The third game between the Rockets and the Grizzlies is definitely a shame for the Rockets.

With a 38-point difference, 116 to 78. With 3 more points, the Rockets almost set the biggest loss record in the team's playoffs.

In three consecutive games, the Rockets were beaten to no avail. Looking at the entire first round of playoffs, only the Heat could abuse the Bucks as thoroughly as the Grizzlies.

The Lakers, who were the seventh-placed by the Thunder, were also abused miserably, but that was mainly because the Lakers lost Kobe. The Bucks and Rockets both had a well-equipped lineup.

Link was quite regretful about this. After he came to this world, not everything could change. For example, he reminded Kobe more than once to be careful and do what he could.

As a result, Kobe still had a ruptured Achilles tendon.

However, Link is not unable to change anything. For example, after the third game with the Rockets, Link received a rumor, "The Rockets and Morey may plan to part ways."

In NBA, most things are secrets that cannot be hidden. After all, Alexander and Morey cannot always be alone. As long as they contact others and show strange things in front of others, the news will definitely leak.

To take a step back, even if the news is really not leaked, it is very likely that Alexander deliberately "leaked" the news.

The information is clear: "The position of Rockets general manager is about to be vacant, come and apply for the job quickly."

Link felt sorry for Kobe's injury, but Link was very happy about the rumor that Morey was fired.

He has always disliked Morey, even when he was a fan.

What does the Rockets say is China's home team in the NBA, but the Rockets have benefited the most from China. Does Morey really like China and Chinese players? This is not necessarily the case.

Morey's image as a businessman is deeply rooted in Link's heart. It's not that businessmen are bad, but in the basketball world, pure businessmen may really not be able to run a team well.

NBA is a business, but it is not just a business.

What's more, Link has experienced Morey's abandonment and slander, and is even more disgusted with the guy who only has the interests in his eyes.

Seeing that the Rockets and Morey had a chance of breaking apart, Link just wanted to applaud. Without him, the Rockets might develop better.

Link didn't know what role he played in Morey's fire, but he believed that he was at least a fuse.

After the third game, the Grizzlies remained in Houston. Although the whole world knows that the Grizzlies are going to advance, they must finish the fourth game.

People are in Houston, but the Grizzlies' center of gravity has shifted from the Clippers and Nuggets. Even when training in the team, the team is practicing simulations against the Clippers and Nuggets.

Link is currently unsure of who can win the Clippers and the Nuggets. In the first two games of both sides, the Nuggets actually won two consecutive games in Los Angeles. But in the third game, in Denver, when everyone thought the Nuggets were going to get the match point, the Clippers won instead.

As it turns out, the Clippers are indeed not that easy to mess with. After all, they have Paul, and Paul's competitive spirit is almost on the same level as Kobe.

Paul will not give in until he is completely killed.

Can the Clippers make a comeback with two consecutive games? Even Link is looking forward to it.

※※※

The playoffs are in full swing, and the highly anticipated NBA regular season awards have also begun to be announced one by one.

At this time last year, Link received the first regular season award of his career, Fastest Progressive Player Award.

This year, the Fastest Progressive Player Award was taken by another player from Fresno University.

Link immediately called his good brother Paul George to congratulate him. A small Fresno University has also begun to attract much attention because of its fastest-progressive player for two consecutive years.

Granger's injury gave third-year George more room to play. This season, George's average playing time increased from 29.7 minutes last season to 37.6 minutes per game. His average score, rebounds and assists per game also increased from 12?1 points, 5?6, and 2.4 times last season to 17.4 points, 7.6 and 4.1 times this season.

With George's excellent performance, the Pacers also entered the playoffs with the proud record of third in the Eastern Conference this year!

Indeed, the Pacers were also third in the East last season. But this year, George's value is very obvious when the Pacers can maintain their third place in the East without losing their star Granger.

After the Fastest Progress Award, the Knicks' J.R. Smith won the Best Sixth Man Award.

In the first half of the season, Jamal Crawford of the Clippers has always been the biggest favorite in this award. But since March, J.R. has suddenly started invincible mode. From March 6th to the present, J.R. has averaged 23 points per game and has hit a 47% shooting percentage. Together with Anthony, he won a 13-game winning streak for the Knicks at the end of the season and ended the season with the second place in the Eastern Conference.

Although this Best Sixth Man Award has nothing to do with Link, Link is still a little happy. If the Grizzlies' opponent in the next round is the Clippers, at least the Grizzlies will not encounter the best substitute in the league, but are just the second best substitute.

Today, April 29th is not only the day when the Grizzlies and the Rockets' fourth game, but also the day when the best defensive player is announced.

Therefore, early in the morning, the Grizzlies players gathered in Gasol's hotel room, waiting for the results to be announced.

This situation is very similar to the scene when everyone waited for Randolph to be selected as the All-Star lineup in February.

It is not difficult to see how cohesive this team is. The teammate’s business is their own business. Teammates win awards as if they were awarded.

At 10 a.m., Grizzlies defensive coach Dave Joggel received a call. He just fed a few words and didn't say much, so the players didn't know the specific content of the call.

After hanging up the phone, Dave Jogel sighed, then stood on tiptoe and patted Gasol on the shoulder.

"Still it up, Mark. You're the best defensive player I've ever met, you've done a good enough job."

Seeing Jogel say this, everyone couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. But the next second, Dave Jogel couldn't help laughing.

"Why are you so frustrated? I didn't say Mark didn't win the award! Congratulations, this afternoon, you will be able to see your best defensive player trophy!"

The Grizzlies players were stunned for a second, then jumped up suddenly.

Jogel received a notice in one sentence, "The voting results are out, and Marc Gasol has become the best defensive player in the 12-13 season! Let him be prepared, and in the afternoon, we will hold a press conference for him and present him with awards!"

Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace, remember every word Joggel clearly!

Before the fourth game with the Rockets, Gasol Jr. won the Best Defensive Player Award. For the Grizzlies, this is undoubtedly a very morale boost.

After Link, Mark Gasol became the second Grizzlies player to win the regular season honorary trophy!

Link was also happy for Gasol. This second-round pick who was sent to Memphis as a bonus has finally proved his ability.

At night, all the Grizzlies played very excitedly. The Rockets, who had lost their temper, were naturally unable to resist. After the game, Randolph couldn't help but break into the camera while Gasol was interviewing.

"This victory is a gift we give you. I hope you like it, man!" After shouting, Randolph and Link raised four glasses of water and poured it on Gasol's slender hair.

Gasol instantly turned into a "homeless man", but his smile remained unabated.

Game 4, victory. This also means that the Grizzlies successfully eliminated the Rockets with a total score of 4-0, becoming the first team to advance to the second round of the playoffs this season.

Link said 4-0 is 4-0, and he did what he said.

The Rockets have been waiting for four years, but they still haven't waited for even a playoff victory. However, because Morey has been fired, the Rockets' operations this summer have made people look forward to it.

As for the Grizzlies, after having the superstar Link, they have another best defensive player. It is unpredictable how strong they are.

But just after the Grizzlies eliminated the Rockets, the voices of saying Gasol were not worthy of the award immediately became more and more popular.

Many media have begun to speak out, questioning Gasol's ability, and they think that the reason why Gasol is not worthy is very simple. "As a best defensive player, Mark Gasol's defensive data is very ordinary, and he is likely to not even be able to enter the best defensive second team."
Chapter completed!