Chapter 207: The Key to NBA Stats.
The theme of Khalil's exclusive interview was the Memphis Grizzlies' playoff outlook. Based on the current standings, the Grizzlies had a strong chance of finishing the regular season atop the Western Conference.
Among their potential first-round opponents was the Thunder.
Since LeBron James returned from injury, the Thunder's performance had worsened, dropping from sixth to eighth in the West.
If the playoffs started today, the Grizzlies would face the Thunder in the first round.
In discussing this potential matchup, Khalil posed the question: "What would it take for the Thunder to beat the Grizzlies?"
Han Sen's response: "Swap Rudy Gay and LeBron James between teams."
At first glance, this seemed absurd, but upon deeper analysis, it appeared to be the only feasible way.
LeBron joining the Grizzlies would clash with their twin-tower strategy, making him unable to adapt—rendering half of his game ineffective.
Moreover, LeBron thrives in fast breaks, but the Grizzlies' twin-tower system isn't conducive to fast play, further neutralizing his impact.
Additionally, LeBron and Han Sen might face conflicts over ball control. Unlike Dwyane Wade, Han Sen would not relinquish the ball-handling duties.
Thus, LeBron joining the Grizzlies would significantly weaken their team.
On the other hand, Rudy Gay's current skill set—defense and off-ball movement as a starter, and scoring as a bench option during staggered minutes—fit perfectly with the Thunder's needs.
This shift in dynamics would drastically increase the Thunder's chances of beating the Grizzlies.
This led to another topic: the reason for the Thunder's recent struggles.
The problem was LeBron's return and his incompatibility with the Thunder's playstyle.
Khalil summed it up succinctly: "The Thunder need a more suitable small forward. Kevin Durant is the ideal choice, but Rudy Gay isn't bad either."
Han Sen added with a laugh, "We won't trade Rudy. On this team, he's better than LeBron."
When placed in the context of the interview, Han Sen's remarks emphasized Rudy Gay's importance to the Grizzlies.
But given how busy people are, how many would take the time to read the full interview?
Carlisle's eye-catching headline certainly didn't help, as it seemed designed to draw criticism toward Han Sen.
As expected, the article sparked a massive backlash.
- "This is the worst LeBron's ever been disrespected. Han's the biggest LeBron hater—he doesn't even care about logic anymore!"
- "Forget Gay—LeBron has four MVPs. How many does Han have?"
- "I could say Afflalo is better than Han Sen. When you disrespect others, don't expect respect in return!"
- "Yes, LeBron and the Thunder have some chemistry issues, but saying Gay is better than LeBron is just nonsense. LeBron is still a top-three player in the league."
...
This time, not only LeBron fans but also many neutral fans felt Han Sen had gone too far.
However, Han Sen was thrilled by the negative attention.
He was eager to accumulate enough hater points to unlock the post-up talent, and Khalil's headline was written at his request.
Moreover, the interview achieved its intended effect: solidifying the narrative that "LeBron and the Thunder have chemistry issues."
The Thunder's core problem was the compatibility between Russell Westbrook and LeBron.
Westbrook could lead the team alone to sixth in the West; LeBron could likely do the same, or even better.
But with both on the same team, the Thunder were struggling. If they didn't want to implode, they needed to choose between the two.
Han Sen's response hit the mark. Both Brian Windhorst and his assistant Mike McMenamin, who had initially stirred trouble for the Grizzlies, quickly quieted down.
They knew that if the feud continued, it would be the Thunder, not the Grizzlies, who would blow up first.
Although ESPN had backed off, the earlier article still impacted the Grizzlies.
Zach Randolph understood that it was a tactic from rivals, and General Manager Chris Wallace had publicly stated the team wouldn't trade Randolph.
But understanding and avoiding emotional impact are two different things.
Even between friends, an offhand remark can create tension—let alone in a situation where the Grizzlies' salary cap issues were very real.
Owner Michael Heisley was known for being frugal. Next season's luxury tax burden might push him to make a trade, and among the Grizzlies' starting five, the oldest player, Randolph, was the most likely to be moved.
If the trade rumors involved Rudy Gay, it might not matter as much, since Gay wouldn't dwell on it. But for Randolph, it was hard not to overthink.
After practice one day, as Han Sen was heading to the locker room, Rudy Gay pulled him aside for a chat.
"I've noticed Zach's been down lately. Should we do something to help him?" Gay asked.
Han Sen raised an eyebrow and touched Gay's forehead, as if checking for a fever.
Of all the players on the team, Randolph and Gay were known to have the most disagreements.
Han Sen couldn't believe Gay was the first one to express concern.
"Have you two been arguing so much that you've grown attached to each other?" Han Sen joked.
"Don't overthink it. I just feel like his mood is affecting the team's vibe," Gay clarified.
"Rudy, I take it back—you really are better than LeBron," Han Sen teased.
Gay blushed, wanting to deny it, but his vanity wouldn't let him.
"So, what's your plan?" Han Sen asked.
"Zach's never made an All-Star team. If he gets in, it might cheer him up," Gay suggested.
Han Sen considered this for a moment before nodding.
At first, the idea sounded far-fetched—Randolph's worry was about being traded, not All-Star selection.
But from another perspective, if Randolph made the All-Star team, his value would rise, making him less likely to be traded. That would naturally improve his mood.
With the plan agreed upon, they brought it up with Marc Gasol, who immediately supported the idea.
Gasol had great chemistry with Randolph on the court and shared a close personal bond. Randolph had also helped Gasol improve his post skills significantly.
That article had created some awkwardness between them, so Gasol was eager to mend their relationship.
With everyone on board, the plan was set in motion.
Han Sen later discussed the idea with Coach Joerger, and everything fell into place.
The process went smoothly, thanks to the Grizzlies' strong performance this season.
While the Christmas game against the Heat was a nail-biter, it was against a team vying for 'greatest of all time' status.
Most of the time, the Grizzlies were still the team that could put games away in three quarters.
So, letting Randolph take a few more shots wouldn't jeopardize the team's success.
And Randolph had been in good form this season.
Of course, everyone involved kept the plan a secret from Randolph. Telling him would defeat the purpose entirely.
Moreover, they carefully selected their opponents, using the Rockets as the first target.
The Rockets' frontcourt consisted of Patrick Patterson and Nikola Vucevic.
Both are stretch bigs, playing a significant role in Harden's outstanding performance this season. However, their defense leaves much to be desired, especially Vucevic.
Despite his size, he is painfully slow on his feet, providing little help defense.
Randolph simply had to overpower Patterson, driving to the basket for easy points.
Rockets coach Kevin McHale—a Celtics legend—attempted an adjustment, assigning Vucevic to guard Randolph while Patterson provided help defense. Yet, this strategy didn't work either.
Randolph has skills; putting a slow-moving big man on him only allowed him to face up and dribble past with ease.
By halftime, Randolph had 13 shot attempts, making 10 of them for a blistering 25 points.
During the break, Randolph finally cracked a smile—something his teammates hadn't seen in a while.
Gay, noticing this, bumped fists with Han Sen, his face gleaming with a 'See how clever I am?' expression.
In the second half, the Rockets adjusted their defense once again.
McHale finally remembered the concept of double-teaming, instructing the perimeter defenders—Parsons and Lin—to collapse into the paint.
Randolph, however, didn't hesitate. 'You double-team me, I'll pass.'
This was the advantage of Randolph not knowing the bigger plan. Despite being granted more touches, his priority was still to play winning basketball.
Gay and Conley stepped up, hitting shots off Randolph's kick-outs.
McHale, displaying his old-school coaching stubbornness, stuck with his defensive adjustments, and the Grizzlies capitalized.
By the third quarter's end, what was a competitive game early on had become a blowout.
Randolph posted a stellar stat line of 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists through three quarters, earning his second career triple-double—the first being two years prior against the Heat.
This time, it was a dominant triple-double, with even flashier numbers.
At the post-game press conference, Han Sen didn't hold back in praising Randolph: "Last season, Zach struggled with injuries—that wasn't the real him. What you see now, this is the real Zach Randolph, one of the best bigs in the league."
Even coach Joerger chimed in with compliments, leaving Randolph slightly embarrassed by the attention.
....
Following this game, Randolph maintained his outstanding performance, averaging 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists per game—a stat line comparable to his peak two years ago.
In a game against the Knicks, Randolph exploded for 44 points, setting a new career high.
His previous best was 43 points in 2007 when he was with the Trail Blazers and put up big numbers in a loss to the Grizzlies.
Back then, Randolph was considered a 'stat-stuffer,' but this time, his performance was undeniably impactful.
"Zach Randolph is reaching the peak of his career," became the focal point of media coverage.
With the All-Star voting underway, Randolph's brilliant play naturally tied him to All-Star discussions.
So, is it possible to 'pad stats' in the NBA?
Some argue that it's impossible—after all, the NBA is the highest level of basketball, and scoring even a single point isn't easy.
The truth, of course, is: Yes, you can.
But it requires certain conditions. First and foremost, the player must be skilled enough; without the ability, no amount of touches will produce results.
Second, the team must be strong enough. Players on weak teams can't pad stats for long, as poor records expose them quickly.
To accumulate impressive stats without scrutiny, one must either stay on a competitive team or, at the very least, have capable teammates to cover for them. This way, even if stats are padded, the team won't lose too badly.
...
Time flew by, and by the end of January, the results of the 2013 All-Star voting were announced.
Unsurprisingly, Han Sen became the fourth player in NBA history to secure the fan vote for three consecutive years.
Despite his 'underwhelming' stats, being the reigning champion, leading a first-place team in the West, and scoring 61 points in a Christmas Day game were more than enough to secure his spot.
Not to mention the overwhelming support from East Asia, which, even at a 100:1 ratio, still contributed a significant number of votes—the world's largest voting base in action.
As for Randolph, not only did he make the All-Star team, but he also secured a starting spot alongside Han Sen.
Additionally, Marc Gasol earned the coaches' trust and was selected as a reserve.
This marked the first time in Grizzlies franchise history that three players were named All-Stars.
Of course, the top team in the West having three All-Stars seemed reasonable, especially considering the Heat also sent three players from the East.
And the 2009 draft class continued to dominate the spotlight.
Other than Curry, who narrowly missed selection, Han Sen, Blake Griffin, and James Harden all made the team.
Even Jrue Holiday, the 17th pick from the 2009 draft, became the 76ers' leader after Iguodala's departure and earned a reserve spot with his impressive play.
...
Following the announcement, Han Sen wasted no time advocating for Rudy Gay, who narrowly missed selection.
"Rudy is one of the league's best small forwards—he deserved a spot," Han Sen said to reporters.
Has any team in history ever had four All-Stars in a single season?
Of course! And not just a few times.
Beyond iconic examples like the 2015 Hawks and 2017 Warriors, even this era had its share. For instance, the Celtics had four All-Stars in 2011.
A lesser-known example is the 1998 Lakers, who sent Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Nick Van Exel, and Eddie Jones to the All-Star Game.
In short, when a team has a strong record and sufficient exposure, players with decent stats often get the nod.
However, Han's support for Gay reignited the controversy surrounding his earlier claim that "Gay is better than LeBron."
Did he mean LeBron should give up his All-Star starting spot to Gay?
This stirred up a wave of criticism, adding to Han Sen's ever-growing list of detractors.
...
Amid the All-Star voting buzz, Khalil broke another piece of news: Han Sen wouldn't be participating in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.
Han Sen had long expressed no interest in playing in Asian competitions, so this wasn't exactly news.
However, his absence from the Olympics, coupled with the Chinese national team's poor showing there, had led the basketball federation to scapegoat him for their struggles.
As a result, this announcement triggered a chain reaction, with some extreme domestic fans calling for Han Sen to be permanently banned from the national team.
This series of events caused Han Sen's [hater points] to skyrocket, surpassing one million in no time.
-End of Chapter-
2013 All-Star Rosters
Western Conference Starters: Han Sen, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Blake Griffin, Zach Randolph
Reserves: Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, James Harden, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Marc Gasol
Eastern Conference Starters: Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard
Reserves: Kyrie Irving, Jrue Holiday, Paul George, Chris Bosh, Kevin Garnett, Joakim Noah, Brook Lopez
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone