The Real Trump Card.
(TL/n: I've revised the previous chapter. I've changed a couple things which continue to here, so I'd recommend going through that again. Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts in the comments!)
The biggest comeback in NBA playoff history was 31 points—a 20-point lead wasn't insurmountable.
Especially with Miami playing at home, they weren't just going to roll over.
Over the next three quarters, the Heat kept chipping away at the lead.
Cleveland, as expected, started feeling the effects of fatigue in the second half.
By the fourth quarter, Miami had managed to cut the deficit to single digits.
But the hole they had dug was just too deep.
Final Score: Cavaliers 113, Heat 106.
After the game, Mike Malone handed the team's gold chain—their honorary MVP award—to Han Sen.
Han had scored 8 of the team's crucial 10-0 run to close the first quarter, which set the tone for the entire game.
But Han didn't keep it.
Instead, he placed the chain around Malone's neck.
This win wasn't about individual dominance—it was about tactical execution.
Malone had found the one opportunity to strike, and he took it.
---
Pat Riley's Press Conference – Post Game 2
Pat Riley walked into the press room with his usual composed demeanor, but there was no mistaking the tension in his expression. He adjusted his suit jacket as he sat down, running a hand through his slicked-back hair before grabbing the mic.
Reporters wasted no time.
"Coach, you guys fought back hard, but that first-quarter hole—how much did that affect the rest of the game?"
Riley exhaled through his nose, his fingers tapping against the table.
"We gave up 38 points in the first quarter. Thirty-eight. That's… a problem," he said, emphasizing the number like it physically pained him. "We put ourselves in a position where we had to climb uphill all night. Against a team like Cleveland? You do that, and you're asking for trouble."
"Did you expect Cleveland to come out that aggressive?"
Riley let out a dry chuckle. "I don't coach expecting my opponent to roll over. Of course, I expected them to respond." He leaned forward slightly. "Look, they played with urgency. We didn't match it early, and it cost us. Simple as that."
"Do you regret the substitution pattern in the first quarter?"
His lips pressed into a thin line. "Next question."
That was Riley for you. If there was one thing he wouldn't do, it was publicly admitting a tactical misstep.
"Your team fought back and cut it to single digits in the fourth. What changed?"
"Our guys locked in," he said immediately. "We started executing at the level we should have from the jump. It wasn't some magic adjustment—it was discipline, attention to detail, and effort. When we play the way we're supposed to, we control the game. The problem was, we didn't do that for the full 48."
"There were some criticisms about the defensive approach on Han Sen. He had 40 tonight—"
Riley cut the reporter off with a sharp shake of his head.
"Yeah? And? He's one of the best in the world. You think he's just gonna take the night off?" He scoffed. "I've coached against the greats—Michael, Kobe, LeBron. You don't 'stop' guys like that. You make them work. And I'll tell you this—next game, he's gonna have to work a hell of a lot harder."
The room went quiet for a second.
That was Riley's way of saying adjustments were coming.
"Coach, this loss means Cleveland takes home-court advantage. How big of a shift is that for this series?"
Riley sat up, folding his hands together. "Look, we knew this wasn't going to be a four-game series. We knew it was going to be a battle. Yeah, they got one here. It's our job to get one back in Cleveland. It's that simple."
"Final question—what's the mindset going into Game 3?"
Riley locked eyes with the reporter.
"Win."
No hesitation. No extra words. Just pure confidence.
He pushed back his chair and walked off, leaving the room in silence.
---
Cleveland had stolen home-court advantage with their Game 2 win.
But in Game 3?
They gave it right back.
Back in Cleveland, Miami responded with a 114-106 victory, a game that was pure playoff warfare from start to finish.
This time, Riley adjusted.
Instead of Luol Deng, he started David West at power forward, opting for more size to counter Cleveland's small-ball approach.
And it worked.
P.J. Tucker couldn't hold his ground against West inside, forcing the Cavaliers into constant defensive rotations.
That, in turn, opened up Miami's shooters.
And when this Heat team got rolling?
They were damn near unstoppable.
They were already the only team to beat the 73-win Warriors twice in the regular season.
Now, with their offense clicking, they looked every bit like a championship contender.
Malone had no choice but to abandon small-ball and bring in Tristan Thompson to match Miami's size.
And just like that—Game 3 turned into another grind, a war of attrition, just like Game 1.
---
After Game 3, ESPN ran a headline that sent shockwaves through the NBA:
"This Is Kevin Durant's Year."
The Heat now led the Cavaliers 2-1, with Durant averaging 36 points per game.
Out West, the Warriors held the same 2-1 lead over the Lakers.
If both teams stayed on course, the Finals would be Heat vs. Warriors—a matchup Miami had already swept in the regular season.
And if the Heat won it all?
Kevin Durant would officially take over.
Nike's new face.
The brand's savior.
Social media would be flooded with KD tributes, legacy debates, and even documentary rumors.
The story was writing itself.
Now, all Durant had to do… was finish it.
---
The night before Game 4, Han Sen invited the entire Cavaliers squad to his estate.
A bonfire crackled in the backyard, casting long shadows across the grass. The team sat around it in foldable chairs, plates loaded with grilled food, beers in hand for the guys who wanted one. It wasn't just a gathering—it was a reset, a chance to breathe before walking back into war.
Kyrie, as expected, stole the spotlight.
Right in the middle of the circle, he broke out into some kind of tribal dance, stomping and swaying like he was summoning spirits.
J.R. Smith squinted at him, chewing on a rib.
"Yo, what the hell is he doing?"
"Man, that's his Native American ancestry coming out," Tristan Thompson chuckled.
"Or he's just lost his damn mind," J.R. shot back.
A few guys laughed, some pulled out their phones to record it. But through the jokes, the atmosphere felt lighter. Less tense.
For a team on the verge of possibly losing their season, that mattered.
Off to the side, away from the noise, Han and Mike Malone sat near the fire, both staring at the flames, deep in thought.
"Feels different this year," Malone muttered.
Han took a sip of water, nodding. "Yeah. Last year, we caught them by surprise. This time? Riley's ready for every move we make."
Malone exhaled sharply. "We throw out small-ball, he punishes us with size. We play big, he spaces us out. Every time we adjust, he's already two steps ahead."
Han leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs. "I'm taking KD next game."
Malone turned to him. "You sure?"
Han nodded. "It's the only way. If we let him keep getting comfortable, this series is over."
The coach rubbed his chin, watching Irving still dancing like a madman. "If you're taking KD, that means Kyrie has to take on a bigger scoring load. You think he's ready for that?"
Han glanced over at Kyrie, who had now started chanting along with the music playing on the speaker, completely in his own world.
He smirked.
"We spent the whole season getting him to this point, didn't we?"
Malone chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah… we did."
The two sat there for a moment, watching the fire crackle.
Tomorrow, they'd walk into war.
But for tonight?
They just let the flames burn.
---
By the time Game 4 tipped off, Quicken Loans Arena was packed to capacity—not a single empty seat in sight.
And outside?
The streets were overflowing with thousands of fans who couldn't get tickets.
Cleveland's arena renovation plans had already been approved, but construction wouldn't begin until the offseason.
In the meantime, to accommodate the demand, the team had converted a parking lot across the street into a massive fan zone—complete with a giant LED screen for public viewing.
The first two rounds? Crowds outside were modest.
But this series?
Different story.
The entire city was locked in.
This was a must-win game.
Fall behind 1-3, then head to Miami for Game 5?
That wasn't just a tough situation. That was a death sentence.
The Cavaliers knew it.
But so did Miami.
A win in Cleveland would put them one step from the Finals.
Their hunger matched Cleveland's.
And in a game where everything was on the line—only one team would walk out a step closer to history.
---
As the pregame festivities wrapped up, both teams' starting lineups were announced.
Miami Heat: Goran Dragić, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, David West, Pau Gasol.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, Han Sen, P.J. Tucker, Nikola Jokić.
Pat Riley raised an eyebrow when he saw Cleveland's lineup.
With three minutes left before tip-off, he gathered his players and delivered a simple but ruthless order:
"If Malone really thinks this lineup can beat us again, break him until he realizes he's wrong."
---
Jokić won the opening tip for Cleveland.
Irving quickly ran a pick-and-roll with him, testing his mid-range jumper. It rimmed out.
Miami wasted no time attacking the mismatch inside—feeding David West in the post.
Cleveland didn't send help.
Malone had made up his mind after Game 3—West was still skilled, but he wasn't the player he used to be.
If he burned them in the post? So be it.
Tucker battled hard, but the physical mismatch was clear. West turned, faded, and knocked down the jumper—Miami struck first.
West was 36 years old now. Most big men declined past 35, but skilled post players? They aged differently.
---
Back on offense, Irving and Jokić ran another pick-and-roll—this time, Irving attacked the rim.
Miami's defense was just a step slow, and that was all he needed. Layup, good.
Scoring and playmaking work like shooting and driving—one opens up the other.
Irving's court vision through three games had forced Miami to respect his passing.
Now?
They weren't blitzing him anymore.
And if you give Kyrie one-on-one matchups all night? Especially against bigger, slower defenders?
That's his bread and butter.
This was why Malone stuck with this lineup.
This was why Han Sen trusted Irving to carry the offense.
---
Five minutes in, neither team had a real edge.
Cleveland wasn't getting transition buckets, but their half-court offense was holding up.
Really, the opening stretch was just Irving vs. West, trading buckets back and forth.
Then, as expected, West's efficiency dipped.
But Irving? Still going strong.
Cleveland took control.
Malone had bet on time catching up to West, and he was right.
Father Time was undefeated.
And Irving?
He had just spent five minutes proving he could carry a team in the playoffs.
Riley had no choice.
He subbed in Luol Deng.
Truth be told, Miami's only weakness was their frontcourt depth.
After trading Nikola Vučević, their backup center was Tyler Zeller—a guy they couldn't play in a series like this.
---
Miami adjusted.
Dragić orchestrated. Durant and Gasol worked off-ball screens.
But Durant quickly realized something:
Gasol wasn't the issue.
He couldn't even get open.
Han walled him off completely.
It was like an invisible barrier surrounding him.
Two straight possessions—Durant couldn't even touch the ball.
Riley clenched his jaw.
Then he waved at Wade.
A switch.
---
The adjustments were clear.
1. Wade took Irving.
2. Han locked in on Durant.
This wasn't about regular-season matchups anymore.
These were playoff counters.
Wade was older, but he still read plays better than anyone—his ability to fight over screens completely neutralized Jokić's picks.
Irving had to face Wade straight up.
And even though Wade wasn't as quick as he used to be, his instincts and defensive IQ were still elite.
Cleveland's offense slowed down.
But Miami had the same issue.
Their entire offense revolved around Durant and Wade.
And Durant?
Still locked up.
Gasol, Dragić, Deng—all good players, but secondary scorers.
Suddenly, what had been a high-scoring series turned into a defensive war.
---
Malone exhaled.
This was exactly what he wanted.
Trying to outgun Miami was suicide.
Cleveland's only path to victory was through defense.
And they had top-five defensive efficiency for a reason.
But across the court?
Riley stayed calm.
Why?
Because defensive wars were wars of attrition.
And Miami didn't get tired.
---
End of the third quarter—71-71.
One quarter left.
Riley wasted no time.
Three minutes in, he sent all his starters back.
Forcing Malone to match him.
This was Riley's signature strategy—push the pace when everyone's exhausted, because Miami always outlasted their opponents.
Then, something changed.
Riley's eyes narrowed.
Han Sen had the ball.
And for the first time in the entire series, he looked fresh.
---
Durant was playing 37 minutes per game in this series.
Han had chased him all night, and that takes energy.
But Durant had barely attacked him in isolation.
Instead?
He just stood weakside for stretches, catching his breath.
Which meant Han had been conserving energy too.
For the first time all series, Han entered the fourth quarter fully charged.
And now, Riley had a problem.
Cleveland could neutralize Durant.
But who the hell could stop Han?
---
Miami threw Wade.
Didn't work.
Tried Thabo Sefolosha.
Same result.
They could slow him down, make him work harder—but stopping him outright?
Impossible.
Riley clenched his fists.
This wasn't just losing a matchup.
This was a realization.
For the first time since his coaching days in New York, he felt that helplessness again.
Back then, it had been #23 in Chicago.
Now?
#77 in Cleveland.
---
Riley sent double teams.
Han just split them with Jokić in the pick-and-roll.
On the sidelines, Malone watched and thought:
"Maybe it's time we elevate Jokić in the offense next season."
Because from Indiana to Miami, the rookie's passing had been flawless.
Riley gave up.
There was no slowing Han down.
Instead, he turned to Durant.
With Han now leading the offense, Tucker had shifted back onto KD.
Durant answered immediately—burying a contested mid-range jumper.
He was fresh.
His shots were dropping.
It became Han vs. Durant.
A duel.
Back and forth.
Shot for shot.
But when the buzzer sounded—
Cleveland 103, Miami 96.
Game over. Series tied.
Five years ago, Han and Durant met in the playoffs for the first time.
Back then, Han had won on pure guts.
Five years later?
He didn't need guts anymore.
He had already surpassed Durant.
And for fans watching at home—
It finally hit them.
When Cleveland unveiled their small-ball lineup in Game 2, people thought that was their trump card.
But it wasn't.
Han Sen was.
---
[TNT Inside the NBA Postgame Segment]
Ernie Johnson: "The Cleveland Cavaliers have tied the Eastern Conference Finals at two games apiece with a 103-96 victory over the Miami Heat. Han Sen with another dominant fourth quarter, and gentlemen… we've got ourselves a series."
Charles Barkley: "Man, I told y'all—whoever wins the Han vs. Durant matchup is winning this series. First two games? KD was cooking. Tonight? Han put him in lockdown!"
Kenny Smith: "He wasn't just locked up—Han had Durant standing around like he was waiting for an Uber!"
Shaq: "KD spent more time in the corner than a broke dude at a strip club!"
Charles: "Ain't no way, big fella. At least the broke dude gets to look!"
Ernie: "Gentlemen, let's focus—what changed for Cleveland tonight?"
Charles: "Two things. First, Malone didn't panic. He stuck with the small-ball lineup early, and it paid off. And second—Han entered the fourth quarter fresh for the first time in this series. That's the biggest reason Cleveland closed this game out."
Ernie: "Shaq, you've been in these kinds of playoff battles. What's going through Pat Riley's mind right now?"
Shaq: "Oh, he mad. And you know Riley—he don't do mad, he do revenge. That's a man who's been around since the '80s, seen every superstar, and right now? He's getting flashbacks to when a certain #23 used to ruin his life. Now, 30 years later? Han Sen's doing the same thing."
Charles: "And that's what makes Han different. This ain't just about getting numbers—this is about controlling the damn game. Every time Miami got close? He put 'em right back in their place."
Ernie: "So, is Miami in trouble?"
Charles: "Hell yeah, they're in trouble! You had a 2-1 lead, you let Han get comfortable, AND you lost to a team that wasn't even at full strength offensively?! That's bad news."
Shaq: "Chuck, when are you gonna stop yelling?"
Charles: "When teams stop doing dumb stuff, big fella!"
Kenny: "Look, Miami still has home-court advantage, but this is the first time all series where they looked… I don't know, out of control? Durant's shots were falling, but Han was deciding the pace. That's the difference."
Ernie: "And speaking of Durant—32 points tonight, but what do you make of his performance?"
Shaq: "Listen, man. KD was hoopin', but that ain't the point. Han's buckets felt like knockouts. Every time Miami got close—boom, Han punched 'em right in the mouth. Durant? He got his points, but it never felt like he was in control."
Charles: "Exactly. KD was scoring. Han was winning. That's what separates great players from all-timers."
Ernie: "Final thoughts before we head to commercial?"
Shaq: "Miami better hope Han oversleeps before Game 5."
Charles: "Nah, that man different. You could drop him in the middle of nowhere and he'd still find a way to get buckets!"
Ernie: "Game 5 in Miami is going to be a war. Stick with TNT for all your NBA Playoff coverage!"
[CUT TO COMMERCIAL BREAK]
---
(End of Chapter)