Before this game began, even Grizzlies fans had found it hard to imagine that they could win.
After all, the Warriors were no ordinary opponent. They had stormed to 67 wins in the regular season.
What was more, after unleashing the Death Five lineup, the Warriors had become even stronger.
Everyone acknowledged that beating the Warriors without Link would be an extremely difficult task.
Yet the reality now was that, with one minute left in the game, the Warriors trailed the Grizzlies by 23 points...
This was the Warriors' largest deficit of the entire playoffs so far!
Link was already seated comfortably on the bench. More precisely, he had begun resting two minutes earlier.
Just as planned, Link had not played many minutes today, logging only 25.
But his performance had not suffered in the slightest because of his reduced playing time.
24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. Even wearing thick protective gear, Link was still the best player on the court today.
His efficiency was terrifying. Though he had driven and dunked less often, Link had solved most of the problems with his shooting and defense.
Many star players went through a painful adjustment period after their athleticism declined.
If a player could find a new way to survive during that time, his remaining prime might last for several more years.
But if he could still rely only on his declining physical gifts, his dominance on the court would only grow weaker and weaker.
Kobe found a new path after his athleticism declined. His post-up fadeaway jumper and array of exquisite skills helped him win his final two championships.
What about Howard? Tormented by back injuries and advancing age, he had drifted farther and farther from his peak. Yet even now, he was still