Chapter 236: Lockdown.
The battle between Under Armour (UA) and Nike started long before Han Sen left the Cavaliers—or rather, it never stopped. As the dominant force in sportswear, Nike has always faced competition, with Adidas previously leading the charge. However, as Han Sen thrived in the NBA and UA's market share soared, UA gradually replaced Adidas as Nike's fiercest rival.
Signing Curry was only the beginning for UA. They've been actively courting players like Harden and Irving. Beyond recruiting new faces, there's also the initiative Han Sen was briefed about: 'Operation Guillotine.'
With Kobe nearing retirement, Nike's flagship athletes are now LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Yet both have been repeatedly outperformed by Han. Durant suffered losses against Han during his Thunder days, then moved to the Heat's superteam only to face further humiliation. And who could forget the infamous 'bathwater' incident that shattered his image?
LeBron's story is even grimmer. Han beat him so thoroughly that he was traded twice within three years, entering what fans mockingly call the 'Nomadic Phase.'
UA's 'Operation Guillotine' hinges on this narrative. Its ultimate goal? To force Nike to drop LeBron when his contract expires in summer 2014.
Nike's investment in LeBron has been unparalleled. To put it in perspective: their $140 million contract in 2011 was just the 'adoption fee'; the real cost has been the endless PR campaigns and damage control. That's why, even after LeBron's underwhelming stint with the Thunder, Nike kept backing him—they needed to recoup their losses.
But renewing LeBron isn't simple. If his on-court struggles persist, re-signing him could mean even greater losses. UA would be thrilled if Nike shifted its focus to Durant, who lacks LeBron's marketability and obedience, further diluting the brand.
Most importantly, both LeBron and Durant remain ringless, a stain that drags down Nike's reputation. Summer 2014 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for UA's battle against the giant.
Back to the present: Han's task is to dominate LeBron on the court and in the media.
Contrary to preseason expectations, the Knicks are performing exceptionally well, sitting third in the East behind the Heat and Pacers. With a well-constructed roster, LeBron has been thriving. Benefiting from the Verticality Rule, he's averaging 30 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game, ranking third in the latest MVP race behind Durant and Han.
This has reignited celebrations among LeBron fans, who argue that his Thunder struggles were due to Russell Westbrook. They claim LeBron is still the league's best and that if Carmelo Anthony had stayed in New York, the Knicks would be the NBA's top team.
Upon arriving in New York, Han noticed something striking: LeBron's image was everywhere—from billboards on highways to murals near their hotel. Nike's ability to market its stars was truly unmatched. Yet, this only fueled Han's anticipation. After all, shattering fantasies is his favorite pastime.
...
As a back-to-back championship team and with their presence in New York, a massive crowd of journalists swarmed to cover the event.
Unsurprisingly, Han Sen was the main focus.
His season averages of 28.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 2.9 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game reflected his need to shoulder more responsibilities on both ends of the floor due to the Grizzlies' overall struggles.
Ironically, this had led to him posting superstar-caliber stats for the first time.
After practice, Han was bombarded by reporters.
Aside from probing questions about Marc Gasol's recovery and the Grizzlies' game strategy, the reporters naturally brought up his rivalry with LeBron James.
Their history with the Cavaliers guaranteed maximum intrigue every time they faced off, regardless of which teams they represented.
One reporter from The New York Times asked, "You and LeBron are currently ranked second and third in the MVP race. Are you looking forward to this matchup?"
Han's response was blunt. "I'm not looking forward to it, but I'll lock him up."
The reporters, stunned, sought clarification.
"You mean defensively matching up with him?" The question stemmed from Han's reputation for taking on opposing offensive stars.
"No," Han corrected. "I mean locking him up. Period."
The reporters' eyes lit up. This was sensational headline material.
Previously, Han Sen had at least left some dignity for LeBron in his remarks, but now, there was none.
Han's statement quickly made headlines in the pre-game media coverage, sparking a fresh wave of social media debates:
"Han Sen is so arrogant! Two championships don't make him a true superstar. He should act like one."
"What's a true superstar? Getting swept in the Finals, then traded twice in three years?"
"Lock him up? You think you can hold a 30 PPG player to zero points?"
"Six points is possible."
"Grizzlies will lose tonight. Without Gasol, their interior defense is nonexistent. Parker tore them apart!"
"The Spurs are champions; your team isn't. Three titles for Parker, how many for you?"
...
That evening, Madison Square Garden was packed to the rafters. Signs in the crowd read, "Beat the Grizzlies," "Memphis Will Never Be a Dynasty," and even "F*** Han Sen."
Han smirked at the hostility. "What's next? A mayoral vacancy here too?" he quipped, recalling his heated exchanges with San Antonio fans.
Then came the surprise: as the pre-game ceremonies wrapped up, LeBron approached the scorer's table, grabbed the powder, and performed his iconic chalk toss—a ritual he had sworn off during his Thunder days.
"Starting early with the old-man mode, huh?" Han muttered.
The game began with both teams unveiling their starting lineups:
Grizzlies: Conley, Han, Gay, Randolph, Faried.
Knicks: Nash, Shumpert, LeBron, Stoudemire, Bargnani.
When Han Sen officially stepped onto the familiar court, his emotions shifted.
It wasn't just because he had to wear that mask. The more significant reason was that Madison Square Garden, known as the Mecca of Basketball, was a sacred ground.
Players took pride in delivering exceptional performances here.
Even the arena's scoring leaderboard was a topic frequently updated by the media.
As Faried tapped the ball back to the half-court line, the game officially began.
The absence of Marc Gasol impacted the Grizzlies beyond their defense. On offense, Gasol could stretch the floor and act as a key facilitator. Without him, the Grizzlies' playbook was slashed in half.
Moreover, Faried lacked spacing ability and could only sit weak-side in the dunker spot, making it easier for defenders to collapse on drives to the basket.
The Grizzlies' opening play was a deadly pick-and-roll between Han Sen and Zach Randolph.
In his prime, Amar'e Stoudemire was an explosive athlete with excellent mobility, famous for his pick-and-roll plays with Steve Nash.
But injuries began to haunt Stoudemire during his Suns days. Last season, he underwent yet another left knee surgery, leaving his athleticism nearly nonexistent. Along with it, his lateral quickness deteriorated significantly.
Currently, his ability to defend the pick-and-roll wasn't much better than Randolph's.
Randolph's screen took Iman Shumpert out of the equation, and Han Sen drained a mid-range jumper with surgical precision, giving the Grizzlies the first points of the game.
This bucket didn't generate much of a reaction from the crowd—Han's skill level made missing more surprising than scoring.
But when the Knicks transitioned to offense, a wave of murmurs began sweeping through the arena.
Because Han Sen was guarding LeBron James!
This was a clear statement: Han intended to back up his pre-game trash talk on the court tonight.
LeBron's response? He called for the ball.
The New York crowd erupted in cheers.
The game had just begun, and already two MVPs were clashing head-to-head.
Han was a bit surprised. Typically, LeBron would avoid forcing the issue in such situations. What changed in New York?
Unbeknownst to Han, Nike's relentless promotion of LeBron in New York masked an internal shift in their stance.
Repeated failures had strained the relationship, and LeBron needed to deliver convincing performances to secure a contract renewal next summer.
On the court, with Andrea Bargnani positioned in the strong-side corner and Shumpert and Nash spaced out on the weak-side three-point line, the Knicks' offense had plenty of room to operate.
If LeBron could penetrate, a bucket seemed inevitable.
But he was too savvy to challenge Han Sen directly.
After catching the ball, LeBron motioned for Stoudemire to set a pick.
Though Stoudemire's athleticism had declined, his screening remained sharp. Last season, his pick-and-rolls with Nash brought Knicks fans a taste of nostalgia. This year, his pick-and-rolls with LeBron were critical to New York's success.
However, this time, the screen failed spectacularly.
Han Sen's lateral movement was just too fast!
Stoudemire's screen was perfectly positioned to block Han's path, but Han sidestepped with a smooth slide, slipping right past it.
Both Stoudemire and LeBron were caught off guard.
As LeBron attempted to accelerate off the screen, he found Han already glued to him.
Before LeBron could adjust his dribble—
Smack!
Han stripped the ball cleanly, leaving LeBron fumbling in embarrassment.
Han didn't give LeBron a chance to commit a foul, immediately passing to a streaking Mike Conley, who raced past Steve Nash and finished with a layup.
The crowd buzzed with energy. Han's defensive intensity was suffocating!
Even Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger widened his eyes in astonishment.
Was Han's defense even stronger now? Or was LeBron's ball-handling simply that weak, amplifying the effect?
The camera cut to LeBron, whose expression was sour.
After some hesitation, LeBron decided to handle the ball again.
The crowd cheered, showing faith in their star.
Surely the same mistake wouldn't happen twice. LeBron would bounce back immediately.
The Knicks ran the same play. This time, Stoudemire set the screen much closer to LeBron, and he shifted slightly to block Han as he slid through.
No whistle was blown, allowing LeBron to successfully force a switch.
Stoudemire quickly rolled to pull Han away.
Now matched against Randolph, LeBron hesitated only momentarily before accelerating to the rim.
Previously, LeBron might have had trouble against Randolph, but the Vertical Leap Rule now tilted the scales in his favor.
As LeBron visualized his signature tomahawk dunk, ready to explode to the rim, he suddenly felt the ball disappear from his hands.
Han hadn't followed Stoudemire but instead used a Danny Green-style defensive maneuver. Shadowing LeBron unnoticed, Han struck from behind at the perfect moment, swiping the ball clean.
The crowd collectively gasped.
Two possessions in, and Han had stripped LeBron twice!
This time, Han kept the ball himself. Blowing past LeBron with a burst of speed, he reached the other end and threw down a thunderous one-handed dunk.
6–0!
The Grizzlies silenced Knicks fans right out of the gate.
What made it worse for the crowd was LeBron's response after being stripped twice—he immediately stopped handling the ball altogether.
Steve Nash and Stoudemire ran their classic pick-and-roll, with Nash assisting Stoudemire for an easy layup, putting the Knicks on the board.
The Knicks' lineup offered modern spacing and decent offensive firepower.
But their first two possessions failed entirely because of Han's presence.
Halfway through the quarter, the Grizzlies led 20–12, maintaining a single-digit margin.
LeBron found himself in an awkward position.
When he handled the ball, the Knicks failed to score. When he didn't, the Knicks managed to stay competitive.
To make matters worse, Han shadowed him so tightly off the ball that LeBron couldn't even receive passes.
Social media was in chaos as LeBron fans collectively vanished, unable to defend him. Han wasn't just talking—he was actually locking LeBron down.
Finally, after several invisible minutes, LeBron called for the ball in the post.
He couldn't let Han fulfill his pre-game promise—it would deal another devastating blow to his standing with Nike.
This time, LeBron chose a back-to-the-basket approach, lowering his shoulder to drive into Han.
Aware of Han's quick hands, he tried to muscle his way into a spin move.
But on his second power dribble, Han pulled a classic 'chair pull' trick.
(TL/n: "Pulling the chair" is a defensive move where a player backs away instead of standing their ground, causing the offensive player to fall or stumble.)
Losing his balance, LeBron fell awkwardly to the floor, landing flat on his back while the ball rolled free.
Han secured the ball and immediately bolted down the court.
Nash tried to foul him but was juked by a spinning dribble.
Reaching the other end, Han went for the highlight reel—a flashy between-the-legs dunk.
Showtime!
As Han finished his dunk, LeBron finally picked himself up from the floor.
The camera zoomed in on his face, capturing the moment Knicks fans began booing.
Getting stripped once was forgivable. Twice, disappointing but understandable.
But getting owned repeatedly and shying away from the ball? That was unforgivable.
New York fans, known for their passion, weren't holding back.
LeBron pursed his lips, his eyes darting nervously.
He never imagined there'd come a day when he'd be booed by his own home crowd.
-To be continued-
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