Are You Cheating?

The controversy surrounding Ginobili's incident blew up, with Spurs' reporters leveraging their journalism skills by cherry-picking Han Sen's words: "I intentionally bumped into Popovich and took out Ginobili. Yes, that's exactly what I did," causing an uproar.

Under pressure, the league announced an investigation.

However, this move sparked strong protests from the Grizzlies. 

Their reasoning was simple: The league couldn't have double standards. If they were going to investigate, then they should also look into Anderson's hit on Rudy Gay and Ginobili's attempt to hurt Randolph.

No, they should go all the way back and examine Bowen stepping on Carter's foot and Horry knocking Nash down.

It was a chain reaction waiting to happen, so the league's investigation eventually fizzled out. They settled on a symbolic $20,000 fine for Han Sen for his statements.

The Grizzlies continued to file complaints with the league, maintaining that Han Sen's comments were justified. The league chose to ignore it.

Then, the next day, the league announced their decision: Randolph was suspended for one game for his slam on Ginobili.

Back in the '70s and '80s, a move like that wouldn't even make it to the highlight reel. If you didn't get into at least one brawl, you couldn't call yourself an NBA player.

However, that was why the NBA had a rough image back then. After all, if people wanted real fights, they'd watch boxing, not basketball.

When Stern took over, he dedicated himself to improving this image.

The "Malice at the Palace" incident became a turning point, with severe penalties for major incidents from then on.

One of the most significant was the 2006 brawl at Madison Square Garden. Anthony got suspended for 15 games just for throwing a punch at the Knicks' Mardy Collins.

Considering it's the playoffs, a one-game suspension for Randolph was pretty lenient.

"Han, next time something like this happens, let me handle it," James Johnson said to Han Sen after the league's punishment was announced.

Han Sen wasn't exactly like Bruce Bowen; even Bowen couldn't always avoid being labeled intentional.

Once it was confirmed that a move was deliberate, suspension was inevitable. 

If he were to be suspended, it would be disastrous for the Grizzlies. So Han had no reason to reject Johnson's offer.

It reminded him of a historical strategy in which a nation vowed not to be the first to use nuclear weapons—it was all about deterrence. 

And Johnson was the Grizzlies' "nuclear weapon."

One day later, the Grizzlies faced the Spurs in Game 5 at San Antonio. 

This time, Han Sen didn't catch fire. Those hot-hand moments are rare for anyone. 

Even though the Spurs were without Ginobili, they managed to scrape together a 93-87 victory in a last-ditch effort at home.

But everyone knew it was just their final struggle.

When the series returned to Memphis for Game 6, Randolph was back in full force. Full of pent-up anger, he utterly demolished the Spurs' interior defense.

He dropped 31 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, setting a new career-high for points in the playoffs.

Duncan, already exhausted and nearing the end of his prime, couldn't hold Randolph off, managing only 6 points and 7 rebounds in his worst playoff performance ever.

"TD might want to consider retiring," Barkley remarked from the commentator's booth.

With a 4-2 victory, the Grizzlies eliminated the Spurs and advanced to the Western Conference Finals.

They would now face their final obstacle in the West: the Dallas Mavericks, who had just swept the Lakers in a shocking upset.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference semifinals had also wrapped up.

The Hawks, unable to maintain their Cinderella run, lost 4-2 to the Bulls after winning Game 1.

Rose erupted for a career-high 44 points in Game 3, but it was Chicago's defense that shone, holding the Hawks to under 90 points in four of the six games.

Likewise, the Heat, with stellar defense, dispatched the Celtics 4-1 to meet the Bulls in the Eastern Finals.

LeBron and Wade had both averaged over 25 points per game through the first two rounds, consistently delivering stellar performances.

At this point, the league also announced its final award for the season: the All-NBA teams.

The Grizzlies enjoyed a windfall, with Han Sen earning a spot on both the All-Defensive Second Team and the All-NBA Third Team.

Randolph also claimed his first-ever All-NBA Third Team selection.

Awards like these are often influenced by media hype—wherever there's buzz, recognition follows.

This year, the biggest talking points revolved around Anthony missing the All-NBA Third Team and LeBron continuing to make both First Teams.

Despite Anthony's solid performance with both the Nuggets and the Knicks, where he shot a career-high 42.4% from three, he was left out.

As for LeBron, whose performance had declined somewhat on both ends, many argued that Wade deserved the spot.

But it's a media vote, after all.

LeBron's fans had their own justifications, claiming that Wade still had to compete with Kobe at the same position.

"All-NBA teams without positions? Well, then my guy LeBron's stats in scoring, rebounding, and assists are going to edge you out."

"Wade's sacrificing? You think LeBron isn't? His shot attempts are at a career-low!"

As for Bosh not making it?

Who cared, anyway?

As the Grizzlies prepared for the Western Finals against the Mavericks, Han Sen and the team arrived in Dallas a day before the game.

Upon arriving, Han Sen was invited over to Shaq's place.

"You're not trying to get me drunk, are you?" Han Sen joked when he saw Shaq pull out some drinks.

Shaq chuckled and swapped them for non-alcoholic options.

"You were right back then. This team has shown a quality I've never seen in my entire career," Shaq said, offering a drink as a gesture of gratitude.

"I'm surprised to hear that from you," Han Sen replied with a hint of surprise.

Han Sen's impression of that year's Mavericks was mostly tied to their Finals battle with the Heat, which gave birth to memes like "eight points in the fourth" and others.

As for the rest, he hadn't paid much attention; otherwise, he wouldn't have overlooked their iconic 5-game comeback series.

"Thanks to Kobe and his Lakers, this team underwent a remarkable transformation," Shaq laughed, taking a jab at Kobe as always.

There was something familiar about that sentiment.

According to Shaq, the Mavericks hadn't started the playoffs as dominantly as one might think.

They went up 2-0 in the first round but nearly blew a 25-point third-quarter lead in Game 3. Their morale nearly crumbled.

It wasn't until Coach Carlisle adjusted their strategy to focus on defense that they managed to advance to the second round.

Even then, Shaq admitted, neither he nor anyone else expected much from them.

Then, in Game 1 against the Lakers, they faced a 16-point third-quarter deficit—same court, same score, just with reversed roles.

"Are you ready to get eliminated, or are you going to make one last stand like we did against Denver?" Carlisle's exact words from that pivotal moment.

The Mavericks had no "next year." Forget about Dirk's age; both Chandler and Kidd's contracts were expiring that summer. This was their "last" chance.

Thus, the Mavericks went full beast mode, knocking out the defending champions.

"After that game, I saw what you meant—they got that championship heart," Shaq said, always the storyteller.

Indeed, a massive comeback can boost a team's spirit, especially one involving such a big deficit.

To be fair, the Mavericks were never weak. From 2000 until now, they had never won fewer than 50 games in a season.

They were also consistently one of the top spenders in luxury tax in the league.

But there was always a feeling they were missing something. This year, it seemed they'd found it.

"Funny enough, after our Game 7 against the Thunder, we found that something too," Han Sen said with a grin.

"I didn't expect you guys to make it this far. I thought we'd be facing OKC in the West Finals," Shaq admitted.

"But still, it's wild seeing you, me, Delonte, and LeBron all in the Conference Finals again. Makes you think."

The group once united now scattered—together they were a mess, apart they're stars.

Not surprising at all. Wherever LeBron played, his teammates rarely saw much ball time, limiting their flashy stats.

But when it came to taking the blame or defending, they were front and center. No wonder they got better after leaving.

"I won't be holding back," Han Sen said as he raised his glass towards Shaq.

"Me neither. This is my 'last chance' too," Shaq replied, raising his own.

Clink

…

American Airlines Center was buzzing, the Dallas fans on fire with excitement. 

The arena was a sea of blue.

Shaquille O'Neal hadn't told the full story the night before.

The Mavericks had turned the tide against the Lakers more than once in this series—in Game 3, they had come from behind to win.

In that supposed '5–4 comeback', the Lakers' confidence had already crumbled, especially after losing two out of three games.

By the end, they lost to the Mavericks by 36 points in the final game.

Dallas fans knew how special their team was this year; their passion was undeniable and genuine.

Nowitzki had come to Dallas in 1998 and had transformed the team into a Western Conference powerhouse by 2000.

Twelve years later, not only had he aged, but so had the Mavericks fans.

There was something extraordinary in the air tonight. If there was a phrase for it, it would be: "Old soldiers never die."

After warm-ups, the pre-game ceremony began, and the starting lineups were announced:

Grizzlies: Conley, Hansen, Battier, Randolph, and Gasol.

Mavericks: Kidd, West, Marion, Nowitzki, and Chandler.

Following the introductions, there were three minutes left for final preparations.

After Coach Hollins laid out the opening plays, Han gathered the team and said, "They're just a bunch of old guys out there. Let's show them some of our energy and speed!"

With Nowitzki at 32, Marion at 33, and Kidd at 38, it wasn't an exaggeration. Hansen's words hit home.

As they took the court, Hansen shared a quick embrace with Delonte West, who'd joined the Mavericks after a buyout and unexpectedly found himself starting.

The crowd roared as Chandler won the tip-off against Gasol, giving the Mavericks the first possession.

The Mavericks set up in half-court offense, with Nowitzki receiving the ball on the right low post, defended by Gasol.

Though Gasol wasn't particularly quick, his height and wingspan posed a challenge, making it difficult for Nowitzki to get a clean look.

Nowitzki caught the pass, pivoted, holding the ball in triple-threat position, faking a drive, and suddenly rose for a jumper.

Gasol's reaction was a touch slow, but he still managed to contest the shot with his length.

Swish!

Despite the pressure, Nowitzki nailed the shot.

"Marc, don't worry—he can't keep making those all night," Han Sen encouraged Gasol.

Gasol nodded. It was just one shot.

Back on offense, Randolph tried to work the low post against Chandler but found it tough to gain an advantage.

Though heavier, Randolph couldn't overpower Chandler, whose combination of height, wingspan, and quickness made him formidable. 

Randolph's spin shot was contested and missed.

Kidd quickly moved to push a fast break but pulled back to set up in half-court when no opportunity emerged.

Again, the ball went to Nowitzki, this time on the left high post.

Nowitzki faced up, drawing Conley's help as he spun toward the free-throw line.

Just as Gasol anticipated a pass, Nowitzki spun baseline, took three strides to the hoop, and slammed it home with both hands.

Randolph tried to help, but Chandler held him off firmly.

The American Airlines Center erupted.

Nowitzki was in prime form, his offensive hunger obvious.

Han Sen started moving without the ball, receiving a pass from Randolph at the free-throw line, accelerating to the paint, and floated a shot over Chandler.

Swish!

The ball dropped cleanly.

Han gave Chandler a glance. He'd just attacked the weakness in Nowitzki's footwork, but Chandler's own quickness almost spoiled the shot—it had taken raw talent and willpower to score.

When O'Neal had been in the starting lineup, the Mavericks' interior defense had been vulnerable, particularly against shooting teams. 

But after O'Neal's injury and Chandler's promotion, the Mavericks' defensive structure solidified.

Kidd moved the ball up and once more went to Nowitzki on the left high post.

This time, Gasol stayed close, denying him a comfortable shooting rhythm.

Nowitzki posted up, spun toward the free-throw line, and this time, instead of driving, he stepped back into a fadeaway.

Gasol struggled to keep up, and as Nowitzki executed his signature one-legged fade, Gasol's closeout came too late.

Swish!

Another perfect shot.

Nowitzki's shooting was on fire tonight.

What a dirty move!

Han Sen had moved to help, but Nowitzki had spun baseline, and Han couldn't close fast enough.

From close range, he could clearly see the mechanics of Nowitzki's one-legged fadeaway.

It was a brutal move. The only way to contest it effectively was to take a risky, sideways approach—any other angle was futile.

The Grizzlies attacked again. Han Sen drove into the lane and saw Chandler closing in. He dished the ball out to Randolph, but his pass was slightly off.

Randolph recovered, only for Nowitzki to meet him with a double-team. Randolph pushed through, drawing a foul from Nowitzki.

Han high-fived Randolph.

As the playoffs wore on, Han found himself leaning toward upgrading his passing ability. 

It wasn't just about making the pass; it was about precision.

In high-stakes games, a fraction of a second could be the difference between a scoring chance and a missed opportunity.

Randolph made both free throws, keeping the game close.

Back on defense, Kidd passed to Nowitzki on the right low post.

Nowitzki faced up as he had earlier, and this time Gasol stayed balanced, keeping his defensive stance.

Nowitzki rose for another jumper, Gasol contesting hard, forcing him to increase the arc on his shot.

Swish!

Nowitzki was 4-for-4 to start the game.

Gasol looked visibly frustrated as the ball swished through the net.

Han Sen was equally stunned.

Gasol's defense had been flawless; Nowitzki was playing like he had cheat codes activated!

-End of Chapter-

All-NBA selections for this AU:

All-NBA First Team: Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard

All-NBA Second Team: Russell Westbrook, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Amar'e Stoudemire

All-NBA Third Team: Chris Paul, Manu Ginobili, Han Sen, LaMarcus Aldridge, Zach Randolph

All-Defensive First Team: Rajon Rondo, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard

All-Defensive Second Team: Chris Paul, Andre Iguodala, Han Sen, Joakim Noah, Tyson Chandler