Sixty-Seven: Superstar Killer

How dangerous Kobe Bryant is doesn't need to be elaborated. Although people dubbed this guy the "Iron King", Kobe's 44.7% career shooting percentage is actually not low. He only occasionally freed himself and made crazy shots, leading to crazy blacksmithing.

In other words, this is a super scorer with high efficiency, explosive scoring ability, rich scoring methods and extremely powerful psychology.

Link played five games with the Grizzlies, and he was considered to have faced a variety of opponents. But super scorer? This was the first time he met.

Although he was still complaining in his heart that Mayo had just left Kobe to himself, in his mind, Link had entered a state of confrontation with Kobe.

Kobe Bryant made a three-threat action with the ball, which was his preparation before launching the offense. Kobe's triple threat is really elusive because he can score in any way he can.

After making two fake throws, Kobe found that Link didn't move at all, and he didn't even have any intention of getting his center of gravity up.

Seeing this situation, Kobe Bryant really shot directly from beyond the three-point line. This is Kobe, and his offensive options seem so unreasonable.

But in Kobe's view, this is not unreasonable. Since you really think I can't shoot, I'll shoot.

However, when Kobe really took off and shot, Link also blocked it. Kobe was a little surprised. This rookie was not dumb, but his judgment on offense was very accurate!

Link's height was more dominant than Kobe's, and with his 2.18-meter wingspan, Kobe was firmly sealed on his face.

"Black Mamba" knew it was wrong as soon as he shot, and sure enough, the basketball hit the front of the basket and failed to hit!

Seeing that Link actually blocked Kobe, everyone in the stands at Staples Center was stunned. Not to mention Lakers fans, even Link's "good teammate" Mayo was stunned.

If the ball just now was him defending Kobe, he would definitely be played around. However, Link's defense against Kobe was extremely solid, at least not making mistakes. What the hell does that guy do? Isn't he nervous about facing superstars?

The nervousness is definitely nervous, and Link even felt his heartbeat speed up just now. But Link, who had extensive experience and worked hard to keep calm, still made the best judgment.

I don't know why, when Link is immersed in defense, he can always judge which of the opponent's attacks is real and which is fake. He seems to have an innate sense of judgment when it comes to defending Kobe.

Thinking about it carefully, until the 2010 Western Conference finals, the Phoenix Suns' best candidate for defending Kobe was still Grant Hill. Therefore, it is no coincidence that Link was able to defend against Kobe just now. In his bones, Link has the genes to defend Kobe.

Bryant also felt a little strange. First of all, as a rookie, Link's composure on the defensive end really did not match his age. Even though he's an older rookie in his senior year, his composure is overdone.

And for some reason, Kobe always felt that Link's defense made him very familiar, but he didn't know exactly where it was.

Bryant's offense failed, and the Grizzlies attacked aggressively. In order to avoid the embarrassment of Thabeet being blown up, this time Hollins deliberately replaced Garr in advance, and then brought him back up again during the rotation time.

Therefore, the Grizzlies can now be regarded as a dual offensive core lineup of Link + Jr. Gasol.

Kobe was on guard. Instead of defending Mayo, he took the initiative to defend Link. Matt Barnes was stunned for a moment, then quickly ran to Mayo's side.

A rookie who can piss off Kobe Bryant, which is not common.

Link knows that although Kobe is now in his twilight years, it is not a wise choice to hold the ball and go it alone. So Link moved frantically, hoping to get a chance to attack without the ball.

But Kobe's defense is really tight,

This guy is different from superstars like Anthony who can only attack but not defend. Once Kobe wants to defeat an opponent, he will put enormous pressure on the opponent on both ends of the offense and defense.

Now Link's athletic ability is not much better than Kobe's, and it's hard to get rid of Kobe just by relying on speed. He is really like a "venomous snake", entangling Link.

"Damn, no chance at all!" Link gritted his teeth, probably the most terrifying defender he had ever encountered in the NBA. A superstar is a superstar, and it's nothing like those half-hearts.

Seeing that Link couldn't find an open space, Vasquez could only give the ball to Mayo. But under the tough defense of Barnes, Mayo's breakthrough layup missed. In fact, Mayo isn't just shooting inconsistently, he's also been inefficient at finishing at the rim. As long as the defense is a little tougher, his layup will be blinded.

The Grizzlies also missed the attack. Both sides defended very hard, and the confrontation was fierce. The game instantly became better.

Kobe had to pass the ball early, and in the second team, he had absolutely unlimited firing rights. He wants to see what the rookie No. 0 in front of him can do!

If Link defended Kobe just now, it was because Mayo suddenly ran. That time Link defended Kobe this time, but he took the initiative from the bottom of his heart.

He found that he actually quite liked the feeling of fighting with a powerful enemy! And it is also a way to reflect one's own value by daring to do things that others dare not do.

Kobe confronted Link again, which seemed to have become a solo performance by the two of them.

Hollins's fist was full of sweat, and he was afraid that Link's confidence would be knocked down by Kobe. However, Tony Allen tugged at Hollins' sleeve.

"Leave it to him, don't worry, he can do it." Tony Allen nodded to Hollins, "If you believe me, then you have to believe him."

On the court, Bryant is still a step beyond the three-point line with the ball. Link knew that he couldn't fall, and the madman in front of him was really dangerous. If he shoots away, the Grizzlies will have a hard time keeping the 9-point advantage, let alone widening the gap to 10 points.

Kobe waited for an opportunity, but he didn't get rid of Link in the first step. He found that Link actually confronted him the moment he started!

It felt like Tony Allen of the Chicken Thief was defending himself! No wonder Tony Allen and Link whispered before the game. It turned out to be a pair of master and apprentice!

Kobe Bryant broke through to the mid-range, and he found that Gasol had already made up the defense to the basket. Clearly, the Grizzlies set a defensive trap for him. If you continue to go deeper, you will only fall into the double-team.

So Kobe suddenly stopped and turned his back, as if he was about to roll over and shoot a jumper!

"Turn-over jumper, this is Kobe's trump card! Link can't stop him!"

The commentators have raised their arms in advance, ready to celebrate Kobe's goal.

However, Kobe's first hit was just a fake. If Link is fooled, Kobe just needs to switch hands and pick the basket lightly to score successfully.

Kobe's little abacus clapped, but when he made a fake shot, Link didn't take off, but continued to stick to himself and continued to fight!

"This... This is a textbook defensive action with the ball!" The commentators were shocked, where did this undrafted pick come from. There are many people in the NBA who can defend. But there are only a handful of people who can defend Kobe.

At that moment, Kobe suddenly remembered who Link's defense looked like. This round is simply a replica of last season's Western Conference finals, Grant Hill defending himself!

It's just that on the basis of Grant Hill, Link's defense is a bit more tough and confrontational than Tony Allen.

Speaking of which, Kobe remembered that Link's playing style was similar to Hill's. A young guy who plays like an old Hill? interesting!

Although he was clinging to him, the already red-eyed "Black Mamba" still chose to jump in place and make a jumper.

The difficulty of this shot is self-evident, even a player like Kobe can't make it again and again. So, this difficult mid-range shot hit the frame, and Link defended Kobe for two consecutive rounds!

On the Grizzlies bench, Randolph, Conley and Tony were all excited and waved towels. Perhaps few teams' benches are so excited about a successful defense. But this is the Memphis Grizzlies, and they're a team that runs rampant on defense.

The Lakers began to panic. If even Kobe couldn't handle it, the game would be difficult.

After defending Kobe, Link didn't feel complacent, but quickly pulled to the right bottom corner to open up space for his teammates to attack.

Vasquez hoisted the ball to Gasol Jr., who faced Bynum who was also on the court during the rotation time, turned over and made a jumper from close range.

For a Spanish center with excellent low-post skills, this kind of ball is not difficult. The basketball hit steadily, the point difference became 11 points, and the Grizzlies managed to turn the point difference into double digits before halftime!

That's right, a double-digit lead over the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers!

With just over two minutes left in the second quarter, Phil Jackson also let out a rare roar. "Zen Master" can no longer pretend to be quiet. If he doesn't speak again, the Lakers will capsize in the gutter at home.

Although he didn't score by himself just now, Link was so excited he couldn't help himself. He finally discovered the joy of defending a superstar. What's the use of you being so good? I just can't make you score! Every time he defended Kobe, Link filled his heart with a sense of accomplishment.

attack? Why not leave it to my teammates, I just want to limit the scorer in front of me!

At this point, Matt Barnes really felt that he was quite innocent in the first quarter. A guy who can play back and forth with Kobe is not his thing at all. He and Mayo are better friends. Kobe and Link's fairy fight, he can't interfere.

This time, Kobe Bryant directly asked for the ball from the baseline and personally controlled the ball over half court. He was thoroughly enraged, and the "Black Mamba" showed his most poisonous fangs.

Link looked straight ahead firmly, steadied himself, raised his trouser legs, and then opened his arms.

At this time, Tony Allen's words echoed in Link's mind - I don't understand the offense, but you don't want to understand either!