Fifty-Eight: This Is Not an Accident

When Link played warm-up today, he found that there were actually many fans cheering for him in the stands.

Some of them held up their big avatars, and some raised their own plaques. In Memphis, Chinese Americans have always been a minority. Therefore, many of those fans cheering for Link are local Memphis fans.

Unlike some other cities in the United States, Memphis has always been ethnically inclusive. At the beginning, it was all kinds of third-rate and nine-religious people who redeveloped Memphis. Therefore, Link will not be ostracized by fans in Memphis.

Most importantly, of course, the Grizzlies won all three games Link played in Memphis. Moreover, Link's performance is also very brilliant. His hard power is the main reason why Memphis fans love and respect him.

This is the NBA, the world of competitive sports. As long as he can help the team win, he is a good player.

Link took a deep breath, and he suddenly had a sense of mission. So many people are looking forward to his performance, he can't let this group of supporters down.

It felt like he was back in Oklahoma, back on the blue team. There, he wasn't some bottom player, he was the hero of the team and everyone loved him.

And now, in Memphis, Link found that feeling too. He's eager to fight for the Grizzlies, for the fans here. Win for the Grizzlies as a starter!

Link didn't know yet that he had been targeted by a malicious Russian at this time. Kirilenko assured his coach Jerry Sloan that he doesn't have to worry about the 3 today.

In Kirilenko's view, the reason why this undrafted pick can get so many points in the first few games is because the group of people defending him is too inept.

Daniel Granger is too underestimated, Kreza and the King's Garcia defense is too weak. And today, Kirilenko believes he can end Link's miraculous performance.

He's just a shooting star that will fall soon, and Kirilenko doesn't mind being the one who makes the shooting star fall.

Jerry Sloan naturally believed in his subordinates very much. He knew better than anyone how powerful the AK47 was. Sloan then arranged the tactics of double-teaming and shrinking, hoping that the team can do a good job in interior defense and curb the performance of Gasol and Randolph.

In the case of the Grizzlies losing Rudy Gay, as long as the "Black and White Bears" can be prevented, the Jazz will win half.

Father Sloan is full of self-confidence. He believes that his Jagged Legion cannot worry about the playoffs! Their goal is to challenge the defending champs, not some damn playoff berth.

On the other hand, Lionel Hollins also made the final arrangements for the players before the game.

"Defense! We must win today on defense!"

Link wasn't surprised to hear Hollins say that, since he requires his players to win almost every game on defense.

In fact, in the 82 regular season games, it is impossible for the coach to have something new every time he arranges tactics. So far in the regular season, the coach's shouting has been enough to make the players' ears grow calluses.

In the 2008 playoffs, every time the Celtics paused, Doc Rivers's remarks repeated over and over again: "Take reasonable shots, not personal heroism!"

Or some coaches simply don't speak like "Zen Master" Phil Jackson, and don't speak unless they have to.

"Link!" Just when Link was secretly complaining about the boring shouts of the head coaches, Hollins suddenly called his name.

"I'm here, coach."

"After the game starts, I need you to actively shoot on the offensive end and look for opportunities. The opponent will definitely focus on other people's defense. This is your chance and ours. Everyone, look for Lin in the open space. K. Let's build an advantage first, and then the game will be easy to play."

finally,

Lionel Hollins said something different than before.

Link hurriedly nodded in agreement, and then moved his body. Isn't Hollins trying to make himself the main attacker?

This opportunity to get a high score cannot be missed.

※※※

"The Utah Jazz have played very healthy this season. In fact, health issues have been an important factor in limiting the Jazz's progress in previous years. But this season, the Jazz's starters are very safe. Al Jay Folsom, Paul Millsap, Kirilenko, Raja Bell and Deron, it was their full attendance that gave the Jazz a peace of mind in the top eight."

Before the start of the game, the players on both sides stood at the designated positions, and the commentators also started their work.

Since today is not a focused battle, T.NT also did not send their ace "Team of Amusement". Steve Kerr and Reggie Miller were the commentators for this less-than-popular game.

"That's right, the Jazz's lineup this year was built to kill the Los Angeles Lakers, which shows the ambition of coach Jerry Sloan. In the face of a complete Utah Jazz, the Grizzlies may have to spend a lot of money. It takes strength and a little bit of luck to be undefeated at home."

Reggie Miller is not looking down on the Grizzlies, but the gap between the two sides' lineups on paper is on the bright side. The Grizzlies injured Gay and could only start with a "temporary worker" with a short ten-day contract. Although the "temporary worker" has performed well in the last three games, the three games cannot fully determine the strength of a player.

Before the game started, Kirilenko glanced at the slightly emaciated Chinese striker opposite him. He looked unremarkable, nothing special about him.

If it wasn't for Gay's injury, he wouldn't have been able to climb into the starting position. Kirilenko is equivalent to dealing with a substitute, which is even more popular in Russia.

At the same time, the referee threw the basketball, and the little Gasol Grizzlies, who had a larger wingspan, won the ball. At that moment, the cheers from the FedEx Arena shook.

Link moved forward aggressively, making his first NBA start, and Link was still a little excited.

Conley encountered Deron Williams' frantic close defense on the perimeter, and he used his strong physique to interfere with Conley's organizational efficiency.

During this period, Deron was still one of the best point guards in the league. A point guard who can "eat, sleep, and beat Paul" is not so easy to break through.

From the 1 position, the Grizzlies' offense has been severely challenged. Randolph had to come out to cover for Conley, but Deron's ability to circumvent the screen was equally strong.

Link still remembers that if history does not shift, Deron Williams will turn against Sloan this season, leading to the disbandment of the Jazz.

But it's precisely because Deron wants to challenge Sloan's authority that he's playing incredibly strong this season. Deron is averaging 21.3 points per game for the Jazz this season, the most of his career.

Under the entanglement of Delong, Conley did not have a chance at all. So he chose to pass the ball to Gasol, and the Spaniard got to the position early.

But at the moment Gasol received the ball, Al Jefferson also forced up like crazy.

Jefferson is an insider who is more offensive than defensive, but in fact the Jazz chose him to replace Okur and Boozer because he is tougher on the defensive end than the above two.

Jefferson is strong and strong, and the confrontation is not down. Gasol, who is not yet complete, is also a little powerless under Jefferson's rough defense.

As for O.J. Mayo, the small guard who scurried around the court like a headless fly even made Sloan want to laugh.

As a high-potential guard who averaged 18.5 points per game in his rookie season, Mayo's scoring average this season has fallen to 11.3 points per game. Average hit rate, only a measly 40%.

The Jazz's No. 2, Laga Bell, was a ruthless character who was sent to defend Kobe, and it was more than enough to deal with Mayo, who had long lost his mind on basketball.

Watching the Grizzlies' struggling offense, Jerry Sloan laughed smugly. The situation of the game was exactly as he had expected. A seriously biased team like the Grizzlies could not survive under the Jazz's iron-blooded defense.

Seeing this, Sloan touched his chin, Gasol, Randolph, Mayo and Conley were all seen dead... But he seemed to be missing someone.

As a result, at this moment, Gasol Jr. hit the ground and passed the ball. A yellow figure flashed into the penalty area and caught the ball to the basket.

The yellow figure raised the basketball, and Kirilenko, who was chasing the defense, immediately flew to block. Unexpectedly, it was just a layup fake. After Kirilenko flew out of the baseline, No. 0 of the Grizzlies just casually tossed it and put the basketball under the basket lightly.

Until the Jazz dropped points, their players didn't realize what was going on. It is clear that the four most threatening Grizzlies have been watched to death. How did they score?

"Beautiful basket fakes, Link is as mature as ever. As a rookie, he actually swayed Kirilenko, who has 10 years of NBA experience!" Reggie Miller applauded, although the ball counted It's not very exciting, but it shows Link's excellent basketball IQ vividly.

"Damn, it's too careless!" Kirilenko, who was thrown out by Akira, couldn't help but blushed as he watched Link complete the goal. He promised before the game that Sloan wouldn't have to worry about the opponent's 3. As a result, the first goal of the game was scored by the opponent's No. 3...

This slap in the face is too direct. Kirilenko must admit that Link's cut without the ball just now was very sudden. Also, the timing of the off-ball screen with Randolph is just right.

A team face to a "temp" pick-and-roll? This kind of thing is basically impossible in other teams.

Sloan covered his head, and the team was actually stolen by the opponent's least threatening point. But it doesn't matter, he believes that Kirilenko, who is serious, will not let that kid succeed again.

Everyone on the Jazz thought the loss was an accident, but only Hollins knew that -- it was just the beginning of the show.

Link gave a high-five to Randolph who was covering himself during the retreat. Kirilenko at this period didn't seem to be as strong as he thought.