Bab 240: Slam Dunk.
The Memphis Grizzlies' first opponent after the trade deadline was none other than the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Since the game was on home turf, the Grizzlies had the luxury of resting and preparing thoroughly. They wrapped up their final pregame practice session on the morning of the match.
At first glance, practice seemed no different from the previous day, yet the vibe felt significantly different. Han Sen was still playing the role of the 'bad guy,' or perhaps more accurately, the 'taskmaster,' but his teammates now showed a noticeably stronger hunger to compete.
Winning a championship wasn't as much of a motivator anymore. What drove them now was Han Sen's steadfast decision to keep the team intact. If not for a title, then for Han—they were determined to give it everything they had for the rest of the season.
Sensing this shift, Han Sen finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Basketball is a team sport. Sure, his stats this season were off the charts, but as the opening game against the Heat had shown, one man alone couldn't win a championship.
Now, for the first time all season, Han felt genuine confidence.
Even though two-thirds of the season had already passed and his teammates' form wasn't what it had been the year before, this renewed sense of unity gave the Grizzlies a fighting chance.
It was reminiscent of the 2022 Warriors or the 1998 Bulls—championship teams clawing their way back into contention.
As if the team's renewed vigor wasn't enough good news, Han Sen also hit a major milestone personally: his hater points had finally reached 1.5 million.
He owed thanks to Michael Jordan, and oddly enough, to the legion of domestic haters who relentlessly criticized his refusal to join the national team.
During a quiet moment at home, Han opened his hater system and redeemed a Tier-1 Dunk Talent.
After gaining insight into the concept of "The simpler, the better", his approach to redeeming talents had become more deliberate. He focused on making his scoring as efficient and unstoppable as possible.
At its core, basketball excellence boils down to running faster, shooting more accurately, and jumping higher.
The last time Han redeemed a dunk-related talent, it was to make his midrange jumpers harder to contest. A higher leap and longer hang time not only improved his offense but also gave him an edge on defense.
But when he found this first-tier dunk talent, he paused.
The NBA is full of incredible dunkers, each with their own claim to greatness:
For some, it's Jordan—'His Airness' himself, whose nickname inspired the Air Jordan brand.
Others vouch for Vince Carter—'UFO'—who redefined dunking and saved NBA ratings before injuries slowed him down.
Then there's Zach LaVine, a blend of athleticism and grace, hailed by many as 'The Best Dunker in History.'
Blake Griffin also deserves mention for embodying true 'Power Aesthetics.'
And of course, LeBron James, who dominates in-game dunking and earns the title of 'King of Practical Dunks.'
Han Sen, however, had a different perspective. The best dunkers aren't necessarily in the NBA.
Many can dunk spectacularly but lack the all-around game to make it to the league, like Earl 'The Goat' Manigault, known for his double dunk, or Jordan Kilganon, famed for his 'Scorpion Dunk.' These street legends are the true gods of dunking.
Yet, the name of this dunk talent in his system was blunt:
[If He Joins the Dunk Contest, He's the Champion].
Straightforward, yet dripping with the kind of swagger reminiscent of LeBron James' infamous declaration: "If I enter the dunk contest, I'll win it. Whether I enter or not is another matter."
The system's style of naming talents had always been cheeky, so this fit perfectly.
(TL/n: If you guys prefer [Slam Dunk Champion], [Dunk King], or something else over this, lmk...)
The description read: "Significantly enhances vertical leap, hang time, flexibility, and body control during aerial contests."
It was clear this talent wasn't just about showmanship—it combined aesthetics with practicality, making it a deadly asset in real games.
That evening, during the pregame warmup, Han invited Vince Carter to play a dunking version of 'PIG.'
In this game, one player mimics another's moves, with the goal of forcing mistakes. The player who messes up three times becomes the 'pig.'
The unique warmup energized not just the Grizzlies but also the crowd. It turned into an impromptu dunk contest featuring Carter, the 'Half-Man, Half-Amazing' legend, and Han Sen, the rising phenom.
Han attempted a slew of audacious dunks: a glass-tapping between-the-legs slam, a 540-degree windmill, and even some experimental moves. While not all of them landed, it was clear that Han's new talent had elevated him to another plane of athleticism.
The showdown culminated in Han pulling off a between-the-legs dunk over Kenneth Faried, leaving Carter grinning as he tapped out.
The crowd was electrified, and the atmosphere was unlike anything the Grizzlies' home arena had seen before tipoff.
"This might just become a tradition," Han thought. With the buzz it generated, nightly dunk showcases could boost both his talents and the team's chemistry.
...
When the game began, the starting lineups were announced:
Thunder: Russell Westbrook, Arron Afflalo, Carmelo Anthony, Serge Ibaka, Robin Lopez.
Grizzlies: Chauncey Billups, Han Sen, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol.
With Mike Conley sidelined due to a finger injury, Billups stepped in as the floor general.
The Thunder won the tip, and Russell Westbrook wasted no time. He exploded past Billups, driving into the lane for a signature hammer dunk that left Gasol flat-footed under the rim.
The 'Verticality Rule' had made players like Westbrook even more lethal, and he celebrated by roaring at the crowd, turning to glare directly at Han Sen.
The arena's cameras caught this exchange, projecting it onto the massive LED screen.
On the Thunder's next possession, Westbrook attacked again. This time, when Han rotated over to contest, Westbrook pulled up for a sudden stop-and-pop midrange jumper. The ball swished through, and Russ followed it with his trademark 'rock-a-baby' celebration—again directed at Han.
Han immediately realized this wasn't just about the game. Westbrook wasn't salty about the pregame dunk-off; this was personal.
At All-Star Media Day, Han had confidently stated that he would surpass Jordan by season's end. With Jordan being Westbrook's idol since childhood, it was clear Russ had taken that as a challenge.
The realization sent a jolt of adrenaline through Han. The grind of an 82-game season often dulled his intensity, but facing a direct challenge reignited his fire.
As Westbrook continued to push the pace, Han smirked.
"You want a piece of me? Let's see if you can handle this storm."
Han Sen was ready to unleash the full force of his new talent. Tonight was going to be a show.
...
The Grizzlies' offense began as Han Sen called for the ball and immediately motioned for isolation.
Aaron Afflalo, an all-too-familiar matchup, stood before him. Han had the size advantage, and their previous encounters often saw him opting for post-up plays. This time, though, he faced up.
Afflalo stuck to his usual defensive strategy, steering Han toward the basket, planning a trap with Robin Lopez waiting in the paint.
It played right into Han's hands. With a quick crossover and burst of speed, he blew past Afflalo and took off just over a meter from the rim.
Robin Lopez jumped with both hands raised high.
The move was meant to avoid being posterized directly, but under the new rules, it rendered him little more than an airborne obstacle. Han twisted mid-air to evade Lopez and completed a stunning reverse dunk, gliding past with ease.
BAM!
The ball thundered through the rim, and the FedExForum exploded in cheers.
This dunk was even more electrifying than Westbrook's opener—it demanded greater hangtime and control, especially with Lopez right there. Was Han still riding the adrenaline from warm-ups? He followed up the dunk by mimicking Westbrook's signature "Why not?" shrug.
That, predictably, lit a fire in Westbrook.
On the next possession, Russ wasted no time, rocketing past Chauncey Billups with his trademark explosive first step. With Mike Conley sidelined, Westbrook was in full sports-car mode, pedal to the metal.
But this time, he didn't get the finish he wanted. Han anticipated the drive, cutting him off before he could elevate. Westbrook adjusted mid-air for a layup, but Han pivoted and swatted the ball into the stands.
The new verticality rule clearly favored quick-reacting perimeter players, while bigs like Lopez often struggled. Han's improved hangtime was on full display here, as even Westbrook's evasiveness couldn't save him.
"Pissing Han off is never a smart play," Charles Barkley quipped during the TNT broadcast.
The advisory on dealing with Han had evolved: first, don't trash talk him, then don't even talk to him. Now? Don't even try to rile him up.
Meanwhile, Carmelo Anthony pulled Russ aside for a quiet word. It was clear their chemistry was solid.
Thunder possession, sideline inbound. Afflalo dragged Han to the weak side. Melo got the ball, pivoted, and drilled a smooth turnaround jumper over Rudy Gay.
Westbrook's vendetta against LeBron this season wasn't just about their fallout last year—it stemmed from the fact that, unlike LeBron, Melo consistently delivered in crunch-time scoring.
Back on offense, Han came off a screen to receive a pass from Marc Gasol. Afflalo, having learned from earlier mistakes, sagged closer to the basket this time. He didn't expect Han to pull up for a mid-range jumper.
Seriously? Switching up his playstyle that fast?
Afflalo was quick to react, leaping to contest the shot. But something was off—Han seemed to hang impossibly high.
Before, Afflalo could bother Han's jumpers. This time, all he could do was stare up as Han calmly drained the shot.
Swish.
The crowd roared again. Even without Afflalo's vantage point, the air-time and elevation were obvious.
Most players peaked in their athleticism early and then declined with age. Han? He seemed to be defying gravity in reverse.
On defense, Han switched onto Westbrook, stifling his drive before Melo stepped up for a screen. Melo, bulked up since last season, set a textbook pick and rolled to the basket. Han had no choice but to follow him into the paint.
Once in the post, Melo called for the ball and got it. Russ waved the court clear, trusting Melo to deliver.
And Melo did what he did best—showcasing his masterful post game. If LeBron's low-post skill scored a 50 out of 100, Melo's was easily a 90.
Han tried to front him, but Melo spun smoothly into his patented washing machine move, using Han's body as leverage to spin free.
The crowd gasped in awe. Prime Melo's footwork was pure artistry.
Melo finished the move with a graceful finger roll. The ball was heading straight for the net when—
SMACK!
Han came out of nowhere for a chase-down block, slapping the ball against the backboard with authority.
The arena erupted. Melo stared in disbelief as Gay snatched the rebound and lobbed it ahead to Han, already racing toward the other end.
Han capped the play with a showtime-worthy 360° dunk, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Melo protested to the refs, claiming goaltending, but the replay told a different story.
On the big screen, the slow-mo showed just how high Han had gotten and how perfectly timed his block was.
"Carmelo has the technique, but Han has the talent," Kenny Smith remarked.
"Han should join the dunk contest," Barkley shouted. "I'm telling you, if he does, he's walking out with that trophy!"
-To Be Continued-
Translator's note:
Washing Machine Move: A signature spin move often associated with Carmelo Anthony. It involves a combination of footwork and body control, where the offensive player uses their pivot foot and a quick spin to maneuver around the defender, effectively 'churning' them like a washing machine drum. This move leverages the defender's momentum and positioning to create space for an easy shot or finish near the basket.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone