Bab 109: Interrogation.
The substitute team ultimately defeated the starting lineup 18-12.
This wasn't necessarily a reflection of both teams' strengths, but it did give Han Sen's abilities a chance to fully shine.
Randolph was effectively contained, while Gay was even more helpless.
Han Sen's mobility on defense, particularly in help situations, left Hollins extremely impressed.
After shedding weight and improving his core strength, Han Sen's lateral movement speed nearly returned to the level it was before he bulked up.
Of course, some credit goes to Tony Allen, who effectively made the starting team play 4-on-5 on offense, allowing Han Sen to help defensively without hesitation.
On offense, Han Sen also showcased his excellent finishing skills, which he had previously held back to focus on displaying his three-point shooting, leaving a pleasant surprise.
At this point, Hollins was looking at Han Sen much like Larry Brown of the Bobcats once did—seeing him as more and more impressive with each glance.
After training ended, Han Sen returned to the locker room.
Conley came over for a chat, wanting to talk about help defense.
Conley didn't have Gay's athleticism, but his academic mindset toward the game might be one of the secrets behind his success, which ended up far surpassing Gay's in the long run.
Han was more than happy to chat with him. As a textbook example of a point guard, Conley was keen on the finer details of the game, and their conversation was mutually beneficial.
As they talked, Han noticed someone approaching. He looked up to see Gay walking toward them, his jaw clenched, looking visibly angry.
And he had every right to be upset. He had been trying to force Hollins into giving him a bigger role on the team, but Han had inadvertently spoiled his plans.
Conley saw the look on Gay's face and quickly got up, pulling him aside and urging him to talk it out.
"Han isn't unreasonable," he reassured him.
But Gay wasn't having it, and he shook Conley off. "How about we go one-on-one?" he challenged Han.
Well, so much for Han's previous statement. It seemed Gay wasn't thinking clearly.
'Settling things with a game of one-on-one?' Han thought. 'What are we, kids?'
By now, the rest of the team had gathered around, intrigued by Gay's challenge. Most watched with curiosity, while Randolph looked like he was settling in to enjoy the show.
"What do I get if I win?" Han asked directly.
"What do you want?" Gay shot back, surprisingly open to negotiation.
"Hmm, how about you tell Coach to give all the plays assigned to you, to me?" Han said, half-jokingly.
He was hoping to make Gay back down. After all, losing a one-on-one in front of the entire team would be embarrassing.
Han wasn't here to start a war. He joined the Grizzlies to compete against the Heat's Big Three and chase a championship. Competing for a bigger role was one thing, but this level of hostility wasn't necessary.
Making it an all-out conflict would be counterproductive, especially since Gay had just signed a contract above his market value and couldn't be traded easily.
"Fine," Gay agreed.
Well, now Han had no choice.
He stood up, ready to go.
In reality, this wasn't such a bad thing. He was still new to the Grizzlies, and most of the team didn't know him well. If he wanted to establish himself quickly, a statement game wouldn't hurt.
And Gay was offering himself up as the perfect opportunity.
Both Han and Gay left the locker room, with the rest of the team following closely behind.
Everyone loves a bit of drama, especially when it concerns them.
"How are we starting?" Gay asked as they took the court.
"You go first," Han said politely.
Gay didn't hold back. He took the ball and walked straight to the three-point line.
In the previous scrimmage, Han Sen had been using help defense, so if it came down to one-on-one, he thought he wouldn't be as helpless.
Once he reached the three-point line, Gay quickly initiated an attack, driving to the right.
Han Sen kept close, and Gay couldn't shake him off, eventually forcing a fadeaway jumper.
Han Sen timed his jump to contest the shot, but Gay's wingspan was impressive, lifting the release point high enough to evade the block.
Thanks to his outstanding wingspan, his jump shot had once been described as 'unblockable'.
Although the shot was difficult, Gay seemed comfortable with this kind of release, using his hang time to complete the motion.
The basketball arced through the air and swished through the hoop.
The teammates on the sideline cheered, and Conley glanced at Han, looking a bit concerned. He worried that Han might have underestimated Gay.
Although Gay's basketball IQ might be lacking, his athleticism and scoring ability were his strengths.
However, Han Sen didn't seem fazed by the defensive failure. Instead, he smiled and nodded as if acknowledging Gay's tough shot-making ability.
This left Conley puzzled.
Gay attacked again, but this time Han Sen forced him to stop.
The players on the sidelines looked surprised.
Gay had to resort to a turnaround fadeaway.
But with the intense defensive pressure from Han Sen, though the shot managed to avoid being blocked, it fell short, hitting the front rim and bouncing out.
There's an old saying: "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will be undefeated."
Han Sen had been paying attention to Gay from day one at training camp, using his experience as a former trainer to analyze his skill set.
Gay's athleticism was indeed strong in both static and dynamic measurements, but there was one limitation that capped his potential: speed.
To put it simply, Gay had the body of a small forward but the speed of a power forward.
Moreover, his ball-handling was subpar.
While training with Grover, in addition to physical conditioning, Han Sen also worked on ball-handling and passing. Grover had advised him to lower his dribbling stance.
For someone of Han Sen's height, low dribbling isn't easy. Aside from the challenge, it can also reduce a player's court vision.
But the benefit is that it allows for more frequent dribbling to get past defenders and lowers the chances of turnovers.
Han Sen ultimately accepted Grover's advice, as he had initially promised.
Gay, on the other hand, dribbled with an even higher stance due to his height.
With a high dribble and slow speed, the result was that Gay couldn't shake off defenders with either his speed or his handle, leaving him with no choice but to settle for contested jumpers.
So, rather than saying he was obsessed with long two-point shots, it was more accurate to say he had no other options.
The ball switched hands, and Han Sen had possession.
Gay got into a defensive stance, clapping his hands in front of his chest.
It seemed like he intended to make up for his poor offense by playing hard defense.
After all, during the scrimmage, he had done a good job of containing Han Sen when defending one-on-one.
Han Sen held the ball in a triple-threat position, not rushing to attack.
With a fake to the right, he noticed Gay shift his weight in that direction and quickly changed direction to the left, creating space for a step-back three-pointer.
Gay's defensive contest was limited, and Han Sen's three-pointer was right on target.
Gay's technical shortcomings affected not only his offense but also his defense.
The teammates exclaimed in surprise; no one on the Grizzlies had really played like this before.
Conley let out a sigh of relief, seeing that Han Sen had clearly come prepared.
But he quickly grew concerned again because he knew that if Gay lost, it would create even bigger problems.
Gay was visibly frustrated, pounding his chest and throwing the ball to Han Sen, resuming his defensive stance.
Han Sen took the ball and immediately faked a three-point shot, prompting Gay to lunge forward.
However, it was a pump fake, and Han Sen quickly dribbled to the right, accelerating past Gay.
In just one possession, the difference in their dribble was clear—Han Sen's was lower and quicker, allowing him to get into the paint in a flash.
Gay landed and tried to catch up as Han Sen drove in for a layup, making a desperate leap to block.
But Han Sen switched hands in mid-air for a reverse layup from the left, scoring effortlessly.
Gay had the athleticism, but it wasn't enough against Han's crafty moves.
The sideline erupted in applause, acknowledging that while Gay had the raw talent, Han's skillset clearly outshone his.
After all, Han had already faced off against Wade before joining the league and had just spent the summer training with Durant.
If he could hold his own against those two, beating Gay was hardly a stretch.
Han Sen won 11-7, giving Gay some face by not making it an easy victory.
But the players on the sidelines could all see that Han Sen was much better at one-on-one than Gay.
The latter underestimated Han's abilities and hit a brick wall.
When the match ended, Gay turned and stormed off in frustration.
"Where are you going?" Han called after him.
"A bet's a bet!" Gay replied. Although he wasn't the brightest, he had the guts to own up to his loss without being a coward.
"Come back here!" Han was a bit speechless. Did Gay really think Hollins was as clueless as he was?
Hollins hadn't given Gay a more prominent tactical role because his system revolved around the frontcourt.
The coach had let Gay do his thing in training camp because Gay had just signed a max contract. If Hollins were to hand Han all the offensive plays, it would essentially be going against the front office's wishes.
Plus, if Hollins found out the real reason behind all this, Han's standing with the coach could take a hit.
That's why Han had brushed it off earlier, saying it was just a game.
"Treat me to dinner," Han said.
Gay froze for a moment.
Conley caught on immediately. He realized Han was giving Gay another way out.
He quickly stepped in with a smile, grabbing Gay with one hand and Han with the other, suggesting some good local spots in Memphis.
The team gradually dispersed, though Randolph looked a bit disappointed, having expected more drama.
---
In a private room at a restaurant in Memphis, the three sat down for dinner.
The atmosphere was still a bit tense after what had just happened.
Conley tried to break the ice with small talk, but it didn't quite work.
Finally, Gay couldn't hold it in any longer. "Why do you have a problem with me?" he asked.
"Rudy's wondering why you seem to be targeting him," Conley interjected to ease the tension.
"I want to be the primary perimeter option on the Grizzlies," Han said bluntly.
Gay's expression tightened. "Well, you're not hiding it," he scoffed.
"Wasn't that O.J. Mayo's goal, too?" Han replied with a grin.
Gay's face darkened. His issues with Hollins went beyond just wanting more offensive plays—he was frustrated that Hollins had never really established him as the team's primary option on the perimeter.
It was as if he and Mayo had been thrown into a pit, left to fight it out and see who would emerge victorious.
After finally getting the upper hand over Mayo, now Han had come into the picture.
Gay had actually considered leaving the team over the summer, but after the Grizzlies traded Mayo and gave him the max contract he wanted, he decided to stay.
"I want to be the primary perimeter option not just because of my personal ambitions, but also because your skills aren't up to par."
"Han's saying that..." Conley scratched his head. He didn't know how to translate that.
"What makes you say that? Just because you beat me one-on-one?" Gay retorted.
Han shook his head. While isolation skills are important in basketball, they aren't everything. Otherwise, Durant and Anthony would have won championships long ago.
"You have the physique of a small forward, the speed of a power forward, and the playing style of a shooting guard."
Gay didn't get it.
Han rubbed his forehead. It seemed like he needed to be more direct.
"Your basketball IQ is lacking. You have the body of a small forward but choose to play a less efficient shooting guard style. If the team builds around you, you might put up nice stats, but it will be hard for us to make the playoffs, let alone contend for a championship."
Gay's face turned red. He wanted to argue, but words failed him.
After all, during his years with the Grizzlies, as Han pointed out, his stats had been decent, but the team hadn't made a single playoff appearance.
Last season's improvement came after Hollins established Randolph as the focal point.
"Han, Rudy wants to win too," Conley said, trying to speak up for Gay.
Han's words were true, but the truth can sting.
"LeBron says the same thing," Han shrugged.
"Cough!" Conley cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Alright, since we're talking about winning, let me tell you how you can help the team," Han said, softening his tone.
Both Conley and Gay looked at Han curiously.
"There are two ways. The first is to change your style, focus on playing off the ball, and make more cuts to the basket. That would maximize your physical gifts and shooting ability."
This was the approach Gay eventually took with the Spurs, and it proved to be the best fit for his game.
Gay frowned at the suggestion. It would mean sacrificing a lot of ball-handling opportunities. Besides, the Grizzlies didn't run many plays like that, so his stats would definitely take a hit.
Han seemed to realize that Gay wouldn't choose this option, even though it would be the best thing for the team.
"The second option is to put your energy into defense when you're in the starting lineup, and then lead the team when you're on the court with the second unit. That would avoid any conflicts over touches with Zach (Randolph), and you could still put up decent stats."
Staggering Gay's minutes with the starters?
Why not?
---
TL/n:
Staggering Gay's minutes means adjusting his playing time so that he spends more time on the court with the second unit (the bench players) rather than playing exclusively with the starting lineup.
The idea is to ensure that he plays during stretches when the team's primary scoring options, like Randolph, are resting.
This way, Gay would have more opportunities to be the focal point of the offense when he's on the floor with the bench players, allowing him to showcase his skills and maintain his stats without competing for touches with other key players.
It helps avoid conflicts over ball possession and maximizes his impact by letting him take on a leading role during certain periods of the game.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone