The Trail Blazers' next game is to return home to face the Grizzlies.
Because of Wang Zelin's little butterfly, the Grizzlies did not achieve the glory of "touching the floor of the Western Conference Finals" in team history. In the playoffs in the past few years, they basically stopped in the first or second round.
But this summer, the Grizzlies still made a series of moves.
The most important thing is definitely reaching a contract extension with team core Marc Gasol.
You know, in order to keep the Spanish insider, Grizzlies owner Robert Pera and the management went to Spain for some negotiations, which ultimately led to the birth of the contract.
Marc Gasol signed a five-year contract with the Grizzlies worth more than 100 million yuan.
After the contract extension is reached, the Grizzlies can continue to build a strong team around Marc Gasol as the core.
Then in mid-August, free agent Brandon Wright agreed to an agreement with the Grizzlies. The two parties signed a three-year contract with a total value of nearly 18 million yuan.
It is reported that in order to sign Lite, the Grizzlies made a full mid-level exception, which also allowed him to get the largest contract of his career from the Grizzlies.
Although the Grizzlies have Randolph inside and have successfully renewed Marc Gasol, considering that the athletic ability of the black and white duo is not very good, including the athletic ability of their substitute Koufos last season, and
The 27-year-old Laite can make up for the weakness of black and white very well.
Especially in this league that increasingly encourages offense, it is easy for a jumper like Laite to make a living as long as he can practice outside offense.
In addition, the Grizzlies also acquired Matt Barnes through a trade to strengthen their slightly weak wing offense and defense.
Therefore, even if the Grizzlies are not a top team in either the regular season or the playoffs, this team can very well play the role of a grindstone for strong teams.
Any team that can get past the Grizzlies is basically qualified to be called a championship seed; but if it can't get past the Grizzlies, then there is no championship.
The matchup between the Trail Blazers and the Grizzlies is definitely a strong matchup, and the first matchup between the two sides this year is more interesting than in previous years. In the past two or three months, the Grizzlies have accumulated 5 big-muscled players in the paint.
, obviously to target Wang Zelin.
The Trail Blazers want to prove that they are really capable, while the Grizzlies want to avenge their head-shaping by the Trail Blazers in the previous playoffs. This game is comparable to Mars hitting the Earth.
On the match day, both sides arranged closed training sessions.
"Mark, don't be so arrogant. You just signed a big contract. I will kill you when we win tonight, but don't even think about running away!"
During training, Black Bear Rotten Tofu saw Gasol's serious expression and wanted to use humorous words to make him relax.
Gasol nodded, but the serious expression on his face remained unchanged.
Before the start of the game between the Grizzlies and Trail Blazers, the former had a record of 3 wins and 2 losses, while the latter had a complete victory record. This made tonight's game in the eyes of fans and media, there was a high probability that the Trail Blazers would end with a big victory over their opponents.
This public opinion environment quickly aroused Gasol's dissatisfaction. As an All-Star center who has proven himself, why does the White Bear in his prime year not want to look forward to the championship?
Of course, he also knows that it is not easy to fight his way out of the Western Conference surrounded by powerful enemies, and the most powerful enemy among them is the Portland Trail Blazers led by that Chinese boy.
So tonight, it is also his battle to clear up Marc Gasol's reputation.
He wants everyone to see that he is no worse than anyone else, including No. 36 of the Trail Blazers!
After the training, the players returned to the locker room one after another, prepared to take a shower, and then took the time to rest.
But at this moment, Gasol called everyone together before the Grizzlies players took a shower.
"Tonight we will face the biggest challenge of the new season. The Trail Blazers are strong, but we are not bad either! Guys, let us win our fourth victory of the season!"
Gasol is not a sociable star player, but precisely because of this, his words are refreshing to all his teammates.
It seems that my boss really wants to win tonight!
After realizing this, Mike Conley was the first to respond, and his teammates also responded one after another.
Gasol was a little excited when he saw the reaction of his teammates. He raised his head and roared excitedly, like a bear king.
Seeing his reaction, a smile appeared on Rotten Tofu's lips, and his hanging heart finally dropped.
No matter what, I will do my best to help Marc Gasol win tonight, even if the opponent is a hot man.
…
On another court, almost the same scene was playing out.
"Reiterating our goal for this year, championship! Championship! Still the tnd championship!"
"No matter whether the opponent is a grizzly bear or a white bear tonight, we will beat the opponent into a bear. No one can stop our dynasty!"
“The pioneers will win!
"
At four o'clock in the afternoon, after training, Wang Zelin gathered all his teammates around him and issued a victory declaration.
His goal is very clear, which is to implant the concept of the team of kings into the minds of every player and equate this team with victory.
…
…
That night.
The Rose Garden Arena was fully occupied.
The Portland Trail Blazers, the "Team of Kings", face off against the Memphis Grizzlies, the "most powerful grindstone in history". No fan wants to miss this game.
After the opening ceremony, both sides came out one after another.
The Trail Blazers are still a regular five.
The Grizzlies sent out a lineup of Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Matt Barnes, Bad Tofu, and Gasol.
Just looking at the old lineup, it is not difficult to see that the Grizzlies still adhere to the concept of defense first and must defend to the end against any strong opponent.
And as Mike Conley grows up... Although this statement sounds a bit strange when it comes to the 28-year-old Conley, as a latecomer, Wang Zelin knows very well that Conley is what many fans call a "late bloomer" player.
Conley, who is about to turn 30, has become more and more stable on the offensive end, which to a certain extent makes up for the Grizzlies' weakness in offense than defense. He also has a certain big heart and is very reliable at critical moments.
Theoretically speaking, the Grizzlies have also grown in strength compared to last season, and they still have the toughness to become a regular in the Wild West playoffs.
The strongest shit stirrer in active service, no, the strongest whetstone!