Rudy Gay's absence gave Lionel Hollins the illusion that the Grizzlies' offense was flowing more smoothly.
There was no doubt that Gay was the Grizzlies' leading scorer, the team's most versatile star, and the player with the most game-winning shots in clutch moments.
But at the same time, Rudy Gay's occasional hotheaded play could disrupt the Grizzlies' established game plan, turning team offense into one-on-one play.
Gay was a constant source of both love and frustration for Hollins. On one hand, he needed Gay's individual talent, that ability to take on defenders one-on-one. On the other, Gay was often uncontrollable.
Today, with Link replacing Gay in the starting lineup, Hollins instead felt that the game was flowing incredibly smoothly.
Grit and Grind were both playing to their strengths, and there were no holes in the team's defense. Hollins fell into deep thought over whether Rudy Gay was good or bad for the Grizzlies.
But he quickly came back to his senses. Rudy Gay was the team's franchise player; it wasn't up to Hollins to decide whether he was good or bad with a single remark. The high-profile drama between Deron and Sloan showed just how precarious a head coach's position on a team could be.
Even a decorated coach like Sloan couldn't afford to clash with the team's franchise player. Right now, Hollins shouldn't be worrying about whether Gay was a good fit for the Grizzlies. He needed to make the most of the players the front office had given him.
Hollins knew very well that Randolph and Gasol Jr. wouldn't have had so many chances to go one-on-one if Link hadn't been drawing defenders beyond the three-point line. In the second half, if Sloan finally decided to use his small forward to double-team the big men, Hollins could only