Fifty-Nine: Bald Warning

Seeing that Kirilenko was thrown out of the baseline, Link scored easily. On the Jazz bench, a bench in a training suit is gearing up.

This is Link's fourth game with the Grizzlies and his first start. However, in just four games, there were already many voices that appreciated Link.

"He has the potential to be one of the most successful undrafted picks in history."

"He's in the top five of this year's rookies."

"There's no question he'll put a lot of lottery picks to shame. The best rookie of the year has to have Link's name."

This article article, in the eyes of others, may not be painful or itchy. But in the eyes of this year's rookie players, it's a bit too angry.

How can an undrafted player who has only played less than ten games become the most watched rookie? Just because of his skin color?

Therefore, many 10-year rookies hope to compete with Link face-to-face. Let the media and fans see what is the best rookie.

In the last game, DeMarcus Cousins ​​fought with this mentality. But unfortunately, his direct opponent was not Link, and the young Cousins ​​was educated by Randolph.

But today, the rookie of the Jazz really has the opportunity to face off with Link.

Gordon Hayward's eyes were fixed on the court, analyzing Link's every move. During college, Hayward led Butler University to the NCAA finals, and he was known as the strongest white forward in the United States.

But after entering the NBA, Hayward's attention has plummeted. With Hayward's personality, he naturally does not pursue these fame and fortune. But he didn't want to achieve nothing when he came to the NBA.

He wanted to prove that he wasn't just as good as the NCAA.

As this year's No. 9 rookie, Hayward has never tried to play a starting game until today. And the undrafted one had already started and helped the team score first. Hayward is well aware that if Kirilenko fails, Sloan will increase his minutes.

At that time, he doesn't mind competing with the "best rookie" in the media's mouth. Of course, the outcome was doomed, and Hayward would not allow himself to fail!

If Link can be one of the best rookies this year, so should he!

Before I knew it, many 10-year lottery picks started to aim to defeat Link, the undrafted pick... The lottery picks are trying their best to chase undrafted picks, and the relationship between them seems to be upside down.

On the court, the Jazz's offense was also not easy. Hollins' emphasis on defense day in and day out before games actually helped the Grizzlies develop a habit of tough defense on the court.

Delong just pressed Conley closely, and now he has also received a warm response from Conley.

Deron called a screen and played a pick-and-roll with Al Jefferson, trying to use his breakthrough to create opportunities.

This is a typical Jazz offense, and the pick-and-roll has been Jerry Sloan and the Jazz since Stockton and Karl Malone until now.

According to the tactics, Deron should hand over the ball to Al Jefferson who is straight down after the breakthrough. Jefferson is quicker on offense than most centers, and he has range. This guy was called the "New Wolf King" during the Timberwolves period.

But Delong didn't follow Sloan's tactics. After breaking through through cover, Delong suddenly stopped and made a jumper himself!

Mike Conley reacted immediately and blocked it. Sloan looked at the slightly fat guard on the court, a little stunned. For the first time in decades of coaching the NBA, Sloan felt his team was out of control.

Yes, the conflict between Deron and Sloan has fully erupted this season. On the court, Deron often doesn't listen to Jerry Sloan's command. He wants to prove that teams can score even if they don't play Sloan's way.

He wanted to prove that he was in charge of this team, not the gray-haired coach.

It's a pity that Deron Williams' pull-up jumper hit the frame under Conley's strict interference. He's underestimating Conley's one-on-one defense a bit, or he's overestimating his scoring ability a bit too much.

"What!?" Kirilenko scolded in surprise. In the first few years of the Jazz, no player on the team dared to challenge Sloan's authority.

Before Kirilenko could react, Link had already run into the penalty area. Randolph and Gasol got stuck in this situation, and Link, with a keen sense of smell, easily accepted the rebound.

"Coach Sloan seems to be very dissatisfied with the attack just now. I believe everyone has heard of the recent rumors. Deron Williams seems to have some opinions on Coach Jerry Sloan."

At this point, the commentator was still chatting about the Jazz gossip. As everyone knows, the real danger is approaching Jazz.

Link didn't pass the ball immediately after grabbing the rebound, because he found that Deron was very rude by Conley's side, waiting for an opportunity to steal.

So Link waved his hand and signaled his teammates to run forward and let him control the ball to cross the half court.

"Link took the ball through the half, he had that ability. Every game, he always gave a few good passes. And this guy has a very clear mind on the court, he knows where to send the ball. is the most correct."

Kirilenko was a little helpless when he saw Link strolling to a stop outside the three-point line. Kirilenko, who has suffered from injuries again and again, has lost the power of the original all-around warrior since 2006, and his data has also plummeted after 2006.

Nowadays, it is not easy for Kirilenko, who is 2.06 meters tall, to lower his waist to steal. And if the steal is not successful, according to Kirilenko's current athletic ability, it is estimated that it will be difficult for him to quickly turn around and pursue defense.

As a result, Kirilenko could only watch as Link handed the ball to Mayo, who was out of the three-point line, without interference.

After Mayo catches the ball, regardless of whether it is three seven or twenty one, he will shoot with his open hand. Just as Mayo shot the ball, Link suddenly ran inside.

Kirilenko was caught off guard and took a step slower. Sure enough, Mayo's three-point shot hit the frame, and this guy's shooting percentage of only 40.7% is no joke.

And because it was a three-pointer, it was a long rebound. Gasol, Randolph, Millsap and Jefferson can't grab the inside line. Link just appeared at the free throw line, jumped lightly, and received the offensive rebound!

"Stuck in position, what are you doing!?" Sloan roared so handsomely that it was a very shameful thing for him to lose defensive rebounds.

The former Kirilenko, as a No. 3, averaged 8 rebounds per game. But now, he is easily robbed of offensive rebounds by an undrafted pick.

"Link saved Mayo's bad shot, and the Grizzlies still have a chance. This guy's rebounding nose is so sensitive, he almost ran in the moment Conley shot."

After grabbing the rebound, Link immediately attracted the Jazz's shrinking defense, and everyone thought he would be anxious for a second attack.

But Link unhurriedly passed the ball through the gap, as if he was deaf to everything around him.

It was Conley Jr. who received the pass from Link. After catching the ball, he made a layup easily without any interference. Because at the moment when Mayo shot the iron, Deron was already running to the front court and wanted to play a fast break.

As everyone knows, he did this to let Conley empty, allowing the latter to easily score.

At 4-0, the Utah Jazz, who were originally thought to be able to easily handle the Grizzlies, were then breathed into two goals. And the way they lose points makes people laugh and cry.

With 2 points, 1 assist and 2 rebounds, Link only played three rounds and got a lot of data. Kirilenko looked at the back of No. 0 who was high-fiving with his teammates, his eyes full of shadows from his youth.

At this time, Kirilenko knew that his pre-match brilliance had been exaggerated. He told Sloan not to worry about the opponent's 3, and it turns out that the Grizzlies' two goals are now directly related to the 3.

The Jazz attacked for the second time, and Deron Williams finally passed the ball to Jefferson according to Sloan's arrangement. But Jefferson's forced layup was ruthlessly blocked by Pau Gasol.

Gasol has few blocks, and has never averaged more than 2 blocks per game in a season so far in his career. But if you challenge him because of this, you will basically not be able to eat and walk around.

The Grizzlies' defense caused the Jazz's two major scoring points, Deron and Jefferson, to suffer. The glory of the Jazz in the past seems to be reappearing in the Grizzlies.

Link switched from defense to offense the moment Gasol completed the block. He quickly assessed the situation. The two guards Conley and Mayo were both going inside, and it would be too crowded to cut in by himself.

So Link planned to pull out the three-point line. If the two of them can't fight, at least they can catch up.

After receiving the blocked basketball, Conley wanted to complete the transfer attack by himself, but his teammate Mayo refused to give in at all and wanted to run parallel to him. This guy, trying to brush the data has reached the point of madness. The two offensive players are running in parallel, virtually squeezing their own offensive space.

With "pig teammate" Mayo on the left, Delong on the right, and Millsap chasing behind him, Conley knew that if he went straight to the basket, he would be in trouble.

Conley is not greedy for credit, and Mayo can give it to him if he wants to score. But Conley is well aware that close-range passes are more prone to turnovers at high speeds. He must seize this opportunity and not pass the ball wrong!

So, Conley turned back slightly, and then threw it vigorously!

"No direct hits to the rim, and no to Mayo. Mike Conley passed the ball beyond the arc, and Link got the basketball!"

Since Conley made the decision to pass on an impromptu basis, the timing wasn't quite as accurate. When he received the basketball, Link was still one step away from the three-point line.

Link didn't expect that he could actually catch the ball. He just wanted to help Conley and Mayo open up space. As everyone knows. The basketball really flew into my hands.

As a role player, an undrafted player, he has the ball on three consecutive offenses, which is too happy.

The opportunity to switch between offense and defense was fleeting, and Link didn't want to waste it. As soon as he gritted his teeth, he simply shot one step away from the three-point line!

When he was watching the ball before, he had seen Hill perform a good show of super long-distance shooting more than once. So, I tried it myself.

"Crap!" Kirilenko couldn't help but scolded him in Russian. He originally wanted to wait for Link to come to the door within the three-point line, but he didn't expect that guy to vote directly.

He stretched out his long arms to block it, but it was only an afterthought. Hollins also stood up. If the fast break is not successful this time, it will definitely hit the team's morale greatly.

The basketball crossed a rainbow arc in the air and just fell into the net. The FedEx Arena immediately exploded, and Link's debut at home did not disappoint these fans.

"Going in, a bold attempt, and it also paid off handsomely. 7-0, the Jazz were beaten 7-0 as soon as they came up. Coach Sloan stopped the game, he really couldn't bear it!"

After scoring the goal, Link wanted to celebrate, but he ran to the bench as quickly as he ran for his life and sat down.

Because he saw that Randolph had raised his "bear paw", ready to rub his head.

Can't be bald, must not be bald!