Who?
Zaza Pachulia!
Yes.
It was this dirty-playing center who loved to "undercut" opponents. He was also one of the few players in the league that Blake Su truly despised.
Take "Mad Dog" Patrick Beverley, for example. His relentless hustle and gritty defense sometimes made his style a little rough, but that was understandable. After all, everyone had to make a living.
When natural talent falls short, fighting hard on defense to earn a place in the league and secure a solid contract is only human.
But Pachulia was different.
His malicious "undercutting," a despicable act that could ruin a player's career, completely violated the spirit and ethics of competitive sports. It was utterly disgusting.
The 2016–17 season.
The Spurs were the biggest obstacle on the Warriors' path to the championship. In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the Spurs once led by more than 20 points.
And then Pachulia stepped in.
He deliberately "undercut" the Spurs' franchise player, Kawhi Leonard.
That injury ended Leonard's season. The Warriors came back from over 20 points down to win that game, then swept the Spurs 4-0 and went on to win the championship that year.
Whether the Warriors would have lost without that play was up for debate.
But Pachulia's disgraceful move nearly ruined a superstar's career. It also directly shattered the Spurs' championship dreams.
More than that.
It changed the entire trajectory of the Spurs, sending them into years of decline.
And the root of it all was that malicious "undercut."
Blake Su stared at Pachulia, his eyes filled with disgust.
"Zaza, you better hope I don't catch you. Otherwise... you're going to regret it!!!"
After locking onto Pachulia and scanning the rest of the Hawks' players, Blake Su began warming up on his own.
Soon, warm-ups ended.
Both teams' starting lineups took the court.
Atlanta Hawks starting lineup: 185 cm point guard Mike Bibby, 201 cm shooting guard Joe Johnson, 206 cm small forward Josh Smith, 206 cm power forward Marvin Williams, and 208 cm center Al Horford.
Phoenix Suns starting lineup: 191 cm point guard Steve Nash, 188 cm shooting guard Stephen Curry, 198 cm shooting guard Vince Carter, 211 cm power forward Channing Frye, and 215 cm center Blake Su.
"Jump ball!"
Blake Su faced off against All-Star center Al Horford.
But it didn't matter. With his absolute advantage in height and vertical leap, Blake Su tipped the ball over Horford's head once again, securing the first possession for the Suns.
"Thud, thud, thud!"
Nash brought the ball up the court. Using a screen from Blake Su, he drove in from the left wing, weaving his way into the paint and going up for a layup just as Horford moved in to contest.
With a quick motion, Nash pulled the ball back midair.
The pass zipped between Joe Johnson and Marvin, fast and precise, reaching Blake Su at the left wing beyond the arc.
Blake Su rose up and fired a three.
Nothing but net.
"Wow. That pull-back pass after drawing the defense in was brilliant. Truly worthy of the title 'Passing Master.' That was beautiful to watch!"
Mike Breen laughed.
"Exactly," Van Gundy said with a smile. "But Blake Su's three-point shooting as a center is just terrifyingly consistent. Josh Smith closed out hard.
But the shooter wasn't a guard. It was a 215 cm center.
There was nothing he could do."
Hawks (0): (3) Suns.
Hawks possession.
Bibby brought the ball across half court and handed it off to Joe Johnson at the top of the key. Johnson attacked Blake Su one-on-one, expecting to beat him with speed, but couldn't shake him at all.
Instead, Blake Su's massive frame stayed right in front of him, shutting down every option.
With no choice, Joe Johnson kicked it out to Josh Smith in the left corner.
Smith let a three fly.
Clang.
Miss.
Horford grabbed the offensive rebound, battled Frye for position, then went up with a quick bank shot.
Swish.
On the next possession, Josh Smith drove for a layup but missed. Horford tipped the ball out, Marvin secured it, then passed back to Joe Johnson.
Joe Johnson pulled up for three.
Swish.
Good.
Curry pushed in transition, faked a three, then used a hesitation move to shake Marvin and drove straight into the paint. With Joe Johnson chasing from the side for a block, Curry lofted a high bank shot.
Swish.
His soft touch carried the ball in despite the pressure.
But immediately after that, Joe Johnson led a fast break, drove and kicked it out to Bibby on the perimeter.
Bibby fired a three.
Swish.
Good again.
A quick 7-2 response.
Van Gundy clicked his tongue.
"The Hawks really have their strengths. They may not have a standout superstar, but they're very well-rounded.
They can score from multiple positions.
After a few passes, even the slightest opening is enough for anyone to finish the play."
Mike Breen nodded.
"That's true. But the Suns are the same, and on top of that, they have Blake Su, that 'monster rookie' with elite individual scoring ability.
They..."
Before he could finish.
Swish.
Blake Su stepped into a three from well beyond the arc in transition, knocking it down right over Josh Smith's contest.
On the very next possession, he used a deceptive move, feigning a drive left before accelerating right, blowing past Josh Smith and cutting into the lane.
With his height, wingspan, and explosive burst, he took long strides to the rim.
Horford hesitated for a split second.
Swish.
The layup dropped in.
On the next play, Joe Johnson attacked Blake Su, using a series of crossovers to find his rhythm before suddenly accelerating and drawing even with him.
In the next instant, he slipped past Blake Su.
But it was still within Blake Su's defensive range.
His eyes sharpened, and under the effect of [Eagle Spear], he struck with a steal.
Just as Joe Johnson got by him, the ball was taken.
Blake Su came away with the steal.
The Suns broke in transition.
Blake Su launched a long pass across half court to Curry, who had already sprinted ahead.
Curry set his feet at the left wing, took a steady step, and pulled up for a transition three.
Swish.
Clean make.
Just as the Hawks were building momentum, the Suns answered with an 8-0 run of their own. The back-and-forth scoring bursts and high-level offense quickly ignited the atmosphere in the arena.