Basketball System: Hate Makes Me Unstoppable

To be more precise, Han Sen demonstrated the ideal state of an on-ball perimeter cornerstone.

Whether it's LeBron James, James Harden, or even Chris Paul, they can only achieve parts of this state.

Charles Barkley's particular focus on James largely stems from the trade between the Cavaliers and Knicks this summer.

The Cavaliers acquired Andrea Bargnani and J.R. Smith from the Knicks, a team that employed a one-star, four-spread offensive scheme last season. It's hard not to draw comparisons between Han Sen and LeBron James.

Not to mention, Han Sen is now on the Cavaliers—a team where James once played as a standard ball-dominant core.

By around the 10-minute mark of the first quarter, the Cavaliers were leading 24–16.

A team ranked tenth in power rankings was thoroughly outplaying the sixth-ranked team. Fans witnessed, for the first time, the true power of Han Sen running as the ball-dominant engine.

Han Sen was subbed out at this point to rest as both teams began rotating their lineups.

Kyrie Irving remained on the court under Coach Malone's direction.

With Han Sen on the floor earlier, Irving had fewer opportunities to shine. Now was the perfect time to assess his performance in a one-star, four-spread lineup.

The lineups on the court:

Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, James Johnson, Dante Cunningham, Andrea Bargnani.

Grizzlies: Beno Udrih, Dion Waiters, Andrew Wiggins, Kenneth Faried, Nerlens Noel.

Han Sen's attention was fixed on Irving.

In his previous life, he had watched the infamous Cavaliers-Warriors Finals battles, where Irving often led the bench during non-starter stretches.

However, the results were underwhelming—often frustrating.

Back then, Han Sen couldn't fully understand the shortcomings. But after hearing Cunningham's insights, he realized the issue: Irving was overly self-assured or, as his personality suggested, excessively self-centered.

Moreover, the Cavaliers' past four years had been led by coaches Byron Scott and Mike Brown, both known for their "babysitter" coaching styles.

Just like with LeBron back in the day, neither coach demanded that Irving address his flaws despite being the team's centerpiece.

This left Han Sen curious—after witnessing his own example, would Irving change?

...

The Grizzlies had the ball first. Wiggins executed a pick-and-roll with Faried, pulling up for a step-back mid-range jumper.

The play showcased his physical gifts—not just leaping ability, but rapid movement speed to create space.

However, perhaps still haunted by his matchup with Han Sen, Wiggins bricked the uncontested shot.

Fortunately, Noel grabbed the offensive rebound and quickly converted with a putback, showcasing his wingspan and leaping ability.

While the focus was mostly on Wiggins, many overlooked that this was also Noel's NBA debut.

The Grizzlies acquired him to prepare for Zach Randolph's decline. Once Noel paired with Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies would still maintain a strong interior presence.

On the Cavaliers' possession, Irving brought the ball up. Their formation mirrored earlier setups: Bargnani at the top of the arc, Cunningham and J.R. in the corners, and Johnson stationed in the dunker spot.

Irving had a much easier time against Udrih. A simple crossover blew past him, and Irving quickly drove into the paint.

The Grizzlies' defense collapsed immediately.

Clearly, Coach Joerger knew Irving well.

Irving didn't disappoint—he opted for a turnaround fadeaway in the face of the double-team instead of passing.

While he avoided the strong-side double, Noel, rotating from the weak side, swatted the shot emphatically.

Noel roared triumphantly, chest-bumping Faried with a newfound confidence.

Han Sen shook his head on the bench.

His earlier optimism was too idealistic. A player's style doesn't change after just one quarter.

However, the season was long, and in prior possessions, Irving did show signs of adapting.

Han Sen's attention shifted to Noel.

This historically underwhelming player now seemed impressive.

Noel's defensive instincts and mobility aligned with his nickname from draft night: "Akagi Takenori."

If Han Sen recalled correctly, Noel began his career with the 76ers, becoming collateral damage in "The Process."

It's hard to imagine a rebuilding team hoarding three lottery big men—Noel, Jahlil Okafor, and Joel Embiid—and letting them cannibalize each other like insects in a jar.

Noel, being a defense-and-lob type center, could grow into a better player than Tristan Thompson if he stayed with the Cavaliers.

But Han Sen couldn't allow Noel to look too good—this would only raise the Grizzlies' trade value!

At the start of the second quarter, the lineups rotated again, and Han Sen returned to the floor.

The arena erupted with noise as the camera panned to him.

What's this? You're avoiding peak minutes too?!

On his first possession, the ball naturally went to Han Sen.

Replacing Johnson, Han was now surrounded by Williams, J.R., Cunningham, and Spencer Hawes—all capable shooters. The spacing was even better than in the starting lineup.

With Wiggins subbed out, Han faced Vince Carter.

However, instead of isolating Carter, Han called Hawes for a pick-and-roll.

He didn't immediately attack after the screen but waited for Hawes to fully seal Carter, creating a mismatch. Han then drove at Noel.

A crossover, acceleration, and blow-by. Han breezed past Noel even easier than Wiggins.

Despite Noel's impressive mobility, Han's explosion and footwork were too much. Noel chased hard but was outmatched.

Han soared into the paint. Noel followed, eyes gleaming at the chance for a highlight block.

A block on Han Sen could elevate him like Iverson's crossover on Jordan.

But mid-air, Noel realized his miscalculation. Han didn't attempt a straightforward layup—he executed an acrobatic mid-air spin and a reverse double-handed slam!

Boom!

The crowd gasped in awe as Han hammered the ball through the hoop over Noel.

Noel's eyes widened in disbelief.

A reverse poster dunk—a move more stunning than a frontal one—dealt a devastating blow to Noel's confidence.

On the sidelines, Wiggins exhaled in relief.

Seeing someone else suffer alongside him brought him a strange comfort.

Han's emphatic dunk energized the Cavaliers, who forced a stop on defense.

Back on offense, Han targeted Noel in pick-and-roll again.

This time, after driving past, Han slowed down to initiate contact before finishing through the foul.

Two consecutive plays left Noel visibly shaken. The camera caught Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley leaving his VIP box early.

Heisley finally understood Han Sen's pregame remarks.

If the Grizzlies' young players were their hope for appreciation, Han shattered their confidence entirely.

The arena's LED screen displayed Heisley's exit, drawing a mix of cheers and jeers from the crowd.

Though fans despised Heisley, leaving before halftime? That's worse than Danny Ferry's infamous blunders.

Ultimately, the Cavaliers secured a 112–106 road victory over the Grizzlies to start the season strong.

Han Sen's explosive performance left a lasting impression: 36 points, 6 rebounds, 13 assists, 3 steals, and 4 blocks.

With his orchestration, the Cavaliers shot 13-of-28 from three—nearly 50%—and dominated with precision.

Yet, Han's triumph on the Grizzlies' former dynasty night was bittersweet—a fitting end to an era he helped build and now dismantled.

...

Han Sen and Kyrie Irving appeared together at the post-game press conference, and Han naturally became the center of attention.

A TNT reporter asked, "You recorded 13 assists tonight, which is an incredible number for a shooting guard. How did you manage that?"

Han replied with characteristic simplicity and honesty, "I just had a lot of the ball in my hands."

In truth, the so-called "point forward" role is about taking the ball-handling responsibilities typically assigned to a point guard and putting them in the hands of a forward. The point guard is then left to focus on roles traditionally meant for forwards, such as shooting and defense. Forwards often have better passing vision due to their height and greater offensive versatility, allowing them to create opportunities without relying heavily on set plays.

However, Han wasn't showing off with this answer—he genuinely believes he has room to grow. Despite his stellar assists, he also committed five turnovers. While this isn't a terrible assist-to-turnover ratio, for a championship-caliber team, it's an area that needs improvement.

An ESPN reporter followed up, visibly irked by Han's previous response. "You said pregame that you planned to score 100 points tonight, but your scoring aggression didn't seem particularly high. What's the deal?"

"That was just strategy," Han answered nonchalantly.

The core principle of the "four-out, one-in" system is to use a superstar's ability to attract double-teams and then kick out passes to open teammates.

"Besides," Han added, smirking, "you really believed I'd score 100? Funny how you doubted me when I said I'd lead the Cavs to a title."

The next question, posed by a WHBQ reporter from Memphis, was directed at Han but clearly aimed to provoke: "Kyrie didn't have the best game tonight. Are you concerned about his performance?"

Irving shot 4-for-15, scoring just 14 points with 3 assists—a notable factor in why the game against Memphis was so tight despite Han's dominance.

Han, however, was notably kind in his response, a stark contrast to his earlier brevity. "We all know how talented Kyrie is," Han said warmly. "It's our job to help him feel more comfortable on the court. That's what we'll work on moving forward."

Irving, sitting beside Han, lowered his head instinctively. He didn't need anyone to tell him how poorly he'd played. Yet Han's words didn't offer comfort—they brought him shame.

An NBC reporter asked Han, "Last year, you said you planned to participate in this year's Dunk Contest. Is that still the case?"

At that time, Han was still with Memphis, and the All-Star Game was set to be hosted there. Now, however, his fallout with owner Michael Heisley added another layer of tension.

"Why not?" Han replied with his usual brevity.

Finally, a TMZ reporter inquired, "We noticed you exchanged a few words with Heisley during the ring ceremony. What did you say to him?"

Han grinned, "I just wished him a pleasant evening."

Everyone knew Han was always so polite.

...

After the press conference, Han and Kyrie headed back to the locker room.

"Thanks, Han, for what you said out there," Kyrie said, grateful for Han's defense.

"Don't mention it," Han replied. Then, with a sly grin, he added, "But you're coming with me for extra practice tonight."

Caught off guard, Kyrie could only nod, feeling a mix of confusion and pressure.

Later, after changing into training gear, Han grabbed Dante Cunningham and brought Kyrie along for an extra session. The focus? Passing drills.

As they worked, Han confirmed what he'd suspected all along—Kyrie's struggles with playmaking weren't about a lack of skill. His ball control and passing precision were fine. After all, someone capable of those flashy finger-roll layups clearly had elite control.

No, the issue was Kyrie's tendency to prioritize his own scoring.

When the practice ended, Han let Cunningham leave but stopped Kyrie for a private conversation.

"Kyrie, you can't lead a team to success playing like this," Han began bluntly, shocking Kyrie into wide-eyed silence. The words hit like a dagger—painfully direct and brutally honest.

Seeing Kyrie's defiance, Han smirked. "If you really want to lead a team, you have to suppress your scoring instincts. You need to focus on reading the game and involving your teammates."

In "history," Kyrie never adjusted his style. His constant need to prove himself turned him into a "team killer," worse than Rudy Gay in his heyday. To help Kyrie break free from that mentality, Han needed to shift his focus from me to us.

The conversation wasn't just for Kyrie's benefit—it was also about the team. Running an offense through a point-forward like Han was exhausting. While the stats looked great, by the fourth quarter, Han could feel his efficiency dipping. If Kyrie could take on more responsibility as a secondary playmaker, it would allow Han to revert to a more manageable role as the primary scoring and playmaking core, the ideal setup for Cleveland's four-out, one-in system.

...

As Han and Kyrie continued their conversation, a social media bombshell sparked a wave of fan debate.

After Memphis's opening game, team owner Michael Heisley had reportedly finalized the sale of the Grizzlies to Robert Pera, the CEO of Ubiquiti Networks. Sources revealed the sale price was significantly below the franchise's summer valuation.

Heisley's departure was seen as a direct consequence of the team's decline—and Han's dominance in their season opener. The symbolic destruction of the Grizzlies dynasty on their "Ring Night" had been nothing short of poetic.