(TN: Another Bonus Chapter)
With 1 minute and 32 seconds left in the game, Indiana Pacers Point Guard Jamal Tinsley passed the ball to Jermaine O'Neal, a pass that evaded Laettner's semi-fronting defense.
Jamal Tinsley's Passing ability was quite good; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to record 23 assists in a single game during his rookie season.
Moreover... on the 26th of last month, in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jamal Tinsley recorded a 5x5 with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 15 assists, 6 Steals, and 5 blocks, becoming the first player in NBA history to record a 5x5 in his rookie season.
If Link hadn't recorded three triple-doubles last month and had overall stats significantly better than Jamal Tinsley's, it would have been hard to say who would have won the Eastern Conference rookie of the month.
"Bang!" Jermaine O'Neal, who had just caught the pass, immediately collided with Link, who had suddenly appeared.
Link immediately fought for the ball.
Link, who possessed the [Clamp Handles (Silver)] badge, had a very strong grip, but his opponent was a legitimate interior player after all. With a gap in strength and weight, it was naturally impossible to snatch the ball directly from him.
But fortunately, through Link's gritted-teeth persistence, he managed to force a jump ball.
"Boo!"
"Boo!"
"Boo!"
The fans at the arena were also letting out waves of boos.
"This kid's interior defensive awareness... is it really this good? It's not worse than many NBA starting Power Forwards." The Indiana Pacers' head coach, Isiah Thomas, couldn't help but feel a bit stunned.
As the leader of the iron-blooded Detroit Pistons' "Bad Boys," Isiah Thomas clearly saw that Link had already started moving slowly before Tinsley made the pass. The moment the ball left Tinsley's hand, Link suddenly burst forward. One must know that Tinsley's Passing intention wasn't obvious, and Reggie Miller's off-ball movement had also drawn a lot of defensive attention.
How did Link see through it?
Link and Jermaine O'Neal jumped for the ball.
*Whistle!*
The referee's whistle blew.
Link only gave a symbolic jump. Uh... was this a joke? At this stage, Jermaine O'Neal was a pogo stick, and his standing reach exceeded Link's; there was no way Link could compete with him.
Link jumped low, but he landed fast... Having activated [Dominance Moment: Rebound Maniac] Lv1, Link was somewhat surprised to find that this thing allowed him to see the landing point of the jump ball. He arrived a step ahead and grabbed the ball before Reggie Miller could.
As a court veteran, Reggie Miller immediately played rough with Link, hacking at the ball with great speed. With players crowded together, *Slap!*, several red marks immediately appeared on Link's arm. But even so, Link still squeezed the ball with both hands, hunching over and keeping it tight against his chest.
Only then was the ball considered completely secured.
1 minute and 26 seconds remaining.
The Washington Wizards' clutch shot would naturally be left to Michael Jordan.
Link's Stamina in the fourth quarter... was already at a point where it was difficult to make moves. Even if he forced them, they would be severely distorted, and his shooting percentage couldn't be guaranteed.
Link was responsible for clearing the lanes, opening up an isolation area on the offensive weak side for him, while also preparing for the possibility of Jordan Passing the buck.
Would Jordan pass the buck?
Steve Kerr would have the most to say about this question.
Of course, whether Jordan would pass the buck depended on the opponent's double-team scheme.
There are actually many types of double-teams: double-teaming on the catch, double-teaming on the dribble.
To break it down further, it depends on the offensive zone, such as double-teaming when someone drives into the paint.
After Michael Jordan caught the ball, he faced his old rival Reggie Miller and attempted a hesitation move, but it didn't fool Miller, who stayed glued to him. Michael Jordan, nearly exhausted, wanted to pull up for a jumper, but Jalen Rose suddenly came over to double-team him while the others rotated defensively.
Jamal Tinsley moved toward Link, but Michael Jordan was a step faster and got the ball to Link.
1 minute and 2 seconds remaining!
Link caught the ball, and Tinsley was right in front of him. Link didn't rely on his height to shoot over him; instead, he performed a Curry-style behind-the-back dribble followed by a half-step side-step. After creating space, he took the shot.
*Clang!*
*Clang!*
The basketball bounced twice on the rim and finally fell in.
Although Link couldn't complete advanced shooting moves while driving in the fourth quarter, a catch-and-shoot like this was definitely not a problem... As for Curry's behind-the-back dribble, it was Link's first time using it tonight.
Despite having equipped Curry's behind-the-back move set, Link's current ball-handling and body coordination only allowed him to perform a large behind-the-back dribble under relatively static conditions; he couldn't do it while on the move.
92 to 88!
Not much time left for the Indiana Pacers.
57 seconds remaining!
Reggie Miller's frantic off-ball movement made it seem like he was back in his prime. Jordan was also using every ounce of strength he had to desperately chase and defend.
From the live footage, you couldn't tell at all that these were two veterans.
Reggie Miller caught the ball and immediately put it up...
Jordan also leaped up fiercely.
"Fuck!"
After shooting, Reggie Miller felt a pang of regret. Although he hadn't been blocked by Michael Jordan, the trajectory of the ball in the air was off. Sure enough, the shot missed.
A crowd of people under the basket fought for the rebound.
The sounds of various muscle collisions were clearly audible to the fans in the front rows.
But Link, who had activated his Rebound Maniac dominance, picked up the long rebound from Reggie Miller's miss right at the free-throw line.
"Foul him!"
"Foul him!"
Reggie Miller shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice nearly cracking.
Jermaine O'Neal rushed over and fouled Link, sending him to the free-throw line.
In the clutch, Link went 2-for-2.
38 seconds remaining!
94 to 88!
That's a 6-point gap.
For the trailing team, 4 points and 6 points are two completely different levels of pressure.
24 seconds remaining.
This time, Reggie Miller seized the opportunity, hitting a crucial Three-Point Shot over Michael Jordan's defense.
94 to 91!
Leading by 3 points, the Washington Wizards naturally weren't in a hurry to attack, waiting for the opponent to foul.
2 seconds remaining.
Michael Jordan was sent to the free-throw line.
"Reggie..."
"You lost again."
Michael Jordan said to Reggie Miller before his free throws.
"Michael, you might not make them," Miller said.
"What? Are you kidding me, man?" Michael Jordan said with a smile as he made both free throws.
Both free throws were good!
96 to 91!
The Indiana Pacers went for a quick attack.
But the Wizards used quick defensive rotations and tacit communication to make the Indiana Pacers' possession take 12 seconds.
8 seconds remaining...
Reggie Miller was double-teamed and passed the ball to Jalen Rose. Link stepped up and leaped with all his might; although he didn't get the block, he managed to interfere, and the opponent's Three-Point Shot missed.
Link once again scavenged a rebound...
This time, without the Rebound Maniac dominance, he grabbed the Defensive Rebound.
4 seconds remaining.
Link walked to the free-throw line.
Link made 1 out of 2 free throws...
97 to 91!
With no timeouts left, the Indiana Pacers could only shoot as soon as they crossed half-court...
"Bang!"
"Swish!"
Reggie Miller's long-range Three-Point Shot banked in.
97 to 94!
But at that moment, the red light on the game clock also lit up.
And the Indiana Pacers' head coach, Isiah Thomas, now had his hands on his head, a look of helplessness on his face.