Stepping into the Peak

"Link really was as... obnoxious as ever!"

"Six or seven players? Is Link planning to include Vince Carter too? Maybe that would've worked ten years ago, but Link shouldn't forget that Carter isn't the 'Half-Man, Half-Amazing' he once was."

"I don't know whether Link was serious or joking, but now I just want to see how he gets himself out of this."

Just as Link had expected, he was savaged again the next day.

While everyone thought the Grizzlies players had been ranked too highly, Link went against the grain and said that too few Grizzlies had made the list. Taking a stance directly opposed to the public really was such a Link thing to do.

This season, Link had finally avoided any controversy over his own ranking, only to dive headfirst into controversy anyway.

Without a doubt, Link's simple remark made the Cavaliers-Grizzlies season opener even more highly anticipated.

Although James, who had switched teams for the second time, was unpopular now as well, people wanted even more to see Link make a fool of himself. The Grizzlies-Cavaliers showdown even overshadowed the Rockets-Lakers game and the Mavericks-Spurs Texas derby scheduled for the same day.

This might have been the first time in NBA history that one season-opening game drew more attention than all the other opening games combined.

Though there was plenty of controversy surrounding Link and the Grizzlies outside the team, no one within the Grizzlies was troubled by it.

If they had to pick the most pressure-resistant team in the league, it would undoubtedly be the Grizzlies. After all, they had long grown accustomed to moving forward beneath people's hostile stares.

The fans were cursing the Grizzlies out, but with everyone reunited after so long and working toward another championship, the atmosphere was extremely cheerful.

The Grizzlies