Fifty-Six: Who Will Be the Starter?

DeMarcus Cousins ​​was the fifth overall pick in the 2010 first round.

Link, undrafted in 2010.

Normally, these two guys will hardly have any chance to compete on the same field, and they should never have any intersection in their life.

Cousins ​​will get better and better in the NBA, working hard to become the league's No. 1 center. Players like Link, who are lucky, can play in overseas leagues and earn enough living expenses. If you are unlucky, you may go to some lower leagues to hang out, or even say goodbye to basketball.

But at this time, the two guys were standing on the same basketball court and looking at each other.

A minute ago, Rudy Gay was helped into the locker room by his teammates because of a left shoulder injury. Lionel Hollins is naturally very anxious to lose his star at a critical moment.

This game with the Kings was already bumpy, and Guy's sudden injury made the situation even more serious.

But at this critical juncture, Hollins did not hesitate to send Link to the field. Perhaps, this is enough to explain Link's position in his heart.

In this way, Link appeared in the playing time that did not belong to him. In the last 2 minutes of the game, the team only led by 6 points. At this critical moment, any mistakes will be put under the microscope by fans and experts.

"They all say you're one of the best rookies this year."

Link was standing on the court and was about to wait for his teammates to deliver the baseline ball when he heard someone talking to him.

Turning his head, it was Cousins!

It seems that Cousins ​​didn't feel the slightest bit wrong about hitting Guy. Without the slightest remorse or pity, he quickly shifted his target to Link again.

Link ignored Cousins, not because he was afraid, but as a "temporary worker", he just wanted to play the game well, and didn't want to make any other shit.

"Don't worry, I'll show you how a real top rookie plays, undrafted!"

Seeing that Link didn't speak, Cousins ​​didn't stop. In 2010, a lot of rookies were discussed, such as Blake Griffin, who started his rookie season with a one-year extension, John Wall, the Wizards' No. 1 pick, and the high-profile Evan Turner and Wesley Johnson.

But recently, the strange name Link has been mixed into it. He's not a high pick, not a pick at all to be exact. Therefore, Cousins ​​believes that Link should not be included in the discussion, and he does not qualify as a "best rookie".

Cousins ​​is a competitive man who is eager to beat every rookie other than his college teammate Wall and prove he's the best. And he's such a grumpy character.

Therefore, Link was not surprised at all when Cousins ​​spat out trash talk at Link. What did people say about Cousins? The first center below the brain...

At this moment, Mike Conley came in possession of the ball, and Link immediately ran outside the three-point line to respond.

Link received a basketball as soon as he went out, and he was defended by Dominican forward Francisco Garcia.

Garcia is a fairly good shooter, but his athletic ability is in a hurry, and the defense suffers very much in terms of speed and confrontation.

Therefore, Link made a three-threat move after catching the ball and then made a direct breakthrough, killing Garcia by surprise.

"Hey, come on, idiot!"

Seeing his teammates being broken through, Cousins ​​was a little excited. Because of this, he can personally block that undrafted pick!

Link's eyes resolutely killed Cousins ​​without fear. Just as Link took off to attack the frame, Cousins ​​also jumped up! In his opinion, he can reach today's top five with this block!

However, just when Cousins' big hand was about to pat the basketball. However, Link suddenly took down the basketball that was held high, flicked his wrist, and passed the ball out!

"It's a pass!?" Don't say it was Cousins ​​at this time,

Even the narrators were dumbfounded. At one point, Link showed his passing vision that didn't match his position and height.

Cousins ​​turned his head to look at the flight path of the basketball and found that Zach Randolph had been completely emptied in the middle distance.

Link did not forget the conversation he had with Randolph on the plane today, he knew that his big brother was waiting for him in the middle distance.

Therefore, Link easily passed the ball without looking at anyone. Also, it's very accurate.

After receiving Link's wonderful pass, Randolph scored steadily in mid-range shots, which did not disappoint Link's good intentions. Randolph's mid-range is pretty solid, not to mention unattended.

Cousins ​​wanted to teach Link a lesson, but instead harmed himself.

"Zach Randolph shot from the middle distance, Bang! He came in cleanly! Cousins ​​missed again. When Link was present today, it was not the first time he missed Randolph." The commentator Shaking his head, everyone can see Cousins' talent, but he is still a rookie now.

On the court, Kings coach Paul Westphal also shook his head. This is why he has been afraid to let Cousins ​​start. In fact, his stats and ability are definitely above Dalemport. But once this guy's brain is hot, no matter how strong his abilities are.

The difference became 8 points, and the game time was only 2 minutes. Link didn't dare to slack off, the Kings still had to catch up.

As everyone knows, at this desperate moment, Cousins ​​immediately took another blow. But the stick was not on the Grizzlies, but on the Kings.

Angrily, Cousins ​​played hard in the paint, which he would normally have no problem doing. But this time, he was fighting under the double team of Link and Randolph.

Randolph tried to be double-teamed by Link in the scrims. The guy is so thief that you don't dare to put the ball below your chest at all. But holding up the basketball all the time, you can't do it either.

When encountering Link's double-team, the experienced and steady Randolph knew how to pass the ball. However, Cousins ​​has nothing to do with the word calm.

Seeing that his two rivals today are by his side, Cousins ​​is ready to show off his superb offensive skills.

As a result, the Kings wasted a great opportunity. Cousins’ shot under the double team hit the frame. If Cousins ​​can pass the ball to Garcia, the Dominicans have at least the possibility of scoring a three-pointer.

"It's so uncool. To be honest, if Cousins ​​had a clearer mind, he probably wouldn't have been drafted fifth overall."

Marc Gasol grabbed the rebound, but did not rush to attack. Now, the initiative is in the hands of the Grizzlies, who must make the most of every 24 seconds of each possession.

Watching the passage of time, the Kings had nothing to do. They have to guard this offense, and if the Grizzlies pull the deficit to double digits by 10 points, the game is almost over for the Kings.

In the last 8 seconds of the 24-second attack time, Conley hit the ball to O.J. Mayo. But Brother Mayo's touch did not recover at all today, he shot the iron.

At that moment, Paul Westphal showed a delighted smile. As long as Cousins ​​doesn't continue to mess up, there is still hope for the Kings.

But on the inside, Cousins, who was eager to attack, did not protect the rebound. With a long arm, Pau Gasol slapped the basketball out.

Link's keen sense of smell allowed him to grab the flying basketball and get a shot. Beyond the three-point line, Link first feinted a shot and then flew to Garcia. Then he took a step to the side to find the rhythm, and Link just shot.

"This is a three-point shot that is enough to end the game. Go! Go! A beautiful three-pointer, Link scored his 16th point of the game. Link's shot is not many, but he One of the most efficient players on the Grizzlies today. Link will never give in if given the chance!"

In the despairing eyes of the Kings fans, Link raised his right arm and showed three fingers. Cousins ​​removed his headband angrily and threw it to the ground.

In this game against Randolph and Link, he lost completely.

The 3-pointer really killed the game, and the demoralized King didn't put together a few more decent offenses for more than a minute after that.

The score was finally fixed at 106 to 98. The Grizzlies held on tenaciously to the end despite losing Rudy Gay, celebrating their three-game winning streak.

But the victory of this game did not make Lionel Hollins feel much better. After all, he lost his star player.

"Coach, how is Rudy Guy's injury?"

Sure enough, as soon as the game was over, Hollins was surrounded by reporters, almost all of which were related to injuries.

"I haven't got any news yet. I have to go back and communicate with the team doctor before I can give you the answer." Hollins frowned and walked towards the player tunnel.

"Then if Rudy doesn't play next game, who are you going to replace him in the starting position?"

The question made Hollins stop abruptly, then involuntarily glanced at Link, who was also being interviewed.

"No comment," Hollins replied.