Chapter 454: A Last Minute Kill
The Phoenix Suns continued to stack wins upon wins. This historic streak was not merely a product of the roster's overwhelming talent but a testament to the team's immaculate atmosphere.
There were no egos in the locker room. No one acted like a superstar, not even the team leader. Steve Nash, the two time MVP, never put on airs. He typically arrived at the arena two hours before tipoff to get his shots up.
This stood in stark contrast to other superstars around the league. In Houston, McGrady was rarely seen getting extra reps before games. Allen Iverson was famous for his aversion to practice, a habit that followed him from Philadelphia to Denver, and eventually to Detroit.
But Nash was different. He prepared meticulously. He worked on his three point shot more than anything else. In previous seasons, his sweet spots were the wings at the 45 degree angle. This year, however, he had intensified his work on corner threes. With Chen Yan collapsing defenses, Nash often found himself wide open in the corners, and he wanted to be automatic from there.
Although Nash's scoring average had dipped slightly this season, his efficiency had skyrocketed. His three point percentage sat at a career high 48.1 percent in his 13th season.
If Nash received any special treatment, it was only that Marc Iavaroni, the lead assistant coach, personally rebounded for him during these sessions.
Inspired by his point guard, Chen Yan also began arriving two hours early. Sometimes he beat Nash to the floor. This extra preparation was a major factor in why Chen Yan often exploded for big points in the first quarter of games.
From Nash, Chen Yan absorbed not just passing angles and court vision, but an attitude toward the profession. It was a mindset that would shape the trajectory of his entire career.
This work ethic was contagious. Soon, the entire roster began showing up early.
Everyone was desperate to extend the streak.
It was the first thought on their minds when they woke up in the morning.
When reports of their pregame routines surfaced, the media and fans realized the truth. There was no secret formula to the winning streak. It was simply hard work and collective buy in.
Inevitably, the media began comparing this Suns team to the 1996 Chicago Bulls who won 72 games.
Chen Yan did not mind the comparison. Being mentioned in the same breath as the greatest team in history was an honor in itself.
However, Scottie Pippen, the legendary lieutenant of that Bulls squad, took offense.
Pippen jumped onto social media to fire a shot across the bow.
"Sorry, but that 96 Bulls team would sweep these Suns 4 to 0. It wouldn't be close."
The statement ignited a firestorm. Media outlets circulated the quote instantly, and comment sections exploded with debates.
One camp of fans argued that the Bulls were physically superior on defense and possessed enough firepower to slow the Suns down in a seven game series.
Another group argued that the game had evolved. Math was on the Suns' side; two pointers could not beat three pointers. The 96 Bulls averaged around 15 three point attempts per game as a team, which was fewer than Chen Yan attempted by himself on some nights.
A third group felt Pippen was simply chasing clout. Even if the Bulls could win, predicting a sweep was disrespectful. The Suns were one of the most potent offensive engines the league had ever seen. Dismissing them so easily was an insult to the modern era.
Charles Barkley, never one to shy away from drama, jumped into the fray. He called out his former peer on TNT.
"Who can guard Chen? Tell me that. Who is going to stay in front of a kid who dropped 68 points effortlessly?"
Pippen responded quickly.
"I can absolutely lock him down. Michael could too. With our rotating defense, Chen might score, but he definitely wouldn't reach double digits. We would do to him exactly what we did to Toni Kukoc in the Olympics."
The reference was legendary. The Bulls drafted Kukoc in 1990, but he stayed in Europe for two years.
Before the Dream Team played Croatia in Barcelona, Jordan and Pippen decided to haz the future teammate they hadn't met yet.
They told the locker room to let them handle Kukoc. Facing the suffocating pressure of the two best perimeter defenders in the world, Kukoc managed only 4 points.
Pippen had famously remarked that the Croatian was too soft for the NBA.
Barkley was speechless. He remembered Pippen as a quiet, hardworking player during their playing days. In retirement, however, Pippen seemed to have become bitter, saying outrageous things for attention.
After ten minutes of stewing, Barkley fired back on social media.
"You are comparing Chen to Kukoc? That shows you don't watch basketball. If I hadn't played against you, I would think you were a casual fan!"
Pippen's reply was instantaneous and lethal.
"Yes, it was this casual fan who eliminated you in the 1993 NBA Finals."
It was a low blow. Pippen had targeted Barkley's biggest insecurity—his lack of a ring. The two Hall of Famers proceeded to engage in a keyboard war that lasted for two hours.
While the two legends bickered like teenagers, an actual teenager was watching the drama unfold from a distance.
In Boston, Kevin Durant sat in front of his computer, slurping instant noodles while toggling between his alternate accounts to leave comments. He was loving the chaos. Even as an NBA star, Durant remained a true internet dweller at heart.
While Pippen was busy fighting on Twitter, his wife, Larsa, was out on the town. Larsa and a friend had attended the game in Phoenix.
Afterward, hearing that the Suns were celebrating their 20th consecutive win at a local nightclub, she decided to crash the party.
Nash hated these events. He stayed for thirty minutes out of politeness and then went home. Grant Hill made an excuse and slipped out ten minutes later.
Chen Yan also wanted to leave. Yao Ming was waiting for him online to run some dungeons in World of Warcraft. Chen Yan had already bailed on him once; doing it again would be rude.
Just as he stood up to leave, a blonde woman in a tight black dress approached him.
"Chen, you were amazing tonight," she said, leaning in close.
"Watching you shoot the lights out made my heart race. I am definitely a loyal fan."
Chen Yan initially assumed she was just a groupie. It wasn't until Raja Bell leaned over and whispered in his ear that he realized who she was.
"Wow," Chen Yan said, looking at her with fresh surprise. "You are Scottie Pippen's wife?"
"Yes."
Larsa flipped her hair, her eyes scanning the room dismissively. She was clearly there to have fun and didn't want the label of a married woman to slow her down.
"Come sit over here," Amare Stoudemire interrupted, his eyes lighting up.
"I think we have a lot to talk about."
Stoudemire seemed even more interested after learning she was married. Larsa sat down, but her attention remained fixed on Chen Yan. Larsa was a woman who craved the spotlight.
Since retiring, Scottie's fame had faded, and he could no longer satisfy her need for attention. Chen Yan, the hottest star in the sports world, was a different story.
Chen Yan glanced at her. She had an incredible figure, but she was over thirty, old enough to be his aunt. That wasn't his style.
Furthermore, her lips were overly filled, giving her a distinct look that Chen Yan found unappealing.
Stoudemire, however, nudged Raja Bell.
"You see those lips? That is tactical gear, man."
Stoudemire's voice was loud. Chen Yan shook his head.
"Do you live alone, or are you living with your singer girlfriend?" Larsa asked, probing for information.
"I like to give my partners space. Moving in together too early kills the vibe," Chen Yan replied diplomatically.
"Oh. So how do you relieve your stress? Do you have a local girl in Phoenix?"
Larsa was experienced. Her questions were direct, leaving little room for evasion.
"Girlfriends... you can have multiple at the same time?" Chen Yan played dumb.
Larsa laughed. "Aren't all you NBA stars like that? One in every city so you never get lonely on the road."
Chen Yan shook his head. He felt like he was playing in a different league than the one she described.
"I heard you are a very... gifted man"
Larsa said, dropping all subtlety.
Chen Yan blinked. How would she know that? He hoped Taylor Swift hadn't been sharing details.
"That is just baseless reporting by the media. They do it for clicks."
Larsa laughed, a low, seductive sound. "No, no. I didn't read it in the news. Your nose is very prominent. And they say the size of the nose is directly linked to the size of the package."
Rumor had it that Pippen was extremely well endowed. Hearing Larsa's logic, Chen Yan realized those rumors were likely true.
"Excuse me"
Chen Yan said, standing up.
"I need to use the restroom."
He slipped out the back door immediately.
Larsa was too aggressive. If the paparazzi caught them together, it wouldn't just be a rumor; it would be a full blown scandal involving a married woman.
The next morning, Chen Yan checked the news. Fortunately, there were no stories about him and Larsa. However, the internet was ablaze with Pippen's latest comments.
Pippen had not stopped at the 4 to 0 sweep prediction. Early that morning, he sent out several tweets claiming that Chen Yan wouldn't even be the sixth man on the 96 Bulls. He argued that Chen's role would be smaller than Steve Kerr's.
A few minutes later, Pippen added that no coach from the 90s would start a player who only launched deep shots and played zero defense.
It was clearly a cry for attention, and it worked.
Chen Yan had seen enough. As he walked out of the training facility, a horde of reporters was waiting. They were desperate for his reaction.
Chen Yan stopped. He looked at the cameras with a calm expression.
"Comparisons across eras are meaningless,"
Chen Yan said.
"We will never know the answer. I don't know which team is stronger, and neither does he. But I just want to say one thing to Mr. Pippen."
Chen Yan paused for effect.
"Your wife is a big fan of mine."
Mic drop.
After the clip aired, Pippen went completely silent on social media. Presumably, he had some urgent family matters to attend to.
.....
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