The No.1 Anti-Fans in Basketball-Chapter 484 - 244 Never Let Hansen Leave with Regrets_2

Hansen didn’t explain much, and Joerger could only understand that it was a word of encouragement.

After all, if you don’t believe in yourself as a stronger team, how can you have the confidence to win the game?

After leaving the video room, Hansen invited Randolph to his home.

Randolph didn’t refuse; unlike Guy, after the trade deadline, he not only accepted the villain role Hansen played in the team but also understood the reasons behind Hansen’s actions.

Once they were at home, Hansen asked the chef to prepare some Chinese barbecue for them. freewёbnoνel.com

Since Hansen’s restaurant wasn’t doing well, he decided to close it and bring the chef home instead.

Anyway, he was leaving this summer, and once gone, everything would cool off, so he decided to advance the closure.

"I’m leaving this summer."

Randolph was gesturing how delicious the food was when Hansen suddenly spoke up, and he froze.

"Leave? Leave where?"

"Memphis, leaving the Grizzlies."

"Are you joking?" asked Randolph, putting down the iron skewer with a look of disbelief.

But seeing Hansen’s serious expression, he knew Hansen wasn’t joking.

"Is it them forcing you out? I’ll go talk to them!" Randolph said angrily, slapping the table and standing up.

"No, you know no one in Memphis can force me; it’s my own decision, before signing the new contract last summer," Hansen gestured for him to sit.

"Why?" asked Randolph, now filled with confusion.

"It’s either me leaving or you all leaving."

Hearing this, a rush of mixed feelings overwhelmed Randolph.

He had been in Memphis longer than Hansen and was more familiar with the management’s quirks.

This season, the team had actually paid over forty million in luxury tax; the normally stingy management had suddenly become generous, and there must be a story behind it. He just hadn’t expected it to be about Hansen’s departure.

But thinking about it, it made sense; unless you were someone like James, a representative of capital itself, even someone as strong as Jordan couldn’t influence the management’s decisions. The long-standing friction between him, Bulls general manager Claus, and owner Jerry Reinsdorf was always a popular subject among fans.

If it weren’t for Hansen having prearranged his departure before signing the contract, the trade between the Grizzlies and the Pacers at the trade deadline would have surely happened.

"I didn’t tell you guys earlier because I feared you’d overthink, but given the current circumstance, this might be our last series fighting side by side. I thought I should tell you," Hansen explained the reason for calling him over tonight.

"No, this won’t be the last time," insisted Randolph, standing up.

"I won’t let you leave with regrets!" He was very assertive as he spoke.

For others, they might feel abandoned, but Hansen was different.

Hansen had always been sacrificing for the team, including but not limited to sacrificing ball rights and playing the role of the villain.

He would never let Hansen leave with regrets, never.

During the next day’s training session, Hansen didn’t do much; the Grizzlies’ training intensity was higher than ever before.

Telling Randolph was as good as telling the rest of the team.

Randolph’s thoughts were shared by all the "old men" of the Grizzlies.

However, the players also made a pact not to disclose the news to the public or even the coaching staff until the end of the season.

They wanted to prove their conviction through actions.

Seeing this change in the players, Hansen knew his decision was the right one.

In fact, one of the key reasons the Grizzlies lost to the Spurs in G1, aside from tactical reasons, was their lack of desire for the game.

38-year-old Duncan scoring 27+7+3 in the playoffs was proof enough.

They had lost to the Grizzlies too many times and didn’t want to continue losing.

And the Spurs’ tactical adjustments this season gave them that opportunity.

Hence, in such circumstances, the Spurs’ desire for the game was at its peak.

On the other hand, though the Grizzlies had gotten back some momentum after the first and second rounds, they clearly weren’t at the same level as the champion-caliber Spurs.

They needed to be hungrier.

And at this point, letting them know this was their "last chance" could bring their desire for the game up to the level of the Spurs.

Joerger looked completely befuddled.

"Dave, I told you we are a stronger team than them," Hansen said during a training break, observing Joerger’s reaction.

Joerger smiled, not knowing what had occurred but aware that Hansen must have done something.

However, they still needed to do something more.

After the training, Joerger gathered the starting players together.

The San Antonio Spurs ranked among the top in the league this season due to their bench depth.

During the regular season, they had nine players who each averaged more than eight points per game, and in the playoffs, they still had eight players doing so.

Apart from the ultimate teamwork, their depth in the reserve lineup was substantial.

The Grizzlies lacked bench depth this season, so Joerger needed someone to lead the reservists.

"I’ll do it."

With that familiar voice, Guy recreated the scene from last year’s finals, likely related to the conversation he had when he had invited Hansen to his home.

This statement also let Hansen know that last season’s Grizzlies team had returned.

A day later, G2 continued in San Antonio.

The AT&T Center was rarely filled to capacity, and the fans’ enthusiasm was unprecedented.

In the past three years, the Spurs had been eliminated from the playoffs by the Grizzlies twice, even making Hansen the "Mayor of Sacred City."

But the result of G1 showed that everything had changed.

Revenge is a timeless classic topic in the NBA playoffs.

It had also been seven years since their last championship or even their last appearance in the finals.

Duncan was about to retire, and the Spurs’ players wouldn’t let him leave with regrets.

Before the game, Barkley and O’Neal were also analyzing the situation of the match.

If the Grizzlies lost another game, their dynastic journey was essentially over.

However, the reality was that without the advantage of tactical restraints, it wasn’t easy for the Grizzlies to win against the Spurs.

"It’s definitely harder to complete a three-peat than everyone imagines," O’Neal remarked again, incidentally emphasizing his own greatness.

The Grizzlies weren’t favored to win tonight; however, as soon as the game started, everyone was stunned.

Tonight, Joerger placed Guy in the reserves, and he replaced Carter instead of Battier.

The Grizzlies’ defensive aggressiveness was unmatched by their season’s or even G1’s performance.

To keep up with the Spurs’ team basketball, the key was rapid defensive rotations and a high rate of defensive positioning.

This was the secret to the Mavericks pushing the Spurs to a game seven before.

The Grizzlies achieved it tonight; even Randolph was unusually capable of covering correctly during pick-and-rolls.

When the opportunities for open spaces on the court decreased, the Spurs’ team basketball was eventually forced back to star isolation plays and pick-and-roll tactics.

Conversely for the Grizzlies, with Hansen’s breakthrough, the inside high-low positions, and strong-weak side pick-and-roll coordination, the familiar Grizzlies team had returned.

As everyone knows, the Grizzlies are a team-oriented squad!

In the end, the Spurs fell into a position where they couldn’t defend or score effectively.

Eventually, they were heavily defeated by the Grizzlies at home, 93 to 114.

It was their first defeat by more than 20 points against any opponent since entering the playoffs, and it was a home-court loss.

What was more devastating was the Spurs being forced into 22 turnovers by the Grizzlies.

In comparison, the Grizzlies only committed seven turnovers throughout the game.

Just from points scored on turnovers, the Grizzlies outscored the Spurs by 15 points.

Additionally, post-game statistics showed only the Spurs’ "Big Three" scored in double figures; Leonard, who performed well last game, only managed one out of five shooting, totaling six points and five rebounds along with committing four turnovers after matching up with Hansen.

This battle alone demoted the Spurs from a "top European team" to the "East University Men’s Basketball Team."

Both played team basketball, but only one truly upheld its title.

And this battle wasn’t just about evening the major scoreline and seizing home-court advantage.

More importantly, the Grizzlies had wrestled back the series’ momentum.

—Divider—

First Team: Harden, Hansen, James, Durant, Noah

Second Team: Paul, Curry, Kobe, Anthony, Howard

Third Team: Westbrook, Parker, Paul George, Love, Alderich

First Defensive Team: Paul, Hansen, Paul George, Ibaka, Noah

Second Defensive Team: Beverly, Tony Allen, Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan