Dribbling Past

"Hello, Link. That dunk you just had was spectacular. Does that mean you'll also pull out a self-toss dunk in the Slam Dunk Contest?"

Stephen A. Smith was the first to approach Link. Smith wore black-framed glasses today, making him look a little less roguish than usual.

"Maybe I will, maybe I won't. Honestly, Smith, I still haven't decided what I'm going to do in the Slam Dunk Contest." Link spread his hands, looking utterly confident.

Link was not throwing up a smokescreen. He genuinely had not made any preparations for the Slam Dunk Contest. At least, not before crushing the Thunder and reclaiming a ten-game winning streak—he had no mind for it.

"Oh? That confident? Didn't you see Damian Lillard's provocation? That kid is practically a bomb!"

"Damian really is explosive. I hope he puts up a good performance in the Slam Dunk Contest too. Well, as long as it isn't better than mine."

Smith smiled and nodded. Now that was Link's style. "One last question. Are you confident tonight? In their last game, the Trail Blazers utterly demolished the Warriors. Lillard scored 38 points and nearly made Curry cry. Are you worried about the Trail Blazers' offensive firepower?"

"Worried? Of course I'm worried. But being worried doesn't mean being afraid. Besides, we have last season's All-Defensive Second Team point guard, Mike Conley."

Link brought up Conley again, intentionally or otherwise. He genuinely hoped Conley would not be held back by his lack of exposure.

That was all Link could do. Now it depended on whether Conley himself could seize the opportunity tonight.

Finally, at 8:30 that evening, this highly anticipated showdown officially began.

The two teams' starters stepped onto the court. Link exchanged friendly hugs with the opposing stars, Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge. But that did not mean