Bab 237: Not Many Injuries Left.
When Han Sen saw what was happening, he froze for a moment.
Sure, Knicks fans have the kind of energy that lets them boo drafting Kristaps Porziņģis live at the draft, but come on—this is Nike's golden child we're talking about! Doesn't LeBron deserve a little respect?
Then again, Han couldn't exactly blame them. The Knicks were on LeBron's wishlist when he left the Thunder, and the organization had bent over backward to make it happen.
In simpler terms, this is the bed you made, King. Lie in it.
That said, boos can mean two things. On one hand, it could just be disgust at a poor performance. On the other, it might be an attempt to light a fire under the player, pushing him to step up.
For now, the crowd seemed to lean toward the latter.
After all, Han had dropped one of the most savage pregame quotes of the season. Even if LeBron couldn't shut him down, he couldn't just let Han walk all over him, either.
This wasn't just any player—this was The Chosen One, King James, the supposed heir to Jordan's throne.
LeBron looked like he wanted to yell, "Do you think I don't want to fight back?"
If that were the case, would he have dared to challenge Han on the very first possession?
But wanting and doing? Two different things.
By the 9-minute mark of the first quarter, both teams started making substitutions. Han and LeBron both headed to the bench.
LeBron's first-quarter stats? 0 points, 2 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 1 foul.
For comparison, his infamous Game 4 against Memphis last postseason—where he left injured—had him logging 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists at the half. And don't forget his Finals low against Dallas: 8 points total.
Tonight? He was on track to dig an even deeper hole.
...
As the second quarter started, LeBron re-entered, hoping for some reprieve.
But as soon as he stood up, Han did too, cracking his neck dramatically as if to say, "Break time's over."
LeBron couldn't help but curse under his breath.
Realizing he couldn't outmaneuver Han in open space, LeBron adjusted his strategy. He took up position in the paint, hoping to leverage his size and strength.
Han, in response, opted for fronting defense, positioning himself between LeBron and the ball handler.
Despite his physical advantage, LeBron struggled to seal Han off. His frustration only mounted when the battle for position gradually dragged them from the low post to the elbow—nullifying any advantage he might've had.
When LeBron finally slipped free and cut back to the basket, Raymond Felton's lob was immediately intercepted by Han, who had anticipated the pass like a chess grandmaster three moves ahead.
That made four steals credited to Han, all involving LeBron.
If there was ever a definition of former teammate chemistry, this was it.
LeBron was visibly rattled. His desperation to stop Han led to an obvious grab and foul.
Han smirked, looking at him slyly. "What happened, King? Party too hard last night? Even your fouls are weak."
He was just being cheeky, but the way LeBron puffed his cheeks in frustration? Han hit a nerve.
It wouldn't even be surprising. This is New York after all... where 'party' could mean almost anything.
...
By halftime, LeBron had managed only 4 points (all from free throws), 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Not a single field goal.
At this point, analysts in the booth couldn't help but recall Michael Jordan's legendary 1998 performance against Reggie Miller. In Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Jordan held Miller to one shot attempt in the entire fourth quarter.
"When elite defenders decide to shut you down, they make you irrelevant," one commentator mused.
Han's suffocating defense had the same energy tonight. The scoreboard told the story: the Grizzlies were up by 15+ points heading into the break.
...
LeBron came out in the third quarter with a new plan—one that threw traditional basketball out the window.
During a Grizzlies possession, he straight-up abandoned Rudy Gay to sprint to midcourt, calling for a cherry-pick fast break.
When the Knicks secured the rebound, LeBron was already ahead of everyone else, finishing with a signature tomahawk slam.
He even roared at the crowd, flexing dramatically.
But instead of cheers, he got awkward silence.
Seriously? Is this what it's come to?
Han stood there shaking his head. "Man, you do you," he muttered.
On the next possession, LeBron tried the same tactic again, but this time, it didn't work.
Han Sen had already anticipated it, stepping up early to the three-point line.
Since the Grizzlies were on offense, Han could freely position himself without violating any rules, choosing a spot to disrupt LeBron's strategy.
Using his unmatched off-ball defensive speed, boosted by the [Death Wrap] talent, Han closed the gap in an instant.
LeBron barely reached the paint and leapt for another signature tomahawk dunk when Han Sen, just a step behind, soared up and swatted the ball out of bounds with a thunderous block.
Unsurprisingly, the Madison Square Garden crowd erupted in cheers for Han.
"If they could trade LeBron for Han Sen right now, hesitating for even a second would be disrespectful to Han," one commentator quipped.
And honestly, the fans' shift wasn't unwarranted. Earlier, their boos were meant to motivate LeBron. But instead of answering with effort, he served them... well, disappointment.
If not for the fact that Han's block wasn't a free throw, the fans would've already been chanting MVP for him.
Even though Han didn't focus on scoring tonight, his defensive showcase left an indelible mark on basketball's grandest stage.
...
By the end of the third quarter, LeBron managed to scrape together 10 points. Four of those came from free throws courtesy of the refs, not from field goals. Meanwhile, the Knicks trailed the Grizzlies by over 25 points, with the game all but decided.
As the fourth quarter started, LeBron initially planned to check back in. But seeing Han Sen rise from the bench, ready to play through garbage time, LeBron turned around and slumped back to his seat.
A few minutes later, he left the game entirely.
Final score: Grizzlies 102, Knicks 84.
Han Sen's stat line: 24 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 10 steals, and 2 blocks in just three quarters.
LeBron's stat line: 10 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 turnovers.
...
Post-Game Press Conference
Han Sen appeared alongside coach Dave Joerger, and reporters wasted no time grilling him.
"You recorded a career-high 10 steals tonight, and it only took three quarters. How did you manage that?"
Han's answer lit up the room: "You forgot to mention that five of those steals were against LeBron."
The press room buzzed, but Han wasn't done yet.
"LeBron needs to improve his ball-handling. Standing still while dribbling like that? You're just asking to get stripped."
The reporters were stunned. This was no veiled jab—it was a direct hit.
Normally, a comment like this would risk offending a major sponsor like Nike. But Han, being Under Armour's golden boy and a back-to-back Finals MVP, was untouchable.
And just when everyone thought Han had already delivered the knockout punch, he dropped another bomb.
"Honestly, LeBron's scoring tonight should only count as 2 points. The other 8? Handouts from the refs."
Mic drop. The press room exploded into chaos. Han's blunt statement left journalists stunned.
Factually speaking, LeBron did have only one field goal for the night, and it came during a moment when the Grizzlies had conceded the possession.
Han's comment was also a subtle reminder of his pre-game claim: if anyone didn't understand what it meant to 'lock someone down,' tonight's performance was the perfect demonstration.
Toward the end of the conference, an ESPN reporter brought up LeBron's poor performance, attributing it to a lingering knee injury and noting that LeBron had left the game early in the fourth quarter.
Han simply smiled and replied: "LeBron doesn't have many body parts left to injure."
Elbow, groin, ankle, knee… what's next?
...
Han Sen's words turned the internet into a battleground. LeBron stans were shattered.
For years, Han had been indirect with his jabs, but tonight? He went for the jugular.
Han's critics swarmed his social media, but instead of cracking, it only made his [Hater Points] skyrocket.
Han's fans countered hard:
"Han's just looking out for an old teammate. KD developed his playmaking in one season; LeBron can't work on his handles?"
"We owe LeBron some thanks. Without those five turnovers, Han couldn't have set a career-high in steals!"
"LeBron's body must be the most gifted in NBA history. With all those injuries, he's still putting up superstar numbers."
...
As expected, Han's performance dominated headlines, sparking debates across sports media. Whether it was praise, criticism, or attempts at damage control, one thing was clear: Han's 'Guillotine Operation' had been a resounding success.
While the long-term effects were unclear, one thing seemed inevitable—LeBron's standing with Nike would take a further hit. Han couldn't help but look forward to next summer, wondering how the relationship between Nike and LeBron might unfold.
Upon returning to Memphis, Han found the UA executive team still in town.
They congratulated him on his stellar performance and brought up another matter. With UA's basketball shoe sales skyrocketing, the company had recently established a research lab and made significant breakthroughs in sneaker technology.
Capitalizing on next summer's critical marketing window, UA planned to launch a new high-end shoe line targeted at elite consumers.
The team wanted Han's input on the shoe's design and name. After all, the success of the HS Terminator Series was rooted in Han's vision.
While Han didn't have a name in mind yet, he had some clear ideas about the design.
After struggling with stamina during the opening game against Miami, Han had focused on finding ways to improve. With no stamina-enhancing talents in his Hater System, he had turned to real-world solutions.
The result? Simplicity in motion.
By minimizing unnecessary movements, Han maximized efficiency and conserved energy. This philosophy inspired the design concept: a timeless black-and-white sneaker.
Classic and elegant, the style mirrored early Air Jordans—simple yet iconic, enduring in appeal across generations.
However, Han knew the design would need a unifying theme to stand out in a crowded market. It was time to find that perfect inspiration.
-To be continued-
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
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