บท 214: Fists Ready to Fly.
"We're not thinking about the current score. Tonight's game will be like Game 1 of the series for us. Everyone will give their all and fight like men."
At the Thunder's pre-Game 3 open practice, Westbrook made this impassioned declaration to the media.
That evening, Chesapeake Energy Arena was packed to capacity.
The deafening cheers of Oklahoma City fans filled the air during the opening ceremony.
Despite being down 0-2, the team still retained the fervent support of its loyal fanbase.
Both teams stuck to their original starting lineups. Gasol won the tip against Ibaka, giving the Grizzlies the first possession.
The Grizzlies' opening play revolved around Randolph in the low post. The setup was straightforward, with the rest of the team creating space for him.
Randolph's first attempt missed.
Instead of crashing the offensive boards, the Grizzlies quickly retreated on defense.
After successfully stopping the Thunder's initial attack, the Grizzlies avoided fast breaks, opting to slowly advance the ball to the frontcourt.
This time, Gasol and Randolph executed a high-low post play, with Randolph converting in the paint.
The Grizzlies' strategy suddenly resembled the style of the Hollins era.
At first, the crowd didn't notice the shift. But halfway through the first quarter, with the Thunder trailing the Grizzlies by only 16-15, they realized this game felt different from the previous two.
They couldn't pinpoint the reason but sensed the Thunder were playing much better tonight.
In fact, even the Thunder players and coaching staff were somewhat confused.
Brooks noticed the Grizzlies deliberately slowing the game's pace.
"Are they playing it safe now that they're up 2-0?" That was the only explanation he could come up with.
After a puzzling first half, the teams were tied at 46.
When the second half began, the Thunder came out with a renewed energy, starting with a 6-0 run against the Grizzlies.
It was clear Brooks, a master of motivational halftime speeches, had fired up his team.
But just as the Thunder started gaining momentum and the crowd's energy surged, the Grizzlies abruptly ramped up their defensive intensity.
A series of successful defensive stops, coupled with Han Sen's isolation scoring on offense, allowed the Grizzlies to claw their way back into the game.
This pattern repeated three times in the third quarter.
The cheers in the arena rose and fell like waves, matching the ebb and flow of the game.
For Thunder fans, it felt like enduring a near-miss challenge repeatedly.
The good news was that by the end of the third quarter, the Thunder were only trailing 83-80, keeping the game within reach.
"This is the Thunder's best performance of the series so far. It seems like Russell and LeBron are finally finding their chemistry," marveled Breen from the commentary booth.
As Han Sen rested on the bench, Damon handed him a stat sheet.
Han Sen initially wanted to quip that he wasn't James, but his attention was drawn to a particular column Damon pointed out.
The free throw disparity between the teams was remarkably close—18 attempts for the Thunder to the Grizzlies' 16.
"Well, what do you know," Han Sen thought. "This is an unexpected bonus."
It seemed their usual '5-on-8' narrative didn't fully apply tonight.
In the regular season, the league might have tried to help the Thunder secure a playoff spot, but in the postseason, they seemed more interested in prolonging the series.
It made sense—this was a high-profile series, and every extra game meant more revenue.
With nine minutes remaining, Han Sen was subbed back into the game early.
Brooks responded by immediately sending Afflalo onto the court.
On the very first possession, Han Sen posted up Afflalo, used a shoulder fake, and spun into a fadeaway jumper, which swished through the net.
The Grizzlies then switched to a 2-1-2 zone defense, where Han Sen helped block James's drive on a rotation.
On the next possession, Han Sen attacked the same spot, but this time, seeing the double team coming, he drove the other direction, drawing a foul at the rim.
Gasol and Conley were subbed back in during the ensuing dead ball.
The Grizzlies' rotation adjustments came earlier than usual.
Brooks responded by bringing his starters back as well.
In the next few minutes, the game took a dramatic turn.
Not only did the Grizzlies increase their defensive pressure, but they also returned to the aggressive, varied playstyle they had employed in the first two games.
It felt like a grizzly bear waking up from a long nap, baring its sharp teeth and claws.
The sudden intensity overwhelmed the Thunder, and the point gap quickly ballooned to double digits.
At this point, not only were the Thunder players and fans stunned, even the referees seemed momentarily caught off guard.
But this had been Han Sen's plan after reviewing the stat sheet.
"Time to turn up the heat," he had told his teammates.
Even though the referees eventually adjusted by calling several favorable whistles for the Thunder, they couldn't close the gap.
By now, it was clear to everyone that the Grizzlies had been holding back earlier in the game.
A 48-minute game was too long; sometimes, all it took was five—or even fewer—minutes to seize control.
Of course, this approach only worked because the Grizzlies were significantly stronger than the Thunder.
Otherwise, allowing the Thunder's third-quarter surge would have been a disastrous mistake.
With five minutes left, Han Sen drove past James and soared into the paint, dunking over a recovering Westbrook.
The slower pace earlier had conserved Han Sen's energy, leaving him with plenty of stamina for the closing stretch.
Westbrook, despite being posterized, didn't retaliate against Han Sen. Instead, he turned his pent-up frustration on James.
"Why do you keep letting him blow by you so easily?"
Westbrook's words stunned everyone, James included.
As mentioned before, Westbrook wasn't someone who aired internal grievances publicly.
Especially not in the middle of a game, with both Thunder and Grizzlies players present.
Seeing this, Brooks quickly called a timeout.
If the two started arguing on the court, Han Sen would undoubtedly take the opportunity to stoke the flames, just as he had done in the past.
But even during the timeout, the conflict persisted.
As they walked toward the bench, Westbrook kept pressing James.
"All you had to do was slow him down for a second, and I could've stopped him!"
It was clear that Westbrook's emotions were spiraling out of control.
To truly understand his state of mind, you'd have to put yourself in his shoes.
He had no knowledge of the Grizzlies' tactical adjustments tonight.
All he knew was that he had given everything in the first two games, yet they had failed to secure a win.
Tonight seemed like their only real chance to turn things around.
And everyone understood the stakes—losing tonight and falling behind 0-3 meant the Thunder were as good as finished, possibly even swept.
How could Westbrook not feel desperate?
On top of that, he had been harboring resentment toward James for some time.
"Why didn't you block him?" LeBron, already irritated by Westbrook's attitude, snapped back. Did Westbrook have no regard for his dignity in such a public setting?
"Russell, calm down," Brooks interjected, trying to diffuse the situation.
"I am calm enough!" Westbrook retorted, his frustration boiling over. "Why can't he fight like a man? When Han told him to kneel again, why couldn't he respond like a man and fight back on the court?!"
Westbrook had finally lost control. Brooks, who had been a mentor to him, had favored LeBron throughout the season.
"Shut your mouth, you little b****!" LeBron roared, jabbing a finger at Westbrook.
Kneeling was his own business, but Westbrook bringing it up here was outright humiliation.
Westbrook's eyes widened in shock. LeBron, playing so soft in this series, dared to call him that?!
In a moment that caught everyone off guard, Westbrook swung his fist directly at LeBron.
LeBron's reflexes were quick—he leaned back and raised his arms to block.
Though his face avoided the hit, his arm took the full brunt of Westbrook's punch.
The Thunder players scrambled to separate the two, finally pulling them apart.
"You don't care about winning! You only care about your stats! You've ruined all our efforts!" Westbrook yelled as he was dragged away.
LeBron's face darkened, but he didn't respond—not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't.
"Enough!" Brooks' furious shout brought the fiasco to an end.
By then, the altercation had already been broadcast on the arena's LED screens and ESPN's live feed.
Fearing viewers might miss the drama during the timeout, ESPN replayed the scene, complete with slow-motion footage of Westbrook's punch on repeat.
This series, already heavily hyped, saw its ratings soar to record-breaking heights.
No, it even approached last year's Finals viewership.
Human nature thrives on drama and repetition.
Even Han Sen was stunned.
He had anticipated conflict between Westbrook and LeBron but never imagined Westbrook would actually throw a punch!
That single punch likely sealed the fate of the Thunder roster. Next season, Westbrook and LeBron couldn't coexist—one of them had to go.
Brooks, known for his calm demeanor, was visibly shaken, knowing the repercussions of this punch were immense.
Thunder fans in the arena held their heads in disbelief.
They knew, as well as anyone, that this punch marked the end of the Thunder's season.
When play resumed, LeBron stayed on the court, but Westbrook was nowhere to be seen—he had already retreated to the locker room.
As expected, the Grizzlies dominated the final quarter, outscoring the Thunder by 15 points to secure a blowout win and take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
LeBron left the game early, before the final whistle blew.
With a 3-0 deficit, the Grizzlies were one win away from sweeping the Thunder.
The scoreline was surprising, considering ESPN's pre-series analysis was correct: the Thunder boasted stronger talent on paper and ended the season in great form. Even if they couldn't beat the Grizzlies, they shouldn't have been winless.
But in hindsight, it made sense. While it appeared the Thunder lost to internal conflict, the truth was they were simply outmatched by the Grizzlies.
When the Grizzlies could casually 'simmer on low heat, then finish with high heat' to win games, the gap in strength between the teams was clear.
Many overlooked Han's transformation.
In his first two years with the Grizzlies, Han had been a 'regular season star' and a 'playoff superstar.'
This season, however, he didn't just conserve energy during the regular season—he practically coasted. His physical condition entering the playoffs was impeccable.
After the game, the Westbrook-LeBron altercation dominated social media, skyrocketing to the top of trending topics.
Fights between players, especially teammates, were always big news.
Opinions online were split into two camps.
One camp criticized Westbrook:
"Violence is never the answer," applied not only to domestic disputes but also to teammate relationships.
No matter what LeBron did or said, Westbrook could've talked trash all day, but punching him crossed the line.
The other camp defended Westbrook:
After all, LeBron had been painfully soft this entire series—no, this entire season.
Imagine your teammate kneeling before your rival. Put yourself in Westbrook's shoes—it's amazing he held back for this long.
"Russell is a warrior. He fought until the very last moment, just like he said he would," Han Sen posted on social media, backing Westbrook.
This wasn't about farming hater points—it was genuine support.
If he were in the Thunder front office and had to choose between the two, he'd undoubtedly pick Westbrook.
In terms of team culture, Westbrook's contributions were arguably even greater than Durant's.
Before Game 4, the Thunder suspended Westbrook for one game—a decision that surprised no one. Regardless of fan debates, Westbrook's actions ensured he'd face suspension.
This decision signaled the Thunder's surrender. If the Grizzlies wanted a sweep, so be it. Their season was effectively over.
Still, some fans were intrigued. They had seen plenty of Westbrook leading the Thunder this season but had yet to witness LeBron lead the team solo. That, at least, promised to be interesting.
"Han, watch out for him undercutting you again," Rudy Gay joked the day before Game 4.
"Would he dare?" Han laughed, glancing at Johnson and Jones on the court.
LeBron wouldn't dare—and he wouldn't need to.
Last year's Finals saw LeBron desperate for a comeback, but with no chance of a Thunder rally this time, he wouldn't take unnecessary risks.
Gay nodded in agreement, but then suddenly asked with a mischievous grin, "What if we don't let him pad his stats?"
Han's eyes widened.
He just wanted to mess with LeBron—not destroy him completely!
-To be continued-
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