Four Hundred and Sixty-Three: Like a Knife

Los Angeles, Staples Center, Lakers lost hope again.

Howard was injured, Gasol was injured, and now the Lakers can only use Thackeray to play the starting center.

Robert Thackeray, the 30th overall pick in the 2012 second round, the last rookie selected. That's him, today, starting with the luxurious Los Angeles Lakers. It sounds magical, but the Lakers have been so magical this season.

The Thunder had a 15-point lead over the Lakers in the final minute, and the Lakers fans began to exit the court. Kobe sat on the bench with a blank expression, and no one knew what he was thinking.

At this moment, a female reporter in the press area suddenly raised her arms and shouted excitedly. Her shouting was evident even in the noisy Staples Center.

The female reporter hugged the photographer next to her, and her excited look was very incompatible with the lifeless Staples.

"Rachel, calm down!" The photographer hurriedly reminded him. He had already noticed that several Lakers fans were casting unfriendly glances here.

However, Rachel couldn't calm down at all. Because in her headset, Hubby Brown's words were repeated, "A direct shot from beyond the three-point line, the King of Tennessee completed the final blow! Now, he is the real King of Tennessee!"

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Watching Link kill the game with an incredible 3-point drift, Popovich felt a throbbing pain in his heart.

For some reason, Popovich covered his heart before Link shot. Maybe it was because he had seen Link score too many crucial moments before, so he mentioned his own destiny?

No, Popovich, despite being one of the greatest coaches in league history, has yet to exaggerate his ability to predict the future. Just seeing Link holding the ball at critical moments made Popovich nervous.

The old man sat on the bench and looked around in disbelief.

Crazy cheering fans, bouncing Grizzlies players and coaches. And, after that lore match, he just stood in the center of the field with his arms crossed over his chest, but now he is held high like a king by everyone.

Link's calmness after the lore impressed Popovich deeply. If Link talked a lot after his lore today, or made some exaggerated celebrations, he wouldn't be so shocked.

But after the lore, he can still face this frenetic atmosphere so calmly... just like a arrogant king,

Waiting for his subjects to cheer for him.

Link's aura of kingship in the FedEx Arena made Popovich remember that scene clearly after a long time.

After losing, Link scored 44 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. His defensive strategy was completely lost.

Losing, a game like Kobe Bryant's graceful back kill against Wade, his team lost completely.

For a split second, Popovich felt like he was back in 2004, back in the night when the "general" in a white jersey smashed the Spurs in the final 35 seconds.

Although Link's lore and McGrady's 35 seconds and 13 points are not the same thing at all, they both robbed Popovich of the victory.

Killed by Howard, killed by Fisher, Popovich didn't think that the game was won before. So even if he loses, he can accept it indifferently. But in 2004 and today, Popovich lost the game when he thought he was going to win.

Before the drift back, Link had already fought with the Spurs for the entire game, had been blocked by Duncan, had cramps in his calf, and was disrupted by Parker on the final attack. All signs point to the Spurs as the winner.

The results of it? A crushing defeat!

"Craig, can you give me an interview? Craig?"

"Huh?" It wasn't until he saw a microphone stuck in front of his mouth that Popovich recovered from his trance.

The old man's hair was messy and his suit was wrinkled, as if he had just fallen ill.

Old man, my heart can't stand this kind of stimulation.

"Ask, ask, damn, just ask." Popovich stood up and finally looked up to confirm the score.

101 to 102, the visiting team is behind the home team, all this cruelty is true.

"Uh... What do you want to say about the ball just now?" The reporter could also see that Mr. Popovich was in a bad mood, so he simplified the problem and directly picked the most important points. ask!

Popovich looked at the reporter and was stunned for about five or six seconds. He was organizing words to describe how he felt just now. Finally, the old man said slowly, "It feels like... like sticking a knife into your chest and then pulling it out bit by bit."

After speaking, Popovich nodded and seemed very satisfied with his description. Then, turned around and left, leaving this sea of ​​joy.

In fact, Popovich only said half of what he said, and he kept the other half in his heart.

"I hate this bastard's talent!"

※※※

The last person who got Link's last bullet here was Kobe Bryant, and this was the second time Link's lore show at the FedEx Arena this season.

The second lore, the sixth double-double of the season, and the third score of 40, achieved the most important game in the course of 8 days and 6 games, and kept the unbeaten record of the Federal Express Arena.

And, a career-high 44 points. This season, Link has broken his single-game scoring record for the second time.

After Link finished his lore, he actually wanted to celebrate wildly. By the way, it would be better to slap Popovich and Leonard with a few rhetoric.

But Link didn't think about what he was going to spray or how he was going to celebrate. He didn't think about how to shoot after connecting the ball, so in the end, he could only return Stevens with a smile, "Look, believe me."

Unfortunately, Stevens didn't seem to notice what he meant. On the contrary, his calm expression has become a classic.

Invisibly pretended to be a good force again.

Link was carried into the locker room by his teammates, and the crazy Grizzlies players picked up Link from the moment the whistle blew at the end of the game, and then never put him down again.

After returning to the locker room, the players naturally had a splash of water, which caused the post-match press conference to be delayed for half an hour.

But no one urged, and everyone could understand the excitement of the players.

After all the procedures were over, the players, reporters and fans left the arena, leaving only the staff in the arena. It was twelve o'clock at this time.

"Charles, turn off the headlights, it's time for us to call it a day!" In the middle of the pitch, a staff member yelled into the distance. As soon as the brakes are pulled, this crazy night is completely over.

"Charles?" After waiting for a long time without responding, the stadium staff named Bill asked again.

"Wait a minute, Bill, let me take a look at the arena again. Do you think we'll have a chance to put a pennant of honor on FedEx Arena someday?"

"Hahaha, of course, didn't you hear Hubby Brown's commentary today? We have the King of Tennessee."

"So, how long does it take to hang up?"

"Not long, Charles, not too long. This summer, maybe? Well, turn off the lights, man, it's time to get off work."

Then, the lights of the FedEx Arena went out in a row. When the next time the lights come on, Link will definitely give everyone another crazy performance.