765: If you can't kill once, then kill again (4/5)
With 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Link broke through and was directly knocked out of the baseline by "Big Baby" Davis.
"Big Baby" managed to prevent Link from scoring directly, but there was no doubt that his rough dashing action earned him a defensive foul.
Link got up and shook his head, the Clippers had a really unfriendly game. He doesn't remember how many times he's been knocked off the ground today, and the more famous you are, the more you'll be violated in key games.
There are a lot of fouls from the Clippers, and Link thinks it's no problem to blow malicious fouls.
Link is glad he's in the 21st century, and if it had been in the '90s, it might have turned into a wrestling fight.
Luckily, Link didn't have to endure it for long. Because if all two free throws were hit, the game would be over.
"Link is at the free throw line, and a foul from the Clippers won't work. Putting Link on the free-throw line is no different than giving Link two points. ”
Hubi. Brown confidently says that Link rarely makes mistakes at the free-throw line. Now that the Grizzlies have a 20-point lead over the Clippers, if Link makes both free throws, then garbage time can come early.
The Clippers performed as usual today, starting in the first quarter and gradually declining. In each quarter, the score difference is getting bigger and bigger. It seems that the Clippers still have no hope.
Chasing 22 points in 8 minutes is a difficult task for the Clippers. It seems like they're destined to be the backdrop for Link's MVP night.
Link took two deep breaths, trying to make his breathing even.
Most NBA stars have no problem with their free-throw shooting skills, even stars like Howard and James, who are admittedly not very good at free throws, are all shots on the training court.
Not to mention professional players, even many basketball lovers, the free throw shooting rate will not be too low.
The reason why some stars shoot less free throws in games is because few can still get their shooting rhythm after a strong matchup. Those basketball lovers who claim to be more accurate than Howard in free throws, go to run a few switchback runs and then come to free throws, and the shooting percentage will be lower.
As a result, Link is very concerned about his breathing rate when he makes free throws. As long as you adjust your breathing and combine it with superb shooting skills, it is enough to ensure a high shooting percentage at the free throw line.
With this trick, Link once again hit two free throws from the free-throw line. The 22-point margin was on the shoulders of the Clippers players, and the Grizzlies fans celebrated in advance.
Link got the MVP and the Grizzlies got the win, and it was a perfect night for the fans.
The Clippers called a halt to the game. Rivers crossed his waist on the sidelines, as if wondering how he would respond to the reporters' tricky questions after the game. The Grizzlies high-fived each other excitedly, as if they were already celebrating their second win of the series.
Hubi. Brown was happy that the Grizzlies were able to keep all two of their home courts and not squander home-court advantage.
This game was perfect in all aspects, and the only regret was that Link's 30 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds failed to surpass Durant.
But it doesn't matter, victory is always more important than personal data. It's hard to be perfect in basketball.
"Link, let's rest later. For the last 8 minutes, you're gone. "Dave. The first thing Joggle did after the timeout was to replace Link for a break.
Link was brutally violated too much today and the risk of injury was too great if Link was left on the pitch.
Sometimes, certain injuries can be avoided. Link wouldn't be worth it if he got injured in garbage time.
In order to ensure that the playoffs can go smoothly, Jogel wants to protect Link in the final eight minutes. Anyway, the Grizzlies have a 22-point lead, and even without Link, it's unlikely that they will lose.
Link hesitated, but nodded slightly, agreeing with Jogger's decision. It was a little early to get off the court in 8 minutes, but with the current state of the Clippers, it is estimated that they will not be able to turn the game back.
Link is convinced that his free throw has killed the Clippers.
Joggel then used Jimmy. Butler replaced Link, and after the timeout, the Grizzlies sent a team of Conley, Tony. A mixed line-up of Allen, Butler, Randolph and Ezeli.
Joggle did not come on the bench, but kept Randolph and Conley as two starters to stabilize the situation on the field, which was regarded as an insurance policy for the game.
If nothing else, the last eight minutes of the game will be uneventful.
After returning from a timeout, the Clippers went on offense. Unlike the Grizzlies, the Clippers didn't make any substitutions. This is actually quite normal, the side that is behind by a large score will keep the main players on the field even after knowing that the situation is irreparable.
After all, it's really not nice to raise the white flag directly.
Chris. Paul took the baseline ball and began to press forward. As he progressed, Paul glanced at Link.
Link was chatting with little Gasol next to him at this time, as if he had clocked out of work.
Paul gritted his teeth and quickened his pace.
At the beginning of the timeout, Paul told everyone in the crew, "Follow in my footsteps, we still have a chance to win!" ”
No one noticed that the Clippers leader was secretly working on his own.
After the first attack after returning from the timeout, Paul was near the halfway line and Jamal was on the sidelines. Crawford made a pick-and-roll. The purpose of this blockade between the guard and the guard is not to block the breakthrough opportunity, but to force the Grizzlies to change the defense!
Defensive titan Tony. Allen stayed in front of Paul, and Conley went to defend Crawford.
Seeing the change formed, Paul threw the ball into the hands of Crawford, the only individual accolade of the Clippers this season.
In the second half of the last game, Conley did quite well defending against Crawford. Against Crawford, Conley doesn't see himself as a disadvantage.
Crawford began his fancy dribbling performance, while Conley took two steps back to defend Crawford's breakaway.
Against this kind of street-style player, all you need to do is prevent a breakthrough, and his fancy moves will become meaningless.
Crawford knew that Conley was very good defensively, so he didn't choose to go toe-to-toe with Conley this time. Seeing Conley take two steps back, Crawford, who was originally dribbling, suddenly pulled up a jump shot outside the three-point line!
Shooting after dribbling, that's Crawford's forte!
Conley reacted quickly and pounced on it as soon as possible. But Conley's physical condition really doesn't have an advantage in interfering with long-distance shots.
Crawford made his shot before Conley interfered, and he switched positions with Paul for this opportunity!
"Brush!"
The basketball leapt into the net and Crawford shot with his trademark dribble shot. Conley faced. As long as they take their chances, the Grizzlies' defense is not impregnable.
"Well done Jamal, keep it up!" Paul excitedly rushes up to give Crawford a high-five, and he knows that as long as he creates singles opportunities for Crawford, he won't let you down!
The Clippers fired the first shot on the counterattack, which bodes well for Paul!
The Clippers managed to score, but the fans didn't care.
After all, the Clippers are still 18 points behind after that three-point shot.
Soon, the grizzlies fought back. This time, Conley played the ball to Randolph to the strong man who had scored 19 points in a single quarter on the head of the Heat. Joggle hopes that Randolph can use his superb low post offense to score steadily and consistently.
However, Randolph had just received the basketball when he was caught by Griffin and Jordan Jr.!
The Clippers were very decisive, and without Link to hold them, the Clippers' defense seemed to have risen to a level in an instant.
In the bag, Jordan Jr. took advantage of the chaos and slapped the basketball in Randolph's hand. Before the "Big Black Bear" could plan this attack, he had already lost possession of the ball.
Paul was the first to cross the half court after receiving the basket, and when he was close to the basket, he threw the basketball onto the rebound.
The chasing Azeli flew out, but Paul didn't make a layup, but a board pass!
The basketball hit the rebound and bounced back just right, and was caught in the air by Griffin, who was in the middle of the game.
Griffin dunked with ease, and Paul played a game with him that can only be seen during All-Star Weekend!
With 17 points left, it's still huge. The Grizzlies only needed one three-pointer to secure the margin at 20 points.
However, before they knew it, the seed of victory in the hearts of the Clippers players began to sprout again.
The two balls seemed like a signal, a signal that only the Clippers players could understand. Before anyone knew it, they suddenly turned on the offensive mode!
In the next few rounds, the Clippers played like crazy. Jordan Jr. first rewarded Butler with a big hat on the defensive end, and Paul took advantage of this opportunity to break through and pull up the lever to score a layup, leaving a difference of only 15 points!
Link was nervous, but a three-pointer from Butler stabilized the situation and put Link back on the bench.
He kept telling himself that he was a little too nervous.
However, Butler's three-pointer was like a pebble that was plunged into the vast ocean, causing no waves at all and not interrupting the Clippers' offense.
Paul, Crawford, Griffin and even Darren who came off the bench. Collison can score efficiently and link the goals into a string.
The difference has been narrowed little by little, 17 points, 15 points, 12 points, 9 points! In the face of the Clippers' fierce offense, Conley and Randolph, the two starters, could no longer stabilize the situation.
With three minutes left on the side, Paul scored on Conley's head with a stoppage, and the gap was reduced to just seven points!
Turning a 22-point deficit into a seven-point deficit in 5 minutes, the Los Angeles Clippers completely changed the game in the final moments!
"Everyone thought the Clippers were dead, but they forced garbage time to be full of suspense again! Paul's shot further narrowed the gap to 7 points, and Coach Jogel took a timeout, he didn't want this game to be snatched away by the opponent! ”
Hubi. Brown was sweating profusely, and even he didn't expect that the Clippers would be able to come back to life!
The Clippers, it seems, are just as tough as the Grizzlies. The game reached the Western Conference semifinals, but there were no soft persimmons to pinch.
Joggle looked at Link as soon as he took a timeout, and the game played out like this, and Link had to restart.
Link stood up, knowing that the priority now was to stabilize his teammates' emotions. If the Grizzlies panic themselves, this game is really over.
"It's okay, we're still ahead! The game is only 3 minutes away and trust me, after 3 minutes, nothing will change! We've already killed them once, and now, it's just a matter of doing it again. ”
Link's unhurried speech calmed down the impatient Grizzlies players instantly, and the real team leader is not just about scoring high points on the court.
Link moved his cooled body, shed his training clothes, and stepped back onto the court. Five minutes ago, he thought he had killed the Clippers.
Who knows, the Clippers scrambled back up and gave the Grizzlies a hard blow.
In that case, we must brutally kill them again!
Link was ready to kill the game at any time, whether it was the eighth minute, or the last three minutes.