The day before the playoffs began, Link and the Grizzlies arrived in Oklahoma City, where Link's professional career began.

Speaking of which, he really has a relationship with Oklahoma City. He first became a real professional player here, and now he is about to usher in his first playoff journey here.

Link has a very special relationship with this city. His short experience here has laid a solid foundation for him to become an NBA player.

"I like this city, Zach." Sitting on the team bus and looking at the familiar street scene outside the window, Link and Randolph started chatting.

"You won't like it soon." Randolph closed his eyes and was obviously resting, but he still replied to Link.

Randolph's serious appearance in the past two days really made Link feel uncomfortable.

"Why?"

"Because this is the home court of the Thunder, Link. In the playoffs, home fans support their team 100%. There is nothing here except bloody storm. So, you won't like it." Randolph opened his eyes and looked like an old player taught the new recruits the experience.

But in fact, Randolph only played once in the playoffs. In the 201-02 season, Randolph only played for 1 minute in garbage time and did not get any data, which can be ignored.

He officially played in the playoffs in 2002-03. That year, Randolph played 7 times in the playoffs with the Trail Blazers, averaging 13.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. However, it has been 8 years since that experience.

"Come on, you won't be booed wherever you go, it has nothing to do with whether you are away or not. For you, isn't it bloody?" Link waved his hand. When he was young, Randolph, let alone away, probably fans would boo him at home. After all, that guy is really bad!

It’s not that the performance of the stadium is bad, but that the professional attitude and reputation on the field are too bad.

Randolph glared at Link, then continued to close his eyes and rest. He would be trapped in the pit when talking to the boy.

Link smiled, no matter how he joked, he would say that the Grizzlies can play the toughest battle in the playoffs this year, that is, Randolph.

Although Tony Allen won the championship, he really couldn't score. Battier has participated in all three playoff trips with the Grizzlies and played three playoffs with the Rockets. But after all, he is here, you can't expect Battier to kill the game.

As for the remaining Conley, Gasol, Mayo and others, they are all playoff victories like Link.

Randolph's playoff experience, resume and strength are indeed very important to the Grizzlies.

But Link still disagrees with Randolph's words just now, he believes that in Oklahoma City, at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, not all fans support the Thunder.

This city is not just a bloody storm...

※※※

In the afternoon, after the training at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, the Grizzlies players entered free time.

It is said to be a free activity, but in fact, most players choose to go back to the hotel directly. Oklahoma City is unfamiliar with Grizzlies players and cannot find a place to play. Moreover, this place, which is ridiculed as "Russian Village", is like Memphis, and there are very few places to entertain. Unless it is a little prince like Harden, there will be no fun places to find.

In addition, tomorrow will be the first playoff show, so the players will definitely want to stay in shape. Therefore, going back to the hotel to rest seems to have become the only choice for Grizzlies players.

"Link, what do you want to eat tonight? Boiled chicken breast or boiled beef. By the way, I brought my xbox360 console and play games with me tonight, me." Randolph spoke while dressing in the locker room, but he looked up and swallowed half of his words.

Because he found that Link didn't seem to be in the locker room at all! He talked a lot, all talking to the air!

"Where is Link?" Randolph asked his teammates in a daze, and the others just spread their hands and shook their heads.

"It seems that you'll leave as soon as the training is over. But I don't know where he is going." Tony Allen shrugged. It seems that he and Randolph can only participate in the game party tonight.

※※※

Moore Cemetery in Oklahoma City is located in Moore Town in the southern suburbs of Oklahoma City.

In April 2010, the terrifying Moorish tornado once hit the place. At that time, a tornado, 3 kilometers wide, swept across the place with a power of more than 300 kilometers. All the tornadoes passed were razed to the ground, countless houses collapsed, two schools and a hospital were turned into ruins, and cars were squeezed into scrap iron like toys.

Moore Cemetery was also destroyed, but with the joint efforts of local residents, the usual peace has returned to its original peace.

As the tornado has only been a year, there are many people coming to the cemetery every day. After all, those who died in the tornado are sleeping here.

Link stood in front of a simple cross tombstone holding a bouquet of flowers. Unlike most, the person he visited was not killed by the terrible tornado, but in a basketball game.

"Zike, long time no see." Link didn't want to make the atmosphere so sad, so he smiled at the tombstone, then bent down to put the flowers next to the tomb.

"The environment here is good and lively, so you shouldn't be bored. By the way, let's see what this is? That's right, NBA playoff tickets! Man, we're going to play the playoffs, NBA playoffs! God, can you imagine it? It's so crazy."

"I said, I will keep moving forward with our dreams. I entered the NBA, participated in the All-Stars, and made it to the playoffs. This time the playoffs started in Oklahoma again, so you must see, Zick Zach Randolph, that guy said that there would be no fans in Oklahoma City that support me, but I know, you will definitely support me. Hahaha, do you know Zach? It's the villain who is almost finished in his career. His name is very similar to you, and he treats me equally well. If you can, I really hope you can know each other and you will definitely like him, if you can."

"Okay, I won't talk much nonsense with you boy. Look, I will continue our dreams in Oklahoma City. This is where our dreams begin, not where we end."

After saying that, Link stood up and faced Upsha's mother, Martha.

"Child, Zike must be very happy if you can come here. To be honest, if you are busy, you don't have to run so far."

"I hope he can be happy, Martha. It's okay, this doesn't delay my training and competition. By the way, how is her performance?" Link's "she" refers to Upshaw's sister.

"It's very good. The final test results are basically A. I think she can definitely go to college, Link, thank you all. If he is a girl who stays in that dilapidated neighborhood for the rest of her life, I really don't know what to do."

"I did nothing, Martha. The two brothers and sisters are so outstanding because of you, an excellent mother. Of course, I have to thank you too. When I was in Oklahoma City, your family took good care of me. You treat me like your son."

Link remembered the time when he went to Upshaw's house to eat, drink, or even sleep on the sofa. To be honest, if it weren't for the warmth brought by Upshaw's house, Link might have given up his dream of professional basketball in the cruel environment of the Development League.

"Hey, these are five playoff tickets. I asked someone to buy them for me and give them to you. Go and watch the game on site, and go with Zeke. Not every year, I have the opportunity to come to Oklahoma City to play the playoffs. I hope you can have you on the sidelines when I play in Oklahoma City. In this way, I will feel much more at ease." Link said, stuffing the five tickets into Martha's hands.

These are the front-row tickets behind the bench. Judging from the current official pricing, the lowest price of each ticket is US$5,000.5, which is 25,000 US dollars. As for the family conditions of the Upshaw family, it is definitely not affordable.

"I can't accept your tickets, Link, this is too expensive!"

"If you don't accept it, I can only throw them away. Go to the live game and just think it's me to cheer for it." Link forced the ticket to Martha.

Martha didn't shy away anymore, and she rosy her eyes as she smiled, "You will be favored by God, child."

"I don't want God's favor, because I'm enough with you." Link looked up at the sky. In April, which is approaching summer, the sky was cloudless and blue, just like the starting point of his career.
Chapter completed!