Link panted and stood on the right horn, ready to answer.

However, before Link could move a step, the guy who had been expressionless for the whole game came up.

For the first time, Link found that he preferred the kind of opponent with a broken mouth. Although the trash talk they spray is annoying, at least it can make you feel his joys, sorrows, and fears, and let you touch his emotions.

And what about Leonard? Link was in opposition to him, and it felt as if he was playing against an emotionless machine.

Who would want to fight against an icy machine? Definitely not.

"Damn!" Link pushes Leonard away and starts running. Conley saw this and sent the ball to Link, who ran to the free throw line.

Link received the ball and shot directly, but before he could make a shot, he found a large hand with exaggerated proportions stretched out in front of him.

It's Leonard again, that guy is sealed again!

"Bang!"

Link misses the shot, Leonard defends successfully!

'Kawai defended very well today, he didn't rush the whole game and looked like he could easily keep up with Link. Link scored 20 points today, but shot just 41 percent from the field. There is no doubt that such a shooting percentage is significantly lower than Link's average shooting percentage. ”

Cole, who commented on the game, was the first time he had seen Link being so embarrassed, and Link had easily abused Richard in the past. Compared to Jefferson, he was really embarrassed today.

Leonard didn't roar or celebrate after defending again, but ran forward with his head down, ready to catch the ball, and started the next round of attack!

Link felt a lot of psychological pressure, and he finally knew why Leonard was called "The Terminator". A cold opponent can really plunge you into deep self-doubt.

In the end, Ginobili's throw made the game completely lose its suspense. With 32 seconds to go, the Grizzlies still trailed by 13 points and couldn't close the deficit to single digits.

After the goal, Hollins called for a halt to the game and then pulled off all the main players.

Inside the ATT Center, fans in San Antonio cheered. After being unexpectedly eliminated by the Grizzlies last season, Spurs fans are expecting the win. And now, they've waited for what they've been expecting!

Dozens of seconds passed after the pause, and the electronic beep sounded throughout the audience. The Spurs players raised their arms and cheered, they managed to hold on to their home stadium!

106-93, Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Holy City!

"The great San Antonio Spurs, they knocked the unstoppable Grizzlies to the ground! Won five straight games in the playoffs! The Grizzlies have not tasted defeat in the playoffs before, and they have been in double digits in three of their four games against the Nuggets. It was such an unstoppable beast that was crushed by the spurs. Congratulations, they took a significant 1-0 lead! ”

After Cole finished speaking, he looked at the data sheet in his hand. People say that Spurs have hardly changed every year, and they are still playing back and forth. But the changes for Spurs over the past year have actually been dramatic.

Duncan had 26 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals, shooting 60% from the field. It's hard to imagine that Duncan could still have the third spring of his career.

Last season, it was said that GDP would be gone, and Duncan, who was almost 40 years old, would also fall rapidly.

As a result, instead of declining, the No. 21 has improved a lot.

Danny. Green had 15 points and six rebounds, shooting 3-of-6 from three-point range and shooting 54.5 percent overall. Last season, the Spurs barely had that number. In the playoffs last season, Green only played in garbage time.

Burris. Dio had 7 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and another old monster. Don't look at him for scoring a lot, but he caused the Grizzlies huge problems today. Compared to last season's McDyce and DeJuan. Blair, Dio has clearly made the Spurs more flexible on both ends of the floor.

Of course, the most important thing is still the number 2.

16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block, limiting Link's shooting percentage to almost fall below 40%. One of the steals was snatched alive from Link's hands.

Last season, the Spurs didn't have the number three player who could play this statistic. And this year, the "Terminator" came out of nowhere and pinned the Grizzlies' offensive core.

Look at these players, look at the stats. Kerr can't help but feel that the Spurs have not changed much on the surface, but they are actually not the same team as last year.

The Grizzlies have not made any roster changes, but because of Randolph's form, the Grizzlies don't have much of an advantage on the inside. Although Link is filled, it is equivalent to Link and Randolph switching positions. So overall, the Grizzlies' overall strength is not necessarily stronger than last year.

The Spurs' 13-point victory was both unexpected and reasonable.

After the game, Popovich could finally pretend happily again. He was surrounded by reporters and became the biggest star in the audience.

"Tim? Tim's performance was so selfish, he actually scored almost 30 points alone, and I will have to criticize him later. ”

"Kawaii only scored 16 points, isn't that great? Please, don't ask me what I think of his performance, his performance is average. ”

"Link won the Most Improved Player award, not the MVP. Defeating him is not big news, so don't be surprised. ”

Once Popovich started running around with his mouth full, young reporters couldn't keep up with him.

Of course, the old man was proud, and as early as the end of the first round of the series, he asked Leonard to study Link well. Now it seems that all the preparations were not in vain. Leonard ate Link to death, and if he can keep it up, Popovich believes the Spurs can easily advance.

In the post-match press conference, Link's situation was completely opposite to that of Popovich. As beautiful as Popovich, as embarrassed as Link.

"Link, how much do you think Leonard's defense has bothered you? Does he defend you like you pestered Durant last season? ”

"It was your lowest score since the playoffs this season, and Leonard limited you to 10 points in a game during the regular season. Could this first-year striker be your nemesis? ”

"What do you think of Leonard's performance? Do you think the main responsibility for the team's loss today lies with yourself? ”

It was the first time Link had been so embarrassed at a press conference, after all, he wouldn't give others a chance to question himself most of the time.

But today, the performance was really bad.

Faced with these problems, Link dismissed the reporters in a very official tone and hurriedly left the media reception room.

No one knows what he's thinking, is it angry? Unwilling? Or does it not matter?

After the game, a reporter photographed Link being the first to change into civilian clothes and leave the locker room, the first to get on the team bus, and then fell asleep!

The reporters were stunned, did this guy think it was the Memphis Grizzlies who won the game today? Originally, the reporters were expecting to see Link go directly to the training gym to practice, but they didn't expect to take such a picture......

Everyone shook their heads, maybe after taking one of the most improved players, Link was already floating?

As a result, a lot of news about Link's first thing after losing was to sleep on his head flooded the Internet. Most fans shook their heads and regretted that at a young age, why did they live a life of soaking wolfberries in a thermos cup?

A Most Improved Award, why did he become so lax?

There are even a lot of media outlets that add fuel to the question, "That's why Link certainly can't be among the top stars." ”

And just like that, the first game of the high-profile Western Conference semifinals came to an end. Link's attitude and form have led most people to predict that the Spurs will easily go to Memphis with a 2-0 aggregate score.

In the next game, it is estimated that it will be difficult for the Grizzlies to turn over.

Slaughtered by the Spurs, the Grizzlies players were very frustrated. When Hollins returns to the hotel, he prepares to study the footage of today's game to see if there is a change of strategy for the next game.

At this time, it was already 12 o'clock, and Hollins made a cup of coffee and prepared to stay up late to work. Just then, there was a knock on his door.

Hollins looked out of the cat's eye strangely, who would bother him at such a late hour?

I don't know if I don't see it, I was startled when I saw it, and it was Link who stood outside the door of Hollins's room!

"Link? Is there anything wrong with this late hour? Hollins also thought that Link was trying to talk to him, and most young players would choose to talk to a coach they could trust when they encountered setbacks.

However, Link didn't complain like a woman, he opened his mouth bluntly, "Leon, share the game video with me." ”

"Uh...... What are you going to do? ”

"What else can you do? Is there a video of the competition? Of course, I studied the video of the competition. ”

"But it's 12 o'clock in the night, aren't you going to sleep?"

"Oh, I just slept in the car. Forgot? I was the first to rush out of the locker room and get in the car to go to bed. So now I'm in good spirits, Leon. ”

Link tilted his head, the game wasn't over yet.