Steve Nash was driving to FedExForum. On the car radio, nearly every local Memphis station was discussing last night's unusual game.
"Unbelievable. The Cleveland Cavaliers' performance was astonishing. Twenty-four three-pointers—this was something even Cleveland fans would never have dared imagine."
"The Cavaliers unexpectedly took Game 1 of the Finals. Before the game began, they were the underdogs. But now, they were the team holding the lead."
"The Cleveland Cavaliers undoubtedly sent the Grizzlies a serious warning. No matter how heavily favored the Grizzlies were before the series, victory wasn't going to just fall into their laps."
Beyond the radio broadcasts, the streets of Memphis were plastered with promotional posters for this year's Finals. Fans in the Grizzlies' dark blue T-shirts filled the city.
Before he knew it, Nash had driven up to the entrance of FedExForum.
Looking at the fans gathered outside the arena and everything before him, Nash found it all slightly unreal.
This intense Finals atmosphere was something he had never experienced throughout his long eighteen-year playing career.
He had never imagined that one day, he too would reach the stage of the NBA Finals.
Though he was no longer a player, but a member of the Grizzlies' coaching staff, Nash still cared deeply about this year's Finals.
Nash had spent an enjoyable year in Memphis this season. Though he was only a member of the coaching staff, watching the team charge ahead all the way still filled him with a sense of accomplishment.
Especially after accompanying the Grizzlies past the Warriors coached by Steve Kerr in the previous round, Nash could only feel fortunate.
Nash had never won a Western Conference Finals before. This year was his first time.
If he had accepted his good friend Kerr's invitation last summer instead of Link's, then his dream of