The Western Conference Semifinals.
Lakers vs. Mavericks.
The sheer depth and power of the Dallas squad were proving to be more than anyone had anticipated. The first three games of the series felt like a slow, methodical strangulation.
Game 1: Dallas.
The Lakers came out swinging. Behind Kobe's hot hand and two quick threes from Link, they jumped out to an early lead. But Dirk Nowitzki answered back almost immediately with his unstoppable "Flamingo" fadeaway, dropping 14 points in a single quarter.
The real dagger, however, was the Mavs' bench. Led by Jason "Jet" Terry, they picked the Lakers' defense apart from every angle. Kobe went off for 38 points, but the rest of the Lakers combined for a measly 45. With six players in double digits, Dirk's squad cruised to a 108-94 win.
Game 2: Still in Dallas.
Phil Jackson tried to mix things up, using Lamar Odom in the high post to play-make and free up Kobe and Link for off-ball looks. Link found his rhythm again, knocking down three triples and finishing with 18 points. But Kobe went cold, struggling through an 11-for-32 shooting night to finish with 26.
The Mavericks put the nail in the coffin late in the third with a 15-2 run. The Lakers were blown out, 109-86. After the game, the ESPN headline read: "Lakers Pushed to the Brink: Down 0-2 in the Hole."
Game 3: Back at STAPLES Center.
With their backs against the wall, the Lakers played with desperate energy. Kobe was a force of nature, attacking the rim and hitting jumpers to the tune of 45 points. Link took advantage of the gravity Kobe drew, hitting four threes for a series-high 22 points.
The Lakers held the lead for most of the game, and the home crowd was starting to believe. But then, Dirk happened. In the closing minutes of the fourth, the big German hit three impossible shots in a row—including a high-arching fadeaway over the outstretched arms of both Odom and Bynum. It took the air right out of the building.
The Mavs escaped with a 112-108 win.
---
3-0.
In the history of the NBA playoffs, no team had ever come back from a 3-0 deficit. It was a death sentence.
The series had laid bare the gap between the two teams. Dallas was a well-oiled machine. While Dirk was the sun everything revolved around, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, and Devin Harris provided a supporting cast that the Lakers simply couldn't match.
The media narrative flipped instantly. Analysts were already moving on, debating whether the Spurs or the Suns would be the ones to face Dallas in the Western Conference Finals. On TNT, Charles Barkley didn't hold back: "Kobe has done everything humanly possible, and the kid Link has had his moments, but you're playing a better team. Plain and simple, the Lakers' season is over."
In the locker room after Game 3, the atmosphere was sub-zero. The tension that had kept the team together all post-season finally snapped.
The stench of defeat hung over everyone. Some players packed their bags in silence; others sat with towels over their heads. Link sat at his locker, staring at nothing. He had played well—he was the team's second-leading scorer—but the result was brutal.
He even heard a few teammates whispering about their off-season plans.
"I checked the schedule... I mean, if this ends the day after tomorrow, the off-season actually starts pretty early."
"Yeah, I'm thinking Hawaii..."
"Miami's beaches are supposed to be nice this time of year..."
"Let's just get our bags packed so we can head out together..."
The hushed voices were clear as day in the silent room.
Suddenly, the locker room door slammed open, hitting the wall with a deafening thud.
Kobe Bryant walked in. His eyes were bloodshot, and he hadn't even taken off the heavy ice pack strapped to his left knee yet. He had clearly caught the tail end of the conversation. He scanned the room with a look that could have melted steel.
Time froze for a few seconds.
Then—WHAM!!!
Kobe kicked a metal stand used for ice buckets with everything he had. The stand flipped, and the bucket went flying, sending ice and water sliding across the floor. The sound made everyone's heart jump into their throat.
"Hawaii?! Miami?!" Kobe's voice was a low, menacing growl.
"What the hell are you talking about?! Is the series over?! Are we out?!"
Nobody moved. It was graveyard silent.
Odom opened his mouth to say something, but one look at Kobe's murderous expression made him think better of it. Bynum just looked at the floor, clenching his fists.
"If anyone here wants to go on vacation, you can get the hell out right now!"
Without another word, Kobe grabbed his gear off the floor and headed for the showers.
Only after he was gone did the air in the room finally feel thin enough to breathe. Everyone went back to packing, but the chatter was dead. A few minutes later, a PR rep poked his head in. "Link, the media is waiting. Watch what you say."
---
"Link! Any thoughts on being down 0-3?"
"Kobe looked furious leaving the court. What happened in the locker room?"
"Do you honestly think there's a chance, or is the season effectively over?"
"Link, your contract is up this summer. What's the plan?"
The questions hit him like a barrage of gunfire. Kobe had skipped the presser entirely, so Link was left to take the heat. He took a deep breath and leaned into the nearest mic.
"Dallas is playing great basketball. We weren't prepared enough," Link said calmly. "But the series isn't over. We're going to give everything we have for the fans who show up for us. As for anything else, no comment."
"What about your future in LA?" a reporter pressed.
Link rubbed his tired eyes. "That's for the front office to worry about. I'm only thinking about the next game."
Finally, Link managed to escape to the parking garage, where Andrew was waiting in the car. Andrew handed him a bottle of water and looked at his exhausted face. "Rough night?"
"Kobe lost it," Link said simply. "Doesn't matter what happens with the series now. Next game, we win. Period. It's about pride now."