The Veteran Who Played a Key Role

On the second day of the 2013–14 playoffs, there were noticeably fewer upsets than on the first day.

The second-seeded Miami Heat in the East easily defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 99–88, avoiding the same fate as the top-seeded Pacers. The fourth-seeded Clippers in the West also took down the Houston Rockets. Just as Link had predicted, Harden and Howard were completely lost in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the highly anticipated Memphis Grizzlies created the biggest margin of victory that day, winning by 19 points.

Before the game, people had talked endlessly about how strong the Mavericks were, saying they were far more than just an ordinary eighth seed in the West.

But after only one game, Link had silenced them all.

The strongest eighth seed in history? The Grizzlies specialized in beating the strongest teams in history!

From Link's one-handed dunk on the very first possession, the Mavericks had been utterly hopeless. Their mobility, offense, defense, efficiency... in nearly every category, they were more than a tier below the Grizzlies.

The only two statistical categories in which the Mavericks had more than the Grizzlies were fouls and turnovers.

After that game, it was Cuban's turn to believe that silence was golden.

Before the game, he had arrogantly believed the Mavericks could give the 74-win Grizzlies trouble. But after it ended, Cuban was left speechless.

Even though Link had been disrespectful toward Cuban in an interview the night before, Cuban offered no response whatsoever.

After losing by 19 points, what was there left to say? Even if Cuban talked until the sky split open, his words would carry no conviction.

Besides Mark Cuban, the NBA itself was surely troubled now.

The Grizzlies had made the entire series seem devoid of suspense after just one game, which would undoubtedly affect ratings and revenue.