Chapter 408: Two Straight Wins, the Big Boys
Phoenix opened the season like a team that still remembered the taste of champagne.
In the home opener, the Suns had 6 players score in double figures.
Chen Yan led the way with 41 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. Stoudemire added 20 points and 8 rebounds. Nash finished with 13 points and 11 assists. Azubuike gave them 12 points and 3 rebounds, Raja Bell had 11, and Diaw chipped in 10 points with 4 assists.
The trident of Chen Yan, Stoudemire, and Nash combined for 74 points, almost matching Cleveland's entire total by themselves.
Cleveland only had 3 players reach double figures. LeBron had 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Mo Williams scored 17. O'Neal had 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
After the game, Kenny Smith summed it up cleanly.
"The Cavs didn't lose because of bad luck. They couldn't generate offense, they couldn't contain Phoenix's pace, and the Suns controlled the game from start to finish."
Barkley was harsher, as usual.
"If LeBron doesn't want to get swept in the Finals for 3 straight years, he better start thinking about a different plan."
Reggie Miller nodded along. "The Cavs have made the Finals 2 years in a row. On paper, they're right there. In reality, the gap is huge. At least 4 West teams can beat them in a series, the Suns, the Trail Blazers, the Spurs, and the Lakers. Whoever comes out of the top half of the West is a nightmare matchup for Cleveland."
Barkley stared into the camera like he was delivering a verdict. "I think it's more than 4. If Charlotte makes the Finals, what are Cleveland's chances? Even if they ran into Houston or Utah, you telling me the Cavs would feel safe? Come on now."
For Cavaliers fans, it landed like a bucket of ice water. A new season had barely started, and the broadcast desk was already talking like a rebuild was a reasonable idea.
…
In the Suns locker room, the mood was the opposite. Smiles, jokes, relaxed bodies, a team that knew it had made a statement.
A reporter crouched near Chen Yan's stall. "Big win to open the season. Are you satisfied with your performance and the team's performance tonight?"
"Of course," Chen Yan said, grinning. He sat in front of his locker, shirtless, a towel wrapped around his waist, one arm hooked over the back of the chair like he was lounging at home. "We won, and I played well. There isn't much else I can ask for."
Another reporter asked, "How did you keep that kind of aggressive mindset for the whole game?"
"I try to play aggressive every night," Chen Yan said. "That's my style. I shoot, I score, and I help us win. Simple."
A third reporter jumped in. "The team brought in new players, and they made their debuts tonight. How would you evaluate them?"
Chen Yan blinked, then leaned forward with exaggerated seriousness. "New guys? Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Playing with them felt easy, like we've been teammates for years."
His EQ class was officially in session.
Jason Williams, DeAndre Jordan, and Novak were nearby, and all 3 laughed. It was a small line, but it did exactly what it was supposed to do, it made them feel like they belonged.
…
When opening night ended, there had only been 3 games total.
Besides Suns versus Cavaliers, there was Bucks versus Bulls, and Trail Blazers versus Lakers.
Yi Jianlian also debuted on day 1, but that game was not shown in the main window because it overlapped with Phoenix's opener.
In terms of national TV attention, Chicago still lagged far behind Phoenix and Houston. The Lakers had plenty of broadcast games, but nobody was pretending that was because of Sun Dasheng.
In Chicago's win, the Bulls beat the Bucks 109 to 97.
Yi had 9 points and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes. Not terrible, not special. He was getting consistent minutes, but he still had not carved out a comfortable spot. He was fighting for time with Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, and that was not an easy battle.
Chicago's rookie, Russell Westbrook, also made his debut. He played 30 minutes, scored 16 points with 6 assists, and lived in the open floor. He threw down a few violent fast break dunks that left Milwaukee chasing shadows. Neither Ridnour nor Michael Redd could keep up with his speed, and the Bulls crowd temporarily forgot the sting of missing out on Derrick Rose.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles, the Lakers beat the Trail Blazers 96 to 76.
Portland's young group looked like what they were, talented, fearless, and a little naïve against veterans who knew every shortcut on the road.
Roy struggled under Kobe's shadow, going 5 for 15 for 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, then disappearing entirely in the 4th. Kobe went 9 for 17 for 25 points, plus 11 rebounds and 5 assists, and made the gap between them feel obvious.
Garnett posted a clean double double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Camby only had 6 points, but he grabbed 11 boards and swatted 5 shots, locking down the paint like it was a private property line. Off the bench, Ariza popped with 11 points, 2 steals, and 1 block.
Sun Dasheng did not get in. Not even in garbage time. Too many bodies ahead of him.
After that game, he called Chen Yan to vent. Compared to Yi and Yao, he felt like only Chen Yan would actually understand what it felt like.
Chen Yan calmed him down, then gave him the only answer that mattered.
Work harder in practice. That was the only way out.
In the United States, there was no shortcut. No favors. No connections that could win you minutes. If you wanted time and respect, you earned it yourself.
Chen Yan hung up, headed toward the showers, and then stopped when the schedule hit him again.
After beating Cleveland, Phoenix had 2 days off.
…
On November 1, the Suns stayed home for game 2. Their opponent was the Nets.
There was no real heat to it. Last season the Nets finished 10th in the East. After trading Kidd, they were not chasing wins. Carter and Jefferson were both trying to get moved, and the franchise had flipped into tank mode early.
During warmups, Vince Carter walked over to Chen Yan on his own.
"I saw you in the Olympics," Carter said. "That airman dunk was crazy."
Chen Yan smiled. He knew exactly which one Carter meant, the dunk over Kaman.
"That was a tribute to you," Chen Yan said.
Carter laughed loud. He had his own Olympic poster moment in 2000, the kind fans called the dunk of the century.
Now, after this year's Olympics, if people said that phrase again, Chen Yan's dunk had to be mentioned too.
…
The game started fast. Carter and Jefferson hit back to back 3s to open it, but Brooklyn's resistance lasted about half a quarter.
Once the Suns found their run and gun rhythm, the Nets started unraveling. Phoenix got smoother and faster. The Nets got more chaotic. Without Kidd, it looked like loose sand. Carter took a shot, then Jefferson took a shot, then Carter again right after Jefferson, but it never looked like a system.
Phoenix pulled away and never let go.
Final score, Suns 107, Nets 85.
Two straight wins.
Chen Yan clocked out after 3 quarters, finishing with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in 28 minutes.
For the Nets, Carter had 26 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and Jefferson had 23 points with 6 rebounds.
They looked calm about it. The team lost when it was supposed to lose, and they got their numbers while they could. They were waiting for the phone call that said they were being shipped out.
…
After the Nets game, Phoenix had another 2 days off.
Chen Yan felt restless. Without Taylor Swift to "practice" against, the house got quiet.
He was not a nightclub guy, and he did not enjoy parties. Too loud, too messy, too draining. His villa had a private theater, and when he had time, he preferred a blockbuster and his dog over any kind of nightlife.
He had just turned on the screen when his phone rang.
Yao Ming.
"Brother Yao," Chen Yan answered. "You back in Houston?"
"Yeah," Yao said. "I got back the day before yesterday. For now it's mostly recovery. I still need some time before I can play."
"How's the weight loss going?"
"Not bad," Yao said, then sighed. "But I'm hungry all the time. I want to bite anything I see."
Chen Yan laughed. "So next time you see O'Neal, you're not going to eat him, right?"
"No," Yao said flatly. "I'm not that desperate."
Chen Yan chuckled again. "Keep at it. That weight is a big deal for your career."
"It's my own goal," Yao said. "I have to succeed. And I watched your opener. You were ridiculous. You should set a goal for yourself too. A goal gives you motivation."
"It's already set."
"Oh?" Yao sounded interested. "What is it?"
"Regular season MVP," Chen Yan said without hesitation. "I already have Finals MVP. As for the championship, I've already got one, but defending it would feel pretty good."
Yao burst out laughing. "Ambitious. But make sure you rest too. We can play some games to relax between practices."
Chen Yan paused.
So that was the real reason for the call.
"What are we playing," Chen Yan asked, "World of Warcraft or CS?"
"World of Warcraft," Yao said immediately. "We haven't run a dungeon together in a long time."
Yao's main hobby off the court was still Warcraft. When he had time, he could play all day. He had taken a break for the Olympics, and now the itch was back.
Chen Yan smiled. "Log in. For the Horde."
He hung up.
On the court, they were giants.
Off the court, they were still just 2 big boys, doing what big boys do.
.....
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