I'm Here to Avenge CP3.

102-92.

There was no miracle. The Grizzlies, after losing Game 1, won four consecutive games to achieve a gentleman's sweep of the Warriors, finishing the series 4-1.

Despite playing through injury, Steph Curry scored 25 points but needed 25 attempts to make just 10 shots.

At the post-game handshake, as Han Sen reached out to Curry and was about to speak—

"Don't say it," Curry interrupted, predicting Han Sen's words in advance.

Han Sen chuckled. It seemed Curry still remembered their exchange from the three-point contest years ago.

"How's your ankle holding up?" Han asked, showing genuine concern.

Curry, who attended Han's training camps every year, had a close personal bond with him. Han didn't want to see Curry's career derailed by injuries.

"If you're holding a camp again this year, I'll be there," Curry replied, showing his competitive spirit despite his slender frame.

Without that drive, Curry wouldn't have played through the pain with cortisone shots.

After sweeping the Thunder in the first round and dispatching the Warriors 4-1, the Grizzlies advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the third straight season. This time, it was their easiest run yet.

On top of that, they received some good news: Chris Paul's season was over.

The other Western Conference Semifinal featured the Spurs and Lakers. After splitting the first four games 2-2, the pivotal Game 5—known as the 'Battle for the Hill'—took a dramatic turn when Paul was injured by Manu Ginobili's controversial closeout, ruling him out for the season.

Although the series wasn't over yet, Paul's injury was a crushing blow for the Lakers, leading them to lose Game 5.

Kobe Bryant poured in 45 points in Game 6 to force a Game 7, but the Lakers ran out of steam in the decider, ultimately losing to the Spurs.

Last year's epic Lakers-Grizzlies battle wouldn't be repeated this season—a relief for Memphis.

The Grizzlies, with Han Sen, the 'Spurs Killer,' had plenty to celebrate.

Han hadn't expected the Spurs to be their next opponents in the Western Finals.

So… Paul missed the Conference Finals again?

There was no time to dwell on Paul's misfortune, as Han immediately began analyzing the Spurs-Lakers series.

At first glance, Paul's injury seemed to be the deciding factor in the Lakers' elimination. However, the reality was more nuanced.

Paul was injured in Game 5, but the series was tied 2-2 before that, with both teams evenly matched.

While Han Sen was undeniably the 'Spurs Killer,' wasn't Kobe also one?

Yet, the Spurs hadn't crumbled in the first four games. This year's Spurs were clearly different.

Upon reviewing the footage, Han understood the key difference.

The Spurs had significantly reduced their reliance on zone defense compared to past seasons, and even the regular season.

The catalyst for this change was the growth of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green.

Green, a rookie in the same class as Han Sen, had been largely overlooked until last season when he cracked the Spurs' rotation. This season, he became a starter and embodied the modern 3-and-D shooting guard.

Leonard's trajectory was similar. After miraculously developing a jump shot during his rookie season, he was promoted to the starting lineup midway through the year.

This season, Leonard surpassed Manu Ginobili as the team's third-leading scorer.

While their roles differed, both were excellent defenders.

The Spurs' reliance on zone defense had historically varied. Early in the century, it was a necessity to protect the paint against Shaquille O'Neal.

Later, it became a crutch to compensate for defensive shortcomings, particularly after Bruce Bowen's retirement left the team without a reliable perimeter stopper.

Now, with two elite defenders, Gregg Popovich no longer needed to lean heavily on zone schemes, which had inherent weaknesses and could be exploited by smart offenses.

During the regular season, the Grizzlies had already noticed the Spurs' reduced use of zone defense. At the time, they attributed it to Han Sen's reputation as a 'Spurs Killer.'

But with Kawhi and Green's continued development, it was clear Popovich's confidence had grown considerably.

As the Grizzlies and Spurs prepared to clash in the Western Finals, the Eastern Finals matchup was also set. The Pacers edged out the Nets in a Game 7 thriller to face the Miami Heat.

Both teams had endured grueling paths to the Conference Finals.

The Heat's first-round series against the Bucks had seemed like a foregone conclusion. However, Dwyane Wade experienced knee soreness in Game 1 and chose to sit out the rest of the round.

The Heat's pursuit of 70 wins in the regular season was taking its toll.

While every team played 82 games, Miami's stars had played heavy minutes, facing relentless pressure from opponents.

Even without Wade, the Heat managed to defeat the Bucks and Bulls (missing Derrick Rose) with two 4-1 series victories. But against the Pacers—a team that stylistically countered Miami—things wouldn't be so easy.

Before the Conference Finals began, the league announced its All-NBA teams.

The Grizzlies stole the spotlight, boasting multiple honorees.

Han Sen earned First Team All-NBA and Second Team All-Defense honors. Zach Randolph made the Third Team, while Mike Conley and Marc Gasol joined Han on the Second Team All-Defense.

Marc Gasol also edged out Serge Ibaka and Joakim Noah to win Defensive Player of the Year.

The Grizzlies were now undeniably a 'super team.'

Still claiming you're not a Big Six team?

As the Grizzlies and Spurs prepared for Game 1 in Memphis, pre-series hype began to build.

Though the two teams didn't meet in last year's playoffs, their Western Semifinals clash two years ago was unforgettable.

Closeouts, coaching injuries, crippling fouls, and intentional plays—it was a storyline filled with drama.

Adding to the intrigue, the Spurs' controversial tactics against the Lakers in this year's playoffs set the stage for an emotionally charged series.

For many fans, this was a clash between the two 'dirtiest' teams in the league—a narrative that only fueled anticipation.

During the Grizzlies' open practice, Han Sen was swarmed by reporters.

One question about Chris Paul inevitably came up.

Paul's name was impossible to avoid, given the narrative that the Spurs' success came at his expense.

Han's response was emphatic.

"You know, Paul is one of the players I admire most. His skills are incredible, and I'm disappointed I won't get to face him in the playoffs again. I'm outraged at what happened to him, and I'll avenge him."

Han's words left people speechless. After all, everyone knew about his history of verbal spats with Paul.

But compared to dirty plays, trash talk seemed trivial. Han's 'choosing the lesser evil' stance was understandable.

How Paul felt about this while recovering at home was anyone's guess.

With home-court advantage, the Grizzlies were set to host Game 1 in Memphis.

During the pre-game warmup, the cameras focused on Han Sen early.

As the 'Spurs Killer,' his performance would undoubtedly be decisive.

TNT's commentary team finally made their predictions, though they avoided guessing the series outcome. Instead, they debated Han's expected scoring output.

"Forty points. There's no way he scores less," Barkley declared confidently.

"Thirty points. Kobe didn't even average that last round," Shaq retorted, taking the opportunity to diss Kobe.

"I don't think Han will dominate this series. The Spurs aren't relying on zone defense anymore, and their defensive versatility gives them more options," Kenny Smith analyzed earnestly.

Without the open mid-range looks created by zone defenses, scoring against the Spurs wouldn't be easy.

Han was about to face the same challenge Kobe had in the previous series.

...

After the opening ceremony, both teams announced their starting lineups.

The Grizzlies stuck to their usual starting five, benefiting from a season of rest and remarkable health.

Spurs Starting Five: Tony Parker, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan, Tiago Splitter

Before the game tipped off, the camera caught a glimpse of Coach Popovich. The confident expression on the renowned coach's face was unmistakable.

However, once the game began, his confident demeanor quickly shifted to concern.

The Grizzlies' gameplay was completely different from what he had anticipated.

Typically, the Grizzlies rely on post play and a combination of inside and outside scoring—a style similar to that of the Spurs.

But tonight, after Marc Gasol secured the opening tip for Memphis, their first possession showcased something unexpected.

Both Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol moved to the weak side. Once the strong side cleared out, Han Sen established position at the high post, backing down Green.

With Rudy Gay stationed at the strong-side corner, the setup bore a striking resemblance to the triangle offense.

Popovich wasn't sure what Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger was up to, but he chose not to call for help defense.

The Grizzlies thrive on teamwork, and double-teaming would only activate their entire lineup. Isolating Han Sen in one-on-one situations didn't seem like a bad strategy for the Spurs.

Of course, this decision was rooted in Popovich's confidence in his team's individual defensive capabilities.

Danny Green, like Han Sen, is a full-sized shooting guard with both speed and physicality. Under the Spurs coaching staff, his defense had improved significantly.

Han Sen caught the ball mid-air and began backing down.

Feeling Green's firm resistance, Han Sen decisively spun toward the free-throw line.

His decision was so quick that Green couldn't adjust his defensive stance in time.

Still, Green didn't give up. He pursued Han Sen from behind and attempted one of his signature defensive moves—a reach-around poke from behind.

This technique had tripped up plenty of offensive players in the past. In the previous series against the Lakers, even Kobe fell for it a few times.

But to Green's surprise, his first attempt tonight was a complete miss.

As Green went for the poke, Han Sen swiftly switched hands with a left-handed crossover, evading the steal and releasing a floater before Duncan's help defense could arrive. The shot sank.

'Was that... a coincidence?' Green wasn't sure.

On the next defensive possession, Green tried for another steal. Again, he failed.

One failure could be chalked up to coincidence. But two consecutive failures? It was enough to raise suspicion.

'Did Han Sen have eyes on the back of his head?'

Of course not. Han had simply studied Green's tendencies.

Unlike Leonard, who was a Spurs development priority, Green was still considered a relatively unremarkable role player by the broader basketball community.

The only thing notable about Green was his shooting: a 42.5% three-point accuracy during the regular season, which he had elevated to 46% in the playoffs.

But as a time traveler, Han Sen knew Green's defensive skills were nothing to underestimate. That's why he made sure to study him thoroughly before the game.

Green's repeated failures weren't unjustified. After all, he never imagined a Finals MVP like Han Sen would dedicate time pre-game to studying a role player like him.

Han Sen's next drive past Green drew a foul from Duncan on his layup attempt, sending him to the free-throw line.

Popovich took the opportunity to call Green over for a quick chat on the sideline.

Han Sen sank both free throws, opening the game with 4 straight points in excellent form.

On the Spurs' possession, Parker's drive off a pick-and-roll with Duncan ended with a contested spinning layup that rimmed out. The Grizzlies' defense was dialed in from the start.

Back on offense, Han Sen again posted up Green.

This time, Green adjusted his defensive approach. He eased up on the physical contact, suggesting Popovich had given him some tips on handling Han Sen during their sideline chat.

Sensing the change through his back, Han Sen didn't rush to spin this time. Instead, he delivered two strong bumps to test Green's positioning.

Then, he reset his pivot foot and spun toward the three-point line.

Green assumed it was a fake and didn't leap, but Han Sen used the move to create separation, smoothly transitioning into a fadeaway jumper.

By the time Green lunged forward to contest, it was too late.

And from that spot on the court, even a help defender couldn't arrive in time.

Swish!

The ball sailed through the hoop, igniting the Grizzlies fans into a frenzy. Han Sen had scored 6 straight points to start the game!

Popovich's furrowed brow deepened.

What worried him wasn't just Han Sen's hot start—it was the undeniable intent behind it. Han Sen was clearly aiming to dominate Green from the outset.

Parker and Duncan ran another pick-and-roll, and Parker hit a mid-range jumper to get the Spurs on the board.

But on the Grizzlies' next possession, Han Sen held the ball at the high post again.

By now, even the crowd could sense it: Han was sending a clear message.

Either the Spurs send help, or he was going to obliterate Green one-on-one.

Popovich held firm, refraining from calling for a double-team.

Han Sen seized the opportunity and attacked again, spinning baseline before abruptly stopping for what appeared to be a jump shot.

Green scrambled to contest but found himself out of position when Han Sen used an up-and-under move to glide past him, laying the ball in off the glass.

As the ball dropped through the net once more, frustration was evident on Green's face.

In the previous series, guarding Kobe had been no walk in the park, but Kobe's approach was more methodical—starting games by involving his teammates and conserving his energy for the moments that mattered most.

Han Sen, on the other hand, was relentless. Fueled by youth, he seemed determined to blow past Green right from the opening tip.

Could Han Sen's pre-game comments have been true? Was he really out here seeking revenge for Chris Paul?

---

First Team All-NBA: Chris Paul, Han Sen, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard

Second Team: Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin

Third Team: Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Paul George, Chris Bosh, Zach Randolph

First Team All-Defense: Chris Paul, Tony Allen, Kobe Bryant, Serge Ibaka, Joakim Noah

Second Team All-Defense: Mike Conley, Han Sen, Paul George, Tim Duncan, Marc Gasol

-End of Chapter-