NOVEL NEXT Chapter 54: Record in Playoff Debut?
The Cavaliers resumed their offensive rhythm, with Kyrie Irving holding the ball at the top of the arc. LeBron James spaced the floor, clearly determined to let Kyrie take charge in the early going.
This time, Kyrie opted to isolate against Deron Williams without calling for a screen, testing the waters against the former All-Star.
Before joining the Nets, Deron was a force in the league, but injuries had significantly diminished his athleticism and quickness. Kyrie began crossing over repeatedly, probing Deron's defensive stance. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, Kyrie broke past Deron's defense.
Deron's physicality was no match for Kyrie's agility, and he couldn't recover in time. Kyrie sliced through to the basket and finished a graceful layup, evading potential shot blockers.
As Jay Sun stood in the corner, watching Kyrie dismantle the Nets, he couldn't help but reflect on Kyrie's eventual time with the Nets. It was a reminder of how transient NBA careers could be—teams constantly evolving, players coming and going.
On the Nets' next possession, Deron orchestrated the offense from the top of the key, eventually passing to Joe Johnson on the wing. Joe prepared to face Jay one-on-one.
Joe maintained a triple-threat position, using subtle jab steps to test Jay's defensive reactions. Jay, aware of Joe's preference for jump shots over drives, stayed close and activated Clamps, pressuring Joe's every move.
Frustrated, Joe called Brook Lopez up for a screen. Brook's wide frame created an effective pick, giving Joe just enough space to launch a three-pointer.
However, this was precisely what Jay had been baiting him into. As Jay slipped behind the screen, he extended his arm to contest Joe's shot, triggering Defensive Anchor.
Clang.
Joe's three-pointer bounced off the rim, but no one paid much attention—early misses happen. Even Joe still held a respectable 50% shooting percentage at this point in the game.
For the rest of the first quarter, the Cavaliers leaned on Kyrie's offensive spark, while Jay's defense on Joe Johnson earned praise from Tyronn Lue.
By the end of the quarter, Joe had shot 2-for-7, scoring just 5 points.
Some attributed Joe's struggles to a slow start, but only he knew the relentless pressure Jay's defense exerted on him.
In the commentary booth, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith began debating Joe's performance.
Barkley dismissed the idea that Jay's defense was a factor.
"This is just Joe having an off night. It happens to everyone—even greats like me, Charles Barkley. Once Joe finds his rhythm, he'll crush this rookie."
Kenny, however, saw it differently.
"Come on, Charles. You saw how closely Jay stuck to him. He may not have a steal or block yet, but his positioning has been flawless."
"Not everyone is Yao Ming, Kenny," Barkley retorted with mock indignation.
"True, Yao was one of a kind, but this rookie is proving his worth. And Charles, don't forget—Jay averaged 20 points in the regular season. Are you sure you want to stick with your prediction?"
Kenny's sly grin unnerved Barkley, who felt cornered.
"Fine," Charles said with exaggerated bravado. "If this Chinese rookie scores 30 points in his playoff debut, I'll do whatever you want, Kenny."
Kenny laughed.
"Deal. But Charles, 30 points for a rookie in the playoffs? Are you trying to back out already?"
As the two bantered, the second quarter began.
Jay shifted to the point guard position, matching up with Deron Williams. Without Jay guarding him, Joe Johnson regained some rhythm but still didn't dominate. The residual effect of Jay's first-quarter defense seemed to linger.
On offense, Jay continued to exploit pick-and-rolls with Kevin Love. Though Deron was once a master of the pick-and-roll, defending it was a different story—especially post-injury.
Jay repeatedly used screens to attack Deron's slower lateral movement, either driving to the basket or kicking it out to Love, who was consistently lethal from three-point range.
By the end of the second quarter, Jay had tallied 10 points and 5 assists, with three of those assists going to Love.
The Cavaliers entered halftime with a 58-47 lead, a comfortable 11-point cushion.
Jay glanced at the scoreboard. "58 points... That's a lucky number." He chuckled to himself, appreciating the moment.
In the commentary booth, Kenny couldn't resist teasing Barkley.
"Charles, the rookie already has 17 points. Remember your bet!"
Barkley sighed, sensing he might be in trouble, but he played it cool.
"Relax, Kenny. This is just the first half. There's no way he hits 30 in his first playoff game. This is the postseason—it's a battlefield."
When the third quarter began, Jay remained on the bench, giving LeBron the stage to dominate. The King was merciless, determined to bury the Nets in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, Jay focused on his own goals. With 17 points at halftime, he was only 13 points shy of 30. His motivation wasn't Barkley's bet—he had no idea about it—but rather the chance to break the playoff debut scoring record.
The record, held by George Mikan, stood at 37 points, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gary Brokaw, and Derrick Rose tied at second with 36 points.
While Jay doubted he'd surpass those marks, he was eager to try. After all, even being mentioned among those names was an achievement.
(Years later, Luka Dončić would obliterate the record with a 42-point debut, but for now, Jay was chasing history.)