Before the game.
The Knicks bench.
Stoudemire was sitting on the bench, bent over as he adjusted his shoelaces. Anthony sat down beside him and said seriously, "Amar'e, I can accept last night's close loss to LeBron and the Heat's Big Three. They really are incredibly strong.
But tonight, we're facing the Suns, a team with only one real strong point, rookie Blake Su. In our last matchup, when I was still with the Nuggets, I lost to him. We absolutely cannot lose today.
We have to get revenge."
"Yes," Billups said as he walked over. "I don't want to lose to a rookie twice either, even if this rookie really does have incredible ability."
"Mm."
Stoudemire nodded. "Tonight, we're winning this game."
"Smack!"
The three slapped hands, full of confidence.
Then they walked onto the court together.
Knicks starters: point guard Billups, small forward Anthony, small forward Fields, power forward Turiaf, center Stoudemire.
Suns starters: point guard Nash, point guard Curry, shooting guard Carter, power forward Frye, and center Blake Su.
"Jump ball!"
Blake Su and Stoudemire went up for the opening tip.
Stoudemire's gaze was sharp, his fighting spirit already burning from the start.
Although... in the eyes of most fans, tonight was Anthony and Billups' revenge game, few knew that earlier in the season, Stoudemire had also lost to Blake Su once.
So tonight was his revenge game too.
However, when it came to jump balls, Blake Su still had no idea what defeat felt like.
"Smack!"
The two jumped at the same time. Blake Su once again displayed his [Iverson's Talent], beating Stoudemire to the ball and tipping it away.
"Thud, thud, thud!"
Nash caught the ball and organized the Suns' first offensive possession of the game.
After setting up at the top of the key, he faced Billups, lowered his center of gravity, and used a series of fakes before accelerating. As he changed rhythm and drove, he drew Anthony's defense in an instant.
"Whoosh!"
A behind the back pass went to Blake Su in the left corner.
Blake Su raised his hand and fired a three. The ball traced a perfect arc, spinning straight and true before diving into the net.
"Swish!"
A clean make.
"Whoa..."
In the ESPN studio, Mike Breen smiled and said, "Blake Su opens the game with a three pointer. His touch looks hot tonight too. If the Knicks want to beat the Suns, they have to contain Blake Su."
"That's right," Van Gundy agreed. "They have to shut down Blake Su if they want a chance to win."
While the two were talking, on the court, Stoudemire caught the ball at the left high post. Facing Frye, he took one step to accelerate, one step into contact, then stopped suddenly.
Frye was gone.
Stoudemire rose into a mid range jumper.
"Swish!"
The ball dropped cleanly through.
Possession changed.
Blake Su held the ball at the top of the key. Almost the moment he caught it, Anthony pressed up tightly, while Fields watched from the wing like a predator waiting to pounce, just as Mike Breen and Van Gundy had said.
Tonight, the Knicks increased the defensive pressure on Blake Su from the very start.
However.
"Step!"
Carter came up to set a screen for Blake Su. Blake Su used it, accelerated, shook off Anthony, and ended up one on one against Fields.
"Whoosh!"
One step of acceleration, a sudden stop... then a between the legs pullback.
Fields disappeared too.
"Swish!"
With the boost of Blake Su's [Peak Anthony Jump Shot], his mid range jumper also dropped steadily through the net.
On the next possession, Anthony and Fields were still the ones clinging tightly to Blake Su on the perimeter. They refused to give him any easy scoring chance and even pressed up to try for a steal.
"Whoosh!"
Seeing that the screen had not been set well, Blake Su immediately passed to the other side. But... forced to pass out of a double team, the result was not ideal.
The ball nearly became a turnover.
Fortunately, Nash still caught it. And as he caught the ball, he saw Curry cutting near the free throw line, but instead passed to Carter waiting in the left corner.
"No-look pass!"
"Whoosh!"
Carter caught the ball and rose straight into a three.
"Clang!"
The chance was there, but unfortunately, it missed. Stoudemire protected the rebound and gave it to Billups, who pushed quickly up the floor, rushed into the frontcourt, then passed back to Anthony trailing behind him.
"Whoosh!"
Anthony caught it and fired another jumper.
"Swish!"
Good as well.
"My bad!"
Carter frowned. He should have stepped up to contest that shot, but he had been careless. He had not expected Anthony to shoot so decisively.
Knicks 4, Suns 5.
Suns ball.
The Knicks were still putting tremendous defensive pressure on Blake Su, but the game had only just begun. Blake Su did not rush into a forced attack and decisively passed to an open teammate.
"Smack!"
Carter caught the ball and passed again. Curry received it on the right side of the arc.
A three?
No.
He passed again to Nash on the right low block.
"Whoosh!"
A short jumper.
"Swish!"
Good.
"Wow, the Suns' constant ball movement created the best finishing opportunity. That kind of team offense is really pleasing to watch," Van Gundy said with a smile.
"That's right," Mike Breen said, nodding repeatedly. "It's starting to feel a little like the Spurs' team first offense. Now let's look at the Knicks.
Whoa...
It's Anthony again. He's backing down Carter in the low post, bumping him again and again, then turning straight into a jumper. That shot goes in. Anthony's individual ability really speaks for itself.
Now the possession changes.
Curry pushes the ball up quickly and gives it to Nash at the top of the key, while he spaces out to one side. How will Nash choose the passing lane this time?
Sure enough.
He still goes to Blake Su curling out, but... but the Knicks are locked onto Blake Su tonight. It isn't just Anthony. There's help defense too.
Is Blake Su going to force the drive?
He really is forcing his way through Anthony, and with Fields coming over to double him, he's attacking the rim through two defenders. This is too difficult.
Is it good?
No!
But... Blake Su grabs his own miss. A second chance? No, it's just a fake to draw the defense. He swings the ball across.
Curry in the left corner for three?
Ah, still no good. But Blake Su flies in again, fights for the rebound, and grabs it. His whole body even rushes out from the baseline. He's really fighting for everything.
Blake Su gives it to Nash, then moves to the side as the Suns reset the offense. Blake Su is being watched by two defenders. Who does Nash look for? Curry?
What?!
Nash suddenly passes.
Wow!
Blake Su cuts out from the right corner. Is this an alley oop? Ah, the pass is too high. Blake Su... is this ball going to be lost?
My goodness!
Blake Su jumped too high. His head is already a little above the rim, and with those long arms, he catches the ball at an extreme height in midair.
Bang!
A tomahawk alley oop slam!
Heavens above!
Even on an errant pass, he still turns it into an alley oop. Blake Su... Blake Su's talent is absolutely ridiculous!"
Mike Breen delivered the call with rapid fire excitement, fully showing the pace of a true commentator. The instant Blake Su forced the alley oop and smashed it through the rim, he even held his head in both hands, stunned.
And on the court.
"Boom!"
The moment Blake Su flew into the air like a divine soldier descending from the sky and threw down that alley oop dunk, the road arena erupted into deafening cheers.