The Phoenix Suns, after winning back Steve Nash in the 2004-2005 season, suddenly took off.

Why is this team, which is strong in offense and weak in defense, plays fast offense and defense, and swept the league with V-shaped offense and 7-second fast break, how can it return to the top?

Many critics have their own opinions on this issue.

Some people believe that the arrival of D'Antoni is the most important reason for the qualitative change of the Suns.

The coach, who has been in the Italian league for many years, has a lot of European basketball in his mind.

Focusing on team cooperation, a large number of use of blocking and pick-and-roll, especially high-post blocking and pick-and-roll, interior and outside retreat, opening up space, endless V-shaped positioning and rapid rotation on the offensive end, brought the Suns the most ornamental basketball performance in the league at that time.

At the same time, the strong rise of Stoudemire Jr. and the arrival of MVP-level player Nash have made D'Antoni's tactics greatly played. The most terrifying big man in the league, coupled with a good mid-range shot, Xiao Si's outburst has become a key factor in the Suns' interior rise.

And Nash, who has the strongest ball control ability in the league and has a long-range shooting level at the historical level, has also become the commander of the Suns, allowing the team to make a qualitative leap.

In addition to the coaches, many commentators have given credit to these two players, a view that has also gained a lot of support.

Who is holding up the Suns? Actually, both answers are correct, but just like the question of chicken or egg, whether D'Antoni made Nash and Small, or the latter two made D'Antoni, the answer is a matter of opinion.

However, behind these highlight-reel players, another person's name is often mentioned, and along with Nash Smalls, he has been dubbed MSN, but the praise he has received has never been able to catch up with his actual contribution on the field.

Sean Marion, a basketball monster with a horse-faced monkey hand, nicknamed Hacker.

The explosive power, extremely strong bounce, especially the extraordinary bullet speed, allowed Marion, who is only 201 cm tall, to gain a firm foothold on the inside.

Marion's ability to jump continuously is a mastery of Marion, and when grabbing rebounds, he rarely really plays real positions with opponents. Especially in the Suns' youthful years, hackers relied more on movement and bounce to grab rebounds.

Although the shooting posture is extremely bizarre, and even once called the East and West monsters along with Prince, Marion's shooting crosshairs are quite good when no one is guarded.

At the beginning of his career, he had almost no offensive ability with the ball, but he was able to use his super mobility, endless physical strength, and constantly use fast and running to score.

But everyone knows that as long as the opponent's defense has a certain target, find a way to cut off the connection between him and the point guard, force him to play alone with the ball, and focus on it, Marion will be greatly less effective.

In addition, Marion, who was still playing with the Suns at this time, has already been believed by many fans and critics to rely on his body to play, and when he loses his ability to run and jump, he will quickly lose his competitiveness. In terms of potential and ultimate achievement, it cannot be compared with Xiao Si.

"As long as Xiao Si practices accurate mid-range shooting and defense, he is an MVP-level player. And Marion, without Nash is nothing! ”

This argument was indeed partially confirmed after Xiao Si later went to the Big Apple.

But in the end, Nash retired, Xiao Si was riddled with injuries, and he has not been able to practice reliable defensive ability.

On the contrary, Marion, who everyone pays the least attention to and despises the most, still shines after many teams and gets his championship ring with the Mavericks.

Fate, sometimes it's a very peculiar thing.

Inside the West Jersey Arena, the game is underway.

On the court, the Suns launched an offensive posture as soon as they started, and the pace was fast.

Raids and counterattacks again and again, constantly relying on high blocks to score points, and on the inside, Dio has also become a beacon of command, and the team's offense is running very well.

On the 76ers' side, Coach Cheeks rarely let go of his hands and feet, allowing the players to fight against the opponent.

In the face of Nash's long-criticized outside defense, Iverson is like no one, scoring like a bag, forcing Bale to step forward from time to time to make up for the defense.

And Bale's assistance in defense directly led to Korver being empty, and the handsome shooter naturally would not let go of such an opportunity, receiving a pass from Iverson, and immediately opened his hand to shoot a three-point shot.

However, at the moment when he shot his three-point shot, a figure appeared out of nowhere, rising from the ground like a monkey, and slapped his long arm in the air.

"Bang!"

Sean Marion, who quickly ran from the weak side to make up for the defense, fanned Korver's three-pointer directly into the audience.

“WOW！ Hack!!! ”

The audience was instantly ignited with passion, and everyone shouted loudly.

Marion walked to the touchline with a blank face, ready to defend Iguodala's touchline ball, as if the defense had just been a normal move.

"These long arms are just like Liu Bei'......!"

On the sidelines, Chen Mu couldn't help shaking his head and sighing, Marion has always been considered a system player, and his career is difficult to last.

But how many people have noticed that after he entered the NBA in 1999, he scored 14 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks in his first professional game?

Who remembers that in the second year of his career, he averaged two double-doubles per game and contributed more than one block and steal per game?

Who else would have thought that just this season, he averaged four technical statistics per game, all of which ranked in the top 20 in the league, and the shooting percentage was second only to O'Neal, reaching the second place in the league?

Is all this due to Nash and D'Antoni?

"Huh"

On the court, after Marion and Nash blocked and dismantled, he quickly went around the cover to the bottom corner, Nash stopped near the free throw line, made a long horizontal pass with his left hand, and the basketball came to Marion's hand accurately, and the three points went into the net.

Cheeks called a timeout.

"The offense is good, and it would be better if we were more decisive!"

The score has come to 21-19, and the 76ers are two points behind.

"On the defensive end, you have to get back quickly, don't always think about grabbing rebounds in the frontcourt, drop back, hold your position, don't let them run."

Everyone understands Cheeks' words, but don't let this Suns team run? How many teams in the league can do this?

"Personnel adjustment, Hunter come down to rest, Chen, play!"

Cheeks drew a tactical line on the tactical board that the players were already familiar with, and continued: "Next, try to slow down the rhythm of offense and defense, and use Chen and Webb's mid-range shots to contain more on the offensive end, Allen, reduce ball handling, and conserve physical strength. ”

"Their interior line is expected to make adjustments as well, and with D'Antoni's normal rotation, it's time to bring in the elder Cotter. Chen, blast him with your footsteps! ”

“NoProblem！”

Chen Mu made a saluting gesture and began to move his body, his heart was already eager to try.

The whistle blew at the end of the timeout, and as soon as the players from both sides returned to the field, Cheeks frowned and realized that something was wrong.

"No ...... on Kot? The one who came up was ...... James Jones?! ”

On the Suns' side, D'Antoni, who has never liked to make too many adjustments to personnel rotation, suddenly changed his mind for some reason and actually sent James Jones, a pure shooter who couldn't be more pure.

The Suns' lineup on the court became Nash, Bale, James Jones, Marion and Dio.

"They...... Don't want rebounding anymore? ”

The doubts in Cheeks' hearts are also the doubts in the hearts of the fans, and many fans are a little surprised by this strange formation, and they are all talking about each other.

Yes, the 76ers sent Chen Mu, a rebounding maniac, and the Suns instead reduced the thickness of the interior and added a pitcher, what kind of calculation is this?

For this adjustment, the only person in the audience who was not too surprised was Chen Mu.

"Haha, sure enough, ......!"

Chen Mu raised his eyes and saw Marion staring at his eyes carefully observing his every move.

"Completely small and fast, don't rebound in the front court at all, and are ready to play with us to the end!"

At the beginning of the game, the 76ers attacked, everything was arranged by Cheeks, and after Ivor arrived in the frontcourt, he handed the ball to Webb, and he quickly ran to the weak side to contain the defense.

Iverson ran to the bottom corner, Iguodala, who was originally in the bottom corner, began to move sideways to the bottom line, and James Jones, who was responsible for defending him, hurriedly chased back, but collided with Chen Mu outside the three-second zone.

"Off the ball screen!"

Chen Mu quickly raised after finishing the block, and at this time Iguodala had already come to the bottom corner of the strong side, attracting Bale's attention.

Korver took advantage of Bell's hesitation to the top of the arc, Webb's pass came with the sound of the wind, Korver immediately jumped up to shoot a three-point shot after receiving the ball, and the basketball fell into the basket accurately.

"Wonderful fit!"

The courtside commentators of the Suns also couldn't stop admiring, the 76ers' offensive tactics are very simple, that is, to run in a circle around the central axis of Webb, and cooperate with Chen Mu's blocking, dismantling and delaying to create an outside killing opportunity.

This set of tactics against defensive powerhouses like the Pistons and Heat may be completely disrupted by endless rotation and harassment. But against the Suns, a team that is not solid defensively, it is enough to open the gap.

However, if you can't defend the other party, it is not a problem for the Suns.

Dio served quickly from the baseline, and Nash quickly shook Iverson with the ball and slammed towards the halfway line.

"Chen! Delay !! ”

Cheeks shouted loudly, Chen Mu did not hesitate, and immediately stood in front of the free throw line, trying to delay Nash's offense, Iguodala and Korver on both wings are struggling to chase back, and the 76ers' defense is not a big problem!

But Nash is Nash after all, he suddenly jumped up and made a gesture to shoot in the three-point line, and at the moment when Chen Mu stepped forward to block, the gesture changed, and the basketball was suddenly divided to the left side, and a figure caught the ball and rose to the ground, rushing to the basket.

"Bang!"

Marion slammed his hand angrily, and shouted at the fans after landing on the ground, causing the audience to explode instantly.

"Defending this guy, you really can't be sloppy......!"

Chen Mu sighed slightly, his fighting spirit was instantly aroused, and his heart beat violently, ready to give a big gift to the long-lost Phoenix fans.