This statement startled Thibodeau, who was about 10 meters away. Was this some sort of practice match? How much confidence did they have?
Giving the offensive reins to a rookie? That was courting disaster.
A string of turnovers awaited, he thought.
But he was wrong because he hadn't seen Jiang Lin play for the Lakers, and he was about to pay for that oversight.
Speights immediately passed the ball to Jiang Lin, and Conley moved to the wing to provide support.
This might be why Conley never made an All-Star team. He didn't have that dominant personality.
Nate Robinson, the 5'9" dunk champion, stepped up to guard Jiang Lin. To avoid being stripped, Jiang Lin kept his dribble low. Nate, thinking he could bully the rookie, went for a gamble.
"Hey, you underestimate me!" Jiang Lin quickly crossed over and bypassed Nate's steal attempt, then accelerated to find his rhythm and pulled up for a jumper at the free-throw line.
"Jiang Lin with the mid-range jumper!!"
The ball traced a beautiful arc and, with a swish, went through the net!
"It's good!"
Nate, trailing behind, couldn't contest due to his height disadvantage.
Jiang Lin seamlessly joined the defense, marking the Italian sharpshooter Marco Belinelli, who was elusive but couldn't shake Jiang Lin's coverage.
The ball went inside to Boozer, who used a trebuchet-style jump shot but missed.
"That form is bizarre…" Jiang Lin found Boozer's shooting form amusing, though it had troubled many defenders, including Yao Ming, in the past.
On the next possession, Jiang Lin controlled the ball again. Conley called for a pick-and-roll at the top, keeping it simple with center Ed Davis.
Nate wasn't fully screened, but Jiang Lin used a behind-the-back dribble to bypass the pick, using Davis as a natural barrier. As Nate closed in, Jiang Lin pulled up for another quick jumper, and it was good again!
36:26
With Jiang Lin's consecutive mid-range shots, the score gap narrowed to under 10 points.
**ESPN Commentator:** "Wow, this rookie, signed just yesterday, has hit two mid-range shots to bring the Grizzlies closer. He's providing significant offensive firepower!"
The crowd's cheers grew louder. If the first shot was due to Nate's mistake, the second was purely Jiang Lin's skill.
"This rookie is so steady!"
"Most rookies are jittery, but JIANG's offense is calm and composed. He's perfectly fitting into the team!"
Coach Hollins and Wallace exchanged nods, satisfied with Jiang Lin's performance. This was exactly what they wanted.
Tony Allen waved a towel and joked, "He's really hitting hard in practice. He doesn't even need to show his streetball moves in games, too easy!"
Zach Randolph added, "He's pacing himself. He's planning his energy well!"
Jiang Lin's consecutive scores delighted the fans, with some Chinese supporters in the crowd faintly shouting, "Go Jiang Lin!" and "So handsome!"
Nate Robinson, heated up, tried to use his speed to drive into the paint. However, he underestimated the speed of an Asian player. Just like how Su Bingtian's start is faster than other sprinters, Jiang Lin's quick steps caught up to Nate.
Jiang Lin blocked Nate's shot, timing his jump perfectly with his 6'7" wingspan, swatting the ball away.
"He blocked Nate!! And Nate is faster than Rose!"
"But height is a limiting factor."
"Jiang Lin's defensive footwork is impressive!"
The Grizzlies' bench was on their feet. They hadn't seen much of Jiang Lin's defense and were impressed.
On the Bulls' bench, Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler began to take notice of the Asian player.
Nate protested to the referee, claiming a foul. He couldn't believe he had been blocked by a rookie. At this time, no one questioned Nate's skills, as he was considered the best 5'9" player.
Jiang Lin's chest felt like it was on fire from the physical play. Nate's athleticism was no joke. Every play in the NBA was intense.
But his passion was ignited.
Ed Davis retrieved the ball, and Jiang Lin called for it, but the pass was weak. Nate lunged for the ball.
Everyone thought it would be a turnover, but Jiang Lin dove to the floor, hooked the ball with his right hand, dodging Nate's lunge. Then, in a remarkable display, he rolled over and got up in one smooth motion, maintaining his dribble.
"Whoa??"
"What kind of move is that??"
"Is this even legal??"
The referee was stunned by the fluidity, unsure if there was any violation, but Jiang Lin was already sprinting toward the frontcourt.
Rose, recognizing the move, gasped. He knew exactly what it was.
It was the streetball move "The Dragon," executed perfectly for the situation, allowing Jiang Lin to save the possession.
With everyone hyped up, Jiang Lin focused on the 5-on-4 break as Nate struggled to catch up. Jiang Lin accelerated, becoming a white blur racing down the court.
"Stop the ball handler!! Block him!" Thibodeau yelled from the sidelines. This guy was too smart for a rookie!
Belinelli stepped up to stop Jiang Lin, but as Jiang Lin reached him, he jumped and passed the ball to Conley in the corner, Belinelli's assigned defender.
With no one around him, Conley calmly sank the three-pointer!
The Grizzlies were rampaging!!!