LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 267: General Irving.
Following the opening ceremony, the starting lineups for both teams were announced:
Lakers: Jeremy Lin, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Channing Frye, Anderson Varejao
Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, Han Sen, P.J. Tucker, Tristan Thompson (TT), Andrea Bargnani
Since December began, Bargnani's consistent performances had earned him the starting role over Spencer Hawes.
This marquee Christmas game drew the attention of TNT's iconic trio: Kenny Smith, Shaquille O'Neal, and Charles Barkley, who were present courtside.
Before tip-off, they discussed the dynamics of the game.
Kenny Smith analyzed, "On paper, the Lakers are a stronger team than the Cavaliers. Cleveland's wings can't contain LeBron's dominance."
Shaq interjected, "You seem to forget Han Sen is a wing too."
"But he can't guard both Kobe and LeBron. It's a choice—pick one," Smith countered.
Barkley, however, posed the ultimate question, "And who's stopping Han?"
"Kobe," Smith replied without hesitation.
"36-year-old Kobe guarding Han all night? Really?" Shaq questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Maybe LeBron could try?" Barkley teased, eliciting hearty laughter from the commentary team.
...
Meanwhile, LeBron approached the scorer's table to perform his signature chalk toss ritual. But as he arrived, he noticed the equipment covered in white cloth, seemingly to prevent any damage from the chalk.
Even the fans near the court mimicked his tossing motion with exaggerated expressions, treating him like a zoo exhibit.
Frustrated, LeBron abandoned the full toss, instead sprinkling a little chalk onto his hands before heading to the court.
...
As the game began, Kobe and Han Sen immediately matched up against each other.
"Playing in Cleveland is rough, huh?" Kobe teased, directing his comment toward Kyrie Irving.
"It's better than where you are now," Han interjected, glancing at LeBron with a smirk.
Though blunt, Kyrie's words weren't entirely off the mark. If LeBron had found teammates willing to join him, he might have stayed in New York instead of heading to Los Angeles.
Respect isn't something you demand—it's something you earn.
...
Varejao won the tip, and the Christmas Day showdown officially commenced.
The Lakers' acquisition of LeBron raised concerns about his compatibility with Kobe, but the issue had been resolved years ago when Chris Paul briefly joined the Lakers. Kobe had no problem playing off the ball, especially as age pushed him toward conserving energy.
However, on his first off-ball play of the night, Kobe found himself completely locked down by Han Sen.
Han's defense, sharp enough to contain Kobe in his prime, easily stifled the 36-year-old veteran.
With no opportunity for Kobe, LeBron called for a pick-and-roll with Varejao. Though Cleveland opted to double-team, LeBron's chemistry with Varejao shone through. A bounce pass led to an easy layup, putting the Lakers on the board first.
LeBron's struggles in the West seemed to vanish upon his return to the East—he was back in his comfort zone.
...
On the Cavaliers' first possession, Han deferred to Kyrie.
Kyrie's crossovers left Jeremy Lin in the dust, and he floated a shot over Frye's help defense for two points.
Though Cleveland's interior defense was weak, the Lakers' wasn't much better. With Bargnani pulling Varejao outside, Frye alone couldn't anchor their paint.
LeBron attacked again, this time skipping the pick-and-roll to charge straight at the rim. Just as he pulled the ball high for a signature tomahawk slam, Han rotated over for the challenge.
Bang!
LeBron's hand slammed into the rim, but the ball flew out of bounds, thanks to Han's perfectly timed block.
For a moment, the arena was silent. Then, an eruption of cheers filled the air. Han had blocked LeBron's most iconic move!
LeBron stared in disbelief, while Han casually shrugged. It wasn't the first time—he'd done the same thing during their first Cavaliers practice years ago.
...
"Kenny, it's not a choice!" Barkley exclaimed as the commentary booth burst into laughter.
Han had effectively defended both Kobe and LeBron in the same possession.
Smith shook his head, chuckling.
Han might not have been holding the ball much early on, but his impact on defense spoke volumes.
...
The Lakers, short on time, inbounded the ball to Kobe for an isolation play against Han.
The duel felt like a classic showdown. But as Kobe backed down, his fadeaway jumper turned into an awkward, highly-contested shot, bouncing off the front of the rim.
Years ago, Han had taunted Kobe by calling him old. Now, it was reality. Without the burst of his youth, Kobe struggled to create clean looks against Han's elite defense.
...
Back on offense, Cleveland made adjustments. Frye stayed with Bargnani on the perimeter, leaving Varejao to guard Tristan Thompson.
Seeing this, Kyrie called for a screen from Thompson.
Lakers coach Byron Scott shouted for a double-team from the sideline, but Kyrie accelerated before it could form, slicing through the defense.
Varejao's desperate chase was futile as Kyrie soared into a gravity-defying layup, twisting mid-air for a smooth finish.
The crowd roared in approval as Kyrie's flashy play lit up the arena.
...
The Lakers tried another off-ball play for Kobe, but Han shadowed him relentlessly, forcing him to act as a decoy.
On the other end, Tucker held his ground against LeBron, poking the ball loose during a spin move.
The loose ball rolled toward midcourt, where Kyrie pounced, scooping it up with precision. His blazing speed barely slowed, even while dribbling.
LeBron, chasing hard, refused to let Kyrie finish uncontested.
As Kyrie launched into a layup, LeBron shoved him from behind, earning a whistle for the foul.
Kyrie, knocked off balance, still managed to release the ball. The shot kissed off the glass and fell through.
Sitting on the floor after sliding from the impact, Kyrie pumped his fist and roared.
The crowd erupted.
Despite his cool demeanor and rebellious streak, Kyrie was fired up. He had read all the criticism from LeBron's fans. Tonight, he had something to prove.
...
The Quicken Loans Arena was electric.
This Christmas Day showdown was supposed to highlight Han Sen, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, but unexpectedly, Kyrie Irving had stolen the spotlight in the opening moments.
As Han Sen made his way to the frontcourt, he extended his hand, pulling Kyrie up from the floor, then reached out to ruffle his hair.
Kenny Smith's earlier assessment wasn't wrong—on paper, the Lakers were indeed stronger than the Cavaliers. For Cleveland to win this Christmas clash, the key lay on the defensive end.
Han Sen was more than happy to see Kyrie shine offensively because it allowed him to pour his focus entirely into defense.
Kyrie sank his free throw, scoring 7 consecutive points and giving the Cavaliers a 7-2 lead over the Lakers.
Somewhere out there, Curry—who's been diving into The Romance of the Three Kingdoms this season—might just be watching and thinking: I have General Irving, capable of slaying the BOAT.
Kobe finally managed to free himself for a shot, sinking a mid-range jumper despite Han Sen's contest. Even with his speed and physical tools declining, Kobe's signature tough-shot-making ability remained intact.
On the next possession, Kobe switched onto Kyrie defensively.
By this point, Kyrie was feeling himself. Seeing Kobe in front of him, he waved off his teammates and began a series of crossovers to attack.
However, Kobe quickly reminded him of his wisdom and defensive acumen.
While Kyrie unleashed his dazzling handles, Kobe stayed disciplined, anticipating every move and forcing Kyrie into a dead stop.
Undeterred, Kyrie went for a step-back jumper, only for Kobe to swat the shot emphatically.
The crowd buzzed with excitement at the moment.
That sequence perfectly summed up Kyrie Irving—a player who, at times, could make you believe he's the league's best guard, only to immediately do something that undermines that belief.
Luckily for the Cavs, the ball went out of bounds, and they retained possession.
With just six seconds left on the shot clock, the inbound pass found its way to Han Sen.
The Lakers sent an immediate double-team, but Han was faster. With a decisive burst, he powered his way to the free-throw line before the defense could collapse.
By the time the Lakers attempted to close in, it was too late.
Han Sen exploded into the air, pulling the ball high above his head. His sheer force and grace made it look as though he was flying over the rim.
BOOM!
The ball slammed through the hoop like a thunderclap, igniting the entire arena.
Charles Barkley leaped from his seat in excitement as the crowd erupted, realizing Han Sen's desire to dominate this Christmas Day showdown.
If there was still doubt about how badly Han Sen wanted to win, his monstrous dunk had erased it.
The arena's LED screen replayed the dunk from multiple angles.
LeBron James, once known for his iconic tomahawk dunks during his Cavaliers days, had set the standard for that style of dunking.
But Han Sen's display just now—with its superior elevation and extension—had completely outclassed anything LeBron had done.
"This might be the perfect year for LeBron to enter the dunk contest," Barkley joked from the commentary booth.
Han Sen's thunderous dunk injected a surge of energy into the Cavaliers.
Cavs coach Michael Malone seized the moment, signaling for Han Sen and PJ Tucker to switch defensive assignments.
The adjustment was timely. Kyrie struggled against Kobe, but with Kobe now guarding Kyrie, Lin was left to defend Han Sen—a matchup ripe for exploitation.
Han Sen on defense still meant LeBron, but Malone knew LeBron wouldn't challenge Han head-on.
Sure enough, as Han switched onto him, LeBron called for Lin to take the ball before retreating to the three-point line, hands on his hips, watching from a distance.
Kobe took over as the Lakers' focal point, running a pick-and-roll with Channing Frye that drew a foul on Tristan Thompson. Kobe sank both free throws, trimming the score to 9-6, with Cleveland still in the lead.
As the Cavs advanced upcourt, Han Sen took control at the high post.
Cleveland's spacing was immaculate: Tucker and Cunningham in the corners, Bargnani at the top of the arc, and Kyrie on the weak side.
Jeremy Lin's expression was reminiscent of Mario Chalmers in history, tasked with the impossible job of guarding Kevin Durant.
Han Sen wasted no time, backing Lin down with overwhelming physicality. The difference in strength was glaring, forcing Lin into a low defensive stance.
With a quick spin, Han Sen blew past him, leaving Lin trailing in his wake.
The Lakers' defense collapsed, but before they could trap, Han Sen spotted Tucker in the corner before firing a laser pass to Kyrie at the wing.
Kyrie caught the ball and didn't hesitate, even as LeBron sprinted toward him with an outstretched arm.
He rose for the shot.
The ball arced beautifully, just beyond LeBron's fingertips.
Swish!
The net snapped crisply as Kyrie's three-pointer hit nothing but the bottom.
And with that, Cleveland's lead stretched further, the crowd roaring its approval as Kyrie celebrated the moment with a fist pump.
-End of Chapter-