Sixty-Three: The Mad Men of Los Angeles

"Link became the fourth rookie in the league to score 20+ points in a single game this season! Another undrafted complete counterattack."

"24 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 1 block, a new generation of all-around warriors was born!"

"The Memphis Grizzlies are on a four-game winning streak and are just 1.5 games shy of the Houston Rockets, who are eighth in the West."

"Link - Best signing for the Grizzlies this season."

In the first start, he scored an all-around statistic of 20+ points. Naturally, the media would not deny Link's achievements. Although he is only a Chinese and his way of playing is not very good, the data and achievements are there and no one can ignore it.

Link's reputation in the league has grown to the point where it makes all lottery picks nervous.

"Link is an excellent player. If I meet him, I have to be careful." Evan Turner, the second-ranked player in the 10th year, commented on the camera.

"In college, we never heard Link's name. But I have to say, his performance in the NBA was fantastic." Wesley Johnson, the 10th overall pick Wesley Johnson, seemed a little nervous about his performance and expectations this season. It's a far cry. If he is defeated by the undrafted again, he will be embarrassed.

With the lessons of George and Hayward, those lottery picks in Link's position don't want to meet the Grizzlies right now. If you can beat Link, beating an undrafted pick as a lottery pick is nothing to brag about. But if you lose, you will be embarrassed.

Winning is no good, and losing is a shameful thing, naturally no one wants to do it.

Link saw the news the day after the game, sitting in his hotel room. Less than 12 hours before his last debut in Memphis, Link is now in Los Angeles.

It was unfortunate to say that, before Link came to the Grizzlies to play a few games, he had already encountered a second back-to-back game. Although the back and forth away game took Link to many places he had only seen in pictures before, it also made him feel tired as an NBA player.

Link used to think when he was in the G League, the conditions for NBA teams to play on the road are so good, why do those players complain that they are tired?

But when he really became an NBA player, he realized that the density and intensity of NBA games are unmatched by the G League. Although the conditions for NBA players to play on the road are better, the consumption is also greater.

Today, Link came to Los Angeles, the city he once dreamed of most. But sitting in the hotel room, he just wanted to rest and had no desire to go out.

"Link, have you heard? That guy Rudy seems to want to play with an injury." At this time, Tony Allen, wrapped in a bath towel, came out of the bathroom.

Since Link joined the Grizzlies, the two have shared a room on the road. Tony Allen also takes good care of Link. After all, he is still a role player until now, and he can empathize with some of Link's states.

"Rudy? Didn't he just rest for a game?" Link pouted, he was naturally happy that his teammates could recover from the injury, but why did Rudy Gay return in such a hurry?

This stupid boy doesn't know yet, everyone has already regarded him as a competitor.

"Yeah, but I heard him talk to Coach Hollins yesterday. It seemed like he wanted to play with an injury so as not to affect the team's results. If that's true, you might have to go back to the bench with me today. already."

Link didn't know why Tony Allen told himself this, but he knew that the Grizzlies, like many other NBA teams, had their own small groups among players.

Obviously, Tony Allen and Guy are not in the same group.

"It doesn't matter, the starting position is already his. Whether it's a substitute or a starter, as long as you play and seize the opportunity,

all the same. "Link waved his hand, his second ten-day short contract hasn't been executed yet, so don't even think about completely replacing Guy.

Guy is the leader of this team at any rate, and he can't possibly compete with that guy. Link's concern is whether Gay's doing this will exacerbate his injury.

Link in his previous life was not a Grizzlies fan, so he didn't pay much attention to the Grizzlies. He only remembers one year that Guy seemed to be out for the season because of a shoulder injury, but he can't remember if it was this year...

"Your mentality is very good. You just performed so well yesterday, and you are willing to give up your starter today. However, this may also be the reason why you can succeed. Well... It's okay not to start a starter, and I am also today. I don't want to be put in the starting lineup. After all, the guy at Staples is very difficult to mess with." Tony Allen looked out the window at Staples' center of gravity, thinking about the guy in the No. 24 jersey.

※※※

Feasting, splendid, drunken and dreaming... just hearing these words, the night in Los Angeles is very desirable.

But today, none of this has anything to do with Link. There are no high-end nightclubs, no sexy postures, and no thrills like gold. The only thing Link could do on a night in Los Angeles was to go head-to-head with a bunch of muscular men in jerseys.

To be honest, Link sometimes actually wants to experience the wonderful off-court life of NBA-level professional players. But so far, he hasn't had that chance. Teams are either on the road or on the way.

It's okay to come here, there's no way to vent your energy in the nightclubs in Los Angeles, so let's vent all your energy on the court.

Before the game, Tony Allen's worst headache happened.

"Tony, you're starting today. You don't need me to tell you what to do, right? Look at that lunatic!"

Hollins didn't name the guy, but simply used the word "madman" instead.

There's nothing wrong with that, that guy is a lunatic. Facing the first-year rookie Wesley Johnson in the last game, Bryant also showed his benevolent side, "only" scored 33 points.

If it wasn't for Wesley Johnson being a rookie, he would have scored 40 points.

Hearing Hollins' arrangement, Tony Allen covered his forehead. But soon, he became bright again. I don't want to start defending Kobe, just because Tony Allen feels tired, but that doesn't mean he's afraid. Since it is inevitable to meet, it is better to have a good fight with him.

As for today's other starting change, Hollins had already arranged it during afternoon practice. Rudy Gay finally played with an injury and returned to the starting position.

In this regard, both the Grizzlies and Gay publicized it because they were afraid of affecting the team's impact on the playoffs. But in fact why, only Guy knows.

"Link, remember your role today. I need you to be the sixth man on the team, and I need you to be the core of the backup. So today, your first priority after you come on the court is not to create space for others, not to screen for others. , but to seek offensive opportunities yourself! Make bold shots and believe in yourself.”

Despite losing his starting spot, Hollins gave Link a relatively important role.

At this time, it was O.J. Mayo's turn to look bad. He fell on the bench, and he couldn't even get a sixth man role. But then again, since Link joined the Grizzlies, he hasn't seen a game where Mayo's efficiency is outstanding. No wonder, this guy will gradually lose trust.

Link nodded lightly, he was glad that he could still be reused by the head coach.

As we all know, the personnel structure of the Los Angeles Lakers is actually quite strange.

Kobe Bryant, Gasol, Bynum, Artest and Odom... There's no doubt that these guys are strong players.

But look at their bench, Luke Walton, who is bigger than his ability, Steve Blake, who is mediocre, Shannon Brown, who has a spring on his foot but is otherwise mediocre, a horse with more than ferocity and limited strength. T. Barnes...  

The Lakers' lineup seems to have been interrupted from the middle, from the best to the bottom players, and there are vacancies in the middle players. Therefore, the strength of the Lakers second unit has been criticized.

Since today is the sixth man, it means that most of the time he is facing off against the "terrible" second unit of the Lakers. It seems that it is not impossible to play a substitute and get a high score.

Link did not forget that at the end of December, several Los Angeles media came out and questioned him. The arrogant Los Angeles people seem to be less optimistic about the undrafted, and they think that a player like Link can only become famous in a "country place" like Memphis.

Link still remembers these things, he is very vengeful.