Capítulo 26: Facing the Defending Champions
On November 18th, the Cavaliers hosted the Pelicans at home.
The Pelicans' franchise player was Anthony Davis, but their most potent offensive threats were Ryan Anderson and Tyreke Evans. Anderson's three-point shooting and Evans' ball-handling were the team's lifelines.
Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday, known for his tenacious defense, rounded out their starting lineup.
Jay Sun assumed this game would be an easy victory for Cleveland, but things took a surprising turn in the first half.
Ryan Anderson caught fire, sinking seven three-pointers, giving the Pelicans a 56–51 halftime lead.
During the break, LeBron James was silent. Just the day before, he had boldly promised success to the media. Losing now would be a major blow, especially for someone of his stature. Even as the league's premier player, LeBron wasn't immune to criticism.
Before the second half began, LeBron addressed the team, emphasizing defense—particularly the need to shut down Anderson's perimeter shooting.
When the third quarter began, LeBron bulldozed his way to the rim time and time again, using his physicality to finish tough layups.
Under heightened defensive pressure, Anderson was neutralized, missing both of his third-quarter three-point attempts. Role players like Anderson could be effective, but once properly defended, their impact often diminished.
LeBron's dominant performance carried the Cavaliers, who outscored the Pelicans 34–23 in the third quarter, flipping the game in their favor with a six-point lead.
Jay checked in at the start of the fourth quarter. As the season progressed, LeBron's trust in Jay grew, and Kyrie Irving, guided by LeBron, had started embracing his role as a true point guard.
With both stars feeding him the ball, Jay thrived. He connected on four of five three-point attempts in the quarter and made a tough layup in traffic.
The Cavaliers, led by LeBron's leadership and Jay's sharp shooting, held off the Pelicans for a 120–111 victory.
The game was a wake-up call for the Cavaliers. It served as a reminder that even lesser teams could pose serious challenges, and role players like Anderson could determine outcomes.
After the final whistle, LeBron embraced Anthony Davis and exchanged words, their significance known only to them.
Jay's performance wasn't particularly flashy throughout the game, but his fourth-quarter contributions stood out. Cleveland fans had already given him nicknames like "Clutch Kid" and "Cold-Blooded Killer." Yet none of these truly captured the power of his Closer badge.
Jay couldn't help but feel that these titles didn't do justice to his purple-tier ability. Still, he understood his role within a strong team: without the ball, even the best badges meant nothing. Such were the "problems" of playing on a contending team.
The Pelicans game was behind them, but LeBron remained laser-focused. Their next matchup was against the reigning champions—the San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs weren't just any opponent. They were led by the man who had humbled LeBron last year, the same man who told him, "The future is yours," while still holding the championship trophy.
This time, LeBron was determined to settle the score. Armed with better teammates, he vowed to come out on top.
November 20th: Spurs vs. Cavaliers
The Spurs' starting five featured familiar faces: Tony Parker, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Boris Diaw, and Tim Duncan.
LeBron took the floor with unmatched intensity, determined to rewrite the narrative.
Jay, too, was fired up. He'd be matching up against established players like Danny Green and Manu Ginobili. It was the perfect chance to prove himself on a big stage.
The Cavaliers started with their usual lineup: Irving, Jay, LeBron, Kevin Love, and Anderson Varejao.
Meanwhile, Dion Waiters sat on the bench, his minutes dwindling with each passing game. A trade seemed inevitable.
The opening tip-off went to Cleveland.
Kyrie advanced the ball cautiously, passing to LeBron at the top of the key.
LeBron surveyed the floor as the Spurs' defense locked in, following their tried-and-true schemes.
Jay exploited a momentary lapse, cutting sharply through the defense and using Love's wide frame as a screen. He broke free for a split second.
LeBron, mid-drive, executed a no-look pass to Jay.
Catching the ball in stride, Jay rose for a quick-release three-pointer.
Swish.
Jay nailed it.
The Spurs' defense hadn't faltered—it had simply been momentarily stretched thin by LeBron's gravitational pull. Jay capitalized, and Cleveland took an early lead.
On the other end, Parker orchestrated the Spurs' offense. After Tim Duncan joined him in the frontcourt, Parker used Duncan as a screen to attack the interior.
As the Cavaliers collapsed to protect the paint, Jay stuck to Danny Green like glue, determined not to give the sharpshooter an open look.
Green's off-ball movement successfully drew Jay's attention, freeing Leonard for an open mid-range jumper.
Kawhi's mechanics were smooth and deliberate, and the ball swished through the net.
Back on offense, LeBron continued to draw defenders. Kyrie used his youthful athleticism to exploit Tony Parker, driving into the paint and finishing a reverse layup.
While Kyrie's isolation plays could sometimes hurt ball movement, his natural scoring ability remained undeniable.
The Spurs, in their methodical style, played like a well-oiled machine. But this "old car" now had a powerful new engine in Kawhi Leonard.
After a series of screens and switches, Leonard found himself matched up against Jay.
Jay braced himself. "Am I really the weak link?" he thought.
There was some truth to it—Asian players were often stereotyped as less physical or defensively capable. Jay, however, was determined to prove otherwise.
He locked onto Leonard, utilizing his Clamps badge to stay tight on defense.
As Leonard drove toward the paint, Jay stayed on his hip. The two battled for position, and when Leonard rose for a contested jumper, Jay leapt with him, fully extending his arm.
The Defensive Anchor badge lit up, adding pressure.
The ball bounced on the rim twice before finally rolling in.
Jay could only sigh. "Seriously, Kawhi? Did you use your miracle shot this early?"
LeBron patted Jay on the back. "Good defense," he said. "You can't stop great players every time."
Both teams exchanged blows throughout the quarter.
By the end of the first, Cleveland led 23–20.
To start the second, Jay shifted to point guard as Irving rested.
He wasted no time, running a pick-and-roll with Varejao. As Duncan hedged out to contest, Jay delivered a perfect bounce pass to the rolling Varejao, who converted with ease.
The Spurs answered back with vintage Ginobili flair. Slithering through Cleveland's defense with his signature Eurostep, the Argentinian finished an acrobatic layup.
Jay watched in awe. "How is this bald guy still this good?"
Then, with a cheeky smirk, Jay muttered to himself, "If you're that good, you deserve to be bald." He ran a hand through his own hair, ensuring it was still intact.
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