Eight Hundred and Ninety-Three: Link’s One-Stop Service (3/5)

Trailing by 7 points at halftime, although this is not the end of the world, it does put the Grizzlies in a passive position.

At halftime, Iguodala was breathing heavily. Defending Josh Smith was more difficult than he thought.

"We must establish our advantage in the third quarter. There is no need to continue to mess with them. Link, try to open up the score in the third quarter. Andre, this time, you must contain Josh Smith during the rotation time. Cheer up. Come on, you can do it.”

Dave Joerger's arrangement is very clear. Until now, the Rockets' biggest problem is not Harden, but Josh.

Harden's high scores and high scores were expected by Joerger. In other words, even when Harden scored high points, Joerger was confident that he could win.

But Josh Smith was a surprise, and his appearance completely broke the game plan.

In the past two quarters, the Grizzlies' main lineup actually played not bad. But almost every time, it was the "hairband gang" composed of Josh, Terry and Brewer during the rotation time.

Brewer and Terry performed mediocrely today, and the main threat was Josh.

As long as Josh can be contained, the Grizzlies can take the lead!

Iguodala nodded silently and said nothing. He knew he didn't perform well in the first half, but he still didn't give up.

"Hey, how are you adjusting?" Link sat next to Iguodala and patted him on the shoulder.

"I... wasn't sure I could recover in the second half."

"Don't worry, it's just Josh Smith. Last season, you guarded LeBron so much that he lost his temper." Link shrugged, letting Iguodala relax.

From the beginning of the game to now, the sentence Iguodala has heard the most is "You can do it."

From the coach to his teammates, no one blamed him, but they all encouraged him.

Iguodala didn't want to disappoint his teammates, so he put aside the not-so-good memories of the first half.

Second half, start over!

The intermission goes quickly, especially today when there is an intermission and a "special program".

In addition to regular performances at halftime today, league president Adam Joke also appeared in the center of the court in person.

Bless every fan who came to watch the game.

"Thank you all for your support and wish you all a Merry Christmas. It was an amazing game and I hope it will have a perfect ending."

The joke seems to be in a good mood. I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that the Grizzlies are in a behind position.

The joker originally thought that his blessing would bring cheers and applause from the fans, but after he finished speaking, all he got was endless boos.

Grizzlies fans are not stupid, they all know that the joke about the All-Star voting reform is aimed at Link.

They also know that the league wants a team with a nobler pedigree to replace the Grizzlies.

Los Angeles, Oakland, Chicago... no matter which one, the market size is several times that of Memphis.

Therefore, jokes are not good at all in Memphis.

Joke resisted the embarrassment and returned to his seat, but at this time, he could no longer hold the smile on his face.

The bald man couldn't help but look at the big screen and the score.

He really hoped that this gap could be maintained until the end of the game! In this way, he can say Merry Christmas to himself!

The second half started quickly, and Link was gearing up.

Whether Iguodala can guard Josh is only part of the winning plan. The other part depends on whether you can open up the score before the rotation time comes.

Link scored 13 points in the first half, which was not a lot, mainly because he focused more on connecting the team.

Six assists in the half was the biggest reward Link received.

In the second half, it was time to return the focus to the basket.

In the third quarter, both sides still faced the challenge with the starting five, and no one took the lead in changing the lineup.

On the first goal of the game, Link hit a mid-range back-up jumper. Ariza felt a chill go down his spine. He always felt that this feeling was somewhat familiar...

This was the feeling last time Link scored 63 points.

One round later, Link succeeded in another mid-range jump shot and scored 4 points in a row!

Not long after the second half started, the Rockets only had a 3-point advantage.

McHale was also shocked. Link's 63 points left a shadow in the hearts of every Rockets member. Seeing Link starting to score consecutively, they were all frightened.

So, "Refrigerator" turned to look at Josh, hoping that Josh would come on and play the fourth position to help Ariza share some of the pressure.

"Don't worry too much if Tobias Harris can't kill the game. Actively double-team Link, even if he commits a foul! In short, we can't let him score easily anymore, you hear me!"

"Leave it to me, I'll take care of it." Josh hammered his chest hard, and then went to the technical desk to prepare.

At this moment, James Harden succeeded again. The game entered a dead ball situation, Josh jumped up and stepped onto the court!

"McHale brought Josh Smith out early in the third quarter. Now, both Josh and Ariza are on the court, and the Rockets have a lineup with one big and four small! I think, coach Kevin McHale's The intention was obvious, he wanted to increase the defensive strength of the Rockets' wings. After Link scored 4 points in a row, McHale was alerted."

Josh Smith high-fived his teammates, then looked at Link fiercely.

It was as if he was the protagonist of this Christmas Eve.

Link and Josh looked at each other for a few seconds, not avoiding the guy's gaze at all.

Losing the game because of a mere Josh Smith? What a joke!

The president is here, he must be "returned with a full load"!

Harden made two free throws and barely expanded the point difference to 6 points.

But the entire momentum has now fallen to the Grizzlies.

Link personally took the ball this time and passed halftime. He waved his hand and signaled Harris to set up a high screen for himself.

The shouts in the FedEx Arena instantly increased a lot, and all the fans stood up.

Link is deliberately forcing Josh to defend himself!

Josh quickly completed the position change, and he believed he could handle No. 0!

The most powerful thing about Smith is his self-confidence. His "honey self-confidence" even allows him to dare to call himself "CIC handsome boy."

This nickname is as funny as if Curry suddenly called himself the dunk master one day.

Link, who had already scored 4 points in a row, signaled everyone to pull away. This was a great opportunity to destroy Josh Smith in advance!

Link, who had been approaching slowly, suddenly started to move, scaring Josh into retreating quickly!

But as soon as Link reached the free throw line, he stopped suddenly. God knows how strong Link's core strength is now, he can survive even if he says stop.

Seeing this situation, Josh wanted to stop suddenly, but due to inertia, he staggered back a few steps and almost fell!

The whole audience exclaimed, and Link shook Josh so hard with just one simple move!

"Be careful, don't use too much force." Link playfully spat trash talk at Josh, and then Link started dribbling with his back near the free throw line.

Josh was a little angry. He didn't want to be played like a clown.

Back attack and back defense are Josh's strengths!

On the defensive end, Josh's low post defense is actually stronger than his perimeter defense.

Josh planned to use his strong body to hold Link up and prevent Link from pushing in.

As a result, Link pushed back hard, and Josh took a big step back, and felt as if several of his ribs were broken!

He thinks that his ability to fight is invincible, but in fact, his body is not as strong as it was when he was an eagle.

Before Josh could realize what was going on, Link continued to lean in for a second time.

"Bang!"

Josh heard a muffled sound and felt severe pain in his chest, and took another big step back!

At this time, Link had already reached the three-second zone. After pushing away Josh, he easily scored with a hook.

McHale was shocked. He didn't expect that it would end like this!

He thought that Link might pass Josh in one step, and was even mentally prepared for the worst—that Josh would be knocked down in a panic.

But McHale really didn't expect that Link would directly drive Josh to the basket and complete the goal...

Originally, he hoped to use the impact of Josh, a muscular man, to cause trouble for Link, but as of now, it is Josh who is in big trouble.

After scoring the goal, Link made a "shh" gesture to Josh, as if to tell him, "You have no say here."

With just one attack, Josh's magical aura seemed to disappear.

In front of Link, all kinds of monsters and monsters must reveal their true colors.

Josh is so angry. This is the first time he has been despised by a No. 3 position in terms of physical confrontation.

Josh quickly got involved in the offense. He actively provided screens for Harden and actively sought opportunities to cut to the basket.

Finally, after a screen, Josh took advantage of Harris's hesitation to switch defenses and cut to the basket!

Although Harden is a shooting guard and a scorer, his passing vision is very outstanding.

Harden's average assists per game this season has exceeded 7, so he clearly saw the opportunity that belonged to Josh and delivered the ball in time!

Josh got the basketball and was about to attack the frame when a dark shadow stopped in front of him.

It's Link!

Josh and Harden are different. This guy who is obsessed with shooting and scoring does not have such a wide passing vision.

If Josh now chooses to pass the ball to Ariza, who is temporarily released by Link, the latter can still get a fleeting shooting opportunity.

But Josh didn't. After playing smoothly in the first half, he is now full of confidence. Moreover, he also wanted to let Link have a taste of his power and avenge his previous shame!

Josh rushed forward and pushed Link, taking the initiative to fight, hoping to push Link away and then throw the ball away.

But Josh's plan failed in the first step. He did hit Link, but Link was as unmoving as a statue. On the contrary, Josh himself was bounced and lost his center of gravity.

Josh had to take the shot before he lost all focus, and he did.

But that's what Link was waiting for. He used his extremely fast bullet speed to jump into the air. With a wave of his arm, like a fly swatter, with a "pop", Josh's hasty shot flew back!

"Josh Smith found the wrong opponent. Just because he can beat Iguodala, who is recovering from injury, like this doesn't mean he can beat Link in the same way!"

The corner of the joker's mouth couldn't help but twitch twice. Why didn't that guy Josh have the right idea?

Beat up Link? What are you thinking! ?

Conley caught the basketball that was kicked out by Link and quickly passed the ball again.

And the person who caught the ball was none other than Link who was rushing forward quickly!

Josh was chasing after him, hoping to make up for it with a big risk.

But Link is not an old Carter, and Josh can't catch up with Link at all, let alone risk.

In anticipation of the fans, Link turned around and dunked 360 degrees in front of the unmarked basket!

The small spinning top spun in the sky above FedEx Arena. Just this dunk made Grizzlies fans' Christmas Eve worthwhile.

Land on the ground, straighten your back, fold your hands around your chest, and face the camera with a smile.

Link didn't shy away from posing in front of the photographer behind the basket.

The emergence of Josh Smith still did not change the fate of the Rockets' forward being beaten.

In the next few minutes, Josh Smith experienced the darkest minutes of the game.

Blacksmithing, being risked, being raped, being intercepted... Link directly provided Josh with a "one-stop service", leaving this substitute warrior in a quagmire.

By the eighth minute of the third quarter, Link, who scored 13 points in a single quarter, had already given the Grizzlies an 8-point lead!

The Rockets paused. Josh Smith has been waiting for this moment for too long.

Link is gone, and Josh thinks his moment of pride has finally arrived!

During the rotation time, he will vent all his anger and unwillingness on Iguodala!

But on the Grizzlies side, Iguodala's mental state is completely different from the first half.

"Well done Link, leave the rest to me."

Iguodala and Link gave a light high-five, and Link had completed his mission. Now, it's time for his part.