499: Expanding Alliance Influence
The Heat's loss to the Grizzlies interrupted their 12-game winning streak. That night was undoubtedly a terrible night for Heat fans.
Even if the Heat lose, the key is that they still lose very completely. From the team to the stars, they were all eaten to death by the Grizzlies.
Link's 40-point triple-double was far better than LeBron's. James is even better. And Link's appearance of tearing his jersey on the basketball court and the four-point shot that killed the game became the two most classic shots of the game.
LeBron. James? The only impression people have of him in this game is that he has a low shooting percentage and a time and again and again. The defending champions' 12-game winning streak was cut off, and it was broken in such an aggrieved way, and the Grizzlies were undoubtedly blacklisted by Miami fans this time.
However, for fans outside of Miami, people were mostly shocked by Link's attitude. No one could have imagined that this guy, who was only in the third grade, would be able to challenge LeBron. James's status too.
Now, the possible matchup between the Grizzlies and the Heat, Link and James in the Finals is beginning to be discussed by fans.
"Finals? The Grizzlies can still break out of the West. "Some fans still have a stereotype of the Grizzlies.
"Memphis Grizzlies play the Finals? I'll admit they're good, but it's a bit too early for Link and his teammates to go to the finals. "While some people acknowledge the strength of the Grizzlies and Link, they don't think the Grizzlies can challenge the authority of the traditional powerhouses.
"If you've watched them play, you don't hesitate to tell yourself that they're really championship-caliber teams. It's not just Link, the Grizzlies' other players are also outstanding. "There's a group of people at the end of the day who are very bullish on the Grizzlies. After all, the Grizzlies are now the team with the best record in the league, not one of them. Supporting the Grizzlies seems to be the most justifiable thing to do.
Link is grateful to the fans who support the Grizzlies, and as for those who are not optimistic about the Grizzlies, Link doesn't need to pay attention. We don't need each other, so it's useless to talk about it.
Link started working on other things after the win over the Heat, although Stevens asked Link to play the game against the Heat as if it were the Finals. But it's not a real Finals, and the Grizzlies won't get the O'Brien Cup after winning this game, but will have to face a bunch of other opponents.
So the morning after the game against the Heat, the Grizzlies players left Miami and headed for Memphis.
Sitting on the plane, Link didn't have much time to reflect on yesterday's victory. Because as soon as he sat down on the plane, Link had to deal with a dense crowd of schedules.
"Tomorrow afternoon, go to the orphanage to donate books? Okay, no problem, as long as Zack doesn't scare the kids to cry, hahahaha. ”
"The kids are coming to see the team training at noon the day after tomorrow? Well...... Well, it's not going to be me training with those kids again, right? ”
Link looked at Stevens, and the young marshal smiled and nodded.
"Well, it's a bit of a hassle, but I kind of enjoy playing with the kids. Then on March 6th, we played the Trailblazers...... Wait, in-game activity? What does that mean? ”
Link frowned, he had done a lot of charity activities, but he couldn't do charity while playing games.
What the hell is the event in the game!
"Hehe, this event is the most interesting and our first attempt in the city of Memphis. No NBA team has ever done this before. If that happens, I think we should be able to expand our influence. Of course, it can also fulfill the dream of a little boy. Stevens smiled mysteriously after speaking.
Therefore, after the game with the Heat, Link had no time to reminisce at all. After all, there's a lot more to be involved in.
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A group of children were bouncing around Link, and the smiles on their faces were definitely not pretended.
Link handed over the donated books to the group of parents without a smile on his face.
Indeed, what Link is doing now will not bring him any direct benefits. It doesn't improve the Grizzlies' record or Link's value. However, Link is quite happy every time he does a public welfare activity in Memphis, and he can do something within his power for those in need, and Link will naturally not resist.
"A bunch of black kids going around an Asian, hehe, Memphis is the only one in the league." Randolph looked at Link, who was surrounded by children, and even a little envious.
From an obscure day job to the Grizzlies' deserved number one, Link's influence in Memphis is unmatched. If the Grizzlies really make it to the Finals this year, Randolph believes that Link will immediately become the greatest star in Grizzlies history, and there is no one!
Randolph has always wanted to do something for the Grizzlies, to be a well-deserved sign for the Grizzlies. And all these things were done by Link.
Sitting in the car back in the afternoon, Link was in a good mood. Randolph is sure that even on the plane after the victory over the Heat, Link was not so happy.
"What's wrong with you? Have you started celebrating tomorrow's victory over the Orlando Magic in advance? Randolph joked that tomorrow the Grizzlies will face the Magic at home.
Although the last time the two sides met, the Magic caused a lot of trouble for the Grizzlies. But everyone believes that it is still very difficult for the Magic to completely defeat the grizzly bear.
"Celebrate in advance? No, do you think I'm Arenas? I just feel like what we're doing this afternoon is very meaningful. ”
"That's it?" Randolph spread his hands.
"Of course, I love Memphis as much as you do, Zach. So I'm very happy to be able to do something for them. By the way, Brad, you said that there was an event in the game on the 6th, what exactly is it? After Link, he asked him what he had been curious about.
"Well, there's a guy named Eric. Lawson's little boy, his family is a big Grizzlies fan. It is said that the little boy sat in front of the TV to watch the Grizzlies play when he was a few months old, and practiced basketball at 15 months! His dream is to play for the Memphis Grizzlies. ”
Listening to Stevens, Randolph was full of emotion. Will anyone want to play for the Grizzlies? Even locals would never have thought this way before. It's too late for the Memphis natives to get out of here, let alone play for a team that has always been weak.
But now, the Grizzlies' status in Memphis has really risen a lot.
However, Lawson Jr. has leukemia, so the chances of getting his wish come true are slim. Therefore, the Grizzlies decided to give the little boy a 1-day short contract in the No. 6 game, so that he can play in the Grizzlies jersey and realize his dream. When the time comes, Link, as the owner of the Grizzlies, may have to hug Lawson Jr. and dunk in the game. Letting a child play on the court may be the first case in NBA history, right? ”
Link and Randolph both nodded, and I have to say that the Grizzlies' plan is still very thoughtful.
"Why is it Link again, I can also hold the little boy and dunk." Randolph asked jokingly.
"Because he's the favorite player of the Memphis fans, Zach. Moreover, that little boy is a fan of Link, not yours. Stevens shrugged, Link's influence in Memphis may not be as great as Yao Ming's in Houston.
The next day, the Grizzlies returned to their home court for the first time after the victory over the Heat. Although the game between the Grizzlies and the Magic is not the focus of the battle, Memphis, which has always been in a slump, is still full in today's unimportant game.
The fans came to see the game for the simple purpose of making Link hear the deafening shouts of "MVP" when he was on the court.
At the American Airlines Center, Link didn't receive that kind of encouragement. So at the Federal Express Arena, the fans made up for Link.
Randolph felt the ground shake and watched Link interacting with the fans. Link's actions on and off the court undoubtedly expressed his love for Memphis.
Randolph wondered that maybe one day, the Memphis would make Link feel their love off the court.
At that time, Randolph absolutely did not expect that this "one day" would come so quickly......