Chapter 166: Fame Attracts Trouble.
Han Sen played the entire first quarter, scoring 20 points, a personal best for points in a single quarter, while also effectively containing Kyrie Irving.
With Jamison struggling under Faried's tight defense, the Grizzlies turned the first quarter around after initially trailing, closing with a double-digit lead over the Cavaliers.
Though the game seemed settled, the Cavaliers managed to keep the score close at the start of the second quarter.
Thompson's tough defense and offensive rebounding, along with the improved Cunningham and perimeter threat Ramon Sessions, made the Cavaliers' bench surprisingly effective.
Han Sen returned with six minutes left in the second quarter and continued his strong play, adding another 8 points to reach 28 by halftime.
The Grizzlies led the Cavaliers 55-42.
The Cavaliers were still in it, but that changed in the third quarter.
After halftime, Irving opened with a three-pointer, sparking a Cavaliers' rally. However, the Grizzlies responded with a 15-3 run.
Han Sen contributed a three-pointer, two mid-range shots, and two assists during this stretch. With two minutes left in the third quarter, Han was subbed out for a break.
The LED screen displayed his stats for the night: 15-for-22 field goals, 2-for-4 from three, 7-for-8 free throws, totaling 41 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
Last season, in his first return to Cleveland, Han set his career-high of 43 points; this season, he had already reached 40+ in three quarters.
Quicken Loans Arena, where he once declared "This is my house," had become his lucky ground.
Ultimately, the Grizzlies comfortably defeated the Cavaliers 103-87 in this nationally televised game.
At the post-game press conference, Han Sen joined Coach Joerger.
"How would you rate Irving's performance tonight?" a reporter from TNT asked, noting Irving's respectable 25 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.
"He's a very talented and competitive player. I enjoy playing against him on the court."
While aggressive on the court, Han Sen was generous in his praise afterward.
"Your offensive intensity tonight seemed high. Did that have anything to do with Gay's comment pre-game?" The follow-up question caught Han a bit off guard.
After practice, he had gone straight to the locker room, unaware of what Gay had said.
"He said you could score 40 points whenever you wanted," the reporter reminded him.
Han laughed at that.
In the current slower-paced NBA, with fewer possessions and intense defense, scoring 40 points wasn't as easy as it used to be.
Yes, he could easily hit 40 against weaker teams like the Cavaliers, but against top teams like the Lakers, Spurs, or Heat, success would depend on the opponent's defensive strategies and his own shooting form.
Gay's comment had hyped him up.
"That's right," Han nodded, fully understanding the implications and knowing he could use this opportunity to earn more [hater points].
At that moment, Joerger took the mic and, with a smile, said, "I asked Han if he wanted to play in the fourth, but he declined. If he had, he could've easily scored 50 tonight."
That was an "assist" that Hollins would never have given him.
Though some NBA coaches lack in tactical ability, they offer emotional support that can work wonders for team morale.
"Han Could Score 50 Anytime He Wants."
This headline quickly trended, and Han raked in a lot of hater points.
"Padding stats against weak teams," "Only Kobe could make such a claim," "Young, arrogant, but better not be too cocky" were some reactions.
Han saw the reactions and shared the article on his social media.
Though his primary focus was to max out the [Uncle Drew] talent, in this shortened season, time was limited, so he welcomed any extra [hater points].
While sharing the news, he noticed his Facebook following had surpassed 3 million. Not quite "celebrity" status yet, but a far cry from when only his own alternate account followed him.
Among his followers were several "big names" like Selena Gomez, Paris Hilton, and Kim Kardashian, a result of the ongoing media buzz.
But Han didn't read too much into these followers. After all, even he'd follow interesting stories out of curiosity.
What caught him off guard was a private message—from Madonna. The content was quite forward, essentially inviting him to her home to "hang out."
Han shuddered a bit. Madonna was 53 by now, still looking to "play"?
By February, Han's social media post had drawn increased defensive pressure from opponents.
Was that a bad thing for him? Not at all. Much like previous abilities, high-intensity games only accelerated his talent's progress.
With his new passing skills, he could toggle between scoring and passing without letting tough defense impact his game.
Ironically, this sped up his progress.
Additionally, two more waves of hater points rolled in.
One wave involved Jeremy Lin.
In late January, Lin joined the Knicks and in early February exploded onto the scene with "Linsanity."
As the only two active Asian guards, Han and Lin were naturally compared.
ESPN summed it up with a pointed remark: "Sometimes, NBA success is just about opportunity. Han got his in Memphis, and now Lin has his in New York. They're no different."
The other wave was due to Dwight Howard.
Howard's trade request, which had dragged on for months, ended in a near farce.
After declaring his "loyalty," he announced he'd stay with the team through 2013 by exercising his 2012 player option.
This was met with widespread player mockery.
Though Han thought Howard hadn't done anything wrong, Howard's "loyalty" ① statement evoked memories of when Han had said, "Don't let loyalty hurt you."
Swift's words were prophetic: "They'll criticize you not because of what you do, but because they want to."
The classic case of "More fame, more problems."
But Han had learned that increasing his influence outside of basketball was another way to earn hater points.
His relationship with Swift had already boosted his off-court profile, generating many hater points from her fanbase.
Since they'd broken up, though, unless he started actively trashing Swift, he wouldn't be able to gain any more hater points from that group.
Yet there were many off-court opportunities—singing, for instance… but he dismissed that thought.
Movies, however, seemed more promising.
Many NBA stars had dabbled in film, like Shaq in Scary Movie or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's famous scene with Bruce Lee in Game of Death.
And who knew? After achieving great success, starring in a Jordan-style movie might be possible.
Han had plenty of script ideas in mind from his memories of movies.
While Han trained and considered off-court ventures, this year's All-Star voting results came in ②.
Unsurprisingly, Han received 1.8 million votes, making him the top vote-getter.
Why fewer votes this year?
The lockout-shortened season had lowered overall interest, and the league had reweighted the votes from China, where fans pushed Marc Gasol to the starting center for the West.
Of course, Gasol's impressive season contributed to this as well. He averaged 16.6 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks, all career highs.
Gasol thanked Han for his assist in his media interview:
"We all know the sacrifices Han makes for the team, and my performance wouldn't be the same without his support."
These weren't just polite words. Han's playmaking had done wonders for Gasol's numbers.
With Conley also participating in the Skills Challenge, Han wouldn't be alone at All-Star Weekend.
...
February flew by, and just before the All-Star break, the Grizzlies had another nationally televised game against the Lakers in Los Angeles.
The Lakers have encountered some challenges this season, the most surprising of which has been the health of their main center, Okafor.
Aside from a few ankle injuries early in his career due to weight issues, Okafor has had high attendance in recent seasons.
Over the past four seasons, he played full seasons in three, and in the one he didn't, he still managed 72 games.
But this season, now with the Lakers, he's suffered repeated injuries to his left knee, playing intermittently.
Furthermore, Jordan Hill's defensive abilities have fallen short of expectations, leaving the team with significant rotation issues in the frontcourt.
Yet, these troubles haven't stopped the Lakers from dominating. They now sit atop the league standings.
With Chris Paul and Pau Gasol driving the team and Kobe's strong desire for his sixth championship, Kobe is playing at the most efficient level of his career.
In this game, Lakers head coach Mike Brown opted for full-court, one-on-one defense on Han Sen, using Artest, Barnes, and even Kobe to mark him.
The Grizzlies rely on a team-oriented style, and cutting off Han Sen's connection with his teammates proved more effective than simply trying to limit his scoring.
Brown may not excel in offensive strategy, but his defensive tactics are solid.
The result was that Han Sen gave his all, scoring his first career 50 points.
But the Grizzlies ultimately lost, 106-115.
Kobe scored 41 points, Gasol contributed 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Paul added 14 points and 14 assists.
This game was a great showcase of Han Sen's current abilities. Even against a title contender, he can still put up 50 points when giving his all.
But losing renders the stats meaningless, and Han Sen only said one thing after the game: "We'll win it back."
The two teams will meet again in March, after the All-Star Game.
Back in Memphis, Han Sen ran into Randolph at the practice facility.
Time had flown by, and it had already been over a month since Randolph's injury. Randolph was now able to do some off-ball training.
At his current recovery rate, he'll be ready to return after the All-Star break.
Han Sen went over to greet Randolph and practiced with him for a bit.
Losing to the Lakers was a clear reminder that basketball is not a one-man sport.
Although Conley, Gay, and Gasol Jr. have all improved this season, Randolph's presence is crucial against an experienced team like the Lakers.
It's not that having Randolph on the court guarantees a win, but if they were to play a series, the difference between having Randolph and not having him would be substantial.
Randolph was also eager to return.
It's not that Han Sen is fighting alone, but without him, the Grizzlies have been performing well. If Randolph doesn't come back soon, he might lose his place in the team.
"Winning is not the problem; it's embarrassing if someone's missing." This applies to everyone.
On February 26, Randolph stayed in Memphis for rehab, while Han Sen, along with Marc Gasol and Conley, flew to Orlando for the All-Star Game.
This year, Han Sen only needed to participate in the main game, so he had more free time during the first few days compared to past All-Star events.
On the first day, aside from participating in promotional events, he spent time hanging out with Gasol and the others.
The next day, Conley was set to participate in the Skills Challenge, so he and Gasol dressed in suits and sat in the front row, ready to watch.
This year's Skills Challenge was star-studded, featuring Curry, Westbrook, Wall, Rondo, Parker, and Irving, in addition to Conley.
Irving, in particular, was drawing a lot of attention after his 34 points and 9 assists in the Rookie Challenge the previous night.
While they chatted, debating who might win, a soft voice chimed in nearby.
"Mind if I place my bet too?"
Han turned to see a familiar face, smiling and slipping into the seat beside him.
It was Scarlet Johansson.
Only moments ago, he was sure someone else was sitting there.
Surprised but amused, he returned her smile. "Scarlett? Didn't expect to see you here."
She extended a hand warmly. "We've never met, but I've heard plenty about you."
He chuckled, shaking her hand. "Good things, I hope."
"Would I be here if they weren't?" she replied with a playful wink.
---
①: "One of the main reasons is that I'm a very loyal person. I've always believed that loyalty is more important than anything else. The past few months have been tough for me, but I'm not the way many people think or describe. I am loyal; betrayal isn't in my nature." — Howard on his decision to stay.
②: Western Conference Starters: Han Sen, Kobe, Durant, Griffin, Gasol
Substitutes: Paul, Westbrook, Parker, Aldridge, Nowitzki, Love, Bynum
Eastern Conference Starters: Rose, Wade, James, Anthony, Howard
Substitutes: Deron, Joe Johnson, Iguodala, Pierce, Luol Deng, Bosh, Hibbert
(End of Chapter)
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