Under Link's relentless pressure, Kobe Bryant drove to the basket, swinging his lead arm to shield the ball as he bypassed the defense. Entering the paint, he faced the iron-man Mourning, who had subbed in for Uncle Mu, and converted a double-clutch layup. Of course, after making the shot, Kobe also took a tumble and rolled on the floor.
107 to 109. With 5 minutes left in the game, Kobe's basket put them ahead of the Eastern Conference All-Stars by 2 points once again.
The Eastern Conference All-Stars' lineup on the floor at this time included Link, Michael Jordan, Carter, and Mourning, as well as Jermaine O'Neal, who had replaced the Fat Head Monk.
Uh...
Although the Fat Head Monk was a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Stars, his performance on the court was terrible. Consequently, he had to be subbed out during the closing stages of the game.
"rookie... you can't stop me at all." As of now in the fourth quarter, Kobe, who was 5-for-8 with 12 points, started trash-talking Link again.
Looking back at Link...
He was 2-for-4 in the fourth quarter with 4 points, but he also had 2 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1 Steal to his name.
"Kobe, if you keep being this selfish, you won't have any friends," Link complained about Kobe taking four consecutive shots.
"rookie, as long as you win, you'll never lack friends," Kobe replied with a killing blow.
Link was momentarily speechless. Even though Kobe was being incredibly selfish in the fourth quarter, the players on the court trusted him. Even his teammate with whom he had a rift, Shaquille O'Neal, was the same.
The reason was exactly as Kobe said... he could score. He could hit those seemingly impossible shots.
...
...
Link ran a high-post pick-and-roll with Jermaine O'Neal. Kobe didn't fight through the screen in time, but his pursuit Speed was very fast. Seeing the defense closing in, Link suddenly gathered the ball for a hop-step, but instead of going toward the basket, he hopped to the left. Kobe couldn't keep up, but Garnett came flying in from the wing like a giant spider from the sky. His defense was truly suffocating.
After landing from the hop-step, Link immediately sprang up for a shot. Just as Garnett was about to block it, he changed his mind mid-air. The [Relief Passer (bronze)] badge instantly took effect. Using every ounce of strength he had, he threw the ball behind his head. Vince Carter caught it and, with a smooth release, nailed the Three-Point Shot.
The moment the shot went in, the live commentator couldn't help but shout: "Nice pass!"
111 to 109. The Eastern Conference All-Stars had overtaken the West by 1 point once again.
After the basket, an excited Carter performed his takeoff celebration.
"rookie..."
"Are you scared? You actually chose to pass. With your ability, you could have totally taken that shot yourself."
Kobe walked over and said at this moment.
On the court, Kobe's devotion to basketball was extremely pure, but he was no simpleton. On the contrary, he was incredibly cunning and possessed a terrifying insight into human psychology. He was particularly skilled at using trash talk to manipulate an opponent's emotions, though his trash talk wasn't just pure profanity. He and O'Neal would double-team young players who were talented but hadn't secured a big contract yet. This way, the player seeking a big deal would have no shots and no stats, leading them to complain and further spark internal strife with the teammates who already had big contracts.
In his past life, the "Detail" show Kobe did after retirement was like a "Death Note"; every time he analyzed a player's strengths and weaknesses, that player's performance would drop significantly. Of course, the players he spoke highly of, such as the young Antetokounmpo and the "Big Honey" Jokic, both became MVPs in the future and won their own championship rings. As a side note, Ben Simmons was the only player who felt Kobe was being too meddlesome...
It was just that he had now encountered the thick-skinned Link.
"Wow!" Link looked at Kobe with feigned surprise and said, "Kobe... haha, you really do have a good eye. You're right, I do have the killer gene in me... No, what I have in me is the gene of the King of Killers."
"It's just that... I am also the God of Point Guards!"
Kobe:...
God of Point Guards?
Is this something you can just crown yourself with? You're a First-Year rookie and you're already this shameless. Why don't you just call yourself the GOAT while you're at it?
...
...
With 1 minute and 5 seconds remaining, Link drove after a screen and hop-stepped to the left. Then, he faked a pass and took the shot, fooling Garnett who was trying to help on defense. 116 to 116, the two sides were tied again.
After the basket, Link smiled and said to Kobe, "Kobe, you were right, I really am the Mid-Range King."
Kobe:...
After two seconds of silence, Kobe whispered, "I never said that."
Double-teamed by Michael Jordan and Link, Kobe passed the ball to Kevin Garnett, who hit a "blood-and-iron jumper" over the rotating defense of Jermaine O'Neal. 118 to 116, the West led by 2.
"Wow... Kobe, I didn't expect you to be too afraid to even take that shot!" Link said.
Kobe ignored him.
The forty-year-old Michael Jordan wanted to step up and take over the game. After a series of jab steps, he drove into the paint, only to be swatted away by Tim Duncan.
Francis saved the ball and gave it to Kobe, who took it for a full-court fast break. Carter chased him frantically, forcing Kobe to come to a stop. In terms of pure leaping and running talent, Carter was superior to Kobe.
Kobe was double-teamed again and passed to O'Neal, who backed down Mourning but was met by Jermaine O'Neal for a help-side block. It was obvious from this offensive attempt that O'Neal's body was heavy and fatigued, which was related to his continuously increasing weight.
If it were the O'Neal from last year, he likely would have dunked that ball in.
But now, O'Neal's Stamina clearly couldn't keep up.
...
...
With 32 seconds left on the clock, the score was 120 to 120, tied once again.
It was the West's possession. Duncan held the ball at the high post to facilitate, while O'Neal compressed the interior defense on the right side of the basket. Kobe curled and cut to the left. After receiving the ball, Jermaine O'Neal and Link double-teamed him again. Kobe didn't rush the pass; instead, before the double-team could fully form, he shifted his feet and hit a turnaround fadeaway.
122 to 120, the West led by 2.
There were only 13 seconds left in the game.
The East used their last timeout of regulation. Inbound pass from the sideline.
"Who will take the final shot?"
"Is that even a question? It has to be Michael!"
"Hmm..."
While the fans in the stands were discussing, the East's sideline ball was inbounded. Just as they thought, it was indeed Michael Jordan who caught the ball;
After receiving the ball, Michael Jordan drove to the left. Francis and Kobe double-teamed him. Link at the top of the arc moved another step to the right. Michael Jordan passed the buck, and Link took the responsibility.
2 seconds!
Bending his knees, he jumped!
0.8 seconds!
The basketball clearly left his fingertips.
With a *swish*...
The Three-Point Shot went in!
A buzzer-beater!
After the shot, a trace of a smile crossed Link's lips, but in the next instant, Kobe noticed that this damn rookie actually had a look of heartache on his face.