059: Bald Warning
Seeing Kirilenko flying out of the baseline, Link scored easily. On the Jazz's bench, a substitute in a training suit was ready to go.
This is the fourth game Link played with the Grizzlies, the first game. However, in just four games, there are already many voices that appreciate Link.
"He has the potential to be one of the most successful undrafts in history."
“He can be in the top five of the rookies this year.”
"There is no doubt that he will shame many lottery shows. Among the best rookies of the year, Link must have the name."
These reports may not be painful to others. But in the eyes of this year's rookie players, they are a little angry.
A undrafted draft and played less than ten games, why can he become the most popular rookie? Is it because of his skin color?
Therefore, many 10th-time rookies hope to compete with Link face to face. Let the media and fans see what is the best rookie.
In the last game, DeMarcus Cousins was fighting with this mentality. But unfortunately, his direct opponent was not Link, and the immature Cousins was tragically educated by Randolph.
But today, the Jazz rookie really has the opportunity to face Link head-on.
Gordon Hayward stared at the stadium and analyzed Link's every move. During college, Hayward led Butler to the NCAA finals, and he was hailed as the strongest white forward in the United States.
But after entering the NBA, Hayward's attention suddenly decreased. With Hayward's personality, he naturally would not pursue these fame and fortune. But he did not want to achieve nothing after coming to the NBA.
He really wanted to prove that he was not just awesome.
As the No. 9 rookie this year, Hayward has not tried playing until today. However, the undraft has already appeared and helped the team score first. Hayward knows very well that if Kirilianko doesn't work, then Sloan will increase his playing time.
At that time, he would not mind competing with the "best rookie" mentioned by the media. Of course, the result is already doomed, and Hayward will not allow himself to fail!
If Link can be one of the best rookies of the year, he should be!
Before they knew it, many 10-year lottery shows actually began to defeat Link, the unsuccessful draft. The lottery shows tried every means to chase the unsuccessful draft, and their relationship seemed to be reversed.
On the court, the Jazz's offense was also not easy. Hollins emphasized defense day after day before the game, which actually made Grizzlies players develop the habit of tough defense on the court.
Delong just pressed Conley close to him, and now he has received enthusiastic responses from Conley.
Deron called cover, and played pick-and-roll with Al Jefferson, trying to use his breakthrough to create opportunities.
This is a typical Jazz offense. From Stockton and Carl Malone to the present, pick-and-roll has been the usual way for Jerry Sloan and the Jazz.
According to tactics, after Deron breaks through, he should hand over the ball to Al Jefferson who is down. Jefferson is faster on the offensive end than most centers, and he has a range. This guy was called the "New Wolf King" during the Timberwolves' era.
But Deron did not follow Sloan's tactics. After using cover to break through, Deron suddenly stopped urgently and jumped into the game!
Mike Conley immediately reacted and blocked it. Sloan looked at the slightly fat defender on the court and was a little stunned. After decades coaching the NBA, this was the first time Sloan felt that his team had lost control.
Yes, the conflict between Deron and Sloan has exploded in full swing this season. On the court, Deron often does not listen to Jerry Sloan's command. He wants to prove that the team can score even if it does not follow Sloan's tactics. He wants to prove that the team is dominated by himself, not the gray-haired coach.
Unfortunately, under Conley's tight interference, Deron Williams' emergency stop jump shot came out of the box. He underestimated Conley's single defense ability, or he overestimated his scoring ability.
"What are you doing!" Kirilenko cursed in surprise. In the first few years of the Jazz, no player in the team dared to challenge Sloan's authority.
Before Kirilenko could react, Link had already run into the penalty area. Randolph and Gasol got stuck in the position when they saw this, and Link, who had a keen sense of smell, easily accepted the rebound.
"Coach Sloan seems to be very dissatisfied with the offense just now. I believe everyone has heard of the recent rumors. Deron Williams seems to have some opinions about Coach Jerry Sloan."
At this time, the commentator was still talking about the Jazz's gossip. Little did he know that the real danger was approaching the Jazz.
Link did not pass the ball immediately after grabbing the rebound because he found Deron was very treacherously beside Conley, waiting for an opportunity to steal.
So Link waved his hand and signaled his teammates to run forward, and he took the ball himself to pass the half.
"Link personally controlled the ball and passed half, and he had such ability. Every game, he would always give out a few wonderful passes. And this guy had a very clear mind on the court, and he knew exactly where to send the ball to is the right one."
Seeing Link stopping idly outside the three-point line, Kirirenko was helpless. Kirirenko, who had been suffering from injuries and illnesses, has lost the power of the almighty warrior since 2006, and his data also plummeted after 2006.
Nowadays, it is not easy for Kirirenko, who is 2.06 meters tall, to lower his waist and steal. And if the steal is not successful, it is unlikely that he will quickly turn around and chase after the defense based on Kirirenko's current athletic ability.
So Kirilenko could only watch Link hand the ball to Mayo, who was outside the three-point line without being disturbed.
After Mayo received the ball, he didn't care about it and shot. Just as Mayo was shooting, Link suddenly ran to the inside.
Kirirenko was caught off guard and slowed down one step. As expected, Mayo's three-point shot hit the box, and this guy's shooting percentage of only 40.7% was no joke.
And because it was a three-pointer, the goal was still a long rebound. Gasol, Randolph, Millsap and Jefferson couldn't grab the inside. Link happened to appear at the free throw line, jumped gently, and received the offensive rebound!
"Staying the position, what are you doing?" Old Sloan shouted in anger. It was very shameful for him to lose the defensive rebound.
As a third-place player, Kirilenko averaged 8 rebounds per game. But now, he was easily snatched offensive rebounds by a undraft.
"Link saved Mayo's bad move, and the Grizzlies still have an offensive opportunity. This guy's rebounding sense is so keen that he ran in almost the moment Mayo took the move."
After grabbing the rebound, Link immediately attracted the Jazz's contraction defense, and everyone thought he would be anxious for a second attack.
But Link slowly passed the ball out of the crack, as if he was deafing everything around him.
The one who received the pass from Link was Xiao Kangli. After receiving the ball, he easily made a layup without any interference. Because at the moment Mayo made a shot, Deron had already run to the frontcourt and wanted to play a fast break.
Little did he know that his actions would have shorted Conley and allowed the latter to score easily.
4-0, the Utah Jazz, who was originally thought to be able to handle the Grizzlies easily, scored two goals in a row by breathing. Moreover, the way they lost points was a bit funny.
With 2 points, 1 assist and 2 rebounds, Link scored a lot of data after only three rounds. Kirilianko looked at the back of No. 0 who was slapped with his teammates, and his eyes were filled with his shadow when he was young.
At this time, Kirirenko knew that he was bragging before the game. He told Sloan not to worry about the opponent's third position, but now the Grizzlies' two goals are directly related to the third position.
The Jazz's second attack, Deron Williams finally passed the ball to Jefferson according to Sloan's arrangement. However, Jefferson's forced layup after the down was ruthlessly blocked by Gasol Jr.
Gasol has few blocks, and no season in his career has averaged more than 2 blocks per game. But if you challenge him because of this, you will basically be in trouble.
The Grizzlies' defense has caused the Jazz's two major scoring points, Deron and Jefferson, and the glory of the Iron Blood Jazz in the past seems to be reappearing on the Grizzlies.
Link turned into offense the moment Gasol completed the blocking. He quickly evaluated the situation. Conley and Mayo were both walking into the inside, and it would be too crowded to cut in again.
So Link planned to pull out of the three-point line. If the two of them couldn't play, they could still handle it.
After receiving the blocked basketball, Conley wanted to complete the transfer attack by himself, but his teammate Mayo did not allow him at all and wanted to run parallel to him. This guy had already reached the point of being crazy to try to make data. Two offensive players ran in parallel, invisibly, actually trying to squeeze his own offensive space.
There is "Pig Teammate" Mayo on the left, Delong on the right, and Millsap behind him, and Conley knows that if he makes a layup directly, it will be a lot of danger.
Conley is not greedy for merit. Mayo wants to score and he can give it to him. But Conley is very clear that when moving at high speed, it is easier to make mistakes at close range. He must seize this opportunity and cannot make mistakes in passing!
So Conley turned around slightly and then threw it hard!
"There was no direct attack on the box, nor did he pass the ball to the outside of the three-point line, and Link received the basketball!"
Since Conley made a temporary decision to pass the ball, the timing was not so accurate. When receiving the basketball, Link was one step away from the three-point line.
Link didn't expect that he could actually get the ball. He just wanted to help Conley and Mayo open up space. However, he didn't know that the basketball actually flew into his hands.
As a role player, one loses the draft and has scored three consecutive goals, which is so happy.
The opportunity for offense and defense conversion was fleeting, and Link didn't want to waste it. He gritted his teeth and simply started shooting one step away from the three-point line!
When watching football, he had seen Hill perform a great shot at a very long distance more than once. So he also tried it himself.
"Great!" Kirilianko couldn't help but curse in Russian. He originally wanted to wait for Link to come to the door within the three-point line, but he didn't expect that the guy would actually make a shot directly.
He stretched out his long arms and blocked it, but he only repaired the problem. Hollins also stood up. If he couldn't fight this fast break, it would definitely greatly damage the team's morale.
The basketball drew a rainbow arc in the air and just fell into the net. The FedEx Arena suddenly exploded, and Link's debut at home did not disappoint these fans.
"I entered, a bold attempt, and when it also received a generous reward. 7-0, the Jazz were beaten 7-0 as soon as they came up. Coach Sloan called to stop the game, and he couldn't bear it anymore!"
After scoring the goal, Link wanted to celebrate, but he quickly ran to the bench and sat down as if he was escaping.
Because he saw that Randolph had raised his "bear paw" and was about to rub his head.
Chapter completed!