Two Hundred and Fifty Six: Griffin's Determination
Link's selection as an All-Star starter undoubtedly caused an uproar. Of course, since it was the fans themselves who voted, this was also expected.
Ben Wallace started his NBA career with the Washington Bullets in 1996, and it was not until the 2003 All-Star Game that he became the first and only undrafted All-Star starter in history.
This road, Wallace walked for 7 years.
It took only two years for Link to go from undrafted to an All-Star starter!
Not to mention the undrafted, even a lottery rookie who can make it to the All-Star starting lineup in two years is not an ordinary person.
Durant is awesome, right? But he didn't make the All-Star team until his third year, and he didn't become an All-Star starter in his fourth year. Who are the All-Star starters in the second year of their careers? Tim, the honest guy from San Antonio, has a lovely smile. Duncan, the Los Angeles paranoid Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, known as the "chosen son"...
Those who were selected for the All-Star starter in the second grade are all such great gods!
Even Derrick Rose was named to the All-Star starting lineup during his MVP season.
When Link's name is put together with great players such as Duncan, Kobe, James, etc., it naturally causes extensive discussion.
Jeff Austin is happy now. The All-Star vote has undoubtedly made Link's popularity and business value soar.
When a player is discussed by fans all over the world, his commercial value is immeasurable.
However, Link himself is not very interested in that record and data. What is the first All-Star starter in the history of the Grizzlies, what is the second player in NBA history to turn from an undrafted player to an All-Star starter, what is the second in his career It is the great god Yunyun who can make the All-Star starter this year, and Link doesn't care about a single one.
Because he knew very well that the current records were all false. Tyreke Evans averaged 20+5+5 in his rookie season. People say he is a once-in-a-decade super rookie. What's the result?
Griffin averaged a double-double in his rookie season last season. People say that only epic insiders like Shaquille O'Neal and Duncan can hit this data in his rookie season. The results of it? Griffin won't have to be undrafted for an All-Star start this season. And Link knew very well that Griffin would not become an epic beast like Duncan and O'Neal in the future.
to look up at the stars,
Also keep your feet on the ground. Therefore, no matter how the outside world blows, Link will not float. As soon as it floats, it has to fall.
While the outside world touted Link, Link was seriously preparing for tonight's game. He didn't let his guard down because he was selected as an All-Star starter.
Elston Turner was very pleased with this. Maybe that's one of the reasons that kid was able to succeed.
Sure enough, in the game against the Warriors at night, the Grizzlies did not play as easily as they did when they abused the Kings last game.
Although the Warriors have a record of only 5 wins and 10 losses this season, under the leadership of Mark Jackson, they are the most powerful team in the top eight in the Western Conference.
Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis are still vying for shots, and Klay Thompson on the bench is not yet fully formed. But this team is extremely talented, and today the Grizzlies are cornered.
At the last moment, it was Randolph's strong basket shot to lay the victory for the Grizzlies and gain a decisive 4-point lead.
In the end, the Grizzlies defeated the Golden State Warriors 94-90 on the road. Link had 23 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists, and Randolph had 20 points, 9 rebounds and 1 assist. The Grizzlies had a near-miss away win, but in this game, the Warriors brought great trouble to the Grizzlies, which cost the Grizzlies players a lot.
After the game, what reporters asked most was how Link felt about being selected as an All-Star starter.
And Link's answer was the same every time, "I just want to focus on the current game, the All-Star Game is still early."
The dense schedule and difficult opponents overwhelmed Link, and he didn't have the heart to think about the All-Star.
Sure enough, the next day in Portland, the Grizzlies finally fell overwhelmed.
The Blazers have officially entered the post-Roy Oden era, and Aldridge has been pushed to the core position and has played well this season.
The stocky Randolph was at a disadvantage defending such a shooting 4 because he couldn't reach the ball! If Aldry doesn't fight you head-on, he just shoots you to death.
What's more, Randolph is still extremely tired today, and his defensive power is not as strong as before.
In the back-to-back competition in the intensive schedule, no matter who comes, you will be exhausted.
As a result, Aldry shot 61.5% from the field, scored 23 points in an understatement, and reaped the victory.
The exhausted Grizzlies played very badly today. Except for Link, no player in the starting five had a shooting rate of more than 40%!
Randolph was 1-of-6 with a 16.7 percent hit rate, and Conley was 3-of-13 with a 23.1 percent hit rate. Gay's 33% and Pau Gasol's 28.6% are also very hot.
Four consecutive days and three games seem to have squeezed the Grizzlies' last sliver of physical strength. After the game, Hollins also admitted frankly, "The Blazers are very powerful, and they have the strength to win. But the too-intensive schedule still affected our performance to some extent."
The Grizzlies' seven-game winning streak was ended, and the discussion about Link becoming an All-Star starter also dwindled day by day.
Sometimes that heat is a gust of wind. If you are complacent, you really lose.
Although the game with the Blazers is over, the Grizzlies players can't relax. Because tomorrow they have to fly non-stop to Los Angeles. The day after tomorrow, the Grizzlies will meet the Clippers for the first time this season.
Blake Griffin, the Los Angeles Clippers, and angry Clippers fans... Link leaned tiredly into the locker, why every time he went to Staples, there must be nothing good.
This time I went to Los Angeles with the identity of the All-Star starter, but I was about to enjoy the defensive treatment of the real All-Star level.
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Just as the Grizzlies lost to the Blazers, their seven-game winning streak ended. Chris Paul, who missed most of the game for half a month, finally returned from injury in the Los Angeles Derby between the Clippers and the Lakers. Although this offseason, Paul really wants to join the Lakers, and he and Kobe have also established a good relationship.
But Wade once said, "On the basketball court, Paul doesn't treat anyone as a friend."
So, the Lakers and Clippers fought a derby battle. However, Paul was in a bad state because he had just returned from injury. He made 2 of 8 shots and scored only 4 points in the whole game, but sent out 14 assists. Blake. Griffin 26 points and 9 rebounds, can be considered overwhelming.
But the final result of the game did not satisfy the Clippers players, because the Clippers eventually lost to the Lakers by 5 points. Kobe Bryant's 24 points, 6 assists and 7 rebounds looked quite a bit like Link.
Immediately after the game, Paul and Griffin walked into the tunnel in disappointment and did not speak to reporters.
No one knows where they come from, but after the game, the Clippers reporter John Buha broke the news, "Paul and Griffin went to the training hall as soon as the game was over, trying to find a better state. I asked Blake. , asked him what he planned for the next game, and Griffin's answer was straightforward."
"I want to hold this last bottom line and defend my home court."
When a game is given meaning beyond the game itself, then this basketball game may be more intense than fighting!
The bonus of the All-Star starting has not yet been enjoyed, but Link has already encountered a lot of disadvantages after becoming an All-Star.
Griffin prepared enough "ammo" and waited for Link, who had snatched his starting position, to challenge him!