Chapter 242: The Pressure from Durant and Oden — Chen Yan Is a Treasure!
"Forty-five points, five rebounds, five assists in his playoff debut! That's unreal!"
"Forget asking if Chen Yan can handle the playoffs — can the playoffs handle him?"
"I'm a neutral fan, but I'm impressed."
"I'm a Nuggets fan, and I'm impressed!"
"Is he a walking record-breaker or what?"
"Chen Yan just destroyed the 'Golden Duo!'"
"One of his comparisons is Iverson, but tonight, he outplayed even the original!"
"The '84 class had Jordan, '96 had Kobe and Iverson, '03 had LeBron… and the '07 class? That's Chen Yan's era now!"
"I won't be surprised no matter how high he climbs from here!"
The internet exploded with reactions long after the final buzzer. Fans couldn't get enough — social media was flooded with clips of Chen's highlights, that buzzer-beater, and his calm smile after breaking Kareem's record.
It was a night of five playoff games, yet only one name dominated the headlines — Chen Yan.
The Spurs beat the Rockets 78–70.
The Lakers crushed the Jazz 96–79.
The Wizards took down the Raptors 101–91.
And the Mavericks edged the Hornets 98–94.
The stars all performed well.
Tim Duncan dropped 20 points and 19 rebounds.
Kobe went off for 33.
Dirk posted 28 and 10.
Jason Kidd even logged a triple-double.
But all their numbers faded into the background.
Because Chen Yan had rewritten history.
For the league's other young stars, this debut wasn't just impressive — it was pressure.
Kevin Durant, who was watching from home after his season ended early, stared at the TV in disbelief. The moment the game ended, he texted Chen a short message:
"Man, that was legendary. Congrats."
Durant leaned back on his couch, shaking his head. He hadn't even touched a playoff floor yet, while Chen had already dropped 45 on his debut.
Greg Oden, the 2007 No. 1 pick, also saw the highlights from his recovery room. He couldn't help wondering — what kind of performance would it take for him to meet the expectations now?
Chen had raised the bar for their entire draft class. The "2007 generation" suddenly carried sky-high expectations, and every other rookie could feel it.
---
At the postgame press conference, Nuggets coach George Karl faced a swarm of reporters.
"One loss isn't a big deal," Karl said calmly. "We'll go back, watch the film, make adjustments, and come back stronger for Game 2."
It sounded optimistic, but everyone in the room could tell — Denver's problems ran much deeper than tape review.
They had talent, sure. Iverson and Melo were elite scorers, Camby was last year's Defensive Player of the Year, and J.R. Smith was a dangerous weapon off the bench. But together? It just didn't click.
They had stars, not chemistry.
Their lineup didn't complement each other — too many scorers, not enough playmakers.
A reporter pressed him again. "Coach Karl, what do you think was the biggest reason for tonight's loss?"
Karl sighed and rubbed his forehead. "We'll figure that out after we study the game film," he replied vaguely.
It wasn't that he was dodging — he simply didn't know where to start.
---
At the Suns' press conference, the atmosphere was much lighter.
A reporter smiled at D'Antoni. "Coach, how would you describe Chen Yan's performance tonight?"
D'Antoni leaned back with a grin. "If I could, I'd coach him for another ten years… no, make that twenty."
The entire room burst into laughter.
Next, the mic turned to Stoudemire.
"Amar'e, did you realize Chen broke another record tonight?"
Amar'e blinked in surprise. He'd been so focused on the game that he hadn't noticed.
"Wait—how many records did he break this time?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
The reporters laughed. That question said it all. Chen had broken so many records this season that even his teammates had lost count.
Then came the star of the night.
"Chen," a reporter began, "congratulations on the win and for breaking the all-time playoff debut scoring record. How do you feel right now?"
Chen smiled calmly. "The win feels great, and the record is special. But I'm always reminding myself—this isn't just one game, it's a whole series. You can't take anything lightly in the playoffs."
He wasn't being modest. That was his mindset — respect every opponent, never underestimate them.
The next question came quickly. "You scored 45 points tonight, and Iverson had over 40 himself. Do you see him as your toughest matchup in this series?"
Chen paused for a moment, then nodded. "AI's a player I respect deeply. Every time he steps on the court, he gives it everything he's got. A lot of people say he's slowed down or lost his edge — that's nonsense. The Answer is still The Answer. He didn't lose to time… not tonight."
The room fell silent for a second before the applause started. Even the media respected the maturity in that answer.
Then another question came from the back. "The fans were chanting your name again tonight, singing 'Chen Yan's Song' throughout the arena. What's it like hearing that in the playoffs?"
Chen chuckled. "Hearing them sing my name… that's the best feeling in the world. Honestly, I shouldn't think about it before bed or I might not sleep from excitement."
The crowd laughed. Before the next reporter could speak, Amar'e grabbed the mic and threw an arm around Chen's shoulders.
"Alright, that's enough for tonight," he said with a grin. "The man's tired — and besides, you don't want to keep somebody's girlfriend waiting too long!"
The room erupted in laughter again, ending the press conference on a lighthearted note.
---
Elsewhere, Suns owner Robert Sarver gave an interview to ESPN, still grinning from ear to ear.
"I love this kid," Sarver said proudly. "Now everyone understands why we traded Marion and Barbosa. For Chen Yan, it was worth every bit. This guy's one of a kind."
He wasn't exaggerating.
Sarver was a businessman, and Chen Yan wasn't just boosting the team's play — he was skyrocketing its value.
Since Chen's arrival, the Suns' market value had risen by over 13%. Sponsorships had doubled. Home attendance was near capacity every game, and Chen's jerseys and AeroWing sneakers were selling out worldwide.
"He's not just a player," Sarver said, smiling wide. "He's a treasure."
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