What's going on?!
What happened?!
A fan who had just returned from the restroom was shocked to find the score had narrowed to single digits, and the crowd was in an uproar.
An even more spectacular scene was unfolding. Just as everyone was about to praise Jiang Lin, he anticipated that Nate Robinson, still behind him, might go for a fast break after a quick inbound pass. So, as soon as Conley's shot went in, Jiang Lin made a 180-degree pivot and sprinted back.
Sure enough, the high-IQ Boozer quickly inbounded the ball, throwing it towards the frontcourt.
"Damn, Nate's going to score easily!" Nate Robinson, like a black whirlwind, sprinted towards the opposite basket.
Then everyone saw a white figure accelerating towards Nate!
Nate was fast, but the ball's hang time allowed Jiang Lin to jump at the free-throw line in their half, intercepting it. He then did what he had just done.
Another 5-on-4. This time Conley was at the top of the arc, setting a pick for Jiang Lin. Jiang Lin executed a single-handed crossover, drove into the paint, deliberately paused at the free-throw line to lure Boozer out, then executed a no-look pass to Ed Davis, who slammed it home with both hands!
"Hell yeah!"
"So awesome!"
"Damn, that's incredible!" The crowd roared in delight, an explosive series of thrills!
It was like a Gatling gun spewing blue fire without any cooldown. Pure exhilaration!
A steal, a fast break, and an assist, all in one go!
The entire Grizzlies bench stood in salute.
So smooth, using streetball techniques in a game. It was simply: stylish!
The Bulls immediately called a timeout. Thibodeau glared at Nate Robinson.
Nate felt wronged. He had just made one aggressive play, not expecting such a cascade of events, including boosting the opponent's morale.
A buzz-cut Derrick Rose glanced over at the Grizzlies. They had been playing regular-season games non-stop, and he had no idea who this kid was, but he was playing fiercely.
Ed Davis chest-bumped Jiang Lin in celebration. He was thrilled with the perfect assist from Jiang Lin. Conley also high-fived Jiang Lin, praising his assist.
"Good job!" Well done!
"Good job!"
"Good job!"
"Nice job, kid!"
"Well done!" The Grizzlies' starters and bench players were all ruffling Jiang Lin's hair affectionately. He was outstanding.
Coach Hollins didn't even bother with tactics. His stern face was barely holding back a smile. They had struck gold with Jiang Lin, hitting the jackpot!
Initially, he was meant to be an offensive weapon in set plays, but he didn't even go full isolation. Both of his shots were nearly uncontested mid-range jumpers. They hadn't expected him to shoot well, especially since his tryout was mostly driving to the basket.
Plus, his defense, fast break, reaction time, and especially his hustle, showcased a rookie's necessary qualities!
Many veterans lose their drive after a few years in the league, holding back until the fourth quarter.
"Didn't teach him in vain!" Hollins patted Jiang Lin on the back, indicating he could sit down.
Ma Jian was excited: "Fearless and hardworking! The Grizzlies seem revitalized! This attitude fits the Grizzlies perfectly, very strong!"
A die-hard LeBron fan, Ma Jian had previously thought LeBron's fall was due to a shoelace incident, but today he saw Jiang Lin's spontaneous "Dragon Roll" on the floor…
Wang Zixing: "It seems the move to the Grizzlies was incredibly right! 4 points, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block. Is this an all-around guard?"
Female commentator Xiao Qi couldn't take her eyes off the screen. This was too exciting!
Barely 2 minutes into his stint, Jiang Lin was already making plays. Fans on forums were buzzing:
"Does he have ice in his veins?"
"Izanagi? The 5-on-4 king!"
"His basketball IQ is off the charts!"
"Even as a Bulls fan, I have to admit, this guy's IQ is incredible!"
"Meanwhile, the 5'9" dunk champ is just a reckless brute!"
36:31, the game resumed. The Bulls subbed in Jimmy Butler and Joakim Noah, two defensive powerhouses.
Thibodeau wasn't willing to let Rose rest for just 3 minutes before putting him back in. Rose was averaging 43 minutes per game, but against the 11th-ranked Grizzlies in the West, he deserved some rest. As for Jiang Lin, even without pre-game scouting on him, Thibodeau had a strategy: switch to a bigger, stronger defender.
The Grizzlies countered with Marc Gasol to match Noah.
The Bulls slowed the pace, grinding down the game to prevent Jiang Lin from getting in transition.
On defense, 6'7", 230-pound small forward Jimmy Butler took on Jiang Lin, bringing intense physical pressure and some borderline fouls.
Butler, the Bulls' 30th pick last year, was averaging just 7 points per game, a pure defensive role player. He now stuck to Jiang Lin like glue.
Selected to support Rose as a defensive forward, Butler would later become the hardest man in the league, even pushing Rose out of Chicago.
Seeing Jiang Lin pinned down, Conley took over ball-handling duties, passing to Gasol in the post. Gasol's hook shot over Noah missed.
Both teams entered a period of missed shots, and Jiang Lin was subbed out. He couldn't immediately adapt to the Grizzlies' system, gradually becoming a decoy to draw the opponent's best defender.
Thibodeau smirked: "Nothing more. All under control."
At halftime, the score was 43:52. The Grizzlies' comeback was quickly neutralized by Rose's return in the last 90 seconds.
During the halftime break, the Grizzlies' coaching staff analyzed the game and reached a conclusion: their defense was maxed out, but without an offensive answer to Rose, the gap naturally widened.
"Who can match Rose's offensive firepower?" Hollins asked wryly. That was the difference a superstar made.
At that moment, Jiang Lin stood up from the corner, his expression calm:
"I can."