Philadelphia 76ers Starting Lineup: Point Guard: Allen Iverson, Shooting Guard: Louis Williams, Small Forward: Andre Iguodala, Power Forward: Elton Brand, Center: Samuel Dalembert.
New York Knicks Starting Lineup: Point Guard: Curry, Shooting Guard: McGrady, Small Forward: Su Yan, Power Forward: David Lee, Center: Tyson Chandler.
"Jump ball!"
The jump ball between Dalembert and Tyson.
Tyson still had the advantage in raw talent, winning the tip-off and securing the first possession for the New York Knicks.
Curry pushed the ball up the court.
He settled at the left arc, passing the ball to Su Yan at the right arc. Lu Wei pressed up to challenge him, using smothering defense.
Su Yan didn't humor him.
While Dribbling, he exerted strength for the confrontation—a confrontation backed by a 180-kilogram bench press. Little Lu Wei was easily taken care of.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
Lu Wei retreated several steps, his body unable to stop its backward slide.
The sharp pain in his chest made him gasp internally, "Wait, what kind of strength is that!!!"
Su Yan seized the opportunity to step back, creating even more distance.
The space in front of him was wide open.
Calmly, he glanced at the hoop, made a slight adjustment, and then... raised his hand for a Three-point Shot.
How to describe it... Elegant, and never out of style.
Pinpoint accurate, not off by a millimeter.
"Swish!"
It went straight through the net.
Su Yan got the team off to a good start.
On the next possession, Curry ran into position, utilizing Su Yan's powerful Three-point Shot threat to find an opportunity in the left corner.
McGrady passed it over to him.
His "One-Motion" Three-point Shot release was identical to Su Yan's; for a moment, it was hard to tell who had copied whom.
"Clank!"
It missed.
Curry, still a rookie, was also accurate with his Three-point Shot, but compared to Su Yan, his precision was naturally a bit lacking.
"What a shame~"
Curry shook his head, feeling somewhat dissatisfied about missing an open Three-point Shot.
Returning to the court.
Su Yan walked over to comfort him: "Nine out of ten shots are cold, turnovers and bricks are perfectly normal!!!"
???
I mean, are you even trying to comfort me?
Curry shot Su Yan an annoyed look.
Iverson pushed the ball up, challenging Curry one-on-one. Theoretically, he should be able to blow past him in a single step.
Given Peak Iverson's speed and explosiveness, forget Curry, even Kobe would have struggled.
But now.
He couldn't penetrate.
His physical fitness had declined, he was plagued by injuries, and his explosiveness was insufficient.
This caused Iverson's Dribbling speed to slow down, his deception to decrease, and his explosiveness to be lacking.
His size offered no advantage either.
He couldn't get past him.
Even against Curry, he couldn't get past, forcing an accelerated breakthrough and a step-back jumper under pressure.
Curry contested the shot.
The interference was significant.
"Clank!"
Iverson's shot bricked.
His teammates screened for him, but as long as he wasn't wide open, practically anyone switching onto him could interfere with Iverson.
His offensive efficiency was low.
However... Iverson's dedication to the game remained undiminished, even in the final year of his career.
On the defensive end.
He played extremely hard; when facing Curry, he would aggressively smother him, just like he did when he was young.
His defense was fierce.
The pressure was intense.
The Iverson of the past achieved great results defending guards of the same caliber this way.
Now, nothing is as it was.
He couldn't stop Curry at all. Curry could get a clean look one-on-one without even needing a screen.
When mismatched against Su Yan, he fought just as fiercely.
Su Yan was focused on the game and still aiming for the player of the week award, so he wouldn't go easy on Iverson. With a slight bump...
Iverson went flying.
Su Yan was steady and took the Three-point Shot.
"Swish!"
It went in.
It was an easy score.
Iverson attacked aggressively and defended even harder, but... he couldn't score, and he couldn't defend.
He was clearly the team's biggest Liability.
McGrady looked at Iverson as if seeing himself and couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "The era of the 'four great shooting guards' has completely passed!"
In the front row of the audience.
Since the New Jersey Nets had a game against the 76ers tomorrow night, Yi Jianlian, who had arrived early, met up with Yao Ming, who was out for the season due to injury, to watch Su Yan play.
Yi Jianlian frowned, finding it hard to watch, "Why? Why does Iverson have to play so hard?
It's not necessary.
He could totally stay with the 76ers to retire gracefully, ending his glorious professional career in the most dignified way."
"Indeed."
Yao Ming didn't deny it, but added, "But playing like this, this is the Allen Iverson everyone loves!
Untamed, naturally proud, fearless of everything, yielding to nothing.
In his eyes, he is the strongest. No matter the time, he is full of confidence and possesses a fanatical desire for victory!
That is the answer.
That is why everyone loves him."
Yes.
Iverson played hard, fighting in every single offensive and defensive possession. This is the Iverson the home fans want to see.
But.
The fans were also deeply sympathetic.
Everyone knows Iverson is no longer the answer who once crossed up the masses and amazed the gods.
They hope he won't push himself, that he'll protect himself, and play a few more games on the NBA stage.
As long as he can play, that's enough.
The fans didn't ask for much more.
Even Su Yan was moved seeing Iverson play so hard, especially when compared to the relatively "Buddhist" McGrady.
It was even more moving.
Truly, nothing is as it was.
But, respect.
Su Yan felt profound respect for the naturally proud and untamed Iverson's desire to win.
He gave him a thumbs up internally.
He was moved for him.
However... this is a game, and Su Yan still needs a good performance to win the player of the week honor.
In that case, sentiments must be set aside, and feelings cannot interfere.
Given Iverson's personality, he certainly wouldn't want his opponent to hold back; he would want them to go all out.
Then, I will satisfy you!
"Swish!"
A meter beyond the Three-point Shot line, Su Yan saw Iverson momentarily stunned and immediately launched an extended Three-point Shot!
"Hah!"
Iverson contested with all his might.
But he was too short and couldn't jump high anymore. The ball flew out far above his fingertips, nowhere near where he could touch it.
The heavens are vast and the earth is wide; a made Three-point Shot deserves praise!
Another make.
Just one minute later, Su Yan was mismatched against Iverson. Su Yan, who was typically not skilled at penetrating...
He ground Iverson down, forcing an unreasonable attack into the paint.
High Post, High Attack.
It hit the backboard and went in.
That was somewhat lacking in martial virtue.
But there was nothing to be done; today's Iverson was the defensive weak link, a target that could be easily exploited.
Otherwise.
Why do you think the Grizzlies wanted Iverson to come off the bench?
The 76ers management signed Iverson back specifically to respect their "Son of Philadelphia."
After all.
Iverson brought too much glory to the 76ers.
Perhaps not many people know that the Basketball Emperor Chamberlain played for the 76ers.
But everyone definitely knows that the "Son of Philadelphia" is the answer.
Even tanking a season is completely worth it if it's for Iverson.
This is called respect.
This is called respect.
The good news is... even if today's Iverson wants to play, his stamina doesn't allow him to play for long.
About 30 minutes per game.
That's ten-plus minutes less than his peak.
This allows the other players a chance to catch up.
Coincidentally... tonight, Iguodala and Lu Wei were both in good form, with hot hands, scoring continuously.
Do the 76ers have a chance?
No.
Because... the New York Knicks also had hot hands, and they unleashed the "Run-and-Gun Cyc
lone" that D'Antoni wanted!!!
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