The Clippers attacked, and Li Chen dribbled across midcourt.
To Li Chen's surprise, the Suns didn't double-team him.
Li Chen's lips curled up. Since you're not doubling me, I won't hold back.
Li Chen raised a hand and called Michael Olowokandi over to set a screen.
Michael Olowokandi, who had been crouching under the basket waiting for a rebound, suddenly realized what was going on. He'd forgotten about setting the screen.
A moment later, Li Chen used Michael Olowokandi's screen and sank a three-pointer with a clean release.
Watching this, Coach Frank Johnson's brows nearly knitted together.
That Eastern Kid was such a handful. If they didn't double-team him, he'd shoot threes; if they did, he'd pass.
He was too fast. If that kid grew into a big man, he'd be an Iverson with outstanding basketball IQ.
How were they supposed to defend someone like that? Frank couldn't think of a way.
The Clippers didn't have a single All-Star Player, but they played with remarkable consistency.
More than 50% of the shots set up by that Eastern Kid went in.
Meanwhile, D'Antoni was practically green with envy. With Li Chen on his team, he could build the most offensively powerful team in the league.
Wait—had he just remembered something?
D'Antoni's expression darkened. That Eastern Kid had apparently come to try out for the Suns, but Frank Johnson...
D'Antoni sighed regretfully. If only he'd been able to persuade Coach Frank Johnson back then!
At that moment, D'Antoni regretted it so much he could have kicked himself.
The Suns had managed to keep the Clippers from widening the gap at first, but as time passed, they felt increasingly helpless.
Li Chen found chances to score every time, and by the end of the third quarter,
the Suns were trailing 65–88, down by