The No.1 Anti-Fans in Basketball
Chapter 338 - 184: Memphis at 4 AM_2

Chapter 338: Chapter 184: Memphis at 4 AM_2

It was somewhat confusing to see, considering that Harden had entered the game in such good form; he should have been handling the ball more.

However, Hansen, who had experience with the Knights, soon caught on.

Thunder Three Youngsters, Thunder Four Youngsters—it sounded as though they were inextricably linked.

But was that really the case?

Or rather, could it be possible?

Westbrook was a ball handler, and Harden was a ball handler as well; conflicts over ball control were inevitable between two players with similar styles.

Before Harden had developed, the two generally staggered their playing times, so the conflict hadn’t been obvious.

But now that Harden had improved, that kind of conflict had become inevitable.

In fact, Hansen had experienced similar conflicts when he had joined the Grizzlies, particularly ones with Guy.

Even this season, Guy still thought about his diminishing status in terms of control of the ball during practice games.

It was completely unavoidable. After all, NBA players were colleagues; control of the ball implied statistics and money, things no one could simply ignore.

The reason the Grizzlies managed to suppress such conflicts was actually quite simple: Hansen’s sacrifice.

Similarly, the San Antonio Spurs relied on Manu Ginobili’s willingness to be the sixth man.

But could Westbrook sacrifice like Hansen and Ginobili?

Of course not!

If he could, he wouldn’t be the man second only to James in his pursuit of statistics.

Thus, what seemed irrational on court actually made quite a bit of sense.

After reaching for the ball and failing to receive it, Harden looked dejected.

When the first quarter ended, the Grizzlies led the Thunders by 14 points, 30 to 16.

The situation was extremely unfavorable, and Brooks brought out a smaller lineup again.

He still tried to drive the team’s offense by picking up the pace, but the results were still disappointing.

However, his adjustment delighted one man.

Randolph frequently scored through low post plays.

Indeed, as the playoffs progressed, Randolph’s physical condition gradually recovered.

This recovery was closely related to the Grizzlies now focusing their offensive efforts on Hansen and the growth of Little Gasol.

Not having to frequently serve as the pivot for low-post offensive strategies reduced his fatigue during games.

But time was moving forward, and it had been over three months since his return.

He just needed some opportunities to regain his playoff touch, which Brooks conveniently provided.

Throughout this game, from start to finish, the Thunders never recovered the lead, ultimately losing 88 to 106.

With a 2-1 score, the Grizzlies took control of the series.

But this time, instead of being intense, the players from the Grizzlies appeared quite calm; even Guy refrained from saying things like "we’ll be champions" to Hansen as he had done before.

This year’s pursuit of the championship was a growth experience for everyone on the Grizzlies.

Not just in terms of skills but also in terms of mindset.

Two days later, Game 4 would continue in Memphis.

Hansen woke up a bit earlier than usual, checked his phone—it wasn’t even four in the morning yet, about half an hour earlier than usual.

Although he had adjusted his mindset well, his body was still showing some instinctive physiological reactions due to the key stage they were at.

After all, the finals were getting closer.

People who often wake up early should know that this time is rather awkward; getting up directly feels like not having enough sleep, yet it’s not enough time for a nap.

In the end, Hansen simply got up and drove to the FedEx Forum.

After getting into his car and seeing the time at 4:03 AM on his phone, he paused.

If this were James, he figured James would probably take a photo, then add a caption on social media: "No excuses, work hard."

Hmm, then add a crown.

He drove through the streets of Memphis at four in the morning.

The sky was still a pitch-black canvas, and the roads were almost devoid of cars, even more silent than he usually felt.

This was probably the quietest moment in this chaotic city.

But as his car entered a busier area, some venues still emitted some rhythmic sounds.

Hansen unknowingly spotted the new nightclub Guy had mentioned before, [1927 Madison Ave], which had a very New York vibe and looked quite large from the outside.

Moreover, with its bright lights and bustling atmosphere, who knew how many people were still inside enjoying themselves.

It seemed that if the Grizzlies really won the championship, they could bring their teammates here to celebrate.

That night at the FedEx Forum, the attendance was at capacity.

Fans from Memphis held up various signs.

"We’ll settle this in five games," "Russell Bryant, shoot more," "KD, we have a whole pool of bath water"...

The fans were as excited as the players. Before Hansen joined the team, they never dared to imagine the Grizzlies actually having a chance to make it to the finals and compete for the championship.

This emotion peaked during the opening ceremony.

When the Grizzlies players entered, the cheers from the crowd soared through the roof.

"I think the people of Memphis are ready for the finals," Barkley popped a champagne at the commentary table.

"They have no reason to lose tonight," O’Neal also opened his share.

"They need to pass the ball more to James (Harden), that’s their only chance," Kenny Smith was honest.

Tonight, the Thunders had adjusted their starting lineup, bringing Harden into the mix.

This move was a clear signal that they wanted to compete offensively against the Grizzlies to the very end.

Tonight, Hansen was not guarding Durant, as Joerger’s strategy of marking Durant off the ball in the last game was very successful; he would directly match up against Harden.

Ibaka gave the Thunders the first opportunity to attack, passing the ball directly to Harden.

Westbrook, decidedly, was not going to give up the ball rights, which must have been Brooks’ tactical arrangement.

Hansen was also rubbing his hands, prepared to shut down Harden.

Harden called for Perkins to pick and roll, then broke through using the screen.

Hansen chose to go around, completely ignoring Perkins as he continued to defend.

Harden seemed to have not noticed Hansen coming up from behind, and as he went for a floater against Little Gasol, Hansen smacked the ball away with a slap from behind.

The fans, already in high spirits, went wild at the moment.

This was like a big gift from Harden at the start!

Hansen was also a bit surprised.

He was still prepared for Harden to force a foul by cutting close, a move Harden was quite skilled at.

Then this unexpected feeling kept surfacing in Hansen’s mind.

Tonight, Harden had much more control of the ball than in the last game, but it was either turnovers or misplacements; his form seemed the worst in the series.

Compared to him, Paul seemed more capable of handling tough games.

Hansen searched his memory; Harden indeed had a tendency to falter in crucial games.

But more than faltering, tonight Harden seemed to be distracted.

He didn’t know the reason, but for the Grizzlies, it was certainly good news.

Because, as Kenny Smith had said, letting Harden handle the ball excessively like in G2, distributing the playing rights and unleashing the Thunders’ offensive talent, was the only way the Thunders could beat the Grizzlies.

Brooks indeed did so, but Harden was not up for it.

After half of the quarter, the Thunders’ offense was even worse than in the first half; with Seferosa not on the court, Hansen was having an easy time, and the Grizzlies were leading by even more.

Brooks had no choice but to substitute Harden out, but doing so basically meant the Thunders had no chance.

to 99.

Durant, despite being double-teamed, increased his off-ball movement and secured 34 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists; you could tell he really wanted to win.

But Westbrook’s 5 out of 19 shots for 18 points and 6 assists, and Harden’s 3 out of 14 for 10 points, 2 assists, and 4 turnovers, couldn’t carry the team.

If it weren’t for Ibaka’s exceptional 8 of 8 shooting tonight, the Thunders would have lost by even more than in G3.

At the end of the game, the FedEx Forum had plunged into a frenzied ocean of celebration.

The Thunders’ performance in these two away games was unexpectedly poor; one might think they were coordinating with Barkley’s performance.

Of course, more exciting than that, the Grizzlies were now leading the series 3-1, just one step away from the finals.

In game 5 of the series, the Grizzlies were about to head to Oklahoma City for their first chance to close the series.

But upon their arrival, they saw plenty of local media coverage on Harden.

Among them was "Fisher blasts Harden in the locker room," and notably, an insider disclosed that before game 4, Harden had been at the nightclub at 1927 Madison Ave, staying until four in the morning.