Six Hundred and Seventy-Eight: Special Gift Exchange

On December 25th, the game between the Grizzlies and the Heat will not start until nine o'clock today. Because Christmas fights are all "series", one game starts immediately after another.

The purpose of this is very simple. It allows fans to watch all the games at the same time without interfering with each other. In order to maximize the benefits, these are the normal operations of the league.

So, all day, the Grizzlies players were in a state of physical stress. It is obviously Christmas, but nothing else can be done, which makes the players very embarrassed.

Fortunately, although everyone has to work today, Robert Pera has created a warm enough Christmas atmosphere for the players.

A large Christmas tree was placed at the entrance of the Federal Express Arena, and a giant Santa Claus inflatable doll was hung on the outer wall of the stadium.

In the locker room, Pera also prepared Christmas gifts for the players. As soon as Link walked into the locker room today, he saw a pile of gift boxes on the ground. There are greeting cards on the gift boxes with the players' names and Pera's wishes for the players.

The content of each greeting card is different. It can be seen that Pera really wrote it carefully.

When Link opened the gift box, he found that it was a PS4 game console. Everyone had the same gift, a PS4 console.

Link smiled, Pera really had a heart. Yeah, it's 2013 now. The PS4 game console was only released in November 2013, and at this time, this is a very fresh digital product.

But for Link, the PS4 isn't too cutting-edge, he's been playing it for years! But it's good, he won't have to be devastated by the backward game screen in the future.

In addition to the owner Pera, several big buddies of the Grizzlies have also brought gifts to their teammates.

Mike Miller bought a scarf for his teammates, which is very warm and practical.

Randolph bought everyone a box of cigars, which fit his temperament very well.

Link also brought a present for everyone - the Link Generation basketball shoes in Christmas color.

The limited-edition Christmas-colored sneakers are already about five times their original price, and they may not be available if you have the money, because many people prefer to keep their collections. After all, this is the commemoration of Link's first Christmas fight.

Link's high popularity made this shoe madly robbed after it was released.

It's hard to find on the market. So even for professional players, these shoes are very collectible.

It is estimated that P.J. Tucker, who is currently playing for the Suns, is crying. This shoe-addicted guy must feel that being Link's teammate is the happiest thing in the world.

Overall, the atmosphere in the locker room before the game was quite relaxed. In addition to not having a Christmas dinner, it is basically equivalent to spending Christmas with the family in a lively manner.

To Link, these brothers were like his own family. Everyone gathered in the locker room to watch other games, talking and laughing, and it was a good Christmas Eve like this.

Two hours before the game, Link got a text from Rachel. It seems that Rachel has also arrived at the FedEx Arena.

Rachel's popularity has skyrocketed since this season, when her new show co-hosted by Grant Hill went viral.

Now, Rachel is a popular hostess. As a journalist, she will naturally be sent to the scene to conduct field-change interviews.

In the high-level air axis battle of this Christmas war, ESPN recruited Rachel, the popular queen, as a sideline reporter. Therefore, today Link is about to spend a Christmas Eve with Rachel in a different way.

After another half an hour, everyone gradually stopped joking and laughing. The locker room slowly fell silent, and then all eyes were on Link, on their young leader.

"Phew, it's time to warm up." Link took a deep breath and stood up.

"This year, it's the first Christmas game in Grizzlies history. Of course, it's also the first Christmas game for most of the guys in our group. Seriously, if you told people two years ago, the Grizzlies If you can play a Christmas fight, he will think you are sick, and you are not very sick. The Memphis Grizzlies play a Christmas fight? Just those third-rate guys, who would pay to watch them play a Christmas fight? As a result, we Not only did they play the Christmas battle, but they also played in the finale of the Christmas battle! Not only did some people pay to watch the game, but the tickets were all sold out.”

When Link said this, everyone laughed.

"We have not followed the path that others have given us. We have not been the protagonist, but we have always defeated the protagonist. Today, LeBron James wants to be ashamed here, he wants to prove that the Heat are still the first successor to the championship. . Then we'll let them remember what happened at FedEx Arena half a year ago! Come on guys, it's our Christmas Eve, let's party!"

"Roar!" After Link finished speaking, the Grizzlies players jumped up one after another, shouting like a group of bandits and all followed Link out of the locker room.

The locker room was "emptied" in an instant, leaving only the debris on the floor, and three coaches, Jogel, Snyder, and Turner.

"Have you seen it? I said that losing to the Knicks will not have any impact on the team." Jogel smiled and spread out his hands. He didn't say a word, and the emotions of the players were all affected by Lin. K mobilized.

Being the head coach of a team that owns Link is simply too easy.

"With him around, the Grizzlies will never have to worry about morale. Let's go, it's time for us to play." Snyder adjusted his suit, and he couldn't wait to see how Link would show his All-Star. The power of the vote king!

Although it was late, the fans were still very enthusiastic when the players from both sides played.

"Welcome to FedEx Arena, this game is a continuation of last season's finals! Of course, it is also likely to be a preview of this season's finals! Either way, today, we will have an unforgettable night. !"

Mike Brin's voice instantly put countless fans into a state. The veteran commentator and fans have witnessed countless classic moments together. Where he is there, the game is usually very exciting!

James and Wade all smiled when they looked at Link. Wade even came up and gave Link a friendly hug.

In the 1990s, it was almost impossible to see Jordan and Isaiah Thomas so friendly, and don't expect Karl Malone to be hilarious in front of Jordan.

But in the 21st century, the relationship between players on two different teams is no longer just an adversarial relationship, which makes the NBA's network of relationships more complicated and interesting.

"What do you mean by Merry Christmas? Stop pretending, I know your words are not just literal." After hugging, Wade asked the biggest question in his mind for the past two days.

"I've got a Christmas present for you, Dwyane. You'll find out later in the game."

"Really? Thank you so much! But I won't be polite with LeBron tonight. This is our first game of the season. I don't want to screw it up." .

No matter how good the relationship is, they are enemies on the court. The Grizzlies and Heat are still the two biggest favorites to win this season, and in front of the O'Brien Cup, even the best of friends will struggle.

"I'm not being polite to you, Dwyane. See the dome of the FedEx Arena? See that championship pennant? We were last season's champions!"

Wade nodded, Link's mouth is really poisonous!

"Just wait and see, boy. This is your first Christmas fight, and it's going to be the worst Christmas Eve you've ever had."

After speaking, the two turned around and returned to their respective half. Since then, Wade and Link's personal relationship has been as strong as their rivalry has been on the court.

Men's friendship is sometimes so confusing.

Before the game, Link accepted Rachel's sideline interview.

Rachel pulled up her hair today, put on lipstick, and wore a slim-fit maxi dress in navy blue, the main Grizzlies color. She didn't have the athletic style of the usual neighbor girl, and she became mature in an instant.

When she saw Link, Rachel almost couldn't help jumping up and hugging Link. However, when I remembered that I was broadcasting live on TV, or live in the United States, I resisted the urge.

"Link, do you feel nervous when you participate in the Christmas fight for the first time?" Rachel's question was simple, of course she wouldn't embarrass her boyfriend.

"Don't be nervous because I know someone is looking at me."

Link's answer makes most people feel inexplicable, what does it mean that someone is watching him? It's the fans all over the world who are watching him.

Rachel's face flushed slightly, and the interview ended.

When Link walked to the center of the court to start the game, Randolph couldn't help but complain, "The conversation between the two of you on the basketball court is disgusting!"

Link rolled a glance at Randolph, ready to start the game. He knew that the lighthearted part of Christmas Eve was all over. The rest, only fierce fighting!

Link glanced across from him, and the Heat's lineup was almost unchanged from last season's finals.

Chalmers, Wade, Ray Allen, James, and Bosh are still a big and four-small lineup, completely abandoning the traditional No. 5 position.

There is no way to do it without changing the lineup. The former high-ranked players such as Oden and Michael Beasley that the Heat added this summer did not produce the expected results. Therefore, the first start can only be done in the old way.

And the Heat really have no room to operate, the Big Three almost locked their salary structure. The transaction value of others is too low, so it is normal that there is no reinforcement.

Besides, they are strong enough even without reinforcement.

After the game started, Bosh got the ball excitedly. Last season's finals, Bosh's performance is simply a rollover scene.

After the Heat lost the championship, Bosh was also the one who was scolded the worst.

But today, Bosh seems to have regained himself, just a scrimmage, it can be seen that his mental state today is completely different from half a year ago!

The ball was taken by Wade, and the "Flash" immediately advanced. In addition to Bosh last season, Wade's performance is not good. During the Finals, Wade's knee was unable to support him to perform better.

But at Link's training camp this summer, Wade recovered well. So this season's state is much better than last season's finals.

This is also the reason why some people are optimistic about the Heat's victory. They think that the Grizzlies won the championship last season. It was luck, because Wade and Bosh were very unfortunate at the same time.

This year, when Wade and Bosh return to their former glory, the Grizzlies are unlikely to have any chance. And this game is proof!

As soon as Wade came on the court, Iguodala was caught off guard.

His speed is very fast, as if letting people see a shadow of the peak period.

In the end, before Gasol rushed back to the inside line, Wade made a breakthrough and scored a dunk with one hand, making a good start for the finale of this Christmas battle.

"Today is my game, it's my game!" Wade yelled at Link after the dunk landed.

Link has not yet offered his own gift, but Wade is the first to hand over his "gift".