After the head coach's rhetorical question, the locker room fell into an eerie silence. Then, a confident figure stepped forward and calmly made a statement.
What a show-off!
"You've got to be kidding…" Tony Allen thought Jiang Lin was getting carried away.
"Hey, kid, don't be reckless," Rudy Gay added, still catching his breath.
A guard matching up against Rose?
In their minds, only players like Westbrook or Harden could pull that off.
The reason the Grizzlies struggled when Rose was on the floor wasn't just because of poor defense. Rose's shots were difficult; Tony Allen had been guarding him tightly.
The main issue was that Rose was not only an elite offensive point guard but also a top-tier defender. His athleticism, strength, and speed were unmatched among guards, making him an all-around threat.
Last season, Rose averaged 21.8 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 0.7 blocks per game. That said it all.
Other players might score against him, but a guard going head-to-head with him? That was insane!
He was the youngest MVP in history, the previous year's Eastern Conference top seed!
The entire coaching staff looked at Jiang Lin. His first-half performance was outstanding, even forcing the opposing team to use their best defensive forward against him, easing the pressure on Gay. But it clearly wasn't enough.
Hollins said, "You? You managed only two free throws against Butler, who's already defending you aggressively."
The defensive coach added, "If you're going to go head-to-head with Rose, he might have Hamilton or Butler alongside him. Can you handle that?"
Jiang Lin smiled, "No problem. In the first half, I didn't focus much on scoring. I practiced some key plays on the court. In the second half, if I play more selfishly, I can definitely match him. Just give me the ball!"
A collective gasp filled the room… So, he wasn't being shut down, but was running team plays instead? No wonder he created opportunities for Randolph and Gasol inside, and for Gay at the top of the arc. Everyone thought he was being cautious due to the opponent's defense.
The scariest part was that, upon reflection, Jiang Lin seemed to have executed the plays perfectly. He even managed to get an open three-pointer, though he missed it, the opportunity was there.
He had only trained for one day!
What kind of basketball IQ was this? He chased the score a bit, kept the gap manageable, and then facilitated plays for the main lineup.
This kind of game management… it felt like playing 2K, with the best player taking over in crunch time to catch up.
Middle-aged coach Hollins raised an eyebrow. Thinking back, the score gap widened precisely after Jiang Lin was subbed out, just as Rose came back in. They had missed each other.
Before Hollins could respond, the players erupted:
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"Why didn't you play more selfishly earlier?"
"Please, play more selfishly!" Tony Allen almost cried. He had 0 points and 3 fouls in the first half, feeling utterly useless.
Jiang Lin gestured for everyone to calm down: "That's why I stood up. I said I could match him. I can't guarantee I'll stop him, but offensively, I'm fully confident."
Everyone looked at the head coach. They had experienced Jiang Lin's 5-on-5 style firsthand. It was smooth, having such a teammate was a joy. Conversely, facing such a player as an opponent was a nightmare.
Because!
This guy was too smart. Maybe it was his high basketball IQ, maybe his explosive ball-handling skills, but he always managed to trick defenders, creating favorable matchups and delivering precise passes to open teammates.
Like Conley, who hadn't had a completely open three-point look in ages. Such opportunities are usually converted 90% of the time by professional players.
So honestly, the starters wanted him to play more.
Whether out of a desire for easier scoring or curiosity about Jiang Lin facing a superstar guard, they all wanted him on the court more.
Hollins directly stated, "Conley will rotate out early in the second half. Jiang Lin, you're in. Hope you live up to your words."
His gaze was murderous. If Jiang Lin was overestimating himself or misjudging the opponent's strength, he would struggle to regain the coach's trust.
"Also, everyone else, get the ball to the guard. Let him dictate everything!"
Complete trust given!
…
"Dear viewers, the second half has been underway for 3 minutes, and the score is 48:61. The Grizzlies' offense is still struggling!"
"We see Jiang Lin, who had 6 points and 3 assists in the second quarter, waiting on the sidelines. Is he coming in?" Wang Zixing eagerly awaited.
Sure enough, after a dead ball, starting point guard Conley was subbed out early. He wasn't fit to match up against Rose. He was shorter and less explosive, struggling offensively.
Jiang Lin + Four Starters!
**ESPN Commentator:** "This lineup indicates they're promoting JIANG from China!"
"He's coming in early, signaling a shift to a more offensive approach!"
"Jiang Lin's defense isn't worse than Conley's, is it?"
On the court, Tony Allen signaled he would keep guarding Rose, but Jiang Lin shook his head, indicating he should defend both offense and defense against Rose for better matchup consistency.
"OK! I'll help you with wing support." Tony Allen was momentarily taken aback, then moved to guard Luol Deng.
The fans were wide-eyed. Was a Chinese guard really going head-to-head with Rose?
Rose, having a strong impression of Jiang Lin, saw him guarding and immediately performed his signature crossover, driving into the paint.
Jiang Lin twisted his body quickly, blocking Rose's path. Rose pulled up for a jumper, with Jiang Lin slightly out of position, and nailed the shot!
The Windy City Rose shone at the FedEx Forum!
"Still strong," Jiang Lin admired the crossover, his competitiveness rising.
Gay inbounded to Jiang Lin. Rose guarded Jiang Lin. Following the coach's orders, no one demanded the ball; they ran plays according to Jiang Lin's signals. He called for an isolation, spacing out the floor.
A crossover and drive, a behind-the-back dribble, a big step to gain position, and as Rose jumped, Jiang Lin contorted mid-air, switching to a left-handed finish off the glass!
Rose slapped Jiang Lin's arm mid-air.
Whistle, and-one!
"Oh my god, is this really happening?"
"This is just the beginning!" Jiang Lin roared upon landing, his arm raised. Let's go! Bring it on!