746: The old man's ambition
The Grizzlies won 72 games, becoming only the second team in NBA history to score 72 wins in a single season.
Although as early as March, there was a hunch that the Grizzlies would be able to achieve this record. Since then, people have been mentally prepared.
However, when all this does happen, any mental preparation is in vain. A miracle can be called a miracle because it can break through everyone's psychological defenses.
The whole of Memphis went crazy, and fans poured into the streets and carnivaled into the wee hours of the morning like a championship parade.
The next day, almost all the news outlets reported on it. Attention, not just the sports media, but all the news media!
The Memphis Grizzlies, a small team city, are now completely popular all over the world.
Now, as everyone knows, the 72-win record is no longer exclusive to the Dynasty Bulls, and it is no longer exclusive to Jordan's "god". Some even believe that Link is already "on par with the gods"!
Although the Grizzlies may still have 73 wins and 74 wins in the future. But the moment they tied their 72-win record was undoubtedly the most exciting.
"Wade, James, Bosh, Link pulled three superstars at once to use himself as a backdrop, there is simply no more perfect script than this! This is the worst defeat of the Heat Big Three after last year's Christmas War! ”
Against the Grizzlies, James scored 2,000 points in a single season for the ninth time in his career, second only to Malone and Jordan in NBA history. But how many people know or care about this? All his limelight was stolen by Link, who won 72 wins! Helpless LeBron, he can only silently achieve the 'milestone sadness' of his career. ”
"Link shattered the myth of the Bulls dynasty with his unbeatable performance. People are starting to compare him to Jordan more and more, and I think, it's hard for you to believe that this is history made by undrafted artists! ”
The next day, there was a lot of coverage of Link and 72 wins. As long as there are people in various countries and regions who pay attention to basketball, there is no one who does not know that the Grizzlies have tied the 72-win record.
Of course, along with Link's 72 wins, there was also Link's words after the game, "I still envy them!" ”
Link's remarks in the post-match interview sparked heated discussions among fans. Some say that Link deserves such arrogance. Although he has yet to win the championship, Link has already stood on top of the world. He's like Bird, who was in full swing back then, and he can't be too crazy.
Of course, there are also people who think that Link disrespects his opponent and that he is a scumbag.
But in any case, Link did generate a massive discussion, which was a success in itself.
When people prefer to discuss whether Link's speech is appropriate rather than care about James' ninth career 2,000 points in a single season, the league's landscape has changed.
"You're such a bastard, Link. I've been a bastard enough, but I can't say anything like that. Randolph looked at the news on his phone and smiled happily at Link.
"Where am I a bastard, you see how friendly I smile at." Link pursed his lips, he really didn't want to provoke his opponent on purpose, saying that it was just a blurt out.
It seems that he really has the potential to be a bad guy. Previously, Link was just considered a badass. But now, he's really a bad guy.
"The Miamians must be angry, they must be desperate to get revenge on us on the Finals stage. Haha, I can't wait! Let them come, Daddy Zach I'm 19 points in a single quarter in minutes! "Randolph is gearing up and already thinking about the playoffs.
After playing the Heat, the Grizzlies have four games left in the regular season. But in reality, for the Grizzlies players, the game against the Heat was the last. After four games, it really didn't matter.
It's only now that Grizzlies players are really starting to think about the playoffs.
After listening to Randolph's words, Link couldn't help but look at this season's ranking table. Before you know it, midsummer is coming again, and the bloodiest battle is about to start again.
So far this season, the top eight in the West are the Grizzlies, Spurs, Thunder, Clippers, Rockets, Trail Blazers, Warriors and Suns. The top four are largely decided, and no matter what happens in the final games, the top four will not change again. In other words, the two sworn enemies, the Spurs and the Thunder, will definitely not meet the Grizzlies in advance.
I don't know who will be able to kill the Spurs or the Thunder this year.
Before the Western Conference Finals, the Grizzlies' opponent in the Western Conference semifinals will be the winner of the Rockets and Clippers.
The Clippers have improved dramatically this season, and the trio of Paul, Griffin and Jordan Jr. has matured. Crawford and J.J. Redick have added to the Clippers' offensive options. If nothing else, it shouldn't be too much of a problem for the Clippers to take out the rockets. On the Rockets' side, Howard and Harden didn't push in the same direction at all, and they would beat themselves out.
If he meets the Clippers, Link believes it will end up the same as last season — with the Grizzlies winning comfortably.
Because the Clippers don't have a player who can match Link at all.
Paul is a great point guard, but even he can't play up against Link. Link believes that the Western Conference semifinals will definitely not overturn.
And in the first round of the playoffs, the Grizzlies' opponent will be the winner of the Suns and Mavericks. But let's be honest, these two teams are no worse than whoever they play.
On the Suns' side, neither Dragic nor Bledsoe are playoff-caliber superstars. How much they can play in the playoffs is simply unknown.
On the contrary, the Mavericks, who are now ranked ninth in the West, may be more difficult to deal with if they counterattack to eighth.
After all, the Mavericks are the team that has only won the championship in three years, and Dirk's offensive skills are still superb after returning from injury, although the German has lost the speed, explosiveness, endurance and flexibility of the past. He can no longer play individual singles all the time, nor can he play the Golden Rooster indie around the clock, but he can still help the team with off-ball movement, mid-range jumpers, solid three-pointers and high post play.
Monta. Ellis has also completed a spectacular transformation this season, transforming himself from a lone man who competes with Curry for the ball and scores with Jennings to a perfect team player. Tough, tough, able to score key shots, able to share the ball...... He has become a well-deserved leader in Dallas.
But even so, the calf is still not enough to see. Whether Dirk can hold Randolph now is a question, and what's even more terrifying is that you can't imagine what 37-year-old Carter and 36-year-old Marion will be tortured by Link.
For these two veteran wings, if the Mavericks make the playoffs, they are in hell.
Come to think of it, it seems that this year will only feel the pressure from the Western Conference Finals.
Thinking of this, Link stopped his thoughts. In the next four games, the Grizzlies will start to rest, breaking the 72-win record by the way. But that doesn't matter anymore, and after the Grizzlies won the game yesterday, it was only a matter of time before the 72-win record was broken.
Link is now starting to focus on the playoff battles, the Thunder, Spurs and Heat, and for Link, he only needs to beat two of those three teams to achieve a back-to-back championship!
In the NBA, back-to-back championships are not an easy task. In so many years of history, so many championships, a total of 5 teams have achieved consecutive championships.
Even the "Ivy League" like the San Antonio Spurs has never experienced the taste of consecutive championships.
Moreover, Link doesn't want to be saddled with the title of runner-up with 70+ wins. In the past, the Warriors' failure to win a championship seemed to be less than the Bulls' 72 wins. At the end of the day, the standard that determines a team's success this season is the championship.
The omnipotent Grizzlies are ready to kill all sides in the playoffs, and at this time in Dallas, the German old Hannowitzki, who will turn 36 in two months, is ready to give it a go and write another legend of his own when no one expects it.