Chapter 185: The Draft Big Three — All-Star Weekend Arrives!
On February 5th, the Phoenix Suns continued their red-hot streak, dismantling the Orlando Magic in a 117–91 blowout.
Orlando's "one-star, four-shooter" system completely fell apart. Dwight Howard did his part — 21 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks — but his supporting cast was ice cold. Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, Courtney Lee, J.J. Redick, and Jameer Nelson combined for a miserable 5-of-22 from deep.
In contrast, the Suns' offense looked effortless.
Chen Yan posted 18 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds, choosing to orchestrate rather than dominate. Nash contributed 20 points, 11 assists, and 2 steals, hitting his usual double-double benchmark with ease.
But the night truly belonged to Amar'e Stoudemire — 30 points, 14 rebounds, and just two turnovers. For once, he completely outplayed Howard, something fans weren't used to seeing.
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In the NBA's unwritten hierarchy of big men, there's a chain: Stoudemire's offense is superior to Boozer's; Boozer always gives Yao Ming trouble; Yao contains Howard; and Howard usually overpowers Stoudemire.
But tonight, that chain broke.
Stoudemire exploded on both ends, attacking relentlessly while Nash and Chen Yan fed him possession after possession. The two combined for 20 assists, more than half of which went directly to Amar'e.
Every pass was surgical — chest passes, lobs, and bounce feeds perfectly timed to Stoudemire's rhythm. All Amar'e had to do was catch and detonate.
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After the game, reporters swarmed Dwight Howard at the podium.
"Dwight, Amar'e outperformed you tonight in nearly every stat. Any thoughts?"
Howard laughed, shaking his head. "Man, there were two Nashes on the other team tonight. What can I even say?"
The room burst into laughter.
Behind the joke, though, was genuine respect. Howard knew exactly how dangerous Chen Yan had become — another elite playmaker alongside the two-time MVP.
Thanks to his Passing Master Level 2 skill — and constant mentorship from Nash — Chen's court vision had reached another level. He wasn't just making passes; he was reading the entire floor like a veteran.
---
Two nights later, on February 7th, the Suns returned home and steamrolled the Portland Trail Blazers, 120–98.
Don't let the score fool you — it wasn't a smooth ride. The Blazers came out hot, leading 62–49 at halftime. Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge tore through Phoenix's defense early, their energy reminiscent of Boston's young core from the week before.
But then came the second half.
The Suns unleashed a shooting storm, hitting 68% from the field and an insane 59% from three.
"It's official," joked one commentator. "We've got a thunderstorm warning in Phoenix — raining threes everywhere!"
Chen Yan was unstoppable — 35 points on 14-of-17 shooting, including 4-of-5 from deep. Amar'e added 29 points and 9 rebounds, while Nash had 20 and 8 assists.
The Suns outscored Portland 71–36 in the second half.
When asked afterward how they flipped the switch so dramatically, Chen Yan just smiled. "Honestly? I don't know. Basketball can be weird like that."
Brandon Roy could only shrug. "That's the game. One moment you're up 13, the next, you're drowning in threes."
---
With their chemistry peaking, fans began referring to Chen Yan, Nash, and Stoudemire as "The Suns' Big Three."
But this Big Three was different from the usual superteam.
No blockbuster trades. No free-agency deals.
All three were drafted by Phoenix. Nash may have left briefly, but destiny brought him back.
And so, fans gave them a fitting nickname:
"The Draft Big Three."
When reporters mentioned it to Coach Mike D'Antoni, he laughed. "Hey, call them whatever you want. I just call myself lucky to coach all three."
His grin stretched ear to ear — the kind of smile that said these are my guys.
---
Two days later, the Suns fell to the Spurs, 96–92, in a gritty, defense-heavy battle. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker executed perfectly in the final minute, snapping Phoenix's win streak.
But D'Antoni wasn't discouraged. The team learned from the loss and responded with a flawless week — closing it out with another string of dominant wins.
And as the regular season paused for a moment, excitement began to build.
Because next up on the calendar was something every player dreams of:
All-Star Weekend.
The lights, the legends, the dunks, and the stars.
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