In the playoffs last season, the Grizzlies eliminated the Thunder and Spurs. But this season, facing these two opponents again, it is more tricky than last season.

It has to be said that this is the West. Your opponents get stronger every year, even an older opponent like the San Antonio Spurs. In the west, if you think you're stable, you're very wrong.

Last season's Spurs were a case in point, with a meagre 61 wins in the West. Is the result stable? Not stable at all!

Link is now deeply experiencing the malice in the West, and although the Grizzlies have started this season almost perfectly, Link feels that it seems to be playing harder than last season.

And the continuous injuries are tormenting the nerves of every team, and the Grizzlies are unavoidable. In the shadow of the loss, Tony. Aaron was also injured, which made Link's mood extremely bad.

Lucky in misfortune, Tony. Allen's ankle injuries are not serious, they are mostly strain-based injuries. But lost Tony in the most fatal round of back-to-back games. Aaron, this time is indeed too unfortunate.

Thinking about it, the elevator door opened, and Link arrived at the hotel's gym. By this time, he and the Grizzlies were already in Boston. Tonight, they're going to take on the Celtics at the North Shore Gardens of Glory.

For fans and Celtic players alike, North Shore Gardens is a place of glory. But for Link and his teammates, it was hell. Playing at North Shore Gardens last season, Link still remembers it vividly.

Endless name-calling, rude fans, tough teams, rude journalists...... These are the dark sides of the Celtics' glorious history.

No Tony today. The defensive pressure on Allen, Link and others will certainly be a lot higher. Playing time, maybe it will also increase. Therefore, Link wanted to come to the gym to run first and move his muscles.

However, in the training gym, Link unsurprisingly ran into the guy.

"Morning, Jimmy." Link stands in front of the treadmill with Jimmy on the apparatus. Butler said hello.

"Morning, Link!" Butler was sweating profusely, but he didn't have the slightest intention of restraining himself.

Jimmy. Butler is probably one of the most physical players on the Grizzlies' roster, after all, he doesn't play most games.

He has offered Hollings more minutes on several occasions, but has been denied. The result? As a result, Jimmy. Butler never gave up, but trained harder.

Since you can't play, put all your energy into training! So this season, Jimmy. Butler also replaced Link as the Grizzlies' "player rat."

Although Butler has been waving a towel off the bench most of the season and has been waving it all at once. So far this season, Butler hasn't even played half of the games. However, often in training with Jimmy. Butler's opposite Link knows very well that Butler is now above the league average in defense in addition to his lack of experience!

Butler, as Link reminded, is very focused on defense. He's pretty much just defensive, both in games and in training.

If Hollins needs a sapper who doesn't possess the ball, he might as well be on the court. It's just that the Grizzlies have a stronger sapper, Tony. Allen, so Butler didn't have much playing time.

But now, Tony. Allen was injured and Link thought Jimmy. Butler may have a couple of chances to perform!

"I heard you went to Coach Hollins again after yesterday's game?" Link then asked Butler curiously.

"Well, I did."

"What did he say? Rejected you again? ”

This time, Jimmy. Butler didn't answer Link immediately, but sat up, wiped the sweat from his head, and then stared into Link's eyes, "No, Coach Hollins said this time, let me be ready at any time." ”

Link smiled, that guy had been training diligently, and it was finally time to reap the fruits.

"So are you ready?"

"I'm preparing every day, Link. As long as I can play, I'm willing to do anything! I think I can do my part. ”

Butler has a great mentality, and it has to do with his basketball experience in high school and college.

As we all know, players who can enter the NBA can basically be said to be geniuses in various regions, even players who can only watch the water cooler after entering the league, in middle school and college, they may be the stars of various teams, living under the flash.

That's the case with Fredette of the Kings, who hasn't played well in the NBA this year, but he was no less popular than some NBA stars in the NCAA last year.

But Jimmy. Butler is different, he started as a role player and a bench player since before he entered the NBA, as he does now.

For the first three years of high school, Butler was a role player averaging about 10 points per game, a blue-collar player who worked hard behind his senior brother. It wasn't until his senior year of high school, after surviving the seniors, that Butler became the absolute core, averaging 19 points per game and being named to the regional best team.

Unfortunately, scouts only have talent in their eyes and are not interested in a player like Butler who works hard to earn his chances. So even with his excellent performance, Butler's scouting report still has a measly two stars, and he doesn't rank in the top 50 among all Texas high school students.

So after graduating from high school, Butler didn't receive any NCAA Division I scholarships, which is really similar to Link's situation back then.

So in the NCAA, Jimmy. Butler's role player career is back in the works.

During his freshman season, Butler didn't even play in the NCAA Division I.

After gaining traction in the second season, he transferred to Wade's alma mater, Marquette University, where he did not start a game, averaging 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. That year, Derrick, who was in the same class as Butler, was in the same class as Butler. Rose became the top pick in the NBA Draft......

In his junior season, Butler finally started, averaging 14 points and 6 rebounds per game. But his talent is still not so explosive, and the NBA is still just a dream for him.

Senior year, generally a player who has not participated in the NBA draft until his senior year, is considered untalented. So, while Butler went from a substitute to the heart of Marquette University, he was eye-catching and was nominated for the best player. But his draft prospects remain uncertain. When he entered the draft, Rose, who was in his class, was already an NBA MVP......

As a result, Butler continued to play from the bench without regrets. He had known for a long time that this kind of thing would not come in a hurry. There is no choice but to train hard.

So no matter how much Hollins turned him down, no matter how many benches he sitted, Jimmy. Butler's morale will not be affected in the slightest. For a low-pick senior to succeed, patience and hard work are essential.

Link is pleased with Butler's form, and he can't wait to give the Celtics and Spurs players a try. Butler's rough, tough defense was up.

After all, you can't bear the ravages of him alone...... Every day in the training match by Jimmy. Butler tortured, and now, it was time for someone else to suffer for Link.

※※※

The game was hard, and after the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies trailed the Celtics by eight points.

Today, Garnett was in very, very good form, and he was taking what Randolph wanted. Pierce and Ray. Aaron is also playing normally, and the old triumvirate is still exerting their residual heat.

On the Grizzlies' side, the offense was really miserable. Except for Link and Guy, no one in the starters shot 30 per cent.

Randolph was 2-of-10, Gasol Jr. was 3-of-11 and Conley was 2-of-7......

If it weren't for Bombset's excellent performance on the bench, the Grizzlies would have collapsed long ago, and it would not have been possible to bite until now.

At this point, it's rotation time again, and the tired Guy can't focus on offense and defense at the same time, and he has just allowed Pierce to score four points in a row. Hollins has to tweak the roster and have to send an energetic guy to play Pierce.

Upper Bombset? No, he's okay off the bench and he's an efficient scorer for rotation time. But if you fight with the main force, you won't have any advantage in terms of ability. Battier? Battier has been getting old this season. Defensively, the power has long been less than before. What's more, the elderly Battier does not meet the requirement of physical strength.

So, Hollins gritted his teeth and walked over to Jimmy. In front of Butler, "Jimmy, come on the court and tell everyone, don't give up!" Including you, got it!? ”

Butler immediately took off his training uniform and stared intently at the court.

It's finally time to torture players other than Link.