Chapter 158: Reunion.
After the dust settled on the trade, Chris Paul, now in Los Angeles, couldn't hide his excitement and posted on social media: "It's our turn!"
But that post quickly turned into a battleground for Kobe and LeBron fans, and the comments were nothing short of entertaining.
"Kobe's the weakest superstar ever, first clinging to Shaq, then to Gasol, and now he's latching onto Paul!"
"The Lakers are the league's cancer, first trading for Gasol with a bunch of scraps, and now they get Paul the same way! It's like only they deserve championships!"
"Oh, but didn't you all say Bynum and Odom were the Lakers' Big Three, their 'Four Horsemen'? Now they're just scraps? And Odom was Sixth Man of the Year last season!"
"You guys complain about LeBron teaming up, but this is an even bigger team-up. Paul is better than Wade, Gasol is better than Bosh, and they even have Okafor. Hah."
"Exactly. At least we formed a team with free agents, while the Lakers rely on robbery trades. Shameless!"
"It's Kobe, Mr. One Team One City. When the team starts struggling, he threatens to leave until the management breaks the bank. I'm not stooping to that."
"Oh, look at these fans twisting facts. As if LeBron's got a clean record, go check Gilbert's open letter!"
"So, nobody's got clean hands here, so let's drop the act—everyone's teaming up at their peak."
"Yeah, you all really think you're something, comparing yourselves to Jordan, thinking it makes you second all-time. Turning every normal trade into 'teaming up' just so you feel better."
…
Han Sen was stunned when he saw this. This wasn't the "history" he knew—Chris Paul and Kobe had actually teamed up!
A trio of Paul, Kobe, and Gasol wasn't as extreme as Paul, Kobe, and Howard would've been, but it was still outrageous.
Then there was Okafor, the center who had once won Rookie of the Year over Dwight Howard. Though his skills had slipped with age, he was still formidable.
To be frank, after this trade, the Lakers' roster, on paper, was at least on par with, if not stronger than, the Heat's Big Three.
No wonder LeBron's fans were so stirred up online. They had written off last season's loss as a fluke, but now they'd have to contend with this new juggernaut in LA.
Han hadn't expected that his casual advice to Shaq to join the Mavericks would set off such a massive chain reaction.
It felt like one of those stories where an offhand encounter leads to world-altering events.
But after the shock wore off, Han wasn't frustrated—he was thrilled.
As Nowitzki had once said, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
And for Han, this Lakers team was a prime opportunity to rack up hater points.
If he could take down this Lakers squad, he wouldn't even need to say a word; Kobe fans would be all over him.
"Do you have any idea what you've done? You've ruined our leader's last shot at surpassing Jordan!"
Just imagining it was exciting.
Besides, this Lakers team clearly had weaknesses. Their combined salaries for Kobe, Paul, Gasol, and Okafor alone would exceed the salary cap.
That meant their bench couldn't be that strong. Their best option was a mini-mid-level exception, and if they failed to sign the right players, they'd face rotation issues like last season's Grizzlies.
In fact, their issues might be even worse—given the tight schedule of the new season, even one injury would heavily impact their performance.
So the Grizzlies would definitely have a chance against the Lakers.
After he pulled himself away from the flood of news, Han checked in on the Mavericks.
Chandler had signed a five-year, $70 million deal with the Mavericks, matching the annual salary the Knicks offered but with an extra team option year.
The Mavs also chose not to re-sign Caron Butler, who signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Clippers.
Salary issues aside, Butler and Marion hadn't gotten along last season due to overlapping play styles.
To fill the gap left by Butler, the Mavs used their mini-mid-level to sign Vince Carter to a three-year, $9 million deal.
They also traded Haywood and a 2012 first-round pick to the Wizards for Andray Blatche.
Despite the Wizards' poor standing last season, Blatche had put up a career-high 16.8 points per game.
Han respected Cuban for these moves.
After Paul's trade to the Lakers, the most logical step for Cuban would have been to throw out his championship speech, clear cap space, and prepare for the 2012 free agent market.
But maybe this was just Cuban's style. The Lakers' move may have only stoked his competitive fire.
In fact, the Lakers' new roster had likely recharged the Mavericks' motivation to defend their title.
With Fisher joining the Thunder, an ageless Spurs team, the emerging Blake Griffin, and the high-flying Nuggets, the grueling competition in the Western Conference was back.
Whoever survived the West this season would have to fight tooth and nail.
As the date shifted to December 24th—the day before the season's official start and the NBA's Christmas Day games—Stan 'The Octopus' released his season-opening power rankings.
This year's list was more precise than ever:
1. Lakers
The top point guard and shooting guard in the league form the strongest backcourt duo ever, with the Lakers' frontcourt remaining solid. Their only enemy? Themselves.
Predicted Starting Lineup: Paul, Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Okafor
Bench: Steve Blake, Mike Dunleavy (mini-mid-level), Matt Barnes, Jordan Hill, Troy Murphy
2. Heat
James bulked up to 265 pounds (120 kg) over the summer; he'll be a true "tank," likely spending more time at power forward.
Predicted Starting Lineup: Chalmers, Wade, James, Bosh, Joel Anthony
Bench: Norris Cole, Mike Miller, James Jones, Josh McRoberts (mini-mid-level), Haslem
3. Grizzlies
With Rudy Gay returning, the Grizzlies retained their core, and they'll surprise everyone this season.
Predicted Starting Lineup: Conley, Han Sen, Gay, Randolph, Marc Gasol
Bench: Jordan Crawford, Tony Allen, Battier, James Johnson, Przybilla
4. Mavericks
Dallas has kept its core, but their hunger for a championship is the real question. Will they end up like the 2006-07 Heat?
Predicted Starting Lineup: Kidd, West, Marion, Nowitzki, Chandler
Bench: Barea, Terry, Carter, Blatche, Mahinmi
5. Bulls
6. Thunder
7. Spurs
8. Celtics
However precise Stan's rankings were, criticism was inevitable.
Fans' main gripe was the Grizzlies being ranked third.
"The Grizzlies lost to the Mavs last season, but he's got them ahead of the defending champs."
…
"People are really high on us!"
Before the Grizzlies' practice started, Gay sat down next to Han, grinning ear to ear.
It was hard not to be excited; he'd never been on such a highly-ranked team before, and it almost didn't feel real.
"That's not necessarily good. It just means our opponents will take us more seriously," Battier interjected, cooling the mood.
"Shane, you're too uptight. I'm back this season; there's no way Dallas can touch us." Gay was practically itching for the season to start.
Battier just smiled, not saying anything further.
"Regardless, we've only got one goal this season," Han said, looking up at a newly mounted plaque with an inscription:
"When two warriors meet on a narrow path, it's the fearless who rise. Even when the odds seem stacked against you, you draw your sword anyway— because even if you fall you make damn sure your ghost will haunt them every step of their lives."
It was something Han had once told Wallace, now enshrined as the locker room's motto.
It was fitting. No matter the expectations or challenges, they'd press forward fearlessly.
Training was about to start, and the players left the locker room for the court.
Stern had lined up a few marquee matchups for the season opener: Heat vs. Mavs, Lakers vs. Bulls.
The Grizzlies would also play tomorrow, facing off against the Spurs. Their rivalry with San Antonio ran even deeper than Heat vs. Mavs.
Despite that, the Grizzlies' training atmosphere was relaxed this season.
Joerger's coaching approach, while still emphasizing defense, was less high-pressure than Hollins's style.
He engaged in more communication, making sure players understood his expectations, and his naturally cheerful demeanor made him easy to listen to.
Joerger's style alone would suffice. In the NBA, communication skills were a coach's strongest tool; Phil Jackson's success largely came from handling stars well.
The Grizzlies even added a veteran presence to steady the locker room—Mike Bibby, who was also a former Grizzly.
Right now, Bibby was chatting with Jason Williams, who had become an assistant coach for the team.
These two had careers deeply intertwined—they both played for the Grizzlies, and Bibby was traded to the Kings for Williams back in the day.
Later, they both ended up with the Heat. The difference was, Williams won a championship with Wade, while Bibby, last season, fell short with the Heat's Big Three.
Han Sen then looked over at Randolph, who was still doing rehab training on the sidelines.
The team atmosphere wasn't an issue; the only worry was Randolph.
Randolph's known for being a bit lazy—if he wasn't, he wouldn't carry so much extra weight.
After this lockout, his weight was way off the charts when he first returned.
Last offseason, he was a little over the mark, too, but nothing like this, and there was a lot more time back then to work it off.
Now, with the weight and the upcoming intense schedule, he's at a high risk for injuries.
Thinking about it, Han Sen got up and talked to Joerger for a bit.
Joerger's communication was always a two-way street, and, in simple terms, he listened.
"I'll keep his minutes limited at the start of the season."
Han Sen voiced his concerns, and Joerger responded with a solution.
The work the management did during the draft paid off, and this season, the Grizzlies have much better depth in the frontcourt, giving them more options.
On the 25th, the Grizzlies arrived in San Antonio by plane.
Stepping off the plane, Han Sen, as the "mayor" of San Antonio, was greeted by San Antonio locals on both sides of the path.
The locals waved their "Fxck Han Sen" signs enthusiastically.
This, of course, has a lot to do with Ginobili; his back injury took half a year to heal and still wasn't fully recovered.
Han Sen's "I did it" comment back then meant this kind of "welcome" was fully expected.
"These people are too damn smug," Gay muttered, visibly annoyed.
"Relax, we'll beat them hard tonight," Randolph leaned in, grinning.
Gay stepped back, grimacing a bit, but still nodded.
These dirty players—they were the reason he missed his first-ever playoff run, maybe even his first title shot.
They need to pay. And pay hard.
That night, AT&T Center was packed.
Peter Holt ought to thank Han Sen—who knows how much extra ticket revenue he'd brought in.
There were way more "Fxck Han Sen" signs here than at the airport.
When Han Sen showed up, he felt his hater points start stacking up right away.
Ahh, this was the feeling.
Entering with a hate-filled buff—how could he not love San Antonio?
During warm-ups, Han Sen glanced over to the Spurs' side.
He spotted Duncan doing standing windmills right off the bat.
Then his gaze landed on Leonard.
Hard not to notice him—the guy stood there, face like Duncan's, dead serious.
This year, the Spurs had traded George Hill for the Pacers' 15th pick and selected Leonard.
It was like the Lakers trading Divac for the Hornets' 13th pick years ago—a stroke of genius.
Too bad his status in the league wasn't there yet; otherwise, he could've done something epic like that himself.
With warm-ups over, Han Sen soaked in the boos from the opening ceremony and joined the starters.
The Grizzlies' regular starting five took the floor. The Spurs had Parker and Danny Green on the perimeter, Jefferson and Duncan at forward, and Blair at center.
Other than Green, they were all familiar faces in the lineup.
As he stepped onto the court, Han Sen couldn't help but rub his hands together and bounce in place a few times.
After more than half a year, this reunion was long overdue—it really was thrilling!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone