Three Hundred and Fifty: Best Sixth Man VS Most Improved Player

The Grizzlies' 4-0 after the opening gave them a complete momentum and set the tone for the game.

Minutes into the first quarter, the Grizzlies kept their meat-grinder defense and resolute offense going.

Even a guard as aggressive as Westbrook didn't get good fruit in the Grizzlies penalty area. Although Link didn't score consecutively, he was everywhere.

Rebounds, assists, steals, help defense... As long as the Grizzlies need it, Link is there!

Eight minutes into the game, the Thunder trailed by 4 points in the Grizzlies' desperate attitude. Although the point difference is not big, considering the scene has been suppressed, the Thunder is still very passive.

Scott Brooks looked up at the time on the big screen, and then walked up to James Harden, it's time for the sixth man!

On the court, Conley assisted Gasol to score at the basket, and the point difference was widened to 6 points. At this moment, the Thunder paused.

Hollins stood up immediately. The purpose of the Thunder's pause this time was very clear. They were going to play Harden!

"Link, how do you feel?" So, as soon as Link got off the court, Hollins stepped forward to ask with great concern.

Link was covered in sweat at this time, and the collar of the jersey had obviously become wet. Sweat dripped down his chin one by one, but Link waved his hand when asked.

"Very good, let's fight as planned."

"Well... You must hold on in the first quarter, otherwise you will have a hard time playing. In the second quarter, I will find time to let you rest for a while, but you must establish an advantage in the first quarter! Remember, Look at James Harden, you can’t let him shoot recklessly from beyond the three-point line. In the first two games, Harden’s three-point shooting percentage was as high as 60%. Today, his shooting percentage must be at least half!”

Hollins began to draw tactics, and Link listened carefully while wiping his sweat.

Most Improved Player VS Sixth Man of the Year? It seems quite interesting.

The timeout ended, and Scott Brooks confidently brought James Harden onto the court, replacing Westbrook. In this way, even if the Thunder is in rotation time, there are two scorers Durant and Harden on the court.

On the Grizzlies side, Pondexter was not used as usual, and Brooks found that Link and Tony Allen were still present!

Conley was replaced by Pondexter, and Randolph was replaced by Speights. In this way, the Grizzlies' point guard at this time is Link!

Scott Brooks immediately understood Hollins' strategy. He wanted to use Link to contain Harden!

"Hmph, this is digging its own grave!" Brooks snorted softly. Harden is now full of energy, and Link must have been very tired after entangled with Durant for so long.

He believes that Harden has a way to deal with the No. 0 who can do iron.

The game restarts with James Harden in possession. His ball handling isn't as aggressive as Westbrook's, but that's exactly what Link wants. Link would be exhausted if every guard was as fast as Westbrook.

Just after halftime, Harden was blocked by Link! Link expanded the defensive line very much, and he planned to oppress Harden from the beginning!

Sure enough, Harden passed the ball quickly after being pressed by Link. The target of the pass is naturally Durant, but Durant is not easy at this time, because Tony Allen's defense is better than Link's.

Durant took a few tentative steps with the ball, but Tony Allen's center of gravity always returned quickly. Durant then decided to dribble a breakthrough, but as soon as he dribbled, Tony Allen started!

Although the steal was not completed, it still made it difficult for Durant to move an inch!

"Damn!" Durant couldn't help but cursed in his heart, what kind of team would have two such entangled defensive players at the same time!

In desperation, Durant had to hit the ball to Ibaka. After Ibaka held the ball, Speights, who had just played and was full of energy, hurriedly pushed him out. The Congo striker feels that he is not sure if he plays alone.

So he passed the ball to Harden again.

The ball circled and returned to Harden's hands. Now, he had to face Link's defense alone!

Scott Brooks is a coach who is good at training newcomers, but he is by no means a tactical master. Therefore, the Thunder's cooperation is usually very simple. If the tactics can't be played out for a while, they will fall into the situation where the three young masters are playing alone.

This time, the responsibility for singles fell to Harden. Harden took the ball and made two crotch dribbles. Seeing that Link didn't post it, he made a three-pointer!

Link didn't post it because he was afraid of Harden's breakthrough, not to let him shoot. Therefore, after seeing that Harden's feet were indeed off the ground, Link immediately blocked them tightly!

Judging from Link's defensive reaction, he doesn't look like a player who has been fighting fiercely for almost ten minutes.

"Link's defense is in place, Harden is tantamount to shooting a three-pointer against the defense!"

Harden couldn't see anything. Facing Pondexett in the first two games, the defense was not so tight!

Sure enough, the basketball finally knocked out of the frame! Harden's 60% three-point shooting rate seems to be useless in front of Link.

Hollins waved his fist excitedly, the plan to contain the Thunder's sixth man worked!

After Speights got the rebound, he directly handed the ball to Link. Now the Grizzlies' three perimeters are Link, Pondexter and Tony Allen, so Link is playing the No. 1 role.

Durant wanted to lead the defense, but found that Pondexet had rushed towards him. If not, Pondexter will immediately get a vacancy.

Durant gritted his teeth and could only keep up. The task of defending Link fell to James Harden's shoulders.

Seeing that it was Harden defending him, Link was secretly delighted! Today, let me experience the terrible defense of eyes! please!

Link didn't play singles or organize an offense, but beckoned, signaled Gasol to come up, and passed the ball directly to Gasol...

Gasol holds the ball from beyond the three-point line, and Speights pulls to the mid-range. It seems that the Grizzlies' tactics seem to be hollowing out the inside of the Thunder to make it easier to hit the basket.

After passing the ball to Gasol, Link ran to the right near the corner. Harden was in front of Link, but instead of pressing, he cut off Link's receiving route.

Harden glanced at Link while looking at Gasol. As long as Link is not allowed to catch the ball, the defense will be considered a success this time!

Seeing this situation, Tony Allen waited for an opportunity to cut in, and Pondexett also started to move. Harden told himself, "Be sure to stay steady and don't be disturbed by other people's running! Look at Gasol, once he passes the ball here, he must react quickly! The steal must be handsome!"

Thinking of this, Harden couldn't help but glance at Link. Then he was surprised to find that Link was gone!

"Eh? Where's the person! He was still behind him just now!"

When he turned around to look for Link, Link had already run to the basket and was about to go out of the three-point line on the other side!

"James Harden stayed where he was for some reason. Did he get disconnected? Link had already left him a long way before he realized that his men were gone." Hubie Brown almost couldn't help it It's a joke, Harden's defense this time is here to adjust the atmosphere of the tense game.

Link swooped outside the three-point line on the right and directed Gasol Jr. to send the ball to Link just right. And since Pondexter and Tony Allen have attracted Durant and Sefolosha through their running, now Link is completely unmarked!

From the beginning, Link set the game up.

Link didn't shoot directly after receiving the basketball. Instead, he looked up at Harden, and then he shot unhurriedly!

By the time Harden sealed it, the basketball had already flown into the air. Link raised his right hand in advance, showing three fingers, and then made a gesture of drawing a bow and shooting an arrow.

"Whoosh!"

Harden felt as if an arrow had shot his heart, and Link hit three times!

The corner of Scott Brooks' mouth couldn't help twitching. Harden's defense just now...was really beyond words.

He obviously wanted to send the best sixth man to narrow the gap, but this time, the best sixth man was caught and beaten by the most improved player instead.

The point difference has become 9 points. If the Thunder does not perform well, it is not impossible to fall behind by double digits in the first quarter.

After Link retreated to the midfield line, he hooked his fingers at Harden and Durant.

With Lao Tzu guarding here, don't even think about capturing the Memphis basketball holy land!

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