Anthony Davis, like most young players, was full of anticipation for the playoffs.
After putting up brilliant performances in the regular season, who had not dreamed of leading their team past powerful opponents in the playoffs, cutting down every obstacle in their path and breaking out of the pack?
Anthony Davis had entertained such fantasies too. He believed the Pelicans did not have absolutely no chance of winning. Even if they truly could not win, he and the Pelicans should at least be able to cause the Grizzlies tremendous trouble.
In any case, they would not sit there and await their deaths like prey. They would fight to the bitter end, cherish every playoff game, and show off their strength to the fullest.
But after matching up with Link for just one possession, Davis came to understand the cruelty of the playoffs.
The real playoffs were even more dangerous than he had imagined.
This was different from the regular season. There was not a single easy possession here. Here, only strength earned you the right to survive.
And no one would show you mercy.
If the Grizzlies could finish off the Pelicans in four games, they would never drag it out to a fifth. If they could put the game away in three quarters, they would not battle the Pelicans until the final minute.
That was Davis's first realization about the playoffs: their opponents would do everything possible to solve the problem as quickly as they could.
After Butler made the layup, possession returned to the Pelicans.
Davis now understood clearly that going one-on-one against Link was not a wise choice. Although Davis had been the Pelicans' key to breaking the deadlock, things were different now. He had to rely on his teammates.
This time, Davis did not continue battling