Ginobili's explosion quickly opened things up for the Spurs.
The Argentine's rhythm was just too bizarre. He wasn't particularly fast, but every change of direction was impossible to predict.
On the Lakers' side, the Zen Master remained as calm as a monk meditating.
Link took a deep breath. He wasn't the same player he used to be.
Even if he couldn't completely shut down Ginobili, he could still help the team in his own way.
Lakers' possession. Link used a screen to catch the ball.
A realistic pump fake got the defender in the air.
Link didn't force a drive. Instead, he dumped the ball to Odom, who was operating as a playmaker from the high post.
Then, a sharp backdoor cut.
Odom's bounce pass arrived perfectly on time.
[Soft Touch Lv. 2] activated!
Link floated a shot over the help defender.
The ball kissed the glass with a high arc and dropped in!
[Passive Effect Activated!]
"Nice shot!"
Odom turned and gave Link a high-five.
"Link's ability to read the game is getting better and better!"
Commentator Mike Breen noted, "His off-ball movement is smart. The timing and arc on that floater were perfection!"
Mark Jackson nodded in agreement. "Link isn't just a pure shooter anymore. His finishing ability has clearly leveled up!"
Spurs' possession. Ginobili was still the primary ball-handler.
Manu tried to pull the same trick again, but Link was ready this time.
With a simple exchange of glances, Link and Odom executed a quick switch!
Duncan received the ball in the high post, looking to isolate against Link.
But the Lakers' defensive rotation was lightning fast, and the double team arrived instantly.
Duncan, with eyes in the back of his head, whipped a pass to the corner.
Bowen missed the open three.
Bynum secured the rebound again, and Kobe pushed the pace immediately.
The Lakers' transition offense was like a tidal wave.
Kobe organized the attack from the top of the key.
Link suddenly launched from the weak side 45-degree angle.
Odom and Bynum moved up simultaneously, one after the other, creating a double barrier for Ginobili!
A variation of the elevator doors screen!
"Elevator doors again! The Lakers are getting creative with this play!" Mike Breen exclaimed.
With a flick of his wrist, Kobe sent the ball through the crowd like a guided missile.
When Link caught the ball, there was no one in front of him.
[Focused Shooter Lv. 3], bonus locked in, always online!
Link jumped, raised his arms, and released the ball with a soft flick of his wrist.
The moment the ball left his hand, Link turned around.
Facing the Lakers' bench!
His right hand shot up high, pointing to the sky, as if the three-pointer hadn't just been released, but had already gone in!
"Oh! Link turned around to celebrate before the ball even went in!"
Mike Breen's voice shot up an octave in sheer disbelief.
Mark Jackson's eyes went wide. "My goodness! Is this kid... is he crazy? Or is he just that confident?"
For a split second, the Staples Center seemed to be on mute.
And then—
Swish!
The crisp sound of the net snapping echoed through the microphones to the entire arena!
"WOOOOOOOW——!!!"
The cheers exploded instantly!
The camera panned across the stands, capturing countless fans waving their signs.
The Lakers' bench went absolutely berserk!
Players sprang from their seats, whipping towels around and screaming like madmen.
Link's two buckets helped the Lakers maintain their scorching offensive rhythm!
---
As the game moved into the middle of the first quarter, the pace on both ends picked up.
Link stuck to Ginobili like glue on defense. Although he still got shaken by Manu's rhythm occasionally, his positioning and interference were becoming more disciplined, disrupting Ginobili's passing lanes several times.
On one defensive possession, Ginobili tried to drive with his Euro-step.
Link anticipated the route early, cut off his angle, and forced Ginobili to step on the sideline.
"Great defense!" Kobe patted Link on the shoulder.
Link nodded, sweat soaking the tips of his hair.
But thanks to [Stamina Boost Lv. 2], Link maintained high intensity throughout, making Ginobili extremely uncomfortable.
Lakers' ball. Link started his off-ball movement again.
He first ran a cross-screen with Vujacic, then used Bynum's high screen to slip into the right corner.
Kobe's pass hit his hands with precision. The moment the Spurs defender lunged to close out, Link was already in the air.
[Quick Trigger Lv. 2] activated without hesitation.
The instant the ball left his hand, he knew it was money.
Swish!
Another three-pointer down the hatch!
---
End of the first quarter.
Kobe had 13 points. Link had 10.
The Lakers as a team had put up a terrifying 38 points in the opening period.
The Spurs, on the other hand, only managed 27.
A perfect start!
During the break, the Zen Master finally spoke, his tone as flat as ever.
"Playing well. Keep the rhythm, control the turnovers, watch the defensive boards."
The second quarter began with the Lakers' rotation unit on the floor.
Link rested on the bench alongside Kobe.
The Spurs sent out their core guard, Tony Parker, to lead the second unit.
The French sports car, having been quiet in the first quarter, tried to use the window while the Lakers' starters rested to close the gap.
The Spurs' depth advantage was on full display!
Parker's speed put immense pressure on Lakers backup point guard Aaron McKie.
The Frenchman repeatedly used pick-and-rolls to attack the paint successfully.
Another defensive counterattack.
Parker spun into the lane without slowing down, leaving Luke Walton dizzy with a spin move layup.
The score quickly tightened to 40-34.
The noise in the Staples Center dampened a bit.
Phil Jackson glanced at the scoreboard but didn't make immediate substitutions.
He was saving his core players' energy for the decisive battle ahead.
On the court, Odom stepped up.
As the anchor of the transitional lineup, he responded first with a turnaround jumper in the post.
Then, he blocked Parker's layup on the defensive end.
The Lakers' bench withstood the pressure, preventing the lead from being eroded further.
With 6:12 left in the second quarter, the officials called a timeout.
48 to 42!
The Lakers still held a 6-point lead.
The Zen Master finally waved his hand. "Kobe, Link, get ready. Sub in for Aaron and Luke."
Link and Kobe stood up simultaneously, shedding their warm-ups.
On the other side, the Spurs' Ginobili was also at the scorer's table, ready to check in.
"Listen," Phil Jackson looked at Link, speaking concisely.
"Link, your assignment hasn't changed. Stick to Manu, wear him down. If you have the shot, take it without hesitation!"
Back in the game, Spurs ball.
Ginobili tried to initiate with the ball again, but Link immediately stuck to him like gum on a shoe.
After a short rest and with the help of [Stamina Boost Lv. 2], Link's foot speed hadn't dropped a bit.
"Prophet, you really are clingy," Ginobili joked, his English thick with a South American accent.
He tried to shake him with a shoulder fake.
Link lowered his center of gravity, arms wide, completely smothering Ginobili's driving lane and passing angles.
Unable to break through, Ginobili reset the ball to Parker.
Parker ran a pick-and-roll with Duncan. Mihm was slow on the switch, and Parker pulled up for a mid-range jumper. Money.
The French sports car's signature move!
Coming back the other way, Kobe drew a double team and kicked it out to Link at the top of the key.
Link caught it, pump-faked, sending Finley flying, and took one dribble to the free-throw line.
Facing Duncan's help defense, Link didn't force the shot.
He noticed Kobe had shaken his defender and was cutting hard from the other side.
Without hesitation, Link executed a fake shot-pass, lobbing the ball high toward the opposite side of the rim.
Kobe read it perfectly, soared into the air, caught the pass with one hand, and slammed it home!
The Lakers were flowing!
The home crowd ignited once again!
"Beautiful pass!" Mike Breen praised.
Mark Jackson added, "Link is playing more and more naturally. He's learning to read the defense!"
---
Final possession before halftime.
Lakers ball, 4.1 seconds left.
Kobe received the inbound in the backcourt and pushed with lightning speed.
Just two steps past half-court, forced by a double team from Parker and Bowen, he had to launch a desperation heave.
The ball traced a super-long arc, hit the front of the rim, and bounced out.
Halftime.
62-53.
The Lakers headed into the break with a 9-point lead.