Pray To God.

Han Sen's relentless drives were putting enormous pressure on the Heat's defense.

It was obvious that Miami's defensive resources were a far cry from the Spurs'. Once upon a time, Wade could hold his own against Han. But now? Wade's defense had slipped, while Han's skills had skyrocketed, making that old matchup irrelevant.

To be fair, the Heat's defense wasn't terrible—they ranked 11th in the league in defensive efficiency. But against Han Sen, 'not terrible' wasn't good enough. Even the Spurs, with the league's best defense, could only slow Han down in Games 3 and 4 of the last series.

Faced with Han's aggression, the Heat couldn't execute effective help defense or double-teams. Their only option was to collapse inward defensively. And every time they did, Han shifted gears, pulling up for precise mid-range jumpers.

Each shot was like a bullet piercing the hearts of Miami fans.

That's when it hit them: They had no answer for Han Sen.

"Pray to God Han has an off night—that's Miami's only way to stop him," quipped Charles Barkley from the commentary desk.

As he said it, Barkley turned to Shaq and mimed counting stacks of money.

"I told these fools—don't piss off Han!" Shaq barked, throwing his hands in frustration.

By halftime, Han had torched the Heat for 26 points, leading the Grizzlies to a 58-46 advantage.

Social media erupted during the break. Heat fans clung to hope, praying for Han's shooting touch to vanish. Others hurled curses or even joked about spiking the Grizzlies' locker room snacks with poison. Desperation was setting in—four straight Finals losses will do that to a fanbase.

It wasn't just Heat fans cracking under the pressure. Around the globe, fans turned to their own cultural memes for teams that always fell short—whether it was referencing England's 'nearly men' in soccer, Japan's 'runner-up syndrome' in sports anime, or Germany's famed term Vizekusen, used to mock Bayer Leverkusen for their second-place finishes.

When the second half tipped off, Miami tried a new approach—early double-teams on Han. It didn't last long. Han immediately dished out two dazzling assists: one to Gay for a corner three and another to Marc Gasol for a thunderous dunk.

Coach Spoelstra had to abandon the strategy. Without LeBron or a mobile wing capable of stifling Han, Miami's adjustments were dead on arrival.

Han resumed his assault. Wade visibly upped his defensive intensity, but Han broke him down with a signature crossover for an easy layup. Five years ago, Han had boldly claimed he'd surpass Wade. Now, it wasn't even a contest.

The next possession, Han pulled up for a mid-range jumper after forcing Wade on his heels.

Miami fans' prayers and curses weren't working.

By the end, Han had racked up 45 points, leading Memphis to a 108-96 victory in Game 1.

The media was floored. The Heat, touted as favorites, were now staring at another Finals disaster. Han's performance left journalists grappling with a mix of admiration and resentment—the same feelings they'd had during Jordan's dominance.

Han took no joy in their begrudging praise. After the game, he answered their questions with poise:

"Do you think the media's doubts fueled your performance tonight?" asked an ESPN reporter.

"No," Han replied. "I don't think a team with back-to-back titles has anything to prove. And frankly, we don't care what the critics think. Even if we win ten championships, there will always be doubters."

The next day, TNT's postgame show was a spectacle. Shaq showed up with a large chest and dramatically opened it, revealing stacks of cash.

At first, everything seemed normal until Charles Barkley picked up a bundle. His reaction—a mix of laughter and disbelief—threw the studio into chaos.

The camera zoomed in, revealing the cash wasn't ordinary. Instead of Ben Franklin's face, it featured Shaq's grinning mug, seamlessly blended with Franklin's iconic image.

They dubbed it 'Shaq Bucks,' and the segment went viral, keeping the Finals buzz alive.

...

The NBA Finals continued in Memphis with Game 2. 

After their Game 1 loss, the Heat faced mounting questions from the media about potential lineup adjustments. Some speculated they might repeat last year's Finals strategy, subbing Ray Allen into the starting lineup to replace Mario Chalmers for added offensive firepower. 

However, following the opening ceremony, Erik Spoelstra revealed his decision: no changes. He stuck with the Heat's usual starting five. 

That said, Miami did implement a significant adjustment in their defensive approach once the game began: Kevin Durant was tasked with guarding Han Sen. 

On paper, it sounded almost comedic. If Dwyane Wade couldn't contain the upgraded Han Sen, how could Durant, whose defensive reputation wasn't his strongest asset, possibly succeed? Surprisingly, it worked—for a while. 

Spoelstra took a page straight out of Gregg Popovich's Western Conference Finals playbook. It wasn't about who guarded Han Sen but how the team defended collectively.

Wade's individual defense may have declined, but his help defense remained elite. Durant's size and wingspan made it difficult for Han Sen to blow past him quickly, buying time for help defense to arrive. 

With this strategy, the Heat led 50–46 at halftime, limiting Han Sen to a relatively modest 16 points—a stark contrast to his Game 1 dominance. 

By the third quarter, the Grizzlies adjusted their offense, creating more opportunities for Han Sen to score off the ball. 

Adversity builds resilience, and Memphis had been evolving throughout the playoffs. Inspired by how the Warriors used off-ball tactics to great effect earlier in the postseason, the Grizzlies adapted. 

On the first play of the second half, Han Sen shed Durant with a backdoor cut. Despite Durant's impressive agility for a 6'10" forward, he wasn't quick enough to keep up with Han's relentless movement. 

Marc Gasol lobbed an alley-oop pass slightly too high, but Han Sen soared, his head nearly rim-level, snatching the ball with one hand and slamming it home. 

The FedExForum erupted. And that was just the beginning.

Through constant motion—cuts, screens, and handoffs—Han Sen showcased his evolution as a player. Once known for his off-ball play with the Cavaliers, Han had become faster, more explosive, and even more precise. 

Fans who never saw Michael Jordan play live began to believe they were witnessing the closest modern-day comparison. 

Han Sen poured in 18 points in the third quarter alone, leading Memphis to an 81–74 lead by the end of the period. 

Charles Barkley, ever the showman on commentary, declared, "Maybe Miami needs to call God to guard Han!"

Spoiler alert: they couldn't. 

Though the Heat fought valiantly in the fourth quarter, tying the Grizzlies 34–34 in the period, it wasn't enough to erase the deficit. Memphis secured a 115–108 victory, taking a commanding 2–0 series lead. 

Han Sen finished with 42 points, marking back-to-back 40+ games in the Finals—a feat few players had ever achieved. 

The elite company he joined? Rick Barry (1967), Shaquille O'Neal (2000), Jerry West (multiple seasons), and Michael Jordan (1993). Only West failed to win a championship in those years. 

Now, fans were buzzing: could Han Sen extend the streak to a third game? 

Meanwhile, the media, who heavily favored Miami, were left reeling. The Heat's championship odds had plummeted, leaving critics scrambling to justify their earlier predictions. 

Two days later, the Finals shifted to Miami for Game 3. 

For Memphis, splitting the road games would almost guarantee the championship. Winning both could clinch the title in Miami. 

Facing a must-win situation, Spoelstra finally made a lineup adjustment, inserting Ray Allen into the starting five—not for Chalmers but for Kendrick Perkins. 

On paper, this move seemed suicidal against Memphis' dominant frontcourt. Durant, already struggling at power forward, would have an even harder time. 

Yet, the results defied expectations. Spoelstra had another trick up his sleeve, borrowing strategies from Golden State's earlier success against Memphis. 

The Heat focused less on defending the interior and more on exploiting the Grizzlies' perimeter defense. 

While Miami lacked the Spurs' pristine ball movement, their core had played together for four years. Add Durant's sharpshooting, and suddenly, the Heat found their rhythm. 

Durant exploded for 43 points, his first 40+ game in the Finals, leading Miami to a 126–120 victory and cutting the series deficit to 1–2.

From a strategic standpoint, Erik Spoelstra's adjustments in this game were nothing short of coaching brilliance.

He pinpointed the Grizzlies' biggest vulnerability: defending the three-point line.

Miami's ability to succeed against a surging Memphis squad came down to their superior offensive firepower—greater even than the Warriors'.

Just like in Game 2, where the Heat trailed after three quarters but matched the Grizzlies point-for-point in the fourth, their offense kept them competitive.

In a way, basketball can feel like a philosophical dilemma:

Defense wins championships, but the team that scores more wins the game.

-End of chapter-