71. New Brothers
On November 19, 2007, the Warriors were still at home, facing the Grizzlies.
Since entering the NBA in 1995, the Grizzlies have been synonymous with the bottom of the game. This team has proved that the real existence of depravity is unlimited, with the second-last and the last in the league.
Due to the record, the team has been in the league for just 12 years, changing LOGO, boss and head coach, and even changing home court once. They moved from Vancouver to Memphis. In addition to the team name, in twelve years, the team has changed everything, including fans.
However, the team's record has barely improved in the past few years. They entered the playoffs for two consecutive years in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. Of course, they played so-called in the past two seasons, and were successfully swept out by their opponents before they finished the first round.
Grizzlies fans originally thought they had seen the dawn of victory, especially in the 2005-06 season, the team leader Paul Gasol was selected as the All-Star and became the first person in the history of this team. But that season, with the backcourt NO.1 flying mouse Stodmeier being reimbursed due to a knee injury, this team, which had finally improved a little in its record, fell to the bottom again.
The bad luck continued. Last season, the Grizzlies were holding their breath and trying to do something. As a result, the boss Gasol, who had always been healthy, became a fallen boy again - his left foot was injured, so it was another degenerate season.
However, last season was not without any results for the Grizzlies. Rudy Guy, who was obtained from the Rockets, grew rapidly and proved to fans that even if he could not become a superstar, he would be fine to become the tactical core of a team. In addition, Hakeem Warrick, Terrence King and Kyle Lowry have also made great progress, bringing new hope to fans.
This season, the Grizzlies have a new coach, and the Suns assistant coach Mark Jaffaroni has been on the court, taking charge of the handsome seal of this bottom team. With the new head coach and new lineup, the Grizzlies have ambitions this season.
The Suns' record in recent seasons and box office double wins have proved that the running and bombing tactics are very marketable. Jaffaroni is the number one player on D'Antoni's assistant coaching bench and is believed to have received D'Antoni's true pass. The Grizzlies asked him to take charge of the team, and there is no doubt that he hopes that he can lead the team to play dazzling running and bombing tactics.
Judging from the lineup, the Grizzlies are very suitable for running and playing. They have crazy dunkers like Swift, calm point guards like Navarro and Lowry, all-around fighters like Guy, scoring madmen like Flying Stroke Stodmeier, and most importantly, their core Paul Gasol is known as the most flexible inside line in the NBA, and everything looks good.
But after the start of the game, the cold reality gave the Grizzlies a warning. Since the start of the game, the Grizzlies have only won two games in nine games, and their record is once again at the bottom of the NBA. Although the NBA has not been in the beginning for a long time, they have already found a way to create a playoffs, and they have booked a good position in next year's draft.
The Grizzlies' problems were exposed to the fullest in this game with the Warriors. They wanted to play bombardment tactics and played the whirlwind, but they didn't have the ability at all.
Navarro is a good point guard, this Spanish national player and the core outside of the European basketball giant Barcelona. Although he has just entered the NBA this season, he immediately showed good adaptability like his fellow villagers. He became the starting point guard of the Grizzlies in just five games.
Navarro has rich experience in the competition, has a tough nerve and a calm mind, and has countless advantages. But he has two shortcomings, which are the two shortcomings that have ruined him:
First, like traditional European point guards, Navarro's propulsion speed is not fast enough. He likes to slowly look for opportunities like a hungry wolf, and patiently grind his opponent to death. This is no problem. It is still a virtue for the point guard, as long as it is not integrated into the running and bomb tactics. Another name is the fast-moving whirlwind. Looking at Nash's propulsion and passing, it is called a scalpel-like attack!
Second, this miserable child has only been in the NBA for less than a month. He is a complete rookie like Chamberlain. Except for his national teammate Gasol, he is not familiar with others and has not yet understood their technical style. If the pace of the game is fast, it is easy to make mistakes.
But the Warriors are the team in the league that is best at playing the whirlwinds, faster than the Suns. Navarro was killed so much that he made four mistakes in the first quarter, one of which was directly sent to Chamberlain. The latter was stunned at the time. After the game, he kept asking old Nelson Navarro if they were their undercover.
The other Grizzlies are not suitable for running and bombing tactics, especially Swift. That guy is a brainless guy and can't do other offensive methods except dunking. I really don't know why the Grizzlies chose him with a second pick.
Chamberlain likes this kind of rough guy the most. After Swift came on as a substitute, he was knocked over by Chamberlain's hat. He took four big hats in ten minutes on the field. Later, Chamberlain was embarrassed. He kept asking Swift, did you come to find a hat when you came on the field?
Gasol was proven that he was not suitable to be the leader of a team. The Grizzlies were suppressed by the Warriors and beaten up like this. He also performed calmly. If Chamberlain had been angry for a long time, he would definitely choose to fight with his opponent. Either the opponent died or he died by himself.
The Grizzlies' inside line is too bad. Swift's guy is very slow and can't keep up with Chamberlain. Gasol can keep up, but Chamberlain is stronger than him, and he can push him into the audience with a swing of his arm. Moreover, the battle with the Cavaliers in the last game made him feel angry. The experience of leaving the field with six fouls early made him wait for the opportunity to vent.
This game became this opportunity. Like the last game, Chamberlain still played for 30 minutes, but made 9 of 9 shots and two free throws. He scored a total of 22 points and 22 rebounds, and there were 10 blocks. Fortunately, Old Nelson replaced him early, otherwise Chamberlain would have to get another 30+30 in this game.
In the last eighteen minutes, Chamberlain watched the game with relish on the bench. He is now paying attention to rest. If he had 82 games in a season, he would never be able to stand it if he had 40 minutes in each game and fucked like that forty minutes in forty-five minutes.
Without any doubt, the Warriors simply won the game and slaughtered the Grizzlies into a dead bear with 130:96.
"It's time for the Grizzlies to rebuild." Old Nelson sighed at the team's lifeless player Xi.
This is not a normal team. If you lose like this, the normal team will be furious and may even start a fight with the Warriors. However, the Grizzlies' players are full of inconsistencies. As the boss of the team, Gasol is still talking and laughing with his fellow villager Navarro, which really opened Chamberlain's eyes.
At the end of the game, Gasol came up with great grace and hugged Chamberlain, patted his back and encouraged him, making Chamberlain laugh and cry. It seemed that he was not the one who blocked Gasol four times on the court just now? Otherwise, how could this guy be so friendly to him?
The Warriors are about to welcome new teammates to join. On the day of the game, Evans and Louis came to Oakland, but they have to undergo a physical examination. They are now in a frozen state and cannot play. The physical examination results will take two days to come out, and they can play in the next game.
After the deal ended, the Warriors returned to their happy state again. After the game, they returned to the locker room. Chamberlain saw a black man with a bearded face and a ferocious face and a small man with a sharp-mouthed cheek laughing at him.
Both of them had fought before and met them. Chamberlain went up and gave them a bear hug. Jackson and others then came in and hugged them one after another.
Evans was specially meant to be a substitute for himself. Last time he played against the 76ers, Evans came on as a substitute for twenty minutes and had been entangled with Chamberlain. Although his defensive ability was average, his attitude was absolutely unrestrained and he was extremely positive. Every second he was present, he defended Chamberlain closely and fought with every rebound with all his strength. He was definitely a qualified substitute.
"I suggest we go to the nightclub tonight to celebrate the new brothers' joining our team!" Jackson yelled with his right arm. The proposal was praised by everyone. Louis added with a smile: "To celebrate our team's big victory tonight!"
Chamberlain patted his chest and promised, "Guys, everything is my expense tonight, I'll treat you brother!"
Now he has a big contract of eight million, and he is no longer the poor boy who has to make plans for drinking beer. However, he is still very frugal in normal times. This can be seen from the fact that he still lives in the Soul Ballet slum. After getting his salary, he saves the remaining half of it. But sometimes he has to be generous. He just signed a big contract and according to the rules of the NBA, he has to ask his teammates to have a fun game. He can take this opportunity to express it today.
There was a howling roar in the locker room, and Chamberlain also invited Old Nelson and his assistant coaches, but they all declined. It was impossible to have a night party like young people. Old Nelson was very reasonable. He just advised Jackson and others not to cause trouble, but did not prohibit them from going to nightclubs to play, especially today, which really needed to celebrate.
Chamberlain invited Winnie again. He thought that this violent girl would definitely refuse. After all, they were going to a nightclub, but Winnie agreed immediately. And after she arrived at the nightclub, she performed more familiarly than Chamberlain. She was very familiar with the bartender, DJ and bodyguards. As soon as she waved, a bunch of horsemen came to serve her loyalty.
Jackson and others were originally uncomfortable with the existence of Winnie, a woman, but everything changed after they arrived at the nightclub. When Winnie came forward, their room fee was waived tonight, and they only had to pay the drinks and the dancer's release fee. Don't underestimate the room fee. Chamberlain and others asked for a large bag that could accommodate fifty people. The six-hour room fee was 8,000 US dollars, which was simply a burning money.
The sexy Winnie was also worried that some men would come to cause trouble. As soon as Winnie appeared, many men immediately lowered their heads with their crotch in their hands. There were definitely many people here who had suffered from her, and the dancers called her "big sister's head" no matter their age.
The party was having fun all night, at 5:30 in the morning, and the people who were drinking were out of the nightclub. Chamberlain finally paid the bill and spent a total of 6,500 US dollars. This was already a saving for Jackson and others, because they knew that Chamberlain only received a monthly salary, not a full salary, otherwise he would have to spend 10,000 US dollars at the very least.
Chapter completed!