Chen Xi strolled across half court, then suddenly accelerated the instant he caught the pass, blowing past Vassell at his side in a single step and charging into the paint.
Still on the move, he hit Kuminga with a lightning-fast Front Crossover that barely slowed him down, drove left to the basket, then sprang off both feet and finished with a thunderous two-handed dunk from beside the rim.
A very Rose-like play!
"Chris!! He beats two defenders off the dribble and throws it down!! His offense is still unstoppable, and that burst is still ridiculous."
"Wembanyama's stride length and speed off the dribble are already absurd for someone his size, but I think even if you scaled him down proportionally, he still wouldn't necessarily match Chris."
"Chris undoubtedly has the fastest first step in the league! That explosive acceleration is absolutely outrageous! Even elite perimeter defenders like Leonard and Jrue Holiday can get beaten in one step if their attention slips for a moment, let alone Vassell. By comparison, Wembanyama probably relies more on those enormous strides once he gets moving."
"They each have their strengths and weaknesses. Of course, in an actual game, they're both equally unstoppable and equally difficult to contain."
On the court, Chen Xi landed steadily after another thunderous dunk, then turned and jogged back on defense.
As the second quarter drew to a close, Chen's competitive form seemed to be only just picking up.
The real show was only now about to begin.
Fourteen points might be nowhere near the Knicks' limit.
The game moved on to the next possession.
The Spurs were on offense.
Brunson brought the ball up, called for a Pick-and-Roll at the top of the key, and accelerated into a drive. He briefly paused on the move, read the defense,