In Game 4 of the first round, the Washington Wizards only needed three quarters to blow out the game. Uh, no, to be precise, it was two and a half quarters. In the fourth quarter, Larry Brown, seeing that the tide had turned, felt disheartened and waved his hand, making a full five-player substitution, completely surrendering.
Compared to the previous three games, Link's offense tonight was more efficient and concise, and he had more dunks.
In the first two games combined, Link only dunked 3 times.
In the third game, he dunked 3 times in a single game.
But in the fourth game, Link dunked 8 times, which was 2 more than the first three games combined.
Holy cow!
Those who didn't know might think Link was a 'low-altitude dunker.' Of course, the reason Link could dunk so many times wasn't because his jumping ability had undergone a qualitative change, but rather due to his improved game reading ability and his increasingly efficient use of his physical talents.
Link used dribbling rhythm and body fakes to anticipate his opponent's defensive footwork, thereby making reasonable and effective attacks; also, apart from Iverson, everyone else on the Philadelphia 76ers had collapsed mentally.
When players' minds collapse and they carry heavy psychological burdens, let alone communicate tacitly with teammates, it's already quite good if they can avoid zoning out on the court.
Of course...
Link's jumping talent and other aspects have indeed improved during this period.
Physical Movement Category:
Explosiveness base attribute +1, increased to 82 (86); Explosiveness base attribute +1, increased to 83 (84); Lateral Movement base attribute +1, increased to 70 (93);
Defense and Organization Category:
Steal base attribute +2, increased to 92 (97); Block base attribute +1, increased to 73 (85).
Shooting and Finishing Category:
Post Hook Shot base attribute +2, increased to 85 (95).
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Several days later, the first round of the Eastern and Western Conference playoffs concluded.
Eastern Conference:
New Jersey Nets defeated Indiana Pacers 3-1.
Detroit Pistons defeated Toronto Raptors 3-1.
Washington Wizards defeated Philadelphia 76ers 3-1.
Boston Celtics defeated Orlando Magic 3-2.
The Wizards will meet the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The situation in the Western Conference was exactly the same as in the previous life: the Kings, with the league's best record, swept the Utah Jazz 3-0.
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the SuperSonics 3-2.
The Los Angeles Lakers swept Pippen the Second and Rasheed Wallace's Portland Trail Blazers 3-0.
The Dallas Mavericks swept the Minnesota Timberwolves 3-0.
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Meanwhile, ESPN also selected the Top 10 Plays from the first round of the 2001-2002 NBA Playoffs.
Top 1: In Game 3 between the Nets and the Indiana Pacers, Jason Kidd made a no-look pass, fooling Jamal Tinsley, to Kwame Brown who suddenly cut inside. Brown received the ball and leaped for a powerful dunk, but was intercepted in mid-air by Indiana Pacers power forward Jermaine ONeal, who came from behind.
Kwame Brown, the number one draft pick bust from 2001 in his previous life, could be ranked among the top three number one draft pick busts in the entire history of the NBA. Yes, the first place, of course, goes to Bennett. However, Link's sudden emergence changed the gears of his destiny. Kwame Brown joined the New Jersey Nets as the seventh pick in the first round. Without ruthless teammates like Michael Jordan and Kobe, Kwame Brown was quite confident. In addition, with a top Passing master like shoot on the team, Kwame Brown gradually grew into a stable rotation player for the Nets, averaging as high as 29 minutes per game in the playoffs.
Top 9: In Game 2 between the San Antonio Spurs and the SuperSonics, Gary Payton drove into the paint after a pick-and-roll, and Tim Duncan, who had been beaten, chased him down from behind for a Block. A chase Block on a small guard in the paint is uncommon, but certainly not stunning. However, Duncan not only blocked the shot but also, after the Block, jumped lightly and controlled the basketball in his hands. A Block and a rebound, and he immediately passed the ball to an outside teammate, which, despite not going in, resulted in an offensive foul.
Top 8: In Game 4 between the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia, Link was mismatched defending Derrick Coleman. Coleman, who had just started and was full of Stamina, wanted to show off his face-up game against Link. Uh, as the number one draft pick in '90, Coleman in his prime could run and jump and had an excellent face-up offensive ability, but he clearly picked the wrong opponent. Coleman dribbled up to Link, just about to make a change of direction, when Link quickly made a Steal. After the Steal, Link went on a solo break, directly fast-breaking. Aaron McKie and Iverson came from left and right to double-team him. Just as Iverson was about to swat the ball away from his protected hand, Link suddenly threw the ball off the backboard. With a 'boom!', Link completed a self-oop dunk that wasn't particularly graceful.
Top 7: In Game 3 between the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia, after Allen Iverson stole Link's Passing to Michael Jordan, he demonstrated 'the fastest martial arts in the world cannot be broken.' Although Link chased frantically from behind, he could only watch Iverson lay up the ball.
Top 6: In Game 1 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers, Kobe Bryant, facing Scottie Pippen's defense, beat him with one step, drove to the basket, attracted Rasheed Wallace's defense, and then made a quick Passing to O'Neal in the low post, who then dunked for the score. The two celebrated with a high-five after the basket.
Although the estrangement and conflicts between Kobe and O'Neal have increased this season, they are still relatively united on the court, especially in the playoffs.
Top 5: In Game 1 between the Magic and Boston Celtics, Tracy McGrady beat his defender with one step, drove to the basket, and threw down a powerful dunk over Fat Head Monk.
Top 4: In Game 2 between the Detroit Pistons and Raptors, Vince Carter cut to the basket, received the ball, jumped, folded in the air to evade Ben Wallace, and then completed a reverse powerful dunk.
Top 3: In Game 4 between the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers, Link used Haywood's screen to drive into the paint, suddenly stopped short, his eyes fixed on the rolling Haywood, but the basketball in his hand was passed to Michael Jordan cutting in from the other side, who then made a layup.
Link made 1 such pass in Games 3 and 4...
Top 2: In Game 4 between the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers, Link made two consecutive difficult Fadeaway Jumpshots. ESPN even thoughtfully edited in Michael Jordan's figure; from the movements, they were highly similar.