Not Just a Pure Shooter

The Sioux Falls Skyforce had two rookies sent down from the NBA, so naturally, their goal for this season was the championship.

Yet this "championship-caliber team" was being held back by the Blue Team, who had won only five of their twelve games. More importantly, the Blue Team's star player, Jon Brockman, was having such a terrible game today.

"I don't know what you're doing, but I can guarantee that you're getting farther and farther away from the NBA! If you can't put up a dominant performance even in the G League, then you might as well leave early!"

After the first quarter, the only sound on the Skyforce bench was the head coach's roaring. And the person being yelled at was, naturally, Luke Ba Weiyuan, who had been completely dominated by Link in the first quarter.

Ba Weiyuan had put up 7 points and 2 rebounds in the quarter, which looked pretty decent. But all 7 of those points had come in the first four minutes, scored over Brockman. Ever since Link checked in, Ba Weiyuan had not made another basket.

It would have been one thing if he had been shut down offensively, but Ba Weiyuan had also let Link score 12 points in a single quarter. That was precisely the main reason the Skyforce were down by 7 points.

Skyforce head coach Marcus Bolton naturally did not believe Link was really that strong, so he had always thought Ba Weiyuan had underestimated his opponent and failed to take the game seriously.

Facing his coach's doubts, Ba Weiyuan had a bitter complaint he could not voice. He could hardly tell his coach, "I've already tried my best, but I still can't guard him," could he?

So, if Luke Ba Weiyuan wanted to regain his pride in the second quarter, if he still wanted to keep pushing toward the NBA, his only option was to give it everything he had.

He had to go all out against Link.

In the NBA, most players only went all out in the playoffs. But in the G League, every game had several players willing to throw caution to the wind for stats and victory.

Compared with the NBA, G League games had a rougher kind of charm. Basketball was a competitive sport, after all, and the stronger the competitive edge, the more entertaining the game was for fans.

"I understand. You won't see him jumping around again in the second quarter."

Luke Ba Weiyuan answered through gritted teeth. Being destroyed by an undrafted nobody would be humiliating beyond words. He had been a college star, someone the Trail Blazers had placed great hopes in.

So, he planned to use what he did best to fight Link.

And what was he best at? Catch-and-shooting!

Before the second quarter began, Luke Ba Weiyuan found his teammate Hassan Whiteside, who had yet to undergo socialist-style reform.

"Man, I need you to set more off-ball screens for me in the second quarter. And on defense, keep a closer eye on that yellow-skinned number five. If he dares drive into the paint, make him pay!"

Ba Weiyuan knew he had to rely on his teammates to contain Link. No one knew better than Ba Weiyuan what Link was capable of after that first quarter. If he tried to fight alone, he would likely suffer again.

Therefore, Ba Weiyuan had to use his teammates to achieve his goal. He had to win. This was not just about victory and glory—it was also about his livelihood.

Meanwhile, on the Blue Team's side, the only thing Conner wanted to do now was continue widening the gap.

Leading the Skyforce by 7 points after just one quarter was something Conner had not even dared imagine before the game. But Link, that X-factor, had truly made an impact, filling the bald coach with delight.

So, he decided to send out his strongest lineup next.

"What!? You want me to play with that idiot at the same time!?"

When Brockman heard that he would be on the court alongside Link, he resisted with all his heart. For Link's sake, the head coach had actually pushed him back to the power forward position. To Brockman, that felt even worse than being dominated by Ba Weiyuan.

Making room for an undrafted player? What a joke!

"First, Link is not an idiot. He's your teammate, and he scored 12 points over the guy who was dominating you! Second, if you don't want to play power forward or don't want to play at all, then you can warm the bench. I don't mind in the slightest."

Conner's attitude was extremely firm. He did not care who was undrafted and who had been sent down from the NBA. He only knew that anyone who could lead the team to victory was a good player!

With Conner putting it that way, Brockman could not really argue. No matter how upset he was, he could only obey when the time came.

"The rest of you, set more screens for Link and get him the ball more often. I need to give him easy shooting opportunities. Only then can we win this game. Is there anyone here who wants to lose to those bastards from Miami!?"

"No!"

"Good." Conner nodded in satisfaction. "Then do it!"

As the second quarter began, the Blue Team's lineup caught the commentators' attention. Upshaw, Link, and Brockman were all on the court together. This combination clearly maximized the Blue Team's offensive firepower.

"Can that miraculous number five keep up his first-quarter form? We've seen plenty of players suddenly catch fire and put up dazzling stats. But most of them usually aren't consistent enough. In the second quarter, the Blue Team may still run their offense through Brockman."

At the commentary table, the analysts still did not think highly of Link. Players scoring big in one quarter before fading away was common even in the NBA. In their eyes, Conner had put Brockman and Link on the floor together as a double insurance policy.

But in reality, he had only sent Brockman in because he hoped that the "Big White Bear" could properly play the role of a blue-collar worker beside Link...

Thus, on the first possession after the second quarter began, Brockman was forced to set an off-ball screen for Link.

"What are you standing around for? Are you waiting for me to take you out!? Screen! Set a screen for your teammate!"

Conner's shout left Brockman with no choice but to compromise, because the first quarter had already proven that this bald coach really would glue him to the bench. He meant what he said.

So, Brockman set an off-ball screen for the running Link. And sure enough, Brockman's screens were more than good enough for the G League. He had often done this kind of work back in college.

Besides hating Link, Brockman also hated Luke Ba Weiyuan, who had humiliated him today. Therefore, Brockman's screen was extremely physical.

With Brockman's help, Link had an even easier time shaking Ba Weiyuan. After losing Ba Weiyuan and receiving the ball, Link deliberately gave a pump fake beyond the three-point line.

Luke Ba Weiyuan, rushing over, leaped high into the air, but his desperate attempt at defense failed. After faking Ba Weiyuan into the air, Link immediately drove with the ball. It had only been a fake shot, and Ba Weiyuan had been completely fooled!

"Damn it!" Luke Ba Weiyuan twisted his head around in panic while still in the air. If he let his opponent score again, he would be utterly disgraced.

However, his good teammate Whiteside had not forgotten their earlier conversation. The beast in the paint lunged out, ready to help defend.

It had to be said that the instant Link saw Whiteside, a terrifying sense of pressure crashed over him. Even with Aged Hill's abilities, Link did not want to challenge this beast's authority.

So, just as Link and Whiteside were about to collide, the yellow-skinned number five forward suddenly fired a bounce pass.

The basketball slipped past Whiteside's legs and darted into the paint! At that moment, Brockman, who had just finished setting the screen for Link, had cut perfectly to the basket and caught the ball!

"What!?"

Everyone was stunned. In such a cramped space, he could still bounce the ball into his teammate's hands. Was this guy really a 2.03-meter-tall forward?

Meanwhile, everyone on Blue Team, Brockman included, was stunned. They all knew exactly what kind of relationship Link and Brockman had—just yesterday, the two had been trading trash talk on the practice court. But today, Link had actually passed to Brockman!?

Brockman did not dwell on it. Whiteside had stepped out, leaving the paint completely empty. After being humiliated by Ba Weiyuan for an entire quarter, how could Brockman pass up such a chance to make a statement?

So after catching the ball, he took two long strides and threw down a two-handed slam!

The whole arena erupted. Right at the start of the second quarter, Blue Team had delivered a beautiful offensive play for the home crowd!

"Beautiful pass! Damn, this guy should be playing in the NBA!"

At the commentary desk, the announcers had already been won over by Link's performance. From the slick separation to the convincing pump fake, then the exquisite bounce pass... although Brockman scored in the end, Link was undoubtedly the brightest star of that possession.

After scoring, Brockman looked at Link in surprise, but Link merely tilted his head.

He admitted that he did not like that white forward who had called him a weakling. But during a game, for the sake of victory and a better performance, Link had no choice but to temporarily put his personal bias aside.

On that last possession, which was more eye-catching—missing a shot over Whiteside's defense to draw attention, or delivering a brilliant pass? Even a child knew the answer.

Therefore, Link's choice could both improve team chemistry and show off his abilities more effectively. It was killing two birds with one stone.

"I always thought Link was purely a shooter, but it seems his ability to attack off the dribble and read the game is outstanding as well. Just like you said, this guy should be playing in the NBA."

The commentators were still amazed by Link's pass. Without a doubt, Link had also shattered the impression that he was merely a pure shooter.

In fact, Grant Hill in the twilight of his career had not been just a shooter either. On those Suns teams with Nash, he had been the team's second playmaker.

A pass like that was merely a simple trick to Link.

Luke Ba Weiyuan suddenly realized that his opponent seemed to be more than just an accurate shooter. Sending Whiteside over to help did not appear to be having much effect.

If his opponent ended up with a double-double today...

Ba Weiyuan did not dare think any further. He only hoped his nightmare would end sooner.