432: Already a superstar
Josh Smith is very quiet now, Al Horford and Josh have been teammates for 6 years, but he has never seen Josh have such quiet games.
Most of the time, Josh's trash talk will make Horford frown slightly. As a teammate, Horford feels that Josh's trash talk is a bit too much in every game.
But today, Josh didn't say a word on the court. This was the first time Horford saw this.
It seems that this time, Josh was really defeated
At this time, the game had reached the seventh minute of the fourth quarter. The Atlanta Hawks struggled to support it, but were still 12 points behind the Grizzlies. Since the first goal in the first quarter, the Hawks have been suppressed.
Josh Smith's performance today was a slump. He scored 21 points until now, but his shooting percentage of only 37.5% made his 20+ score meaningless.
Throughout the game, the impatient Josh made a crazily blacksmith at mid-range. The more fiercely Link squirted trash words, the more powerful Josh made a squirt. So, as long as the trash words were sprayed well, it could really make the game twice the result with half the effort.
At this time, it was the Grizzlies' offensive round. Azelley, who came on the bench, just sent the baseline ball, and local Memphis fans cheered and excited.
Because of this offense, Link will likely break Josh Smith's highest scoring record in the season!
As of now, Link has scored 29 points. The Atlanta media were probably stunned. Josh clearly had a good defense, but Link scored a high score in an understatement.
They didn't figure it out, Josh's defense is indeed good, but Link's offense is even more powerful! It's like a good sprinter, he can't get past a racing driver who drives a sports car.
Can you say that the sprinter is not fast enough? No, he is fast enough, but his opponent is faster!
This is like a dimensional reduction strike. Josh wanted to kill the enemy beyond the level, but the outcome was very ugly.
Josh looked at Link approaching and couldn't help but clench his teeth.
"What is your highest scoring record this season?"
Link's comment on Josh's social media began to echo in his mind at this moment.
Josh no longer wants to win the game and beat Link now. He just hopes to stop this guy and keep him from scoring more than 30!
But if you are afraid, you will come. As soon as the Grizzlies passed halftime, Link sat in the middle distance, stuck Josh with his back, and then raised his hand to ask for the ball!
Link didn't plan to show mercy, he wanted to play Josh Smith with his back!
Double-team? Larry Drew really dared not make such a arrangement. He used double-teaming against Link in the third quarter, and Link scored 4 assists in a single quarter, which allowed the Grizzlies to perform in multiple points. It was also during that time that the Grizzlies completely widened the gap.
Josh was isolated and had to face Link's destruction alone. This was the first time Josh Smith was frightened when facing an offensive player!
Link did put the team's victory first at the beginning and did not deliberately score. But now seeing that winning is only a matter of time, Link certainly has to deal with his personal grudge with Josh. : :
After holding the ball on his back, Link first observed the Hawks' defense. After finding that there were no double-teams, he boldly took action!
Josh's defense is as tough as ever, but the back-to-back match between outside players is not based on strength.
Link shook his shoulders flexibly and turned over and was about to take action. Josh, who was tense and nervous, rose up like a spring. And the more severe you press the spring, the more it bounces.
When Josh Smith jumped high, he realized that Link did not make a jump shot at all, and his feet were still firmly stuck to the ground!
Being cheated again!
Of course, Link wouldn't let him waste his energy when Josh jumped so hard. So after clicking Josh, Link took the initiative to lean on and shoot in the confrontation.
While the basketball jumped into the net, the referee's whistle also sounded. Josh Smith made a defensive foul, Link was effective for 2 points, and he also had to get extra penalty!
Link waved his arm hard, and now he has scored 31 points. If he makes another free throw, it will be 32 points! Break Josh Smith's highest scoring record in the season, easy!
Josh Smith lowered his head, put his hands on his hips, and still said nothing.
Horford felt a little heartbroken when he saw Josh like this. This was the first time he hoped that Josh would say something, even if he said anything casually.
But when Link stood on the free throw line, Josh Smith still didn't say a word. Link made a steadily free throw and scored his 32nd point in the game.
Josh Smith was completely destroyed by Link.
"The gap has become 15 points, and the Hawks have almost no chance. A few days ago, the Los Angeles Lakers spent a whole game to close the 16-point gap. The Hawks have only 5 minutes left now, and they don't have Kobe Bryant."
Sure enough, after Linka hit the penalty, Larry Drew immediately called for a stop to the game. After the timeout, the Grizzlies left Conley to stabilize the situation on the court. Stevens announced to the world that he had won the game. Mobile::
In the next few minutes, the Hawks, who had lost their temper, were unable to organize any decent counterattacks. Teague and Horford scored sporadically, but the Hawks could not fill the gap of 15 points.
Hawks' sixth man Louis Williams scored two three-pointers after he came on the court, but soon Nick Young, the Grizzlies' drawer, returned to the spotlight and stabilized the gap at 15 points.
With 1 minute and 22 seconds left before the end of the game, the Hawks were still 14 points behind. Larry Drew waved his hand and replaced all the main players with the game and officially entered garbage time.
"Josh Smith's score in this game was 21 points, and his shooting percentage was less than 40%. He only scored 2 points in the fourth quarter. There is no doubt that he lost a lot today, and Link suppressed Josh in all aspects. It was not a wise decision to challenge the Western Conference Player of the Month."
"Yes, in addition to that, Link really broke Josh's highest scoring record this season today. Link not only criticized Josh on the Internet, but also did practical things on the basketball court. I think in the future, anyone who wants to challenge Link must consider it clearly."
On the commentary stage, Hubby Brown and his partner both turned on the "blowing forest mode", while the enthusiastic Atlanta media were sighing.
"It's the fourth day today, and there are 10 days left. The first round of the NBA All-Star voting will be released. Do you think this time, Josh Smith is likely to be selected?"
"It's hard," Hubby Brown shook his head without hesitation. "James, Anthony, Bosh, and Garnett Josh want to make the All-Star, and you have to win the competition with these people. However, compared to them, Josh has no advantage. Compared to Josh Smith, I'm more interested in Link's All-Star prospects this year. I think Link's votes should be very high this year."
Hubby Brown narrowed his eyes as he looked at the No. 0 that soared into the sky this season.
Last season, Link surpassed Griffin and was selected for the Western Conference Stars, which surprised everyone.
But this year, if Link's votes are too low, it will be a surprise.
Let’s see what Josh Smith ends up. Nowadays, no player can challenge Link.
That guy is now a real superstar.
The results of the first round of All-Star voting on the 14th are really exciting.
While speaking, the electronic beeps resounded throughout the game. 103 to 90, the Memphis Grizzlies beat the third-place Hawks in the East by 13 points at home, ending the Hawks' magical 7-game winning streak.
Link scored 32 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists in the whole game. In addition, the Black and White Bears also scored 18 points respectively. The Grizzlies suppressed the Hawks in all aspects, and this victory deserved.
After the game, facing the camera of the reporters, Josh Smith no longer had his former arrogance.
He put his waist on his waist, his eyes were dull, and he thought for a long time before finally saying something.
"The best Western Conference Month is just a late performance. Their last game lost to the Spurs, which made me misassess the situation. He is very strong, but we won't sink into it."
Chapter completed!