Chapter 241: The 2013-2014 Season Comes to an End.
When someone challenges you, honor and status become meaningless; the only way to respond is to hit back directly.
You could see it in the expressions of Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony—Han Sen's dominance on both ends during the last sequence had taken the fight out of them.
Of course, the game didn't end there. After LeBron James' departure, there were no weak-willed players in Oklahoma City anymore.
The synergy between Carmelo and Westbrook this season was the key to OKC reclaiming a top spot in the Western Conference.
The two teams battled until the final moments.
Han Sen sounded the Grizzlies' defensive alarm with a crucial steal. They unleashed a suffocating defensive stretch reminiscent of their dominance last season, holding OKC to just three points in the final three minutes and sealing the victory.
As the buzzer sounded, the Grizzlies celebrated like they had won the championship, even though it was just a regular-season game.
Only they could truly understand the satisfaction of reclaiming something they had lost.
"We did everything we could, but they beat us. They were the better team tonight. We'll win the next time we face them."
At the postgame press conference, Westbrook accepted the loss with surprising composure.
Although OKC didn't secure the win, this was a different kind of defeat. Last time, they had lost while crawling; this time, they stood tall.
Reporters naturally asked Carmelo Anthony about Han Sen's iconic block.
Anthony laughed even before the question was finished. "Honestly, I'd score on that play 99 times out of 100. You all saw the one time I didn't—that's not something a normal person can block."
Anthony's response was masterful. He redirected the narrative, giving Han Sen his due while subtly highlighting his own abilities.
Of course, if Han Sen heard this, he'd probably disagree: the number should be 98, considering a certain 'guy with a long name' could also pull it off. (TL/n: Guess who?)
Beating the Thunder was a strong start to the Grizzlies' late-season push.
They went on to secure victories against the Celtics, Magic, and Trail Blazers, stringing together a four-game winning streak.
This Grizzlies squad had a 'Justin Bieber' kind of season—lost and aimless, only to return still youthful and vibrant.
If they maintained this momentum, the Grizzlies were poised to claim the top seed in the West.
And they had every reason to pursue it.
The Miami Heat had adopted a 'load management' strategy this season. Meanwhile, unexpected performances from the Bulls, Wizards, Raptors, and even the Bobcats had elevated competition in the East. As a result, the Heat's record was neck and neck with the Grizzlies.
If Memphis could secure the top spot in the West and with Han Sen's eye-popping stats—leading the league in scoring and steals—they had a real shot at the MVP award.
Despite two championships and two Finals MVPs in his career, Han Sen had never won a regular-season MVP.
What better way to announce, "This isn't about the championship; this is for Han Sen"?
By late March, the battle for the West's top seed with the Spurs was still heated.
And then, an intriguing subplot emerged—Han Sen's scoring title was under threat.
Surprisingly, it wasn't Kevin Durant or Carmelo Anthony. It was LeBron James.
Since the Grizzlies' last matchup with the Knicks, LeBron had taken weeks to recover from an injury.
Meanwhile, Steve Nash had been sidelined indefinitely with a back injury, and the Knicks' record had plummeted. They fell behind the Nets and Bulls, landing in fifth place in the East.
By the time LeBron returned, it was too late. Nash announced his season-ending injury in early March, leaving the Knicks in dire straits.
Without team success, even Nike couldn't campaign for LeBron as an MVP contender.
So, with no shot at MVP and a deteriorating situation, what did LeBron have left to compete for?
"Han, are you going for the scoring title?" Rudy Gay asked Han after practice.
Competing for the scoring title wasn't rare in the NBA. The most famous example was when the Spurs helped David Robinson secure his by dropping 71 points in a single game.
"Of course I am." Han didn't hesitate after Rudy explained the situation.
Han didn't care about the scoring title as a personal accolade—if he had, he could have gone for it last season.
But knowing LeBron wanted it made it non-negotiable.
Under the "Operation Guillotine" plan, any opportunity to suppress LeBron couldn't be missed.
Plus, Han found the challenge intriguing.
LeBron's infamous quotes were legendary: "If I wanted, I could win the scoring title every season."
Not just one season. Not two. Every. Single. Season.
Yet, despite amassing over 40,000 career points, LeBron had only won the scoring title once, early in his career.
This wasn't about choice—it was about capability.
If anyone in NBA history could back up such a claim, it was Michael Jordan. MJ played 15 seasons and won 10 scoring titles—this includes seasons shortened by injury, midseason comebacks, and his Wizards stint. Exclude those, and in 11 full seasons, he missed the scoring title only in his rookie year.
If LeBron wanted this scoring title, Han wasn't going to make it easy.
"That's awesome!" Rudy was surprised by Han's decision. Throughout his Memphis tenure, Han had never seemed interested in individual accolades.
This time, with Han committed, the team was all in.
By April, fans noticed an explosive surge in Han's performances.
On April 1, Han dropped 40 points against the Clippers. Two days later, he followed it up with 44 against the Cavaliers. Back home against the Raptors, Han erupted for 63 points, a career-high. To cap the week, he scored 43 against the Kings, leading Memphis to a perfect 4-0 record.
Han averaged 47.5 points per game that week, reclaimed the top spot in the West, and earned Player of the Week honors.
The Grizzlies were known as a team-oriented squad, but Han's offensive explosion was surgical. He let his teammates handle the defense while he poured every ounce of energy into scoring.
Meanwhile, LeBron wasn't far behind.
He had impressive outings, including a career-high 61-point performance against the Bobcats.
When asked about competing for the scoring title, LeBron gave a knowing smile, acknowledging the race.
But when Han dropped 63 points, the gap widened. LeBron faltered in his next games, scoring 23 against the Pacers and 29 against the Bucks.
With only three or four games left, unless LeBron can average over 45 points per game in the final week like Han Sen just did, there's no chance he'll take the scoring title.
This wasn't even close, unlike the dramatic last-second battle between Shaquille O'Neal and David Robinson back in the day.
Han Sen barely needed to ramp up his effort, and LeBron was already out of the race.
LeBron certainly has the ability to score, but his fatal flaw is how easily teams can target him.
Opponents aren't fools—if you're scoring in bunches, they'll double-team you relentlessly. Unless you have an arsenal of scoring tools or near-unshakable offensive solutions, you're left relying on the whims of shooting streaks—something as unpredictable as a woman's mood.
After the Bucks game, LeBron was once again asked about the scoring title. This time, he gave the media a classic pivot.
"No, that's not my goal. No matter how many points I score, my aim is always to help my team win games."
If you lose, but declare you weren't competing, then you never really lost—at least in your own narrative.
This reaction was precisely what Han Sen expected.
When reporters asked Han Sen the same question, he neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, he quoted LeBron's own infamous words from years ago:
"If I wanted to, I could lead the league in scoring every single season."
The statement was both a flex and a subtle reminder of LeBron's past bravado.
The truth, however, was clear: even if LeBron wanted it, he couldn't take the scoring title.
To twist the knife further, with the scoring title already decided, Han Sen opted to sit out the final two games.
You couldn't accuse him of ducking—after all, with the regular season winding down and the playoffs looming, the Grizzlies were simply following their usual rotation plan.
By April 16, as the 2013-14 NBA season officially came to a close, the standings and storylines had taken full shape.
Eastern Conference:
- Miami Heat finished first at 59–23. Their measured approach kept Dwyane Wade relatively healthy, though he still played only 54 games. Thankfully, he enters the playoffs in better shape than last year.
- Indiana Pacers clinched second with 56 wins. Trading Danny Granger midseason both strengthened their roster and solidified Paul George as their franchise star.
- Brooklyn Nets secured third with 50 wins. Dwight Howard's team isn't the strongest, but their vibe is all about having fun.
- Chicago Bulls landed fourth at 48 wins, despite Derrick Rose managing just ten games before another season-ending injury. Joakim Noah's career-best season and Jimmy Butler's growth kept them afloat.
- New York Knicks placed fifth at 46 wins. LeBron James delivered an incredible 29.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 8.3 APG on 54.4% shooting, but Steve Nash's injuries and lackluster teammates doomed their season.
The Raptors, Wizards, and Bobcats rounded out the playoff spots, each with 44+ wins.
Notably, the Cavaliers, despite trading for Spencer Hawes and Luol Deng, missed the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season. Cleveland fans undoubtedly miss Han Sen more than ever.
Western Conference:
- San Antonio Spurs topped the standings at 62–20.
- Memphis Grizzlies finished second at 60–22, with Han Sen's career-best season leading the way. Averaging 30.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2.9 steals, and 1.5 blocks on 51.1% shooting, Han took home the scoring title, the steals title, and joined the elite '180 Club' ①.
Han's performance silenced any talk of 'playoff mode' magic—he'd simply been prioritizing team success in previous seasons.
The Rockets secured a 58–win season, finishing third in the West.
They were the biggest surprise team in the conference this year.
Initially, there were concerns about ball dominance between Chris Paul and James Harden, as both were seen as players who needed the ball in their hands.
However, the two developed exceptional chemistry, with Harden averaging over 27 points per game and Paul posting a 20+10 season.
Even Han Sen was a bit surprised by this result.
From his perspective, when Harden and Paul eventually teamed up, the Rockets were supposed to have adopted a 'Moreyball' strategy ②. But for now, they were still playing a more traditional style.
Paul's previous partnership with Kobe Bryant wasn't much different from his current dynamic with Harden.
But in the end, this result suggests that playing alongside Kobe probably didn't make Paul very happy.
Or, more accurately, his current partnership with Harden is reminiscent of his later collaboration with Devin Booker.
Theoretically, Paul is the second option, but his veteran status ensures he holds the highest standing within the team.
Additionally, after trading away Chandler Parsons, the Rockets were weak at the small forward position. However, they addressed that issue by signing Danny Granger before the buyout deadline.
With their current roster, the Rockets are undeniably stacked.
The Thunder secured the fourth seed with 54 wins.
Russell Westbrook proved not just with words, but with his performance, how much better life could be without LeBron James.
The Trail Blazers also achieved 54 wins but finished fifth due to their head-to-head record against the Thunder.
The Lakers came in sixth with a 52–win season.
Kobe Bryant dealt with some injuries midway through the season but didn't suffer a season-ending injury as Han Sen once anticipated.
Chris Paul's arrival on the Lakers created a butterfly effect, altering the trajectory of his career.
However, barring any surprises, the final stages of his career seem destined to be about playing a supporting role.
The Warriors finished seventh with 51 wins.
The Mavericks clinched the eighth seed with 50 wins.
They couldn't retain O.J. Mayo in the offseason but brought in Monta Ellis, Steph Curry's former backcourt leader, who found a resurgence in Dallas and experienced a career revival.
The Clippers (49 wins) and Suns (48 wins) narrowly missed the playoffs.
The intensity of competition in the West this season was even crazier than predicted by analysts like Stan. A staggering 10 teams posted nearly 50-win seasons.
While the top-tier teams weren't as dominant, the overall level of brutality in the West only increased compared to last season.
This left the Warriors, who improved their record by four wins from the previous season, in the unfortunate position of facing the Grizzlies in the first round.
-End of Chapter-
Translator's note:
① 180 Club: This refers to the combined shooting percentages of a player—field goal percentage (FG%), three-point percentage (3P%), and free throw percentage (FT%)—adding up to 180 or higher.
It aligns with the 50–40–90 Club, where players shoot 50% or better from the field, 40% or better from three-point range, and 90% or better from the free-throw line. Achieving this signifies elite efficiency and is one of basketball's most exclusive milestones.
② Moreyball Strategy: Named after Daryl Morey, the former general manager of the Houston Rockets, this approach emphasizes analytics-driven basketball.
Moreyball prioritizes high-value scoring opportunities, focusing on three-point shots, free throws, and shots at the rim, while minimizing mid-range jumpers considered inefficient.
The philosophy stems from advanced statistical analysis, aiming to maximize points per possession. It became a defining strategy for the Rockets during the Harden era, reshaping how teams think about offense in the modern NBA.
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