Boston, no matter how many times I've been there, I hate this xenophobic city. ”

While the Grizzlies players fended off Boston, it was snowing lightly. Sleet, to be exact.

The cold weather further deepened Link's bad impression of Boston. Boston's winters are windy and snowy, so while the average temperature of 2.1 degrees Celsius in January isn't too low, Boston is definitely one of the coldest cities in the United States in terms of winter.

Link and his teammates shrugged and walked to the airport hall in a shuddering manner. These guys, who are already big and wrapped in thick clothes, really look like a grizzly bear hunting.

"Nobody likes Boston, Link. But tomorrow night, we should be able to have a relaxed and enjoyable time. Do you know? The Boston Celtics have dropped to ninth in the East. In the last three games, they have lost by an average of 23 points per game. Finish the game with ease, and then leave. Trust me, we're not going to have trouble in Boston this year. ”

Randolph said as he rubbed his hands together, then let out a hot breath into the palm of his hand.

"I hope so, Zach, I hope so. Or will we also encounter their desperate resistance? After all, you also said that they have lost three in a row. I think the whole Celtics are thinking about how to beat the number one in the league. ”

"Come on, shut your crow's mouth, Link. I don't want to be half tired every time I play at North Shore Gardens. ”

"I don't want to, but I have to prepare for the worst. Boston is never too peaceful. ”

Link glanced at the gloomy sky and stepped onto the team bus.

Ninth in the East, well, doesn't sound like a threat. The teams that can only finish ninth in the East are generally not very popular.

But when I think of the Celts, Rajan. Rondo, Kevin. Garnett and Paul. Pierce's names, Link felt uneasy.

The Green Shirts may not be in a good position right now, but after all, they just played in the Eastern Conference Finals last season and finished in a tie-break with the defending champions. You know, the Oklahoma City Thunder didn't make it to Game 7.

At noon, the Grizzlies arrived at the hotel, and in the afternoon, Stevens took the group to North Shore Gardens for practice.

As soon as they stepped into the training hall at North Shore Gardens, the Grizzlies players were dazzled. No way, the training hall is full of honorary pennants, and it's hard not to be curious.

Seventeen championship pennants, as well as countless Eastern Conference championship pennants, circled the walls of the training hall. Although it is only a fake, the real thing is hanging in the sky above the official match arena. But even so, it's enough to show the honor of this old team.

As for the division championship, the Celtics simply made a big flag, and the rows and rows on it were the year they won the divisional championship.

It's not for anything else, it's because the division champions are just too much. If every division champion makes a pennant out, the training hall will not be enough to hang at all. So, I just made a big one and counted all the years.

The Boston Celtics are so capricious.

Link's eyes fell on the championship pennant in the 2007-2008 season, and he had the impression that the Celtics had won the championship not long ago. But when you think about it, five years have passed.

In 5 years, Garnett and Pierce are no longer young, the Celtics Big Three have gone their separate ways, and Rajan, who was scolded by Kobe Bryant, didn't dare to fight back. Rondo has also become the hottest point guard in the league.

Will a team that just won a championship five years ago put aside their pride and raise their hands in surrender? Link guessed that there is a high probability that it will not.

When you step into the arena and see the championship pennant, as a Celtic player, you know how to fight.

Tony. Aaron's view is the same as Link's, and when he was in the locker room, Tony. Allen showed everyone a bloodstained Celtics jersey, which was the same as Tony's Celtics. Allen passed it while the Celtics were playing in the Finals.

Don't forget, he was also part of that championship team that year.

"The Celtics never compromise, even if they fight to the end, even if their heads are broken, they won't surrender. I know the Celtics are in a bad place this year. They have lost three games in a row and have fallen out of the top eight in the East. But even so, we can't take it lightly. Like I said, they won't surrender on their own. So, guys, cheer up and don't underestimate them, okay? ”

Tony. Aaron's speech had an effect, and in the subsequent training, everyone had a very correct attitude and practiced very seriously.

Facing ninth in the East, the Grizzlies, who are first in the league, did not slack off. After all, two years ago, they were also ninth in the West, defeating one strong opponent after another. At last. Finished fifth in the West.

After the training session, Link and Jimmy. Butler stayed and practiced for a while. Link is now following his training schedule every day and won't be able to relax for a day in order to level up again at the end of January.

And Jimmy. Butler, on the other hand, was uncomfortable without practice, and since he hit the Thunder in that game, Stevens has gradually increased Butler's playing time. Playing time increased, and Butler practiced harder.

"I can't live up to Stevens' expectations of me." This is Jimmy. Butler's exact words.

At half past eight in the evening, assistant coach Elston. At Turner's urging, Jimmy. Butler finally reluctantly left the training gym. Link, who still has 50 dribbles and shoots, told Turner and Butler, "I'll leave when I'm done, you don't have to wait for me." ”

As a result, Link became the last Grizzlies player to leave the training gym.

Sweating profusely, Link walked in the players' tunnel, but saw a person walking from the opposite side not far away. And that guy was the same as himself, wearing a jersey, covered in sweat, and obviously just finished training.

When the man got closer, Link realized that it was Paul. Pierce!

"Did you just finish training?" Pierce stopped and greeted Link. But his face is expressionless, and you don't know if he's friendly or hostile.

"yes, what about you?"

"Me? It's just a campaign. It's not too early, boy, hurry up and go back. At this time, it's best not to wander the streets of Boston. Pierce waved his hand and walked away from Link.

Link and Pierce don't know each other well in private, and the two are going to play tomorrow, so the atmosphere is a little awkward. Link didn't know what to say, so he kept walking.

However, he had only walked out a few steps before Pierce suddenly spoke again.

"Hey, do you know what my nickname is? Brat. ”

"Huh? Truth? Link didn't know what this old man was trying to say.

"Hahahaha, it seems that today's children have not forgotten our original glory. So, do you know why I call it truth? ”

"Uh......" Link scratched his head, he really couldn't tell why.

"Alright, let's go back and see you on the pitch tomorrow, Link." Pierce finished speaking and turned to leave. This time, he didn't stop.

With questions in mind, Link returns to his hotel room and turns on his computer and searches for a lot of information about Pierce. Most of them are about him being stabbed 11 times but returning to the court a month later.

Everyone knows about it, and Link is no exception. But being stabbed 11 doesn't seem to have anything to do with the nickname "truth".

Eventually, Link finally found something to do with "truth" in a very old article.

※※※

On March 13, 2001, Paul. Pierce isn't an All-Star yet, not a championship yet.

The Celtics visit Los Angeles to challenge their arch-rivals Lakers.

Pierce had played 184 games in the NBA by then, but he didn't yet know how much that night would reverberate for him.

That night, the Los Angeles people brought out their most powerful firepower. O'Neal ravaged the basket, lightly sweeping away 28 points and 11 rebounds. At that time, Derek was still young. Fischer beat up the 1991 second-round pick Randy. Brown had 26 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds.

Rick. Fox, as the No. 4 spot, made three three-pointers that night, with 21 points, six assists and five rebounds.

It looks like the Celtics won't be able to withstand the onslaught of the defending champions. Then, Paul. Pierce stepped up.

In the face of O'Neal's reinforcement, Pierce picked up the basket deftly and hit it.

In Brian. Xiao turned over on the head and made a jumper, hollow into the net!

After receiving a pass from a teammate, he still hit a three-point shot!

Paul. Pierce was putting on a magical finish all night long, and he showed off his all-powerful attacking skills to the fullest.

In the end, Pierce scored 42 points with a super high shooting rate of 68.4%! Let the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, who have an absolute advantage, take off the skin!

After the game, O'Neal pushed aside a group of reporters and rushed Celtics coach Jim Brown, who was passing by the Lakers' locker room. O'Brien yelled, "Paul. Pierce is the fucking truth, and that's what you should call him from now on! ”

Subsequently, the nickname spread rapidly through the alliance like a virus.

Before that "battle of truth," the Celtics had just lost to the 76ers and dropped to ninth place in the West. So, Paul. Pierce became the truth.

After reading the article, Link swallowed.

Why did Pierce say those things to himself? Will the truth come back to life in the North Shore Gardens?

Link found himself feeling as if he had gone to the bottom of a mountain again.