An Opponent One Level Stronger Than Thunder

Link's stat line of 40 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds thoroughly overshadowed both Kevin Durant and Chris Paul.

Of course, it also made Link's own MVP night even more legendary.

He had just won the unanimous MVP award, then immediately recorded a 40-point triple-double in the playoffs.

No star's MVP night could possibly have been more perfect than Link's.

At the postgame press conference, the reporters all looked disdainful. "Didn't you say this afternoon that you wouldn't compare stats with Durant? Why did you immediately go out and put up a 40-point triple-double tonight? If you say you didn't do it on purpose, no one's going to believe you."

Faced with the reporters' questions, Link looked utterly innocent.

I really wasn't trying to pad my stats, Link thought. He remembered that the first time he came out to rest, he only had 30 points.

If the Clippers hadn't suddenly cut the score to a dangerous margin, Link would never have gone back in.

Scoring 10 points in the closing moments had been entirely the result of the tactical setup. During those possessions, Link had been the Grizzlies' only offensive option, so it was only natural for his scoring to rise quickly. As for those final two rebounds, with Randolph out, it had been Link's job to clean up the boards anyway. So, Link really hadn't put up a 40-point triple-double just to make Durant lose their inevitable comparison.

"You might not believe it, but I just happened to surpass KD. That's why I said, don't ever compare stats with me." Link shrugged. If he had deliberately padded his stats, he believed he could have put up a 50-point triple-double too.

Link's words surely left Durant speechless. From stats to accolades, Link could do everything better than Durant.

Through his