At the end of the first quarter, the Grizzlies trailed the Thunder by three points, 20-23.

While the Thunder have a lead on the surface, everyone knows that if the Thunder are really going well, they should be leading by double digits.

And the Thunder's unsmooth start started when Link played the No. 1 position.

2 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds, this is Link's statistics in the first quarter of the game. It doesn't look good, after all, even Seflorosa scored 8 points in the first quarter. However, as long as you watch the game, you know that Link's pure point guard play is so important to the Grizzlies.

It is precisely because of him, a point guard with a height of 2.03 meters, that the Grizzlies were able to climb out of the mire.

Look at Westbrook again, 0 points, 2 assists, 0 of 3 shots

Westbrook was completely clean in the first quarter, and Link didn't let him score even a single point.

However, Westbrook has indeed restrained a lot this year, and if he can't shoot, he won't shoot much.

If this is changed last season, Westbrook will definitely not give up if he doesn't shoot a goal. Of course, it is also very likely that he will shoot the Thunder to death and not be able to score.

Westbrook was considered the x-factor of how far the Thunder could go this year, but his performance in the first quarter of the game clearly didn't live up to expectations.

If it weren't for Sefrosa's small outburst and Durant's steady play as always, the Thunder probably wouldn't have been able to lead. Looking at the score, you can see that the offense-oriented Thunder only scored 23 points in the first quarter, which is unconventional. A team like the Thunder can score more than 25 points in a quarter.

Westbrook, who was sitting on the bench, was furious, and he was completely humiliated by Link in the first quarter. Now, he finally understands why Durant hates Link so much. Thankfully, this was the end of the first quarter, not the last.

He still has plenty of time to change his situation in the next games.

"Russell, calm down!" On the bench, Durant finally couldn't help but remind Westbrook.

Westbrook knew he was wrong, so he nodded. But once Westbrook's head warmed up, he didn't care what you said. And Westbrook, who didn't score a point after the first quarter, is extremely prone to brain fever. Because, he's hungry to score.

So on the other side, Hollins decided to continue to let Link go and confront Westbrook!

"Get Westbrook and the Thunder's offense will be half paralyzed! What you did with Durant last season, how you did with Westbrook today. "Hollins knew this was an opportunity!

Westbrook's virtue is well known throughout the league, and he is a good player and a dangerous bomb. And the bomb, but there is no distinction between the enemy and me.

Most of the time, Westbrook blew up opponents. But occasionally, Westbrook would put the Thunder in trouble.

Judging by his performance in the first quarter, Hollins believes Westbrook will do more harm than good to the Thunder today. If Vasquith or Farmar were used in the second quarter, it would not have been effective in stimulating and defending Westbrook. So, Hollins went ahead and put Link in the number one position!

Link rubbed his hands excitedly, to be honest, dealing with Westbrook is much more interesting than dealing with Durant!

After the start of the second quarter, Durant's eyes still fell on Link. He knows exactly what the Grizzlies want to do, and Westbrook is a player with very distinct strengths and weaknesses.

Durant just wants Link to play against him, otherwise he won't be able to swallow this breath even if he wins the game. And the only way he can achieve that is to keep scoring until the Grizzlies have to defend themselves with Link!

On the first shot of the second quarter, Durant broke through and scored. This year, his ball-handling offense has improved a lot. It's not top-notch, but it's not a drop. Tony Allen is still using the handicap to deal with Durant, but obviously, the effect is not so good.

Durant continues to score, and Link's task now is to lead the team to bite the difference. By the way, tease that annoyed and angry defender 0.

Westbrook doesn't dare to press Link close to him now, because he has been broken through by Link too many times. Also, putting Link in two steps is also beneficial for disrupting his passing.

Link was still gesturing, but in reality, his goal this time was to score!

You have to be a scoring threat to create chances for your teammates. We'll have to score on Westbrook's head to motivate him further!

is still the same sentence, the only one who can stop the unsolvable Durant is the turtle! So, Link had to bring out the best in Westbrook.

Link didn't have to cover, so much so that Westbrook didn't believe Link would play alone. He didn't think Link could play 1v1 with him.

Link is glad that Westbrook can think so, if everyone defends themselves like Durant just now, Link's scoring stats today are estimated to really be overturned.

"Link alternates between left and right dribbles and we don't know if he's waiting for an opportunity to pass or if he's looking for a single chance to score. However, judging by his performance in the first quarter of the game, the former is more likely. He had four assists in the first quarter alone, plus two points of his own. In other words, more than half of the Grizzlies' scores in the first quarter were related to Link! He's growing into a true core, and in the second quarter, he'll continue to do that. ”

As soon as Hubbie Brown finished speaking, Link broke through with the ball!

Link took his first steps with mediocre speed and explosiveness. Westbrook took a disdainful step sideways, ready to dig the ball!

But after the first step, Link followed up with a cross-step movement. Westbrook hurriedly changed his focus, but he still felt that Link was too slow!

However, Link didn't really push forward after making a cross-step move. Instead, he tricked Westbrook into moving sideways and retreating, suddenly aborting the breakthrough action, and retreating a small step back to shoot directly!

"This is not the first time Link has used this trick this season!" Hubbie Brown stood up, and in the last game he hit the Rockets, he used this trick to hit Kevin Martin a few times. But after all, Martin's defense is not good, so people don't pay much attention to this kind of goal.

But today, when Link performed this trick against Westbrook, people knew that it couldn't be a coincidence.

Westbrook, who was brave and not thoughtful, naturally didn't expect Link to come to this hand, and he was completely shaken. Before Westbrook could interfere, Link was on the move!

In the offseason, Link knew that this cross-step shot would become his new killer feature! Ciel's arsenal is colorful!

After the handsome shot, the basketball hollowed into the net. Only Westbrook was left on the court, and it became the best foil.

"The ball is in! Link singled Westbrook with an extremely beautiful crossover shot. With two games down this season, I've noticed that Link has improved a lot in terms of attacking with the ball. He can now not only attack the opponent with his feet, but also become more versatile. How so? He's getting more and more like a football player! ”

Hubiblin was watching the excitement over there, and Durant was worried.

"Don't hold back, don't hold back" Durant secretly prayed in his heart, Link was too cunning to deliberately provoke Westbrook by scoring singles.

Durant's words, Westbrook obviously didn't listen. He gritted his teeth and vowed to regain face on the head of that Chinese draft!

Soon, Westbrook contributed his first iron of the second quarter. Westbrook wanted to return Link a mid-range, but unfortunately, he was not at the same level as Link at all, whether it was his shaking movements or his shots.

The basketball slammed into the front of the basket, ridiculously crooked. Seeing this, Durant hung his head.

I've been caught off by Westbrook!

"Come on Russell, I heard you worked shooting this summer, come on!" Seeing Westbrook's shot hit the iron again, Link hurriedly fanned the flames.

Durant wants to cry without tears, it's all fucking bastards!

But at the same time, Durant has also become scrappy. Today, even Westbrook can't hold him back!

※※※

In the fourth quarter, when Westbrook hit a shot in the bottom right corner, there was a cheerful laugh from the stands at the Federal Express Arena.

0-of-11 shooting, 0-of-3 three-point shooting, 0 points, that's Westbrook's stats so far today.

After defending Durant from 3-of-14 last season, Link kept a clean sheet against Westbrook, a high-potential guard!

Truth be told, this result was unexpected for Link. He didn't expect Westbrook to be so iron today. In terms of hard power, this is also unreasonable.

Link only remembers that in previous history, Westbrook shot 0-of-13 in a game one season, and the team still won.

The news was furious at the time, as the last time a team shot 0-of-13 or worse while winning was in 2001, when David Wesley, who played for the Hornets, played just as badly. As a result, the media called Westbrook's poor performance a once-in-a-decade occurrence.

But Link only has an impression of this, and it is not very clear which season and which game Westbrook has accomplished this "feat".

But if we had worked hard, maybe the day Westbrook would have made history today.

No, not to make history. Westbrook's 13-of-0 is on fire because he played like this and the team won the game. But today, Link will defeat the Thunder with Westbrook locked!

Link's defense is only one aspect, and Westbrook's own poor play today is also the reason why he hasn't scored in the field until now. And in the last three minutes, Westbrook's form was difficult to get back up.

After this goal, the Grizzlies lead the Thunder by 1 point! That's right, just one point ahead!

Because today, the performance of Harden and Durant is really outstanding! Durant, in particular, perfectly continued his 30+ points in the first two games.

After Westbrook's 11th iron hit, Durant immediately advanced with the ball himself, and forced Tony Allen with a back-to-back single!

The height of his turnover jumper left Tony Allen in the dust. Although Tony Allen made some small moves that made Durant uncomfortable, in this case, Durant's turnaround jumper still hit!

A scoring champion is a scoring champion, and Durant easily turned a shot that wasn't a chance into a goal!

"Basketball again! Kevin Durant let the Thunder overtake the score again! God, how many times did he wipe Westbrook's ass tonight? The Thunder are leading again, and the Grizzlies are unable to pull away from the difference, which is very bad for them! ”

Hollins called a halt to the game, and Durant didn't work well today to make Guy defend or Tony Allen to defend. Now, Hollins had to let that big fight continue.

Westbrook has been almost exhausted, and it is time for Link to gamble with Durant.

"The last three minutes, Link, go to the number three and solve the last problem. Then, end it all with victory! ”

Hollins had this to say about his core forward who has scored 18 points and nine assists and is crushing the opposing point guard. Westbrook got it, it's time for him to get Durant!

Although the task is very serious, this is the price of being a core player! Only by shouldering greater responsibilities can we achieve greater status.

The showdown between Link and Durant, which should come, can't be escaped.