After the pre-season came to an end, Marc Stein released the second edition of the power rankings based on each team's pre-season performance.
The Lakers remained at the top, while the Heat dropped to fourth due to their poor pre-season showing.
Interestingly, the Grizzlies climbed four spots to 16th place after beating the Mavericks.
This, of course, sparked some controversy.
Some fans thought Stein had no professionalism, using pre-season performance to gauge a team's strength—it was laughable.
However, this time Stein didn't offer any explanation, as the regular-season game between the Heat and Grizzlies was about to kick off, which would speak for itself.
The league had been promoting the season opener on a massive scale.
The Heat's official promotion even used a comedic title 'Heat Burns the Bear' to hype up the game.
Regardless of playing style or strategy, the Heat were a championship contender, while the Grizzlies weren't even a playoff team; the gap in strength was obvious.
The day before the game, the Grizzlies flew to Miami.
Han Sen sat near the front of the plane, with Conley beside him.
The two were discussing the upcoming game.
This was their opportunity, but they would likely become the first stepping stone for the Heat's Big Three.
"They're weaker than you think," Han, being a transmigrator, was confident. Since this Heat team hadn't changed from the one he knew, he was more familiar with their true strength than anyone else.
He knew that early in the season, the Heat struggled due to chemistry issues, leading to all sorts of closed-door meetings.
"That was just the pre-season," Conley reminded him. Hansen was underestimating their opponent by assessing them based on pre-season performance.
Han then realized that others didn't share his perspective, but still...
"Teams that perform well in the pre-season don't always do well in the regular season, but if they perform poorly, it means they have some issues."
The most classic example would be the Lakers' new F4 lineup with Nash, Kobe, Gasol, and Howard, who went winless in the pre-season and had a disappointing first-round exit in the playoffs.
Conley nodded in agreement, finding some truth in what Han said.
Just then, Gay approached them and motioned for Conley to give him a seat.
Han looked puzzled, wondering why he suddenly interrupted their conversation.
Unexpectedly, Gay leaned in close, acting mysteriously.
"Should I hold back a little when I'm matched up against LeBron?"
Han Sen was instantly confused.
Why would you come to me asking whether to go easy on him?!
Unexpectedly, Gay handed him his phone.
Han glanced at the phone, and when he saw the content, he was momentarily stunned.
It was an interview from earlier when James had spoken with the media during a training session in Miami.
The reporter asked James about the upcoming game against the Grizzlies and facing Han as an opponent.
The question wasn't out of place, as everyone knew that Han Sen and James had a strained relationship before parting ways.
The problem lay in James's response.
"You know, Han is my good brother. We've fought side by side and defeated many opponents together. We were just one step away from the championship. I know he went to a team he wanted to join, and I wish him all the best in Memphis."
Wait, is James another masochist like Carter?
This didn't seem right—James and he had a hostile relationship, so how could he say something like that?!
"This is fake news."
"Fake? But it seems to be from ESPN's official site," Gay scratched his head.
"It's definitely fake. Whether we win tomorrow depends entirely on your defense, so don't hold back at all." Han looked at Gay seriously.
Gay was taken aback for a moment but, seeing Han's expression, nodded firmly.
After Gay left, Han took out his phone and searched online.
Turns out, the news was actually real!
At that moment, he slapped his forehead, realizing he had forgotten something important.
During the free agency period, in order to exchange for [Iron Body], he had publicly supported James, earning a wave of haters.
Think about it—when everyone was cursing you, and suddenly someone stood by your side, especially someone who used to be at odds with you, how would you feel?
You'd feel like true friendship shines through adversity!
Although James likely didn't see it that way.
But to maintain his image, James would pretend to see it that way.
So, his words made perfect sense.
"Actually, if you hadn't gotten injured, the Cavaliers really had a chance to win the championship last season," Conley said as he returned to his seat, having apparently spoken with Gay.
Han didn't even want to explain. If Conley had experienced what he went through with the Cavaliers, he would never have thought that way.
He turned his head to look out the window.
After a while, he turned back and continued the conversation with Conley.
In that moment , he had formed a new idea.
The environment with the Grizzlies was much better than with the Cavaliers, but one thing was worse—the lack of external attention.
Nike heavily promoted James, so he naturally had a spotlight on him; even in a small market like Cleveland, it didn't affect the media coverage.
It was much easier for Han to gain haters there, but in Memphis, it would be difficult.
His bold claim about bringing a championship to the Grizzlies was one of the few opportunities he had.
Now, with James saying those things, wasn't he creating an opportunity for him?
Imagine, Han Sen embarrassing James on the court after he said those words—wouldn't James' die-hard fans go after him relentlessly?
Upon arriving in Miami, Han Sen and Rondo made a stop at Barry University.
Although Rondo had transferred, their old teammates were still around, so they treated them to a meal and some game tickets, just like old times.
However, a year had passed, and some had graduated, making the group smaller than before.
During the meal, someone suggested that they all wear Han's number 77 jersey to the game the next day to show support.
They were sincere, so Han Sen didn't refuse and asked Rondo to prepare the jerseys overnight.
His new shoes had also just been released, so he got them each a pair, in the same eye-catching purple as his.
After the game, they could take a group photo—it would look great.
The next evening, the coast of Biscayne Bay in Miami was bustling, with the American Airlines Arena brightly lit and packed with excitement.
The stadium was already full, and the media section was crowded.
The Heat's Big Three were making their debut, one of the most highly anticipated events in recent years.
After Theus led everyone in a cheer, the Grizzlies players jogged out from the locker room through the player tunnel.
As soon as Han stepped onto the court, he felt the overwhelming wave of enthusiasm from the crowd.
James' 'Decision' had faced a nearly unanimous backlash, but Miami fans, as the beneficiaries, were the exception.
Most people in this world like to play the role of justice, but some enjoy being the villain. The Heat and their fans now filled that role.
Han Sen quickly spotted the Barry University crew in the stands. Dressed in their Grizzlies #77 jerseys, they formed a noticeable row among the sea of Heat fans.
But soon, his eyes landed on another #77 jersey.
What's she doing here in Miami? And wearing a Cavaliers #77 jersey, no less?
Seeing his gaze, Taylor waved at him, her expression full of playful excitement as if she had planned a surprise.
Han Sen silently chuckled. 'Thanks, I guess...'
He withdrew his gaze; despite the minor disturbance, it wasn't a big deal.
While he was warming up, James came over.
"How's life in Memphis?"
Han instinctively glanced around and, sure enough, spotted cameras quickly.
James was like a GPS, always knowing where the cameras were.
But that worked perfectly for him.
"It's better than Cleveland," Hansen said with a smile.
If the die-hard fans didn't see them getting along, how would they hate him when he went all out on James later in the game?
"That's good. I wish you all the best."
James left after saying that.
"Should I really give it my all?" Gay came over again after seeing the exchange.
"Absolutely, don't hold anything back. This game is being watched by the entire U.S., maybe even the world. You've got to seize this chance," Han said through gritted teeth.
Gay had no more doubts.
After warmups, the opening ceremony began.
The Grizzlies, as the away team, took the court first.
Mike Conley, Han Sen, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol.
Other than Han getting a few scattered boos, the others didn't receive much reaction from the crowd.
The Grizzlies didn't have much of a reputation in the league.
After the away team came the home team.
Unlike the Cavaliers, the Heat's opening ceremony was full of high-tech flair.
The lights danced, the background music played, and flames erupted on the LED screens—a truly awe-inspiring scene.
The arena even brought in flamethrowers, paired with the large "HEAT" signs held by the audience and the waving flags, creating a grand atmosphere.
From these arrangements alone, it was clear that Miami was showing off the city's strength.
This was the difference between a big city and a small market team.
The most breathtaking moment, however, was when the Heat players started their entrance.
Leading the way was LeBron James.
Out of respect for Michael Jordan, the Heat had retired the number 23 jersey years ago, so James had to wear number 6.
LeBron James, Joel Anthony, Chris Bosh, Carlos Arroyo, and Dwyane Wade.
In the NBA's official player power rankings, James, who had won consecutive MVPs, topped the list ahead of Kobe Bryant, while Wade was ranked third right behind Bryant, and Bosh was ninth.
An unprecedented trio at their peak, exuding a commanding presence.
After the final three minutes of warm-up time, the starting players from both teams were ready to take the court.
James found the camera and began tossing magnesium powder.
It was at that moment that an interesting scene unfolded on the court.
The Grizzlies' five starters stood together, and aside from Randolph's number 50, the rest of the players wore double-digit numbers.
Conley was number 11, Gay was number 22, Marc Gasol was number 33, and Han Sen was number 77.
This was a first in NBA history.
Han Sen matched up against Wade.
The two merely nodded in acknowledgment at this point.
For both of them, this was a game they couldn't afford to lose.
With the referee's whistle, Marc Gasol jumped high and tipped the ball back to the Grizzlies' half, officially starting the game.
Conley brought the ball up to the frontcourt and set up the offense. Once Randolph established position against Anthony in the low post, the ball was passed to Han Sen, who lobbed it inside.
Anthony, a UNLV graduate, was the same height as Randolph at 6'9", a typical undersized blue-collar center.
His strengths lay in a solid base, mobility, quick defensive rotations, and decent shot-blocking ability.
With Haslem and Ilgauskas on the Heat roster, his selection as the starting center definitely spoke to his talents.
However, Randolph wasn't as raw as someone like Dwight Howard.
Seeing that Bosh had been pulled away from the paint by Gasol, Randolph didn't battle Anthony for strength. Instead, he used Anthony as a pivot to turn towards the free-throw line, driving his body against him like a tank, advancing to the basket before tossing up a close-range floater.
This was a real tank—much bulkier than LeBron.
Anthony was completely overpowered and could only watch as Randolph scored over him.
The Grizzlies struck first. On the other end, Wade brought the ball up and passed it to James.
Even with James on the team, the Heat was still Wade's team. The entrance order in the pregame ceremony made that clear, with Wade being the last to appear.
However, Wade was mature enough not to treat James like Gay had treated Han Sen earlier.
On the contrary, he was good at managing James's emotions, allowing him to find his rhythm early in the game.
Once James got the ball, the rest of the Heat players spread out to give him space for an isolation play on the strong side.
Since entering the league, Gay had never been known for his defense, and in theory, James should have had the upper hand.
James quickly started his drive, but he was surprised when Gay lunged forward, applying pressure and preventing an easy take-off.
This level of defensive intensity caught him off guard. Though he managed to push past Gay thanks to his physical strength, his footwork was a bit off.
Especially when he stumbled into the paint, and Randolph abandoned Anthony to help on defense. James instinctively stopped and then resumed his drive.
This irregular rhythm allowed him to fake Randolph out successfully, but just as he was about to shoot, the referee's whistle blew.
The ref signaled a traveling violation, rotating both hands.
James looked puzzled as he glanced at the referee while holding the ball out in front of him.
The crowd buzzed with restlessness.
In the end, James had no choice but to hand the ball over to the referee, smiling as he jogged back down the court.
"Nice job." Han Sen approached Gay for a high-five.
When he had previously emphasized Gay's defense as crucial, it wasn't just empty words, since Gay wasn't quick enough to guard Wade, leaving Han Sen to do it.
Now, with Gay exerting that kind of defensive pressure on James, the Grizzlies' chances tonight looked promising.
After the change of possession, the Grizzlies resumed their half-court offense.
Randolph received the ball and backed down again.
This time, the Heat provided help defense, so Randolph passed to the weak-side Gasol.
As Gasol drove towards the basket, James collapsed back to swipe at the ball.
Gasol lost control, and the referee's whistle sounded again.
When the referee then pointed at James, the crowd grew even louder.
James was called for a defensive foul!
He held his head in disbelief, then took out his mouthguard and tried to explain to the referee.
But the ref paid little attention, merely pointing to Gasol's reddened arm as evidence of James's foul.
The boos echoed throughout the arena—it was, after all, the Heat's home court! The referee was clearly biased!
However, the boos quickly subsided when the arena's big LED screen replayed the previous sequence, clearly showing that James hit Gasol's arm, causing the turnover.
James could only shake his head in frustration.
These calls weren't made in the past.
Han Sen couldn't help but laugh.
He recalled his experiences during practice with the Cavaliers.
"Plays like this wouldn't get called during a game."
That was a common refrain of then-Cavs assistant coach Lloyd Pierce.
The Cavaliers treated the league's favoritism as a part of their daily training, and there was no way James would unlearn those bad habits.
But who could guarantee that favoritism would last forever?
Clearly, with James's 'Decision', some things had quietly changed.
Randolph continued to play in the low post. This time, after receiving the ball, he made a move against Anthony and quickly turned baseline to take a fadeaway shot before the Heat's help defense could arrive.
For a player of his build, his moves were incredibly smooth.
Anthony indeed had good shot-blocking ability, but Randolph's rich experience allowed him to initiate contact early, preventing Anthony from closing out in time.
Swish!
The ball went through the net cleanly.
Randolph had earned the trust of a seasoned coach like Hollins, who built the team's tactics around him. Being a legitimate low-post threat, he was more than just a decent player.
After about five minutes of play in the first quarter, the score was 10-2, with the Grizzlies leading.
These five minutes could be described as LeBron James' public humiliation.
Gay, despite his physical strength, could not shut down LeBron every time. The lack of speed limited him to merely containing LeBron.
The key issue, however, was that out of the five Grizzlies on the court, Gay was the weakest defender!
When LeBron did manage to get past Gay, his lack of a consistent mid-range shot forced him to keep driving inside.
But waiting for him at the rim were either Randolph or Marc Gasol- usually Randolph.
With Randolph's physical presence, it was always LeBron who came out on the losing end of the collision.
To make matters worse, the Heat's center was Joel Anthony, a player with zero offensive threat, making things more frustrating than when LeBron was with the Cavaliers.
Shaq was the kind of player who could score if you fed him the ball, but with Anthony, passing to him was practically a turnover.
LeBron's stats for those five minutes read: 0-for-4 shooting, 0 points, 2 rebounds, 1 turnover, and 1 foul.
And to top it off, in the most recent possession, Marc Gasol blocked LeBron's shot volleyball-style.
Wade, mature enough to let LeBron take the lead, was left watching LeBron perform like he was struggling with a stomach ache.
Han Sen's earlier assessment was spot on—the Grizzlies' lineup was a nightmare matchup for LeBron.
Especially with the referees no longer favoring him, Han didn't even have to push himself.
The crowd was buzzing.
They could never have imagined such a start for the 'Big Three'.
Or rather, they refused to imagine it, despite warnings from Stan about the Heat's interior issues, and Heat fans realizing the Grizzlies would be a tough opponent.
After all, this was the peak 'Big Three!'
It was fair to say the Grizzlies' opening slap stunned the Heat.
In a critical moment, Spoelstra bailed LeBron out by calling a timeout.
After the timeout, LeBron was subbed out for a rest, and Mike Miller entered the game.
Miller, the fifth pick in the 2000 draft and a friend of Tracy McGrady, was known for his three-point shooting. He was also a former Grizzlies player and had won the Sixth Man of the Year award with them.
With Miller on the floor, the Heat's offense noticeably improved.
This wasn't just because LeBron's iso attacks were ineffective, but also because the starting lineup's spacing was too cramped.
Could you imagine Wade being the best three-point shooter among the Heat's starting five?
But with Miller providing a reliable three-point threat, Wade's driving lanes opened up significantly.
Wade, being smart, tried pick-and-rolls with Bosh, knowing that Han, who had trained with him over the summer, could pose defensive problems.
Bosh, who could play inside and out, was much faster than the Heat's previously injured starting center, Jermaine O'Neal, and posed a greater offensive threat.
Whether Han Sen switched or not, the pick-and-roll created opportunities.
Spoelstra showed his coaching prowess by replacing Anthony with Bosh to guard Randolph.
Though Bosh's on-ball defense wasn't as strong as Anthony's, he could keep up with Randolph's moves, and his 6'11" height and 7'3" wingspan allowed him to contest Randolph's shots effectively.
With 10 minutes gone in the quarter, the score was 18-14, with the Grizzlies still leading, though their advantage had shrunk.
The five minutes before and after the timeout were like night and day.
Before LeBron made his decision to join Miami, some fans argued that the Heat would be stronger if they built around Wade and Bosh while adding quality 3-and-D players and a sixth man.
That notion was scoffed at then, as the impact of a superstar far exceeded what role players could bring.
Yet, the Heat's performance during this stretch was a slap in the face to that thinking.
With both teams' starters gradually subbing out, Han was replaced by Tony Allen.
The lineups now stood as:
Grizzlies: Delonte West, Tony Allen, Rudy Gay, James Johnson, Hamed Haddadi
Heat: Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller, LeBron James, Haslem, Ilgauskas
Gay was Hollins' choice, while LeBron...
It was like two different generations of cars hitting the road together.
The style of play in this segment was the opposite of the opening.
Gay and LeBron didn't match up directly; instead, they each scored based on their abilities.
And both coaches allowed it.
After all, the Grizzlies needed Gay's scoring to stabilize his emotions, while LeBron needed this period to pad his stats.
Classic NBA 'stat-padding' action.
Han Sen was getting his taste of the NBA's quirks.
Sometimes, reality was more dramatic than fiction.
At halftime, the score was 43-41, with the Grizzlies holding a slight lead.
The stats showed Wade scoring 13 points, LeBron 10, and Bosh 7 for the Heat.
But stats could be deceptive; anyone not watching the game would think Wade and LeBron had performed equally well.
For the Grizzlies, Randolph led the way with 14 points, Gay had 9, and Han Sen hit a three-pointer for 7 points.
During the halftime break, after Hollins finished laying out the strategy, Han chatted with Gay.
Although LeBron's performance was just as disappointing as anticipated, Wade and Bosh kept the Heat competitive.
Combined with Spoelstra's excellent coaching, the Heat were not as easy to defeat as Han had expected.
"You want me to let LeBron drive inside?" Gay was puzzled by Han's request, especially since Hansen had initially instructed him to go all out.
"Then I'll trap him. We'll sandwich him with a double-team," Han Sen explained as simply as possible, without mentioning that Spoelstra might adjust to a lineup with better spacing in the second half.
"But what about DW?" Gay was concerned about leaving Wade unguarded.
"I'll rotate back. Trust me."
Seeing Hansen's confidence, Gay could only nod.
After all, he had enjoyed scoring in the first half.
As the second half began, the Heat indeed made adjustments to their starting lineup.
Chalmers and Ilgauskas replaced Arroyo and Joel Anthony.
It was only the first game of the season, and Spoelstra was still experimenting with the rotation, but his in-game adjustments were miles ahead of Mike Brown's.
The Heat had the first possession of the second half, with Wade leading the attack.
However, he quickly noticed that Han Sen was defending him more aggressively than in the first half.
After trying twice to run pick-and-rolls with Bosh without success, Wade reset at the three-point line, baffled by Han's sudden intensity—had he given himself a pep talk at halftime?
That was out of the question; Han was expending all his energy to force Wade to abandon his iso plays.
His effective defense owed much to conserving energy in the first half and to Grover's intense conditioning program.
Moreover, Han was using his knowledge of Wade's tendencies and techniques, gained from their shared training, to his advantage.
With the shot clock ticking, Wade gave up and passed to LeBron.
The second-half lineup provided better spacing than the first half, and with LeBron's old teammate Ilgauskas on the floor, he was expected to make an impact.
LeBron called for a pick from Ilgauskas. Gay's lateral speed was too slow, so even if he didn't sag off, he couldn't stop LeBron from driving.
LeBron found himself facing Marc Gasol one-on-one, seeking revenge for an early foul call, when suddenly a shadow darted toward him.
Before he could see who it was, the ball was gone from his hands.
[Star Catcher] activated!
Han had sprung an unexpected ambush, coming from Marc Gasol's blind side, leaving LeBron completely unaware.
This was the benefit of having been teammates—knowing LeBron's offensive habits inside out.
Seeing him steal the ball made LeBron clench his teeth in anger!
But Han didn't have time to care about LeBron's reaction; he was already sprinting down the court like a machine.
He was definitely faster than last season!
LeBron couldn't catch up, and the only Heat player responding was Wade.
They raced toward the Heat's half-court, Wade trailing behind.
Though not as known for chase-down blocks as LeBron, Wade's shot-blocking prowess as a guard was formidable.
Han Sen knew Wade well, though. As soon as he entered the paint, he leapt high for a two-handed dunk, leaving Wade no chance for a block.
Wade gave up mid-air and watched Hansen dunk, shaking his head in resignation.
The Grizzlies clearly aren't known for fast-break plays, but Han coming from the Cavaliers changes things.
This dunk energized the Grizzlies' bench, as they hadn't seen a coast-to-coast steal and slam like this in a while.
Even Swift, sitting in the front row, got excited, standing up and pumping her fist to show her support for Han.
Wearing that distinctive No. 77 Cavaliers jersey, she quickly appeared on the LED screen, stirring up the crowd.
Her jersey also reminded many people of the past tensions between Han and James on the Cavaliers.
Han's post-game comments after being eliminated by the Magic, where he angrily called James a coward, still echoed in people's minds.
Especially after James left the Cavaliers, Han's remarks gained more attention and were widely known.
Is Han now trying to prove his words with real actions?
As Han retreated on defense, he noticed his hater count was rapidly increasing.
Good, that's exactly the effect he wanted.
Although 'The Decision' made many LeBron fans stop supporting him, LeBron's fan base was still large, and thanks to Nike's marketing, new fans emerged every year.
Wade continued to hold the ball in the frontcourt, while Han maintained high-pressure defense.
But this time, Wade chose to attack the basket instead of passing, yet Han's tight defense combined with Gasol's help defense left Wade empty-handed.
Randolph secured the rebound.
The Grizzlies advanced to set up a half-court play, with Han still controlling the ball and preparing to feed Randolph in the post.
Bosh showed his mobility by fronting Randolph to prevent the entry pass.
Seeing no good angle for the pass, Han suddenly drove to the left.
Grover had specifically trained his muscles, including the hamstrings, which are crucial for leg explosiveness.
In other words, Han's first step had improved compared to last season.
Wade, who hadn't trained with Han since before free agency, was caught off guard by this change.
By the time Wade reacted, Han was already speeding toward the free-throw line.
At this moment, James quickly rotated over to help, and as a former teammate, he knew that passing wasn't Han's strength.
Especially since the Heat had James and Wade, their defensive rotations were exceptional.
And indeed, Wade did not chase Han after being beaten but instead moved directly toward Gay.
James and Wade demonstrated their defensive chemistry.
However, Han had no intention of passing the ball.
Seeing James rotate over only made it even less likely for him to pass.
He accelerated toward James, stopped abruptly, glanced at the basket, then quickly took a big step to the right and released a floater with his body turned.
This move was one of his signature shots, but now it was faster and more stable than last season.
James was completely fooled and could only watch Han's floater in mid-air.
Swish!
The ball went through the hoop cleanly.
After scoring, Han extended his hands toward James.
James chose to turn his head away, pretending not to see it.
Han had scored four consecutive points, bringing the score to 47-41.
"I remember when Han first arrived in Memphis, he boldly claimed he would help the Grizzlies compete for a championship. At the time, it sounded like a joke, but now, it seems that maybe it wasn't just talk."
Han's performance drew praise from commentator Mike Breen.
Facing the Big Three without fear, Han's potential might just be the tip of the iceberg, as seen in last season's playoffs against the Celtics.
The Heat found themselves in a tough spot on the court.
Wade then attempted a pick-and-roll with James, looking to exploit a mismatch against Gay.
But Han backed off, refusing to switch.
Wade bounced the ball to James, who cut inside after setting the screen.
But as soon as Wade made the pass, Han swiftly switched to defend James.
No one would believe there wasn't some personal rivalry involved.
James was forced to retreat to the perimeter by Han's pressure.
With the shot clock winding down, James had no choice but to go one-on-one.
It was then that Han spoke up, giving James no room to evade:
"I'll let you to call for a pick."
bình luận đoạn văn
Tính năng bình luận đoạn văn hiện đã có trên Web! Di chuyển chuột qua bất kỳ đoạn nào và nhấp vào biểu tượng để thêm nhận xét của bạn.
Ngoài ra, bạn luôn có thể tắt / bật nó trong Cài đặt.
ĐÃ NHẬN ĐƯỢC