Chen Yan scored 13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in the first quarter, scoring more than half of the team.
For the Jazz, their defense in the first quarter can be said to have failed.
Sloan kept tapping on the tactical board. He asked his players to be tougher and tougher, and to use a man's way to prevent Chen Yan from scoring.
One day ago, Sloan specially showed the players part of the video of the 1998 Finals. He wanted his players to see how their seniors dealt with Jordan that year. Sloan wanted to continue this intensity with Chen Yan.
The second quarter started quickly. The main players of the Suns temporarily rested on the bench, and the Jazz also sent in the second team.
Okur hit a three-pointer as soon as he came on. He only played a total of 12 minutes in the second game. This time he was reduced to a substitute again, feeling a fire in his stomach.
One round later, Korver hit a three-pointer from the wing. The Jazz's substitute lineup was very different from the main team. Their three-pointers were very accurate.
In this game, the Suns' bench did not suppress the Jazz, especially Azubuike. They did not score a point for four and a half minutes in the second quarter. Azubuike is an excellent sixth man.
He has strong offensive ability and increasingly perfect offensive methods, but he is still too young after all. It is unrealistic to expect him to score points as quickly as Ginobili did in every game.
In addition, the Jazz's devilish home court also put a lot of pressure on the Suns' bench.
The Jazz took the opportunity to catch up with the score. After the dead ball, both sides deployed their strongest lineups.
The two sides were at war with each other, and the points difference increased alternately.
The Suns mainly rely on the two defenders Chen Yan and Nash. Stoudemire still can't find his form. The mask seems to have sealed him. Except for a stunning dunk at the beginning, he is invisible on the offensive end most of the time. Stoudemire is invisible on the offensive end.
Part of the time, he gave a blacksmithing show to the fans.
But even so, D'Antoni still insisted on putting him on the court. On the one hand, it was to help him find his form after returning from injury, and on the other hand, it was to reduce the pressure on Chen Yan and Nash.
Even if Stoudemire is not in good condition, the Jazz would not dare to release him. Who would take the risk of releasing an All-Star power forward?
After touching the referee's head, the Jazz players' movements gradually became louder.
With 3 minutes and 27 seconds left in the second quarter, Chen Yan got a fast break opportunity. During the counterattack, he was about to hit Deron hard. The Jazz directly resorted to fouling, and it was a double foul from front to back.
Delong and Brewer behind him violently dragged Chen Yan to the ground.
The signal from the Jazz is very clear. It allows you to score, but it will never let you score easily. If you want to put the ball into the basket, you must at least peel off the skin!
"Fuck! Play ball or hit someone?"
"Deron and Brewer should be sent off!"
"Jazz is so dirty!"
"This ball is definitely aimed at someone!"
Domestic fans cursed at the TV.
In the picture, the Suns players pulled Chen Yan up. After getting up, Chen Yan not only did not get angry, but instead patted his collar very gracefully and stood on the free throw line.
"Whoa!"
"Whoa!"
Then came two clean free throws!
44 to 43.
Chen Yan's action is to tell everyone in Jazz that your little tricks can't affect me!
Chen Yan was very calm, but his teammates couldn't swallow this breath.
During this period, the Suns used a mixed lineup of main players and substitutes. Stoudemire and Diaw took a break, while Barnes and DeAndre Jordan were on the court.
The Suns were attacking in the next round. While helping Nash in the pick-and-roll, Barnes used his hidden strength and directly knocked chubby Deron to the ground.
Deron is not a good person either. He knows that Barnes is retaliating and will fight him when he gets up.
There, Barns was in a hurry, and the two of them butted each other with their heads.
The whole audience burst into boos, and players on both sides also rushed forward.
Every championship team needs players to play bad guys and thugs. The Pistons in the Bad Boys era had Bill Laimbeer, before the Bulls era there was Oakley and later Rodman, in the Spurs era there was Bowen, and now the Suns play this role.
It’s Barnes, he’s ruthless and experienced enough.
Fortunately, the referee acted quickly and separated the players from both sides in time to avoid further escalation of the conflict.
Many fans got excited when they saw the Suns clashing with their opponents. They were eager to see Chen Yan's famous KO scene again.
But the real Suns core certainly doesn't think so. This is the regular season, not the playoffs. If you can't control your emotions and take action at will and get suspended, the result is likely to be that the team loses the entire playoff round.
After the small episode, the game continued. Chen Yan did not directly conflict with the Jazz players. He vented his anger in every attack.
In the next three minutes, Chen Yanli scored 10 consecutive points with sudden outside shots, including two long-range three-pointers.
Even commentator Kenny Smith couldn't help but said: "The Jazz paid the price for their rudeness. Chen is now 'awakening'. During this period, he took over the game on the offensive end."
Barkley laughed: "The Jazz's original intention was to restrict Chen through wilder defense, but the effect they showed was exactly the opposite. The small movements of the Jazz players and the noisy sound on the scene actually became Chen's catalyst."
"Some players like to play at home, and the cheers and shouts of the fans give them a sense of security, but some players like the opposite. They enjoy the provocations of away players and the abuse of fans. Anger is the source of their energy."
Sloan on the sidelines was speechless. He said that he asked the players to give Chen Yan the defensive intensity of Jordan, but he did not say that he would defend him like Jordan!
With 27 seconds left before halftime, the Jazz's offensive round saw the score 56-50 and the Suns leading by 6 points.
Deron asked to open up space, and he wanted to challenge Nash at the top of the arc to complete the final attack.
One step beyond the three-point line, Deron shortened the attack time of the round to 7 seconds before starting to play.
Nash was very close. The proportion of such buzzer-beating shots was much greater than breakthroughs. He knew it well.
After Delong started, he quickly connected with his crotch, and then changed direction again!
After his signature double change of direction, Deron pulled up a jump shot from the high post.
"Clang!"
The ball missed!
However, Boozer was very smart and ran to the other side of the basket in advance. He used his strong body to push away Barnes and then got the offensive rebound and made a tip-in!
56 to 52.
Boozer beat his chest and roared after being hit!
This was his 16th rebound of the half!
He set a half-time rebound record in the Salt Lake City playoffs tonight. You must know that the Jazz's ancestors were rich, and it is not easy to steal rebound records from Mark Eaton, Karl Malone and other powerful players.
He alone blew up the Suns' rebounds in this game.
This is a big reason why the Jazz can still hold on to the score even though the overall shooting percentage is low.
After Boozer hit, the Suns served from the baseline.
There are 3.6 seconds left before halftime.
After receiving the ball in the backcourt, Nash took two quick steps and then passed the ball to Chen Yan. The two had connected too frequently in the past few minutes, and Nash's passing intention was judged by Deron.
Deron made a flying dive and destroyed the ball out of the sideline.
The Suns served from the front court, but only the last 0.9 seconds remained.
Barnes quickly threw the ball to Chen Yan from the sideline. In order to successfully catch the ball, Chen Yan retreated very deep, almost to the midline.
After receiving the ball, Chen Yan didn't hesitate, and he didn't have time to hesitate. He shot directly with a sniper.
As soon as the basketball left my hand, the red light indicating the end of halftime came on.
The ball was obviously too short and started to fall halfway through the flight.
But before the ball fell, the referee's whistle sounded first.
foul!
Or a three-point foul!
The Jazz fans at home covered their heads helplessly. The broadcast camera kept replaying the Jazz foul just now. The moment Chen Yan took action, Deron and Kirilenko rushed forward together. The two collided in the air and lost their balance.
Kirilenko, who fell to the ground first, hit Chen Yan's calf.
This was an undisputed foul. Kirilenko made Chen Yan lose his balance in the air.
If someone were to shoot from this distance, the defensive players would most likely extend their hands symbolically, but Chen Yan was different. As soon as he took the shot, everyone felt like he was about to go in. This is his most magical place.
In 0.9 seconds, the two of them had to work hard to block the hole of the gun. This is the strong sense of oppression brought by Chen Yan!
