The Best Point Guard

With Nash on the court, the Phoenix Suns’ offense was instantly revitalized, their attacks growing stronger and stronger.

But the Knicks played a steady game, maintaining a slight lead by relying on Eddie Curry’s dominance in the paint and Su Xi’s aggressive drives.

Both teams were desperate for a win.

Nash was out to prove himself, so he gritted his teeth and pushed hard, constantly trying to increase the offensive tempo.

The Suns were out to prove the effectiveness of their run-and-gun offense, so their entire system began to operate with increasing speed, like a machine wound tight and spinning madly.

Meanwhile, the Knicks wanted to keep their winning streak alive and build a more stable tactical system, so they were playing with everything they had.

The tense stalemate lasted until the final minute of the game.

The Phoenix Suns called a full timeout.

The Suns were down by one point, but they had possession.

The ambitious D’Antoni was on the sideline, slapping his clipboard and delivering a passionate speech. "...This is a do-or-die moment! We must seize victory by the throat! We have to win! We must defend the honor of Phoenix! We will show the entire world that when it comes to run-and-gun, Phoenix is the strongest!"

He was like a rooster with a glistening neck and golden plumage, crowing non-stop.

High-pitched and full of energy.

Larry Brown was on television, cheering on the Phoenix Suns. "If the Suns make this shot, victory is guaranteed. The Knicks are a spent force. Their Eddie Curry can barely even run anymore. Their frontcourt is nothing but a bunch of rookies now. Crawford isn’t going off tonight, Jalen Rose can’t handle the ball, and Quentin is too short. As long as they shut down Su Xi, and only Su Xi, the Suns have this in the bag..."

What Larry Brown said made a lot of sense.

But Reggie Miller posed an excellent question. "Let me ask you, Coach. If you were D’Antoni, who would you put on Jack? Who on the Suns do you think can actually stop him?"

"You double-team him. Use Marion and Rajon Rondo to do it," Larry Brown said with absolute certainty.

"I imagine that’s what D’Antoni is thinking, too."

Reggie Miller said, "But I can tell you with certainty: Phoenix is going to lose."

"Why?" Mike Brin and Larry Brown asked in unison.

"There is no ’why.’ Why don’t you go ask Jordan why he never had to play a Game 7 in the Finals?" Reggie Miller said with a look of disdain.

BEEP!

The whistle blew, and the game resumed.

Steve Nash received a pass from Shaun Marion on the perimeter. Just as he was about to move toward the top of the arc, Su Xi suddenly closed in. He physically bodied up on Nash, and the immense force instantly knocked Nash off balance.

The veteran Nash reacted instantly, turning his back to shield the basketball with both hands.

But in the very instant he hugged the ball, a giant hand reached up from underneath.

Then... like a highwayman, Su Xi simply grabbed the ball and ripped it away with a powerful tug, just like yanking a radish out of the ground.

The ball was torn from his grasp.

And Nash, like the clumps of dirt clinging to the uprooted radish, stumbled forward.

The soles of his shoes scraped the floor, practically leaving scorch marks.

But it was no damn use.

Su Xi took the ball and sprinted down the court.

Su Xi pulled up behind the three-point line and let it fly... SWISH!

He hit the three.

The Knicks were up by four.

Su Xi raised both hands high, soaking in the boos from the entire arena.

D’Antoni stared at the court. The rooster with the glistening neck and golden plumage was no longer crowing.

He screamed from the sideline, "Foul! Foul! Foul!"

He stomped his feet in fury.

But it was no use.

On the opposing sideline, Isaiah Thomas was perfectly calm. He propped his chin on his hand once again.

This time, he wasn’t asleep. Instead, a Mona Lisa smile spread across his face.

’Is that all you’ve got?’

He felt an immense sense of satisfaction. ’Why is D’Antoni even bothering?’ he thought.