Eighty-Eight: Young Chris Cannon

The Utah Jazz this season is really a typical example of highs and lows. At the beginning of the season, they had just completed the signing of their ambitions and wanted to overthrow the Lakers’ domination. Their record has also been high, and it seems that they really have the ability to challenge the defending champion.

However, all of this was annihilated in the never-ending conflict between Deron and Sloan. Now, with the Jazz news, either Sloan wants to resign or Deron wants to be traded. The Jazz's record also began to decline sharply amid the confusion within the team.

Now, the Jazz have dropped to seventh in the West and are within easy reach of the eighth in the West. All Western teams are waiting for the Jazz to be out, so that means one more place to advance to the playoffs.

The Memphis Grizzlies and the New Orleans Hornets are undoubtedly the teams that most hope the Jazz can get out of the game, so that the Grizzlies and Hornets don't have to fight for the eighth place in the Western Conference.

However, it needs to be hard on its own, and a team cannot rely on others to lose to advance to the playoffs. What if Sloan and DeLong suddenly shook hands and made peace and moved up together?

Therefore, while counting on the Jazz to fall behind, the Hornets and Grizzlies themselves did not let their guard down. While Link knew that if history hadn't shifted, the Jazz's disbandment would have been inevitable, but others didn't.

Therefore, this direct confrontation between the eighth in the West and the ninth in the West has become a lot of attention. The Grizzlies won and the record will be tied with the Hornets. If the Grizzlies lose, the Hornets will further widen the gap.

It was a turning point game for the Grizzlies. Although the season is still very long, the rankings will definitely change. But to be ranked eighth in the Western Conference earlier, the morale of the Grizzlies players can be more perked up.

So today, at the Smoothie King Center, home of the Hornets, as soon as Link stepped onto the court, he felt a frenzy atmosphere.

Fans screaming wildly, men dancing with T-shirts off, women shaking their long hair, and people dressed in all kinds of strange clothes... The particularity of this game makes New Orleans fans become Incredibly enthusiastic! It's as if the entire Smoothie King Center has been turned into a New Orleans Mardi Gras scene!

"It's crazy, it feels like the playoffs." Randolph looked around, the frenetic atmosphere has already made the big black bear gear up.

Link didn't fight with Randolph. From the first second he entered the field, with the help of trainer Marcus Weir, he had been training on rollover jumpers from various positions. This is part of Link's warm-up plan today, and he hopes to get used to the feeling of shooting in the interference in advance.

Because he knew very well that this was destined to be an uphill battle. An easy vacancy opportunity may not appear easily today.

There is no need for the fans on the scene to set off the atmosphere, Link is also full of fighting spirit today. After all, just yesterday, he was still being madly sprayed by the media.

Korver's 60 percent 3-point shooting and the Grizzlies' loss pushed Link to the forefront.

From the self-doubt at the beginning, to the anger, to the current belligerence, Link's psychological changes are very obvious.

Tony Allen is right, keep this anger in your head and shut up everyone!

What's more, the Grizzlies' opponent in the next game will be the Houston Rockets, which Link is still haunted by. Before playing against the Rockets, Link didn't want his form to plummet.

"Hey, what happened to that kid today? Have you ever seen him so fierce?" Seeing Link frowning and training seriously, Randolph couldn't help but gossip next to Tony Allen.

"Hey, don't make any mistakes today, Zach. Otherwise, that guy might even eat you." Tony Allen smiled meaningfully. Today's game will definitely be very, very exciting.

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"The New Orleans Hornets and the Memphis Grizzlies, it's definitely a game of focus in the West.

The strength of the two sides is very close, so if nothing else, this should be a game that requires four fierce battles to decide the winner. "

Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley are already in place on the narration stage at the Smoothie King Center. T.NT TV station sent their ace commentary lineup, which is enough to show that they attach great importance to this game.

There are indeed many things to watch in this game. As a result, the Grizzlies are on the cusp recently. The fights and doping incidents have made fans full of curiosity about the Grizzlies. Second, the Hornets' Chris Paul is a high-profile superstar. And games with stars are always watched.

Thirdly, and most importantly, T.NT predicts that the game will be very intense and exciting. A wonderful game does not necessarily require both sides to be strong. As long as the two sides are close in strength, they can usually play a good game.

But for Barkley, there is a fourth point to watch in this game - Link.

"I'm sure you already know that, Kenny. Link seems to have become an integral part of the Grizzlies now, starting when Rudy Gay was injured. Now O.J. Mayo is Suspended, Coach Hollins chose to start him anyway. He is definitely one of the most talked-about players this year, and his career trajectory can be said to be ups and downs from the G League to the NBA."

Before the game, Barkley brought the conversation to Link.

"Yes, Link is a talking player. But in the last game, his performance was not very good. So now people are talking about one thing - whether Link's quality and the opportunities he has had are really good. Match? The Hornets' starting No. 2 Malcolm Belinelli is also a sharpshooter. If Link's defense is still the same as the last game, I believe Belinelli will not miss the opportunity."

Kenny Smith has never felt anything about Link. He always felt that if it weren't for that special skin color, Link would not have gotten so much attention at all. He is just an ordinary NBA player who is only mythical because of his skin color.

The attention he received and his strength did not match at all.

"Belinelli? Believe me, not everyone can be as lucky as Korver!" Barkley smiled, a man who can defend Kobe, can't he handle Belinelli?

While Kenny Smith and Barkley chatted, the starters were already in place. Although Link's performance in the last game was bombarded by the media, Hollins knew that Link's defense in the last game was actually not too bad. So today, he still lets Link start.

This is also Link's third consecutive start for the Grizzlies. Link looked at the opposite half. The Hornets are still very strong during this period.

It is Emeka Okafor who is about to jump the ball with Pau Gasol. Although this gentleman is not a superstar, his style is very tough.

The power forward is All-Star David West. Needless to say, he was a powerful helper around Paul George during the Pacers period.

The small forward is the still young Tevol Ariza. After Ariza won the championship with the Lakers, his value and popularity have risen all the way, and he is a very reliable 3D small forward.

The No. 2 position, also Link's opponent today, is Italian defender Belinelli.

Belinelli shoots consistently, is experienced and rarely makes mistakes. It can be said that he is a player similar to Korver's type. He was just annoyed by a shooter in the last game, and he met another shooter today. Link couldn't wait.

Of course, the Hornets wouldn't be the Grizzlies' biggest threat if it were just these guys. The real core of this team is the shortest player on the field - Chris Paul!

At this time, Paul had just come out of the shadow of injury and his state had fluctuated greatly, and his athletic ability had also deteriorated significantly compared to before.

Even so, he's still one of the best point guards in the league. A team with Paul and a team without Paul are completely two levels.

Link stared at Paul, who looked quite young. Link couldn't help sighing when he thought of the powerless Paul in the Rockets before crossing over.

Just as Link was staring at Paul, Paul just looked up at Link. The murderous aura in this guy's eyes even made Link feel a chill down the back of his spine.

The last person who could make Link feel uncomfortable with his eyes was Kobe Bryant.