589: Axis
Link's dunk show made the fans' scalp numb. In a trance, James seemed to see the shadow of the Lakers No. 24.
What's going on with this guy? Even compared to the regular season, his strength has improved a lot!
Although the game has only been played for a few rounds, Link has already left an impressive performance for people.
In addition to this dunk, the scene where he defended James and Wade in a row was also classic.
From the beginning, Link treated this as his home court. He fulfilled what he said to Wade yesterday, "This is everyone's territory!"
In the following rounds, Wade and James finally began to make achievements. Although the Grizzlies' defense is still tight, after all, James and Wai are also superstars. Moreover, they just won the last game and were in good shape.
The Grizzlies are still surrounding the two "inside lines" Link and Gasol, and are very efficient. With Wade and James activated the offense, Link and Gasol's outstanding performance still keeps the Grizzlies ahead.
The Heat didn't close the score until the rotation lineup was Ray Allen. Ray Allen's performance in the finals was quite good. Even if a star of his level was not lukewarm in the whole regular season, he could not take him lightly in the finals.
However, Ray Allen was never the one who could score 51 points in a single game in the playoffs. It was all he could do to close the score.
After the first quarter, the Grizzlies scored 32 points! There is no doubt that this is a performance that is far higher than the Grizzlies' average score in a single quarter.
Although the Heat's 25 points were a lot, they were still in a backward position under the unscrupulous attack of Link and Gasol.
"The Grizzlies' offense is great, and Link and Gasol are asking for it in the three-second zone. Their passes and cuts and picks and rolls are also very exquisite. If the Heat don't find a way to protect the penalty area, then the Grizzlies will likely have to open the score in the second quarter."
Mike Bryn looked at the data of the first quarter. Link scored 10 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in a single quarter, which was quite comprehensive. As a number four, Link was well-rounded. Gasol also scored 7 points in a single quarter, and the two teamed up to get more than half of the Grizzlies' score in the first quarter.
As long as Link can successfully break through or Gasol can form a singles opportunity, the Heat's defense will basically be silent.
On the Heat, Wade and James scored 8 points and 9 points respectively, with a shooting percentage of 40%, and their efficiency is not bad. However, compared with the Grizzlies' offense, it is a bit unappreciable.
The Heat fans were collectively silent during the break during the holidays, and they completely lost the momentum they had when they first started.
Who would have thought that the Grizzlies would play in a small lineup, and they played so well.
"Chris, after the second quarter starts, you continue to play.b, you have a few more minutes of rest." Off the court, Spoelstra could not be as silent as the fans.
The team is in trouble, but he has to speak.
First, Spoelstra allowed Anderson, who appeared in the first quarter to rotate, to continue playing in the second quarter. On the surface, he wanted to give Boshdo a few minutes to rest. But in fact, he wanted to try Anderson's ability to protect the frame.
In the second half of the first quarter, Anderson's low post defense was very successful. But at that time, most of the main players of the Grizzlies had already left the court to rest. So now, Spolstra hopes that Anderson will try to deal with the Grizzlies' main lineup.
Just 7 points behind in the first quarter, the Heat haven't given up yet!
During the break during the holidays, the cheerleader girls' performances were in a cold show, and the fans on the scene were not in the mood to appreciate the graceful figures on the court.
The Heat fans did not come back to their senses until the beeps sounded after the start of the second quarter.
Mike Bryn glanced at the lineup on the court and noticed the change in an instant.
"Chris Anderson continues to play in the second quarter as Bosh continues to play. It seems that the Heat really want to protect the penalty area."
The Heat fans seemed to see a glimmer of hope. Although the data was not amazing, the guy was definitely a crucial component in the Heat.
Since Anderson joined the Heat, the Heat have achieved 35 wins and 1 loss. The game that lost was exactly the Grizzlies.
In the just-concluded Eastern Conference Finals, Anderson made 16 of 18 shots, with an astonishing 88.9%. Although the number of shots is not many, it also indirectly shows that the "Birdman" will not waste any hard-won opportunity.
Anderson also has a very magical rule of winning with 4+ rebounds. From January 30 to now for more than half a year, the Heat have won all the games with more than 4 rebounds in a single game.
He is indeed not the most dazzling star of the Heat, but he is an indispensable part of the Heat.
A small striker may not be of great significance, but without it, no matter how powerful the pistol is, it cannot be fired.
Anderson was loved by Heat fans. Seeing him continue playing in the second quarter, the American Airlines Center seemed to be regaining its glory again.
Link looked at Anderson with colorful skin and curled his lips. Do you think you can defeat the Grizzlies by changing to a pure center? I’m delusional!
The second quarter began soon, and this time the Grizzlies were the first to attack.
Chris Anderson is indeed better than Bosh in the confrontation, and Gasol can no longer easily sit in the inside like he did in the first quarter.
Without having to go around the front to defend, it means Anderson can assist in defending the penalty area at any time. It seems that in an instant, the Heat's inside barrier rose.
James believes that under the double blockade between himself and Anderson, even Link will have a decrease in scoring efficiency!
As long as you see Link and Gasol die, the Heat can regain their advantage!
Seeing that Gasol could not take the position steadily, Conley passed the ball to Link.
Link raised his hand and made a few gestures, then prepared to break through.
"Pretending to be a ghost!" James secretly complained in his heart, since he wanted to play singles, what's the point of gesturing?
This scene reminded James of his Eastern Conference Finals opponent, Lance Stephenson. That guy likes to show off his gestures very much, but in fact, his gestures are not even understood by the head coach.
Link used a very beautiful body change direction to shake out a trace of acceleration space, so he immediately seized his position and prepared to accelerate.
Today, James was overwhelmed by Link's breakthrough. Even a player as strong as James, it is difficult to figure out which direction Link is going to break through.
Although Link took the lead again, James was not impatient. He knew that Chris Anderson would rush to Link as soon as possible.
Anderson is also a fearless guy. Now even if Jordan is rushing towards him, he will not be stage frightened.
Just as the encirclement between James and Anderson was about to form, Link hit the ball to the side and passed it!
Outside the three-point line on the right, Iguodala arrived. At this time, Wade, who was defending him, was trying to get rid of Butler's cover.
Everyone thought the Grizzlies' offensive focus was still on the inside, but in fact, they had already changed their strategy!
Link just made a gesture to direct Iguodala to run!
Iguodala felt good when she received the basketball. Although she hadn't played for a while, this did not make his body "rust", but instead further strengthened Iguodala's desire for victory.
Taking advantage of the opportunity that Wade had not blocked it, Iguodala made a decisive move with three-pointers!
How can a small lineup not have three-pointers?
Iguodala made a three-pointer for the first time since her comeback. He did not waste Link's wonderful pass. He had reached the finals, and Iguodala had no need to pretend to be dead.
By the time Wade raised his hand to block it, the basketball had already flown into the air.
The reason why Wade failed to keep up with Iguodala was because he thought Link would continue to hit the basket. Even if he wanted to pass, he would pass it to Gasol.
But Link's passing field was significantly larger than Wade thought.
The basketball finally hit the front of the basket, but did not pop out directly. Instead, it rose up and jumped into the net when it fell down again.
A three-pointer hit, the Miami Heat widened the gap to double digits as soon as the second quarter was in the first quarter.
Chris Anderson looked confused. What about the promised attack on the inside line? It was a waste of expression.
No one knows whether the Grizzlies have some plans or Link’s temporary intentions. After all, in the first quarter, the Grizzlies basically play in the inside.
Now it is suddenly started to pass the ball to the outside, maybe it is just a coincidence.
17 seconds later, the Memphis Grizzlies made a comeback. The Heat's attack just now ended with James' 1 of 2 free throws. The Heat temporarily narrowed the gap to 9 points, but still did not escape danger.
Wade did not dare to slacke in this time. He followed Iguodala all the way, and could not be reversed by a guy who had just recovered from injury.
Anderson still defended the inside, and he believed that the Grizzlies would definitely hit the basket.
Sure enough, Conley hit the ball outside the three-point line and put it to Link who cuts inside the basket. After receiving the ball, Link went in and killed it.
James straightened his chest and prepared to fight with Link. However, just after Link ran out, the basketball flew out with less than two steps.
"What!?" James turned his head in surprise and passed the ball again?
On the other side of the court, Jimmy Butler easily threw away Old Miller. After receiving the basketball, he didn't have to do anything, and he could attack the frame with just two steps!
Link's pass and Butler's cut were abrupt, which led to Anderson's lack of preparation and a little hasty to make up for defense.
Moreover, Anderson is 35 years old after all, and is far less explosive than his athletic ability in the Nuggets. His slightly insufficient horizontal movement and no longer terrible bounce make his repair defense look weak and powerless.
In the end, Jimmy Butler pushed the ball forward with Anderson's defense. At the same time, the referee blew a whistle and Anderson made a defensive foul!
Jimmy Butler got a chance to play 2+1!
"How did Link find Jimmy with a beautiful pass? The Grizzlies' offense became more abundant in the second quarter. In the first quarter, Link and Gasol's score accounted for more than half of the team's score. But now, the Grizzlies' offensive center of gravity seems to have shifted again. Their small lineup seems to have no offensive corners!"
After Mike Bryn finished speaking, he looked at Link's current data again. 10 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, this guy is omnipotent today, and this is the rhythm of getting a triple-double.
Link is simply the axis of the Grizzlies today. He can lead by example from defense to offense. His performance in the number four is simply amazing.
After Butler was knocked down, Link rushed up and pulled him up immediately.
Now, all five positions in the Grizzlies' small lineup have been opened. Their ideal offense has been fully formed.
The rest depends on whether the Heat can stand the beating.
Butler stood on the free throw line and made a steadily shot. Just as the second quarter began, the 12-point difference suppressed the Heat.
Chapter completed!