154: The possibility of making history
Not long after the second quarter started, the Grizzlies were leading the Celtics by 5 points. When "Big Baby" Glenn Davis and Garnett were ready to have a fierce hand-to-hand fight with the Black and White Bears, they found that they had no plans to join the hand-to-hand fight game at all.
The two consecutive attacks were all initiated by Link. The guy seemed to have transformed into a point guard who was 2.3 meters tall. Just now, the all-received pass he gave to Tony Allen near the center line was played back over and over again on the big screen.
At this time, Link had already sent 4 assists, and Rondo has only had 3 assists so far.
Link's omnipotence is well known. Unlike Evan Turner and others, Link is really omnipotent, not that he is not proficient in anything. Grant Hill ranked 12th in the NBA history triple-double list, which is just above Michael Jordan. Therefore, Link naturally inherited this omnipotent skill.
In fact, Link has obtained "quasi-triple double" data more than once this season, but that is not recognized by the league statistics after all. Even if you score 10 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds, it is not considered a triple double.
Link undoubtedly suffered a loss in this regard. His data in all aspects are very balanced, but none of them have reached double-digit numbers at the same time.
However, today, Rivers always felt a little uneasy. If those two rounds were just a flash of inspiration from Link, it would be fine. But if those two rounds were specially arranged by the Grizzlies, then Link would definitely have many assist opportunities today, and his data may rise faster.
But then I thought, a undrafted pick won a triple-double on Pierce? Well, I must have thought too much!
Rivers continued to stand on the sidelines to supervise the game, and the Grizzlies could not get such an easy opportunity every time. He believed that the opponent would eventually return to the low post and fight with the Celtics.
But now, the first thing the Celtics have to solve is their own offensive problem. Rondo's embarrassment on the offensive end is still vivid in his mind.
Just when Rivers was at a loss, Ray Allen stood up. In the first quarter, Ray Allen had almost no performance due to the match against Tony Allen. But now, seeing the team's score gap widen, Ray Allen knew that he must stand up.
After joining the Celtics, Ray Allen basically only plays a three-point shooting role. One-third of his shots come from outside the three-point line in each game.
Rondo once again made a wonderful pass, assisting Ray Allen to make a three-pointer. Tony Allen knows Ray Allen's playing style, after all, he was also a member of the Celtics' championship lineup back then. However, a historical shooter like Ray Allen is not the type of shooting that you can't score if you give him a little interference.
Ray Allen's three-pointer passed through the net, and the giant, who almost possessed the ball, pulled the Celtics back from the edge of the cliff.
This is the benefit of a giant team. There will always be one who can stand up with so many stars.
"The offense and defense of both sides are so exciting. Seeing that the Grizzlies were about to take shape, Lei Allen narrowed the gap with a three-pointer. This is the strength of the top team in the Eastern Conference. The Grizzlies must not think that they are stable!"
Link is very glad, fortunately, Ray Allen is not the kind of person who likes to squirt about trash, otherwise the smell of gunpowder on both sides will continue to heat up.
Ray Allen's goal made the Grizzlies very helpless. Their defense was already tight enough, but Ray Allen just seized a fleeting opportunity.
But Hollins was not nervous at all. How many goals could Ray Allen make like this? When his physical fitness declined, can he still be so stable?
The Celtics may know the best how good Tony Allen's defense is. At the beginning, Pierce had no choice but to take Tony Allen on the training ground. The Celtics' offense had already begun to struggle, and Ray Allen's three-pointer could only help the Celtics survive, rather than completely reborn.
This time, when Link held the ball again, the Celtics' defense changed. They no longer focused on defending the inside, but wanted to cut off Link's passing route as much as possible.
Seeing that there was no passing target, Link decided to attack by himself. Pierce came in a hurry and vowed to make that No. 0 pay the price!
"I thought you could only pass the ball! But I have to say that choosing a single is the most wrong decision you have ever made!" Pierce continued to chatter, and Link felt that he had never been quiet since he stepped into the arena.
Link plays Pierce on his back, and Pierce suddenly feels like he is playing in the finals, dealing with the damn No. 24
Others from the Celtics did not dare to double-team rashly. They had seen Link's achievements in passing in just two rounds.
Link pushed to the middle distance, shook his shoulder to the right, but actually turned left to prepare for a jump shot.
Pierce didn't shake the first stroke, but he jumped and blocked when Link turned over the second stroke! He was still thinking, Link had learned too much in his studies! Just learning the movements, he didn't learn the essence! It was too deliberate to form, but he couldn't shake his match!
However, after Pierce entered the air, his joking thoughts disappeared. Because Link did not take off at all, he just made a fake vote!
It seems that he has really learned the essence.
After flying Pierce, Link took a step forward and picked the basket and took action. This offensive habit is really similar to Kobe. If you compare the scenes of the two together, you will find that the similarity is extremely high!
All the Celtic fans opened their mouths wide, and the yellow-skin No. 0 actually beat Paul Pierce in one-on-one! Suddenly, the screams and scoldings related to Link in the stands suddenly disappeared. Their attitude towards Link from the beginning turned into fear!
NBA is a stage where the strong prey on the weak. If you want to be respected, then be afraid of them!
"Every good offensive footsteps, Link's every step was explained clearly, and the last moment was indeed full of confusion. Oh my God, what else can this guy do? No, to be precise, what else can this guy not do?" Mike Bryn was already stunned by Link's performance. This was the first time he watched Link play on the spot. But he can guarantee that Link's performance was better than what the media described!
Hollins off the court smiled from ear to ear. That boy Link was really becoming more and more like a star!
With 7 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds, Link added two points to his data sheet.
Only Rondo's versatility in the game can hire Link with his stats, but it is not certain whether Rondo's score can be double-digit.
In the following few rounds, the Celtics could not organize a decent attack at all. They were so defensive that they had no focus on their offensives, and they could only take action whoever had the chance.
Just now, Ray Allen made a three-pointer, and now he immediately became a "big baby" Davis' mid-range shot. None of them can score continuously, and every attack is intermittent.
Rondo also tried to play several times himself, but once he broke into the penalty area and was swept away by Gasol Jr., and another time when he was interfered with Conley's close-range jump shot near the basket, he failed to hit.
Looking at the league, Rondo's scoring ability is probably the ranks of the last.
The Celtics struggled to bite the score with sporadic resistance, while the Grizzlies played more and more smoothly.
Link and Conley's extremely high basketball IQ make the Grizzlies' offense silky and smooth. When a team has two offensive starting points, their offense diversity will become extremely rich.
This team, which is famously unable to attack, actually played well in front of the Celtics. The sound in the North Shore Garden became increasingly depressed. By the time the second quarter was over, the signs and slogans that insulted the Grizzlies players were even lost.
After the half-time game, the Grizzlies returned to the locker room with a 9-point advantage. The Celtics had a scoring record in the first half, but no one scored in double digits. This data can well show the Celtics' offensive state. They can't find the offensive strength, so they can only rely on everyone to try it.
This kind of team-style offense is not bad, but not stable enough. When the character player feels cold and the star cannot stand up, how can he play the offense?
On the Grizzlies, Link has scored 12 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds! Hollins' tactics fully demonstrated Link's versatility.
Having said that, although it is not new to NBA players who have a triple-double record in a rookie season, those who can do this are usually talented and high-ranking rookies.
For example, Oscar Robertson, who scored a triple-double in his debut in the NBA, was already a well-known star player in the United States before the draft, and eventually entered the league as the No. 1 pick.
But a undrafted pick has a triple-double record in the rookie season? Looking at the entire NBA history, it has never happened!
In the NBA season, the rookie season that is out of the draft, they usually only want to survive, and it would be good to have a stable playing time. Getting a triple-double is really a luxury.
But Link has the conditions to create history today. As long as he can play steadily in the second half, the triple-double is simply a handy one.
Mike Bring suddenly felt energetic, he might be lucky enough to witness history.
Chapter completed!