105: Durant's expression changes (17/40)
In the fifth minute of the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies trailed the Thunder by four points. Rudy. Guy was stretchered off the court, and Link played against Durant. Overall, the situation is very unfavorable for the Grizzlies.
Link really didn't expect that he would one day face off against a super scorer like Durant, and facing Durant was completely different from facing stars like Kobe.
In the face of Kobe Bryant and others, Link's height and arm span will not be much worse, or even better than them. But the No. 35 in front of Link, that figure alone gave Link a huge sense of oppression.
Durant looked at Link with a very cold look in his eyes. Maybe it's because he's always been so calm, maybe it's because he doesn't look down on Link as an opponent at all. Indeed, once in the game with the Thunder, Link made James. Harden was at a loss. But Durant knows very well that he is not Harden! This guy can guard against Harden, but he may not be able to guard himself!
The Grizzlies attacked, and in the face of Westbrook's gambling steals, Conley easily broke through. But Conley's pull-up jump shot didn't hit, and this time the attack Grizzlies played too simply, and they were completely using their individual ability to solve the problem.
Conley's offense was a little impatient just now, and the impact of Guy's injury on the morale of the players was still huge.
Serge Ibaka protects the rebound and switches to the Thunder's offense. At that moment, Link felt his stress skyrocket. The showdown between him and the super scorer is about to begin!
As a time-traveler, Link knows exactly what heights Durant can reach in the future. Putting aside other things such as defection, Durant's personal ability is definitely at the level of a superstar. Whether it's scoring, defending, or teamwork, Durant can do his best.
His height and mobility guarantee his scoring efficiency.
The Thunder also deliberately hit the ball to Durant this time, because they knew very well that Durant had an absolute advantage over Link!
"KD attacked with the ball and he was very efficient against Guy today. Although Link is also a player with excellent defense, I am afraid that he will still be unable to stop Durant's scoring pace! On the podium, commentators were also almost overwhelmingly convinced that Durant could win.
Link's defense is strong in anticipation and confrontation, but a scorer of Durant's level is often you know what he wants to do next, and you can't stop him.
Durant made a few tentative moves with the ball, Link didn't dare to let him go too far, he was afraid that Durant would suddenly pull out. Durant then broke through with the ball, this guy took one step and two steps for others, Link didn't stop it in time for the first time, allowing Durant to exceed half a body.
Half a body is more than enough for Durant, and the Thunder's No. 35 shoots from mid-range, which has almost become his signature way of scoring.
Link hurried to block, but it was too late. At this time, Durant and Harden are not at the same level at all, and Durant's offensive stability is better, so even if he is slightly disturbed, his shooting will not be affected.
The basketball hollowed into the net, Durant looked at Link with a cold eye, and then quickly returned to the defense. Unlike the pompous Westbrook and the arrogant Harden, Durant during the Thunder period was more silent than the two, but the most deadly.
"The ball went in, it was beautiful, and the Oklahoma City Thunder stretched the gap to six points! Link's defense didn't cause much trouble for Durant. Guy's injury would make a huge difference in the game! ”
On the commentary stage, the commentators all sighed for Durant's beautiful score. As last season's scoring champion, it seems natural that Durant can knock out a draft loss.
But Link doesn't think so, and his mission is to help the team when Guy falls. No matter who the opponent is, he must find a way to defeat it!
"Next round! Link, interfere with his dribble! "Tony. Aaron whispered to Link as he ran past Link.
Link nodded, and then ran towards the front as well. He himself can't be afraid of it first, if even he is afraid, then he will lose today!
The Grizzlies attacked again, and there were just over four minutes left in the game. Although the six-point gap does not seem to be large, falling behind at critical moments still puts everyone on the Grizzlies under tremendous psychological pressure.
As soon as Link was in place, Durant, who looked like a poker face, was pasted up. It can be seen that although Durant is cold on the surface, he still attaches great importance to Link. He hasn't forgotten who the Thunder lost to the Grizzlies for the first time this season.
"Cut, learn from Duncan!?" Link snorted and began to run according to the tactics.
With Guy missing, the Grizzlies play a tight team offense. All five people on the field were running and covering. Link borrowed Gasol Jr.'s off-ball cover to get outside the three-point line and received a pass from Conley.
However, Durant still didn't leave Link, and almost the moment Link received the ball, Durant pressed again. Admittedly, Durant's defense is one of the best of all the opponents Link has faced so far.
"Link is completely locked up by KD and he can't move! I'll admit that Link played well, but the talent gap between the undrafted pick and the top pick is really huge! ”
The local Oklahoma commentator at the Chesapeake Energy Arena jokingly said that a draft pick playing at the level of an average starter is enough to make people feel amazing. But no matter how amazing it is, it's just an ordinary player.
Just as the Oklahoma City commentator climaxed himself, Link, who was considered "immobile", hit the ball to the ground and passed it to assist Tony under the basket. Allen made an easy layup.
It seemed like a mediocre shot, but it made the eyes of Durant and all the fans in the room widen. Because just now, Link, who was pressed, hit the ball from under Durant's crotch and passed it to the ground!
Don't talk about wearing the crotch, the most important thing is to pass it accurately. Tony. Allen received the basketball just right, which was undoubtedly a very valuable assist.
"This ...... There was an element of luck in this ball, Link's passing was risky, and few people would deliberately choose to pass the ball from under the opponent's crotch. It's a professional league, not street juggling. The Thunder still have a four-point lead and the situation is still under their control. ”
The Oklahoma local commentator began to awkwardly defend himself, he had just said that Link would be prevented from death, but Link immediately passed a good ball, and they did not admit it.
Link didn't actually want to pass through the crotch at first, but suddenly had an idea. However, the pass just now also made Link discover Durant's biggest flaw in this period - whether on the defensive end or the offensive end, this guy's center of gravity is too high.
Although Durant won the scoring title last season, and if history does not shift, he will be the scoring champion this season. But in reality, Durant is not fully mature in this period, and he has many shortcomings. Among them, the center of gravity is too high is one of the disadvantages.
With a height of 2.11 meters, he plays on the outside, although the mobility is the same as the outside, but the center of gravity will inevitably be raised.
On the offensive end, Link took advantage of that to wear Durant's crotch. And on the defensive end, as Tony . As Allen reminded, Link could also use this to make a big fuss.
The Thunder's offensive tactics are actually very simple, and most of them are Westbrook and Durant who use their individual abilities to solve problems. This time was no exception, Westbrook handed the ball to Durant as soon as it was halftime, and the Thunder are confident that Durant will continue to make that No. 0 draft pick pay the price.
Seeing that Durant continued to attack with the ball, Link breathed a sigh of relief. If Durant shoots off the ball, he probably won't have much to do. But if that guy hits with the ball, Link can take a gamble!
This time, Durant was even exempted from the tentative step, and he just did it with the ball with a poker face, and he really had a cold-blooded "death" temperament. Link's eyes were fixed on the basketball, Durant had just dribbled and took a step, and Link also made a move!
His height and reach may not have much of an advantage in interfering with Durant's shooting, but when it comes to steals, it's simply too much.
Link's keen sense of smell allowed his fingertips to successfully touch the basketball without a foul! With a force of his fingers, he poked the basketball away!
At that moment, Durant, who had always been cool, frowned.
"Let you fucking learn Duncan to play deep!" Link shouted happily in his heart, and the thrill of preventing the superstar gave him an adrenaline rush, as if it was better than scoring!
After poking away the basketball, Tony. Allen has run to the front. Link didn't hesitate and made a long pass straight from the back. The basketball landed pinpoint to Tony. Allen in his hands, and at this time Harden was far away from Tony. Aaron was still two or three positions away.
Tony. Allen easily split the buckle with one hand, making the Chesapeake Energy Arena instantly quiet!
"This ...... Link's steals and assists cut the gap to just two points...... He actually sabotaged Durant's offense, KD can't be careless! ”
The Oklahoma narrator was momentarily speechless when he saw his hero defeated.
After completing the assist, Link looked back at Durant, who had gone from a blank face to a gritted tooth. Looks like he's annoyed another superstar. And disrupting Durant's offense must have made Oklahoma fans and commentators very angry.
But it doesn't matter, because I'm already the villain.
Link & Tony. Aaron gave a light high-five, and the villain legion was about to start fighting back.