Chapter 151: Nobody Will Want to Face Us.
Han Sen was quickly pulled up by his teammates this time.
After standing up, he let out a long breath, and then smiled.
He had used up all his energy, but this outcome made it all worth it!
Han Sen stepped up to the free-throw line.
"MVP! MVP!"
The familiar chants echoed through the arena once again.
Han Sen had already scored 39 points, second only to his performance in the first-round Game 7 against the Thunder.
But tonight, it wasn't just about the numbers. He played for 44 minutes, the most out of all the players from both teams.
Especially in the latter half of the fourth quarter, when he was running on fumes, he still managed to give the Grizzlies the edge. This was even more valuable than the points he scored.
MVP, leader—he deserved all these titles.
Swish!
Amid the fans' chants, Han Sen calmly sank the free throw, sealing the game's outcome.
The final score was locked at 105-101. Although Terry hit a last-minute three-pointer, there wasn't enough time left to change anything.
After the game, the stats showed Han Sen with 40 points, Randolph with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists, Marc Gasol with 17 points and 9 rebounds, and Conley with 11 points and 5 assists.
Nowitzki had 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Terry scored 15, Kidd had 13, and Barea added 11.
As the game ended, the home crowd erupted in cheers, with fans waving signs that read, "This is our home court."
This comeback from a desperate situation kept the Grizzlies' hope alive and reignited their confidence.
However, Han Sen was now sitting on the bench, completely drained.
It wasn't until the post-game handshake that Randolph pulled him up from his seat.
"You played great, and you deserved this win," Nowitzki said, impressed by Han Sen's performance that night.
"But next game, I'll bring my best," he added.
"See you then," Han Sen replied with a smile.
He knew Nowitzki would play better in the next game, but after such a battle, the Grizzlies' spirits were lifted.
A win at home again?
Why not!
"The Monkey King Takes Down the Silver Horn King"
Back at home, because of Zhang Weiping's commentary, Basketball Pioneer used that phrase as their front-page headline.
It was so fitting, and it made perfect sense.
Everyone could see that the Mavericks had the better and stronger roster in this series.
But Han Sen's performance in Game 3, especially his relentless effort until the end, resembled that of the legendary Monkey King.
"Han has already had two 40-point games in these playoffs, and he's averaging 31 points per game in this series against the Mavericks! And we must remember, Han is only in his second year!"
In TNT's latest program, Charles Barkley went on a praise spree.
Nowitzki's playoff performance this year was unbelievable, but it couldn't overshadow Han Sen's brilliance.
"I bet there are some people in Cleveland who can't sleep right now because they gave away the team's future with their own hands," Barkley added, taking a jab at the Cavaliers' management.
Even though most media were focused on the Heat vs. Bulls series—given the drama of Miami's Big Three vs. Chicago's rise—Han Sen's efforts earned him attention on his own terms.
In this year's playoffs, he had truly made a name for himself.
After a two-day break, Game 4 between the Mavericks and Grizzlies continued in Memphis.
With momentum from the previous game, the Grizzlies came out with aggressive defense right from the start.
The sudden increase in defensive intensity seemed to throw the Mavericks off their rhythm.
The Grizzlies outscored them 26-15 in the first quarter.
The fans saw firsthand what a young and spirited team looks like.
However, things changed in the second quarter.
The Grizzlies, having pushed themselves hard in the first, ran into stamina issues in the second quarter.
Fortunately, the Grizzlies' trademark resilience held them together, and they maintained a 51-46 lead at halftime.
With the Mavericks starting their comeback efforts early, not only Han Sen but also Marc Gasol had to play the entire first half.
Then came the third quarter, and after the halftime break, the Grizzlies once again used their defense to create an advantage.
At one point, their starting lineup led the Mavericks by as much as 15 points.
The two teams started rotating players, and Han Sen finally got a chance to rest.
But barely a moment after sitting down, he had to get back in, as the Mavericks, led by Terry and Barea, launched a furious comeback.
By the time the fourth quarter arrived, the Mavericks had already closed the gap to single digits.
At that point, the Grizzlies' fatigue was clearly becoming an issue.
Ultimately, they lost the game.
This game was a learning experience for the entire Grizzlies team.
It was all about the finer details of energy management.
Young teams often struggle with pacing themselves due to over-excitement at the start.
Even Han Sen, despite being a time-traveller, was caught off guard by this, as some lessons require real experience.
In reality, it was supposed to be the coach's responsibility to manage this, but Hollins didn't seem to have the ability to handle it either.
Of course, this was also because the Mavericks were, as Shaq put it, the best team at staging comebacks this season.
After being reversed, trailing 1-3, and having Game 5 on the road, the Grizzlies' season seemed to be over.
Just like the Lakers, whose morale collapsed under similar circumstances, getting swept and losing by 36 in their final game.
But this Grizzlies team, just like Han Sen said after Game 1, might lose, but they would never give up.
This spirit was evident in every game of this series. Although they had both wins and losses, they never let the game slip into garbage time.
And because of this, they pulled off an unexpected victory in Game 5.
Even though they didn't open with a big lead like in Game 4, they remained in a deadlock with the Mavericks throughout.
Or rather, they learned from Game 4's mistakes and didn't burn all their energy too early.
This deadlock, or rather this dogfight, eventually allowed them to find their opportunity.
Despite their lack of depth and stamina issues in the fourth quarter, Han Sen and Randolph put together a crucial run in the middle of the fourth quarter, allowing them to secure a 106-100 win over the Mavericks and bring the series to 2-3.
"This team deserves everyone's respect!" This time it wasn't Barkley, but ESPN's veteran and legendary commentator Mike Breen, who voiced his admiration.
Due to their lack of depth and experience, the Grizzlies were at a disadvantage against the Mavericks, but on the court, they played toe-to-toe with them.
In Game 6 of the series, the two teams returned to Memphis.
The Grizzlies' strategy didn't change much from the previous game, but Nowitzki entered an unstoppable mode again.
Perhaps only Han Sen's words from the Spurs series could explain Nowitzki's form this season.
"He has a super button inside him, and it didn't rust like Duncan's. It allows him to press it every so often."
By the end of the third quarter, Nowitzki had already scored 30 points, helping the Mavericks build a double-digit lead.
But the Grizzlies once again displayed their resilience, bringing their starters back early. Amid the continuous cheers from the home fans, they fought back fiercely in the fourth quarter.
Han Sen scored 12 points in the final quarter, including a game-tying three-pointer near the end, pushing the game into overtime.
However, in overtime, the Grizzlies' extended minutes took their toll.
Nowitzki scored 9 points in overtime, dominating the period.
With six seconds left in overtime and the Grizzlies trailing the Mavericks by seven, Coach Hollins chose to pull out his starters.
The arena filled with applause and cheers.
Although they unfortunately fell short against the Mavericks, every game they played, including tonight's, was praiseworthy.
Because not once did they try to give up.
This team had built a culture of courage and resilience.
That was the true mark of a successful team.
Han Sen gazed at the court, unwilling to accept the outcome.
If he could be just a bit stronger, the Grizzlies might have won the championship this year.
Beep!
The final buzzer sounded, and the Grizzlies players began to rise.
Han Sen also stood up.
Suddenly, cheers erupted.
"Whoop that trick!"
Han Sen looked up to find himself on the LED screen.
"Whoop that trick" has two meanings.
The first is what the fans shouted most often: "Beat them."
But at this moment, it clearly wasn't that. Instead, it meant, "Well done."
Why did they start chanting when Han appeared on the LED screen?
Because the person who established this culture for the team was Han Sen!
Before Han Sen came, the Grizzlies hadn't made the playoffs in four years.
But once he arrived, he led the Grizzlies to break through obstacles all the way to the Western Conference Finals, making franchise history!
Now no one thought Han Sen's earlier promise to bring a championship to the Grizzlies was a joke anymore, because he made people see that hope for real.
Plus, this Grizzlies squad is so young.
The Thunder next door are a young powerhouse, but so are the Grizzlies!
During the post-game handshakes, Nowitzki took the initiative to give Han Sen a hug this time.
"You were the biggest problem for us this year," said Nowitzki, with genuine admiration.
He originally thought facing the Lakers would be their toughest challenge, but the Lakers crumbled far too easily.
But the resilience the Grizzlies showed? It kept Nowitzki on his toes the entire time.
"You're speaking too soon," Han Sen replied, reminding him.
Before their series even ended, the Heat had already swept the Bulls 4-1, advancing to the Finals.
"You know, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger," Nowitzki said with a meaningful tone.
"I'm looking forward to it," Han Sen replied, curious to see what a rematch with the same opponents from last year would bring.
After the handshake, Han Sen and Randolph attended the post-game press conference together.
...
As Han Sen stepped into the press conference room, the weight of the loss hung heavy in the air. He sat down next to Zach Randolph, nodding slightly to acknowledge the reporters.
A reporter broke the silence. "Han, you averaged 28 points, 4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.2 steals in this series. That's a hell of a stat line, especially for a sophomore. If you had to grade your own performance, what would it be?"
Han leaned back, staring at the ceiling for a second before shaking his head. "Man, when you lose, stats don't mean a damn thing," he replied flatly. It was clear he was in a bad mood and not interested in self-praise.
The reporter wasn't giving up. "If it's out of 10, I'd say you deserve a 9. A strong showing, even in defeat."
"There's no such thing as a 'good loss,'" Han countered, his voice firm. "We didn't get it done. That's what matters." He gave a nod towards the next question, ready to move on.
Another reporter from ESPN jumped in. "Do you think losing Rudy Gay was the key factor in the series?"
"Nope," Han replied immediately. "Injuries can't be an excuse. Never. We didn't execute like we should have, especially in Game 4. That's on us, not on who wasn't on the court."
"During the regular season, you guys swept the Heat. If you had made it to the Finals, there was a real chance at winning it all. Does that add to the disappointment?"
For the first time, a flicker of emotion crossed Han's face. He took a moment before answering. "Would've, could've, should've—none of that matters, 'cause we didn't beat Dallas. It's that simple."
The room fell silent as he continued, lifting his head, eyes locked in. "But this is only our first season together. We're coming back. And next season, no team's gonna want to face us."
…
After returning to the locker room to embrace his teammates and say their goodbyes, Han Sen's second season officially came to an end.
Despite the regret, there was no time to dwell on the past.
He needed to plan for the summer.
During the playoffs, Chris Rondo and Henry Thomas had both reached out to him, confirming what he suspected: a league-wide lockout was almost inevitable this summer.
This was bad news for most people, but for Han Sen, it was an opportunity.
It meant more time to train.
And he already had a plan for how to spend this long summer.
From what he knew, many players would go overseas or join other leagues like the Drew League to stay in shape during the lockout.
Han Sen wasn't interested in that; it was a waste of time with little payoff.
His idea was more like what Wade did in the past: rent a gym, and gather some players to train together.
Before this season, he didn't have the influence to do that. But after this playoff run, he had it now.
Plus, with the lockout, players couldn't use their team's training facilities, making it easier to gather people.
He'd even figured out how to cover the costs.
UA (Under Armour) had the funds, and it wasn't just a waste of money—it was a solid investment.
Selling documentaries, promoting sneakers among players—these were all profitable ventures.
UA's biggest challenge right now was finding more potential endorsers. One spokesperson wasn't enough.
But before all that, Han Sen had Rondo get him some front-row tickets for the Finals.
Even though he couldn't make it there himself, he wanted to witness what might be the most dramatic Finals in NBA history in person.
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