Link and Brendan Haywood ran another high pick-and-roll. Mike Miller, who was guarding Link, got caught on the screen. Link took a step toward the bottom left, drawing Horace Grant's help defense. Instead of driving deeper, he took a step back to create as much space as possible for Haywood's cut. With a "whoosh," he let it fly... Link delivered a beautiful Bounce pass to the trailing Haywood, who rose up for a powerful dunk.
The score reached 14 to 18; the Washington Wizards led by 4.
"Shit, damn it!" Seeing his team's defense pierced so easily, McGrady threw a punch at the air in frustration.
The current Magic Team, aside from McGrady, was truly a collection of the old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled.
Grant Hill, once the successor to Jordan and possessor of the fastest first step in the league before McGrady, had a "broken leg." "Gorilla" Ewing, one of the four great Centers of the 90s, was sitting on the bench, but his shattered knees were in such bad shape he could practically apply for disability benefits.
The team's starting guard, Darrell Armstrong, was 185cm tall and weighed 87kg; he was 33 years old this year. Uh... the early 21st century was nothing like the small-ball era. For most NBA players, 30 was a major hurdle. This was even more true for undersized point guards...
The team's starting Center, Horace Grant, born in 1967, was 35 years old this year. Furthermore, he had an injury in his left knee.
Their talent-depleted roster simply couldn't match up against the young Washington Wizards.
Link connected with Haywood again. The latter caught the ball on a Short roll and finished with another dunk. Although Haywood wasn't fast, compared to Horace Grant, it was as if he had an accelerator turned on.
The first quarter ended at 38 to 21, with the Wizards establishing a 17-point lead.
The Magic relied entirely on McGrady's isolation scoring tonight, but he was being stifled by Michael Jordan's defense. Of course, it also had to do with his own shooting touch.
McGrady's shooting wasn't actually that consistent; he was almost like an "enhanced version of a streaky shooter."
However, this was McGrady, the man who created "13 points in 35 seconds."
The Washington Wizards didn't slack off in the second quarter.
Link made a Backcut, suddenly twisting his body to drive toward the basket. The explosiveness of this step left Mike Miller unable to keep up.
"Mr. Doug, Link... he's really gotten faster," said Larry Drew, the Wizards' assistant coach, with some excitement.
In the last game against the New York Knicks, Link had visibly struggled against Mike Miller's hounding, but now he gave off a rather "effortless" feeling.
"Larry... don't say the same thing every game." Washington Wizards head coach Doug Collins didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
To be honest...
While he also hoped Link's athleticism would undergo a second evolution, it was clearly unscientific. How could someone get stronger during the season?
Usually, you'd have to wait for the off-season and go through all sorts of targeted scientific training to see even a tiny breakthrough.
Link's improved running and jumping talent hadn't just gone unnoticed by Doug Collins; even his teammates who trained with him regularly hadn't realized it. As for those "flashy moments" in games—like blowing past an opponent for a One-handed dunk—his teammates just thought Link was in a good physical state and was utilizing 100% of his existing abilities.
This was normal...
After all, even Luka Dončić has pulled off a Poster Dunk in an official game, but you wouldn't think of him as a high-flying, explosive dunker.
Well, the prejudices in people's hearts are like an insurmountable mountain.
However, as his opponent, Mike Miller was extremely shocked by Link tonight.
"Big bro..." Link did a hand-off with Laettner, who then set a back screen for him. Mike Miller, who was already slow, was delayed by the screen and couldn't catch Link. He could only watch helplessly as Link rushed to the rim and finished with a Long-armed layup.
"So fast!"
"Link, are you sure you're not on drugs?"
His curiosity reaching its peak, Mike Miller finally couldn't help but ask.
"Buddy, do I even need that stuff?" Link said with a smile.
The opponent's helplessness and lack of options were the best proof of "progress" and "growth."
53 to 40, the Washington Wizards led by 13.
The Magic clawed back some points in the second quarter, mainly because McGrady's touch returned while Michael Jordan was resting on the bench. However, once McGrady got hot, even an aging Michael Jordan on the court wouldn't have many solutions.
McGrady used Off-Ball Movement to get to the top of the arc. Connet Alexander, who had subbed in for Michael Jordan, got "caught" on a screen and couldn't keep up.
"Damn it!" Link, the closest defender on the wing, had no choice but to rotate over to help. McGrady caught the ball, his sleepy eyes glancing toward Mike Miller. Link turned his head slightly to check the opponent's positioning.
*Whoosh!*
Rise!
McGrady went straight into a pull-up jumper!
Link, reacting, jumped with him, but the result...
Link finally verified the saying used to describe McGrady in his past life: When McGrady is in the air, the defender's soles have just left the ground; by the time McGrady lands, the defender is still in mid-air.
*Swish!*
The basketball went straight into the net.
53 to 43, the Magic cut the deficit to only 10 points.
A joyful, proud smile appeared on McGrady's face, and he even glanced at Link, seemingly waiting for a compliment.
However...
McGrady was purely overthinking it.
McGrady, yeah, sure, a future NBA Hall of Famer. But... Link hadn't even sucked up to Michael Jordan, so why would he suck up to anyone else?
"Tracy, nice luck," Link said flatly.
McGrady rolled his eyes and said, "rookie, do you really think the 15 points I scored in less than a quarter were all luck?"
Link ignored him and instead made a hand signal with crossed hands to the Washington Wizards players.
Every team has its own "Hand signals," which tell the other players what play to run next and how to execute it.
Soon, Link and Laettner continued their two-man game. After cutting to the basket and seeing McGrady's help defense, Link suddenly whipped the ball to Alexander in the corner.
With a "swish," the ball went through the hoop cleanly.
"NO-LOOK PASS!" After successfully assisting his teammate, Link didn't forget to shout at McGrady.
McGrady rolled his sleepy eyes again and said, "rookie, you looked at the ball first and then turned your head... that wasn't a NO-LOOK PASS at all."