"Bounced into a deep transition 2 over Westbrook!"
"A center, facing off against a guard with exceptional talent on the perimeter, Carlos is truly impressive!"
"Smooth and graceful, Carlos nailed that 2-pointer!"
"Uh..." The home fans erupted in cheers.
Westbrook furrowed his brow, "Faster than I imagined, this speed... even an average guard wouldn't be able to keep up, right?! Got a bit careless. But, I, Russell, am not just an average guard!"
Buzz!
With that thought, Russell's eyes glowed with even more determination. He pushed the ball, one-on-one against Carlos, lowering his center of gravity, a quick step, and he burst forward at full speed.
The explosive power was terrifying, like a speeding Porsche 911.
In an instant, he got past Carlos, but... with the blessing of 'Iverson's talent,' Carlos was not slow at all, especially with those long legs.
Three steps and two steps.
Past one second, caught up the next.
Thinking he had shaken off Carlos, Westbrook initiated a three-step layup, a low-hand shot on the left wing. However, just as he released the ball, in the moment the basketball touched the backboard.
"Bang!"
Carlos flew out from behind, slapping the ball away.
A violent rejection!
"Wow!"
"Got past one second, caught up the next, and still delivered a violent block! Is Carlos, the center, some kind of monster? How can he be so fast?!"
Inside the broadcast studio of the Mexican National Sports Television.
Mario looked excited, Jose subconsciously opened his mouth, exclaiming, "Too fast, too talented. My Mexico has produced a once-in-a-lifetime genius."
On the court...
Boom!
The spectators' seats also stirred due to Carlos's violent block on Westbrook.
"What?!"
"He caught up, how is that possible?!"
Westbrook, however, was in a state of unimaginable shock.
A typical center on the perimeter, with his speed alone, he should have easily evaded the defense. Yet, facing Carlos, he thought he had gotten past him.
Only to be caught up and blocked by Carlos.
This is simply unbelievable!
Shocked as he was, there was no time to think. Curry grabbed the rebound of the deflected basketball, quickly advancing to the frontcourt, a decisive three-pointer from the left arc...
"Swoosh!"
Through the net!
Curry's second three-point attempt, a hit!
However, Durant pushed forward, mismatched against Nash, a step-back acceleration, a quick stop and jump shot.
Nash could only look up at Durant's release point, helpless.
"Swoosh!"
Durant reciprocated with a three-pointer.
Change of possession...
Carlos faced Jeff Green on the left high post, dribbling with crossovers, searching for an opportunity, a sudden acceleration on the right wing, just one step, as fast as lightning, too fast for Jeff Green to defend.
"Swoosh!"
Past Jeff Green, Carlos rushed to the free-throw line. Westbrook came over for help defense, but Carlos's speed didn't diminish; in fact, it increased. He initiated a layup with three steps.
Entering the paint...
Facing a double-team from Westbrook and Ibaka, he faked and banked the ball.
"Swoosh!"
2 points scored...
Boom!
Even though it was just a routine fake, on Carlos, the visual impact was too strong, too exhilarating. The arena buzzed once again!
"This is outrageous!"
"Incredible!"
On the Thunder's bench.
Harden and Collison were stunned, their mouths wide open in amazement at Carlos's superb fake.
On the defensive end.
Westbrook's violent drive to the basket was once again thwarted by Carlos, almost getting blocked again. Unwilling to accept it, Westbrook's subsequent attacks were all repelled.
"What kind of physical qualities are these?!"
Westbrook was shocked internally; he couldn't believe that a center could match him in every aspect and even surpass him in speed, explosiveness, and jumping ability.
Moreover...
Carlos had a significant advantage in height and wingspan.
Several unsuccessful attempts later, Westbrook, who was effectively shut down, felt a tingling sensation on his scalp.
"Beep—beep!"
Thunder's head coach, Scott Brooks, sensed trouble and quickly called for a timeout.
Suns (8): (5) Thunder.
The Suns temporarily lead by 3 points.
On the Thunder's bench,
"Carlos, he doesn't move like a center. Facing him, you can't feel any positional speed advantage against a center, no, doesn't have any advantage at all," Westbrook said honestly.
"Uh..."
Scott Brooks nodded. How could he not know? He had a clear view from the sidelines. Although he knew Westbrook had exceptional physical talents, he also understood that facing Carlos, those talents seemed nonexistent.
Scott Brooks rubbed his chin anxiously and said, "Russell, take a rest and adjust. Also... on the offensive end, don't go against Carlos. Use pick-and-roll to find other Suns players, that way, you can generate offense."
"Oh!"
Westbrook thought about it seriously and nodded. Although he didn't want to admit being shut down by a rookie, the reality was just that.
Then, Scott Brooks took out the tactical board, circled Carlos's name, and said, "Jeff, you guard Carlos. Sefolosha and Jeff, double-team Carlos when necessary. Make sure to lock him down."
"Understood..."
Both nodded.
Jeff Green had a height advantage, and Sefolosha's defense was strong. Good defense was also why Sefolosha surpassed Harden and entered the starting lineup.
"Coach, let me guard Carlos. I'll handle this task!"
At this moment,
Durant, who had been silent, spoke up.
As a rookie, Carlos took away his Player of the Week, which made him quite resentful. Tonight, he planned to shut down Carlos and let the league know that he was the rightful recipient of last week's Player of the Week.
"No!"
Scott Brooks looked at Durant and quickly waved his hand, saying loudly, "I trust your defense, but... you have more important things, the team needs you to step up and score."
"Okay..."
Durant shrugged, spat on the ground, and said no more.
"Beep, beep!"
Back from the timeout...
Thunder's possession...
Harden, who came off the bench, received the ball at the top of the arc, looked at Nash in front of him, and wanted to break through. However, Carlos quickly emerged, blocking Harden.
"Swoosh!"
Harden decisively passed the ball, and Durant on the left high post received it.
Facing Carter in front of him, Durant made a double crossover. Although the move wasn't too flashy, it had a strong deterrent effect. Carter kept retreating, fearing Durant's sudden breakthrough.
"Swoosh!"
Durant suddenly jumped, and his mid-range shot was beautiful.
The ball went through the net.
Change of possession...
Nash pushed the ball up, holding it at the top of the arc. Curry ran in a reverse motion on the side, shaking off Harden and sprinting to the right corner. Jeff quickly stepped up to double-team.
"Swoosh!"
Nash passed the ball, not to Curry, but to Carlos on the right high post, letting Carlos face Sefolosha, the defensive stalwart.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
Carlos also made a double crossover, but... with a low center of gravity and an exaggerated change of direction, Carlos's moves were highly entertaining.
"Step, step, step—"
Sefolosha involuntarily took several steps back. Carlos focused his gaze, made a quick stop, and jumped for a mid-range shot.
"Swoosh!"
A hollow shot!
"Hehe!"
Inside the Mexican National Television studio, Mario laughed, "Same offense, same jump shot. Is Carlos imitating Durant's offense and giving a direct response?!"
"Yeah... answer ball."
Jose also laughed, "Carlos and Durant, their offenses are really similar!"