Bang!
The blocked ball flew straight into the face of the greasy middle-aged man who had been shouting at the top of his lungs. His face hurt—but what truly stunned him was what he had just witnessed.
"B-blocked?"
He stared in disbelief, eyes wide as if they might pop out.
The one-legged fadeaway couldn't be blocked?
Of course it could.
If Nowitzki rushed the shot, forced it under a double-team, or got caught off guard by help defense from the side or behind—
In short, under abnormal shooting conditions, the one-legged fadeaway could be blocked.
But this time?
Nowitzki had risen in rhythm, fully set. The odds of blocking it were slim.
And yet it was swatted—cleanly—by a rookie, right in his face.
Unbelievable.
Inconceivable.
The entire arena was stunned.
"How is that possible?!"
Van Gundy shook his head in shock.
Mike Breen, equally fired up, smiled as he responded, "Why not? With Blake Su's tools, he absolutely can block Dirk."
"Oh?"
Van Gundy turned to him.
Breen tapped the desk lightly and broke it down.
"Dirk's one-legged fadeaway works for three reasons. First, he's 7'0" with a long wingspan.
Second, when he lifts that leg slightly, he creates extra separation. Add in the backward lean on the release, and the difficulty of contesting skyrockets.
That's what makes the move so special.
Guards might have the vertical, but not the height. Forwards might have some height, but lack the bounce to reach that release point.
And most importantly—Dirk hits it at an elite percentage. That odd-looking one-legged fadeaway is incredibly accurate.
Those three factors combined made it famous.
But Blake Su is an exception. A true exception.
He has center size with guard-level vertical—and better bounce than most guards. Add in his 228-centimeter wingspan—
Even Dirk's one-legged fadeaway can be blocked.
And we just saw him do it, straight up."
"Exactly!"
Van Gundy nodded, clearly impressed.
"Blake Su—this phenomenal center—his talent is off the charts.
He could be one of the most gifted rookies we've ever seen."
...
On the court.
"How?!"
Nowitzki was stunned—but there was no time to dwell on it.
The ball went out of bounds. Mavericks possession. 8.3 seconds left on the shot clock.
Terry caught it, attacked Nash one-on-one, pulled up for a mid-range jumper.
Clang.
No good.
Carter secured the rebound and pushed it himself. At the top of the arc, he handed it off to Blake Su.
Caron was still the defender.
Even though Blake Su had been matched up with Nowitzki defensively, the Mavericks weren't about to let Dirk guard him—defense had never been Nowitzki's strength.
Blake Su didn't hesitate.
One sharp in-and-out move.
Explosive first step.
Caron was gone in a blink, frozen where he stood.
Blake Su sliced into the paint and lofted a soft floater.
With his height, vertical, and wingspan, the release point was absurdly high.
Chandler jumped—but didn't even bother reaching.
Swish.
Another make.
...
Next possession.
Right wing, top of the arc.
Nowitzki had the ball again.
Blake Su stepped up to meet him.
The Mavericks crowd, still rattled, buzzed nervously. They wanted their star to answer back.
But—
Bang!
Another block.
The sound alone made Mavericks fans shudder.
"Impossible!"
Nowitzki's expression changed.
Being blocked once was shocking.
Twice?
Now he was serious. Completely serious—even if the man in front of him was just a rookie.
But taking it seriously didn't mean he would score.
In the latter half of the second quarter, under Blake Su's defense, Nowitzki's efficiency collapsed.
After scoring 14 in the first quarter—
He managed just 4 in the second.
And yes.
He was blocked three times in that quarter alone.
Dirk Nowitzki.
Blocked three times on his one-legged fadeaway by a rookie.
That headline would be everywhere tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Blake Su—
Even with the Mavericks locking down the perimeter, he still put up 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in the quarter.
And he was spending most of his energy guarding Nowitzki.
Mavericks 50, Suns 58.
Halftime.
The Suns led by eight.
...
The crowd buzzed with confusion.
"What's going on? How is it an eight-point gap?"
"Dirk's been limited—but Blake Su's perimeter game has been limited too. Both stars are being contained. Role players are even. So why are the Mavericks down eight?"
"Exactly. Both are big men who can shoot from outside. If both are held in check, Dallas shouldn't be losing."
"They're at home too. On paper, they should have the edge."
"Right. The Suns basically revolve around Blake Su. If he's limited, they should collapse."
"And Dirk's an All-Star starter. He's more experienced. He knows how to lead. Yet they're down eight? Makes no sense."
...
At the commentary table—
Mike Breen asked, "Van, both Blake Su and Nowitzki are being limited. The Suns are younger and on the road—yet they're up eight. What's your take?"
"Blake Su limited?"
Van Gundy raised an eyebrow.
"Dirk's perimeter weapon is his one-legged fadeaway. That's his signature. When that's taken away, he's truly being contained.
But Blake Su? Even if you tighten up on his outside shot, that's only part of his game.
He can drive. He can finish at the rim. He attacks the basket with force.
Nine points in that quarter alone says enough."
"That's true," Breen nodded.
"Blake Su's offense is more complete. Dirk is elite from the perimeter—but tonight, he's facing someone with even more outrageous physical tools.
And that's the matchup difference.
Sometimes, one thing simply counters another."
Van Gundy gave a small nod.
"That's why the eight-point lead isn't surprising.
And a lot of people say Blake Su and Nowitzki are similar—big men who shoot from outside.
But in my opinion—
Nowitzki is only a part of Blake Su."
...
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