Who is Your Daddy?

(TL/n: Triple length chapter incoming.)

"Their Daddy is Back!"

When this headline was published by Khalil in his usual concise yet resonant style, it instantly sparked a wildfire of online discussions.

Boston fans were quick to curse Han Sen and his ancestors, and his hater points also skyrocketed as a result.

After all, the Celtics are one of the league's most popular teams, and his bold, antagonistic remark had maxed out the hate levels from fans.

However, something unexpected happened: his social media began to flood with messages of support. One particular comment made him burst out laughing:

"Han is your daddy. If you curse his family, does that mean you're cursing your own?"

You'd almost think Han Sen had set up a secret account to fight the trolls himself!

Boston, as a unique city, has earned the Celtics plenty of enemies across the league. And as the saying goes, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

Despite the fury from Boston fans, the Cavaliers held home-court advantage for the first two games of the series, so their rivals would have to keep their anger in check for now.

The day before the series started, the league announced the 2009-2010 regular-season MVP.

LeBron James received 120 of 123 first-place votes, winning with 39% of the total vote, ahead of Kevin Durant (19%) and Kobe Bryant (18%).

This marked LeBron's second consecutive MVP award, placing him alongside legends like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, and Steve Nash as back-to-back MVP winners.

LeBron's MVP win wasn't much of a surprise, given that the Cavs had the best record in the league.

However, Han Sen had his own take on the voting: "LeBron deserves to be called the media's MVP."

Durant not only secured the scoring title but also led a previously 23-win Thunder team to 50 wins and a playoff berth, which in the Eastern Conference would rank fourth.

Kobe's case was even stronger. The Lakers had faced numerous challenges throughout the season, and there were countless games where he practically carried the team on his back.

While their records didn't warrant MVP consideration, both Durant and Kobe certainly deserved more votes.

During practice, LeBron showed up with a smile so wide, even a ski mask couldn't hide it. Just the day before, Windhorst had published an article on ESPN titled: "LeBron's Back-to-Back MVP Matches Jordan."

This is what real journalism looks like!

Han Sen had previously sparked controversy by comparing LeBron to Jordan in a bid to overhype him. Now it seemed that LeBron's team had caught onto the idea and fully embraced it.

Now, anytime the opportunity arises, they're already claiming to be side by side with Jordan.

During practice, LeBron was especially hyped, throwing down dunk after dunk during scrimmages. It was clear that while he had dealt with injuries in the first round, his incredible physical condition had sped up his recovery.

But after one particularly intense dunk, LeBron winced, grabbing his right elbow before heading to the sidelines.

Following a conversation with the team doctor, he left the court altogether.

Looks like he celebrated too soon.

Now the Cavaliers' outlook for the next round had truly taken a dark turn.

That evening, Windhorst hurriedly published another article on ESPN: "LeBron Suffered Serious Right Elbow Injury in the First Round."

Talk about having a well-oiled PR machine!

If they lose, it's because of the injury. If they win, what more needs to be said? The man is once again comparable to Jordan! It's a win-win situation.

However, Han Sen saw an opportunity.

Though he hadn't played in the first round, he had watched every moment from the sidelines. In the playoffs, LeBron's ball-dominance was even more evident than during the regular season.

Antawn Jamison had also performed exceptionally well, scoring over 15 points in all five games, with three 20+ point performances and a team-high 24 points in the final game.

Yet, in those five games, he only attempted more than 15 shots once.

Clearly, LeBron wanted not only the championship but the stats as well.

With LeBron now injured, he may not miss games, but his ball-handling will surely decrease. For Han Sen, that meant opportunity.

The Cavaliers-Celtics matchup was the most anticipated second-round series, providing the perfect stage for Han Sen to enhance his personal reputation and impact.

The next day, Quicken Loans Arena was packed to the brim, with news even circulating about ticket prices being driven up several times over, making it nearly impossible to get a seat.

The rivalry between the Cavs and Celtics had been brewing for two years, dating back to their epic seven-game series when the Cavaliers lost Game 7 by just 5 points, leaving their fans devastated.

Now, two years later, they were ready for revenge. "Two years. Do you have any idea what these last two years have been like for us?!"

LeBron entered the game wearing a protective brace on his right elbow. During warm-ups, his shots were noticeably off-target. This type of injury severely impacts shooting touch.

As warm-ups concluded, the arena transitioned into the opening ceremony.

When Han Sen was introduced first, performing his signature jersey shake, the crowd erupted into a frenzy.

Against a veteran team like the Celtics, skill was important, but so was morale.

In the past, the Cavaliers' talent was never far off from Boston's, but they always seemed to lack that mental edge.

That infamous photo of LeBron standing alone surrounded by four Celtics players may have boosted LeBron's individual image, but it crushed the team's spirit.

But now, with Han Sen in the mix, the entire dynamic had shifted.

The two regular-season victories over the Celtics weren't just about talent; they were about asserting dominance.

Pierce had nearly lost his mind after being thoroughly outplayed by Han Sen.

And now, technically speaking, Han Sen had already claimed the title of "Celtics' Daddy!"

The starting lineups were announced:

Celtics: Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins

Cavaliers: Mo Williams, Han Sen, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Anderson Varejão

Shaquille O'Neal's injury had healed as expected but hadn't fully recovered yet. For safety reasons, he wasn't expected to return until Game 3.

So even though the Cavaliers had home-court advantage for the first two games, with Shaq out and LeBron injured, they actually entered the series at a disadvantage.

---

Varejão tipped the ball back to the Cavaliers' half, officially kicking off the Cavs-Celtics Battle 2.0.

LeBron stood on the weak side from the start, letting Williams handle the offense. This was exactly what Han Sen expected, and what Coach Brown had planned before the game.

Williams initiated a pick-and-roll with Jamison, but after encountering a double-team, he passed it back to Jamison.

Jamison's mid-range shot was contested by Garnett on the recovery and missed.

Perkins secured the defensive rebound and passed it to Rondo, who pushed the ball up and set up a half-court offense. Ray Allen, running off the ball, missed his shot too, under Han Sen's defense.

However, Garnett leaped past Jamison's box out, grabbed the offensive board, and drew a foul from Varejão on his put-back attempt.

Jamison had been brilliant in the first round, but in these early possessions, he was clearly losing his matchup against Garnett. As expected, Garnett excels at facing off against these tweener power forwards. He doesn't give up speed and still has the size advantage.

Garnett knocked down both free throws, putting the Celtics on the board first.

Williams advanced the ball again, this time taking a mid-range jumper after a pick-and-roll with Varejão. But shockingly, Perkins stepped out to contest, and Williams' shot clanged off the rim.

If Garnett's earlier play showcased individual superiority, this possession revealed the Celtics' elevated focus and energy in the playoffs. They were simply sharper and more driven.

If you judge their playoff intensity by regular-season standards, you're bound to get burned.

Rondo orchestrated the next Celtics' possession. Ray Allen was shadowed closely by Han Sen, so Garnett quickly set a screen near the right elbow. Rondo made a sharp move, darting past Jamison and floating a high layup over Varejão. The difficulty was high, but Rondo calmly sank it. His development has been key to keeping the Celtics competitive as their Big Three age.

Down early, Williams tried to attack the Celtics' interior, but he underestimated Rondo's ability to steal. As Williams drove in, Rondo snatched the ball from behind.

This isn't just any Rondo; this is a 6'1" guy with a 6'9" wingspan, ranking among the top in NBA history in terms of wingspan difference.

Rondo's steal led to a fast break, with Han Sen chasing him closely. The two raced down the court. Han Sen didn't make any rash moves, instead waiting for Rondo to make the first move. Despite Rondo's long arms, he was still 6'1"— a height Han Sen could definitely block.

As Rondo soared into the paint for a layup, Han Sen timed his jump. But Rondo pulled off a no-look, behind-the-head pass to the trailing Paul Pierce. Han Sen, now landing, couldn't recover in time to contest.

Pierce caught the ball, took off, and hammered down a two-handed dunk. After the dunk, Pierce glared at Han Sen and pumped his fist aggressively.

The arena roared with excitement.

The Celtics had stormed to a 6-0 lead, completely flipping the momentum Han Sen's pre-game talk had built.

But Han Sen's reaction swiftly crumbled the Celtics' momentum, like a landslide.

Facing Pierce's intense celebration, Han Sen smiled and said, "Yo, Half-Truth."

"..."

Pierce almost lost his cool again.

"I'm the Truth. Don't get it twisted."

Though Han Sen had rattled Pierce with trash talk many times before, Pierce had built up a bit of immunity. He snorted and jogged back on defense.

Han Sen turned to give Williams a signal.

Trash talk couldn't change the game's reality— the Cavs hadn't scored yet, and if they wanted to turn things around, they needed to break this scoring drought.

Coach Brown's strategy was to rely on Williams' individual ability to get them going, but that plan wasn't working. Now, Williams needed to step up.

Williams called for a play and passed the ball to LeBron.

LeBron, positioned on the strong side, ran a pick-and-roll with Varejão, while Han Sen set an off-ball screen for Jamison on the weak side.

This was a standard Cavs play, especially after Jamison joined the team, allowing them to maximize spacing.

Normally, LeBron would either drive to the basket or kick the ball out to open shooters. But with his injured right elbow, the pick-and-roll was more of a decoy.

As Han Sen curled to the 45-degree angle on the weak side, LeBron sent the ball his way.

Han Sen caught it but didn't have a clean shot. The Celtics' playoff defense was dialed in, and LeBron's fake screen didn't fully collapse their defense.

Seeing Garnett rotating over to help, Han Sen didn't hesitate. He attacked quickly, catching Garnett off-balance.

Garnett, a top-tier defender, couldn't match Han Sen's foot speed but used his long arms to contest the shot. Meanwhile, Perkins had already retreated into the paint, raising his arms to protect the rim.

Caught between Garnett and Perkins, Han Sen found himself trapped.

And with Jamison's passing lane cut off by Garnett, it was a dead end.

But Han Sen suddenly slowed down, using his hip to bump into Garnett, forcing him to stop abruptly. Taking another step forward, Han Sen then jumped high, balancing mid-air, and flicked the ball with his fingertips at its peak.

Swish!

The ball arced over Perkins and swished through the net.

From dead end to comeback!

Although Han Sen hadn't reached the full potential of his [Giant Slayer] skill due to his recent injury, it was still enough to face someone like Perkins.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Han Sen had broken the Cavs' scoring drought! It felt like they were surfacing from a long breathless struggle, finally able to take in some fresh air.

The atmosphere was electric.

"Defense! Defense!"

The crowd at Quicken Loans Arena roared in unison. Despite trailing, that homecourt energy was back, thanks to Han Sen's clutch shot.

At this moment, Han Sen switched with Williams on defense.

This scene sent the emotions of the live audience into a frenzy.

They had grown accustomed to watching James avoid guarding the opposing team's offensive core, so seeing Han Sen take the challenge head-on gave them a clear contrast, making them realize just how impactful this difference was.

Upon seeing Han switch onto him, Rondo immediately signaled for Garnett to come up for a screen.

The Celtics' tradition was clear: they wouldn't back down from anyone.

Since this matchup was offered voluntarily, even if it was a tough one, they had to find a way to bite down on it.

Using Garnett's screen, Rondo drove towards the basket.

However, Han had already anticipated this and retreated in advance, waiting on Rondo's driving path.

In Han's memory, his deepest impression of Rondo wasn't from the 'Big Three' era in Boston but from his days in Chicago Bulls.

Back then, when Rondo teamed up with Jimmy Butler and Wade, all three players would stand beyond the arc without taking shots, making the Bulls seem like they were back in the 90s.

Rondo couldn't break through Han Sen's defense but managed to make one of his signature no-look passes, sending the ball to a cutting Pierce on the weak side.

Unlike James, who would glance at his target and then pretend not to, Rondo was the real deal when it came to no-look passes.

Pierce received the ball and glided in for a layup.

Bang!

James came in from behind and blocked the shot.

Using his left hand, James not only swatted the ball but also caught it mid-air, showcasing his explosive athleticism.

As James landed and turned his head up, he spotted Han already racing beyond the three-point line.

Wait, bro, weren't you just defending Rondo's drive a second ago?

James was reminded of how amazed he was during the pre-season, watching Han's incredible fast-break awareness.

Holding the ball in his left hand, James delivered a quarterback-style pass down the court.

With his right elbow injured, scoring wasn't easy for him, so he focused on accumulating assists.

Moreover, Han's 'Jordan Overpraise Card' wasn't expired yet.

Han caught the ball and stormed into the frontcourt. He leaped up, threw down a two-handed slam, and hung on the rim with bent knees for added flair.

The flashy dunk ignited the entire arena.

4-6! The Cavaliers' momentum began to shift noticeably.

Amidst the fans' roaring chants, Garnett's free-throw line jumper also bounced off the rim.

Varejao secured the defensive rebound, and the Cavaliers pushed the ball up the court.

"Let's go, Cavs!"

The crowd's chants grew louder and louder.

However, the Celtics' defense remained composed. Their starting five had been through countless battles; this atmosphere couldn't shake them.

Ray Allen began fronting Han Sen, denying him the ball, while Garnett frequently moved around to disrupt the Cavaliers' passing lanes.

Han didn't give up on his off-ball movement; in fact, he increased his activity.

His movement drew much of the Celtics' defensive attention, allowing James to seize the opportunity and drive to the rim, drawing a blocking foul on Perkins.

But James' injured elbow affected his free throws, and he missed both.

Varejao came up big, though. During his box-out with Perkins, he cleverly flopped to the ground, drawing a whistle for a push-off foul on Perkins.

Han was stunned. Perkins had just committed two fouls in one possession and was now heading to the bench…

To be fair, it wasn't an unfair call. While boxing out, their hands got tangled, and Varejao simply waited for the moment Perkins exerted force to fall.

As the saying goes, there are no bad nicknames, only wrongly named ones.

The whistle blew again, and Rasheed Wallace came in to replace Perkins, shifting Garnett to the center position.

The Cavaliers retained possession.

James stood at the sideline for the inbound. After exchanging glances with Jamison, the latter quickly stepped up to set a high screen.

Han Sen cut inside using the screen but suddenly spun and ran back out to the three-point line.

James whipped the ball to him quickly.

Wallace, slower than Garnett, could only leap to contest.

Seeing this, Han didn't shy away but jumped up first to shoot.

The ball sailed over Wallace's fingertips, and as Wallace collided with him, the referee's whistle blew for a foul.

At this moment, Han Sen displayed the body control that the [Giant Slayer] ability granted him. After being hit, he quickly bent over and slid back as he fell, ensuring a safe landing despite the collision.

Swish!

The crisp sound echoed through the speakers.

This wasn't just a foul on a three-pointer; it was a 3-point play!

7-6! The Cavaliers had taken the lead, and Han was heading to the free-throw line.

Jamison and Williams quickly ran over to him, one on each side, to pull him off the ground.

Han Sen, at this moment, truly exuded the presence of the Cavaliers' leader.

The cameramen immediately focused their lenses on him as he stood up.

He lifted his jersey with both hands, showcasing his iconic celebration.

The arena erupted in a frenzy.

With Shaquille O'Neal sidelined due to injury, James limited by his elbow, Jamison struggling with his matchups, and even Williams unable to step up, it was Han Sen who scored seven straight points to lead the comeback.

For a guy who needed to wear a helmet while fishing with Jamison, there was no doubt about it: He was the one calling the shots for Cleveland!

In the first quarter, Han scored 14 points, leading the Cavaliers to a 28-23 advantage.

As the second quarter began, he was resting on the bench, while James took over.

James had only made one field goal in the first quarter, relying on free throws to tally three points. His return to the game wasn't unexpected.

But fate had once again made Coach Brown into "Cunning Brown."

Within just five minutes, the Cavaliers had extended their lead to double digits!

This shift in momentum was due to Perkins' early foul trouble, forcing Rasheed Wallace to enter the game earlier than expected, throwing off the Celtics' game plan. Coach Rivers had no choice but to sub in Glen Davis to play center.

Davis, though large, was short and slow, making him more of an offensive threat than a defensive presence.

While James struggled to penetrate against Perkins, he had no trouble getting past Davis.

Of course, aside from the lineups, James' scoring mentality couldn't be overlooked!

In the last round against the Bulls, scoring only 19 points didn't sit well with James or his camp. "The team won, but I didn't" was a situation James couldn't accept.

Especially since, just before this game, James was being compared to Jordan. Even with the injury as an excuse, posting poor numbers would only fuel criticism.

So, he had to score— no matter what.

If he couldn't score in the starting period, he'd make up for it during the bench minutes.

Watching James attack the rim again and again, even drawing Perkins' third foul soon after he returned to the floor, Han Sen couldn't help but laugh.

People say James only has historical-level athleticism— who says that? That's slander! His ability to pick his moments to strike is elite!

By the time Han Sen returned to the game, the Cavaliers were already up 40-27, leading the Celtics by 13 points.

As soon as he checked in, he nailed a three-pointer over a helping Pierce.

After sinking the shot, Han turned and cheekily waved at Coach Rivers on the sideline, saying:

"You're really not going to defend me? If you don't send someone now, I'm dropping 40 tonight!"

Rivers could only offer a polite retort, but as he looked up at the scoreboard, he was left helpless.

For two defensive teams, a 16-point deficit felt like a chasm.

Though the Celtics displayed their trademark resilience, the Cavaliers, playing at home and riding high on momentum, never let them get close.

By halftime, the Cavaliers led 58-43.

Han Sen was on fire, shooting 8-of-13 from the field for 21 points, the highest in the game.

His performance was nothing short of spectacular, but commentator Barkley's words left everyone in awe.

"We have to remember, this is just his first playoff game."

Having missed the entire first round, this fact had been overlooked by many.

Coming out of the halftime break, Han Sen opened the third quarter with a brick.

The rim seemed unforgiving at that moment.

But, much like in their second regular-season matchup, the Celtics began to adjust their defensive focus, directing it towards Han Sen.

Though Rivers was slow to react, the 15-minute halftime break gave him enough time to recognize James' injury as a vulnerability.

However, once the first domino fell, it was impossible to stop the chain reaction.

Just as the Celtics shifted their defensive focus, James drove hard to the basket and drew Perkins' fourth foul.

Perkins was once again forced to the bench, and that was the final straw that broke the camel's back for Boston.

By the end of the third quarter, the Cavaliers had extended their lead to over 20 points.

Han Sen, after a slow start, picked up the pace in the latter half of the third, scoring another 7 points to bring his total to 28 by the end of the quarter.

---

In the final quarter of the game, the Cavaliers firmly controlled the situation on the court.

Although the Celtics launched a fierce counterattack at the end, with one minute left in the game, they were still trailing the Cavaliers by as much as 12 points.

The hole they had dug earlier was simply too deep to climb out of.

At that moment, both teams tacitly subbed out their starters, effectively signaling that the outcome of the game had been decided.

Han Sen sat down, feeling exceptionally happy.

Not only because the team secured a big victory in Game 1, but also because his taunting had succeeded.

Even though his shooting cooled off in the fourth quarter, he still managed to score 5 points, bringing his total to 33.

This wasn't just a new high for his playoff career; it was also another personal best for him in a single game.

In theory, the Celtics had strong defense, and scoring against them wasn't supposed to be easy.

But every time he played against the Celtics, he seemed to put up big numbers. You could say the Celtics were his lucky charm, or, to borrow from his pre-game comments, Han Sen was really their "daddy."

The fans in the arena were also extremely excited.

From a heartbreaking Game 7 loss two years ago to today's dominant performance, the change in fortunes left everyone feeling elated.

And then, someone in the crowd, nobody knew exactly who, started a chant that quickly caught on, turning into a full-throated shout.