Rudy. Guy's shoulder injury eventually erupted.

This season, Guy has been playing with two thick shoulder protectors. He is more reluctant to fight physically than before, and I don't know if it has something to do with the injury. These details may indicate that Guy's shoulder has never healed 100%. In other words, his shoulder has been very fragile since the operation.

One thing to say, although Guy has lost his core position this season, his performance has not been bad.

He averaged 17 points per game and shot 45.5 percent overall. Except for the occasional game that is more wavelike, there is basically no major problem, and overall it is flawed. This year, when Link and Guy are connected to each other, the Grizzlies have typically been able to play very strong offense.

It was hard to see that Link and Guy were basically able to coexist, but suddenly something like this happened.

A scorer who averaged 17 points per game said no again and was gone. It's just that compared to last year, Gay's injury this year has put more pressure on Hollins and the Grizzlies.

Last year, Randolph had the best season of his Grizzlies career. After Guy's injury, Randolph turned into a super insider, and 20+10 was as easy for him as chopping melons and vegetables. Even in the playoffs, Randolph was unstoppable.

Hollins also relied on the system dominated by the black and white bears to pull the Grizzlies to the Western Conference Finals without Gay.

But this year, Randolph's dip in form due to poor physical condition is visible to the naked eye. It's hard to ask him to step up and kill like he did last year.

To put it more bluntly, this season is no longer reliable with Randolph. If the Grizzlies want to go further, they must find another fulcrum outside of Guy and Randolph!

So, as the ESPN report said, "The Grizzlies are now on Link's shoulders." ”

Link has been a key target for the Grizzlies this season, but he hasn't been too central to play. Randolph, Guy and Link, it's hard to tell who's the core. When it comes to grizzlies, people think of the lineup that "makes you peel your skin", not one person.

But now it's different, and Link no longer has the means to "thrive" behind Randolph and Guy. He must stand up now and face the most severe tests before he has fully matured. Especially on the offensive end, at this stage, Link is arguably the Grizzlies' only scorer.

Randolph slied, Gasol defended more than attacked, Tony. Allen's skill tree is crooked, and Conley has never been a scoring point guard...... Only Link, who will be the heart of the attack in every game.

What does it mean to be the true heart of the attack? This means that a player will suffer the tightest defense, the most vicious fouls. Of course, there will also be the greatest pressure.

It's not the same as occasionally scoring a 40-point triple-double and occasionally scoring 30+ points. Being at the heart of the attack means you have to make sure you have a strong firepower output in every game. In other words, Link's games this season, which only scored more than 10 points, are all substandard by current standards.

That's the difference between being a core and not being a core.

If the Grizzlies suffer Waterloo this year, Link will undoubtedly become the object of scrutiny.

The strength of a player is not just based on the data. His achievements in leading the team are the hard indicators to prove his strength.

Love is 30+20 at every turn in the Timberwolves, but still no one will think he is a super insider. Why? Because the Timberwolves can't even make the playoffs. The team's results are not good, and your stats are not convincing.

It's the same with Link, he's an All-Star starter when everybody's good, he's got a lot of credit.

But now that you're suddenly given a team to take and all the pressure on you, can you still play?

If the Grizzlies can go further, then Link's status in the league will be further enhanced. But if the Grizzlies end up out early, he'll suffer all the consequences.

This is competitive sports, and no matter how much honor and praise you get, you must endure a lot of tests.

Your efforts and your gains are directly proportional.

It's just that under such pressure of public opinion, most people are not very optimistic about Link.

"The Grizzlies' dream bubble has burst, Rudy. Guy's repeated injuries will be the last straw that will crush the Grizzlies. ”

"Let Link lead the team to fight their way out in the West? Come on, he's only been so good this season because he's playing next to Zach and Gay. ”

"Now the whole world will know how ridiculous Link's identity as an All-Star starting forward is!"

"Zach and Guy helped Link block most of the pressure and trouble, but now when Link is going to face it all alone, to be honest, I don't think he'll be able to withstand it."

After training, Link sat in the locker room after taking a shower, his phone full of reports of questioning himself.

But Link didn't grit his teeth and stomp his feet and say I'm going to punch you Sabi in the face.

Because he does have pressure, he doesn't know how far he can go. This season, Link's lowest scoring game has only scored 10 points. With Guy and Randolph sharing the scoring pressure, Link had nothing wrong with scoring just 10 points.

But if an offensive core only scores 10 points...... Think about it, you know what a disaster. It's like Durant only scores 10 points a game, do you think he played well?

"What's wrong? You're not going to be scared of being sprayed, are you? "Tony. Aaron came out of the shower and sat down next to Link when he saw Link sullen.

"Afraid? Of course not. You know, I never cared what the media said about me. But ......"

"But what?"

"I'm scared that the team's results will slip because of me." Link clenched his fists, his joints turning white from the exertion. It's not easy for a man to confess what he's afraid of in front of others.

"Stupid."

"Huh!?" Link was stunned, how is it different from the script? At this time, as an old-timer, shouldn't you give an impassioned motivational speech? Shouldn't we work together to reach the top of our lives? How can you be stupid and it's over.

"Even if the team's results do drop, it's not your fault. Also, I trust your abilities. It's not just me, it's all of us, I'm willing to put the ball in your hands and let you handle the offense. If you think about it from another angle, on the one hand, Rudy's departure has increased the pressure on you to score. But on the other hand, you also get more resources and more opportunities to make a move. Don't think about it so much, boy. Try to do what you have to do, and the rest will naturally have results. ”

With all said and done, Tony. Aaron changed his clothes and left. In the empty locker room, Link was the only one left.

Tony. Aaron doesn't care about Link, but he knows very well that a man will have to let go of someone else's hand and find his own way.

Link is already in second grade, according to Tony. Aaron's expectation of him, it's time for him to let go of other people's hands and learn to move forward on his own.

All-Star starting forwards aren't that vulnerable.

At 9 p.m. that night, when the security patrol of the Federal Express Arena was patrolling, he found that the "bang" sound caused by the collision of the basketball and the hardwood floor was still coming from the training hall.

The security guard smiled, believing that the Memphis Grizzlies would not fall. Randolph stepped up last season, and this season, Link won't let them down......