Four Hundred and Sixty-Five: 1 Group of Centers Fight for the Second

On the evening of January 13, the lights of the FedEx Arena turned on again. After the San Antonio Spurs the day before yesterday, the Grizzlies ushered in another opponent from Texas, the Dallas Mavericks.

Today, live cameras are always sweeping the Grizzlies bench every now and then. Because among the group of substitute players, the Grizzlies' biggest star, Link, is sitting.

Link appeared on the sidelines today wearing a dark blue casual outfit, and Stevens let Link rest today. Of course, the external statement is that he cannot play due to injury.

In fact, Link's health is fine. It was only because Link had worked too hard last game, and for the purpose of letting Link rest and protect, Stevens let Link take a rest. However, in order to hide from the public, Stevens dropped Link on the injured list.

Even so, Link is still the most watched player in the game today. Whenever there is a chance, the camera will give him a close-up.

It's like star treatment.

Although Link did not play, the Grizzlies still controlled the Mavericks at home today. The Mavericks have been really miserable this season. The current record is only 12 wins and 23 losses, and they are about to miss the playoffs.

Missing the playoffs is a big blow to the Mavericks. After all, since Mark Cuban took over the Mavericks in 2000, the Mavericks haven't missed the playoffs. It's been that way for over ten years.

It must be very sad for Dallas fans if it suddenly breaks this year.

But the NBA is like that, no team can stay alive forever. The Mavericks' lineup this season is indeed not very competitive.

The 34-year-old "Silver Horn King" Dirk Nowitzki has been unable to reproduce the glory of two years ago. His average of 17.3 points per game this season is a new low since his rookie season.

O.J. Mayo, the old Grizzlies, was Cuban's hope to make the Mavericks rise, and even Dirk publicly expressed his willingness to make way for Mayo.

At the beginning of the season, Mayo played really well. But as the season deepened, Mayo began to do those things that didn't. Now, averaging 15 points, the efficiency is not as good as the old Dirk. For someone who averaged 18.5 points per game in his rookie season. Mayo's performance this year can still only be described as "disappointing".

Then, who is left with the Mavericks? The 35-year-old Carter, the 34-year-old Marion, the incomparable Darren Collison, the Kaman who is no longer at his peak... It is basically impossible to use this lineup to rush out in the West. of.

So today,

Even if Link didn't come, the Grizzlies pressed the Mavericks. Randolph swept the pack, scoring a large double-double with 24 points and 16 rebounds. Two years ago, Dirk beat Randolph out of his temper. Now, the feng shui turns.

Conley also played well today, with 17 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds. While he's still out of sight in the West's All-Star balloting this year, Conley is a solid player.

People say Josh Smith is the best player outside the All-Star Game. But in Link's view, this title should belong to Conley.

Gasol scored 14 points, Iguodala scored 11 points, and Link took a break, but the Grizzlies still easily slaughtered the bulls with a huge gap of 104 to 83 at home.

After the game, Link, who obviously didn't play for a minute, actually became the target of reporters rushing to interview.

"How do you think your teammates played today?"

"Playing the Clippers back-to-back tomorrow, will you be under pressure?"

"The last game of 6 battles in 8 days, can you still stand it?"

Link was speechless. It was rare for him to be "lazy" for a day, but in the end he could not escape the pursuit of the reporters.

But fortunately, at least after Link returned home, he no longer had to worry about being harassed by reporters. Because today, Link has bought his new house in the Ariel district.

A villa by the lake that Link called "luxury like a castle" has become Link's new home.

After walking around with Randolph and the real estate manager yesterday, Link fell in love with the house at a glance.

The house is right by the lake, three-storey high, very stylish. Although it is not as exaggerated as Kobe and Jordan's mansion, it is just a villa, but it is enough for Link to build half a basketball court, a gym and a garage that can fit four cars in it.

The balcony faces Lake Ariel and is comfortable. Plenty of rooms, comfortable. The living room has all floor-to-ceiling windows, which are ridiculously large and stylish!

The backyard near the lake is full of various plants, and a special person helps to tidy it up. Add in services such as intercepting strangers, security work, and help with cleaning, and the monthly community service fee can cost $1,000.

But Link felt that it was already very worthwhile.

Of course, as Randolph said, Link also bought a small boat in the backyard, ready to go fishing in the lake. Link has seen it, the lake is very clear and the water quality is very good. In summer, it's okay to go swimming directly. I heard that in the summer, the community will also hold triathlon competitions, and Link seems to have found a new way to exercise.

The only downside to living in the Ariel area is that it's too far from downtown, so you have to drive 40 minutes a day to get to FedEx Arena. But overall, it's still flawless.

In the end, when everything was done, it cost Link $800,000. For most people, this is an astronomical figure. Thinking that when Link played in the G League, his salary was only 10,000 to 20,000 yuan a year, and he couldn't afford such a house until his hair was gray.

But for the current Link, this is just a drop in the bucket.

During the day, Link had already asked someone to help him move. Going back now, it should be no problem to check in directly.

Link was very excited at the thought of moving into his new home. This time, it finally looks like a superstar.

As for tomorrow's game against the Clippers...Chris Paul is injured and the Clippers are without their captain. Although the Grizzlies had 6 battles in 8 days, Link had already rested for two full days.

He believes that tomorrow's game will definitely not go wrong.

※※※

Although it was winter, Link heard a few bird calls in the early morning. When I got up, I saw the vast Lake Ariel outside the window, and I was refreshed immediately.

The home is equipped with underfloor heating, so Link will never lie in bed because of the cold again. He got up earlier than usual and had a reasonably pleasant first night in his new home.

However, because the house is too big, Link's previous furniture is simply not enough. The whole house looked empty and always felt a little deserted.

When I turned on the news, there was finally a sound at home. Link listened to the sports news while frying an egg, and then thought about tonight's game.

"ESPN released a predicted ranking of Defensive Player of the Year yesterday, with LeBron James at No. 1, Grizzlies center Marc Gasol at No. 2, and Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler at No. 2. 3. The fourth is the Clippers center DeAndre Jordan. There is only one frontcourt player in the top four, LeBron, and Marc Gasol is the first time in the top three. He has made great progress on the defensive end this season. , has become the defensive backbone of the Grizzlies, the best defensive team."

Hearing this news from ESPN, Link was happy for Gasol. Indeed, it is time for Gasol Jr. to let others realize his strength. The Grizzlies have such a good record this year, and it is not Link's own credit.

Some people are happy for Pau Gasol, and naturally some people feel angry.

In the afternoon, Link saw that many media were questioning the accuracy of this prediction ranking.

"Marc Gasol? The main center who averaged less than 8 rebounds per game?"

"Marc Gasol is ahead of Tyson Chandler, it's ridiculous."

"If it weren't for the Grizzlies' system, what do you think Marc Gasol could have done on defense?"

"It's because of Link that it's so popular."

All kinds of doubts came into view, but the most striking one came from Clippers center DeAndre Jordan.

"Tonight, I will prove that I should be ranked above Marc Gasol. I can beat him better than defense!"

Then Link found out that the cheerful Marc Gasol didn't speak much all afternoon.

Some people are either destroyed in silence.

Or, break out in silence.

Link only hopes that Pau Gasol belongs to the latter.