.
A wall.
Kobe and Garnett both rose to meet him, sealing the angle.
Chen Yan lifted the ball high and hung.
Then came the madness.
He twisted in mid air, showed the scoop, sold the pass, then changed again, pulling it back through.
3 separate adjustments before the finish, like he had extra time up there that nobody else was allowed to borrow.
Reverse layup, threaded through the gap.
Swish.
99 to 101.
The Lakers bench put hands on their heads.
That is unreal.
He just turned Kobe and Garnett into background.
That shot is impossible.
An aerial trickster.
How do you even reverse off a scoop.
Chen Yan can endorse core workouts, his waist is ridiculous.
That kind of hang time should be illegal.
Don't let the TV fool you, it is simple, jump, then press pause in the air.
To hit something that difficult in the final minutes of the 4th, Chen Yan had everyone at home yelling at their screens.
On the floor, he jogged back with a poker face.
But when the home crowd poured the hate on him, his expression only got colder.
MVP.
MVP.
Scattered chants echoed through Staples Center.
A few Suns fans had traveled for the road game, and Chen Yan gave them something worth the trip.
<><><><><>
[Check Out My Patreon For +40 Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]
[Join Our Discord Community For Updates & Events]
[https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9]