Rudy Guy's shoulder injury eventually broke out.

This season, Guy has been playing in two thick shoulder guards. He is more resilient to physical confrontation than before, and I don’t know if it is related to the injury. These details may indicate that Guy’s shoulders have not been cured 100%. Or, his shoulders have been very fragile after the operation.

To be honest, although Guy has lost his core position this season, his performance has never been considered bad.

Average 17 points per game and an overall shooting percentage of 45.5%. Except for occasional games, there are basically no major problems. Overall, the flaws do not cover up the merits. This year, when Link and Guy are connected to each other, the Grizzlies can usually play very strong offenses.

Finally, I saw that Link and Guy could basically coexist, but suddenly something like this happened.

A scorer who averaged 17 points per game once again said nothing. However, compared with last year, Guy's injury this year put more pressure on Hollins and the Grizzlies.

Last year, Randolph played the most glorious season of his Grizzlies' career. After Guy was injured, Randolph transformed into a super insider. 20+10 was as easy as cutting melons and vegetables for him. Even in the playoffs, Randolph could not stop him.

Hollins also relied on a system dominated by the black and white bears to pull the Grizzlies to the Western Conference Finals without Guy.

But this year, Randolph's decline in physical condition was visible to the naked eye. It is difficult for you to ask him to stand up and kill everyone like last year.

To put it more bluntly, Randolph is no longer reliable this season. If the Grizzlies want to continue walking far, they must find another fulcrum outside Guy and Randolph!

So, as the espn report said: "The Grizzlies' burden is now on Link's shoulders."

Link is the focus of the Grizzlies this season, but he has never been a very core style of play. Randolph, Guy and Link, it is hard to say who is the core. When it comes to the Grizzlies, people think of the "skinned" lineup, not a single person.

But now it's different. Link can no longer "thrive" behind Randolph and Guy. He must stand up now and accept the most severe test without fully growing and maturing. Especially on the offensive end, at this stage, Link can be said to be the only scorer for the Grizzlies.

Randolph declined, Gasol's defense was greater than the attack, Tony Allen's skill tree was completely wrong, Conley has never been a scoring point guard, but Link, he will serve as the offensive core in every game.

What does it mean to be the real offensive core? It means that a player will suffer the most stringent defense and the most vicious foul. Of course, he will also bear the most tremendous pressure.

This is different from occasionally scoring 40 points and 30+ points. Being the core of the offensive means that you must ensure that you have strong firepower output in every game. In other words, those games that Link only scored more than 10 points this season are all unqualified under current standards.

This is the difference between being a core and not being a core.

If the Grizzlies encounter Waterloo this year, Link will undoubtedly become the target of people's confrontation.

What a player's strength is not enough to just look at the data. His team-leading performance is the hard indicator to prove his strength.

Love is always 30+20 in the Timberwolves, but no one thinks he is a super insider. Why? Because the Timberwolves can't even enter the playoffs. The team's performance is not good, and no matter how good your data is, it is not convincing.

The same is true for Link. When everyone is good, he can be the All-Star and he can be highly praised.

But now I suddenly give you a team to take over and take all the pressure on you. Can you still play?

If the Grizzlies can go further, Link's position in the league will be further improved. But if the Grizzlies end up being eliminated early, he will bear all the consequences.

This is how much honor and praise athletic sports have to endure.

Your efforts are proportional to your gains.

However, under such public pressure, most people are not optimistic about Link.

"The Grizzlies' fantasy bubble has burst, and Rudy Gay's repeated injuries will become the last straw that will crush the Grizzlies."

"Let Link lead the team to make a big splash in the West? Come on, he's just so good this season because he's playing with Zach and Guy."

"Now the whole world will know how ridiculous Link's identity as an All-Star forward is!"

"Zach and Guy helped Link block most of the pressure and trouble, but now when Link is going to face all this alone, to be honest, I don't think he can withstand it."

After the training, Link sat in the locker room after taking a shower, his phone was full of reports of doubting himself.

But Link didn't grit his teeth and stomp his feet and said I'm going to hit you group of Sabbies in the face.

Because he is really under pressure, he doesn't know how much he can do. This season, Link scored only 10 points in the game with the lowest score. With Guy and Randolph sharing the pressure on scoring, there is nothing wrong with Link scored only 10 points.

But if an offensive core scores only 10 points, you can think of how big a disaster it is. Just like Durant scores only 10 points in a game, do you think he performs well?

"What's wrong? You won't be scared by squirting, are you?" Tony Allen walked out of the shower room and saw Link being depressed, so he sat next to him.

"Scared? Of course not. You know, I never care what the media says about me."

“But what?”

"I'm afraid that the team's performance will decline because of me." Link clenched his fists, his joints turned white due to force. It's not easy for a man to tell others about what he's afraid of.

"Idiot."

"Ha!?" Link was confused. Why was it different from the script? At this time, as an old senior, shouldn't you make an inspiring and inspiring speech? Shouldn't we join hands to reach the peak of our lives? Why is it done when you are so stupid?

"Even if the team's performance really declines, it's not your fault. Also, I trust your ability. Not only me, but all of us are willing to hand the ball to you and let you handle the offense. Think about it from another perspective. On the one hand, Rudy's departure has increased your pressure to score. But on the other hand, you have also obtained more resources and more opportunities to use mobile phones. Don't think so much, boy. Work hard to do what you should do, and other things will naturally have results."

After saying that, Tony Allen changed his clothes and left. In the empty locker room, only Link was left.

Tony Allen is not unwilling to care about Link, but he knows very well that a man will have to let go of other people's hands and walk a path by himself one day.

Link is already in the second grade. According to Tony Allen's expectations for him, it is time for him to let go of other people's hands and learn to move forward by himself.

The All-Star forward is not that fragile.

At 9 p.m. that night, when the security guards at the Federal Express Arena were inspecting and patrolling, he found that the training hall was still making a "bang bang" sound caused by the collision between basketball and hardwood floors.
Chapter completed!