"I hate this xenophobic city no matter how many times I come to Boston."

When the Grizzlies players resisted Boston, it was snowing lightly. To be precise, it was sleet.

This cold weather further deepened Link's bad impression of Boston. Boston is windy and snowy in winter, so although the average temperature of 2.1 degrees Celsius in January is not too low, Boston is definitely one of the coldest winter cities in the United States.

Link and his teammates were wrapped in cotton coats and trembled towards the airport hall. These guys who were big and covered in thick clothes looked like grizzly bears hunting.

"No one likes Boston, Link. But tomorrow night, we should have a relaxing and happy life. You know? The Boston Celtics have fallen to ninth in the East. They have averaged 23 points per game in the past three games. They can easily finish the game and leave. Trust me, this year, we won't have trouble in Boston."

Randolph said, rubbing his hands, then venting heat in his palms.

"I hope so, Zach, I hope. Or we will encounter their desperate resistance? After all, you said that they have lost three consecutive times. I think the entire Celtic team is thinking about how to defeat the league's number one."

"Come on, shut your crow's mouth, Link. I don't want to be exhausted every time I play in North Shore Garden."

"I don't want to do anything, but I have to make the worst. Boston will never be peaceful."

Link looked at the gloomy sky and walked onto the team bus.

The ninth place in the Eastern Conference, well, it sounds like there is no threat. Teams that can only rank ninth in the Eastern Conference are generally not very popular.

But when Link thinks of the names of Celtics, Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, he feels uneasy.

The Celtics may not rank high now, but after all, they are the team that just played in the Eastern Conference Finals last season and played in tiebreak with the defending champion. You know, the Oklahoma City Thunder did not persist until Game 7.

At noon, the Grizzlies players arrived at the hotel. In the afternoon, Stevens took everyone to North Shore Garden for training.

As soon as we stepped into the training hall in North Shore Garden, the Grizzlies players were confused. There was no way, the training hall was full of honor pennants, so it was hard not to be curious.

17 championship banners and countless Eastern Championship banners circled the walls of the training hall. Although they were just fakes and genuine ones were hanging over the official competition hall. But even so, it was enough to show the honor of this ancient team.

As for the division championship, the Celtics simply made a big flag, and the lines of numbers on it were the year when they won the division championship.

This is not for anything else, but because the division champions have won too many. If each division champion makes a banner, the training hall will not be enough. So, just make a big one and count the years.

The Boston Celtics are so willful.

Link's eyes fell on the championship banner of the 2007-2008 season. In my impression, it seemed that the Celtics won the championship had only happened not long ago. But after thinking about it carefully, five years have almost passed.

In 5 years, Garnett and Pierce are no longer young, and the three Celtics have gone their separate ways. Rajon Rondo, who was scolded by Kobe, dared not retaliate when he was scolded by Kobe, has also become the hottest point guard in the league.

Will a team that just won the championship five years ago put down their pride and surrender? Link guesses that there is a high probability that it won't.

When you step into the arena and see the championship pennants, as a Celtic player, you will know how to fight.

Tony Allen's view is the same as Link. When he was in the locker room, Tony Allen showed everyone a Celtic jersey with blood stains. This was passed by Tony Allen when the Celtics played in the finals.

Don't forget that he was also a member of the championship team back then.

"The Celtics never compromise. Even if they fight to the end, even if they are bleeding, they will not surrender. I know that the Celtics are in a bad situation this year. They lost miserably in their three consecutive games and have fallen out of the top eight in the Eastern Conference. But even so, we can't take it lightly. As I said, they won't surrender on their own. So, everyone, cheer up and don't underestimate them, okay?"

Tony Allen's speech worked. In the subsequent training, everyone's attitude was very positive and they practiced very seriously.

Facing the ninth place in the East, the Grizzlies, who are ranked No. 1 in the league, did not slacken at all. After all, two years ago, they also defeated one powerful opponent after another as No. 9 in the West. Finally, they entered No. 5 in the West.

After the training, Link and Jimmy Butler stayed to practice for a while. Link now strictly follows his training plan every day. In order to upgrade again by the end of January, he did not dare to relax for a day.

Jimmy Butler was uncomfortable with Ski. Since his thunderous game, Stevens has gradually increased Butler's playing time. His playing time has increased, but Butler has practiced even harder.

"I can't live up to what Stevens expected of me." This is Jimmy Butler's original words.

At 8:30 pm, Jimmy Butler finally felt willing to leave the training hall at the urging of assistant coach Elston Turner. Link had 50 sets of dribbling and shooting training. He told Turner and Butler, "I'll leave after training, you don't have to wait for me."

So Link became the last Grizzlies player to leave the training hall.

Link walked in the player's passage, but saw a person walking from the opposite side not far away. And the guy was wearing a jersey and sweating all over, obviously he had just finished training.

After the man approached, Link discovered that it was Paul Pierce!

"Have you finished the training just now?" Pierce stopped and greeted Link. But he had no expression on his face. You don't know if he was friendly or hostile.

"Yes, where are you?"

"I'm just an activity. It's getting late, kid, hurry up and go back. At this time, it's best not to sway around the streets of Boston." Pierce waved his hand and walked away from Link.

Link and Pierce are not familiar with each other in private, and they will play a game tomorrow, so the atmosphere is a bit awkward. Link didn't know what to say, so he continued walking on his own.

However, just after walking out a few steps, Pierce suddenly spoke again.

"Hey, do you know what my nickname is? Boy."

"Ah? The truth?" Link didn't know what this old man wanted to say.

"Hahahaha, it seems that children today have not forgotten our glory. So, do you know why I call it the truth?"

"Uh" Link scratched his head, and he couldn't tell what was going on.

"Okay, go back quickly. See you on the court tomorrow, Link." Pierce said and turned around and left. This time, he did not stop anymore.

With questions, Link returned to his hotel room and turned on his computer and searched for a lot of information about Pierce. Most of them were about the fact that he got 11 times but returned to the court a month later.

Everyone knows this, and Link is no exception. But being stabbed 11 times seems to have nothing to do with the nickname "Truth".

Finally, Link finally found out about "truth" in a very old article.

※※※

On March 13, 2001, Paul Pierce was not an All-Star or a Championship.

The Celtics visit Los Angeles to challenge their arch rivals Lakers.

Pierce had already played 184 games in the NBA at that time, but he didn't know how much response that night would have for him.

That night, the Los Angeles took out their most powerful firepower. O'Neal raged under the basket and easily swept away 28 points and 11 rebounds. Derek Fischer, who was still young at that time, beat Randy Brown in 1991, and scored 26 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds.

Rick Fox, as a No. 4, made three three-pointers that night, 21 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds.

It seemed that the Celtics could not resist the impact of the defending champion at all. Then, Paul Pierce stood up.

Facing O'Neal's backup defense, Pierce lightly picked the basket and hit it.

Bryan Shaw's jump shot from his head and entered the net with a hollow!

He still hit a long three-point shot after receiving the pass from his teammate!

Paul Pierce performed magic all night, showing his omnipotent offensive skills to the fullest.

In the end, Pierce scored 42 points with a super high shooting percentage of 68.4%, allowing the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, who have an absolute advantage, to lose their skin!

After the game, O'Neal pushed away a group of reporters and rushed to the Celtics coach Jim O'Brien who passed by the Lakers' locker room, shouted, "Paul Pierce is the fucking truth, you should call him that from now on!"

Then, the nickname spread rapidly in the alliance like a virus.

Before that "War of Truth", the Celtics had just lost to the 76ers and fell to ninth in the West. So Paul Pierce became the truth.

After reading this article, Link swallowed.

Why did Pierce say those words to himself? Will the truth reappear in the North Shore Garden?
Chapter completed!