Eight Hundred and Twenty-Nine: Leave Him Alone, Doesn’t He Have 3 Points...?

Latest website: The FedEx Arena was packed with people. During a regular season game, the fans suddenly created the atmosphere of the finals.

In fact, from the live broadcast configuration to the ticket price, this game is indeed at the finals level. The average ticket price for today's game reached $758, 14 times that of last year! This is also the highest regular season ticket price in the past five seasons.

According to ESPN, only four NBA games since 2010 have had higher ticket prices than today. But those four games were all finals without exception!

Therefore, except that this game will not determine the championship, it is no different from the finals.

What's more, in the eyes of some fans, this is indeed a game that can determine the championship.

Although today is the home court of the Grizzlies, it is because this is James' first game after returning to the Cavaliers. So before the game, James held a powder-throwing appearance ceremony.

Of course, what makes James a little embarrassed is that what he did did not cause any sensation or cheers at FedEx Arena.

Elsewhere, James may be the biggest star. But Memphis is definitely the city where James is the least popular.

The fans here already have 50 top players, so why should we be second?

Everything is ready, James just wants to avenge his shame now. He looked at the younger Irving and Love, and instantly became extremely confident.

What can a mere Jimmy Butler do? Even if the Grizzlies start him, it won't change anything.

The first battle after returning to the Cavaliers will never allow failure!

Since today is the first game of the new season, the Grizzlies held a starting player introduction ceremony at home.

The lighting effects at the scene were very cool, and the wooden floor was used as a screen, replaying the classic moments from the Grizzlies' past two consecutive championships.

Then, a big "11" appeared on the wooden floor. People's cheers rose another octave. Everyone knew that Mike Conley was going to appear!

After Conley, it was Butler who made his first official start this season. Then came the black and white bears.

When it was time to introduce Link, long tongues of fire erupted from the basketball hoops on both sides of the court.

The fans stood up like subjects greeting a king.

"Next up, another forward, from the University of Fresno!"

As soon as the DJ shouted this sentence, all the fans started shouting at the top of their lungs.

Hubie Brown, who was sitting on the commentary table, had goosebumps all over his body. The last forward who could cause such a big sensation at home was Larry Bird of North Shore Garden.

"Link!!!"

With the call of the live DJ, Link rushed from the bench to the center of the court. The lights in the FedEx Arena gradually turned on, and on the other side, most of the Cavaliers players were stunned.

After all, the Cavaliers have not experienced such a cool opening introduction ceremony in the past few years. If cellphones weren't allowed on the field, many Cavaliers players might have just taken out their cellphones to record the game.

The starting players of both sides stood in designated positions under the command of the referee. Link looked at the Cavaliers' starting lineup and felt that it was both familiar and unfamiliar.

Although this is Link's first time playing against the 2.0 version of the Cavaliers, Link has actually been watching this Cavaliers team play for several years.

The Cavaliers' starting lineup is indeed quite strong. Not to mention Irving, Love and James, Waiters and Varejao who partner with them are by no means a fuel-efficient light.

Dion Waiters wanted to compete with Irving for the top spot last season. He averaged 15.9 points per game as a second-year rookie last season. Waiters does have some strength.

Varejao needs no introduction. The "Brazilian Movie King" is definitely a model of blue-collar center. Compared to the Heat, Varejao can make the Cavaliers' interior safer.

Link looked at the Cavaliers' starting five, but he didn't feel any sense of oppression. They are powerful, but not so powerful that they are intimidating.

Link walked up to Butler, leaned into his ear and whispered softly, "Finish Vitus, don't tell me that it can't be done."

After patting Butler on the shoulder, Link stood at the designated position and waited for the kick-off.

Are Grizzlies players ranked too high? Will the Cleveland Cavaliers win the championship?

Then keep your eyes open to see who is the champion! Who says the Big Three must be stronger?

The referee threw the ball into the air, and the long-awaited 14-15 NBA regular season officially started.

Although Gasol and Varejao are both floor centers and neither can jump very well, Gasol still used his height and wingspan to get the basketball into Conley's hands.

Link calmly approached the frontcourt, and James stayed close to Link, not forgetting to gesture to Love and Varejao behind him, indicating that they should be wary of Link's breakthrough.

Damn it Link, this is the Cavaliers' strategy on the defensive end today!

However, Conley did not pass the ball to Link, but passed it directly to Jimmy Butler.

Dion's lifelong dream is to be the boss. Waiters gave Butler a few steps, but he didn't take the No. 21 in front of him seriously. A mere Grizzlies substitute is nothing to be afraid of. Besides, Butler is definitely just a transfer point. He will definitely pass the ball later. Could it be that he can beat himself alone?

Waiters was thinking about it when he saw Butler take a shot directly from outside the three-point line.

"Eh?"

Waiters didn't even reach out to interfere. He even wondered if Jimmy Butler was frightened by him and actually shot directly.

In the pre-game tactical meeting, David Blatt specifically emphasized Butler's three-point shooting rate of less than 30%. He told everyone that if Butler plays, those who defend Butler must focus on helping to defend Link.

"That guy has almost no threat from beyond the three-point line." Blatt's words are still deeply imprinted in Waiters' mind.

Therefore, Waiters had no reaction to Butler's three-point shot. From the beginning, he did not regard Butler as a threat.

Just when Waiters thought Butler was too nervous to face him and took random shots, he heard the sound of the net rolling behind him.

"What!?" Waiters suddenly turned his head and saw that Varejao was already preparing to serve the baseline ball.

In other words, Jimmy Butler just made a successful three-point shot!

"How is that possible!?" Waiters looked at Butler, who had no expression on his face. Then he looked at James again and found that James frowned at him.

Although James didn't say anything, Waiters knew that he was in a bad situation now. He didn't want to leave a bad impression on James. He knew very well that whether he would leave or not was entirely a matter of James' word.

"Damn, what are you pulling? Didn't you just score a three-pointer?" Waiters stared at Butler, his eyes becoming fierce.

James also looked at Butler. He was not sure whether Butler's goal just now was concealed or he scored based on his strength.

It's a fact that Butler had a poor three-point shooting percentage last season. Although Butler averaged 21 points per game in the preseason, it was only the preseason after all.

However, the Grizzlies suddenly let Butler start, and the first offense was handed over to Butler... This made James feel that something was wrong.

Jimmy Butler, why is this little substitute so valued? James shook his head and didn't think much more. He didn't want to be distracted by a small substitute.

Switching to the Cavaliers' offense, James took over the ball from Irving just after halftime. Although Irving is a point guard, he is a player who is more offensive than organizational. The real organizer of the Cavaliers is James.

James knew that fighting with Link was a thankless task. He hopes to connect everyone on the Cavaliers into the offense. If everyone on the Cavaliers can open up on the offensive end, then the Cavaliers' lineup depth can be maximized.

James used Varejao's screen to break through and go straight to the basket. Then, in the gap, he returned to the Cavaliers' No. 23 and found Kevin Love lurking in the bottom corner.

Love's function on the Cavaliers is similar to Bosh, but Love's stability beyond the three-point line is better than that of "Dragon King" Bosh. In Bosh's first two seasons with the Heat, his three-point shooting percentage failed to reach 30%. Although there was some improvement last season, it was only 33%.

As for Love, his three-point shooting percentage in the Timberwolves last season was 37.6%, and he had the experience of making more than 5 three-pointers in a single game in 4 games.

Although the function is the same as Bosh, Love's efficiency beyond the three-point line is beyond the reach of Bosh.

Love took a decisive shot after receiving the ball. Love was originally a defender, but later because of his sudden growth in height, he switched to playing inside. Although the position has changed, Love still retains the skills of a defender. Therefore, Love's shooting shots are more flexible than other big men.

Love hit his first three-point shot with the Cavaliers. Randolph hurriedly caught up, but still couldn't catch up immediately. The "Big Black Bear" seems to be moving slower than last season.

The Big Three of the Cavaliers successfully scored a goal in their first connection, which undoubtedly gave Cavaliers fans great confidence!

Each side hit a three-pointer, and neither side scored directly from Link or James.

It can be seen that in the first game of the new season, both teams want to test their lineup depth. Both stars want to see what their teammates can do.

"Good shot, good shot." After Love hit a three-pointer, Link muttered next to James.

"He's not going to get a second easy three, though. And Jimmy...if you guys keep guarding him with that idiot, he can get a second, a third... Keep going in.”

Faced with Link's provocative smile, James did not respond. He knew that Link was a master of psychological warfare. If you responded to Link's trash talk, you would be completely trapped.

James still doesn't believe that Jimmy Butler, a small substitute, can be compared with a giant player like Love.

After returning to half court, James continued to defend Link and continued to signal that he would bring two inside teammates to cover at any time.

But for the second time in a row, Mike Conley put the ball in Butler's hands...