Forty-Six: Link Off the Court, Link on the Court
The Memphis Grizzlies' situation today is not reassuring. After halfway through the first quarter, the Pacers have led the Grizzlies by 6 points.
On the commentary stage, T.NT's Jeff Van Gundy and Chris Webber kept teasing, "The composition of the Memphis Grizzlies is really interesting."
"Zach Randolph who no one wants, Mayo who is more arrogant than talent, Guy who wants to be a superstar, and Gasol who is tepid... look at these What player? If the Grizzlies want to make the playoffs, they should add more to their lineup." Seeing Gasol's shot missed again because of Hibbert, Webber couldn't help but tease.
"Strengthening the lineup? Yeah, the Grizzlies actually did that too. They brought Link to Conseco today, and hopefully the rookie who signed a 10-day contract with the team can help the Grizzlies get through it. Difficulties, hahahahaha." Van Gundy's words were somewhat sarcastic.
Last season, the Grizzlies failed to make the playoffs. This year, with the roster almost unchanged, people are naturally not optimistic about how much improvement the Grizzlies can make.
An outdated Allen Iverson has been the biggest signing of the Grizzlies in recent years. Grizzlies, like the city of Memphis, are always despised by people.
While Webber and Van Gundy were joking, Daniel Granger's mid-range jumper caught Rudy Gay off guard. The Pacers scored again and the difference was widened to eight points.
"Damn it!" Lionel Hollins scolded, stood up, and called to stop the game.
If the opponent widens the difference to 10 points early, it will be quite unfavorable for the Grizzlies. After all, the Grizzlies are a team that is good at defense. If the defense collapses, the game will collapse.
"Timeout, Coach Hollins called the game off. But with all due respect, I don't think the Grizzlies can come up with a decent response. They've lost three straight in the last three games. They haven't been in good shape and I don't think they have the ability to suddenly come back to life."
Webber shook his head, a belly team, that's his definition of the Grizzlies.
Link surrounded the game as soon as the game was suspended and was very active. Because Hollins said that he was able to enter the rotation today! And now, it's almost time for a turnaround.
Rudy Gay sat on the stool after he got off the court and asked the staff for a towel and Gatorade. But for Hollins, who was kneeling on one knee and drawing tactics, he was absent-minded.
O.J. Mayo tilted his head, and he scored six points in the last half of the game, which seemed to make him feel good about himself. Losing has nothing to do with him anyway, because the Grizzlies are a "garbage team", he just takes the data.
These main players can turn a blind eye to the coach's arrangement and be absent-minded, but lower-level players like Link can't do this.
Anyone who watches the NBA often knows that when every game is suspended, when the head coach is spitting bitterly and the main players are distracted, there are always a few guys in training jackets, no sweat on their foreheads, and zero minutes of playing time to join the coach. Beside him, a conscientious attitude.
Without them, it is estimated that half of the coach's suspension will be in the cold...
Leonardo Hollins spoke for a long time, but found that Guy didn't seem to care. Every time Guy shows that, he turns on wave mode. If you are lucky, you can kill the opponent. But most of the time, it's the Grizzlies who pay the price.
So Hollins stopped abruptly, then waved behind him without looking back.
"Link, get ready to play!"
This time, Rudy Gay finally glanced at his head coach.
But unfortunately, it's too late.
Link looked at his teammates in surprise, then squeezed from the outermost edge of the crowd to Hollins. Guy and Sam Young glared at Link at the same time, but Zach Randolph stepped forward to help Link.
"Relax, buddy. Listen to what the coach has to say. If you run into the wrong position, I won't forgive you." Randolph said while squeezing Link's shoulder. On the surface, he was "threatening" Link, but he was actually telling Guy and Sam Young.
"Link is covered by me."
"Listen to Link, I need you to confront Daniel Granger, I don't ask you to clean him, but you can't let him shoot easily and lure him to the inside, Zach and Mark will help you! Attack! Run like you did in training. If you don't make a three-point shot, I'll replace you right away!"
Hollins gave Link a few words casually, and Link nodded solemnly. In terms of tactical execution, Hollins believes Link is better than Gay.
"Beep~~~~" A harsh beep sounded at the scene, and the Pacers fans cheered.
At that moment, Link felt goosebumps all over his body. Although in the Rockets, Link also played three games. But the appearance of the critical moment and the appearance in the garbage time are completely two different feelings.
He took a deep breath, leaned over and touched the words "RIP, Zeke" on the side of his shoe, and stepped onto the court!
"Boy, come back!" As soon as Link took the first step, he heard assistant coach Elston Turner shout. Then he noticed a burst of laughter from the stands.
"Huh?" Link turned his head in confusion, the action he just played should be very handsome, right?
"What are you doing!? You forgot to take off your training jacket! Take it off now and relax!"
After hearing what Turner said, Link realized that he had forgotten to take off his training jacket and training pants...
Well, his first appearance with the Grizzlies was a smash.
"Hahahaha, this is probably the most embarrassing appearance I've ever seen. Link, the Chinese-American forward who signed a 10-day short contract with the Grizzlies was so nervous that he forgot to take off his training jacket. Lionel. Coach Hollins is sure that such a player can really fight?"
Van Gundy and Webber laughed together on the commentary stage, and Jim O'Brien had a playful smile on the Pacers bench.
After laughing, Jim O'Brien didn't forget to turn his head to look at George, "Am I right? His kind of guy won't affect the game at all!"
Link was a little embarrassed at first, but as soon as he took off his training jacket and saw the number 0 on his chest, he calmed down again.
Stepping into the field, his eyes changed. From humble and funny, it became extremely fierce. 80% of the people in this arena do not know who Link is and where he came from.
But as soon as they saw his yellow skin, the impression of "this guy must be weak" has already appeared in the fans' minds.
Daniel Granger thought so too. Even Rudy Guy couldn't do anything about him today. Now put on a little-known yellow-skinned rookie, which is useless except to "give experience" to himself.
But Larry Bird, who was sitting in the luxurious box at this time, had a different idea from most of the people on the scene. He narrowed his eyes, looking forward to seeing Link's performance.
Bird was one of the few 20% who knew something about Link. He knows that this No. 0 undrafted pick is not a generalist.
"The Grizzlies' offense is still a slow-paced offense. Conley is very stable. He is indeed a young and experienced point guard."
Under Webber's commentary, Conley passed halftime. Link immediately started to act, he went to the right side of the three-point line and received Conley.
According to the tactics, Conley hit the ball into Link's hands. Granger didn't press Link closely, and he didn't think it was necessary for him to do so.
Of course, Link couldn't just take the ball and fight Granger one-on-one. At this time, Granger was also an All-Star level player.
I saw this Chinese No. 0 hoisted the ball to Randolph who sat inside, and then cut without the ball!
"Cut!" Granger snorted softly, this cut is simply too simple. He was right next to Link, giving him no space to catch the ball. Sure enough, the undrafted is the undrafted!
However, just as Link stepped into the penalty area, he suddenly ran back and ran outside the three-point line again! At the same time, Mayo and Conley also began to roam, attracting the attention of the Pacers' defense.
Randolph returned the ball to Link, who just caught the basketball from beyond the three-point line and raised it to shoot!
"Tips!" Granger collapsed in two strides. He admitted that Link's counter-run was very beautiful. But such an attack could not defeat him.
Granger stretched out his long arms and leaped high. There's nothing more exhilarating than teaching a rookie a lesson with a volleyball cap.
However, when Granger was in mid-air waiting for Link to shoot, what he saw was not the basketball coming towards him, but the ghostly smile on the face of the Chinese No. 0.
The last player to see this smile was Joan Brockman, and he's been beaten by Link now.
"Fake shot, Link actually just made a fake shot! He made a breakthrough, Granger was thrown away, others were pinned down, and Link's way to the basket was unobstructed!"
As soon as Van Gundy finished speaking, Link took off for a layup. At this time, Roy Hibbert rushed over and planned to block.
But in the air, Link, who became more brisk after the upgrade, made a pull-bar action, avoiding the block and putting the basketball into the frame. Of course, Link's levers aren't picturesque, but they're practical enough.
The moment the basketball shot, Link was also directly knocked down by Hibbert. As soon as Link landed, he heard the hurried whistle of the referee.
"The goal is effective, and penalties are added. Link won a three-pointer as soon as he came on the court! This... Coach Hollins' substitutions played a role in the first round!"
After scoring the goal, Link lay on the ground and waved his arms vigorously. After being pulled up by Randolph, he glanced at Hibbert through gritted teeth.
Only then did people realize that this yellow-skinned guy might not be easy to mess with. He is not a soft guy, but a real tough guy!
A real Grizzlies player!