Chapter 117: Chapter 116: He Is God!
It’s the US Airways Center.
In the second quarter, Murphy stayed on the court with Zack, and he really showed off another one of his strengths: his incredible rebounding ability. Forget the "soft big guy" stereotype people might have for him. Back in his prime, Murphy was a beast on the boards, snagging double-digit rebounds for multiple seasons. He’s super aggressive when boxing out and has an uncanny knack for predicting where the ball will land.
Out on the court, Stoudemire’s "Tyrant Jumper" air-balled. On the other side, a grim-faced Murphy locked down Marion, who was trying to crash the offensive glass, clearing the way for Zack to grab the defensive rebound easily.
Over the past season and a half, Murphy’s stats have dipped a bit to 9 points and 5 rebounds per game, mainly because of reduced playing time. But now, with new life goals, Murphy is playing even harder than before.
The Warriors settled into a half-court offense, and Zack’s isolation play against Marion failed. But Murphy hustled for the offensive rebound and dished it back to Zack for another two points. Historically, before that career-altering injury, Murphy was pulling down 4 offensive rebounds per 48 minutes – a stat that could rival even the toughest "black and strong" players!
In this life, after being "awakened" by Zack’s powerful punch, Murphy totally deserves the nickname "Golden State Laimbeer." While his defensive moves aren’t as dirty as Laimbeer’s, if the team needs it, Murphy can always unleash his nearly perfected "tackle-hug" to stop any player attacking the Warriors’ basket.
In fact, the longer Mike Malone coaches this Warriors team, the more he realizes just how incredibly deep their roster is. The Warriors have players with unique skills at every position, and their styles even complement each other. But while he’s gradually understanding the depth of this Warriors squad, Malone is also puzzled why they were so bad before drafting Zack.
Honestly, before Zack, this Warriors team was like a house that was fully furnished and just needed a superstar to move in. Yes, their foundation is incredibly deep. But if you take Zack out of the picture, the whole team would lose its distinct characteristics because of the absence of their leader. Zack and the Warriors are a perfect match; only when they complement each other does this team’s potential become limitless.
High up, on a Warriors offensive possession, Zack executed a hand-off with Murphy and forced Stoudemire onto him. Then, with two quick crossover dribbles, Zack easily blew past Stoudemire using a change of pace, drove to the basket with a hop-step, and scored. When Zack doesn’t have to be the Warriors’ main playmaker, the Suns’ broken one-on-four zone defense becomes his personal ATM, allowing him to score at will. Because no matter how good Marion is, he can’t cover all the holes in the Suns’ leaky zone defense.
Suns’ ball. Nash used his speed to blow by Jackson and then assisted Bell for a corner three, maintaining the Suns’ lead. However, Zack, who was getting hotter and hotter, used screens from Artest and Richardson to get open on the left side of the court and drained an Answer.Ball for the Warriors. This three-pointer brought Zack’s personal score to 27 points.
Marion knew they couldn’t let Zack score so easily. But for this "third dose of poison" that Zack suddenly brought out... Marion, knowing the Suns’ defensive limitations, had no antidote. This "poison" might not be fatal against other teams, but it’s incredibly effective against the Suns. It was brewed from Zack’s past experiences playing against the Suns and Mike Malone’s in-game tactical adjustments.
On the court, it’s the Warriors’ offensive possession. Murphy, who had been setting up at the top of the arc and the free-throw line to break the Suns’ zone for most of the second quarter, once again freed up Zack. The moment the Suns’ zone defense showed a seam, the Warriors, with two simple passes, created an opportunity for Zack to post up Stoudemire in the low block.
Since he no longer had to act as a playmaker, Zack could use more off-ball movement to shake off Marion’s defense. Plus, the Warriors’ five-shooter lineup forced Suns players to tightly guard all the potential three-point threats, meaning Stoudemire’s chances of defending Zack directly would definitely increase. Stoudemire, who excels at catching opponents off guard, doesn’t have an impenetrable defense.
In the low post, after cleanly sweeping through Stoudemire’s defensive area like a tornado, Zack spun around for a reverse layup and scored again, bringing his personal total to 29 points. The Phoenix fans were seething, grinding their teeth and stomping their feet at Zack’s rampage in the Suns’ half of the court.
On TNT, Barkley, feeling Zack getting hotter and hotter, cheered excitedly: "Even though I’m a Suns supporter, I have to take my hat off to the Messiah’s performance tonight!"
At halftime, Zack’s personal score had already reached 33 points, along with 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal. On the scoreboard, it was 64-65. The Warriors successfully narrowed the gap with the Suns in the second quarter.
During halftime, a deeply concerned D’Antoni decided to change the Suns’ defensive strategy: "We can’t let him keep scoring like this. Boris, you have to help Sean immediately on the double-team. Raja, if necessary, you can let their wing players shoot. He’s scored 33 points in just one half. I’d rather get shot down by their other guys than let him go on a rampage tonight."
If it were any other opponent, D’Antoni wouldn’t mind playing a "you take the stats, I take the win" scoring game. But given the city of Phoenix’s hatred for Zack... D’Antoni knew perfectly well that if Zack’s shot was still falling in the second half, wouldn’t he become the culprit who let Zack dominate in Phoenix?
And, subtly, D’Antoni felt that Zack’s in-game performance tonight had gradually reached a whole new level. D’Antoni had been in the NBA since the 1997-98 season after coming over from Italy, and he clearly remembered what it was like when Jordan turned on his "God Mode" in that era. In D’Antoni’s eyes, tonight’s Zack... his in-game state was practically identical to the Jordan he remembered who activated his "God Mode" switch. So, even if he had to adopt a more aggressive defensive strategy, he had to guard against the increasingly dominant Zack.
Second Half: Warriors Take Control
After halftime, the Warriors continued to keep Murphy on the court. Biedrins, whose playing time was cut, said obediently and understandingly, "I completely understand the coach’s decision. Big Brother Troy is indeed a better fit for this game than me." On the Warriors team, ever since a certain player was out with an injury... Biedrins has made the team completely forget their previous starting center.
On the court, the Warriors started with the ball. Zack noticed the change in the Suns’ defense and, after being double-teamed by Bell, assisted Richardson for a mid-range jump shot. On the return, Nash floored the accelerator and scored two points for the home team with a low-hand layup. The Suns’ "Nash-fast-when-you-least-expect-it" offense is incredibly hard to guard. Thankfully, the two-time MVP has never been a ruthless scorer, otherwise Jackson would definitely get taught a lesson by Nash.
Next, it was the Warriors’ offensive possession. The moment Jackson brought the ball over half-court, Zack actively moved up high to receive the ball. D’Antoni’s premonition was correct; as the game progressed, Zack was indeed getting stronger and stronger. On the perimeter, he first used a drag step to disrupt Marion’s defensive footwork, then immediately changed direction and accelerated, driving into the Suns’ paint and completing a reverse layup over Stoudemire. And... AND-ONE! The basket counted, and he got a free throw! Stoudemire’s indecisiveness on the foul gave Zack a free throw opportunity for nothing. At the free-throw line, Zack sank the shot amidst the Phoenix fans’ boos.
It’s the Suns’ turn to attack. Nash quickly brought the ball over half-court and, with a pick-and-roll with Stoudemire, created a chance for Stoudemire to retaliate against the Warriors. But Murphy didn’t let Stoudemire finish his assault on the Warriors’ basket. The moment Stoudemire drove to the basket with the ball, Murphy hugged him and said with a wry smile to a frustrated Stoudemire, "You’re just too strong, I really can’t guard you." Murphy’s words made Stoudemire, who was about to argue with him a second ago, break into a brilliant smile. "Oh, I see! Then it’s not your fault!" Zack, looking at Stoudemire happily walking to the free-throw line, finally understood what it meant to be simple and innocent. Stoudemire, sent to the free-throw line by Murphy, made both shots.
Jackson brought the ball over half-court, and Zack again moved up high to receive the ball. Marion, not wanting to be beaten by Zack with the same move a second time, stuck to him like glue. But on the right side of the court, Bell, while helping Nash on defense, inadvertently left Richardson open. Nash’s overly zealous defense changed the game’s situation at that moment. Because Jackson suddenly shook him off with off-ball movement, Nash’s all-out chase-down defense essentially led to a double-team on Jackson by his teammates. By the time Bell recovered, Richardson had already slipped to the three-point line and, off a beautiful pass from Zack, sank a three-pointer. This was Zack’s fifth assist of the game.
For the next few possessions, both teams missed their shots until Zack grabbed an offensive rebound under the basket and assisted Murphy for a score, breaking the deadlock. Affected by declining stamina, the quality of the Suns’ offense in the third quarter inevitably decreased. On the court, the Warriors became the dominant team from that point on.
It’s the Warriors’ offensive possession. At the top of the arc, right after passing the ball to Artest, Zack immediately dashed into the Suns’ paint. Tonight, Marion’s attention was constantly drawn to Zack, making it difficult for him to retreat to the basket in time to grab rebounds. As a result, Stoudemire, who was still waiting under the basket for a rebound, was sandwiched by Zack and Murphy the moment Artest’s shot bricked. By the time Marion finally arrived, Zack had already secured the offensive rebound for the Warriors. Then, Zack passed to Artest again. Swish! Artest didn’t miss his second chance and seized the opportunity.
Even though "Wen Zhuangyuan" (referring to a player with a scholarly or intellectual style, likely a Suns player who is out with injury) was out tonight, the Warriors still had an overwhelming advantage in the paint against these Suns. This was the main reason they could dominate the third quarter. That is, when both teams’ shooting touch inevitably declined, the Warriors’ offensive rebounds gave them more second-chance opportunities in the game.
Historically, any player with a bit of a reputation in the league could wreak havoc in the Suns’ paint. And this was one of the reasons why the Suns’ front office later decided to trade for O’Neal
. However, the Suns would only truly solve their defensive rebounding problem after Grant Hill joined and Alvin Gentry took over. In the 2009-10 season, with the combined efforts of Hill and other wing players, Suns fans would be surprised to find out that as long as their wing players weren’t constantly thinking about sneaking out for fast breaks like they did in the D’Antoni era, they could perfectly protect their own defensive rebounds.Bell, Diaw, and others getting out in transition early to push the pace certainly provided Nash with more passing options on offense. But as long as the Warriors could grab offensive rebounds, what should have been a fast-break score for the Suns would turn into an excellent second-chance opportunity for the Warriors. It meant two fewer points for the opponent and two more points for their own team. Throughout the entire third quarter, the Warriors gradually built up a 14-point lead on the court with this "four-point swing" approach.
The Fourth Quarter: "He Is God!"
After three quarters, the score was 97-83. In this quarter, Zack, who had 7 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block in the single quarter, saw his personal stats climb to 40 points, 17 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.
On TNT, Barkley, barely containing his excitement during the break, said: "Troy Murphy, who played the entire third quarter, will likely return to the bench early in the fourth quarter. This will leave the Warriors’ second unit without a key offensive threat. I think this is the Suns’ perfect chance to catch up."
Barkley’s premonition was correct. Although his good buddy Kenny Smith was confused why Barkley was cheering for Zack one moment and then rooting for the Suns the next, at the start of the fourth quarter, with Leandro Barbosa and James Jones combining for 13 points, the Warriors were forced to bring Zack back in early.
On the court, when Zack re-entered the game, the boos from the entire arena were noticeably louder and more piercing. However... the Suns fans’ boos couldn’t stop Zack from scoring an and-one right after he stepped on the court, driving to the paint against Kurt Thomas. The 34-year-old veteran Thomas tried his best but couldn’t pull Zack down from that damned sky. Zack made the free throw, bringing his personal total to 43 points.
About two possessions later, D’Antoni brought all his starters back in. Suns’ ball. Nash brought the ball over half-court and spotted Marion’s cut. Then, the "weirdo" (referring to Marion, known for his unique play style) received a brilliant pass from Nash and scored two points with a layup. Compared to the third quarter, the Suns clearly shrunk their defensive coverage to protect their defensive rebounds. So, Zack, driving Marion into the low post, immediately passed the ball to Jackson the moment he was double-teamed. This season, Jackson’s three-point percentage has improved to 35.4%. Although his three-point volume isn’t high, Jackson doesn’t hesitate when it’s time to shoot. Swish! Jackson’s three-pointer earned Zack his 9th assist of the game.
At this point, Barkley wasn’t holding back anymore, finally revealing his true intentions: "Tonight, the Messiah is just 5 points and 1 assist away from a ’50+’ super triple-double." (Note: Before the Suns brought their starters back in, Zack made a jump shot from the free-throw line). Next to him, Smith, looking at Barkley’s true colors, responded with a wry smile, "The Messiah’s performance tonight is indeed astonishing."
"Just astonishing?" Barkley was dissatisfied. "The Messiah’s performance proves once again that he is the most outstanding player in the NBA today! If the league gives the regular season MVP award to anyone else this year, I will personally go burn down NBA headquarters!"
On the court, with 4 minutes and 17 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Zack assisted Artest for two points under the basket, successfully increasing his assist total to 10. Then, under Barkley’s eager gaze, on the next Warriors offensive possession, Zack successfully drew a foul from Marion and earned two free throws. At the free-throw line, Zack made both shots, extending the Warriors’ lead to 8 points.
On the return, the Suns’ offensive possession, Nash, finally showing his killer instinct against Jackson, shook him off on the perimeter and hit a three-pointer. At the US Airways Center, Nash’s crucial three-pointer ignited the crowd. But Zack, after a hand-off with Murphy and a post-up drive into the Suns’ paint, once again found an opportunity to attack the Suns’ interior. Stoudemire again made the mistake of not fouling hard enough on the help defense. As a result, Zack, after body contact, cleanly banked the ball into the hoop. And... Beep! The basket counted, and he got a free throw!
On TNT, Barkley was loudly shouting "AND-ONE" while kneeling in the broadcast studio. This kneel was his way of saying: "Please accept my humble respect!" At the free-throw line, after Zack made the free throw and officially achieved his "50+ triple-double," Barkley loudly exclaimed: "Ladies and gentlemen, the Messiah has now become the fourth player in NBA history to achieve a ’50+’ triple-double, after Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar! He is undoubtedly the flag-bearer of the NBA in our era! I never doubted he could do all this on the court! No words or adjectives can describe how I feel right now! He is this year’s undisputed MVP of the NBA, and I will not accept any arguments or rebuttals!"
Barkley’s frenzy at this moment contrasted sharply with the despair of the Suns fans in the final moments of the game. In the end, the Suns couldn’t turn the tide. On the scoreboard, it was 121-114. Zack, who finished the game with a total of 54 points, 23 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal for the Warriors, instantly ignited the entire basketball world. Before James Harden and Russell Westbrook would later numb the world with their earth-shattering super triple-doubles... Zack’s "50+ triple-double" and the story of him leading his short-handed Warriors to victory on the road against the Suns are destined to become a legend of this NBA era.
"Tonight, he is God!" Barkley shouted, tears streaming down his face, the moment the game concluded.
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