On January 2, 2013, the atmosphere of the North Shore Garden was particularly heavy. Today, when Link stepped into the arena, he could immediately feel an oppressive air rushing over his face.

The Celtics fans weren't clamoring, and the lights in the North Shore Garden stands were dim, as if only the basketball court was illuminated. And around the basketball court, it was wrapped in darkness.

The Celtics are on a three-game losing streak, losing by an average of 23 points per game. Faced with such a situation, Celtics fans naturally can't shout. After all, they know very well that the Celtics' opponent today is the No. 1 in the league, the Memphis Grizzlies, who have only 3 losses and have just slaughtered the Pacers two days ago!

For the first time since the Big Three gathered on the East Coast in 2007, Celtics fans may not be so confident at home.

Link was observing the unusual North Shore Garden, when he suddenly heard a small cheer. Turning his head, sure enough, it was the Celtics players who appeared!

The first to run out of the tunnel with everyone was Pierce, the 34-year-old small forward who was unsmiling and very serious.

Link knew what Pierce was thinking, otherwise he wouldn't have asked himself yesterday about the truth.

The Celtics want to stop the slump at home, and Pierce wants to keep up with what little he's left in the tank to take on Link.

Link certainly knows how important this win is for the Celtics, but that's none of his business. It is impossible for him to do such a thing as releasing water because he sympathizes with his opponent.

"Link, if Garnett attacks you with trash talk today, you must not lose control of your emotions." Stevens yelled, causing Link to take his eyes off Pierce.

"Don't worry, it's Mr. Zach who is angry too." Link smiled and waved his hand, but then again, Garnett's mood really hasn't been very good lately. It shouldn't have been a few days since the famous scolding battle between him and Anthony.

It's a pity that Garnett messed with the wrong person in New York. It is said that after that game, Anthony went to block Garnett, and Garnett hid in the team's bus and did not dare to come out......

It's really chaotic in New York, and Brother Gua has the final say.

Today is the home of the Celtics, on Garnett's turf. Presumably, the guy's mouth will be even more broken.

Link was really worried about Randolph, and I hope that he doesn't fight Garnett.

After the warm-up, the TV reporter approached Pierce and gave him a brief pre-match interview.

Unsurprisingly, the reporter's question was related to Link, "Is Link the best No. 3 player in the league right now?" ”

There is no doubt that the reporter asked Pierce this question in the hope that Pierce would give some praise to the juniors.

However, Pierce laughed playfully, "I'm the best, I have this confidence." ”

The reporter froze in place, he seemed to have heard this answer. Before the 2007 Finals, a reporter asked Pierce Kobe if he was the best player on the planet, and Pierce responded to the reporter with the sentence he just said.

As everyone knows, the Celtics defeated the Lakers 4-2 in the Finals and won the 17th championship trophy in the history of the Celtics. And Pierce used the data of 22 points per game to win the FMVP trophy.

Pierce's words quickly reached Link's ears, and he was not surprised by this.

Don't be fooled by Pierce's honest looks, he has always been a player who blows up his hands and scolds on his lips. And, like Link, a "villain".

In 08, when the media kept blowing "Kobe Bryant will get another championship ring", Pierce and the other two giants led the team to defeat the Lakers 4-2.

While the world was clamoring for the Finals "23vs24", Pierce and his Green Army ruined people's dreams time and time again.

When playing against popular newcomers, when the whole world is eager to make way for Pierce, he will silently pick up his gloves and throw punches at those "decent" who are expected to return.

Speaking of which, Pierce and Link are quite like the same kind of people.

So in the face of Pierce's provocation, Link did not respond, "I just want to work hard and play well, that's all." ”

Everyone is the villain, it depends on who is more ruthless!

At eight o'clock in the evening, the referee signaled the starters of both sides to step into the stadium, and the game was about to begin!

Today, there was no player introduction ceremony, and there was no overwhelming cheers, and the Celtics players were like soldiers fighting to the death, with the determination of "if you can't win, you will die", in front of the first place in the league.

The Celtics' starting line-up was about the same as usual, with Rondo and Bradley on the outside. Garnett and Pierce are the two old forwards, and the center has always been the weakness of the Celtics, and now it is not a wise choice to let the aging Garnett go to the top five. So, this season the Celtics have also tried a lot of starting center options.

Today, the Celtics' starting center is the veteran Jason who entered the industry in '01. Corinth. Collins had an unremarkable career and averaged only six points and six rebounds per game in his peak season.

The only time this guy has been in the public spotlight was last year, but the reason for the spotlight was not basketball, but because he became the first active athlete in North American sports history to openly admit his homosexuality.

Therefore, the No. 5 position is the Grizzlies' breakthrough today.

The referee blew the whistle, and the game with a heavy atmosphere officially began. Gasol easily snatched the basketball away from Collins, and Conley pushed the ball across half court.

Rajan. Rondo is no friendly opponent, and the point guard, who has been named to the All-Defensive Team four years in a row, including two years in the All-Defensive First Team, blocked his path in front of Conley.

Rondo didn't press close as soon as he came up, but kept a moderate distance that made it impossible for Conley to accelerate easily.

With Rondo's block, Conley played the ball to Iguodala. Iguodala had an advantage against Bradley, who was only 1.88 meters tall.

So, Iguodala broke through directly after borrowing the cover, wanting to use his height advantage to eat Bradley!

But Iguodala had just jumped up after entering the penalty area. Garnett arrived with a roar.

The "Wolf King" jumped hard, straightened his arms, and slapped Iguodala's layup back!

With Bradley on top, Iguodala couldn't get up and down. Don't look at Bradley, who is only 1.88 meters, but his confrontation ability is really strong. When Bradley was still in college, people said he could already defend NBA-caliber guards.

Just like that, Iguodala's first layup was blocked by Garnett!

"KG, he actually blocked Iguodala, it's incredible!" The Boston commentators on the scene were wide-eyed, and Garnett's defensive ability was actually declining year by year as he got older.

Unlike when he averaged 2.2 blocks per game at his peak, Garnett now uses interference and confrontation to force the opponent to hit the iron, rather than directly blocking.

Like the crisp big bubble just now, it is really rare in Garnett now, it seems that KG is really fighting today!

Rondo got the blocked basketball, this guy is always very accurate in judging where the basketball lands, and the nickname "C-Duo" is not a random scream.

Rondo didn't push fast, but gestured unhurriedly while dribbling.

After Rondo crossed the halfway line, he was embarrassed to find that Conley had retreated directly to the three-point line...... Once again, he was completely empty from the three-point line.

The corners of Rondo's mouth twitched twice, but it didn't interrupt his train of thought. He handed the ball to KG, who was standing at the free-throw line, and KG and Pierce played a hand-to-hand match, Iguodala was blocked by Garnett, and Randolph had to switch to Pierce.

Randolph thought that Pierce would take advantage of this small opportunity to break through, but as everyone knows, as soon as Pierce got the ball from Garnett, he took advantage of the situation and made a jumper straight back!

"Damn!" Randolph hurried up to block, but Pierce's shot was too hard to interfere with.

Pierce's back-to-back jump height is not high, but the angle of the back-up is particularly large. It gives people a feeling of "I'm about to seal him, but I just can't seal him".

Under Randolph's weak interference, Pierce's mid-range step-back jumper went straight into the net!

Garnett and Pierce, two superstars who have been "outdated", took the lead for the Celtics with their excellent performance of one offense and one defense!

The moment the ball went in, Link finally heard the cheers from the stands. The North Shore Garden, finally activated by Pierce.

"Beautiful step-back jumper, Pierce has a strong desire to attack today. Catch the ball and shoot, without hesitation. I hope he can keep up the state he is in today. ”

The Grizzlies attacked, and this time, the Grizzlies pulled all the way away, and Conley hoisted the ball inside and gave Gasol Jr. a single to Collins.

But Collins was unexpectedly tough on the defensive end, and Gasol Jr. hit twice in the back, and the distance he could push was negligible.

There was no way, Gasol had to roll over and jump before his back overtime violated.

Gasol has a high shot, but Collins also has a height of 2.13m and a pair of long arms. Under his interference, Gasol Jr.'s shot stumbled out of the frame, and the Grizzlies missed for the second consecutive offense!

"The Celtics' defense is better than expected!" On the Grizzlies bench, assistant coach Elston. Turner was in a hurry.

"That's the Green Shirts, man." Stevens remains calm, and he knows for a long time that the Celtics are different from other Eastern ninths.

Garnett collected the second rebound of the game, and the Celtics fought back!

Iguodala has been following Pierce, and he knows that this guy is the number one danger for the Celtics. The step-back jumper just now has already shown Pierce's good feel today.

Pierce walked unhurriedly to the middle distance on the right side of the court, and then leaned on Iguodala with his back, as if he was going to play with his back!

Pierce's ass is not small, and his back steps are also excellent. Iguodala didn't dare to slack off, trying to hold Pierce's waist and sink his weight back.

But at this moment, Pierce secretly pushed Iguodala, and then suddenly rebounded outside the three-point line!

Iguodala was already sinking backwards, and it was difficult to keep up with it as soon as he was pushed by Pierce!

As soon as Pierce ran to the right three-point line, Rondo's pass was the first to arrive. At this time, Iguodala was still one position behind Pierce.

Pierce showed no mercy and pulled up the shot! Iguodala sealed it, but he had already left Pierce too much space before.

"Brush!"

Pierce got up and down, and the basketball went into the net hollow without any delay! The Celtics fans cheered and all stood up. Scored 5 points in a row, Paul. Pierce seems destined to end the losing streak at home!

After the goal, Pierce waved his arms and shouted, "This is the fucking truth!" ”

Link was about to move, and it was time for him to take over the attack.