Jay Sun didn't have time to think much as he continued to handle the ball against Shaun Livingston and called Kevin Love for another pick-and-roll.
Even if Love wasn't in top form, he was still an All-Star-caliber player, far from an ordinary role player.
This time, as Jay used the pick to drive into the paint, he noticed something unusual.
Livingston was sagging way back.
Wait… he's giving me the mid-range?
Ah, so Steve Kerr had been doing his homework.
The defensive strategy was clear: guard the three-point line, block the paint, and let Jay shoot mid-range. That was the test Kerr had set for Jay.
Jay had to admit, Kerr knew his stuff.
But it wasn't enough.
Jay confidently pulled up for a mid-range jumper.
Swish — two points in.
"Oh, so you're going to give me the mid-range? Let's see who blinks first!"
Jay was now an essential part of the Cavaliers' rotation. Teams aiming for a championship knew they had to study him.
Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving had long been scouted extensively, and of course, LeBron James was no mystery to anyone.
Back on offense, Livingston held the ball at the top of the key but wasn't about to let Jay close in on him again. He quickly dished it off to Andre Iguodala.
If anyone embodied the ideal second option, it was Iguodala. He could handle the ball, defend, facilitate, and hit timely shots.
Iguodala made a clean drive to the basket before kicking the ball to David Lee, who was posted up low.
Lee backed down the defender, spun, and laid it in smoothly.
David Lee's offensive game was still solid. His defense? Not so much. But for a guy from a wealthy family, putting in the effort to even play at this level was already a win.
Back on the other end, Jay once again called for a pick-and-roll with Love.
Livingston was still playing off him, daring him to take the mid-range jumper again.
Jay used the screen, pulled up at the elbow, and hit another mid-range jumper.
Swish — two more points.
Kerr began to look uncomfortable on the sidelines. The situation wasn't going as expected. He hadn't thought the rookie would be this tough to handle.
Jay returned on defense with a confident smirk.
In the past, he wouldn't have dared take these mid-range shots before the fourth quarter. But with the Stockton card giving him a boost — along with the Pick & Roll Maestro and Stop & Pop badges — his confidence was soaring.
Jay's mid-range game had always been decent. His issue was consistency and shooting under pressure.
But the badges had significantly helped stabilize his shooting off screens.
Next possession, Livingston wisely chose not to hold the ball too long. He handed it off to Iguodala, who ran a two-man game with David Lee.
Lee took the feed, used his size to muscle his way in, and hit a short hook shot.
Frustrated by Lee's repeated success in the post, Love decided to take matters into his own hands on the next possession.
He called for the ball inside.
Jay obliged with a lob entry pass.
Love backed down Lee, using his footwork to shake him off-balance before spinning and sinking a smooth hook.
Jay gave Love a high-five, showing his support.
On the next play, Livingston and Iguodala tried to isolate Jay in the post.
Livingston backed Jay down, looking to use his size and high release point to get off a clean jumper.
But Jay wasn't worried. His Defensive Anchor badge was designed to frustrate jump shooters.
Livingston turned and rose for a fadeaway.
Jay executed the textbook hand-in-the-face contest, using the "Battier hand" technique to block his vision.
Clang — off the rim.
Jay snagged the rebound and quickly pushed the ball up the floor.
But the Warriors' defense had already set up.
Jay saw Love trailing for a pick-and-roll.
Jay took the screen and drove inside — but this time, David Lee and Livingston both closed in on him.
Jay was being double-teamed!
Instead of panicking, Jay grinned.
Finally! I'm getting double-teamed!
It was a sign of respect.
Still, there was no time to savor the moment. With a quick flick of his wrist — boosted by his Dime Dropper, Needle Threader, and Pick & Roll Maestro badges — Jay sent a perfect pass to Love, who was left wide open beyond the arc.
Love caught the ball in rhythm and launched a three-pointer.
Swish — nothing but net.
Jay tallied another assist.
Kerr scratched his head in frustration. This rookie wasn't as easy to handle as he had thought.
Abandoning the double-team, Kerr signaled his players to revert to single coverage.
The Warriors bricked their next shot, and Jay brought the ball up again.
No more double-team this time.
Livingston stuck with him.
Jay used the pick to drive inside, shrugging off the defense with a slick Euro step and laying the ball in.
Two more points.
Livingston could only shake his head in frustration. I can't guard this guy!
Kerr was feeling the heat. With the Cavaliers' Big Three already being a handful, now there was this new problem in Jay.
The second quarter ended with Jay leading the Cavaliers to a 29-23 advantage over the Warriors.
Of those 29 points, Jay contributed 10 points and 5 assists — meaning he was directly involved in at least 20 points.
Jay Sun: Officially the Cavs' X-Factor.
The Warriors' defensive scheme had backfired. Instead of slowing Jay down, it had only made him more effective.
As the third quarter began, Jay took a seat on the bench while Kyrie and LeBron took charge on the floor.
The Warriors tried their small-ball lineup again, but this time, they only ran it for half the quarter to save their legs for the fourth.
Thanks to Jay's stellar second-quarter performance, both LeBron and Kyrie had gotten plenty of rest.
With fresh legs, the duo outplayed the Warriors, helping the Cavs win the third quarter 29-22.
By the end of the third quarter, the score was 90-78, with Cleveland up by 12 points.