(TN: Bonus chapter, I've been slacking, not feeling it as much as when i started)
Player Statistics:
Although the Chicago Bulls had four players scoring in double digits, not a single one scored over 20 points. Artest was the Bulls' highest scorer with only 16 points. The other three only had just over 10 points.
One of them was Eddy Curry, who shot 3-for-7 and 1-for-2 from the Free Throw line, getting 7 points and 2 rebounds. The reason for the massive Baby Shark Eddy Curry's low shooting percentage was largely due to Link's help defense interfering after he received the ball, forcing him to either pass, get Steal-ed, or take a Tough Shot.
In a chaotic team, players often play selfishly for their next contract.
Tyson Chandler, 6 points and 4 rebounds.
It's worth noting that the Bulls' Three-Point Shot percentage tonight was a pitiful 32%, while their field goal percentage in the restricted area was only 41%.
From the data, it's clear that the Washington Wizards effectively limited their opponents' Three-Point Shot and protected the basket.
The Bulls lacked playmakers who could effectively drive and dish, and they didn't have excellent organizers to get Eddy Curry the ball in comfortable positions.
In contrast, the Washington Wizards.
Michael Jordan scored a game-high 30 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 Steal.
Brendan Haywood, tonight shot 9-for-11 and 2-for-4 from the Free Throw line, scoring a career-high 20 points, plus 7 rebounds and 2 Blocks. With these stats tonight, an uninformed person might think the league had gained another All-Star inside player.
Of course, a closer look reveals that out of Haywood's 9 made shots, 7 were 'Flying Cakes' (lobs) from Link, and the other 2 were putbacks from offensive rebounds.
Link shot 11-for-19 overall, 1-for-3 from the Three-Point Shot line, and 3-for-4 from the Free Throw line, tallying 26 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, and 2 Steals, achieving his second triple-double of the season and becoming the most dazzling player of the night.
After all, triple-doubles carried significant weight in those days. No matter who you were, getting a triple-double would surely be heavily reported by the media. A triple-double was a great honor for players in the current league; otherwise, Ricky Davis wouldn't have deliberately padded rebounds off his own basket just to get one.
However...
Link's last 2 rebounds indeed had the suspicion of being padded. No, to be precise, they *were* padded.
Haywood, as a teammate, not only boxed out for Link but even gave up a rebound that was right there, letting Link take it.
...
...
For this reason, post-game media evaluations of Link's triple-double were severely polarized.
"The New Generation All-Around Warrior!"
"Chinese Magician, Achieves Another Triple-Double, Leads Team to Victory."
"Shocking! In Less Than a Month, Link Achieves Another Triple-Double!"
"A 2001 Rookie, Shining Brightly Because of Link!"
In addition, there were:
"Washington's Homemade Triple-Double King - Link!"
"A Rookie Obsessed with Stats, He Stole Teammates' Rebounds to Get a Triple-Double!"
As for the domestic media, they were almost uniformly praising Link.
And they were praising him in all sorts of ways.
Such as, "Big Man, Big Wisdom; Haywood Definitely Gave Link 'Huazi'!" and "'Huazi' in Place, As Many Assists as You Want!"
Link, who rose from the ABCD Training Camp, has come a long way, filled with both praise and criticism. He had long been accustomed to treating "Negative Public Opinion" as motivation to move forward.
The next day, during the team's training camp, facing the Wizards' backup point guard, Tyronn Lue, Link made 4 consecutive Tough Shots.
This made Tyronn Lue approach Link with a look of resentment, complaining, "Link... it's those damn media outsiders questioning you, not me... I'm your teammate, not Japanese."
"Hehe, buddy, who told you to grow a mustache under your nose..." Link joked.
The result was...
Tyronn Lue shaved off his mustache during a timeout when he was subbed off.
This left Link not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
But then again.
Difficult Shots, after being promoted to Gold, was indeed fierce.
In today's team scrimmage...
Link cumulatively made 500 Tough Shots, promoting Difficult Shots (Silver) to Gold.
He also cumulatively delivered 500 Needle Threader Passes, promoting Needle Threader (Silver) to Gold.
The two Bronze badges he recently acquired, Charge Rebound Master and Tip-Off Maniac, were also both promoted to Silver during today's team training.
...
...
November 22, 2001!
The Washington Wizards traveled to Golden State to challenge the Warriors on the road.
Before the game began, both sides had already been "Trash-talking" online.
Warriors' starting point guard, Bob Sura, when asked by reporters how he viewed Link's triple-double performance, said dismissively, "If I had no bottom line like him, I could get a triple-double every game."
Besides Bob Sura, Jason Richardson, the Warriors' number 5 overall pick in this year's first round, also made a sarcastic remark about Link before the game, saying, "No, I don't envy his triple-double at all, because I don't want my teammates to make sacrifices."
Furthermore, the media reporters, who enjoyed stirring up trouble, exaggerated their words and relayed them to Link.
Link's answer remained as composed as ever.
"They are both very good players in the league, and I look forward to playing against them."
Seeing Link so restrained, the reporter couldn't help but press further, "Link, will you try to prove yourself in the game against them? For example, get a triple-double, or explode for 30+ points!!!"
"How is that possible? They are NBA players."
"I'm not playing in the High School League or streetball right now, how could I easily achieve such exaggerated stats?"
Link's words were incredibly humble.
This demeanor was very similar to the 'green tea bitches' on the internet in his previous life.
Hmm...
That's right.
What Link was thinking in his heart was a different scenario: getting a triple-double while also scoring 30+ points.
Just then, the system's cold, mechanical electronic voice echoed in Link's mind.
"Ding, congratulations, Host, for triggering the random mission – Dare to Dream, Dare to Do!"
"Mission Description: Achieve a 30+ point triple-double against hostile opponents."
"Mission Reward: 100 Goat Points, [Super Physique Athletic Sprint Card (Monthly)] x1."
...
...
Starting Lineups:
[Warriors]: Bob Sura, Jason Richardson, Larry Hughes, Danny Fortson, and Erick Dampier.
As for Gilbert Arenas, he was not present tonight; he was not injured but was assigned by the team to the Development League. In the first half of his rookie season, Arenas was not valued by the team, after all, he wasn't a number one draft pick...
[Washington Wizards]: Link, Michael Jordan, Richard Hamilton, Christian Laettner, and Brendan Haywood.