The Suns kept swinging the ball from side to side, and with only three seconds left on the shot clock, they finally tore a hole in the Clippers' defense.
Joe Johnson scored over Andre Miller's tight pressure.
13–24. The Clippers still led by 11.
It had to be admitted: the Suns' offensive game plan was working to some extent.
On the Suns' bench, Coach Frank Johnson saw that the strategy was paying off and finally let out a breath of relief.
At the same time, Anthony clenched his right fist, pleased that his strategy was working.
Alvin Gentry of the Clippers wasn't concerned about the Suns' tactics. After all, his team was ahead by 11.
Andre Miller passed to Elton Brand, who was cutting toward the basket again.
Li Chen continued to orchestrate the offense beyond the three-point line, but this time Joe Johnson stuck to him like glue. Marion was also close by.
They were clearly ready to double-team Li Chen as soon as he got the ball.
As Elton Brand dribbled, he stole a glance at Li Chen's position. He knew there was no way he could pass to him again.
Odom was eagerly raising a hand for the ball, so Elton Brand passed it to him.
After receiving the ball, Odom bumped Stoudemire to create room for a shot, then took a nimble little floater. His movements were smooth and fluid, but frustratingly, the ball didn't go in.
Elton Brand's face darkened. Fuck, that useless bastard Odom couldn't even make that shot.
Fortunately, Michael Olowokandi grabbed the rebound.
Outlaw and Stoudemire double-teamed Michael Olowokandi, denying him room to shoot or pass.
Seeing this, Li Chen shook off Joe Johnson and went to help Michael Olowokandi.
Joe Johnson gritted his teeth and stayed on Li Chen's heels. How the hell does this guy train? Why is he so fast? I can't keep up with him at all!
Meanwhile, Michael Olowokandi struggled to pass the ball to Li Chen.
After getting the ball, Li Chen moved out to the perimeter and reset the offense.
Joe Johnson stuck to him like glue again, but Li Chen showed off his speed and blew past him once more.
Johnson gritted his teeth and secretly tugged at Li Chen.
Li Chen's jersey stretched out like a tent, but, to Joe Johnson's frustration, even that wasn't enough to stop him.
Fuck, this guy's a beast!
What surprised Joe Johnson even more was that, for some reason, the referee didn't call a foul.
Johnson knew when to quit and wisely pulled his hand back.
Li Chen had just been about to draw a foul and get two free throws, but Joe Johnson let go.
His thoughts flashed by in an instant. Li Chen didn't try to draw the foul; instead, he darted straight to the basket like a sharp blade.
The Suns players rushed to surround him.
But before they could close in for the double-team, Li Chen tossed a pass around them with a Euro step, finding Michael Olowokandi—their big man—in the paint.
Michael Olowokandi leaped high. The two connected again.
Michael Olowokandi slammed the ball into the hoop.
13–26. The Clippers answered right back.
The Suns players glanced at one another, seeing nothing but helplessness in each other's eyes.
We can't stop him! We really can't. We can't cut off his connection with the other Clippers players.
"As long as we score efficiently, we don't necessarily have to lose," Marbury said stubbornly.
"Marbury's right. We've got two All-Star Players on the Suns," Joe Johnson chimed in.
The Suns' morale recovered somewhat.
A little later, the Suns went on offense. They stuck with the same approach as the previous possession, swinging the ball around the perimeter to tear open the Clippers' defense.
The Suns' outside shooting had been excellent that day. On this possession, Marion scored again.
He clenched his right fist, thinking, We've still got a chance.
16–26.
Watching this, Alvin Gentry looked surprised. He hadn't expected the Suns' outside shots to be so accurate today.
Alvin Gentry hesitated over whether to call a timeout and adjust the game plan.
Andre Miller dribbled across half court.
Li Chen shook off Joe Johnson and circled out to receive the ball.
Andre Miller quickly passed it to him.
After receiving the ball, Li Chen leaned against Joe Johnson. "Johnson, you're sweating a lot."
"You're not doing much better," Joe Johnson shot back, panting heavily.
Before Johnson could finish speaking, Li Chen spun halfway around and drove along the baseline.
Joe Johnson gritted his teeth and chased after him.
At the same time, Marion left Corey Maggette to help defend Li Chen.
Li Chen immediately passed to Corey Maggette, who adjusted his stance and jumped up for the shot.
Stoudemire rushed to defend him. Corey Maggette was thrown off a little, but the ball rolled around the rim twice before dropping through.
After the Clippers scored two, Li Chen and Andre Miller exchanged a few words.
The two began defending in the backcourt, trying to eat into the Suns' time on offense. That would burn at least ten seconds off the Suns' possession.
Alvin Gentry was taken aback when he saw this, then smiled with relief. Chen was as reliable as ever.
Sure enough, the Suns didn't have enough time to find an opening on their next possession. They could only rush a shot, and it missed.
Stoudemire was left to fend for himself under the basket and couldn't grab the offensive rebound. The Suns' possession ended without a score.
Frank Johnson watched with a bitter smile, then turned to D'Antoni beside him.
It was as if he were asking, Buddy, do you have any other ideas?
D'Antoni thought it over, then shook his head with a rueful smile. "All we can do now is believe in them." He truly had no other options.
At the end of the second quarter, the Suns trailed the Clippers 30–40.
During halftime, the Suns drew up a new offensive strategy. They decided to use Marbury and Marion's individual skills to drive into the paint and create opportunities for their outside players to make up the deficit.
At the start of the third quarter, Coach Alvin Gentry didn't take Michael Olowokandi off the floor. After all, he'd been solid on the boards that game.
Odom hadn't earned Alvin Gentry's trust.
At the start of the third quarter, the Clippers missed their first shot.
The Suns grabbed the rebound, and Marbury drove toward the basket, getting past Andre Miller and Corey Maggette with consecutive fakes.
Li Chen came over to help. Seeing him made Marbury's blood boil. He wanted to get past Li Chen—or make him stumble.
Marbury kept trying to break through, but each time he fell just a little short. He couldn't accept it.
The Suns' head coach, Frank Johnson, watched Marbury keep tangling with Li Chen and nearly burst a blood vessel.
"Marbury, pass that damn ball!" Frank Johnson finally snapped. He roared from the sideline, waving his fists like a raging lion.
Hearing his coach lose his temper, Marbury came to his senses. He began looking around for a passing opportunity, but he didn't realize how little time they had left.
Just then, the referee's whistle blew. The Suns had been called for a 24-second violation.
Li Chen let out a long breath. Thank goodness we stopped them, he thought.
Marbury gave Li Chen a long, deep look.
Marbury had a feeling that this Oriental man had gotten even stronger. And it had only been seven days!
How the hell does this guy train? Why is he so strong? I don't get it. I really don't!
Before you continue