บท 243: MVP
The Warriors were pushed to the edge of the cliff—another home loss would essentially spell the end of their season, leaving them down 1-3 in the series.
At this point, head coach Mark Jackson finally recognized Stephen Curry's importance.
Sometimes, people only reflect and make changes when they're left with no other choice.
Fortunately, Jackson had proven last season against the Grizzlies that he wasn't as stubborn as someone like Lionel Hollins. He was willing to experiment.
Jackson designed a slew of plays centered on Curry, heavily testing his individual abilities.
The true test of a player's transformation from star to superstar lies in whether they can step up in critical moments. Those who can't are just All-Stars. Those who can are like caterpillars breaking their chrysalis, emerging as phoenixes reborn.
Curry proved himself capable. Despite his slim frame, his mental toughness was formidable.
In Game 4, Curry shot 7-of-14 from three-point range, 10-of-20 overall, scoring a series-high 33 points along with 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and a block.
Under his leadership, the Warriors once again went ballistic from three, shooting 15-of-32—nearly 50%—from beyond the arc.
Notably, Jackson made a significant adjustment by replacing Jermaine O'Neal with Draymond Green in the starting lineup. While this sacrificed low-post defense, it opened up better pick-and-roll three-point opportunities.
The gamble paid off.
The Warriors' only chance to beat the Grizzlies was by exploiting their two big men, who struggled to defend the perimeter.
However, the Grizzlies' struggles were also partly self-inflicted. This season, Memphis relied heavily on Han Sen, leaving coach Dave Joerger unable to assign him to shadow Curry for the entire game.
With the series tied at 2-2, the Grizzlies and Warriors were set for a Game 5 showdown.
This wasn't surprising—every first-round matchup in the Western Conference had reached Game 5 after initially being tied 1-1.
"This is the most brutal first round in NBA history," Shaquille O'Neal marveled at the intensity of the playoffs.
For Han Sen and the Grizzlies, this marked their third Game 5 in four years.
Joerger made a bold move, starting Shane Battier in place of Zach Randolph. Han Sen, on the other hand, took it upon himself to guard Curry right from tip-off.
This wasn't a typical Joerger decision; it was Han's own choice to push his limits in this crucial moment.
In Han's playbook, courage defined everything. The more critical the moment, the more his boldness shone.
The result? The Grizzlies' motto—in a clash of wills, the fearless one prevails—proved true once again.
Memphis defeated Golden State 100-93, taking a 3-2 lead in the series.
Han Sen held Curry to just 3-of-14 shooting, limiting him to 11 points—most of which came from free throws.
Han himself delivered a stunning performance, playing 45 minutes, scoring 31 points, grabbing 11 rebounds (6 offensive), dishing out 6 assists, and recording 4 steals and 4 blocks.
"I know people might disagree, but I'll say it: tonight, Han Sen played at the same level as Michael Jordan," Jackson admitted in the post-game press conference.
Having played against both Jordan and Kobe, Jackson said Han's performance was even more astonishing than Kobe's during the Finals when he played with a Grade 3 ankle sprain.
Han's relentless defensive effort on Curry, coupled with his offensive contributions, meant he covered two to three times more ground than anyone else on the court.
The physical toll was evident—Han needed IV fluids after the game due to dehydration.
Shortly after the Grizzlies' Game 5 win, the NBA announced the regular-season MVP.
The MVP race had been highly contested. The Spurs, with their league-best 62 wins, had no clear frontrunner due to their balanced team play, with six players averaging double-digit scoring.
For the Grizzlies, overtaking Miami in the standings became the focus late in the season, as surpassing the Spurs wouldn't impact Han Sen's MVP candidacy. Ultimately, Memphis finished with one more win than Miami.
Statistically and record-wise, Han Sen was the clear frontrunner. However, the league's close ties to Nike raised concerns, given past instances like LeBron James winning MVP despite finishing fourth in team record rankings.
This season, LeBron was out of the running, but Kevin Durant, another Nike athlete, remained a significant threat. Nike's push to make Durant their flagship star further complicated matters.
In the end, Han secured 38% of the vote, beating Durant's 27% to win his first regular-season MVP.
The award's outcome reflected the NBA's evolving dynamics under new commissioner Adam Silver, who prioritized business over tradition. Silver viewed Han and his partnership with Under Armour as a much-needed rival to Nike, fostering competition that would ultimately benefit the league.
Under Armour capitalized on Han's MVP win with widespread promotional campaigns, framing him as the potential heir to Michael Jordan's legacy.
If Han could secure a scoring title, Defensive Player of the Year, and a third consecutive championship, he would achieve what no player in history had—a clean sweep of MVP, DPOY, Finals MVP, and scoring champion in the same season.
Though comparisons to Jordan were slightly forced—Han didn't start his career on a struggling team like Jordan—such achievements would cement him as one of the all-time greats.
But Han had little interest in the hype. For him, the focus was on closing out the Warriors in Game 6.
...
Game 6: Oracle Arena
Facing elimination, the Warriors gave it their all. The Grizzlies, however, reintroduced Zach Randolph to the starting lineup.
Randolph responded by dominating Draymond Green, a calculated psychological move by Joerger.
Once again, Han locked down Curry.
But the Warriors stayed competitive, thanks to an unexpected breakout from Klay Thompson, who scored 20 points in the first half, including five three-pointers.
At halftime, the game remained a tense standoff. If the Warriors could keep it close, they had a real shot at forcing Game 7.
Han Sen's fatigue from his Game 5 heroics was evident. With only two days to recover, it was impossible for him to return to peak form.
The third quarter became the pivotal moment of the game.
Coach Joerger didn't make any lineup changes but significantly altered the tactical approach. Han shifted his focus entirely to offense, while the rest of the team concentrated on defense.
This strategy was quintessentially Grizzlies basketball. They had relied on it to defeat the Heat in Game 6 of the Finals last season. Though their overall form this year wasn't as dominant, it was a card they played more frequently—and effectively.
Han erupted in the third quarter, pouring in 24 points. Oracle Arena, which had started with deafening cheers, fell into a stunned silence.
The Warriors couldn't get stops on defense and struggled offensively. Many of their earlier threes had come in transition, capitalizing on Memphis's defensive mismatches. But in half-court sets, especially against the Grizzlies' small-ball lineup, opportunities were scarce.
To make matters worse, Curry couldn't regain his rhythm after being hounded by Han in the first half.
The Grizzlies outscored the Warriors 36-21 in the third quarter, stretching their lead to 15 points by the end of the frame.
In the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, Memphis's bench, led by Rudy Gay, maintained the cushion.
This put Golden State under immense pressure.
When their starters returned, the Warriors gambled on quick threes. But the more desperately they shot, the more they missed.
By the five-minute mark, the Grizzlies led by 20.
Mark Jackson, though visibly frustrated, had no choice but to accept the outcome. He called a timeout, subbed out his starters, and shared heartfelt embraces with each of them as they came off the floor.
The home crowd, to their credit, cheered and applauded their players—a scene reminiscent of the Memphis fans back when their Grizzlies faced elimination.
Although they couldn't overcome the Grizzlies, the Warriors had pushed them to their limits. More importantly, they had discovered a style of play that suited their identity moving forward.
Still, the players couldn't mask their disappointment.
Curry and Thompson, sitting on the bench in silence, stared at the scoreboard with unmistakable frustration. To them, falling short of the Conference Semifinals after significant roster upgrades was hard to swallow.
The final score read 116-101, with the Grizzlies winning the series 4-2.
During the postgame handshake, Han shared a familiar phrase with Curry: "Keep grinding. The future is yours."
This time, Curry didn't argue. Instead, he embraced Han tightly.
History doesn't reserve iconic lines for just one individual.
When Han had said those words, he was paraphrasing Tim Duncan, who had told LeBron James the same after sweeping him in the 2007 Finals. However, Han had omitted Duncan's additional phrase: "But this is my time."
At Golden State's postgame press conference, the atmosphere was understandably heavy. Yet amidst the somber mood, Curry delivered a line that echoed Han Sen's own words from years ago: "Next season, no one will want to face us."
As UA's second marquee athlete, Curry paying homage to its top star felt fitting.
Of course, Curry's declaration attracted a fair share of mockery.
"Han is Han. You're not even close, Curry."
"The Grizzlies lost in the Conference Finals that year, not the first round!"
"You came into the league in the same draft class, and Han was in the Conference Finals by Year 2. You're miles behind!"
But Curry, knowing what awaited him, was prepared for the scrutiny.
At Memphis's postgame press conference, a reporter brought up Curry's homage and asked Han for his thoughts.
Han's expression was priceless. After all, in the 'history' he knew, it was Curry who had originally said this line.
Much like Robbie Williams living in the shadow of Elton John, or Oasis constantly being compared to The Beatles, Curry might feel the same way competing in Han's era.
Yet Curry's choice to pay tribute suggested he was ready to elevate his game.
"Maybe the Curry we see next season will be even scarier than the one I know," Han said with a slight grin.
He added: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Failure shapes people in many ways, and personality decides the form it takes. Curry's mentality and the way he pushed through injuries last season—it's clear he's destined for greatness."
The Grizzlies became the first Western Conference team to advance, and shockingly, the only one to avoid a Game 7.
All three remaining series had gone the distance!
Even Han didn't expect it, especially with the Spurs nearly falling victim to an eighth-seed upset by the Mavericks.
San Antonio ultimately prevailed in Game 7 with a dominant performance, scoring 120 points. This season's Spurs were different—no longer solely reliant on defense, their 'Hammer' plays had shattered their offensive ceiling.
Elsewhere, the Thunder edged past the Trail Blazers, despite LaMarcus Aldridge's phenomenal performances. Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony's offensive firepower proved too much to overcome.
In the final series, the Rockets eliminated the Lakers 4-3 after a grueling Game 7, setting up a second-round clash with the Grizzlies.
Chris Paul's move to Houston and the subsequent ousting of the Lakers made for a compelling storyline.
Once again, Paul would chase the elusive Western Conference Finals floor.
-To be continued-
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