976: Shot that waited 14 years
For the second time in a row, Link crushed the Warriors' dream of winning.
Kerr only feels his scalp tingle now, and the last player he knows of who can forcibly change the trend of a game like this is called Michael. Jordan......
Even when it was no longer easy to score, Link was able to change the situation, which couldn't help but cast a shadow on Cole's heart.
At this point, Cole suddenly began to doubt one thing in his mind - can Link really be defeated?
The thought was fleeting, but it terrified Cole. He hurriedly shook his head and shook the terrible thought out of his head.
Link is just a player, as long as he is a professional player, he will experience failure!
Why, then, couldn't it be the warriors who gave him defeat?
Kerr then picked up the tactics board and yelled at the demoralized players, "Cheer up, did we lose the game?!" Not yet! ”
After just two rounds, the Warriors players were demoralized. Whoever has two key attacks that must be advanced is destroyed, and they will feel uncomfortable.
Therefore, Kerr needs to regain the confidence of his players.
"In the last 2.3 seconds, the Grizzlies didn't have much time to attack. As long as we can defend the ball, the game will go to extra time! The Grizzlies are tough, and they are not an easy opponent to beat. But we also have to tell the grizzlies that we haven't given up so easily along the way! ”
Kerr is cheering up the players, and he's cheering himself up at the same time.
While Link's streak of stellar performances has caused the Warriors to miss game-killing opportunities time and time again, Kerr believes the Warriors still have the advantage.
First of all, in the last 2.3 seconds, the Grizzlies are not as threatening as before. Kerr must admit that Green's malicious elbow did give the Warriors an advantage. Otherwise, the game may not be able to play this step at all.
Now Link has an injury, and although he doesn't know how serious the injury is, what Kerr can know is that Link's shooting is affected.
Next, if the Grizzlies insist on using Link's shot, then Link's certainty will not be as big as usual.
What if the Grizzlies used someone else to shoot the ball? That's even better!
Link's individual ability allowed him to ignore the defense and score a number of brilliant shots. But this ability is not available to everyone.
In Kerr's opinion, in the last 2.3 seconds, the Warriors are likely to be able to defend it. If the game goes into overtime, the Warriors' advantage is even more obvious.
Link's injury became more and more painful, and he couldn't have put up such a miraculous defensive performance in overtime.
As long as there is no Link to mess with, it will not be a problem for the Warriors to kill the Grizzlies!
Everything still seemed to be good, and Cole himself convinced himself. He is confident that his team can get through it.
On the other side, on the Grizzlies bench, the Grizzlies players were much calmer than their opponents.
Joggle didn't yell like Cole because instead of passion, the Grizzlies need nothing now, on the contrary, what they need now is composure.
"Link, how do you feel?" Georg looked at the grinning Link, and his heart ached.
This season, the Grizzlies have been tormented enough by injuries. But no matter how injured the grizzly bear is, it won't fall. The reason is simple, they still have Link.
If Link also falls, then the grizzly bear is really embattled.
"I'm fine, it's just a little painful. Time is running out, let's finish this game first! Link waved his hand and motioned for Joggle to set up his tactics first.
Those who believe Carter is ready, in addition to Link and Carter himself, include Jogger.
He's been prepared for this situation for a long time, and he knows that Link can't shoot efficiently right now because of his injury, so he's ready to let another guy step up.
"Vince, this time, you're our first choice!" Joggle looked up at the gritty Carter.
So far in the game, Carter has scored 18 points, which is a new high in this year's playoffs. Among them, Carter played an efficient 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the three-point line.
Today's game started in the first quarter, and Carter played very well. He led the Warriors to a bloody game during the rotation, and in fact, if it weren't for Green's elbow, it shouldn't have been like this......
It's no exaggeration to say that Carter is the most certain point for the Grizzlies outside the three-point line today. There is nothing wrong with choosing him to perform the final throw.
The 38-year-old and 125-day-old veteran nodded silently, didn't say a word, and replied short and direct, "No problem!" ”
After saying that, Carter looked at Link.
This young man led him all the way here, once again to the threshold of the finals.
Now, it's time for him to push Link.
Joggle began to lay out his tactics, and everyone listened attentively.
The cacophony of electronic beeps quickly pierced the chilling air in the Oracle Arena, but to Carter's own surprise, he was calm and not nervous at all. Not even, there is not even a feeling of excitement.
It felt very different from when he was faced with the same situation in 2001.
Yes, for this moment, for this chance of redemption, he waited 14 years, a full 5124 days.
Every training session since 2001, Carter has worked on the same position he threw in the first place. Again and again, day after day.
He's been preparing for so long, how can he be nervous?
He is no longer the high-spirited young man he was at the beginning of the millennium, he is now more mature, more stable, and calmer!
"In the final moments, players from both sides stepped onto the pitch! Huh? We saw that the Grizzlies were on the side of the pair at the same time as Vince. Carter and Andre. Iguodala! In other words, now all five people on the Grizzlies court have the ability to shoot three-pointers! It seems that Coach Jogel wants to give the Warriors more distraction! "Mike. Brin didn't care about Carter and Iguodala, who seemed to him to be just bait.
Although Link is having some shooting problems right now, Mike. Brin believes he's still the Grizzlies' only option.
Cole thought the same thing, he didn't care about the others at all. Andre Iguodala is a key player, and the Warriors were desperate to get him last summer. Who knows, Randolph actually took the initiative to take a pay cut to leave Iguodala for the Grizzlies......
But it must be said that Iguodala was never a scorer.
As for Carter...... That's even more unlikely. There is no coach in this world who would choose a veteran who is almost 40 years old to shoot a killer ball!
Even for the Spurs, their key ball is now handled more by Leonard than by Duncan.
Cole then waved his hand and stared at Link!
Carter looked at the pitch and watched the score on the big screen. As in 2001, once again, the decision between life and death on both sides was in his own hands.
But everything is different from 2001 again, this time, he has a man by his side who can always work miracles. All he had to do was score a goal.
That's it!
Iguodala stands on the sidelines, ready to serve the sideline. Before the referee even started the game, Link felt like he was being wrapped in dumplings.
"Look at how the Grizzlies will play this time with the sideline ball, the sideline ball is a worldwide problem, and the Warriors' sideline ball was destroyed by Link just now."
Mike. No sooner had Brin finished speaking than Iguodala sent the ball out of the sideline.
Link and Conley took away the defense, and Harris made an off-ball screen for Carter. In everyone's stunned gaze, Iguodala handed the ball to Vince. Carter in his hands!
"Didn't the Grizzlies' tactics come out!? It was Carter catching the ball! "Mike. Brin feels like his head is going to explode, is it really going to be overtime?
Carter didn't think that much because he knew that everything was going according to plan!
After receiving the basketball, Carter walked to the bottom left corner of the left corner with the ball he was most familiar with. The place that brought him nightmares and motivation at the same time.
Livingston chased after him in a panic, he really didn't expect Carter to receive the ball. Livingston was unprepared for this!
Carter was unusually calm, knowing he didn't have much time, but he calmly made a shot feint when Livingston pounced.
He succeeded, and Livingston was tricked into flying past Carter. Carter took advantage of the time difference and jumped up to shoot.
The moment he made his shot, the rebound glowed red.
Fourteen years ago, in the same position, Carter missed out on perhaps his best chance to play in the Finals.
But today......
The ball goes in, the whistle blows. Vince. Carter raised his shooting right arm high, confidence and composure written on his face.
"The ball is in, the ball is in! Vince. Carter, Vince. Carter kills the game! ”
A shot that had been waiting for 14 years was finally put in the hoop......