Chapter 836: Pressure

Chapter 836: Chapter 836: Pressure

Chapter 836: Pressure

The pressure had suddenly shifted onto Chen Yan.

New York’s next possession began with the same problem.

Another off ball double team.

Barea looked toward Chen but did not force the pass.

Instead, he noticed a gap in San Antonio’s defense and immediately accelerated into the paint.

This was the inherent risk of doubling a player without the ball.

An on ball double team could often be covered through quick rotations.

An off ball double team was different.

It created obvious gaps elsewhere on the floor.

That was one reason Popovich had always disliked using it.

Even against elite scorers such as Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and Allen Iverson, he rarely relied on that kind of coverage.

During the first 3 games against Chen, San Antonio had gone no further than an on ball double team.

Tonight was different.

Curry was injured.

David West and DeAndre Jordan had been ejected.

With 2 of New York’s core players suddenly unavailable, Popovich believed the gamble was worth taking.

Clang!

The decision paid off.

Barea reached the paint easily.

Finishing was another matter.

Duncan rotated over.

Rather than challenge him directly at the rim, Barea released an early floater.

Front rim.

Miss.

Duncan secured the rebound and immediately launched a long pass.

Parker was already running.

The French guard accelerated into the open floor.

Chen chased from behind.

He had not touched the ball on either of New York’s previous 2 offensive possessions.

If San Antonio was going to deny him offensively, then Chen would pour that energy into defense.

Parker glanced over his shoulder before taking off.

Chen was coming fast.

Very fast.

Parker knew exactly what would happen if he tried a normal layup.

Chase down block.

Instead of forcing the finish, Parker dribbled through the paint and circled back beyond the 3 point line.

Reset.

He refused to let San Antonio’s momentum make him reckless.

Chen followed him outside.

Parker immediately swung the ball to Ginóbili.

With Chen guarding Parker, Barea had been forced onto Manu.

An obvious mismatch.

Ginóbili did not attack it.

Instead, he recognized that Duncan had established deeper position.

Entry pass.

Duncan caught the ball almost under the basket.

No hesitation.

Turn.

1 step.

Bang!

He pounded the ball hard and backed Kenyon Martin down.

Martin fought with everything he had.

It was not enough.

Duncan extended his right hand and softly sent the ball toward the rim.

The shot rolled around once.

Out.

Martin prepared to secure the rebound.

Before he could jump, Duncan’s long arm reached over him.

Tip.

Good.

75 to 68.

Martin exhaled in frustration.

Duncan’s physical advantages remained enormous.

Length.

Size.

Reach.

Without DeAndre and David West, New York’s interior defense and rebounding had taken a major hit.

This was exactly what Knicks fans had feared.

Duncan was beginning to control the paint.

New York inbounded.

Chen waved from the backcourt.

"Give it to me."

Battier obeyed and immediately passed the ball in his direction.

Chen took 1 dribble.

San Antonio attacked.

Double team.

In the backcourt.

Even Chen looked slightly surprised.

This was aggressive to the point of madness.

Ginóbili and Leonard had seen the strategy work during the previous possessions.

In New York’s current condition, they believed that if they could keep the ball away from Chen, the entire offense might stall.

The broadcast booth immediately reacted.

"A backcourt double team in the 3rd quarter. You almost never see San Antonio do this."

"Almost never is right. Popovich normally stays loyal to his system regardless of the opponent. Between this and the off ball doubles, he is gambling tonight."

Chen quickly passed to Barea.

Then he moved.

Stop.

Diagonal cut.

Change of direction.

Chen began weaving across the floor in a serpentine pattern.

Leonard and Ginóbili suddenly found themselves chasing instead of controlling him.

That was the problem with doubling across the entire court.

There was too much space.

Chen could use the full width of the floor to escape.

Barea watched him cut through the defense.

Pass.

Their chemistry showed immediately.

Barea had played alongside Chen since Chen’s first NBA season.

There were passes that even Curry might hesitate to attempt.

Barea delivered them almost instinctively.

Not because he was a superior passer.

Because he understood Chen’s movement better than almost anyone.

Catch.

Chen turned immediately toward the basket.

Duncan and Diaw were only just establishing position.

Too late.

Chen attacked the space between them.

Both big men jumped.

Neither could reach him.

Chen’s momentum carried him directly through the narrow gap.

2 handed dunk.

Boom!

77 to 68.

New York finally stopped the bleeding.

More importantly, the finish restored some confidence.

As long as Chen remained on the floor, the Knicks had something stable to lean on.

By the end of the 3rd quarter, Chen had accumulated 52 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.

New York still led.

89 to 82.

Only 7 points.

Nobody on the Knicks bench considered that safe.

Chen immediately told Nelson that he did not need rest.

He wanted to play the entire 4th quarter.

Nelson agreed.

Win tonight, and the series would move to 3 to 1.

Then New York would return home with a chance to finish everything.

San Antonio’s path back from that position would become almost impossible.

Nelson chose this moment to put pressure on his players.

The rotation had already been torn apart.

Curry was unavailable.

DeAndre was gone.

David West was gone.

If New York wanted to survive, every remaining player needed to stay completely focused until the final buzzer.

The 4th quarter began.

Chen stayed on the floor.

So did Parker and Duncan.

Popovich finally gave Ginóbili a brief rest.

Manu had already played far more minutes than originally planned through the first 3 quarters.

The first 3 periods had been played at a frantic pace.

Both teams scored heavily.

Then the game suddenly slowed.

Half court basketball.

Exactly the kind San Antonio preferred.

New York began to struggle.

The Knicks had lost control of the tempo.

Over the first 4 possessions of the 4th quarter, Chen touched the ball only once.

He missed the shot.

San Antonio kept closing.

The lead fell to 3.

At New York’s most dangerous moment, Chen finally broke free.

Deep 3 pointer.

Release.

Swish!

Another enormous shot.

New York stabilized again.

It was Chen’s 9th made 3 pointer of the game.

San Antonio answered by going back inside.

Duncan attacked Kenyon Martin.

Contact.

Whistle.

Foul.

Martin’s mobility had declined significantly this season.

Against Duncan, the weakness was obvious.

Fortunately for New York, Duncan’s free throw shooting remained unreliable.

1 of 2.

92 to 87.

New York came back down.

Chen used a screen and finally created enough separation to receive the ball.

The moment the pass reached him, the trap arrived.

Leonard from 1 side.

Diaw from the other.

Chen had not even turned around.

Parker hovered nearby.

Ready.

If Chen tried forcing his way through, San Antonio could easily send a 3rd or even a 4th defender.

Chen leaned backward.

Then whipped the ball toward Al Harrington.

Catch.

Duncan closed out.

Too far away.

And Harrington was a tall shooter.

The contest barely affected him.

Rise.

Swish!

95 to 87.

Harrington pounded his chest.

The Knicks bench erupted.

Towels flew through the air.

That shot mattered far beyond the 3 points.

It sent San Antonio a message.

Chen was not the only Knick capable of punishing the defense.

Popovich did not change his signal.

Keep doubling Chen.

At this point, that strategy placed enormous pressure on New York’s role players.

Popovich understood exactly what he was doing.

If Harrington, Barea, Battier, and the others could keep making plays, then San Antonio would have a problem.

But if the role players cracked under the pressure, New York’s offense would collapse.

Popovich was willing to take that chance.

....

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