The Nuggets returned home and immediately answered any doubts about themselves with a big win.
The Nuggets' "three-core" performed well. Anthony and Iverson scored 42 points and 28 points respectively. Li Yan even scored an exaggerated 14 points, 30 assists and 12 rebounds.
With 30 assists, Li Yan improved the record of assists in a single game in the playoffs by 6 times.
The previous record was shared by "Magic" Johnson, John Stockton and Li Yan himself, and now Li Yan has become the dominant one.
When a person's performance is amazing enough, he will tear off the labels attached to himself and become a unique self.
Now no one says that Li Yan is the Chinese "magician" or the successor of the "magician".
Li Yan's every move now touches the hearts of massive fans across the ocean.
At the press conference after the game, Li Yan specifically asked the domestic media to ask questions first. He now has such a right.
The G4 game between the Nuggets and Suns will continue two days later at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
Both teams are preparing intensively for the match and they declined visits from reporters.
In addition to following the team's tactics, Li Yan focused on practicing post-up singles and breakthroughs after facing the basket pick-and-roll.
As for outside shooting, the Nuggets have big players like Melo and JR who bet on "feel", so Li Yan has no chance to shoot from outside.
The most critical thing is that Li Yan himself had already felt the change in the Suns' defensive strategy in the last game.
He knows that he will be under greater pressure in the next game.
But that's fine. If they can advance to the next round, Popovich's Spurs will only be more difficult to deal with than the Suns. It's also a good thing to adapt in advance.
Li Yan trained very hard. He stayed up until the old man guarding the training hall couldn't stand it anymore, and then he left work directly.
Li Yan doesn't have to worry about physical reserves. "Taylor Swift" will stay in Denver to accompany Li Yan in the near future.
Even if he practices until he is exhausted, Li Yan will be full of energy for the day as long as he goes back to sleep.
On the evening of May 15th, the much-anticipated G4 battle continued at the Pepsi Center.
During the appearance ceremony, Li Yan quickly ran out of the player tunnel amid the passionate introduction by the DJ on site.
The Pepsi Center was filled with deafening cheers. In just one season, Li Yan won the hearts of Nuggets fans with his performance.
In the domestic studio, the commentary is still provided by Director Zhang and Yu Jia.
Due to his crazy praise of Li Yan, Director Zhang has now removed the Weiping-Bryant label and has successfully become "Li Weiping" in the mouth of Chinese fans.
Director Zhang is also very open-minded about this. When communicating with fans, Director Zhang said that he really loves basketball and plays with true feelings.
This time the fans were obviously more tolerant. After all, it was not just Director Zhang who blew the whistle on Li Yan. Which domestic basketball fan was not crazy about Li Yan's performance.
"Li Yan is now the top point guard in the NBA. He is capable of offense and defense. In the first round, he completely defeated Deron Williams, who is also the representative of the new generation of point guards. Now Steve Nash's performance has also been impressed by Li Yan. Total suppression.”
Director Zhang passionately explained: "Even Magic Johnson at the same time cannot compare to Li Yan. He is phenomenal."
Yu Jia nodded in agreement: "Indeed, Li Yan is very comprehensive and a bit like Jason Kidd, but his offensive nature is much stronger than Jason Kidd."
Before the game started, the coaches on both sides were summoning the players to make final tactical arrangements.
If there is a camera recording, people will find that George Karl and D'Antoni are in perfect harmony today.
They all emphasize defense, and the focus is on marking the opponent's point guard and cutting off the connection between the point guard and his teammates.
Both teams are offensive teams, and the offensive systems of both sides are very dependent on point guards; and both sides also need to use overall defense to make up for the lack of individual abilities on the defensive end.
The Suns have Nash, while the Nuggets have Iverson. It can be said that the two teams are very similar.
There were no changes to the starting lineup on both sides. Camby jumped to the basketball and the game began.
The Suns got into position quickly, and Li Yan dribbled the ball past halftime.
Anthony asked for the ball from one side, and Li Yan gave it to him.
The Nuggets' first goal is usually given to Anthony, which is also a symbol of the team's status.
Anthony is in his comfortable position, facing Marion.
"Melon"'s operation is still silky smooth. This set of "triple threats" has been practiced by "Melon" more skillfully than broadcast gymnastics.
If you don't twist ten or eight times in one scene, your whole body will feel uncomfortable.
The Suns also fully implemented D'Antoni's defensive arrangement, and all defenders "performed their duties."
One side of the area where Anthony and Marion were was cleared.
Once such a duel between real men begins, there is no retreat.
Men can't say no, even if they can't fight, they have to fight to the end. There is no other way. For men, face is really important.
Finally, Anthony took a strong shot against Marion's long arm, "DUang!"
The basketball hit the front of the basket and bounced far away.
The Suns were in a mess under the basket, but the basketball bounced a little far, making the physical fight under the basket useless.
Li Yan picked up the basketball by surprise, and Laga Bell immediately raised his arms to push it up.
Li Yan threw the basketball to Anthony again.
Facing defensive players.
After "Melon" caught the ball, he habitually made two fake moves, then dribbled and took a step.
This time, Li Yan's bUff was successfully broken by "Melon", and the basketball missed the basket again.
"Anthony played a little hastily today. His touch was not good, which wasted our Li Yan's wonderful offensive rebounds." Director Zhang lamented.
"Ahem!" Yu Jia almost "broken his skills". It has to be said that Director Zhang has been on the battlefield for a long time.
Yu Jia was stunned and didn't see what was so exciting about this offensive rebound.
No way, not everyone has the eye to discover beauty.
Nash took possession of the ball after halftime, Stoudemire came up to cover, and the Suns still relied on the pick-and-roll.
However, Nash and Stoudemire were closely watched by the Nuggets, and Laga Bell was left open in the bottom corner.
Nash passed the ball decisively, and Laga Bell started calmly with a three-pointer.
"Whoa!" This time the ball went in.
3 to 0! The Suns opened the scoring.
Nuggets round.
The pick-and-roll between Li Yan and Kenyon Martin also didn't get a good scoring opportunity. Li Yan has already felt the Suns' defensive strategy.
Li Yan gave the ball to Iverson.
The first round was given to "Melon" Anthony, and the second round was given to "Answer" Iverson. Li Yan couldn't find any faults with his ball control.
Iverson continued to shake and took a sudden jump shot.
The posture was beautiful, but it was a pity that he didn't score. The rebound was collected by Stoudemire.
In the first two rounds of the Nuggets' opening rounds, the "golden guns"'s attacks were in vain.
Li Yan knew that this game would not be easy.
