Damien Lillard looked up at the score and sighed.

Just a second ago, the electronic beeping that represented the end of the game resounded throughout the audience.

121 to 100, the Portland Trail Blazers lost a disastrously away game!

Lillard still remembers that at this time last year, they only lost to the Grizzlies by 6 points.

In the next game, he immediately tied the total score by 1-1 with a beautiful final score.

But this year, the situation is very different.

In the first game, I was crushed directly.

"After the game, the Grizzlies won the game with a huge advantage of 21 points, which is also the biggest difference between the start of the playoffs this season! In fact, if the Grizzlies had hardly made any effort in the garbage time, the Trail Blazers would not have been able to close the difference to 21 points."

Hubby Bryn was right, 21 points, this was the result of the Trail Blazers' effective approach to the gap.

For most of the time in the fourth quarter, the score difference between the two sides was actually above 30.

Portland's backcourt double-gun data is not bad, McCollum scored 30 points and made 4 of 6 efficiently from outside the three-point line.

Lillard scored 34 points and had a total shooting percentage of 46.2%.

However, except for them, the Trail Blazers did not have the third player to score in double digits. The Grizzlies' defense is completely beyond the reach of other Trail Blazers players.

On the other hand, in addition to Link and Conley's 32 points and 29 points, the Grizzlies also scored in double digits.

Five players in the team scored in double digits, and the Trail Blazers' defense seemed as fragile as paper in front of the Grizzlies.

Lillard shook his head, and then happened to see Link walking towards him.

"I'm sorry Damien, but I've said a long time ago that I don't want to fight you six more games this year." Link opened his arms, hugged Lillard, and then patted his back to show comfort.

"You really do what you say, Link. Damn, what's the bad luck for me? I have to meet you in the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, and in the first round of the playoffs for two consecutive years." Lillard shook his head helplessly.

"Hahaha, it's not my fault, Damien. Maybe this is the meeting of our destiny. Hahahaha."

"Okay, go and enjoy your victory, Link. This year...you must go to the end."

After Lillard finished speaking, he turned around and left, and walked straight towards the player's passage.

Link looked at Lillard and felt a little sorry.

Lillard is indeed unlucky enough to die at his own hands for three consecutive years.

However, Link believed that Lillard would not be depressed, that guy was not so fragile.

The reporters next to Link felt a little strange. Generally speaking, the stars in both sides would hug and chat for so long, and they would only do this at the end of the series.

But the first game of the series has just been played, why did Link and Lillard carry him?

For the reporters, this is indeed just the end of the first game of the series.

But both Link and Lillard knew that the entire series was actually over...

Everyone is a professional player and can deeply understand how big the gap is.

Sometimes, some gaps may be filled by hard work.

But sometimes, too huge gaps cannot be crossed.

The situation of Trail Blazers and Grizzlies belongs to the latter.

This game made the first garbage time this year's playoffs, and of course, it also made fans lose interest in this round of the Grizzlies' series.

The Grizzlies are different from most other teams. If they can abuse each other once, they are destined to do the second time.

Because they won by big scores, it was not luck.

In the next few games, the Trail Blazers probably can't change anything.

At the post-match press conference, Lillard, as the team leader, naturally would not say "We have lost."

He was still strong in front of the reporters: "This is just the first game. We have learned a lot and we still have a chance. So, we will continue to rush forward."

But just now, when he told Link privately, "You must go to the end," Link knew.

This tough Rose City Lord has actually surrendered.

It is just the responsibility of being the star of the family that he must fight with all his strength in this impossible war.

Why does Link like Lillard so much that he invites him to training camp every year?

This may be the reason.

The day after the game, the news that the Grizzlies were violently abusing the Trail Blazers shocked everyone.

Since the first round of the game, only the Grizzlies can win with such an easy attitude.

Even the Warriors and the Spurs have encountered varying degrees of trouble.

The Grizzlies are obviously one level higher than others, which makes people shudder.

There is nothing to say about the strength of the Grizzlies. If anyone messes with the Grizzlies again at this time, it would be really boring to make things happen.

But what Bill Simmons said was attacked by many people.

Especially the Houston media, they almost greeted all the women in the Simmons family.

"The Grizzlies won't encounter any trouble in the first two rounds? The idiot Bill Simmons may have forgotten that the Houston Rockets are the team that has played the most anxiously with the Grizzlies in the regular season!"

"Bill Simmons really disrespects the Rockets. I believe that Rockets players will give Simmons a good look."

"I've seen it with wide eyes. Who can reach the Western Conference Finals this year, but it's not certain."

The update Bill Simmons posted in the game yesterday obviously annoyed a lot of people.

Houston fans and media believe that they can easily defeat the Clippers in the first round. Then in the divisional semi-finals, they also have the ability to wrestle the Grizzlies!

After all, Harden has played the highest performance in his career this season.

From any perspective, the Rockets' 16-17 season was successful.

In the regular season, the Rockets achieved a record of 55 wins and 27 losses, second only to the Grizzlies, Warriors and Spurs in the league.

The Cavaliers led by James are not comparable to the Rockets in their regular season record.

And it is worth mentioning that due to the loss of Howard in the summer of 2016, this Rocket was not favored at the time.

Before the 16-17 season started, major media such as espn predicted that they would be ranked 8th in the West District, but they could barely make it to the playoffs!

The main lineup led by Harden, Capela and others was even ridiculed as "Death 5 Less" before the start of the season.

As a result, under the leadership of D'Antoni and Harden, the Rockets slapped everyone in the face.

Therefore, Rockets fans also believe that this team will burst out with greater strength in the playoffs and create even more incredible miracles!

Although the Rockets won the Clippers in the first game because of Gordon's final victory, they did not show their strength to crush the Clippers.

But even so, the Houston media have become very inflated, and they have even begun to challenge the Grizzlies!

To be precise, it is challenging Bill Simmons. But in fact, everyone knows what Houston media is mainly targeting.

They refuted Bill Simmons, just wanting to express a point of view - the Rockets will never be easily defeated by the Grizzlies, and they may even successfully advance!

Simmons was not timid when he watched himself besieged by the Houston media.

When he was in the evening, when the Rockets and the Clippers started their second fierce battle, Bill Simmons once again updated his social media updates.

"Why do the Houstonians think that the Rockets can cause trouble for the Grizzlies? Let's first review the Rockets' performance against the Grizzlies this season."

"The two sides fought four times in the regular season, and the Rockets won 0 games. Link's 50+15+15 and 53 points in three quarters this season were both obtained on the Rockets. The only thing that Houstonians are proud of is that they only lost 4 points in the first three matches with the Grizzlies. But they forgot that the last time the Rockets played against the Grizzlies in the regular season, but they lost 33 points..."

"Just that, Houstonians are still yelling to win? Where does the confidence come from?"

Simmons's speech was a critical blow, making Houston media mute in an instant.

But that night, the Rockets won the Clippers again with great competingness, turning the total score of the series into 2-0.

This undoubtedly gave Houston media and fans enough confidence again!

When Harden was interviewed by reporters after the game, the reporter also asked him how he viewed Simmons' remarks.

Harden showed his signature rolling eyes at the camera, and then said calmly: "Let's just go and see."

Simmons looked at Harden on the TV and shook his head speechlessly.
Chapter completed!