In the first quarter of the game, the Grizzlies relied on Link and Tony. Allen's excellent flank defense managed to stabilize the situation. Although they couldn't pull the gap away, it was a success to be able to enter the second quarter with a two-point lead when they were almost 10 points behind.

Link was undoubtedly one of the brightest players, and before the game began, Pacers coach Jim Bush was the brightest player. O'Brien was even indifferent to Link. But now, I believe his mind is full of the figure of the yellow-skinned player.

Link's posture on both ends of the offensive and defensive ends of the game in the first quarter didn't look like a draft loss at all. He is old and decisive, and he is always confident in his judgment.

Hollins also found that he had signed the right person this time. If Link's performance can be maintained like this, then the team's No. 3 position will no longer be a weakness.

Jeff. That guy in Austin, as expected, never works with garbage players.

In the second quarter, Link continued to come off the bench. In the seventh minute, his mid-range jumper put him up for the 10th point of the game. Ten points is not much, but it is a milestone moment for Link. Because this is the first time in Link's short four-game NBA career that he has scored in double figures.

"Look at him, he scored in double figures in Game 4 in the NBA. Can you find a better draft pick than him? No way. ”

"yes, yes," Van Gundy immediately chimed in. Then inadvertently, Van Gundy saw Thabit with a confused look on the bench, so Van Gundy continued to add.

"Not to mention losing the draft, Link may be better than some lottery picks."

Since the Grizzlies were in complete control of the rhythm in the first quarter, the Grizzlies played easily in the next three quarters. Link is more of a playmaker, cover, and defensive player on the field, and doesn't get many shots.

But his all-round performance still touched all the Grizzlies fans who watched the game.

It wasn't until the last two minutes of the fourth quarter that Link used a layup to stabilize his game's scoring record at 18 points. By this time, the Pacers were already 15 points behind the Grizzlies.

Chasing 15 points in two minutes, in fact, it is not difficult for many NBA teams to do this. Link remembers that in the era he traveled through, the 15-point gap was not a problem at all. A wave of offensive small climaxes, the point difference can be back.

But in 2010, on the Pacers who like to play at a slower pace, it was not so easy to chase 15 points in 2 minutes.

What's more, the Grizzlies are still a team known for their defense.

So, Link's goal actually sent the game into garbage time. Until this time, Lionel. Hollins will Sam. Young came on in place of Link.

Sam. Yang finally got a chance to play, but he wasn't happy at all. Nonsense, he was squeezed into garbage time by Link to play, can he be happy?

"Well done Link, you've exceeded your task. Keep up the good work, the next contract is beckoning. ”

After Link was off the field, Hollins went up and hugged him. With 18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and as a 10-day contract bench, can you ask him to do better?

Don't underestimate 18 points, Rudy. Guy played 40 minutes today and scored 18 points.

"I'll do my best, as long as you give me playing time." Link was in a good mood, after all, he beat Paul who was drafted with the 10th pick today. George.

If it was when he first came to Memphis, Link would still be nervous. Now, he can be sure that his Memphis career will be a hundred times more successful than in Houston!

Sitting on the bench, Link and Randolph and Tony . Aaron said with a smile. It looks as if he's been fully accepted......

In the end, when the live beep sounded, the score was fixed at 104-90. The Pacers actually allowed the Grizzlies, who are not good at offense, to score 104 points, of which Link's 18 points played a crucial role.

As soon as the game was over, a large number of reporters and photographers stepped onto the court. Link wasn't the first time he had seen this formation, so he wasn't surprised. But let's be honest, there are far fewer reporters at Conseco Arena than in Houston.

During this period, neither the Grizzlies nor the Pacers received as much attention as the Rockets. Even so, the Rockets are actually a team that doesn't even make the playoffs.

Just when Link thought he didn't have to be harassed by reporters today, he was suddenly stopped. Link also looked behind him in surprise, he thought that Rudy. Guy or Mark. Gasol is behind his back. As a result, there was nothing behind him.

People came here to interview themselves.

"Link, what do you think of such a good performance in his debut with the Grizzlies?"

"A simple question." Link secretly commented in his heart, and then slowly replied, "Thank you teammates, thank you coach, thank you parents." ”

"Uh......" The reporter was stunned for a moment, isn't Link Chinese-American? How can the way the question be answered in such a socialist way......

"So, beating George, who was the tenth pick, does it make you feel that you are being treated unfairly? You're stronger than him, but you're almost only paid one percent of him. ”

"It's okay, soon, I'll be paid about the same as his." Link knew that the reporter was trying to provoke himself and George, but he didn't jump into the pit.

After spending some time in a "big show" like Houston, although Link lost all $50,000, it was not nothing.

At least in that city full of hype and lies, he learned how to deal with journalists.

And just like that, Link made his Grizzly debut perfectly. On the other side, Pacers coach Jim. O'Brien's mood wasn't so good.

Facing the cameras of reporters, the experienced but already precarious veteran of his career sighed, "I believe that after today, no one will think that Link is the kind of player who has no impact on the game." ”

※※※

Despite the big win at Indianapolis, the Grizzlies players didn't have much time to celebrate. Because tomorrow, they will continue their back-to-back away journeys. The team's next stop is the icy Toronto.

Before crossing over, as a person who hadn't even visited the province where he lived, Link was naturally very curious about Toronto. However, seeing his teammates take out the thickest cotton jackets or down jackets one after another, Link couldn't help but feel a little more nervous.

Although he didn't go to Toronto, living in that era when the Internet was extremely developed, Link also knew that the temperature in Toronto was very low. And as a southerner, Link has always been very afraid of the cold.

Watching Link stare at himself with pitiful eyes, Tony. Aaron knew he couldn't run.

"It's okay, I've brought a few extra coats, and if you don't have enough clothes when you get to Toronto, I'll lend you them. In Toronto, be careful not to get the flu. If you miss a game because you have a cold, it will be more than worth the loss. ”

"Hehe, I didn't say I wanted to borrow your clothes to wear." Link laughed as he began to look at Tony. The Adidas down jacket on Aaron's body is gone.

Just as Link was beaming at the fact that he had been tricked into getting his clothes to wear, he received a phone call while sitting on the team bus.

When he was in the locker room, Link had actually received a lot of phone calls. After all, his debut was so successful, there will definitely be a lot of people calling to congratulate him.

Upshaw's mother, Martha, and former teammate Joan. Brockman, coach Connell, good friend Rachel. Of course, how to miss Paul. What about George?

It is said that Jim. O'Brien was furious when he returned to the locker room after the game, and he also criticized George, who only scored eight points today. Therefore, it was inconvenient for George to meet Link face-to-face, so he could only congratulate him by phone.

But seeing this call at this time, Link didn't have to answer it to know that he wasn't calling to congratulate him. Because for the person who called, the victory in this game was simply insignificant.

"Hey, hello, Jeff. Mr. Austin. ”

"Well done, Link. I watched the whole game and your performance was perfect. By the way, tell you something. ”

"Say it." Link smiled, and he knew that Austin had called him, and it wasn't as simple as congratulating him.

"Maybe you don't know that this game has just ended, and your head coach Lionel. Hollins called Grizzlies general manager Chris. Wallace. Then, Wallace called me again. You know what? They want to sign you another 10-day contract! ”

Although he had already guessed the result, Link was still extremely excited when it was actually achieved.

"Do you know what that means, Link? According to league rules, after a team signs two short-term contracts with a player for 10 days, if they want to keep him, they must sign a guaranteed contract for at least the entire season! In other words, as long as you continue to play well on your next 10-day contract, you'll no longer be a temporary worker, but a real NBA player! ”

"Real NBA player ......," Link muttered the word, then looked out the window.

The night view of Indianapolis, he will never forget.