Chapter 225: Pace the race.
Miami Heat fans wore their pride like armor. No matter how often their team fell behind, the Heat always clawed their way back into the game.
But beneath that pride lay a creeping despair—every time the Heat were on the brink of overtaking the lead, Han Sen would rise to the occasion and single-handedly pull the Grizzlies away again.
Why does Memphis get to have Han Sen?
As if having the 'Grit and Grind' duo of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph wasn't enough, now they had Han Sen, too.
For the record, now-Spurs executive Danny Ferry swore this had nothing to do with him.
Late in the game, the Heat cut the deficit to just five points one last time. But when Han bullied his way past Dwyane Wade for another clutch bucket, the Heat's morale shattered completely.
They looked like a worn-down army, akin to the Song Dynasty forces at Jueshugu Valley in an endless cycle of regrouping and breaking apart, only to collapse for good after the eighth wave.
It wasn't about a lack of talent—the Heat could annihilate most teams with ease. Their downfall was running into an opponent that might as well have been using cheat codes.
The game ended with the Grizzlies shocking everyone, taking Game 1 with a final score of 110-103.
Post-Game Stats:
Heat:
Kevin Durant: 31 points, 6 rebounds
Chris Bosh: 24 points, 11 rebounds
Dwyane Wade: 16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists
Ray Allen: 9 points
Grizzlies:
Han Sen: 36 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Zach Randolph: 20 points, 8 rebounds
Rudy Gay: 15 points
Marc Gasol: 14 points, 13 rebounds
Mike Conley: 13 points, 9 assists
...
At the press conference, Coach Joerger kept it simple:
"Limiting Miami to around 100 points isn't easy. Defense was the key to our win tonight."
When asked about Han, he said, "He's the key that opens the door to victory for us."
Zach Randolph echoed the team-first mentality: "They're the stronger team, but we're the better unit. Great defense starts with great teamwork."
Han Sen, however, pointed out the bigger picture:
"The most important thing we did tonight was show everyone that we can beat them."
...
The narrative online shifted almost instantly. Fans who once predicted a Heat Finals win were now fantasizing about Shaquille O'Neal drinking bathwater—a reference to his famous promise.
One fan quipped: "This is probably good for KD. Now he won't have to drink Han's bathwater himself."
The joke, of course, dug up Kevin Durant's infamous comment years ago, where he claimed he'd drink someone's bathwater—cementing him as a perennial target for memes. While the league had Kobe fans, LeBron fans, and now an army of Han Sen stans, Durant's following seemed noticeably sparse.
Nike's promotional resources heavily favored LeBron at the time, leaving KD in the shadows. And that comment? It made liking him an interesting choice.
"You're a Durant fan? So, uh, you into bathwater too?"
Even dating as a Durant fan meant fending off awkward jokes like, "You're not just dating me for my bathwater, are you?"
If Durant had more fans, critics like Charles Barkley would've been drowned out long ago. Even LeBron stans, when asked who they preferred to win, leaned toward the Grizzlies.
After Udonis Haslem's infamous dig—"We were champions before you came"—they weren't rooting for Miami to close the loop. A Heat championship would damage not just LeBron's legacy but also his standing with Nike.
...
Two days later, Game 2 tipped off in Miami. Erik Spoelstra shuffled his starting lineup, inserting Ray Allen. The plan? Maximize offensive threats to stretch Memphis's defense and disrupt their rotations.
The strategy worked, though perhaps not as Spoelstra intended. With Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole benched, Wade took on a heavier playmaking load, showing his versatility.
Though traditionally a scoring guard, Wade could organize when needed. Before joining the Big Three, his average assists rivaled LeBron's, hovering around seven per game.
"He's no Chris Paul," analysts said, "but he gets the job done."
Wade's stat line? 21 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists. Under his leadership, the Heat tallied 118 points, overpowering the Grizzlies' defense.
As TNT's Kenny Smith put it: "Offense is inconsistent by nature, but the Heat's ceiling is much higher. When their offense clicks, they're nearly unstoppable."
In Game 2, the Heat's 'spear' finally broke through the Grizzlies' 'shield,' and the conversation shifted once again.
...
The Finals followed the old 2-3-2 format, and with the next three games at home, the Grizzlies had reason for optimism.
Returning to Memphis, the team felt a wave of relief.
Miami fans had thrown every trick in the book at them—late-night hotel noise, prank calls, even slipping questionable DVDs under their doors.
After the Game 1 loss, Heat fans were desperate. A second Finals collapse after last year's sweep? Unthinkable.
Coach Joerger gave the team half a day off to recharge. Han Sen and Antawn Jamison spent it fishing at a Mississippi River dock, with a chef on standby to cook their catch.
But the tides weren't in their favor, and after hours of empty hooks, Han finally shrugged and told the chef to buy fish from other anglers. "Fresh is fresh. Who cares who catches it?"
Over a hot pot of fish stew, Jamison opened up. "If we win the title this year, I'm retiring."
"You're not sticking around to chase a dynasty?" Han teased.
Jamison smiled, patting his knees. "I want to start a new chapter. My body's been through enough."
For veterans like Jamison, the championship was the ultimate goal. Without it, he might come back for another run. But with it? Retirement was the doorway to a second life—a reward for years of hard work and sacrifice.
As an athlete, approaching 40 signifies the twilight of a career. But in the broader scope of life, that's merely halfway—or perhaps not even that far.
With wealth and leisure at hand, the days of simply enjoying life were on the horizon, a prospect that was exciting just to imagine.
However, all of this hinged on the Grizzlies winning the championship this year. If they fell short, there was a high chance he'd stay for another run next season.
"Han, I think trying to beat this Heat team with defense alone is going to be very tough," Jamison remarked, steering the conversation toward the championship—a topic inevitably tied to the ongoing Finals. Jamison's extensive playoff experience lent weight to his words.
Han Sen nodded. Defense was about maintaining the baseline, but with the Heat's firepower, it was unrealistic to consistently hold them to that baseline.
"What's your take on it?"
"Our only clear advantage over them is you," Jamison replied after some thought.
The Grizzlies and Heat had faced off four times during the regular season, splitting the series 2-2. Of the Grizzlies' two wins, one came from Han Sen's 61-point explosion, and the other from a combined effort where Han scored 36 points and locked down Dwyane Wade.
Jamison's suggestion was for Han to sacrifice his defensive energy entirely and focus all his stamina on offense.
As Jamison's words hung in the air, Han Sen stirred his bowl of fish stew, his expression contemplative. The veteran's suggestion of relying on Han's scoring alone felt like a weight being placed directly on his shoulders. For a moment, the crackle of the outdoor fire and the soft lapping of the river filled the silence.
Han shook his head, rejecting the idea. "That won't work," he said simply. This strategy had already been dismissed early in his discussions with Coach Joerger.
Scoring 61 points in the regular season was one thing; doing it against the Heat, on the grand stage of the Finals, was an entirely different challenge. Especially with Erik Spoelstra masterminding their defense.
But just as he dismissed the notion, his spoon paused mid-air. The realization hit him like a lightning strike.
Jamison's words replayed in his mind, reframed. Not as an affirmation of Han being the sole advantage—but as a clue. His eyes sharpened, and a smirk crept across his face. "No," he said, confidence returning to his voice. "You've got it wrong. Our advantage isn't me."
Jamison raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden shift in Han's demeanor. Han didn't explain further. Instead, he set his bowl aside and stood up abruptly. "I need to talk to Coach," he said, already reaching for his phone.
That night, while others rested, Han and Coach Joerger brainstormed until dawn. By the end, they had a plan—a game-changer.
...
The next evening, Game 3 of the Finals tipped off in Memphis.
The FedExForum was packed to capacity, the enthusiasm of Grizzlies fans no less fervent than that of Miami's. The crowd was a sea of navy blue T-shirts handed out by the arena, with fans waving bright yellow towels, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
During the opening ceremony, the Grizzlies coaching staff gave the Heat a surprise. For the first time in the playoffs, the Grizzlies adjusted their starting lineup, with Shane Battier replacing Rudy Gay at small forward.
Even Spoelstra was baffled—was Gay dealing with an injury?
No one knew because the Grizzlies hadn't released any pre-game updates.
As the Heat players looked slightly dazed, Game 3 began.
Han continued to guard Wade on defense, while Battier appeared to be simply filling in for Gay.
The only noticeable change in the Grizzlies' approach was a more aggressive defensive intensity than before.
Yet, the Grizzlies still couldn't fully contain the Heat's offensive firepower. This starting lineup maximized Miami's scoring capabilities.
However, there were some unexpected benefits.
Although Battier, like Gay, struggled to keep up with Kevin Durant's pace, his corner three-point shooting was far more reliable.
During his time on the floor, Battier knocked down two corner threes, demonstrating his prowess as a 'corner three specialist.' This helped the Grizzlies stay close in the score.
When the starting unit's rotation ended and both teams shifted to their benches, Gay came on as a substitute.
He immediately made an impact with a powerful baseline cut and dunk, showing no signs of injury.
While Gay occasionally came off the bench in past games, the difference was clear. A fatigued Gay tasked with guarding Durant wasn't the same as a fully rested Gay entering the game.
At that moment, many finally realized that inserting Ray Allen into the Heat's starting lineup had weakened their bench.
This forced Spoelstra to extend the playing time of his starters.
Even so, the strategy only allowed the Heat to maintain their slight lead. When Gay played with fresh legs, the Grizzlies' bench was able to hold its own against Miami.
By halftime, the Heat still held a narrow lead over the Grizzlies.
But in the second half, as the Heat's starters began to tire, their offensive efficiency inevitably dropped. This allowed the Grizzlies to chip away at the lead and eventually pull ahead.
In the end, the Grizzlies came from behind to secure a 106-99 victory, claiming their first home win of the Finals.
As the game ended, Joerger and Han enthusiastically high-fived.
The previous night, the two had spent hours discussing the teams' strengths, weaknesses, and how to best capitalize on their advantages.
By the end of their discussion, Joerger realized that in Game 2, he had allowed Spoelstra to dictate the terms.
This wasn't entirely surprising. As a protégé of Lionel Hollins, Joerger excelled at defense.
But defensive-minded coaches often approached the game reactively—focusing on how to stop the opponent, which inherently put them on the back foot.
When Spoelstra inserted Ray Allen into the starting lineup, Joerger's immediate response was to figure out matchups and defensive adjustments.
Even Han initially failed to see the bigger picture. It was Jamison's comment that sparked his realization.
The Grizzlies' greatest advantage over the Heat wasn't Han—it was their depth.
Fans of LeBron had a point when they argued that no team could match Miami's Big Three, supported by two near-All-Stars and a roster of quality role players.
But in terms of overall depth, no team in the league could rival the Grizzlies.
By properly utilizing this depth, the Grizzlies could maintain a high level of play throughout the game. This fundamentally changed the dynamics.
A 48-minute game was like a relay race. The Heat had superior thoroughbreds—especially with Ray Allen in the starting lineup—but their thoroughbreds couldn't run the entire race.
The Grizzlies, on the other hand, could turn their average horses into decent ones through careful rotation management.
So what if the Heat's thoroughbreds outperformed in the opening leg? When the Heat's weaker players faced Memphis' stronger reserves, the tables turned.
And if Miami tried to extend their starters' minutes to mitigate this, they'd lose steam by the end, unable to keep pace with Memphis' fresh legs.
To ensure this strategy worked, the Grizzlies even ramped up their defensive intensity early, aiming to sap the Heat's starters' energy.
This game was a testament to the Grizzlies' depth—and strategic adjustments.
Just as the Heat's Big Three defined their team's strength, Memphis' depth was their enduring advantage.
Now leading 2-1, the Grizzlies looked closer than ever to securing the championship.
-To be continued-
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