We need exact 58 body paragraphs. Input appears paragraphs separated blank lines; count let's enumerate likely 58? preserve. Translate and title. Need no numbering. Content spelling. Ensure paragraph boundaries. System no panel. Old Friends Reunite

At seven in the morning on the 26th, the Grizzlies players arrived at the airport early. Since they were flying on a charter, they didn't have to line up like ordinary passengers.

Even so, the players had gotten up at the crack of dawn. They had to meet at FedExForum first, then take a team bus to the airport together.

The team had arranged things this way for safety. If a player was late or got into an accident on the way, it would be a needless loss. That was why NBA teams almost always gathered before setting off for road games.

This was Link's first time traveling to an away game with an NBA team, and he was amazed by the luxurious accommodations the league provided.

For starters, there was the luggage. When you played in the G League, you had to carry all your own bags, no matter how much you brought.

But on an NBA road trip, all you had to do was hand your luggage to a staff member and forget about it. By the time you reached your room at the hotel, your bags would be waiting in the closet.

Then there were uniforms, shoes, and other gear. The players didn't have to carry any of that themselves, either. Before he'd crossed over, Link had seen Houston Rockets player P.J. Tucker always carrying a pair of shoes when he entered the arena. But that was just for show. The shoes he'd actually wear for games had already been neatly laid out in the locker room.

Finally, the team's transportation was excellent. They didn't get a $60 meal allowance, but luxury buses and charter flights were perks you couldn't enjoy in the G League.

This time, Link didn't have to squeeze into economy class with everyone else. The entire plane belonged to the Grizzlies players. As Randolph had put it, "You could do cartwheels in there if you wanted."

And so, with his little shoulder bag in hand, Link set off. Even after the plane had left Memphis behind, he could hardly believe he was sitting on an NBA team's charter flight, on his way to an away game!

As it happened, the Grizzlies' destination this time was pretty interesting: Indianapolis.

Link still remembered a basketball novel he'd read before crossing over. Its protagonist coached in Indianapolis. And in real life, the Pacers had his good friend Paul George.

The night before, George had called to ask if Link would be traveling with the team to play in Indianapolis the next day. At the time, Link hadn't known he'd made the roster, so he'd said he wasn't sure.

George would surely be thrilled to see him today. Come to think of it, this would also be the first time Link had actually met his friend.

※※※

Like the Grizzlies, the Indiana Pacers had been hovering around eighth place in the Eastern Conference for a long time. So far, their record stood at 13 wins and 14 losses. They still had a chance to make the playoffs, but one slip could knock them out of the top eight.

Everyone assumed that a team struggling just to reach the playoffs couldn't be much of a threat. In truth, though, teams like that were often the ones most willing to fight. When all it took was a push to earn a playoff spot, who would want to give up?

That was why Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien had called his players in to prepare early that morning. The Grizzlies were just as hungry, so this game was bound to be a tough one.

The good news for the Pacers was that the Grizzlies had just suffered a three-game losing streak, and Rudy Gay had shot under 40 percent in each of his last two games. O'Brien believed Granger would decisively beat Gay in their matchup.

As for the big men, Hibbert could use his height to contain Gasol Jr. McRoberts and Hansbrough, the two white power forwards, could take turns wrestling with Randolph and give him a real headache.

Jim O'Brien had a clear game plan. He figured the game might be close, but he didn't expect any surprises.

"Coach." Just then, Paul George walked over to Jim O'Brien as he warmed up.

"What is it, George?" O'Brien didn't give him special treatment just because he was a lottery pick. On the contrary, Jim O'Brien had never really trusted George. He wasn't the kind of coach who liked playing rookies.

As one of the Pacers' top prospects, George had played less than 20 minutes per game this season. That was more than enough to show what O'Brien thought of him.

"I just wanted to ask if you think the Grizzlies might put Link in the game."

"Who did you say? Link?" O'Brien looked at George in surprise. For a moment, he couldn't remember who Link was. The Grizzlies had a player by that name?

"The guy who broke the G League's single-game scoring record a little while ago," George added.

"Oh, him." O'Brien gave a mocking smile. If George hadn't brought him up, he would have nearly forgotten about him. "Who cares whether he plays? A guy like that won't affect the game even if he does. Focus on your own preparation, George. Stop thinking about all this nonsense."

O'Brien didn't take Link seriously at all. He didn't even trust a tenth overall pick, let alone a senior who'd gone undrafted.

※※※

NBA players had great accommodations on the road, but their schedules were packed. They'd just arrived in Indianapolis and had barely finished an hour-long nap. Link hadn't even had time to enjoy the comfort of his five-star hotel room before Lionel Hollins led the players off to Conseco Fieldhouse.

Link couldn't sit still. He didn't know when he'd get into the game or how many minutes he'd play. He was finally going to see his old friend George. Surely he hadn't come all this way just to spend 48 minutes on the bench. But if he only got to play in garbage time, like Haddadi, that wouldn't be much better.

Speaking of Haddadi, he hadn't traveled with the Grizzlies today. He'd been left off the roster.

Yeah, Link had taken his spot.

Once they reached the visitors' locker room, the players changed into their gear while Hollins went over the game plan.

"The Pacers are a powerful offensive team. Daniel Granger, Darren Collison, and Mike Dunleavy are all excellent scorers. And their defense is strong too, especially inside. Roy Hibbert is 2.18 meters tall and averages 2.0 blocks per game! If we're careless in the paint, we won't score. So today I want you taking more shots from the perimeter. Look for opportunities beyond the three-point line and from midrange. On defense, close off their shooting lanes."

Link listened carefully as he changed.

"Link!" Hollins suddenly called out, as if he'd noticed Link watching him.

"Here, Coach."

"I'm putting you into the rotation today. Don't be nervous. Just play the way you did in practice. We need your range and your defense. Don't let me down."

When Hollins finished, Link and Sam Young were both stunned.

Link hadn't expected to go straight into the regular rotation, while Sam Young hadn't expected Hollins to bench him so soon.

"I..." Link looked at Hollins's expectant gaze, at Randolph and the others smiling warmly, and at the number 0 on his jersey.

Grizzlies number 0. This was the first time Link had worn an official Grizzlies game uniform. The big "0" across his chest stood out unmistakably.

"I'll give it everything I've got, Coach." Link lifted his head again. He'd been waiting for this day for a long time.

※※※

As the Grizzlies players entered one by one, George kept his eyes fixed on the opposite half of the court. At last, at the back of the line, the small forward whom the Pacers had selected with the tenth pick spotted Link, his college teammate and friend.

"I told you we'd meet in the NBA!" George spread his arms and walked toward Link. Link hadn't actually been George's teammate before, but he'd liked Paul George even before crossing over, so he hugged him without hesitation.

"How've you been, George?"

"Couldn't be better. Coach Jim O'Brien's given me a lot more playing time. Though... yeah, I have to admit, I don't really like him."

George glanced at O'Brien. Some coaches were good at developing rookies, while others preferred to stick with the lineups they knew. Jim O'Brien was undoubtedly the latter.

"Really? Does he have you playing small forward or shooting guard?" Link knew Jim O'Brien. If history hadn't changed, the guy would be fired after just a few more games. Frank Vogel, who would take over afterward, would be the coach who truly introduced George to the NBA.

"Small forward."

"Too bad. I play small forward too. Looks like we'll be matched up during the rotation today." Link gave his lips an unapologetic lick. If he could beat Paul George, his place on the team would be even more secure!

Compared to Grant Hill, the rookie George was still very green. Beating him wasn't out of the question!

Just think about it: an undrafted player beating a tenth overall pick. Link would be impossible to ignore.

"Sure, you've already got some bad ideas about me." George laughed. He thought Link was just teasing him.

Link didn't answer. Instead, he patted George on the shoulder with a knowing smile. George clearly hadn't heard a saying that was common in China: "You save your worst for your friends."