Chapter 122: Han's Happy Zone Defense.
Starting in 2001, when the NBA allowed zone defense, it began to show its charm.
The Kings relied on zone defense to play toe-to-toe with the Lakers, almost reaching the Finals at one point.
The Spurs are also one of the best teams at employing it.
The most common zone defenses are the 2-3 and 3-2 setups—one focusing on interior defense, the other on perimeter defense.
Han Sen had already seen these defenses a lot during his NCAA days, not just from opponents but also from his own team at Barry University.
The 2-2-1 zone is essentially a variant of the 2-3 zone, with the main difference being the center's positioning.
This relates to a rules issue: in the NCAA and international play, there's no defensive three-second rule, so the center can camp under the basket.
But not in the NBA, where centers often have to position themselves outside the three-second zone, resulting in what looks like a 2-1-2 formation.
Therefore, this zone's essence is similar to the 2-3 zone—primarily designed to limit the opponent's interior offense.
With Randolph playing dominantly, this defensive adjustment made sense.
On the Grizzlies' next possession, with Randolph double-teamed by Duncan and McDyess and forced to pass out, the ball eventually landed in Gay's hands, whose three-pointer missed.
Although Gay's three-point percentage was a career-high this season, like LeBron, he was more accurate when left wide open.
But the Spurs' zone defense was well-refined, rarely allowing wide-open shots.
Duncan grabbed the defensive rebound, and the Spurs launched a fast break, with 'The French Speedster' Tony Parker blowing past Conley for a fast-break layup.
The crowd erupted in cheers as the Spurs' defensive adjustment immediately paid off.
Coach Popovich sat back on the bench, turning to chat with assistant coach Budenholzer.
The 2-1-2 zone not only limits interior scoring but also has the advantage of setting up quick transitions for fast breaks, especially with a player like Parker, against the Grizzlies' twin-tower lineup.
Of course, every zone defense has its weaknesses. The biggest flaw of the 2-1-2 zone is vulnerability to mid-to-long-range shooting, but that wasn't the Grizzlies' strong suit.
In fact, the only real threat from outside was Han Sen's shooting, which is why Popovich had already assigned George Hill to stick close to him.
So, while Randolph was playing great, it wasn't enough to win the game for the Grizzlies.
However, while Popovich was looking away, Han gave Conley a signal.
As the Grizzlies advanced the ball to the frontcourt, Conley continued to indicate for Randolph to post up on the strong side, while at the same time, Han set up an off-ball screen with Marc Gasol on the weak side.
Hill closely followed Han Sen, as per Popovich's pre-game instructions, to prevent Han's three-point shots and drives, focusing primarily on the three-point threat now.
The 2-1-2 zone also effectively limits penetration, meaning if Han Sen entered the paint, he'd be immediately surrounded.
Hill's defense was tough, and he executed well. Noticing Han wasn't calling for the ball at the three-point line but instead moving towards the free-throw line, Hill abandoned the screen and rushed forward to block Han's step-back three.
As Han reached the free-throw line, Conley's pass came right on time.
Seeing this, Duncan instinctively stepped back.
In that moment, the 2-1-2 zone morphed into a 2-3 zone, demonstrating its flexibility.
To break a 2-3 zone, the ideal setup is a 1-3-1 formation, which requires a big man capable of hitting mid-range shots to pull the center out of the paint.
But Han wasn't a big man; his strength was driving and floaters, so Duncan's retreat was the correct move—except…
Han Sen had already jumped for a mid-range shot the moment Duncan stepped back.
By the time Duncan reacted, it was too late to contest Han's shot effectively.
Swish!
Han Sen's mid-range jumper went in cleanly.
The crisp sound brought Popovich's attention back to the court.
He hadn't noticed what happened earlier and had to watch the replay on the big screen to figure it out.
Han Sen shooting mid-range?
Although Han wasn't without a mid-range game, it was still surprising to see him confidently take and make that shot in such a high-level contest.
On the next Spurs possession, Parker continued to run pick-and-rolls with Duncan. When Randolph stepped up to defend, Parker spun like a top, slipping past Gasol and banking in a layup.
Parker was in excellent form tonight as well.
The score was 12-8.
Both defensive teams had now turned the game into an offensive shootout, electrifying the atmosphere in the arena.
"Defense! Defense!"
The fans began chanting to encourage the home team.
The Spurs stuck to their defensive strategy, with Hill still denying Han Sen three-point opportunities.
But this time, Duncan showed his agility, rushing out to contest when Han caught the ball near the free-throw line.
Han Sen responded by using a quick crossover to slip past Duncan. Seeing McDyess coming over to help, Han passed the ball to the open Randolph.
Han Sen's pass wasn't perfect—it was a little off-target.
But Randolph's agility and long reach allowed him to recover the ball, and he took a step before slamming it home with both hands.
The crowd went wild, and the Grizzlies' bench exploded with excitement, with even Coach Hollins pumping his fist.
A fun fact: Randolph is one of the All-Star power forwards who dunks the least. He dunks half as much as Dirk Nowitzki in a season.
After the dunk, Randolph and Han Sen slapped hands with force, with Randolph's bobbing head making him look like a giant black bear.
The Grizzlies' momentum surged instantly.
"Tim, don't chase outside!" Popovich stood up and yelled instructions to Duncan.
Compared to shooting, Han Sen's driving was the bigger threat.
With the Grizzlies' momentum rising, their defense also improved rapidly.
Parker passed to Duncan, but his shot was contested by Gasol and missed, with Randolph securing the rebound.
Randolph immediately passed to Han Sen, who was sprinting down for a fast break, but Hill quickly fouled to stop the play.
As one of the perennial contenders in the Western Conference, the Spurs excelled in using their experience and attention to detail.
The game returned to half-court play.
Hill tried to prevent Han Sen from running pick-and-rolls with Gasol, but Gasol's size was too much to handle, and Hill couldn't succeed.
However, Parker had already shifted towards the free-throw line, cutting off Conley's passing lane.
Conley made a quick decision, lobbing the ball inside to Randolph.
Randolph's quick shot missed, but he grabbed the offensive rebound again, feasting in the Spurs' paint after dominating the Lakers.
With Duncan rotating over, Randolph had no good second-chance opportunity.
So, he passed the ball back to Han Sen, who was still at the free-throw line.
Zone defense involves more defenders than attackers in the area, making it effective at shutting down an opponent's offensive focal point, but it's naturally slow in rotations.
The Spurs' rotations were fast, but Han Sen still found himself momentarily open after receiving the pass.
Opportunities like this disappear in an instant, especially against a team like the Spurs, where any hesitation means a lost chance.
But Han Sen seized the moment, releasing his shot before Jefferson could close out, just like Kobe used to.
Swish!
Han Sen's mid-range jumper pierced the net again, causing a stir in the arena.
Even Popovich jumped up from the bench this time.
The previous possession didn't say much, as that was almost a wide-open shot, but this time, Han Sen showed skills that brought another player to Popovich's mind.
Here's a fun fact: since 1996, when Popovich began coaching the Spurs, only a handful of players have ever scored 40+ points against them.
Super scorers like Wade, McGrady, and Durant have yet to do it.
Even Nowitzki has only done it once.
But Kobe did it five times.
It's not that his scoring ability was vastly superior, but his technical style was a tough match for the Spurs.
Initially, the Spurs' defense relied heavily on Duncan. But after Duncan's injuries, they began to depend more on zone defenses.
But this zone defense earned a nickname from some fans: 'Kobe's Happy Zone.'
Especially when the Lakers' inside game was strong, the Lakers' inside-out offense left Popovich helpless against Kobe's mid-to-long-range shooting ability.
Whether it was during the Shaq-Kobe era or the current Lakers, it was hard to limit Kobe with just one defender, and this became more evident after Bowen retired.
Tonight, there was no Kobe, but there was Han, who was producing a similar effect.
This left Popovich frustrated.
Ultimately, even the GOAT-level tactician, Popovich, just like when he faced Kobe, couldn't find an effective way to counter Han Sen.
Han's offensive skills might not be as comprehensive as Kobe's, but his ability to combine drives and shots made him hard to stop.
By the nine-minute mark in the first quarter, the score was 20-12, with the Grizzlies leading by eight points.
Han Sen went 4-for-4 from mid-range, scoring 8 points in the quarter.
At this point, both teams began to rotate their lineups, with Han Sen taking a rest and Ginobili entering the game.
Ginobili is one of the most unique players in NBA history, as he's likely the only All-Star-level player who spent most of his career coming off the bench.
There are many reasons for this, but the biggest factor is the Spurs' team structure.
With a backcourt duo of Parker and Ginobili, no one could defend the opponent's perimeter offensive threats, so Ginobili had to make sacrifices.
This season, due to a lack of elite perimeter defenders, Ginobili has been forced to step up.
Before Ginobili entered the game, Popovich pulled him aside for a few words.
The Spurs' starters couldn't gain the upper hand, so they had to rely on Ginobili's performance during the second unit's rotation to make up for the deficit.
Ginobili did not disappoint. As soon as he came in, he used a pick-and-roll with Splitter to drive into the paint, weaving past Haddadi for a layup.
On the next play, the Spurs defended a Grizzlies possession, and once again, it was Ginobili. He drove to the basket, then threw a behind-the-back pass to the weak-side corner where Gary Neal was waiting, and Neal drained the three-pointer.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Duncan may be the strongest player in the 'Big Three,' but the most exciting to watch is still the 'Manu.'
As an Argentinian, you may not play well, but you must play with flair.
The score was 20-17, and the Spurs quickly closed the gap.
"Defense! Defense!"
The crowd started chanting, urging their team on.
Han Sen was just thinking about asking Coach Hollins to let him guard Ginobili.
Boom!
Suddenly, there was a loud thud on the court.
Rudy Gay charged into the Spurs' paint and delivered a thunderous one-handed dunk!
Han Sen started to rise from the bench but instead pumped his fist in celebration once he saw the play.
Not only him, but the entire Grizzlies bench jumped up in excitement.
Before they could sit down, Gay made another huge defensive play by blocking Neal's three-point attempt, sending the ball flying into the stands.
Han Sen grabbed his towel and started waving it in celebration.
In truth, Gay's overall skills were no weaker than Ginobili's.
After the block, Gay was also pumped, and as he was running back on defense, he high-fived Han Sen, who was waving the towel on the sideline.
The Spurs came up empty on their next possession, and on the last play of the quarter, Gay hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer over Danny Green's defense.
He was on fire, playing like he was unstoppable!
Popovich put his hand on his head, clearly frustrated.
The starters didn't get it done, and now the bench couldn't either. It was going to be a tough night for the Spurs.
At halftime, the Grizzlies led the Spurs 45-38.
Although the gap wasn't too large, the momentum was clearly with the Grizzlies.
Randolph finished the half with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Han Sen also scored 14 points, making them the 'Memphis version of the Shaq and Kobe duo.'
During the halftime break, Popovich was interviewed by a reporter.
"Did you make any defensive adjustments for Han?" Han Sen was the center of attention, especially after his strong first half. It was a question no one could avoid.
"No." Popovich's answer was just one word.
The second half began with the Grizzlies on offense.
The Spurs immediately set up a 2-1-2 zone defense.
Whether or not Popovich had adjusted for Han Sen's defense was unclear, but it was obvious that he wasn't going to allow Randolph to dominate the paint any longer.
Conley saw this and quickly called a new play.
Han Sen used a screen from Marc Gasol on the weak side to get open, but this time Hill changed his defensive approach. He fought through the screen and cut off Han Sen's mid-range shot.
So much for 'no adjustments' — Popovich's words couldn't be trusted!
Han Sen found an opening at the three-point line, but Conley's pass came a bit late. By the time Han Sen got the ball, Hill had already fought through the screen and was closing in fast.
Han Sen raised his hand to shoot, and Hill lunged at him.
Han was the Grizzlies' most reliable three-point shooter, and he could make tough shots. If Hill was late, Han would certainly sink it.
But just as Hill was about to close in, Han Sen faked the shot, dribbled to the right, and exploded past him.
Hill could only watch helplessly as Han Sen blew by.
Duncan rushed out to help, but wary of Han's ability to drive, he couldn't commit fully.
As Han Sen reached the free-throw line, he stopped abruptly and rose for a jump shot.
Thanks to his [Giant Slayer] talent, Han Sen had excellent stop-and-pop ability, and his [Classic Master] talent gave him great core strength and body control.
His stop was so smooth it was like watching a perfectly choreographed move.
For a brief moment, Popovich saw number 77 and thought of number 24.
Han Sen released the ball in midair with a picture-perfect form.
Swish!
The ball hit nothing but net.
In that moment, the 'Kobe Happy Zone Defense' had officially transformed into the 'Han Happy Zone Defense.'
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone