The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!
Chapter 222 - 146: This Team Has No Su Wan

Chapter 222: Chapter 146: This Team Has No Su Wan

Even an expert reveals their true skill with a single move.

When Jose Calderon took command in his first round after coming on, and the final score that followed, it made coach D’Antoni on the sideline concentrate slightly more.

He knew that it would be very difficult for the Phoenix Suns to control the rhythm of the court as easily as before.

However, as he continued to watch, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Calderon’s style of play was indeed steady, but too much steadiness led to a lack of flair in his passing, which was too rigid.

This meant he was unlikely to bring about a real transformation in a team the way Steve Nash could.

His judgment was not wrong.

If you had to find a template for Jose Calderon in the league, it would be a "poor man’s" Steve Nash.

His abilities were similar to those of Steve Nash but not as strong. Both members of the "180 Club," Calderon’s output was less than Nash’s. His steadiness was known as the "NBA’s Li Changshou"; he wouldn’t shoot unless it was an excellent opportunity, even at crucial moments. He played tactics by the book, plus the most fatal point:

His passing lacked flair.

As a result, he ended up being just a competent starting point guard in the NBA.

Moreover, since he couldn’t contribute on the defense, average NBA championship teams would not consider him; he could only mix with the lesser teams.

But in the following moments, it was the Pacers who first unleashed an "offensive tide."

With 3 minutes and 14 seconds left in the second quarter, they suddenly exerted force and launched a "6-1" run, closing the gap to only 1 point, forcing D’Antoni to call a timeout.

Calderon was still playing by the book, but the team managed to unleash an "offensive tide." D’Antoni suddenly realized something he had been overlooking:

The group of players working with Calderon were Su Wan, Artest, and Little O’Neal!

Three "All-Stars," and one of them a Finals MVP...

You can see how much having strong teammates can elevate an ordinary point guard if you consider an inappropriate example:

Rajon Rondo.

As a true "master of control," Rondo’s career peaked during his days with the Celtics, playing alongside the "Three Giants."

The abilities of the "Three Giants" covered his weaknesses in shooting and scoring while showcasing his big-picture mindset, tactical command, superb field of view, and passing skills.

Without the "Three Giants," Rajon Rondo couldn’t have become an All-Star so quickly.

He might never have been an All-Star.

His personality and offensive flaws could have become obstacles.

Remember, he won a championship with the Celtics and was once groomed as the core of the team. Subsequently, when he moved to other teams, he was frequently let go, which shows just how problematic his personality was.

Without the "Three Giants" to keep his early career in check, he wouldn’t have performed as he did.

Therefore, not only does origin matter in real life, but where an NBA player starts their career is equally important.

Don’t be swayed by the fact that Jose Calderon wasted a year with the Cavaliers last year. This year, having joined the Pacers from a championship team’s backup point guard role, he certainly started from a higher point than he would have if he had gone to play for the Raptors.

Moreover, having star teammates like Su Wan can cover his flaws even better.

Now you understand why someone is always seeking strong star teammates, don’t you?

That’s the way it is with ordinary point guards.

Calderon made it into the "180 Club," but his influence on the court could really be described as "minuscule."

The Phoenix Suns didn’t make a lineup change and still played their typical lineup, but the Pacers, who had just had an offensive surge, were the ones to switch up first. Rick Carlisle also saw the problem with Calderon’s steadiness lacking flair. No worries—there was someone with creative passing on the Pacers, so he brought Dior into play. The Pacers’ lineup on the court became:

Calderon as point guard, Su Wan as the two, Artest as small forward, Dior as power forward, and Little O’Neal as the five.

Calderon still handled the steady part, defensive counterattacks, and when speeding up the attack, he handed the reins over to the "French Magician." At that moment, Calderon wasn’t useless either; he could use his three-point shot to help his team space the floor.

At this moment, you could consider him a "bankrupt Stephen Curry."—Judging from his career field goal percentage, he could somewhat compare to Stephen Curry with a career three-point shooting average of 40%, but his output was too low, with only 2.5 three-point attempts per game and making one per game. Even at his peak, averaging 5.2 three-point attempts, he only made 2.4, which couldn’t compare to Curry. If you included factors like ball-handling three-point shots and crucial moment three-pointers, there was even less comparison, "bankrupt Curry" couldn’t be any more accurate.

However, before this lineup could exert its power on offense, it made its presence felt on defense.

Under Steve Nash’s leadership, the Phoenix Suns returned to the court playing their usual fast pace.

Yet, D’Antoni standing on the sidelines noticed that after swapping out Foster, each spot on the Pacers could keep up with the Suns’ speed.

After Nash and Little Si executed a pick-and-roll, looking for the usually open teammates, he found they weren’t open—each was shadowed by a defender. By then, Nash had reached the free-throw line and had no choice but to keep driving inside.

Facing O’Neal’s defense, Nash feigned a move to the right, deceiving him into closing in further, then, with a "no-look pass" behind his back, he delivered the ball to the left, and the following Little Si made a "Powerful Splitting" move.

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