091: Who, exactly? (3/40)
Link's steal wiped out the Hornets' victory, and he is now the number one public enemy in the entire Smoothie Kings Center.
Although Paul didn't finish shooting just now, with no one to defend him, Paul believes he can solve the problem today. However, all of this was ruined by that 0.
Link walked off the pitch to a mass boo from more than 10,000 fans. The voices were all directed at Link, but Link felt extremely honored. After all, the more boos you get away from home, the more trouble you're causing on your own.
Link is happy that he was able to stop Paul from scoring, and he's happy to break the dream of Hornets fans to win, it's his job.
Hollins didn't expect this game to end like this, and when he was laying out his defensive strategy, he didn't expect that it would be Link who would end up making the steal. If it weren't for Link, God knows if he would have had a chance to set up overtime tactics here now.
"Well done thanks to you." After Link was off the field, Hollins gave him a solemn tap on the shoulder. At this moment, it seems as if Link is the star of the Grizzlies, not Guy.
While Link's key steal just now was beautiful, the Grizzlies players couldn't be happy for long. After all, the game is not over yet, and if the overtime is lost, then Link's steal just now will be worthless.
Therefore, not long after the joy, the whole team fell into a tense fighting atmosphere again. However, so far in the game, there is not much that the coaches of either side can actually restrain each other. If it had, the game would not have gone to overtime.
Therefore, what kind of extra-time can be played depends on whether the players play well on the spot. In this overtime, Hollins had to rebalance the order of the players' shots.
Today, Rudy. Guy is the player with the most shots in the game, and he has taken 23 shots. However, with Ariza's defense, he only managed to hit 8 goals. Guy took nearly 10 more shots than Paul, but only scored two more points than Paul. There's no doubt that his inefficiency is affecting the Grizzlies' win percentage.
Hollins thought about it for a long time, and finally decided to exercise his right as head coach, "Overtime, Rudy, I need you to attract more offensive firepower." Link, Conley, you two look for a chance. Remember, we're going to have to play more efficiently than the previous four quarters to win the game. ”
Hollins is clear that Guy is no longer the Grizzlies' main point of attack, Link and Conley are. Guy nodded lonely, he had no reason to refute.
After all, his hit percentage is there today. With a 34.8 percent shooting rate, even he is not satisfied.
Guy battled Ariza for four quarters, and he proved to be unable to turn the tide today. In this case, he also believes that there is no need for him to continue to cling.
To win, give up the opportunity to your teammates.
The electronic beep sounds, and the Smoothie King Center is bustling with activity again. Hollins didn't say anything more, he looked at the five starters in front of him, especially Link. Clapped his hands and pointed to the court, "The opportunity is on the field, we have to grab it ourselves." ”
At the start of overtime, Gasol Jr. still fought for the Grizzlies to get the ball first. For the regular time of the fourth quarter, the outcome of the scrum didn't seem to matter. After all, at the end of the day, everyone gets an average of two first strikes.
But in extra-time, the outcome of the scrum was crucial. The outcome of the scrum will determine who will attack first, and the first team will have a good chance of gaining the initiative in one of the few five-minute matches.
You must know that the two sides will go to extra time, which shows that the strength is close. And a close game, even a one-goal lead, is quite crucial.
In overtime, the Hornets' defensive focus was still on Rudy. Guy. After all, he was the player who took the most shots in the game, and he had the most probability.
Hornets coach Monty. Williams would really like Gay to continue playing singles, as he believes Ariza will keep Gay's shooting percentage down today.
Sure enough, Conley immediately passed the ball to Guy after getting to the three-point line. Guy made a triple threat with the ball in his hands, and it looked like he was going to continue the singles!
But just then, Guy suddenly passed the ball over Ariza's head. In the midst of everyone's stunned gaze, Link ran out and caught the basketball at the free throw line.
After receiving the basketball, Link didn't make any adjustments and went straight to the jump shot! His movements were so fluid, even Belinelli's defensive movements were not so fluid.
Link's mid-range shooting is very stable, which makes people feel at ease when they see it. Sure enough, the basketball hollowed into the net, and Link once again gave the Hornets a major blow in an unpretentious way!
"Rudy. Guy actually passed the ball and it was his first assist of the day for Link. If he could pass the ball in the fourth quarter, it is estimated that the game is over by now. But that's okay, it's not too late to calm down. Rudy. Gay assists Link on a shot, which is undoubtedly a result that the Hornets didn't expect. And Link has already scored his 22nd point of the day, yes, 22 points! ”
Barkley deliberately highlighted Link's score, Kenny. Smith scoffed at this, believing that it was the stars who could dominate overtime.
Link's steal just now? It's just good luck.
Paul vaguely felt that something was wrong, could it be that the Grizzlies were going to use Link as their main attacker? If that's the case, the team will have to change their defensive strategy. Link is indeed strong, but if Ariza is used to guard Link, he is not so magical.
With this conjecture in mind, Paul first assisted David. West hit a shot to level the score. Subsequently, he decided to keep an eye on the Grizzlies' offense.
This time, however, it was no longer Link who scored the Grizzlies, but it was Paul's opponent Xiaoley.
Link did get the basketball this time, but he didn't shoot it himself, but played with Conley.
After handing it over, Link took advantage of the situation and stopped Paul. Conley then seized the opportunity to shoot a long-range jumper and hit the basketball.
Conley was the most efficient player of the game today, not one of them. Not only does he have a higher shooting percentage than Link, but he even has a higher shooting percentage than Gasol Jr. and Randolph Jr.
After this shot, Conley has already shot 9 of 11 today, scoring 22 points with a terrifying shooting rate of 81.8%!
Now Paul is in trouble again. He let his opponent play such an efficient game, and naturally felt that he couldn't hold his face. Maybe the Grizzlies didn't want Link to play from the start, and their real focus in overtime was Conley?
Guy, Link or Conley? The Hornets couldn't find a defensive focus for a while. But thankfully, the Hornets' own offense remained efficient. Paul and West's mid-range shots hit the basket frequently. In 2011, mid-range shooting remained the favorite offensive option for most teams.
At the end of five minutes, the two teams were still tied, and no one could stop anyone!
With 23.8 seconds to go, Lionel Hollins used his last timeout. Paul is so strong that he deserves to be one of the best point guards in the league.
When Guy stopped shooting, when the Grizzlies improved their offensive efficiency, Paul still had a way to make the Hornets bite the score, and this is the difference between a good point guard and an average point guard.
So, the game came to this fateful moment again. 112-112, the two sides drew again. Only this time, it was the Grizzlies who had the last offensive possession. They have the opportunity to kill the game, and it's up to them to see if they can take it.
"The Grizzlies are a team that is known for their defense, and they may be able to defend the shootout, but they may not be able to execute the shootout." During the pause, the conversation naturally returned to Kenny. Smith and Barkley hands.
"Pull it down, Kenny. None of the things you predict today are reliable. You say the Grizzlies can't stand up to the Hornets, and they go to overtime. You said Link would do nothing at a critical moment, and he ended up ruining the Hornets' dreams with a steal. Now, you're saying the Grizzlies can't execute the lore. Instead, I was a little anxious about what would happen later. ”
Barkley stared at the Grizzlies' bench, and during overtime, Guy didn't shoot, and all 10 points came from Link and Conley. But that doesn't mean the Grizzlies will end up with Link and Conley to finish the game.
After all, in the fourth quarter of the game, Guy also hit a key three-pointer. And it's not out of the question that Hollins could play the ball to the black and white bears.
Who exactly will the Grizzlies choose to make the final shot? It's a problem, and one that the Hornets need to figure out right now.
In fact, Hollins is also struggling. This may be the most important decision for him today, so he does not dare to be careless.
With Conley? With Guy? Or with Randolph? All three of them have their own strengths, but they also have their own disadvantages.
Conley and Randolph were too strong defenders, and Guy didn't have a good hand today. Whoever you choose, it seems like a gamble.
"Gambling?" Hollins then looked up at Link, who had four points and one assist in overtime. This undrafted draft has already saved the team once in the fourth quarter, so is it possible to save the second time?
Leave this question to the Hornets' defense.