Link and Michael Jordan walked toward the bench side-by-side, engaged in an exchange with a very high "F-word count."
"Link, when we get back on the court in the second quarter, I'm going to run to the offensive weak side to call for the ball... I have to make that bastard Latrell Sprewell pay a price," Jordan said huffily.
At thirty-eight, it was difficult for Michael Jordan to drive into the paint as frequently as he did during his time with the Chicago Bulls. He needed to use team tactics—specifically, off-ball screens from teammates—to reach the Elbow on the offensive weak side to call for the ball and play isolation.
In the past 7 minutes and 49 seconds, Michael Jordan shot 2-for-4, including one Three-Point Shot attempt and 2-for-2 from the Free Throw line, recording 6 points and 2 rebounds. Meanwhile, Sprewell the Madman, who was matched up against him on defense tonight, also scored 6 points, but on 2-for-3 shooting and 2-for-2 from the Free Throw line.
This led The Madman to constantly taunt Jordan on the defensive end, saying he was too old to even bite into meat anymore...
"Alright!" Link nodded with a smile. At the same time, he didn't forget to ask Jordan about the details of "fighting through screens." The thirty-eight-year-old Michael Jordan's ability to fight through screens and pick-and-rolls was actually stronger than that of the nearly eighteen-year-old Link.
Jordan wasn't stingy at all, teaching him everything he knew.
Facing Mark Jackson's defense, Link's shooting percentage was quite good. He went 4-for-5, 1-for-1 from the Free Throw line, and recorded 9 points, 2 assists, 1 Steal, and 1 Block.
"Good job, Link!" the team's assistant coach, Larry Drew, said with a smile.
"Keep it up!" The team's head coach, Doug Collins, also patted Link's shoulder with satisfaction. After giving a few instructions, he told him to sit down.
After the timeout, Link and Jordan did not return to the court until the end of the first quarter.
But Michael Jordan's expression on the bench was extremely unpleasant.
Their seven-point lead had actually been squandered by the team's rotation. Furthermore, Sprewell the Madman, who remained on the court, not only limited Link's substitute, Connet Alexander, on defense but also continued to score on offense.
What Michael Jordan found most unbearable was that after scoring, The Madman would subconsciously cast a provocative glance his way.
Jordan had a cold face as he chewed on some chocolate, occasionally giving Alexander on-court guidance on how to break through The Madman's defense.
Facing an All-Defensive Team level player like The Madman, Alexander was completely outmatched on the offensive end.
However, the "advice" from the god of basketball left Alexander feeling confused. He couldn't help but complain in his heart: "With him guarding me so closely, doing crossovers and lateral moves... it's not that simple."
...
...
36 to 34. The first quarter ended. The Washington Wizards, who had originally led by seven points, were now trailing their opponents by two.
The second quarter began, and Link continued to start, but Michael Jordan was kept on the bench by Doug Collins.
Having been away from the court for a long time, the newly returned Michael Jordan's physical condition wasn't fully adjusted, especially regarding his stamina. Additionally, the team didn't want Jordan to risk his life for a Preseason game. However, Jordan, who also served as the team's General Manager, insisted on playing. After some discussion, both sides reached an agreement: Jordan would return to the game around the four-minute mark of the second quarter.
Replacing Jordan was Connet Alexander, while Richard Hamilton shifted up to the team's small forward position.
The tireless Hamilton constantly used pick-and-rolls and screens to move off the ball. Link delivered two good passes to him in a row, causing the New York Knicks' defense to gradually converge and shrink. If Link continued with the same passes, there was a high probability they would be stolen by the opponent.
Hamilton, running off-ball to the defensive weak side, was not only chased by The Madman but also drew the defensive attention of Kurt Thomas. In other words, through his individual offensive ability and Off-Ball Movement, Hamilton turned the defensive weak side into the defensive strong side.
Thus, the left side where Link was located became the defensive weak side.
The moment he read the opponent's defensive strategy, Link exploded into action. Lowering his center of gravity, he drove directly with the ball from the left side.
Bang! Mark Jackson, who tried to press up against Link, was brushed aside. Entering the paint, Link faced Camby's help defense, used a pump fake, and then threw a lob pass to Popeye Jones behind him.
Every NBA player has their own catching habits. Catching the ball comfortably means not needing much adjustment time, allowing them to attack immediately upon receiving it. Understanding teammates' catching habits is also an "essential skill" for a Point Guard.
The Washington Wizards dominated the New York Knicks for about three minutes in the second quarter, reclaiming the lead at 44 to 42. At this point, the Wizards were ahead by two points.
However...
The New York Knicks quickly made defensive adjustments on the court!
Sprewell the Madman, an All-Defensive Team level wing player, personally came to guard Link.
Standing at 196cm and weighing 96kg, although The Madman was a size smaller than Link, his defensive awareness was sharp, his center of gravity was low, and he was physically strong. Link couldn't overpower him as he had with Mark Jackson.
"Wow..."
"It looks like our number one draft pick has run into some significant trouble."
"His drive was stopped by Latrell once again..."
The Madman's individual defense left Link quite flustered.
"rookie, is this all you've got?" The Madman said to Link, who was chasing after him, following a face-to-face Steal and a fast-break dunk.
"Man, your score right now... seems to still be in the single digits," Link, who had already scored 14 points, said to The Madman, who only had 8.
His tone was full of disdain and contempt.
Sprewell the Madman laughed and said, "rookie, you have to understand, this is just the Preseason. No star player is going to give one hundred percent in the Preseason."
"The weak always like to make excuses for themselves." Link spread his hands, making an extremely mocking expression.
The Madman:...
By this time, over five minutes had passed in the second quarter, and the Washington Wizards called a timeout.
After the timeout, Michael Jordan was subbed in.
At this moment, Michael Jordan was very angry. He discovered that Sprewell the Madman wasn't even guarding him, but instead continued to harass Link. Sprewell was the New York Knicks' perimeter defensive specialist, dedicated to guarding the opponent's main threat. Michael Jordan felt slighted.
And Michael Jordan wasn't the only one who was angry...
Link was also very angry, seeing how The Madman, who had successfully defended him three times in a row, seemed to think he had him all figured out.
Wizards on offense...
Link had the ball at the top of the arc. Jordan wanted the ball at the left Elbow to go one-on-one against Allan Houston, who was guarding him.
At this very moment...
Link gave a large wave of his hand, pointed to the left corner, and shouted at Michael Jordan, "Michael, go stand over there..."