4 AM in Memphis.

The Grizzlies cruised to a 108-96 victory over the Thunder on the road.

The final stats showed Durant with 29 points, Westbrook with 27 points on an inefficient 10-for-26 shooting, and Harden contributing 16 points. 

For the Grizzlies, five players scored in double figures, with Han Sen leading the way, posting 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.

The scoreboard highlighted the gap in the teams' strengths.

More importantly, it showcased that the Thunder's mindset coming into the game was lacking, likely due to underestimating the Grizzlies.

The notion that the Grizzlies only made it to the Western Conference Finals because of Chris Paul's injury had left OKC unprepared.

It was like thinking they were facing a black bear, only to find out it was a grizzly.

But is the Thunder's situation hopeless?

Not entirely.

From the way they dispatched the Spurs, it's clear they didn't rely on luck, nor was San Antonio as 'washed' as Barkley and Shaq claimed.

The Spurs had revamped their roster this season, not only promoting Kawhi Leonard and bringing in Stephen Jackson but also signing Boris Diaw in the buyout market. 

Diaw, once a 'French Magician' known for his passing, had grown into a 'flexible big man'—one of the best post partners Tim Duncan had since David Robinson.

After dropping the first two games to the Spurs, OKC had turned things around by adjusting their defense to contain Parker and Duncan's pick-and-roll, winning four straight to take the series.

Now, it was time to see how the Thunder would adjust.

...

Two days later, the Thunder and Grizzlies clashed again at the Ford Center.

Right from the start, OKC unveiled their adjustment: sliding Durant to the power forward position, running a small-ball lineup.

Initially, this unconventional lineup paid off as they double-teamed Randolph in the post, forcing turnovers and even having Durant steal the ball from him.

The Thunder capitalized on fast breaks, gaining a lead.

In essence, this matchup was a battle of tempos. When the Thunder pushed the pace, Memphis struggled to keep up with OKC's transition game.

However, once the Grizzlies settled, the small-ball lineup started to backfire.

Playing Ibaka meant they couldn't contain Marc Gasol in the post, while Perkins sacrificed rim protection in the paint.

Having four smalls and one big isn't enough to make a lineup work. It requires a defensive scheme, like Miami's this season. The Thunder didn't have that cohesion.

And once Randolph regained his rhythm, Durant became a defensive liability. 

Brooks' adjustment failed, and OKC reverted to a double-big lineup.

With their starting rotation on the court, the Grizzlies held control, much like in Game 1.

But in the second unit, James Harden became a game-changer.

Harden had been solid in Game 1, but he was even sharper tonight.

With his signature 'Euro-step' and step-back jumpers, he kept scoring, and when Tony Allen was assigned to guard him, Harden shifted gears and began distributing the ball with precision.

With Han Sen's rapid rise, Harden had also made considerable progress.

In Han's knowledge of 'history,' Harden joined the Rockets that summer and 'unlocked' his star potential almost overnight, transforming from sixth man to superstar.

But that transition didn't happen out of the blue.

Like Tracy McGrady's shift, Harden had already showcased his core-player potential with the Thunder before taking on a larger role with a new team.

In this game, Harden was OKC's X-factor.

Han Sen led with a game-high 36 points, and the Grizzlies' scoring didn't fall off from Game 1.

Still, OKC edged out a 113-108 win, taking one game back.

Harden finished with 30 points on 10-for-13 shooting and 10-for-13 from the line, while Durant and Westbrook added 34 and 23 points, respectively.

In this clash of talent vs. teamwork, talent won out.

This game highlighted something vital for OKC: they couldn't rely on defense to beat the Grizzlies; they'd have to outscore them.

That was Memphis's weakness—their twin-tower lineup couldn't sustain a high-scoring pace, putting a cap on their offensive output.

"I told you, we'll settle this in five games," Durant declared confidently post-game.

...

Two days later, the teams returned to Memphis for Game 3.

The Grizzlies made tactical adjustments, feeding Han Sen more on offense.

After losing Game 2, the Grizzlies recognized the Thunder as a real threat, one to be taken as seriously as the Lakers. 

Halfway through the first quarter, the Grizzlies nearly dismantled OKC.

Han Sen's offensive dominance allowed other Grizzlies to focus more on defense.

Joerger's strategy tonight was straightforward: double-team Durant and leave Westbrook open for jump shots.

Westbrook was happy to oblige, launching shots from the outside.

With his increased role and OKC's one-on-one tactics, his confidence was sky-high, but his shooting almost dented the rim.

Brooks had to bring Harden off the bench earlier, replacing Sefolosha.

However, unlike the previous game, Harden wasn't getting as many touches, with Westbrook still handling the ball primarily.

Han Sen, with his Cavaliers experience, quickly caught on.

People often refer to 'OKC's Big Three or Four' as if they're united as a team. But are they really?

Westbrook plays a ball-dominant game, just as Harden does. With two players vying for control, conflict is inevitable.

Before Harden's breakout, the two barely shared minutes, so tension remained low. But as Harden's skills developed, competition for the ball became unavoidable.

Han Sen faced a similar dynamic with Rudy Gay. Even now, Gay sometimes laments his reduced role.

Conflict is inevitable in the NBA.

Teammates are coworkers, and possession equates to stats and, ultimately, income. It's human nature to care.

The Grizzlies were able to suppress their internal conflict thanks to Han's willingness to sacrifice.

For a similar setup, the Spurs relied on Ginobili's acceptance of a sixth-man role.

Could Westbrook sacrifice like Han Sen and Ginobili did?

Not a chance. He's second only to LeBron in his pursuit of stats.

So what seemed irrational actually made perfect sense.

As Harden's touches dwindled, frustration showed on his face.

30-16.

At the end of the first quarter, Memphis led OKC by 14 points.

Brooks attempted another small-ball lineup, hoping to ignite the offense through pace. But the move was, once again, ineffective.

One player was thrilled by the move, though.

Zach Randolph took full advantage, scoring repeatedly in the post.

As the playoffs progressed, Randolph's conditioning improved, benefiting from Gasol's growth and Han Sen shouldering the offensive load.

The time since his recovery gave him the chance to regain his rhythm just as Brooks provided the perfect opportunity.

The Thunder couldn't claw back, losing 106-88 in a definitive defeat.

With a 2-1 series lead, the Grizzlies took command.

But this time, the Grizzlies players stayed composed; even Gay avoided any grand declarations about championships.

This playoff journey was a growth experience for every member of the Grizzlies—not only in skill but also in mentality.

...

In the early hours before Game 4, Han Sen woke up half an hour before his alarm.

He checked his phone—it was barely 4 a.m. Physically, he was calm, but his body seemed to sense the significance of the moment.

As he got ready, he chuckled to himself, "If this were LeBron, he'd snap a pic right now and post: 'No excuses. Just work.'"

Han drove down the deserted Memphis streets toward FedExForum. The dark sky hinted at a day still hours away, and the streets were even quieter than usual.

As he passed through the bustling area, he noticed a familiar nightspot: 1927 Madison Ave.

The flashy new club, recommended by Gay, was pulsing with lights and music.

He made a mental note: if they took the championship, he'd bring the boys here to celebrate.

...

FedExForum was packed that night, and the crowd buzzed with signs reading, "Handle it in Five," "Shoot More, Russell Bryant," and "KD, We've Got a Tub Ready for You."

The fans' energy surged as the players entered, reaching a fever pitch during the intros.

Barkley, popping a champagne bottle at the analyst desk, said, "Looks like Memphis is ready for the Finals."

"They've got no reason to lose tonight," Shaq added, following suit.

"They need to get the ball to James (Harden) more—he's their only shot," Kenny Smith offered soberly.

OKC adjusted their lineup, starting Harden alongside Durant and Westbrook, signaling they were all-in offensively.

Han Sen didn't guard Durant tonight because Joerger's strategy of trapping Durant without the ball had been effective in the previous game, so Han would match up directly with Harden.

Ibaka grabbed the first offensive rebound for the Thunder, and the ball immediately found its way into Harden's hands.

Westbrook clearly wasn't giving up control of the ball; this must've been part of Brooks' tactical plan.

Han Sen rubbed his hands together, preparing to lock down Harden.

Harden called for Perkins' screen, then used it to drive toward the basket.

Han Sen chose to go around the screen, ignoring Perkins entirely as he relentlessly chased Harden.

It seemed like Harden didn't even notice Han Sen trailing him as he launched a floater over Marc Gasol.

But Han came from behind and slapped the ball away, sending it flying out of bounds.

The crowd, already pumped up, erupted with cheers.

Harden had just handed them a gift at the start of the game!

Han Sen was slightly surprised.

He had been expecting Harden to draw a foul on him, something Harden was known for. Instead, this unexpected play lingered in Han Sen's mind.

Harden had more ball control tonight compared to the previous game, but it was either a turnover or a missed opportunity every time.

His performance was, without a doubt, the worst of the series.

Compared to him, even Chris Paul seemed like a more dependable playoff performer.

Han Sen searched through his memories, and indeed, Harden had a reputation for crumbling in key moments.

But tonight, it didn't feel like Harden was crumbling. It felt more like he was simply distracted.

Han didn't know the reason, but it was definitely good news for the Grizzlies.

Because, as Kenny Smith had said, giving Harden the ball like they did in Game 2, letting him control the offense and distribute to fully unleash the Thunder's offensive talent, was their only chance to beat the Grizzlies.

Brooks had gone with that plan, but it wasn't working for Harden.

Half a quarter into the game, the Thunder's offense was worse than before, and with Sefolosha not on the court, Han Sen was barely breaking a sweat.

The Grizzlies' lead kept growing.

Brooks had no choice but to pull Harden off the court, but by doing so, he effectively sealed the Thunder's fate.

107–99.

Durant, despite being double-teamed, had managed to increase his off-ball movement.

In a crucial game, he finished with 34 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists, showing how much he truly wanted to win.

But Westbrook shot 5-of-19 for 18 points and 6 assists, and Harden was 3-of-14 for 10 points, 2 assists, and 4 turnovers. That one-two punch simply couldn't carry the team.

If it weren't for Ibaka's superhuman 8-for-8 shooting performance, the Thunder probably would've lost by an even bigger margin than in Game 3.

By the end of the game, the FedExForum was roaring, the crowd in pure euphoria.

The Thunder's performance in these two road games had been unexpectedly poor. Anyone who didn't know better would've thought they were putting on a show for Charles Barkley.

Of course, more than that, the fans had something else to be excited about: the Grizzlies were now leading the series 3–1, just one step away from the NBA Finals.

As the Grizzlies prepared for Game 5, set to be played in Oklahoma City, they were greeted by a wave of media coverage.

Among the headlines was one about "Fisher's furious tirade in the locker room at Harden."

But the most attention-grabbing story was an insider leak, revealing that Harden had been seen partying at the 1927 Madison Ave nightclub in Memphis until 4 a.m. before Game 4.