The mood on the Lakers' bench during the break was heavy.
Kobe wiped the sweat from his face with a towel; his 12 points in the quarter came at a significant cost to his energy.
Phil Jackson held his clipboard, his voice steady as ever.
"Our offense isn't forcing them to change their defensive alignment."
His voice was quiet, but every player heard him clearly.
"We need to figure out a way to get Yao out of his comfort zone. We need to make him move, make him tired, and stop letting him just camp under the basket, being both their finisher and their offensive pivot point!"
The Zen Master's gaze swept over the bench. "Link, you're up. Your job is to run, space the floor, and if you get an open look, you take it, no hesitation!"
"Yes, Coach!" Link took a deep breath and quickly ripped off his warm-up shirt.
He knew the team desperately needed to disrupt the Rockets' defensive structure.
The whistle for the start of the second quarter blew, and Coach Jackson made his substitutions. Lamar Odom stayed on to lead the second unit, joined by Link, Sasha Vujacic, and a couple of others.
The team's game plan was clear: turn up the outside heat and use shooting to force the Rockets' defense to stretch out.
As Link stepped onto the court, a noticeable burst of applause and cheers came from the stands.
Many of the fans who had specifically come to support him stood up, and you could clearly hear the chants of, "Link, Go, Link!"
At the same time, many home fans gave him a loud round of applause. After his breakout performance at Madison Square Garden, the -American shooter was no longer an unfamiliar face at Staples Center; the fans were starting to embrace him as one of their own.
As soon as Link got on the court, he immediately felt the Rockets' heightened respect for him. His defender was glued to him, refusing to give him an easy chance to catch and shoot.
For the first few possessions, Link was constantly moving, but he didn't get many open looks. He played cautiously, not wanting to force anything. His only shot attempt so far clanked off the front of the rim.
However, Link didn't get discouraged and searched even harder for a chance.
The Rockets missed a shot, and Vujacic grabbed the long rebound.
He immediately fired the ball to Link, who had already turned and sprinted down the court.
Link took long strides, using his speed and strength to muscle out a half-step lead!
He finished with a successful transition layup!
"Did Link… just get faster?!" Assistant Coach Brian Shaw blurted out instinctively from the sidelines.
The fans cheered and applauded.
Meanwhile, on the Rockets' side, Tracy McGrady was leading a hot second unit.
T-Mac was one of the most complete and talented point-forwards of the early 2000s. Even temporarily playing point guard, he looked completely comfortable.
He used his signature pull-up jumper to shoot over defenders.
And with his expansive court vision and precise passing, he repeatedly found his cutting teammates.
They steadily maintained their lead on the scoreboard.
As time ticked on, the deficit barely budged. The fans' cheers were gradually replaced by groans and anxious murmurs. The once-fiery home atmosphere became subdued.
The Lakers still couldn't close the gap.
The turning point came on a fast break.
A Lakers shot missed, and T-Mac grabbed the rebound.
Almost the instant he landed, he spotted Rafer Alston streaking upcourt.
He didn't hesitate, launching a court-length pass. The basketball flew forward like a cannonball!
"Uh oh!" Vujacic's heart sank.
The pass had a high trajectory and perfect placement. He hadn't boxed out properly and was a half-step slow on the draw.
Now, it was too late to catch up. He could only watch as Alston went for an easy bucket.
The Lakers players on the floor made a token jog, but essentially gave up on the defense.
Alston comfortably caught the pass near mid-court with no one in front of him. Seeing no one chasing, he even took an extra step to set up.
The closest player was Link, but the shooter wasn't known for his speed. Alston didn't worry about him at all.
He prepared to end the fast break with an easy, uncontested layup.
The crowd began to sigh. The team's repeated inability to stop simple scores was absolutely killing their morale.
Coach Jackson's frown deepened, and he signaled that he would call a timeout after this fast break.
But at that very moment, a purple-and-gold blur burst into action!
It flashed past everyone's eyes.
To everyone's complete shock, Link had not given up on the play!
That purple blur showed astonishing speed. His stride rate suddenly spiked, each step like he was pushing off a spring!
"What?!" Assistant Coach Brian Shaw was the first to react, his eyes wide with disbelief.
The players on the floor realized something was different next.
Link's speed right now was exponentially better than the shooter they remembered from the tryouts!
Under the astonished gaze of everyone in the arena, the distance between him and Alston was shrinking rapidly!
Alston, who had already started slowing down, was completely unprepared for Link catching up. He panicked instantly.
In a rush, Alston took two quick steps to the basket.
But it was already too late!
In the very next instant, Link caught up and completely swallowed up Alston!
Link leaped with all his might on the final two steps, stretching his long arm out completely!
The timing was impeccable!
"SMACK!"
A sharp, loud sound!
Just as the ball reached its peak height, Link slammed it solidly against the backboard!
A chase-down Pin Block!
Alston was completely stunned, stumbling two steps before crashing to the floor.
Link, using his core strength, controlled his body in the air, his right hand scooping the ball into his embrace.
Then—
# "BOOMMMMMMMMM!!!!"
The entire Staples Center went silent for a split second, then erupted in a deafening roar!
Every single fan jumped out of their seat!
The Lakers bench exploded instantly.
"Holy Shit! How did he catch that ball?!"
Devin George's towel fell straight to the floor.
Kobe violently tore the towel off his head and pumped his fist vigorously.
Brian Shaw grabbed the clipboard excitedly. "Phil! Did you see his burst speed? Good God, is that really the same Link we saw at the tryout?!"
Even the Zen Master's face was etched with shock and wonder.
The pent-up frustration of the Lakers team was instantly released!
"OH MY GOD!!! LIN—K!!!"
The local announcer screamed, his voice almost cracking.
"He caught him! He blocked him! An impossible chase-down block! Where did he even come from?!"
The deafening cheers from the home crowd threatened to drown out the visiting team.
The momentum was shifting!
Link, who had made the block, was breathing heavily. He didn't stop for a second. The moment he landed, he spun around.
He quickly found a teammate already sprinting downcourt and launched the counterattack!
The atmosphere of the entire arena and the Lakers' low morale were completely ignited and turned around by that thunderous chase-down block!
All the previous sluggishness and pressure were shattered!
Link high-fived an ecstatic Vujacic on his way back on defense.
He glanced at the scoreboard. The point difference was the same, but the energy of the game was completely, fundamentally different!