Not Only Can't Defend, But Will Also Be Shaken Off

On November 21, 2014, the San Antonio Spurs finally got their chance to avenge their humiliation at FedExForum.

Before the game, Gregg Popovich stated more than once, "We can win this game because the Grizzlies have already exposed a lot of problems. As long as we exploit them, we can win!"

Bill Simmons, who had been quiet for a long time, naturally took Popovich's side. Having finally caught a chance for the Grizzlies to lose, he certainly wasn't going to let it slip away easily. "The Grizzlies haven't tasted back-to-back losses in a full year. Now, it's time for them to remember what that feels like."

San Antonio's local media were brimming with confidence in Leonard. "Link may have scored 63 points on the Rockets, but against Leonard, he can forget about it!"

From the pregame narrative as a whole, everyone favored the Spurs. The biggest attraction of this game seemed to be watching how the Spurs would knock the Grizzlies off their pedestal.

From Link to the frontcourt, people believed the Grizzlies would collapse across the board against the Spurs.

In boxing, people usually call the side given lower odds by bookmakers the "underdog."

And today, the Memphis Grizzlies were undoubtedly playing the role of the underdog.

Before the game began, Popovich looked utterly certain of victory. During a courtside interview with David Aldridge before tipoff, Popovich made no effort to hide his arrogance.

"I know the Grizzlies just signed an emergency replacement. But if they think that can stop the Spurs, they're dead wrong. Just watch—my team will play to its level today."

Popovich's attitude toward the Grizzlies signing Whiteside was, in truth, the attitude most people had toward the matter.

Players on 10-day contracts were generally utterly insignificant. Many players could sign a 10-day deal with a