The No.1 Anti-Fans in Basketball
Chapter 310 - 172 Playoffs 50+!_2

Chapter 310: Chapter 172 Playoffs 50+!_2

For the Mavericks, the only piece of good news at the moment was that the rotation time for both teams was fast approaching.

Hansen was substituted out for a rest with 2 minutes left in the quarter.

Although his shooting was hot, Joerger knew the game would last four quarters, and considering the state of play the Mavericks had shown tonight, it wasn’t going to be a quick victory.

Of course, he dared to do it also because the Grizzlies’ bench strength was strong enough.

His judgment proved to be correct.

In last season’s Western Conference Finals, it wasn’t just Hansen who was in good form, Randolph was also performing well. Even against a red-hot Nowitzki, they had the capability to fight. In the end, it was the huge gap in bench strength that led to their defeat.

But this year, the lineup the Grizzlies had on the floor was Crawford, Battier, Guy, Speights, Faried, and even Tony Allen and James Johnson hadn’t gotten on yet.

Hollins: Why can’t I have such ample resources on my team!

The excellent bench allowed Hansen to rest easy on the sideline, rather than running out of steam before the fourth quarter like last season.

By halftime, the Grizzlies led the Mavericks 54 to 46.

Hansen had 30 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists for the half, making 12 of 14 shots, 3 of 4 three-pointers, and all 3 free throws.

Carlisle had tried everything and still couldn’t get Hansen to miss a shot.

"God gave 23 to Michael, but Han took the remaining 77." With such a performance, even old Brin let out a sigh similar to O’Neal’s.

The once-mocked statement that turned Hansen into a laughingstock has now become the personal tag he is most known for.

Indeed, it’s not that you talk big; it’s that you talk big and have the skills to back it up.

Coming back in the second half, Hansen immediately faced Nowitzki and scored from distance, his touch not diminished in the slightest.

That left Carlisle speechless.

Then on the next play, as Hansen ran off a screen looking to shoot, Marion, who was guarding him, directly pulled him down.

The Hack-a-Han strategy!

Carlisle went along with it.

Last season, when Nowitzki was explosive against the Grizzlies, Hollins had no choice but to foul him to disrupt his rhythm, culminating in Nowitzki’s miraculous game of perfect 24 free throws.

Carlisle was certainly much more skilled than Hollins, but there was no stopping Hansen’s hot hand.

And unlike Nowitzki, Hansen was a guard. Guards, not like big men who need good positioning to start their offense, can explode offensively in a more volatile fashion.

When Hansen stepped to the free-throw line, chants of "MVP" began to ring out in the arena.

Although Kobe was nearly certain to win the season’s MVP, Hansen was their MVP.

Hansen continued his hot streak, making both free throws with ease.

Then, Hansen was sent to the free-throw line over and over.

Hollins: Only when I’m gone do you realize I’m on the same level as Carlisle!

Carlisle certainly didn’t want to do that, and the Mavericks had been trying their best to restrict Hansen from getting the ball.

But with a team like the Grizzlies, who may lack individual scoring explosiveness, their team dynamic was strong.

To say nothing else, the one common trait among the other four players was that they could pass the ball, and pass it accurately.

After Hansen was sent to the free-throw line for the fourth time in the quarter, Guy couldn’t help but laugh:

"Han, you are now Derk Han."

Guy was referring to the treatment Hansen was receiving, similar to Nowitzki’s last season.

However, the sounds of Dirk and dick are a bit similar, and to Terry it sounded as if Guy was mocking Nowitzki, leading him to push Guy angrily from behind.

This move nearly sparked a conflict between the two sides, but it also showed how much Hansen’s performance had rattled the Mavericks.

In the end, Terry was called for a technical foul, not only giving away a free throw but also giving another possession to the Grizzlies.

And furthermore, this had successfully infuriated the Grizzlies.

Hansen hit all three free throws in a row, and when the Grizzlies played the ball in from the sidelines, Hansen cut to the basket and performed a classic "Han Guy alley-oop" with Guy, who slammed the ball into the hoop over Nowitzki. The FedEx Forum was thrown into a boiling sea of excitement.

The Grizzlies scored 30 to 20 in this quarter, and by the time the third quarter ended, they were already leading the Mavericks by 18 points.

Nowitzki, geared up for battle at the beginning of the last quarter, led a desperate counterattack alongside Baria for the Mavericks.

But Joerger soon brought Hansen back on earlier than planned.

After coming onto the court, Hansen first settled the situation with a mid-range shot over Baria, then stole the ball from Carter on the defensive end, and finally, after shaking Carter with a drive and being double-teamed, he threw an alley-oop to Faried for a vicious dunk.

"This is Han’s night!" Brin exclaimed once more, and the Mavericks’ comeback efforts were successfully stifled.

When there were three minutes left in the game and the Mavericks were still trailing by 15 points, Carlisle chose to give up the matchup.

At this moment, the vast FedEx Forum began to resonate with the deafening chants of Memphis fans.

"Whoop that trick!"

It was a familiar scene, except that this time, they were cheering for their home team’s performance instead of encouraging a team being eliminated like the last time.

The worries of that little boy and those fans were the worries of all Grizzlies fans.

But at this moment, those worries completely vanished.

The Dallas people were no longer their tormentors but the steps they ascended to reach the pinnacle!

The Grizzlies ultimately defeated the Mavericks at home with a score of 112 to 97, seizing the opening victory of the playoffs.

In terms of statistics, Nowitzki made 10 out of 25 shots and all 13 free throws, scoring 34 points with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Chandler had 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks, Terry scored 11 points but hit only 4 out of 12 shots, Carter made 3 of 10 shots for 8 points, and Jide had 4 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Hansen made 17 of his 22 shots, 3 out of 6 three-pointers, and 14 of his 15 free throws, scoring 51 points with 5 rebounds and 6 assists, and 3 steals. His scoring broke both playoff and career highs. Guy had 15 points, Conley had 13 points and 10 assists, Randolph scored 11 points with 8 rebounds, and Little Gasol had 8 points with 10 rebounds.

After the game, the Mavericks, being the visiting team, were first to attend the press conference.

"We tried everything, but he still left us helpless," Carlisle said helplessly.

History is a peculiar cycle; what happened to the Grizzlies last season was now happening to the Mavericks.

"I know why he was able to play so well, his thirst for the championship surpasses everyone else’s, we need to become more urgent."

Nowitzki understood Hansen and knew that tonight’s game was not simply "He just had a good feel, he definitely can’t perform like that next game."

If the other Mavericks couldn’t become as urgent as he said, then they might repeat the fate of the 2007 Heat and be swept out of the playoffs.

Hansen then joined Joerger for the post-game press conference.

"Congratulations on setting a new career milestone, 51 points! That’s an incredibly high score for the playoffs, what would you like to say?" The Grizzlies only had Hansen attend tonight, clearly giving him the sole spotlight.

"We really wanted to win tonight’s game because after losing to them last season, we’ve been holding back our energy. So right from the start of the game, we amped up our defensive efforts, doing our best in every aspect. As for the 51 points? That’s a blessing from above, but what’s more important is that we won the game. That’s what truly matters."

Hansen was smiling like a child; he was genuinely happy.

Although he appeared very confident when talking with the young fans before the game, no one could truly guarantee a win against this Mavericks team.

"Does tonight’s game set the tone for the series, and will you ultimately get revenge on the Mavericks?" asked a reporter from ESPN.

"No, the Mavericks are the defending champions, they are a team that has proven themselves. If you think victory is decided just because of a win in one game, then you will lose the series. This is just the beginning; we will maintain our focus."

"Are you worried about the next game? We know it’s hard to replicate tonight’s shooting touch," the reporter persisted, as they always sought a headline.

"You know, I’m a player who averages only 23 points in the regular season," Hansen replied, eliciting laughter from the audience.

The remark seemed humble, but in actuality, Hansen’s playoff-high 51 points was something even James and Durant hadn’t achieved.

"Tonight I had a good touch scoring more points, maybe tomorrow it will be Rudy, or the day after could be Zack..." Hansen continued, even pausing for a moment,

"Or perhaps Jordan."

Laughter erupted again at the press conference; the Grizzlies had their own Jordan (Crawford).

But Hansen’s meaning was clear: the Grizzlies are a team-oriented squad; they didn’t need to rely on one player continuously scoring high to win games.