Chapter 177: Go Beyond.
In the second half, Kobe scored 20 points, but the Grizzlies outscored the Lakers 46-38, ultimately winning 104-96.
The Grizzlies dominated inside with their twin towers.
Marc Gasol posted a double-double with 23 points and 13 rebounds, while Randolph added 19 points and 9 rebounds.
Han Sen's performance was unremarkable, with 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, mostly scored in the second half like Kobe.
The turning point came down to Chris Paul. After scoring 18 points and 5 assists in the first half, he managed only 2 points and 3 assists in the second half, along with 3 turnovers.
Paul barely attacked once Han Sen started guarding him in the second half, but his drop in performance was puzzling.
At the post-game press conference, the Grizzlies, as the visiting team, went first.
Han Sen and Marc Gasol attended together.
"This was a classic Grizzlies win. In the second half, we defeated Kobe as a team," Han Sen remarked, setting the tone for the game.
A reporter asked a key question: "After you switched onto CP3 in the second half, his performance noticeably declined. How did you manage that?"
"I didn't do much," Han Sen replied. "And I think your assessment is a bit off—CP3 is a great player. He knows when to get the ball to the hottest hand on the team."
This response took many by surprise. After all, Han Sen had publicly mocked Paul during the regular season!
But maybe it could be explained as a case of mutual respect forged through competition, since they hadn't played in the same division before.
Following the Grizzlies, it was time for the Lakers' press conference.
Unlike the Grizzlies' relaxed atmosphere, the Lakers' conference felt tense after the loss.
"They kicked our butts, and I played like crap." Kobe admitted, never one to hold back on self-criticism.
"We need to understand who we're up against. We must cast aside all distractions and focus solely on the game; that's the only way we can win." As he said this, Kobe glanced over at Chris Paul.
All eyes turned to Paul, as Kobe didn't hold back.
Two days later, the Lakers and Grizzlies continued their series in Los Angeles.
With Okafor's return, the Lakers' inside strength was boosted.
But what drew more attention was Kobe's intense demeanor. He kept a serious expression the entire game.
The Lakers played with intensity and performed much better than in Game 1.
The game came down to the final minutes, with the Lakers prevailing 112-108.
The Grizzlies' twin towers were contained, and although Han Sen scored 36 points, it wasn't enough for a win.
Kobe scored 32 points, while the closely watched Paul posted 18 points and 11 assists, with just 2 turnovers.
The outcome surprised many, as it seemed Paul would rebel after Kobe's public criticism. But considering it was Kobe speaking, Paul's reaction made sense.
People underestimated the power a superstar's presence exerts.
It's like how Rodman, once known as a troublemaker around the league, fell in line as soon as he joined Jordan's team.
It wasn't because Jordan was particularly domineering. He was simply the heart of a dynasty, and no one knew more about winning in basketball.
Kobe now holds a status even higher than Jordan's when Rodman joined the Bulls.
So it's not a matter of whether Paul wanted to push back—it's a matter of whether he dared.
Not even LeBron would dare to play around with his power if he were on Kobe's team.
...
The TNT show aired after Game 2, becoming the talk of the fans.
Shaquille O'Neal honored his bet by wearing boxer shorts during the segment, with a dedicated camera angle just for him.
Unlike when Barkley kissed a donkey's butt, Shaq fulfilled his bet with no half-measures.
The studio erupted in laughter, with Barkley's gloating grin especially hard to miss.
Ever since Shaq joined TNT, he had constantly teased him about having five championships or lacking one, always giving him a hard time.
But now, with Shaq shaving his head and taking his pants off, he finally got his revenge.
"Let's predict who will win Game 3," Kenny Smith said halfway through.
With Shaq joining TNT, Smith was the happiest among the trio, as he no longer had to make bets with Barkley and could relax.
As the saying goes, it's all fun until you're in the hot seat, and now Smith was often the instigator.
"I've always rooted for the Grizzlies," Barkley said proudly, looking at Shaq with satisfaction.
"I support the Grizzlies too," Shaq unexpectedly agreed, breaking his usual pattern.
Unlike regular analysis, the TNT show 'Deep NBA' allows a lot of flexibility, with only a loose outline, leaving Barkley and crew to riff off each other freely.
This format contributes to the show's success, allowing for unpredictable moments.
Of course, this freedom only works because Barkley knows how to keep things balanced.
And Shaq has become a perfect addition with a talent for commentary rivaling Barkley's.
However, now they faced an issue—if both agreed, how would they keep the bet going?
"Why don't you two talk about what's at stake?" Kenny Smith suggested.
"The loser should go streaking on an LA beach!" Barkley decided, aiming for a big win.
Shaq instinctively tightened his legs in his boxer shorts, as that was something he'd never agree to.
"I'm fine with it, but I'm supporting the Grizzlies," Shaq reiterated.
"So am I," Barkley doubled down on his stance.
With the show at an impasse, Barkley and Shaq turned toward Smith, signaling that he'd have to root for the Lakers.
Smith looked bewildered, realizing he'd been roped into this mess.
It's one thing to imagine Shaq or Barkley running naked, but him? That just wasn't his style.
"Why don't you just bet on the series instead?" Smith coughed and proposed.
Barkley and Shaq both turned back, their eyes on the bigger picture.
A single game could be unpredictable, but an entire series was another matter.
In terms of pure strength, the Lakers were stronger, which Game 2 had already demonstrated.
"How about this—let's up the ante. Instead of the LA beach, the loser has to gp streaking on the Hollywood Walk of Fame," Barkley declared, taking the Lakers' side.
This was even more brutal. LA beaches are numerous, so they could easily pick a secluded spot. But the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
That's an iconic landmark, where privacy is impossible.
This was clearly a provocation. If Shaq declined, he'd look weak. Even if he joined Barkley in rooting for the Lakers, Barkley would still hold the psychological edge.
Or, perhaps, Barkley realized that the original bet was a bit much and crafted a new one to give them both an out.
"Fine, I'm with the Grizzlies!" Shaq shot back, unable to resist Barkley's smugness.
"Kobe has never understood that basketball isn't a one-man game, but his opponent, the Grizzlies, have already figured this out." Of course, when adding his reasoning, O'Neal didn't miss the chance to throw shade at Kobe.
This wave of comments blew up, drawing massive attention to the Lakers-Grizzlies series.
...
Game 3 of the series would move to Memphis.
After returning to Memphis, Han Sen pulled Tony Allen aside for extra practice.
Han Sen's [Uncle Drew] was now extremely close to its bottleneck, just needing one final push. But in matters like these, rushing things could be counterproductive—it always felt just a bit out of reach.
After training, the two sat on the sidelines to rest.
"Han, I'm planning to leave this summer," Allen said suddenly, catching Han Sen off guard.
But after thinking it over, Han Sen realized it wasn't surprising Allen felt this way. With Gay returning and Battier staying on, Allen's minutes had significantly decreased.
In the first two games, Tony Allen averaged less than 10 minutes per game, similar to his situation in Boston.
But unlike before, Allen was now 29 years old.
He truly needed a change of scenery, or when his contract expired after next season, he might disappear from the NBA.
"Have you decided where to go?"
Allen shook his head. Unlike Han Sen, he wasn't great at socializing. Although he'd been with the team for nearly two years, Han Sen was the only one he talked to off the court.
"Then take your time to think about it after the season, and let me know when you've decided." Han Sen patted Allen's shoulder.
He couldn't dictate the team's trades, but if Allen had somewhere in mind, Wallace would likely be willing to do him a favor.
...
In Game 3, the two teams were neck and neck in the first half. Kobe erupted in the second half, scoring 45 points and leading the Lakers to a 113-106 win, regaining home-court advantage.
"Basketball isn't a one-man game, but the team with the most points wins," Kobe remarked at the post-game press conference, clearly responding to O'Neal's earlier comments.
Much of what Kobe had done this season, including pushing the team to trade for Paul, stemmed from last season, when O'Neal swept him and won the championship.
Now, O'Neal was in the commentator's booth, still opposing him and dissing him, fueling Kobe's intensity.
Winning by 8, losing by 4, losing by 7—the margins in the first three games had all been single digits.
The fact that the Grizzlies could compete like this against the Lakers was already proof of their strength.
However, with the Grizzlies trailing 1-2, the only game they'd won was when Okafor was out, showing how strong this Lakers team was.
Losing another game would all but seal their fate, and facing Kobe in his prime—hungry, ruthless, and with something to prove—was a nightmare in itself.
Especially with Paul rattled by Kobe, finding a psychological breakthrough would be challenging.
Their only option now was to face them head-on.
...
Before Game 4, the Grizzlies went through their pre-game training.
Given the situation, the atmosphere in practice was somewhat tense.
Han Sen found himself restless. Despite everything, he was missing something. Something he'd nearly reached but couldn't quite grasp.
He was so close to unlocking the potential he'd trained for tirelessly, but the limits of [Uncle Drew] felt infuriatingly just out of reach.
During the full-court scrimmage, Han Sen requested to join the third team.
This time, not out of arrogance or to get into anyone's head, but to add a crushing level of pressure that he could use to reach beyond.
It was effective. The Grizzlies' starters were not pulling any punches, and Han Sen ended up losing several times in a row.
But the intensity only ramped up as time went on.
Han tried to drive past Gay, only to feel a jarring block as the ball ricocheted off the hardwood.
In the next play, he fought through screens, leapt for a contested jumper, and missed. The third team trailed, and each missed shot cut through his focus like a knife.
Yet he refused to back down. He could feel something churning within him—a spark, a visceral need to let out—like it had been caged inside, waiting for this very moment.
As they ran the court over and over, sweat dripping, bodies colliding, Han's mind shifted.
He wasn't just scrimmaging; he was fighting for the survival of this season, fighting against the narrative that they were too weak, too young, too outclassed by the Lakers.
A silence fell over the practice as he gathered the ball at the top of the key. This was it. He had to do it.
Gay, sensing Han's momentum, threw himself in front of him, cutting off the drive, but Han pulled back in a swift crossover.
Gay lunged, but Han's footwork was smoother than ever, his instincts dialed in. He faked right, then stepped back, feeling the clock tick down. He let the shot fly over Gay's outstretched hand.
Swish.
A silence settled over the gym as the ball dropped cleanly through the net. The third team had finally beaten the starters.
Han took a deep, steadying breath, as if coming up for air after holding it too long.
He felt an exhilarating rush—a breakthrough.
Every dribble, every move, every shot felt sharper, more instinctual. He'd crossed that bottleneck, finally reaching the limit of [Uncle Drew] he'd been chasing all season.
Across the court, Gay stared at him, his mind flashing back to the day Han Sen first joined the Grizzlies. At that time, he'd argued with Hollins over his place on the team.
Back then, Han had also joined the third team and soundly defeated him.
More than a season had passed, and his own status on the team seemed to have plummeted.
But just as he thought that, a hand reached out to him. Han Sen smiled, pulling him up from the ground.
Gay slapped his head, realizing how ridiculous his thoughts had been. Han Sen had made many sacrifices for the team, yet he'd been caught up in those trivial concerns.
It wasn't only Gay whose perspective shifted; the other Grizzlies players also felt a change.
Han wasn't just practicing; he was showing them what it meant to defy the odds, to defy Kobe, and to stare down the league's most feared opponent without a hint of fear.
They were also reminded of last season, when they had defeated the Thunder, a stronger team, and believed they could beat the Lakers this season.
...
The next night, the FedEx Forum was packed to the rafters, the fans rallying with renewed intensity.
Despite the unfavorable position of the team, the fans' support was unwavering.
The 'courage and resilience' that the team had established last season was now deeply rooted in the fans, who believed that their team wouldn't be easily defeated.
As Han Sen walked out of the tunnel, fans around him shouted his name, stretching out hats, shirts, and other items for autographs.
He looked up, his gaze landing on the young fan wearing his No. 77 jersey.
The kid shouted, "Han, we're going to win!"
Han Sen smiled, giving the kid a thumbs-up and turning to the floor.
They weren't done. Not by a long shot.
And with every ounce of strength he'd unlocked, he knew they could win.
-End of Chapter-
TL/n: Two chapters cuz I wasted time heavily editing this chapter. On a second thought maybe I shouldn't have done it. I ended up making it too dramatic...
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone