"Wow, what a beautiful pass. Link finished the answer-ball, a perfect response to Jason Williams," the commentator said with a smile.
On the court, White Chocolate also smiled and gave a thumbs-up to Link after seeing him deliver such a brilliant pass.
White Chocolate brought the ball to the top of the key, ran a high-screen pick and roll with Pau Gasol, and lowered his Center of gravity to drive right. Facing Link, who was half a beat slow in recovering after being delayed, White Chocolate looked like he was going to use his Speed to force a breakthrough. But in the next instant, with a "thud," he performed a behind-the-back dribble, switching to his left hand while sliding his body through the gap between Link and Popeye Jones.
Even though this was at the Washington Wizards' home court, the MCI Center in Washington, the fans couldn't help but cheer for White Chocolate's spectacular move. "Wow!" "Wow!" "Wow!"
"White Chocolate!"
Exclamations from the fans echoed throughout the arena.
Laettner from the Wizards tried to come over for help defense, but he was simply too slow. White Chocolate broke through to the basket first, leaving Laettner with no choice but to foul and pull him down.
Fans and opponents alike seem to have a soft spot for players with a flashy style. The usually arrogant Christian Laettner not only made sure he was safe but even personally apologized: "My bad, man!"
White Chocolate smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
Facing the White Chocolate who was putting on a show for the whole arena, Link couldn't resist competing with him.
Link held the ball at the 45-degree angle on the left wing outside the three-point line. Popeye Jones came up for a fake pick and roll and a short roll. Link suddenly accelerated, using his strength advantage to lean into White Chocolate before driving forward a step. This left the Grizzlies Team's Center, Pau Gasol, a bit torn between his defensive assignments. Unsure of which one to guard, he could only stretch out his long arms to try and interfere with Link's pass.
But Link suddenly performed a spin move like a top, his body rotating 360 degrees...
The next moment!
"Wow!"
"Wow!"
"Ah..."
"What a shame."
The fans' cheers rang out, but they quickly turned into sighs.
During Link's spin move, the basketball in his hand disappeared. Of course, he hadn't lost his dribble; he had slung a lateral pass. However, this fake-out pass, which fooled everyone on the court, also successfully deceived his own teammate.
It was so sudden that Popeye Jones failed to catch it.
"rookie, don't get flashy!" Jordan said grumpily as he headed back for defense.
Link rolled his eyes and didn't say much.
Are you kidding? Do you know how many benefits there are to playing flashy? Even if your status in the NBA isn't that high, twenty years later, fans will be helping you restore high-definition videos of your plays. You should know that this is a level of treatment many champions and members of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team don't even get.
Of course... as the highest temple of basketball in the world, the forty-plus players in the NBA are all world-class. Showboating once or twice is fine, but if you try to do it all the time, you'll only be met with turnovers.
Soon, while facing Link's tight defense, White Chocolate's between-the-legs pass was read. Link clamped his legs, reached down with his long arms, and made the Steal.
Link pushed the counterattack. Facing Shane Battier in a random mismatch, Link used a stop-and-go move followed by a wide crossover. His whole body moved like a pendulum, and with a "thud," the ball bounced off the floor to his right hand. However, before he could firmly grasp it, Battier suddenly lunged forward and completed the Steal.
"Oh, no!"
"Even though Link's crossover is very wide and his Center of gravity is relatively low for players of his position, it's still a bit high compared to a 191cm point guard."
"Yeah, a crossover without enough overall Speed is very difficult to pull off against an elite defender like Shane Battier."
After Battier completed the Steal, his teammate Richard Hamilton rushed to help. To prevent the opponent from getting an easy layup, he committed a tactical foul.
At the same time, the Washington Wizards' head coach promptly called a timeout.
"Link, don't rush. Calm your mind first," assistant coach Larry Drew patiently advised Link.
The scene of being stripped by Battier had happened quite a few times in past preseason games. Moves that were unstoppable in high school often resulted in turnovers in the NBA due to unrefined technique, an inability to read the defense at the highest level, and a lack of sufficient athletic talent.
Of course...
The coaching staff hoped to see players who weren't afraid to try moves on the court despite making mistakes.
...
...
The timeout ended, and the game resumed.
Link reined in his flashy style and began to play more rationally and steadily.
Using Popeye Jones's screens, Link repeatedly broke into the paint, either scoring, Passing to teammates, or punishing Pau Gasol with mid-range jumpers when he tried to drop back and camp under the basket.
The defensively weak White Chocolate couldn't stop Link at all, allowing the Washington Wizards' home fans to witness the prowess of the number one draft pick once again.
Facing guards with smaller frames and poor physical strength, Link could play with ease, dominating the court just like he did in high school.
The Wizards seized the opportunity to go on an 18-6 run.
The first quarter ended with the score at 38 to 30, with the Wizards leading their opponents by 8 points.
The second quarter began, and the Wizards' starting lineup did not include Michael Jordan. After all, the old man was already 38 years old, and besides, the preseason wasn't his stage.
The Wizards' coaching staff also intended to develop their rookies.
The Grizzlies Team's Pau Gasol was the first to assert himself. Facing the Wizards' rookie big man, Brendan Haywood, he displayed the elegance of the "King of Europe."
Pau Gasol drove to the basket, holding the ball high in a Statue of Liberty style. After charging into the paint, he finished with a power dunk.
A few possessions later, Pau Gasol caught a mismatch against Link in a half-court set and immediately began to back him down with power.
Link, defending with all his might, was only knocked back half a step and didn't lose his defensive position. But in the next instant, Link felt the pressure in front of him vanish as a white whirlwind swept past his right side. A "bang" echoed in Link's ears, followed by the buzzing vibration of the rim.
"Wow..."
"Well..."
"Pau Gasol's basket will undoubtedly make today's Top 10 plays—no, even the Top 10 plays of this entire preseason!"
"Our number one draft pick was unfortunately turned into a Poster by Pau Gasol this time!!!"
Pau Gasol spun past his defender from the post and completed the dunk, turning Link into a "Poster."
"Link, sorry!" Brendan Haywood said somewhat sheepishly.
It was because Haywood was late on his defensive rotation that Link had to step up to help.
"It's fine..." Link waved his hand, but his eyes flickered with a surging, wave-like fighting spirit!